Notes
Good run with Taylor, mission accomplished. The course was billed as 4.2, mapped it a little shorter (which is the opposite of usual!), so I split the difference... it's pennies either way (5:28 vs 5:29 vs 5:30). Course alternated easy-hard-easy-hard for the miles. We got off to an honest pace from the gun, rather than letting me sleep for the first mile like usual haha. Strangely, a guy came with us for the first half mile, so we thought we were slow and picked it up... annnnddd accidentally got to that mile in 5:14 (which was good because it didn't feel like 5:35!). Turns out that guy was actually pretty legit, he finished fairly close to us in the end, I hadn't seen him before. Next mile included the steep short hill, so slower at around 5:39 but still quality pace. Comfortable 3rd mile in 5:21, though it included some uphill. 4th had the bulk of the hill so it was slow but I think the marker was also a little far back. Told us 5:55 but looking at the map here it was probably closer to 5:45, and if 3 was correct the last 1.18 (or 1.16 or 1.2) was under 5:40 pace at least.
So good stuff, harder than a tempo but not a race still... maybe close to 10k effort? Taylor did that thing he does where he insists I "won" but he put a few seconds on me on Hemlock and slowed at the top to let me come back, even though he claims he didn't. He ain't foolin me! Forced him to take 1 in the results though because I know he hates that. Aside from that .5 mile where I fell back 15ft or so, we were just running side by side. Got lazy on that hill but knew finish would be fine after I finally crested it... not the steepest hill but EFF it takes forever. Good morning effort!
Also hey, faster pace than my New Year's 4miler on what I consider a tougher course for sure so at LEAST I'm in better shape than January haha.