1/6: 5.14 miles, avg 9:30/mi
1/9: 5:31 miles, avg 8:51/mi
1/11: 4:00 miles, avg 8:37/mi
1/12: 13.78 miles, avg 9:05/mi

 

 

Well, this is embarrassing.

 

I knew I hadn’t updated the blog in some time but this is ridiculous. I assure you that I’ve been quite busy, running and other such things.

 

But first: It’s a new year! The new year always seems to be a mixed bag. It’s a chance to start over, make changes, keep things the same. However, it’s January. And that means it’s cold.

 

The District has been accustomed to warmer winters the past few years. Not this go-around. Last Tuesday, it felt like 10 below. Yesterday, it was 60. I seriously don’t get it.

 

No matter. D.C. Rock and Roll is a still a go. The training bumps up from three to four days, with the long runs starting to get longer. I partied a little too much Saturday night, so it took some time to get going on the Sunday long run.

 

I felt great. The weather was warm but not too warm, slightly breezy but not too windy. The first 10 miles were a breeze (yes, that pun is intended).

 

Miles 11-14 were a challenge. That’s to be expected and welcomed. The point of training isn’t for the first miles but rather the last. I run to develop endurance to finish. In training for the maratón, a friend told me that the marathon is really a 20-mile warmup to the last six miles.

 

Generally, I’m getting faster in my running. I average a 9-minute mile, which is about a full minute faster than my average last time. I feel stronger and more confident. Averaging 9 minutes is my goal for D.C., with the ultimate objective to get a close to completing the marathon in four hours. My time in Buenos Aires was close to five hours and that was taking in all the sights and experiences of the trip.

 

D.C. is home turf and with my best friend coming up to run, we’re coming to race.

The next 6-8 weeks are the real gauntlet with training, so it’s time to buckle down for the long haul.