4 miles for Tackle The Miles

I got a little over zealous with signing up for Virtual Runs last December. I signed up for 13 in 2013, Run 5 by the 5th, and 13 in 2013 Virtual Race Series. I missed the first run for Run 5 by the 5th due to the fact that I was being lazy the whole first week of January. I got back on my game and completed my runs for all three. This run was for the 13 in 2013 Virtual Race Series and counted for one of my races for 13 in 2013.

I met Ariel in the Walgreens parking lot and we embarked on our 4 mile jog. I can run farther than Ariel, but she runs faster, so after the bridge I watched her slowly pull away in front of me. I jogged along behind her and when the first mile pinged on my Garmin, I decided I wasn’t taking my walk breaks like usual. This was supposed to be an easy run after I got beat up at Warrior Dash but I pushed on anyways. I’ve mentioned before that my Monday running route has lots of ups and downs and can be quite challenging. I trotted along right up to the turn around point at 2 miles and began my return to the parking lot. At the 5k mark, I was ecstatic. I had run 3.1 miles non-stop! I was running at an 11:30 pace which is quite a bit faster than the 12:30 I have been training for my half marathon with. The last half mile was back over the bridge and down to the parked lot. I clocked that mile at 10:42 and completed the 4 mile set in 45:03. I was so happy, especially since my last 4 mile RACE in which I was actually trying to time I finished in 46:33.

The greatest part about running for me is the feeling I get. I just love the days when I reach a new level of fitness, whether it be speed or distance. I spent the rest of the evening in a runner’s high. I can’t wait for my 6 mile run!