Medium-long run. 7:38 am, 40-58°F, 10% humidity, winds calm. We had a good group on the High Line Canal Trail this morning. It was me, Michelle, Michelle, Carly, and Carly's friend Nicole. Nicole wanted to do 4 miles and she's fairly speedy. We did two out and back and Carly and Nicole led the whole time, but the rest of us stayed more or less the same distance behind them. Nicole stopped when we got back to the start and the rest of us continued out for a mile and then turned around and came back. Michelle was kind of struggling. She's pregnant and she's coming down with a cold. She slowed down and told us to go on without her when we had about a half mile to go. I was thinking that this was unusual because she usually picks up the pace at the end and I was wondering if she was going to finish slowly for a change. And then when the finish was in site, Michelle came charging up from behind and passed us all, so I picked up the pace and finished with her. Michelle and Michelle and Nicole were done at that point. I went to my car and discarded my gloves, my ear warmer, and one of my two shirts, got a drink of water, and put my ear phones on. Then I went out for 9 more by myself. When I had about 3 or 4 miles to go, I tried to remind myself to just enjoy being out running instead of being anxious about getting finished. I'm not sure it really worked. I was still anxious to get done. I decided to try to gradually speed up the last few miles and then really push it for a fast finish the last mile. The trail was in better shape than it has been in a long time. All the snow and ice is gone off of it. There was only one spot beyond mile marker 4 that was kind of muddy. The only problem is that some sections are rutted with tire tracks. I have now finished mesocycle 1 of my training plan without missing any days. AP: 9:16. Splits: 9:40, 9:20, 9:49, 9:53, 9:51, 9:36, 9:24, 9:24, 9:27, 9:10, 9:06, 8:59, 8:53, 8:49, 7:54, 0.07 miles @ 7:12. So look, Michelle, we did go faster those first couple of miles. No wonder you were struggling.
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