So I figured it’s about time I gave you an update on my preparation for Challenge Number Two: The Surftown Half Marathon in Rhode Island. It’s a little over a month away and I think I’m on track. On Friday I ran 11.6 miles and I felt pretty good afterwards—only had a mild headache which tells me I need to hydrate better the day before.

I’m feeling good in general. I’d like to work on some drills to improve my pace. I think a ten minute mile is a realistic goal for me even though I’d like to do a 9.5 minute mile. I definitely want to do better than an eleven minute mile.

I invested in a water belt, which I ran with on Friday and really liked.

What has been really helpful is having running buddies. I can say with certainty that I would not have stuck to this on my own. When I was younger I used to look forward to running for an hour by myself. Now I don’t even want to go on a thirty minute run by myself. And I don’t see myself doing anything more than 3.5 miles alone. I love going with the group that I am training with. Having someone to talk to especially helps pass the time.

If you think it will help you with your workouts, consider getting some training buddies. We all need different things at different times in our lives, but I would strongly recommend it.