Today was the last day of my son's cross country camp, so I awoke early & drove 90 minutes to Rome Georgia to join them for their last run of the week, their long run. We ran on beautiful trails at Berry College, and they could choose their distance, based on their experience/previous long run distance. About a week ago we had done a 4 mile trail run, which had been his longest. Most in the group he was with turned around at 2 miles, but we pushed on up the trail another 1/2 mile, so he would get 5 total. It was mostly uphill going out & we averaged about a 9:30 pace. At the turnaround, I gave him some of my gatorade, we recharged for a minute & I asked him to try to keep under an 8:00 pace going back (mostly down, some rolling). I restarted my watch & off we went, he finished strong, averaging a 7:32 pace for the 2.5 mile return. He had a great week. After grabbing a shower there was a cool classroom session where they reviewed video analysis of their form, and then camp concluded with a nice brunch. My ex asked me to switch weekends, and so he is going to be with me for the Fourth. I have gotten a hotel on Peachtree Street near my race course for Monday, so I think the plan is for me to take the train to the start, and then I have asked Alex to meet me on the course at about the 5.2 mile mark and jump in & pace me the last mile! He can run about a 6:00 mile, and it is gradual down hill from that point ... and I will be wiped out from miles 4 & 5 up hill, so this could really help me finish strong. Whether I am on pace to go sub 40 or sub 42, this will help me finish stronger, and be an experience that will mean far more to me than my finishing time anyway! Only concern is that he rolls over & goes back to bed, but I will make it clear to him there will be a price to pay if he does not appear on the course & pace me to the finish! lol I will do some 800's at race pace tomorrow, then rest Saturday & Sunday. PM Update: For reasons I don't really want to discuss, I felt the need to go for a run. Loaded Book of John on Ipod (thx Trap), and listened to 1-12. 8 miles, steady tempo/effort, 8:28 AP. Splits between 8:18 & 8:38, appropriate to elevation changes ... honestly felt like I could have kept running forever! 84 degrees, but only 60% humidity ... which is really low!
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