This Saturday I decided to see how attainable my stated goal for the half marathon really is.

The run started out fine, but I have to admit that the last half didn’t go that well.  I didn’t feel anywhere near as strong as I did just a week ago on my first 12 mile run.  But, I did finish the run and I came very close to the goal I have set for the race.  The goal is 1:55:00 and I completed this run in 1:55:31.

There are a couple reasons for worry:

1. It was an absolutely perfect day.  Very little wind, mid-fifties, clear blue skies.  Who knows what race day will bring.
2. While there were some hills in my run, there was nothing that compares to Gilbert.

I am just deluded enough to think that there are a couple reasons to be positive too:

1. I won’t need to carry my own water around.  I hate those damn hydration belts.
2. Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.
3. Other runners.  ‘Nuff said.

All in all, based on this run, I feel like I’ve set a great goal.  It’s aggressive enough that it will keep me pushing throughout the race, yet I already know I can do it.  When I ran my first ever 10K just over 5 months ago, I was blown away by the effect the crowd had on me.  And that was nothing compared to the runner support at the Flying Pig.

I’m ready.