I'm retired from racing. Really.

Today was the hardest, slowest 13 mile run in my life. Did 1 mile warm up, then met up with Jeff Shadley and we ran the next 7 miles together. The roads were still slick so we ran on the sidewalk. However, it had snowed about 4 inches in the past day so they were no longer clear. We averaged around 9 minutes per mile due to the conditions. We were going slow enough that we could comfortably carry on a conversation, but were not slacking. I think we picked it up a bit to 8:30 pace for a few miles, but that was all. If it were a short run, I might have been able to run 7:30-8:00 pace, but not much faster. Conditions just didn't allow for it. Since it was a long run, I was happy with the slow pace. Jeff dropped off at mile 8 (thanks for the companionship, Jeff), and I did 5 more by myself. Just as he dropped off, the wind picked up enough so that it started cutting through my clothes and making the branches drop their snow on me. The wet also got through my fleece. And, I somehow ended up in a neighborhood that didn't plow sidewalks, so I was trudging through foot high snow.  All in all, the last 5 miles were less than enjoyable, and I was rather cold and tired by the time I finished.  But I got in the miles I wanted.  Hopefully this will be my slowest 13 miles ever.

Elite- 334