Day 1 of "Official Marathon Training"... 18 weeks to The Wineglass Marathon!

Today was my first official follow-the-training-plan day.  It is 18 weeks to my FIRST MARATHON & I am both nervous & excited.  Seeing as today is my official start it seems appropriate to lay out my goals for this marathon.  So here they are....

1. FINISH!  Yup, that's my #1 goal. Just get out there and finish the race.  Regardless of time, it will be a PR ;-)
2. Under 5 hours.  This is my realistic goal. I think I can do this.
3. 4:37.   This is my 'The Gods are shining on me & my running shoes & the planets have all aligned to give me perfect weather, strong legs & all the energy needed for a strong finish' goal. 

I was pumped to get out there today & opened my door only to be hit by a thick wet blanket of humidity & heat.  Yes, it seems we have skipped right from winter to summer here in the Northeast.  Yuk.  I closed the door & went back to get my water bottle.  Good call.  It was only a 5 mile tempo today but HOLY MOLY, I almost died the last mile.  Usually I do my run & if I'm not back home to the gym when I hit the mark I just keep going.  If I'm feeling good, I might add some extra detours.  NOT TODAY.  My ipod shouted out "5 miles completed" & I shut it down and walked the 1/4 mile or so back to the gym.  I actually went through 22 ounces of water by mile 4.  I am going to have to force myself to get up and go earlier or I'm never going to make those long runs in August. 

Here's how it broke down:

Plan: 5 mile tempo run: 1 mile warmup, 3 miles @ 10:19 pace, 1 mile cool down

Mile 1: 10:53  Not bad.  There's a crappy uphill portion right at the beginning so feeling ok so far.
Mile 2: 10:12  Ok, pretty good.  Sweating pretty good but keeping hydrated.
Mile 3: 9:55  I hit the flat.  I can see the waves of heat radiating from the pavement.  I stick to the gravel shoulder and drink alot. 
Mile 4: 10:28  I'm starting to hit the wall here.  I'm on the pavement.  I know I only have this mile of tempo pace left but I can't sustain it.  I feel like I'm breathing a hot wet blanket. 
Mile 5: 10:46  I'm almost dead.  I'm doing the "I can make it to the next lamppost" game.  There's a guy out for his lunch hour walk that I barely pass.  I'm out of water.  I hit 5 miles & shut it down. I'm walking. I'm tingly.  Thank you to the inventor of A/C....you are my hero.

Next run....8 miles friday....lesson learned....will be out before 10 am!