Day 72

Happy I was able to get my run in this morning, even though I had to walk a mile or so of it. I'm confident I can run the full half marathon distance...just gotta be careful not to start too fast and control the pace. The forecast right now is showing a low of 58 on November 8th which would be great. The race starts at 6:30 am so we should see the coolest temp of the day.

Breakfast: Usual-519 cals

Lunch: Chicken tenders, Mac & cheese-449 cals

Dinner: 2 hard tacos, pizza slice-741 cals

Snacks: Protein bar, shake, popcorn-502 cals

Totals: 2212 cals, 146g protein

Running:
Mile 1 10:48
Mile 2 11:18
Mile 3 11:00
Mile 4 10:44
Mile 5 11:06
Mile 6 11:07
Mile 7 11:20
Mile 8 11:30
Mile 9 11:47
Mile 10 13:09
Mile 11 12:12

you are putting in the work and getting some great mileage. You really need to considering cooking at home and preparing meals for a few days at a time 1-2 times per week.

^this - and eat/snack on some veggies/fruit. So much better for you overall (low calories, high in potassium) then popcorn, shakes, protein bars (I do eat these occasionally as part of my breakfast but things like sugar snap peas, green beans, have surprisingly good amount of protein for their calorie numbers) etc.

Funny you should say that, I thawed out some chicken breasts last night and cooked them this morning in a little olive oil. Held off on making a starch for a side and went with a can of sweet peas instead.

Fozzy,

I wish I wasn't such a damn picky eater. I've honestly tried lots of different veggies but just can't force myself to like them. I do like green beans, sweet peas and cooked carrots so I need to at least get more of those in the rotation.

I hated em too early on in life. I eat tons of things now I used to hate. Brussel sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, etc. One of my best investments since starting to eat healthy was a hamilton two tier digital steamer. I use it almost every day to steam up 400 - 800 grams of various vegetables, sprinkle with a little garlic sea salt and pepper and chow down. Dump em in, steam em for 20 - 22 minutes and voila, done. Sometimes that is my entire dinner unless I am extra hungry and add some protein like a backed chicken breast, slow cooked pulled pork, etc. I used that steamer so much the lid gave out and I had to get a replacement recently so now I switch it up and roast veggies in the oven a couple times a week with same seasonings and few sprays of pam coconut oil to prevent sticking and help the salt/pepper stick.

I roast asparagus and Brussel sprouts. I use a little olive oil and kosher salt, pepper, maybe a little minced garlic. Good.

Yes, real nice change of pace/flavor for me after eating so many steamed veggies the past 3 years. I still steam when I a lazy since with all the veggies I do in one sitting I have to do 3 different start times to get them to finish at the same time.

Day 73

Woke up feeling a little sore but it was just my lower quads mainly, no joint soreness at all. I did a slow 4 mile run and felt pretty good after. Gonna take tomorrow off.

Breakfast: Usual-629 cals

Lunch: Chicken breast (7.8 oz), sweet peas (9.2 oz), olive oil-380 cals

Dinner: Soft taco w/ cheese, Tostitos cantina chips, queso-653 cals

Snacks: Protein bar, cake, soft serve cone-560 cals

Totals: 2,223 cals, 149g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:29
Mile 2 11:40
Mile 3 11:27
Mile 4 11:15

Day 74

Day off from running...back at it Friday.

Breakfast: Usual-535 cals

Lunch: Chicken breast (9.4 oz), tortilla, swiss, bbq-633 cals

Dinner: Fried fish (8 oz)-535 cals

Snacks: Protein shake, pudding, Whataburger toquito-700 cals

Totals: 2403 cals, 176g protein

Day 75

Still had a little muscle soreness in my legs when I woke up but wasn't too bad. Did an easy 4 miles and felt good after. Taking Saturday off so I'll finish October with 107.8 total miles, the most I've ever had in a calendar month.

