Notes
Hot Chocolate run -- super fun, perfect cold sunny day, hilly course, stress free joy. Planned to take it easy, take it all in at 7:30-8 min pace and just enjoy my returning freedom post-defense. And I did -- never really pushed self very hard nor entered the pain cave (don't even know how to get there anymore), but did go surprisingly faster than I thought possible at my current fitness! Maybe I'm not as close to Square 1 as I thought!!!!
And despite slowing some in the second half (big hills, no back up strength), nobody passed me like they usually do at these things, so got to enjoy maintaining my place without a battle. Wonderful!