Training Agony

I am officially tapering after my 11-mile run Saturday. I picked an easy route, so it was a good run. My first mile was slow and then after that I hit my pace. Hopefully adrenalin and the other runners will make my first mile of the race faster and then I can keep my pace under my goal the rest of the time. I modify Hal Higdon's plans for my training. Basically, I run at least three days a week, plus a long run, and go to the gym or walk on the other days. I take one "rest" day where I don't run the day before my long run. 

This week I'm going to run 5 miles on Monday, 4 miles on Tuesday, take my sister's exercise class on Wednesday, and take Thursday and Friday off completely. That way, I will be SO ready to run! 

I'm kind of discouraged because I trained so hard, but I didn't really focus on improving my time, and I wish I ran faster. It seems like everyone posts about their "easy" runs at an 8-minute-per-mile pace, and my long run was between 11:30 and 12 minutes per mile. Yes, my legs are short, but plenty of people are short. Yes, I know I shouldn't be comparing myself with other people. Yes, I know I need to run faster if I want to run faster. I run slow because it's enjoyable to me, and I want to keep doing it, but it seems like I would get a little faster just from repetition! 

Anyway, I log all my miles in an Excel document, so I can go back and look before the race. I ran at least 9 ten-mile runs in preparation, and several other 8-9 mile runs, so I can't say I'm not ready. I also gained about 5 pounds from eating to make up for all those long runs, so I'll have to be good, starting on Monday after the race! (Cinnamon Chex cereal, I mean you!)

We're having zoodles for dinner...they taste better because it's just so fun to say!