2:15:12 (1:10:29/1:04:42). Ran my usual "flat" trail - this time I ran 2 x 8 miles instead of my usual 8 miles + 6 mile loop. My schedule called for the last 2-4 miles at 1/2 marathon pace, but since I had run 9 miles at 5K-10K pace this week, I decided to just see how I felt and run harder at the end without actually thinking about running fast. Sometimes it is more important to listen to your body and not your schedule (especially so early in my 1/2 marathon training cycle). I felt better than I would have expected on the second loop -- especially since it is really windy today again -- unfortunately it was a headwind on the uphill part, and tailwind on the downhill - and a cross-wind on the flat sides. Yuck. But, since I wasn't going 6:50 pace it was much easier to deal with!! Nice to start running a little longer on my long runs again. The wildflowers are blooming -- I promise I will get some pictures this week (I am going to be updating my facebook photo albums anyway), I think I was way too ensconced in marathon training last year to have realized just how beautiful the Spring is here ... lots of greens, purples, yellows and oranges. The cholla (a type of cactus) is also starting to get some redish flowers. Congratulations to the women's USA cross-country team on their BRONZE metal in World Cross-Country!! Shalane Flanagan, Molly Huddle, Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, Amy Hastings, Renne Ballie (nee Metivier) and Emily Brown!! YEA!! I believe this might have been the first US cross-country medal in ever?? I know we have had individual winners (Craig Virgin and Lynn Jennings) - but I don't know if we have had a team medal winner ... I will have to do some searching on this. Regardless -- this is a HUGE deal!! Women's distance running here in the US is on a tear right now!! At the first big outdoor track meet yesterday (Stanford Invitational) Lisa Koll ran a huge US leading 10K race in 31:18 - and this is EARLY in the season, her first 5K split was faster than winner of the 5K!!! And she is still in college. Things really could be looking up!!
I hope you are all enjoying your family and rest day today! | 