faster with age

     I got out just after sundown so I had some light for the first half of the run. I ran up past the reservoir road and it is still mostly snow covered. I went 12 miles with the first half at 8:15 pace and the second half at 7:43 pace.  I had to really stay focused on the second half miles that were on the snow and in the dark. With one mile to go I decided I needed to pick the pace up a bit more to beat the 8 minute guy. I ran the last mile [which was almost half on snow] in 6:59 which gave me an overall pace of 7:59.

     Had to leave early to go out of town for the day. Only got out in time to run 2 miles. It was 4 deg.

     Ran 9 miles mostly on snow with a light snow coming down. Kept the pace slow which seams to happen automatically anyway while running on snow. 9:19 AP

     Was able to get out at noon today while it was nice and sunny but only 24 deg.  There was a slight breeze but not too bad so I went with shorts today. The plan was for a 2 mile warmup then an 8 mile progression tempo. Started with the first 2 miles in 7:48 and 7:32. Then went into the 8 mile tempo: 6:58, 6:59, 6:52, 6:49, 6:49, 6:55 slight uphill, 6:35,6:15.  Average pace for the 8 miles was 6:46. I was pretty happy with this workout. It is the first one that felt decent since Sept. Not so much that the paces were that fast but more the comfort level while running them. I've still got a long way to go in the next 4 weeks but at least I felt like I was headed in the right direction today. Overall pace for all 10 was 6:57.

     8 miles this morning at 8:55 pace. I ran up by the reservoir and almost 5 of the 8 miles was on snow.

     It was 0 degrees this morning when I started but the sun came out and warmed it clear up to a nice pleasant 10 deg by the end of my run. I ran 10 miles up on the reservoir road again. I had a real nice ice goatee by the time I was done. 8:35 AP.

     Merry Christmas!!