faster with age

     I ran 9.5 miles this morning at a very easy pace. I started out the first couple of miles running around 8:20-8:30 pace and just didn't feel good. I slowed to around 8:45 for a mile and still  felt drained. After 3 miles I was thinking about just cutting the run short. I decided to just slow down to a pace my body wanted to run no matter how slow and after another mile that drained feeling was gone. It was a nice cool and calm morning and very pretty up around the reservoir. I was enjoying this easy pace enough that I actually ran farther than I had planned. I also took 3 short breaks. I didn't pay much attention to my Garmin but after getting back I noticed that a lot of my miles were in the 9:30-9:40 range. I may have to start throwing in a few more miles at that pace. I've been trying to figure out why I've been so worn out the last couple of days [I really bonked on yesterdays bike ride too].  We had so much rain in June that I never had to irrigate. Now it has been dry and I've been moving irrigation pipe twice a day since last Thursday. I end up walking an extra 3 or 4 miles a day doing this and lifting and carrying a lot of sprinkler pipe. I also spent most of the day Monday digging up a blown mainline. I've had an extra 5 or so pounds I would like to lose and as of Wed morning I found I had lost 4 lbs just since last week when I last weighed. I thought it may just be dehydration from the heat but I've been careful to drink plenty and still weighed the same yesterday and today. I think maybe I've been too busy to get in some of the in between meal snacks I normally eat. I've also not been getting enough sleep. Then you throw in last Saturdays race and I think it's just been too much all at once for my body to recover and adapt. I'm trying to make sure I get plenty to eat and really listen to my body on my next few runs. Hopefully I'll have my energy back soon.

9:13 pace

     PM 2 miles slow.