I missed a few days this week and wanted to catch up on the miles - but I really wanted to do this more for me as the past few weeks I'd been failing to get the full 6M in my runs. The fault, being mine of course, as I would keep the same pace I do during the week and then just die right after my usual 4M distance. So, going back to the long runs should be 1 to 1.5 mins slower than race pace theory I went into this 8M knowing that I could do it.
So, if I kept myself between a 9:30-10:00 pace, easy peasy. The first 4 went by really good and what seemed to me to feel like slow motion - anyway, 9:42, 9:28,9:37 and 9:40 for a 9:36avg. Felt really strong and quite relaxed, so I turn around and head back and decide to up the next 4 to a 9:00-9:30 pace and get 9:13, 9:05, 9:01 and 9:04 for a 9:05avg. Total time was 1:14:50 for a nice 9:21avg. On the way back, I had to keep checking the pace only because my body wanted to go faster and several times it dropped down to 8:45 or so and I had to pull the reins in.
This was what I remember longs runs to be like. Fun, enjoyable, relaxing, challenging - yet refreshing. ****RunStrong friends*****
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