Last tough LR of the cycle. I hoped I would feel up to pushing the pace today. Fortunately I did. Relatively good night of sleep considering I had to be at work early today, work was done in 2.5 hours, and the weather was OK -- a little warm for my taste for mid-November, but bearable with a breeze (and later some rain). Plus a rest day yesterday, as a long day of work, a visit by Scott and Tammy and the football game prevented me from squeezing in a few miles.
Started about noon. Decided I'd do this run a little differently -- three loops coming back by my house, so I could put some Powerade outside on the porch and a change of headbands and not have to wear the Amphipod. Only thing I carried was the old electronic leash, since I'm on call (again). First loop, 6.2 miles to Shiloh and back, was basically a warmup, but all six miles were sub 10. Stopped for a drink, a gel, a dry headband and a pitstop, then set out again. Same route, slightly past Shiloh this time, about 6.65, and all of this loop was sub-9, with the last mile or so at GMP. Stopped again for a drink and a dry headband, not that I needed that; about five minutes later the rain that was supposed to arrive at 11 a.m. arrived. It poured for about 10 minutes, then drizzled, then quit. But I had decided that this last loop, which was going to be 5.4 miles through JBH, was all going to be GMP. And it was, rain or no rain. Thus 7.07 miles (at least) at GMP. That's what I wanted.
Twenty days to go now. Unfortunately, I have to work the first 10 of them consecutively, so I get to squeeze in my weekend runs around work again. No football trip this time (Little Rock game completely undoable because of work, so T's going with his roommate instead), which makes it a little easier to get everything in, and the LR is only 14. Maybe I can do that Saturday afternoon after the game ends on TV. It's strange that I feel the pressure's off now. I can't get in for 2010, so I don't feel like I HAVE to run 3:30. I'd like to, but I don't have to. All I have to do is run the same time I ran a year ago at the same place and I'm good to go for 2011. I can do that. Been there, done that. | 