Notes
This run really surprised me. After running last night, I did not feel great. I took the warm up easy today and did not pass the leaders, although wonder if my presence made the warm up mile a little faster than usual. Once we got back to the parking lot, I picked up the pace a little but still took it easy up the hill with Brad, Andy, and Tom was with us as well. Mike caught up to us and we all ran pretty close together. For the first part of the run, I felt like Brad and Andy were pulling me. By mile 4, Brad and Mike were pulling me and me pulling them at some points. Then at mile 6, Tom pulled ahead. I caught him on the downhill and stayed right with him, leaving Mike and Brad. Once we got to the final downhill, I sped up and no one caught up to me. I'm feeling like the downhill is my secret weapon as I can run really well and under control on the downs. I ran a short out and back on the trail at a slower pace to round off to 8 miles. If I had known I was so close to running a mile under 6 min, I would have run that part harder.
This really was a true tempo run for me and then some. I don't normally feel like running this hard and no way could I have done it alone on this course. I need to take it easier the rest of the week. A tempo run at this point isn't going to do me any good. Marathon tempo makes sense but today's pace was more like half marathon, 10K, and then 5K pace to finish.