5.47 mi, 42:20, 7:44 avg, elev gain 101 feet
The goal of today's run was to not have a slow first mile - i.e. not 10 or 11 minute pace or high 9:00's but low 9:00's or faster.
Warmed up a little bit, and started on a very slight downhill, which quickly sloped back up, was in the mid 8:00's until finally finishing first mile in 8:12.
I was running a loop through Westlake, which has several rolling hills, decided I'd run the loop twice which always feels tough on any course with any kind of hills when you know you have to run them a second time. But, I managed to slowly get faster each mile and run the second loop faster than the first.
It had been raining earlier that morning which had cooled the temps a little bit, and fortunately enough clouds were still around to keep it from heating up too much.
Overall, the run was much better than expected. Once the goal of the faster first mile was met, it was easy to stay on pace. Still followed a similar pattern of getting faster but without a much slower first mile to bring down the average.
The hills and the little bits and pieces of speed work have been helping to keep me out of the usual ruts.
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