Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:31
Pace: 9:37 min/mi

Comments: The race is fast approaching and, while I don't think I can do much more to improve my conditioning, I need to get my weekly runs in. With the recent weather that meant going out in cold and wet conditions. I hoped there would be a long enough break in the rain for me to squeeze in my run but, of course, that wasn't happening.

Since I am technically tapering, I did not intend to run this particularly fast but the cold spurred me on a bit. Partially to keep warm and partially to get the thing over with. Still, I didn't overdo it by any means. Just a pretty workmanlike effort on my way to the starting line.

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 40:13
Pace: 10:03 min/mi

Comments: Storms are forecast to be pushing through the area intermittently over the next few days. So getting a run in will be a matter of taking advantage of breaks in the weather. I got a chance pretty early this morning so I took it.

The storms are feeding off high moisture in the area and I felt it on this run. Temperatures were a bit warmer (but not insanely hot like it will get later in the year) and I could feel the drag on my legs and then see it on the pace which eroded drastically every mile. I'll chalk this one as an early warm-weather acclimation run.

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 39:26
Pace: 9:51 min/mi

Comments: It rained most of yesterday morning and, after considering it some, I realized I felt pretty fatigued. So I opted for an extra day off. It works well with my plan for every-other-day until two days prior to the race next weekend as well.

This run was pretty consistent. The first downhill mile was a reasonable effort and the second slightly faster. The first and second uphill mile went very much the same. That speaks a lot to my improving conditioning.

The strength I have built over the past six weeks is making more of a difference, which I could really feel on the final mile. The big question for next week is how well my stamina has come along.