10 miles this morning at 7 am at the Trinity River trails. Weather= 40 degrees, 49% humidity, VERY WINDY 25 mph gusting to 30 mph, cloudy. Average pace=7:43/m
Mile 1- 8:11
Mile 2- 7:49
Mile 3- 7:48
Mile 4- 7:51
Mile 5- 7:49
Mile 6- 7:48
Mile 7- 7:33
Mile 8- 7:30
Mile 9 - 7:25
Mile 10 - 7:31
Final .3 mile - 7:05
Met up with Ashley, Emily, James, Tim, Monty, Greg and another guy I didn't catch the name of. Emily, Ashley and I set the pace and the guys stayed behind. I was just trying my best to keep up with Emily. These guys and Emily normally run 7:00-7:20 pace for long runs so I guess they were just going slow still recovering from The Cowtown Marathon.
Originally I was going to wear arm warmers and a shirt but then as I stood there waiting for people to arrive I got really cold and at the last minute I decided to throw on my jacket. I regretted it after only a mile. I was really hating that stupid jacket the final 3 miles when I sped up. I felt hot and bulky. I also was pissed at myself that I didn't have my ipod. I really could have used some techno music to put me in a trance and take my mind off the pain the final two miles. I had some gu with me but I was working so hard at the pace I never used it. I did the whole run without fuel or water.
Around mile 6.5 Emily and I started talking and we kinda got ahead of everyone else. Then she started speeding up at mile 7.5. I decided to try to keep up as best I could with the 20 mph wind. About 3 times during those final 2 miles we'd approach 7:20 pace and I thought I couldn't take it anymore.... I slowed down assuming she would just zoom ahead. But when I'd slow down, she would let up just enough to allow me to catch back up. Then after a couple minutes she'd gradually pick it up again. I was hanging but barely. She gave me a great workout! I love running with people who are better than me and challenge me to do what I think I can't.
I am proud that the final .3 mile I ran a 7:05 pace especially since there was a steep hill in that portion. I am very surprised I had enough energy to do that as much trouble as I was having with the 7:20 pace. She sprinted ahead on the downhill in the final 50 feet. Greg and James came in about 1 minute after us and Greg said, "We were chicked today!" | 