The mental battle

This week has been good for training. It's still on the light side but I'm building it up and making sure I don't get injured.
On Monday night I went out for five hilly miles. I needed to build in some speed and hill work to prepare for the half marathon on Sunday.  My legs aren't used to speed (it's all relative) and weren't too happy about it but I pushed them on. On Tuesday morning I had my usual yoga class followed by a tough swim session in the evening. I felt tired the following day and after a heavy day at the office I decided a rest would do me good. So on Thursday I repeated my hilly speed session. It seemed easier and I was happy with the pace of 5.25min per KM.
I made the decision to rest and hydrate on Saturday and had a yoga session to work the muscles and prepare them for Sunday. I felt guilty about not training but I was sticking to my plan.
On Sunday morning the weather was awful. High winds, sleet, snow, ice on the roads and a tough half marathon course. I spent hours deciding on what to wear - shorts or tights, full wind cheater or something lighter?  The temperature was 2 degrees but with the windchill probably -3 or more when at the top of the highest climb.
I wasn't sure about the pace I should run, after all my 100 mile pace will be slow as my training should be.  I asked top ultra runner Rosie Bell what her plan was. She said she'd be running 9 minute miles. Perfect I thought that would bring me in just under 2 hours which was my goal for such a difficult course in terrible weather conditions.  I stuck with Rosie for 3/4 of a mile before I realised her pace was more like 7 minute miles! I then had a decision to make. Should I keep up this fast pace, or as fast as I could go and ignore Rosie heading off into the blizzard, or slow down to the 2 HR pace? I felt good so decided to get some "time in the bank" which I could draw on later. The big climb up "the rig" wasn't too bad but the conditions underfoot were slippy. Therefore I had to be careful on the downhill where I picked the pace up.
At 7 miles we turned back towards home but had a 3 mile undulating climb straight into wind. It was every bit as tough as I thought it would be and as it wasn't an ultra race, I couldn't walk the hill. I gritted my teeth and dug deep knowing that the last 3 miles that followed and if I had anything left I could push on. The plan worked. I truly believed I would be doing well to get 2 hrs but I came in on 1 Hour 51 minutes - delighted especially as the average pace was 5.15 per km which was quicker than my 5 mile run during the week.
I can build my running from here. This was a good test of my physical and mental fitness and gives me confidence for the half ironman in May.  Tough races make you stronger and with my training intensity increasing I am looking forward to the benefits!