Breakfast: Bacon, scrambled eggs, grits, toast-762 cals

Lunch: Chicken breast (8.5 oz), tortilla, swiss, bbq-556 cals

Dinner: Pizza at a local place...3 slices meat lover's-750 cals

Snacks: Protein bar, pudding-230 cals

Totals: 2297 cals, 148g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:14
Mile 2 11:17
Mile 3 11:24
Mile 4 11:01

Day 76

Off day from running...busy day at work though. Final long run on Sunday morning, then one week until the race!!

Breakfast: Usual-497 cals

Lunch: Same as breakfast just bigger bowl-583 cals

Dinner: Stuffed pasta shells at work-516 cals

Snacks: Popcorn, Oreo thins, assorted Halloween candy-766 cals

Totals: 2363 cals, 128g protein

Day 77

Another long run in the rain...wasn't nearly as bad as last time though. Picked a route that included the hill I used for my hill repeats last week and ended up doing 7 miles. Went at a pretty brisk pace as I wanted to get it done and get dry. No soreness whatsoever and I certainly could've gone much further. 7 days til race day!!

Breakfast: Usual-513 cals

Lunch: Smoked sausage, pulled pork, baked beans-882 cals

Dinner: Rotiserre chicken-416 cals

Snacks: Protein shake, granola bar, Oreo thins-350 cals

Totals: 2162 cals, 191g protein

Running:
Mile 1 10:46
Mile 2 10:46
Mile 3 10:21
Mile 4 10:49
Mile 5 10:51
Mile 6 10:56
Mile 7 10:49

Sounds like you're peaking at the right time! Do you have a target time for the HM?

I'm thinking a stretch goal would be around 2:12:00/10:04 pace. Based on my 5K race time the online race predictors indicate around 2:14:30. Thoughts?

I don't know how accurate those race time predictors are. Would be good to know though because I'm basing my own HM plans around one! I guess my advice would be to go out at a pace are pretty sure you will be capable of sustaining for the race (maybe the 2:14?), and then assess at halfway. If you're feeling good, kick on and reassess every few miles.

Monday morning weigh in:

237.2

Week 1 -5.4 lbs
Week 2 -1.0 lbs
Week 3 -3.4 lbs
Week 4 -1.6 lbs
Month 1 -11.4 lbs
Week 5 -.4 lbs
Week 6 -1.8 lbs
Week 7 -3.2 lbs
Week 8 -2.2 lbs
Month 2 -7.6 lbs
Week 9 -2.0 lbs
Week 10 +1.6 lbs
Week 11 -4.0 lbs

Total -23.4 lbs

Total mileage:
Week 1 17.2
Week 2 20.1
Week 3 22.2
Week 4 25.3
Week 5 16.1
Week 6 21.1
Week 7 25.0
Week 8 23.2
Week 9 30.5
Week 10 13.0
Week 11 31.0

Much better week! On track for 235 by Sunday the 8th and 219 by January 1st!!

Pokerron,

Sounds like a good plan...I definitely don't wanna break too fast and end up sucking wind halfway thru. The forecast is calling for mid 50s with light rain which sounds pretty ideal.

I have to avoid at all costs what happened the first time I did a HM about 18 months ago. I had been doing lots of races all the way up to 15K but didn't train properly for the half. I also got very unlucky...the race was in late March and I had been training in 50-60 degree weather for several months. The night before the race the organizers pushed back the start from 7:30 to 9:30 because there were bad thunderstorms forecasted for the early morning. After the storms cleared out it was hot and muggy, about 75 at race time and over 80 by the time it was over.

I started out great and the first 9 miles went fine. Then one of the water stations was out of cups (WTF??) and there was a line of about 10 runners waiting to tip the water jug. I decided to just keep going instead of waiting. Then at about the 10 mile mark the running surface went from smooth asphalt to a rough gravel and my knees started tweaking and I was really feeling it. I got super stubborn and was determined to finish without stopping to walk which was a HUGE mistake.

I did manage to finish despite the last 3 miles being pure torture. I knew I was in trouble right away though...I got really light headed and felt like I was gonna pass out. A girl I was dating at the time was there and fetched the paramedics and they started an IV right there near the finish line due to my BP being really low. Long story longer I ended taking my first ever ambulance ride and spent several hours in the ER.

