20.12 mi, 2:46:55, 8:17 avg
Pretty warm and muggy but with a breeze here and there. 5:45 start at Longleaf with Jamie and a bunch of others. Ran up Starkey Blvd, brief stop at corner of Aristide neighborhood for water top off, started again but Jamie forgot her ipod so we doubled back about a quarter mile, grabbed it and then started up again. A little bit later Joe caught up to us. He had left a little later than us but was also running a little faster.
We ran into Starkey Park and then at almost 8 miles, Joe and Jamie turned back. It was my plan to pick up the pace for the rest and that's what I did. At that point I had about an 8:48 average pace for the run. There was no water in the water coolers on the trail so I was careful with what I had. Headed out a little past 10 miles and turned back with a stop at the Striders shelter for some gatorade and water.
Now, only 5 miles left, got going again. Kept on a pretty good pace but it sure was getting hot, really feeling it when out of the shade.
With three miles left I kept it under 8:00 and did the last mile at 7:33.
Stopped at Havana Dreamers after the run for a big coke with lots of ice.
Now, only one more 20 miler to go. I feel like I've done a consistent job this time of following the plan with the paces and distances even when I feel like running a bit slower, not running as far or skipping the tempo run. They haven't all gone as planned but I think the effort was there for each one.
When I drove home I saw Jamie jogging in the neighborhood with her husband biking next to her. Her return trip was kind of rough and she cut it short but decided to finish up once she got home. Good that her husband offered to bike alongside her.
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