^awesome job!

Angesmuch - WOW!! I got tired just reading your post! That's AMAZING! You're gonna ROCK that 17K!

Great job on the half! There's nothing wrong with that time, especially on trail like surfaces.

I have had a rough week in my training. I have 8 weeks to go before my first half, and while I have enjoyed the training all along, this last week has not been fun or productive. I've been forcing myself to do my runs and not enjoying them when I go. The weather is still cold and I hate that wind that cuts through my tights. Today I have a 14km and instead of being excited I'm feeling blah. Has anyone else experienced this bump in the road while training for a half?

Hi River, well i've done 3 HM in 4 years now, so clearly i'm the expert (NOT!).
I've still got 6 weeks to go to my 'proper' half and luckily i'm still enjoying the running (although its taking a bit of fitting in).

I'm sure that it's not at all unusual to get fed up half way through - and think what the marathon trainers must go through!!

How about just having a very light-on week and give yourself a rest. It still gives you heaps of time to ramp back up.

Otherwise just keep plugging away. The nature of running means that things can change around very quickly and you could easily find that joy again on your very next run - especially if the weather improves.

Good luck. Keep posting and let us know how its going.

Ange - very cool that you did another half! I can't wait for mine in December, though I'm very glad it's that far off so I can work up to it slowly...

I ran on Saturday before I went to my horse, and it was a good run. 2.7 miles with hills - am I weird that I like running hills? I guess the "like" part is that I can see an improvement week over week with my endurance and how I can actually get up the damn things. I took Sunday off - running AND riding back to back really worked my legs - and then ran this morning before work. I didn't have to be at the client until 9 today, and sunrise was officially 6:30am, so I went out around 6:15 and it was just getting light. I had a really nice run - 2.4 miles, hills (yeah, it's a common theme!) and it was perfect weather - cool, still, really nice. And the cotton candy pink sunrise helped. Tomorrow is strength training as I realize the stronger my core is, the easier running will be - and I need it to get easier!

My DH ran a 5k on Saturday - he said it was very hilly, the race description of "gentle rolling hills" was a lie... but he ran all but one hill and was quite proud of himself. We have a 5k on Saturday and I think it's got some hills - I've yet to find a 5k in this town that doesn't have hills! But we'll run it together, so it should be fun.

I also dug out all our medals (I try to run races that give medals to all finishers) and some old ones from my father's races back in England. I'm going to have DH hang a rod in our upstairs hallway and display the medals on it - we have a brag wall in the dining room for our academic achievements, so this one will be for our athletic achievements!

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Ange! 3HM in 4 years is nothing to dismiss lightly, it's a whole lot more than most people ever do.

I'm back on my game now but it was a tricky few days. My back started to spasm and I was forced to skip 2 w/o last week. Perfectly recovered now, and I'm doing pretty good as far as no serious injuries, so I actually may train for a full to do in the fall. Waiting until after the half is over to make my decision. It's on my bucket list.

Jules, I like hills too. Sounds like you live in a hilly area, me too, it's wise to embrace what you can't change.

I'm planning on another early morning run tomorrow - it seems that I can head out about 15-20 minutes before the official sunrise time and that is just light enough to make me feel like I'm not running in the dark. I am absolutely refusing to run on the treadmill so I really just have to get outside! The weather for the end of this week is supposed to be ridiculous - Friday is due to hit 90 and Saturday 89, and I have a 5k on Saturday. My guess is at 8am, it'll be around 70 or so, so it'll be shorts and a tank top for me! And a towel in the car...

Had a fabulous run this morning. I love early morning runs - 6am, just barely light, beautiful pink sky, chilly but calm - 2.8 miles with a long, gentle hill (uphill!) instead of a few short steep hills. Felt like a really good start to the day, especially as I had a 14 hour day yesterday and was completely beat when I got home last night.

Just plugging along, 10 sun, 2 warm up before ST and yoga yesterday and 4 this morning. My ankle is feeling good so that's a relief.

River, I had many ups and downs during my half training, I think it's pretty normal.

Good luck!