So lesson learned...listen to your body!!

Day 78

Easy 4 mile run...it was very muggy outside after even more overnight rain. Feeling good though...gonna take Tuesday off then do a short tempo run Wednesday.

Breakfast: Usual-526 cals

Lunch: Chicken tender sandwich, bbq sauce-825 cals

Dinner: Grilled pork chop (6.2 oz), red potatoes (12 oz), corn (3 oz)-618 cals

Snacks: Soft serve cone, protein bar, pudding-390 cals

Totals: 2359 cals, 170g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:08
Mile 2 11:26
Mile 3 11:24
Mile 4 11:00

race time predictors are imho quite useful. the big caveat is of course that they don't know anything about your specific strengths or weaknesses. so the HM prediction for an 800m runner is probably way too fast (because most 800m runners don't really often run longer than ~10k in a go).
but for an "average runner", that has no problems with the endurance part of the race, i think the predictions are quite exact between 1500m - HM.
for OP specifically: if you have a 2:15 pacer, i'd suggest to run with him until at least the halfway point. then you can accelerate if you feel really good. otherwise just stay in the group for a few more km imho. (of course, if the pace feels too hard, it's smart to fall back).
btw: if you run with a pacer, i'd suggest to always ask in the beginning how he plans to pace. even splits or even effort? does he want to bank time early? does he walk through water stations or keep up the pace? etc.

good luck!

I wasn't planning on running with a pacer...I've always run solo but of course will draft behind someone going a similar pace if I can. Are you suggesting finding a random runner before the race starts who's around a 2:15 pace and just hanging with them the first few miles?

no, i meant a pace group. many half / full marathons have pacers that run the race in a specified time (normally they hold a sign or balloon with the time on it). many people run with the pacer for much of the race.
fort myers and and pensacola have them (including a 2:15 pace group), not sure about orlando.

Cool! I'm in Pensacola so I'll be sure to look for the pace groups!

Day 79

Off day from running...I've been working a ton the last couple weeks and it's killing my social life! Back at it tomorrow with a tempo run. 5 days and counting!

Breakfast: Bacon, eggs, grits & toast-714 cals

Lunch: Protein shake, McDouble, Spicy chicken sandwich-874 cals

Dinner: 2 soft tacos w/ cheese-420 cals

Snacks: Skinny cow, popcorn-292 cals

Totals: 2300 cals, 111g proteinP

Day 80

Did a 4 mile run Wednesday morning with 2 miles at my HM pace. Kinda warm and muggy but it went well. Looking forward to cooler temps coming back. Had a chocolate craving when I saw the leftover Reese's Halloween eggs on sale for 59 cents at Winn Dixie and grabbed two of 'em.

Breakfast: Usual-511 cals

Lunch: Grilled pork chop (5 oz), red potatoes-455 cals

Dinner: Grilled pork chop (12 oz), red potatoes-985 cals

Snacks: Milk, 2 Reese's eggs-462 cals

Totals: 2413 cals, 167g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:05
Mile 2 10:19
Mile 3 10:15
Mile 4 11:13

Day 81

Got out and did an easy 3 mile run...this warm, humid weather sucks!! Ate two pretty big meals and went over a good bit.

Breakfast: Usual-530 cals

Lunch: Prime rib (10 oz), baked potato, butter-950 cals

Dinner: Grilled shrimp, corn, yeast roll, roasted peanuts-1069 cals

Snacks: Skinny cow-150 cals

Totals: 2699 cals, 182g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:01
Mile 2 11:12
Mile 3 10:56

Day 82

Last easy run before my race! Hard to believe it's been almost 12 weeks since I started this. I went and picked up my race packet this afternoon...they had a marathon expo at a downtown hotel, very cool stuff! 30 hours and counting!!

Breakfast: Usual-447 cals

Lunch: Gyro on pita bread w/ fries-885 cals

Dinner: Grilled pork chops, red potatoes-782 cals

Snacks: Protein bar, soft serve cone-330 cals

Totals: 2444 cals, 165g protein

Running:
Mile 1 10:54
Mile 2 11:00
Mile 3 10:45