Early wake-up today with 20 planned on Beach Drive w/Henry and Mike. Kind of chilly and windy at Annapolis, but not rain. (At least not until we were 8 minutes in and it started. Didn't last long, luckily.) We started alright, hitting decent splits and trying to keep the pace even and moderate, but crept faster as we warmed up and the sun rose. 7:30, 7:15, 7:06, 7:01, 6:55. Whoops, sub-7. We chastised each other, whined, and kept going resolved to do better. 7:13, 7:04, 7:05, 7:55 (the hill in Manchester, 25 seconds slower than a week ago), 7:11, 7:01 (those two are short, we're convinced). That's the turnaround spot, at Yukon Harbor. I needed a bathroom and wasn't feeling good anyway at that point. Just couldn't get a rhythm. One mini-Clif down, and an S-cap. No muscle pain or cramping or lack of energy, but some joint aches were bothering me. Mostly in the hip flexors. Still pretty chilly, and the wind would hit us every now and again. Started back being pulled up the hill by Mike, 7:35, then a 7:01 into Manchester (needed that pit stop, it's the best running bathroom I've ever found, doors automatically unlock at dawn instead of waiting for some lazy parks and rec guy to get there). Hurting at this point, with 7 or so to go. Another S-cap. Grit the teeth time, and the guys felt the same. A few more around 7-7:05 back to Beach Drive, where the head wind was waiting. Hit 7:25s for the last few miles, battling the wind and our aching legs. Really good to push into the finish, that'll toughen me up. Not the prettiest Saturday long run, but it's done, and without any serious pain. 2:26:03 supernova glide -- 75
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