The Long Run

6.16 mi, 53:40, 8:43 avg

A little bit of a late start, ran solo in the neighborhood and over by the golf course (classic t-shaped route).  First mile was a little slow but not super slow, then a little bit faster each mile, with mile 5 at 8:09.  On the last mile, after I crossed the street and went past the gate I superstitiously decided if I could run 7:38 or faster for the last mile I could break 3:20 in the marathon.  I know that this is not scientifically correct but I picked up the pace just in case on the very off chance it did somehow work that way, so I ended up running the last mile in 6:54.

8.41 mi, 1:12:16, 8:35 avg

To change things up a little, I decided on the out and back route to the Y.  On the way out I took the Little Road sidewalk to Photonics, and on the way back I ran through the Thousand Oaks neighborhood to Trinity Blvd.  Overall, it was a pretty good run and happy to get in a reasonable amount of miles.

6.09 mi, 56:15, 9:14 avg

Ran with Joe and Jamie in the neighborhood.  First run altogether in a while between Jamie's trip and then Joe's trip.  Fall'ish weather finally this morning.  Easy, conversational pace.  

Stopped by drinking fountain inside the golf club, it is still out of order.

After the run, picked up Jenny and Sammy, dropped off Sammy at the house along with Tom's stuff then dropped Jenny at the airport before heading to work.

8.27 mi, 1:07:08, 8:07 avg

Thursday morning 5:30 run with the Striders at Longleaf.  First mile was really slow but it was cool and pleasant so felt relaxing, next 1.6 miles a little faster but still easy as I ran to the corner of Alico Pass and stopped for a water.  Finished out the third mile and then picked it up.  I wasn't up to doing a real tempo run so went with a progression run.  Ran 7:45, 7:18, 7:20, 7:00, 6:31.  I was surprised by the last mile because the 7:45 mile felt hard.

Felt really good that I didn't slow down.

Time for a quick cup of coffee before heading home and getting ready to take Thomas to school.

5.46 mi, 55:42, 10:12 avg

Ran with Joe and Jamie in the neighborhood, 6:15ish start.  I was running kind of slow, having trouble keeping up with them for the first mile or so then I started running nearer to them.  Pace was very, very slow in the beginning but improved as the run went on.

12.44 mi, 1:41:30, 8:10 avg

Shorter long run this morning, I guess start of taper, 8 miles next Saturday and then the marathon a week and one day after that.  Ran in Starkey, but a little bit late for start of the Striders run.  I went out at an easy pace on the way out for 6 miles, then I picked up the pace for return trip. I was thinking 7:30 or better, but the pace I locked onto was a little bit faster.  I also planned on making one quick stop but with the watch running to practice drinking and running (a little rusty, actually more like stop really quickly and then catch back up to where you would have been mainly because I can't toss the cup on the ground and the trash can is actually at the water stop).   But, I guess that part worked because I did mostly catch back up, just a little bit slower that mile than the others. 

Faster miles were: 7:19, 7:10, 7:23, 7:11, 7:04, 6:49

In contrast, the fastest mile of the first 6 miles, was mile 6 at 8:26 which felt like I was running fast enough to question whether I could run 7:30 or faster.  I seem to have this discussion all the time and need to show myself that I can do it.  I probably could have even gone faster, maybe.