two-oh-three.

i ran my second solo half marathon this morning and finished in 2:03. here's the route.



i'm going to admit that i'm disappointed at - again - not breaking 2 hours - though i know i can. i'm trying to fight the urge to rely on "knowing i can do it" though. just because i know i can do something doesn't mean i have done it. i need to stop justifying a lack of effort by rationalizing that i could do something if i really wanted to! ugh. please, i need to get over that... besides, by throwing in the towel like that, i never get the joy of reaching a goal!

and so, in the meantime, here are some thoughts for the record:

• focus on one goal at a time! i tried to cram in too much this morning - a half-hearted attempt at knocking off the sub-2, combined with trying to get in a good, hilly workout and hitting a stretch of icy trail. pick a goal and run with it.

• get better at pacing. when i hit mile one in 8:20, i knew i was in trouble! but couldn't quite get it back. turn it up one gear, not five.

• don't lose heart. trust the training. let myself be great!

• get tough. long runs hurt - get over it.

• run my own race - i was chasing shadows all morning and i knew it.

and finally,

• celebrate the 2:03! a 2:03 hilly-ass half with 338 ft. of ascent and 15 minutes of walking in the middle is pretty damn good. enjoy!
  

next 1/2, i'm going to either hop on a treadmill at 9 minute pace or hop into a half with pacers. i need to get this monkey off my back and re-focus on what's important: enjoying myself and enjoying those trails.