7.09 mi, 57:37, 8:08 avg, elev gain 116 feet
Another run completed from the new schedule, 6-7 mile "Aerobic Run" with goal pace between j8:00 and 8:40. I wanted to get a first mile under 8:40 so I made sure to do a good little warm up routine with dynamic stretching, lunges, jumping jacks and a little bit of jogging. Weather was pretty good this morning, just a degree or two cooler to make it not feel so warm. Despite this, it felt like I was stuck at 8:42 for about 3/4 of the first mile, but got a little bit faster with the same effort after getting over the Woodcutter hill. I ran past and through downtown Palm Harbor to the Pinellas trail where I had to weave a little bit through the morning school kid commute of kids and moms (and a few dads) walking to school, it wasn't bad, kind of nice to see, and the crossing guards where the trail crossed the streets made sure the cars stopped for me.
Did each of the miles a little faster except for mile 6 which was one second slower than mile 5, possibly on purpose.
I'm starting to feel those old memories of actually following a training schedule rather than training by feel and experience (both of which have some merit). I have those up and down feelings of dread toward hard workouts followed by either the feeling of accomplishment or the let down of coming up a little bit short and then regrouping to try again.
After the run, cut the grass in the front yard which was getting kind of long due to missed windows of free time to cut it due to random rain showers.
Tomorrow was originally a scheduled day off but I'm going to do the long run so I don't have to worry about it on Saturday when Thomas has his first cross country meet. He's trained hard (and smart) all summer logging more miles than any of the other kids on the team. Last year he placed third place for the school at most meets behind two senior boys that have graduated - until the end of the season when several kids had caught up to him and passed his times. I hope his hard work pays off, it takes some courage to go all in like that instead of not putting in the effort and say, yeah I could have done that if I had wanted to.
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