Big one for the season so far, 18 on the Slugs course. Mike wasn't sure he'd make it, but I'm really glad he did. Makes it easier to wake up at 5:15 knowing someone else is doing it. Warm and dry at my house but there was a mist at Annapolis that turned into a pretty steady rain by the last few miles. And it's pouring now Refreshing, but I was then too soaked to meet for breakfast. At least it'll be easy to nap. More conservative and even pace than last week, though not by much. I'll just take it as a good sign that hovering around 7/min miles at this distance is so comfortable. Here were the splits: 15:00 (1 and 2); 7:13; 7:12; 6:55; 7:15; 6:52; 6:57; 7:31 (mostly a hill); 6:54 (this is a short mile, everybody agrees); 6:58; 7; 7:02; 6:56; 7:09; 6:56; 7:00; 7:07. 2:08 overall. The improvement from last week was eliminating any real outlier miles, like a 6:40 out of nowhere or something. I didn't feel that we were pushing at any time, sometimes we get into that bad habit and speed up/slow down but never set a solid pace. Around 14 we took GUs, I'm trying to get my stomach used to that (Tri-Berry, very tasty). Around 16 I could feel my legs breaking down, but it was the good type of breakdown. Nothing injured or painful, just that gradual fatigue that means your legs are in a new area and getting used to it. Fine by the finish though, could have comfortably have done 2-3 more I'd guess. A little rest time now, I'll run Sunday this week so I can be sure to get good miles. Marathon is 5 weeks out, but I'm stepping back on the long run next week (in part because I think it's a wise training move, but also because I'll be in Las Vegas Saturday and Sunday with some friends who won't understand me taking off for 2.5 hours to run). Time to go see if any Top of Utahers are crazy enough to already have blogged it this morning.
supernova red -- 311
| 