By the Numbers

My 2nd half-marathon.

Final time: 2:40:09

Last year: 2:46:24

Not a bad race - not a bad race at all. So much for feeling unprepared!

You can tell that I knew it was a better race even as I was on the last .1 mile turn:

I've noticed that when I run, it's all about the numbers for me - not my pace (well, not significantly about my pace) and not about my placement. I'm totally focused on the numbers associated with my run-injury-free run-walk program.

I'm constantly thinking about 0, 3, 5, and 8. Those are the key numbers when I transition from run to speed walk and from speed walk back to run.

The strange thing is that these numbers don't slow me down - they help me concentrate on what I need to do for the next two or three minutes. Anything is possible for a two or three minute stretch. And if you string enough two and three minute stretches together, you have a half-marathon.

And hopefully, come February, if I string enough two and three minute stretches together, this girl will have her first full marathon.

{Can I get a Whoo-hoo!?! No? How about You have lost your mind!?!}