I normally do my long run on Saturday but this weekend my parents are coming to town so I thought I better get the long run in today. My week is already kind of messed up from not running on Thursday so now with the long run on Fri it is really off schedule. Oh well, I have learned to just take what I can and not worry about it. Today I felt good from the start (probably from the extra rest). I decided that since I didn't run yesterday (which would have been a tempo run) I would do about 5 miles at marathon pace toward the end of my run. This is something that I have not done very much of but I picked up on as I was reading about runner's training for the Olympic Trials Marathon. It seemed like all of them did long runs with a good portion of it at marathon pace. So if it is good enough for them.... It was about 37 degrees with enough wind to make it uncomfortable. I did an out and back route and they way back was into the wind. I started my marathon pace at mile 7 and it felt good to run at the faster pace. It was a little harder keeping on pace going back into the wind. I ran the 5 miles at 7:30 pace but by the start of the 4th mile it felt faster due to the wind. I stayed at the pace through the 5th mile and felt good to slow down for a one mile cool down at the end. Overall it was a good workout and seemed to make the best of my weird schedule. 13 miles, 1:43:54 | 