16 in 2:03:30, about 7:43ish pace overall. Walking warm up at home and stretching. Met MacK, Melody and Amanda, and Aub at 6:30 in SF. It was so windy, almost intolerably so. The redeeming factor is the temp was somewhere between 35-42F, so it would have been LOVELY without the wind. We stayed on the high ground until we met Beth, then down into riverbottoms. The plan for me was 10-12 easy, then 2-4 miles at goal HM pace (6:26). I felt fatigued in general and legs tired, but typical me, I didn't modify the workout. As I started the hard miles I was on my own, and at .25 into it I realized, "since I am not feeling good, I should have just done two miles hard, but I've already started, and the miles are supposed to be at the end, so I am now stuck". The first .25 mile was the hardest part of this hard workout, just the adjustment to the fast pace, I guess. First mile was powerhouse toward the canyon, I was on pace until I hit the steep hills, hit the first mile in 6:57 (uphill and into the wind). Second was 6:24 (still into wind, down then up, net flat), 3rd was 6:22 (gradual down), 4th was really just .93 miles on my watch, but I was headed toward a 6:05 (gradual down). The whole course was net flat. The last quarter mile is supposed to be faster, so I started to kick at 3.75, but by 3.90 I knew I had to hit a bush or risk an accident. Dang! I was so close to finishing with glory. Now my finish is way lame. That additional gear change did a number on my guts and I was done. My throat is sore and has that sicky taste to it, so I am drinking emergen-c as I type. I ran out of Endurox so I had a kirkland slimfast drink as my recovery on some ice. It is the yummiest thing I have had since Valentines. I am so ready for the sugar challenge to be done. I have been valiant, but my heart is not in it.
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