Decisions....

I'm trying to decide if I will run the RNR AZ half that I'm entered in next week... Here is what I've been up to..

I didn't get out of the house in time to do my interval workout on the track. I'm trying to avoid the cold mornings as I'm feeling better, so I ran after work. I get a little spooked on the lonely track by myself, it is next to open fields and ponds and I've seen bobcats in the neighborhood on my runs.. heck, I scared one out of my yard once. I went to the group run at the store but instead of doing an easy run, I did my 800's. The interval pace was just under 7, so that isn't too hard to pull off on the road. It was neat to get hills in during it too. All but 3 were under time, the second included uphill, crossing a road and tight turn, I think that is why I missed.. I was prepared after that one and didn't let it happen again. The workout was great.

Saturday, I ran my long run. I got out a little late (ooh, I see a pattern) because I was absorbed in the TV watching about the Congresswoman in Tucson. So awful. I wanted to get my long run in on Saturday instead of Sunday.. the weather was changing. I wore shorts and a thin long sleeve shirt with the arms pushed up and shades... around mile 7, I pulled the sleeves down. Around mile 9 I was putting on my gloves that get warm when you sweat in them. It started raining around midnight, turned to sleet at 9 and snowing since noon. There were 3 inches about 2.5 hours after it started.. I haven't checked lately. I had 15 miles and my goal was for my pace to be no faster than 9:05 instead of going my old easy pace of 8:30 then falling apart because I'm not an 8:30 easy pace runner right now. It is hard to get used to a new pace. I did well, there were hills in the run and I tried out s!caps for the first time (well, I think Bob gave me one when I paced him at JJ100). I think I needed it and I think it helped. I didn't make it to 15, I started having trouble with my right IT and when I started feeling good and wanted to go so I could say I did 15, I felt a sharp IT pain or SI pain and my new coach watches me and would yell at me (oh, I'm my new coach - haha!), I'm way more interested in being healthy than nailing each workout as written in a book. This time I'm being smart. Here were my paces, I went 13.81 miles.
1 - 8:32
2 - 9:05
3 - 9:18
4 - 9:18
5 - 9:28 (uphill)
6 - 9:07 - took s!cap right after I finished this mile
7 - 9:35 at 6.5 I felt the IT tighten, it constricted my stride and my pace eased back.
8 - 9:24 - gu during this mile
9 - 8:52
10 - 9:12
11 - 9:10
12 - 9:06
13 - 9:23 - had to stop for cars & forgot watch wasn't on auto-pause
.81 - 8:42 pace - I felt so good, I wanted to go 1.19 more miles.

OK - I decided my body doesn't know the difference between almost 14 and 15. Since I started back, the longest I have run is 8 miles. Since the car wreck, the longest I have run is 6.5. My legs are sore, especially the tendon that runs behind my right knee and through my hamstring - I think the IT is more to the side.. but I feel this one. I'm going to try to see the PT tomorrow if not, Tuesday.

So - do I run RNR AZ half? It sure won't be a fast run. haha!! I haven't bought a ticket, so that will be pricey. I have a free flight, but I want to save that for Boston so I can wait to book until I'm ready. I've already paid the entry fee, Kara Goucher will be there (not like we will be hanging out or I'd even see her other than when she lines us or maybe the expo), the Barrett Jackson car auction is that week and I wanted to go like usual with my Dad and my nephew was going to join us. The obvious - it is a hell of a lot warmer there. I'm just not sure.. and to line up in coral 1 going out so slow - ack! I just haven't decided what to do.

If I decide not to go (and freeze my slow butt off here), there is another half in Arizona on Feb 20th and it will be cold then - I could still get away for some thawing heat since it will probably be cold icky weather here in Feb. I missed the super cheep prices, but still, it is $70, but it looks like it is raising money for a kid with blood cancer (although doesn't clearly say if they are raising it for him or he raised it in one of their races - they keep updating how he is doing tho) which makes it cool, makes me think of Mary and also my high school coach (I'll post about that later). I think my Dad.. OK, I know my Dad will be disappointed, but the other race does end really close to their house. I'm a bit disappointed if I do RNR Vegas, would have been 3 (AZ, Dallas, Las Vegas) I just can't decide if I go or not. Any thoughts? BTW - my scheduled long run for next weekend is 17 miles, so I would either run the whole thing around 9 pace and add on, or if I picked it up, I'd stop at 13.1 and maybe do a few light miles the next day.

What are your thoughts???

Would suck to run a half that slow... would also suck to not be there.. gosh, I'm so undecided.

PS - If I had another free flight, I'd probably go, but I don't and they are about $300 each way, so that means I'd have to use up my free flight for Boston... I haven't picked out the days for that trip yet and it is really up in the air - I want to see family, etc. and I need to get things ironed out before I buy that ticket.. the free flight I have is a gift from a friend that works for the airline "to do as I wish" but pretty much - to pay for my flight to Boston.