LM warmup, 13.55 miles in 1:37:18, 7:10/mi, HR 160, with 2 miles warmup, 2 x Strides/Drills, 3 x 5K @ HM in 21:32 (6:57/mi - uphill), 20:25 (6:35/mi - 1/3 up, 1/3 flat, 1/3 down), and 19:21 (6:14/mi - downhill), & 2 miles cooldown. Average pace for repeats was 6:35/mi. Followed up with 1 mile cooldown walk w/ dogs & stretching. Some scattered rain drops but mostly dry and cool (45F). No desire to go running today, much less a 3 x 5K HM paced workout, but this is peak week so I guess I'm not supposed to feel like doing it by this point. First 5K felt surprisingly good, even while headed uphill.....got more difficult towards the end (as the grade gradually increased) but I think the faster 10K paced repeats earlier in the week helped to make this seem easy(-ier). Second repeat was a bit more difficult...probably the last uphill mile on top of the 3 previous uphill miles took their toll....but a good pace overall. Last 3 I was tired and fought not to fade, mostly dealing with leg tiring issues, not really breathing issues. Glad I ran this workout.....very difficult, especially after Tuesday's 5 x 2K @ 10K pace workout, so I think this gives me a good confidence boost that I'm ready to race next weekend. I think given the hilly nature of the course and the last few workouts, I'm probably looking at the 1:25-1:26 range, so probably no PR, but this isn't really a PR type course. Now it's time to enter taper week and get some rest.
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