Yesterday was our first group workout for the Rock N Roll Marathon. I didn't have as much trouble getting up at 5:30 as I was afraid of, and with the weather like it is the earlier starts are definitely better. Our run kicked off at 7, and by 8 when we finished it was definitely hot. I was pretty worried about not being able to keep up or finish the run, since I've only gotten back to really running within the past few months. Fortunately, the time I spent doing the couch to 5K seems to have paid off. The full length of our run was 4 miles, and I ran/jogged almost the entire thing. It was a there and back- 2 miles out, water break, then 2 miles back in again. I jogged the whole 2 miles out, had a good water break, and then jogged almost the entire way back. I took a little walk break when the trail came to a major road that we had to cross.
Since up until yesterday, the longest I'd run at one stretch was 2 miles, I call that a good effort. :) I definitely wasn't the fastest person out there, but I saw a lot of people who either turned around early or walked a majority of the trail. I think what I like most about running is that you're only competing against yourself. It doesn't matter that I'm not the fastest person out there, so long as I either run further (farther?) or faster than I did the last time.
In the final reckoning, I have to admit to being a little sore today. Mostly my ankles, and surprisingly enough, my back and shoulders. I ate a banana when we finished yesterday, and took a few more potassium supplements this morning. Next week I'll try and remember to start them on Friday.
I really want to try and photograph parts of this, but I would need to find a good way to carry my camera without sweating all over it. Since I'll also need to start carrying water fairly soon, I guess some sort of waist belt may be in order.