Well, I really wanted to get in a good quality 20 miler before the marathon and today I was able to accomplish that goal. I had set as a time goal to run as close to 2:10:00 as possible, which would be right at 6:30 pace. I ran a few 20 milers last year on the marathon course in preparation for the marathon and was able to average 6:36. I knew today in order to hit 2:10:00 I would need to push the first ten a little faster and the finish has some rolling hills. There were also a few short hill climbs in the first ten. 1-6:15- Good start and I could tell there wasn't going to be much serious competition. Once again, I have to thank the Circle of Trust (Logan, Dave, and Clyde) as they were all out of town, also Steve Olsen, Steve Hooper, Wildbull, and Mike- didn't run and some other fast guys did the half, so I was able to get a nice victory for my efforts. 2-5:57- Some steep downhill here. Stop at the first water stop since Wildbull and Bigfoot were there. I'm still wondering what they spiked my drink with?
3-6:00 4-6:11 5-6:18 6-6:08 7-6:24- little hill climb 8-6:20 9-6:47- I think another short hill
10-6:22 (1:02:46) I was feeling pretty good here and had accomplished my first goal to run under 1:05 and bank a few minutes. I averaged 6:16 so that was encouraging 11-6:29 12-6:22 13-6:57 short hill, and stopped at the aid station to stretch and get proper fluids 14-6:35 15-6:32- short stop at aid station
16-6:27 17-8:10- Yes, that is quite a bit slower than I was going, but I stopped and walked some up the hill, then stopped at the aid station at the top and had a short conversation with a guy that was doing the half and I had caught up to. 18-6:20- I start trying to do the math here to figure out if I'll be close to my 2:10 time goal.
19-6:44- Rolling hills
20-6:32 Finish right at 2:10:00.03, (6:31 pace) and get a good laugh at being right on what I was hoping for. Of course I ran the second 10 miles, quite a bit slower but I was still pretty happy with this run. I think this course is more difficult than doing 20 miles down the marathon course, so maybe I'm close to where I was at last year at this same time. I did one mile walk/jog to cool-down and put me at 70 miles for the week, which is the most miles I've done in a week since June I think? The hip actually felt pretty good today. After the awards, Bill and his son, Sunny and I, and Mike and his wife had some breakfast at Sonic, we'll have to hit IHOP next time. And yes, Bill sometime I might treat you to Ted & Allen's. Speedstar-161
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