Not-so-fast-running-blog

Average Overall Pace: 9:34 (ran about 4 miles with my son to pace him between 10:00 - 10:30 minute mile pace)

Splits:

• 1mi - 9:27 / 2 mi 9:43 / 3 mi - 9:26 / 4 mi - 9:44 / 5 mi - 9:35 / 6 mi - 12:09  / 7 mi 8:53 / 8 mi - 9:02 / 9 mi - 8:37 / 10 mi - 9:22

Average Overall Pace: 9:34

Conditions:

• 71°
• Wind S 7 mph
• Humidity 86%

Splits:

• 1 mi - 10:55 / 2 mi - 9:41 / 3 mi - 9:50 / 4 mi - 9:18 / 5 mi - 9:23 / 6 mi - 9:11 / 7 mi - 8:36
• Extremely sluggish and totally not in the mood

Average Overall Pace: 8:47 (clapping for myself!)

• Tempo Run (outside, that's right!!!)

Conditions:

• 75°
• Wind WSW 8 mph
• Humidity 78%

Splits:

• 1 mi - 10:02 / 2 mi - 8:59 / 3 mi - 8:53 / 4 mi - 8:31 / 5 mi - 8:22 / 6.25 mi - 7:48
• I slept in this morning, so it was already hot and humid. I finished just before the clouds opened with a deluge of rain!
• Ignoranace can be bliss sometimes. I was unable to hear the loud thunderclaps due to my headphones. I probably would have headed home earlier.

Pace: Speed Workout (treadmill)

• Speed: 400 - 800 - 1200 - 1600 - 1200 - 800 - 400 / 8:34
• Recovery: 400 / 9:22
• Hills: 1600 / 8:58 / Incline 6

Average Overall Pace: 9:25

Conditions:

• 77°
• Wind SW 10 mph
• Overcast, rain, downpour with thunder and lightning, rain

Splits:

• 1 mi - 10:08 / 2 mi - 8:55 / 3 mi -9:25 (waited out the storm under a church awning) / 4 mi - 9:13 / 5 mi - 9:32 / 6 mi - 8: 46 / 6.59 mi - 8:48
• I had planned to run further but the thunder started clapping. I thought it best to head home.
• I'll rest tomorrow for one hot, humid half-marthon on Saturday.

Average Overall Pace: 9:01

Conditions:

• 78°
• Winds SW 8 mph

Race Day Experience:

• In typical fashion, I had technology problems. Why and how this happens is a mystery to me. It must be nerves. At my next race, I am NOT going to do a technology pre-check. Somewhere during this ritual, I mess up my programs and then everything goes south from there.
• I had zero music during the half-marathon. After the first mile of trying to run and fix my technology, I pulled out my earbuds. I stuffed them in my running belt and turned up my pace.
• Those first 3 miles were a mental mess! I always run with music so it was a battle of the wills to continue rather than give up.
• I found a guy that appeared to have a steady pace. I chose to let him be my pacer. At mile 10, he fell back. I pressed on knowing that he would most likely resurge toward the final mile.
• At mile 12.5, he caught back up with me. We brought ourselves across the finish line close to the same time. We thanked each other profusely.

After Thoughts:

• I will not pretend that running without music was okay. I had no idea how noisy runners are - heavy breathing, feet pounding, mouths spitting, throats clearing - during a race. It was pretty disgusting, but I'll admit that race cacophony drove me to push through each mile with determination and focus.
• There were no timing clocks along the way so I had zero knowledge of my pace until mile 13. I saw the clock at 1:57:??! I was elated! Unfortunately, my official time was disappointing! It is incredible to me how many seconds it takes to complete a tenth of a mile. I practice, practice, practice this tenth of a mile consistently. It still conquers me every race day!