Two years into my running journey

Two years and one week ago I did my first real race as an adult.

The race had pacers. And it was the race that inspired me to do more with running.

It was the Chick-Fil-A half. I'd known about the race for a few years, mostly because it impacted traffic around town for years. And I wanted to do it, but 13.1 seemed like too many miles. So when there was an option to run HALF of that, I signed up. And since I'd never run 6.5 miles before I followed a training plan, and gradually increased my mileage. (First time following a training plan.) I remember the first time I completed 6 miles or 8 miles. I remember finding my easy pace—where I felt like I could run forever.

And I ran the race—and surprised myself with a faster than expected finish.

I am such a different runner than I was then.

Running that race—and finishing as second place woman (for half the half), nudged me to join the Athens Road Runners. And it helped me start training and learning so much about running.

How I'm a different runner than I was 2 years ago

• I'm a more serious runner than I was then. I just take it more seriously: tracking weekly mileage, podcasts group runs, morning workouts everything.
• Back then I ran 12 mile weeks. Now, I usually run 10+ miles as my long run on the weekend. I run about 30 miles a week, give or take. I also log my miles. (I'd barely started to use Strava before that race. Now I'm addicted.)
• I hadn't heard of gels or fueling on the run now. Now, I always have a giant stash of fuel for long runs on me.
• I take hydration more seriously. I'm always thinking about water and if I'm drinking enough (I'm usually not.)
• I do speed work regularly.
• I have different paces. (Back then, I had one speed. A tempo. No easy or all out.)
• I listen to podcasts now. Which I didn't even do a year ago.

How I'm the same
• I'm still very particular about gear. Love to run in Lululemon.
• I still always carry my phone with me.
• While I do more group runs, I still do most of my runs alone and on the trails.
• I'm still the same size. I haven't gained any weight. I'm still not an ultra skinny runner.
• I'm still working on mental toughness. I have some natural speed, but am not the toughest. Work in progress.