Thanks! How did you chose 10 miles as a base onthe weekends? I am just curious. I wonder if that would help me have a better finish if I had a longer base, or if I should work harder on my midweek training to build more strength. I am very much still learning. A 10 mile run isn't bad at all. It's something for me to ponder.
Here I am, almost to the Finish Line. I am in the orange.
Great photo!!!
To answer the question about base mileage, I didn't choose it, actually, the running group that I train with did. This next part is long and may feel ad-like, as I didn't realize until I typed it how much I really am an advocate for the group!
So, feel free to skip.
I train with an "official" Galloway group here in Raleigh, actually one of if not the largest one in the country. We have almost 500 members, split into pace groups from 7mm up to 15mm, and do a long run together every Sat AM.
The season goes from May - Dec and starts with 3 miles, works up to 10, then stays at a base of 10 all season with individuals choosing to do more by week, based on whether they are training for half or full, and which race they have chosen. A half marathoner goes to 14 before the race, and a full goes to 26.
They choose a different route each week, and each pace group does Galloway's interval recommendation based on min per mile. I am in either the 12 (2:1 intervals) or 13 (1:1 intervals) group, depending on how I am feeling. We also train 2mm slow for long runs, on Galloway's recommendation. They also recommend hill or speed intervals for two 30 min runs weekly, which you do on your own. I have been lucky to find a few friends who live close by, and occasionally we meet up for our short runs.
We almost always meet at a local run store, different ones each week, and they "sponsor" the run by providing 15-25% discounts on all merchandise, and coffee, water, and food post-run. The group provides water stops about every 2 miles on most runs, and each pace group has 1-4 leaders that keep everyone on pace and together. No ipods are allowed, and the emphasis is on keeping your pace "conversational".
I will say, for me it's awesome to run in a big group like this. It makes the time fly by to have multiple people to talk to, and it also is very encouraging to be running with people at your pace and general fitness level. Having to run with a group (my pace group has 20-40 people depending on week), is good practice for race day as well, as you have to be aware of the people around you.
In the winter, we will be splitting up into "winter run" groups, which is a come if you can and organized by the pace group leaders. This one will be free, no water provided past what you bring, no food or sponsorship, but at least is a way to continue to train with a group if you so desire.
Haven't officially registered waiting to see if I can recruit any friends but I see that a lot of you are going at it solo, so that won't stop me. Thanks for all the wonderful tips and congrats on everyone's awesome runs. 
