I met MacK, Josse, and Ali at mile 10 of the Hobble Creek 1/2 marathon course, which is the mouth of Hobble Creek Canyon. The plan was to go up 5 and then down, warming up 3 then tempoing the final two up and then tempo 2 down. I was wanting to stick with the ladies, and have it be threshold for them and marathon pace for me. MacK and I had a chat yesterday about being "present" at a workout or race no matter how you feel, something I think takes mental toughness to a new level for her. So she was not to lose contact with me. Mile 1 - 7:04 This is mile 7 of Hobble Creek in reverse, an uphill mile overall, but rolling, so some downhill at the start, MacK and Ali were with me for .5, Josse lagging a little after .25, then after .5 I can just hear MacK, and I was trying to keep my effort at least marathon pace and I feel a loss of contact. By the end of the mile I was on my own. 2 - 6:56, this mile is more clearly uphill, mile 6 of Hobble Creek in reverse, I am pushing more into threshold pace, at turnaround I see the order of the ladies are the same, with space in between, MacK, Ali, then Josse 3 - 6:08, I have to wake my legs up at the beginning of this mile ("Wake up!!! This is a downhill mile") so I think I was generally going 6:00 pace except for the beginning), felt like right around 10 mile race pace 4 - 6:07, the dreaded mile 7 of Hobble Creek. I have to say I don't like this mile very much because there's too much uphill in this mile (Hobble Creek is a smoking fast downhill course, for ya'll out of staters), I am very glad we are training on this course because I think it will make me stronger, this mile ends with a nice uphill. I turn around after finishing the tempo and start jogging back. I see Josse and Ali right at the start of the downhill, Josse a tad behind, then like a cougar she makes a move on the uphill. Nice strong finish. MacK is cruising along in her "I'm going fast but only comfortably fast" behind them. I start to yell at her, then turn around with her, she tries to explain something about stopping at the top and I tell her, "No talking! You aren't done yet!" So I tell her to come along and we finish her last .2-.3 together. MacK has killer speed and just needs to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. This run was really enjoyable, I am glad we are running Hobble Creek in our training this year. The difference between mile 1 and 4 would be closer than 2 and 3 if there was equal effort, so mile 1 will count as a marathon pace and the rest threshold. I took two Imodium AD last night (testing drugs for race day) and I had no bathroom breaks and no feelings of needing one -- so sorry for more info than ya'll wanted, but this blog is my only running journal so this stuff is important. Have to prevent the 3 bathroom break scenario for future marathons. Especially since I plan on doing PF Chang's in January and I think its an Urban marathon. No sagebrush.
When we got to the bottom we added a mile. Ave pace 7:51 for all. Weight 124 Ran 1.28 with the kiddies. JJ (not quite 4 years old) ran the first .25 miles with us then another .12 at the end with us. When he runs he's fast! I'll count this at 1/2 mileage
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