Another Goal Accomplished

Back during my first go round at running, I established a goal of running a half marathon.  I wanted to finish in under 2 hours.  The closest I came was 2:02:04.  The fourth and last one I ran took over 2:11. That last run marked the beginning of the end.  It was obvious I would never be fast enough to accomplish a 2-hour half marathon.

That was in 2006 or 2007.  I don't remember exactly.  I still ran, but no more than 2 or 3 days a week.  Sometimes not at all.  I started doing triathlons and that was fun, but alas, I still didn't reduce my running times enough to make me excited about the sport.

Then along came Tony Horton and Shaun T.  They got me into the best shape of my life. I noticed I was running faster.  I was setting prs in nearly every conceivable distance.  I decided to apply my new found fitness to running.

Shaun T

++++++++++

I set out this morning on a 12-mile run.  About 3 miles in I thought I'd make it a half marathon and get that 2-hour monkey off my back.  For whatever reason, 13.1 miles didn't seem that far.  Perhaps it's because I'm training for a marathon and half that distance doesn't seem as intimidating?  Perhaps it's my increased fitness?  Perhaps I've been reading too many Dean Karnazes books?

Me at the Kaloa Sugar Mill 10-mile run in Hawaii.  I've dropped 20 pounds and 2 minutes/mile since this race.  As bad as I look in this picture, I felt even worse.

I figured if I'm running a half marathon I might as well make it official by naming it.  I dubbed it the Trent Lorcher Invitational.  There was a good chance I would win since I was the only participant.  I finished in 1:49:55, well below the seemingly impossible 2-hour threshold, well below my personal best, well above a Boston qualifying time.

It's time to get to work.