13.1 miles down. Now I have to figure out how to double that!

I ran the first half of the Thunder Road Marathon course with Melissa this morning.  We started out well, but less than a mile in, I thought there was a problem: shin pain!  I tried to run through it for a bit, changed my stride focusing on correct form, but it seemed to do little.  I finally mentioned to Melissa that my shins were hurting and finally caved and stopped to walk and stretch a bit.  This helped some, but I didn’t get much relief until something that I never thought would bring me relief: an uphill section.  It somehow stretched out my lower shins and although was more taxing on my quads, felt good to my shins.  We continued on at a comfortable pace with a few walk/potty stops until I completed the 13.1 miles in 2:26:32, technically a new PR for a half marathon for me, but this wasn’t a for real race, just a preview run.  Melissa actually ran on to complete 15 miles which was what her training schedule called for today.  I will attempt the 15 miles next Saturday and she will run 20!  She will then taper for the marathon, but I will go on one more long run: 18 miles the following Saturday.  As long as I don’t injure myself doing this, I should be able to complete the marathon.  Fingers crossed!

Also, some of you are wondering where my weekly weigh in was.  I truly was just strapped for time and frankly forgot.  I might move the day to Saturday, when I should have more time.  So I weighed myself on the Wii today and I came in at 159.1 pounds.