Hills, Blisters and Prepping for La Jolla

I reached a major milestone in my running this last weekend. I ran 8 miles with NO walk breaks. Yes I know for some of you that is nothing. But this gal hasn't done more than 6 miles in over a year. I know, I know I completed a Half Marathon in November. However, I was woefully undertrained for that and did a run/walk after mile 5. Not only did I do 8 miles with no walking I also did it on HILLS!!!! Oh yes, I am prepping for La Jolla 1/2 Marathon.

This isn't the first time I have attempted this beautiful course. Oh no, hubby and I completed it back in 2013. He was working on the San Diego Triple Crown and I just liked the price so thought I would give it a try.

 

 I was CLUELESS when people referred to the "Hill" I had really no idea what they were talking about. I mean in my mind I said:

 

 Until I came around the corner and saw the masses that were beginning the ascent up the hill. I saw where I was headed and thought, "Oh S$#!%!! I have to get up that!" But I finished it. I actually finished it in a PR time for me. Again that was amazing because I really had not been training for it other than on a treadmill and never longer than 6 miles. I just kept reminding myself to

 

 So, that was my state of mind for La Jolla 2013. This year is a little different. I have actually been training a little more. As I said in my opener, yes I RAN 8 miles and it was no treadmill flat course. Oh no, it was full of rolling hill after hill. I even finished it in a good time. I will be honest, I didn't plan on there being SO MANY hills on my training run. I was just being lazy and decided to leave my front door and run 4 miles in one direction and then turn around and come back. What I forgot about was that the road I chose is a hilly one. But I got thru it. I started to experience the blisters and the pain that hills will bring and I ran thru them. My view from the run this weekend was not nearly as beautiful as the La Jolla Half will offer.

 

 

This year I know what I am about to run in a little less than 4 weeks. I have ran this hill quite a few times since then. I feel good now. I have learned a lot about myself and what running can do for me. I can finish things. I can reach the goal that I want to reach.  2015 I am going to say to the Torrey Pines Hill: