I am running the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon this morning
I’ve scheduled this post earlier than normal. I usually publish my first post of the morning at 9:00 a.m. However, this post will be published at 6:30 a.m.
Why? Because the Myrtle Beach Marathon and Half Marathon start at 6:30 a.m.
It will probably take me a few minutes to reach the start line, since there are thousands of people running this race. So, if you read this immediately after it is published, then you may be reading before I actually start running. But, for most of you, you will read this while I am running or after I finish the race.
I have two goals for this race. My primary goal is to finish the race. I have run 13.1 miles before (half marathon distance), but never in a race. So, if I finish, this will be a big accomplishment for me, especially since I couldn’t run at all last summer.
My secondary goal is to finish the race in under 2 hours. That means that I will need to run all 13.1 miles at a pace of around 9 minutes per mile. I’ve run just over 9 miles at that pace. But, when I ran 13.1 miles before, I ran slower that than pace. So, again, if I finish in under 2 hours, this will be another great accomplishment for me. In early fall, I was running much shorter distances at a pace of 12 minutes per mile.
Plus, because of this race, I’m able to spend a long weekend with my wife, Margaret. My parents, Margaret’s parents, and some good friends of ours helped make this weekend possible, and we are greatly appreciative!