ON LABOR DAY, a long run because Sunday was hungover after a wedding Saturday. Not as many benefits from the 10-miler the day before as the schedule says. But a 20-miler is a 20-miler. And it was a good one.
The plan was a simulation of sorts. The run broken down into two eight-milers and a four-miler. The first eight would be at 10:10 per mile, the second at 9:55 per mile and finish with four all out. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and Labor Day is a day for horseshoes, if not hand grenades.
The first eight took a little longer than planned at 10:32 per mile. The second was held up on account of a notoriously too-long mile, which made for an overall 10:00 mile pace, but my biker companion met up with me after a four-mile run and helped keep me on target. The final four was pretty solid at 9:26 a mile. Confidence built.
Two days before, 10 hill bent miles done to the tune of another negative split. A surprise when the second half featured the doomsday hill. A vicious climb from Merriman Valley up the winding Portage Path to the house that rubber built. The Bastard Garman Hill looks paltry as I pass by. You don't scare me.
Now preparations for the Buckeye Half Marathon this weekend. Only one run of quality for the week with the final session of Yasso 800s on Thursday. Two recovery sessions to keep the legs loose before they are turned loose.
6 comments:
Good luck with that HM. Sounds like you're ready!
I'm with XC2. You are ready! Good luck.
I summoned my inner Viper to crank out a fast last four miles during my long run.
excellent last 20M!
woohoo! Good luck at the buckeye brother. have fun.
Good luck with the 21k... in honor of Nitmos these will no longer be referred to as "half" anythings
good luck on the 1/2!
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