12 Miler

Saturday I ran 12.28 miles...Last long run before my half marathon next weekend!

You can say what you want about New Jersey, but I really have some nice running areas and varied running surfaces near me...all along the same run.  Have a look for yourself:

Road

Gravel/Dirt Path

Grassy Meadow

Dirt Path through Tall Trees

Less swampy/More of a "wetland" when we have had rain.

Usually filled with the sounds of Spring Peepers

Dirt Path Along Canal

 

Now for some fun findings along my run--

I've heard of people being beaten with an ugly stick, but did not know it was available for purchase.

This goose was honking nonstop from a tree ten feet above the canal.  Maybe it was protecting nearby baby geese as it is that time of year, but I didn't see any yellow fuzzy ducks myself on this run.

This is a big blue heron, also sitting in a tree.

As  you can probably tell from my pictures, it was overcast, and about 65F.  There was a chance of thunderstorms, but luckily they held off for my run!

12.28 miles in 2 hours and 19 minutes, at an average pace of an easy 11:19.  My average moving pace was 10:58, but I stopped to take several pictures.  I decided to run the last couple miles at closer to half marathon pace- Mile 11 was at a 10:21 pace, Mile 12 at a 10:12 pace, and .16 mile at 10:17 pace before a brief walking cool down.

I had a Mint Chocolate gu at mile 5.0 and a Chocolate Outrage gu at mile 9.0.  And I brought my beloved handheld Camelbak Water bottle.  It was my first time trying Chocolate Outrage.  It tasted a lot like Mint Chocolate, just - not surprisingly - without the mint.

Oooh, and speaking of my upcoming half...remember once upon a time at my last half marathon when I donned a lovely temporary tattoo on my calf? 

 That valuable advertising space is still available for rent if anyone is interested.

Well, wearing that tattoo and dealing with the lady who asked me if it was a real tattoo (srsly?) paid off and I won a $50 gift card to a local (Philly) running store!

 Sweet!

My husband laughs at me for all the contests and giveaways I enter, but you won't have a chance of winning if you never enter! Or, maybe I am just lucky.

ETA:
Hopefully my "luck" holds up through this weekend, because this is what this week's forecast looks like.  I know it's still too early to know what the weather will be 5 6 days from now with any real certainty.  I'm counting on the rain to let up... Friday night.