Great run this morning with my group. 12 miles - 7:35 average pace
| Mile 1 |
7:48 |
| Mile 2 |
7:45 |
| Mile 3 |
7:31 |
| Mile 4 |
7:44 |
| Mile 5 |
7:47 |
| Mile 6 |
7:30 |
| Mile 7 |
7:09 |
| Mile 8 |
7:11 |
| Mile 9 |
7:26 |
| Mile 10 |
7:37 |
| Mile 11 |
7:47 |
| Mile 12 |
7:37 |
A new girl ran with the group this morning. She's actually run one other time with us (the week before my marathon), but last time she ran with the 7 minute guys. Today we were the fastest group so she ran with us. Her name is Emily and she's 27. She just ran a half marathon last weekend in 1:34:something... which is a 7:10 pace.
So today I started out trying to keep up with her... She said I was driving the pace but I felt like she was... I guess that's what happens when competitive people run together. Anyways, around mile 3 the 7 minute guys caught up to us (I think they started later than we did) and she started off with them. I'll admit I got spooked going 7:30 in mile 3 with 9 more miles to go... so I let them go on. Then the guys turned around at mile 4 because they ran a marathon last week and were taking it easy today. So she ran alone and ahead of me until the turn around. I made up my mind to keep up with her the second half - no matter what!
I started running with her again at mile 6. We went so fast! It was challenging! The water stop was at mile 9.5. I had to slow down after that. I stayed about 50 yards behind her until the finish. Mentally, I just couldn't hold the pace. I am disappointed with myself that I couldn't keep up the last 2 miles but also kinda excited that I have found a challenge.
I hope she keeps running with us because she'll make me a better runner. She told me that she has a group she does track workouts with at TCU campus on Monday mornings at 5:30 am. She said it is very challenging! Coming from her, I'm sure it is! She invited me to join them. She said they finish by 6:30 or 7 am, which works for me because I'd have to be home by 7:15 for my husband to leave for work. I think I'm going to try it out!
Today's average was 7:35 pace. If I ran that pace for 13.1 miles, that would be a sub 1:40 half marathon! That's just crazy to think about! Next week my running group is doing a half marathon race... so I guess I have a goal time now. If Emily is there, I'm sure I can do it. Maybe even better! | 