12 Miles Done!

My brother and sister-in-law shook up my christmas gift card and gave me a Target one this year. I was a little worried. I mean I LOVE target, but I only ever get things for the home there, never for me. And now with the closest target over 40 minutes away- we never go. Which makes me so sad. Because I would shop at Target over any other store every day.

Well we checked out a larger Target store further down on some errands we were running. I desperately need a cold weather run jacket. 27 degree mornings have been killing me. I honestly can't wait for summer to get here!

Target had a ton of jackets but nothing that was speaking to me. I really just need to start investing in good quality run gear and stop buying the cheaper stuff from Target. But I just love Champion clothes for running. They're affordable AND they last the amount of time I expect them too.

I picked out this little beauty. It's lightweight, a little warmer because it's more cloth than slick wicking, and well, I really liked the color.

I took Luna for a walk in it to try it out. It was about 50 degrees and cloudy and I figure if it kept me warm at a snails pace it would do well in 30 degree weather running. Since you tend to warm up about 20 degrees when running.

It worked like a charm. So I tried it on my 12 miler last week. 1 mile short of my half marathon. This was a big run for me. It was my timing for my half and to see how prepared I am in just 1 week for my half marathon. Base has these hills that are unforgiving and I knew they would help me in the long run for race day. I loaded up with my goodies:

IPOD
Garmin (which I stupidly forgot to charge and it died at mile 11, but I was on target for my 2h30m finish time)
Gu
Bar for recovery
Electrolyte Tablet in my water
Fuel Pack

My run was awful. Pure agony. I think I was fighting not getting sick all week so I felt flu symptoms by whole first 5 miles. My amazing husband got a lunch break and drove around base to see if he could catch me and say hello. He brought me aleve and even left some goodies at my car for when I finished. Pure man after my own heart. I hurt after the run but not as bad as I thought I would. I didn't pass out of exhaustion and even made it through dinner with some friends that night.

I think I'm ready. Feb 3 here I come!