Tiny Thunder Running

I don't usually write about training runs, but I couldn't pass this one up. Early last week, I reached out to my friend Jeremy to ask for suggestions on a different trail route to switch it up a little. I knew I had a 26 mile training run to do and thought it might be fun to branch out. Jeremy is a local badass ultra-runner so I knew he would have some great ideas. He didn't disappoint. I will admit, I was a little worried about going it alone. All my usual partners in crime were on different training plans this week or out of town, but I planned on going and doing what I could. I am not sure why, but I was totally unsure of myself- even upon arriving to the starting point of my run. I was worried about whether there would be creepers on the trail waiting for me at 7 am. I was worried that I would fall and get hurt. What if I ran out of water or got lost? Twenty-six miles was not a new distance for me, but definitely daunting to complete alone and on a new trail. ...

Directly following my double header 5k weekend, I hit the trails and ran a half marathon!! The race is put on by  Friends of Pine Grove  and is called Iron Run Half Marathon. This is the second year I have run it and this year was a huge improvement for me on so many levels. Like last year, I spend the night at a friend's cabin so we got to kind of mosey awake and get ready, eat breakfast and travel the 5 minutes from her cabin to the race. We met all of our river runner friends there for a nice photo opp before the race. It was a really cool mix of abilities this year and I really didn't feel like I got held up as much with larger groups of people. The trail was wide enough for two people for most of the race, but last I definitely felt "stuck" more than this year. I started the race with Michelle and Katie, both of whom have been awesome running buddies this year. Katie was gone by mile 1 and Michelle and I stuck together for the first 2-3 miles somewhere....