Fitness Run

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 46:51
Pace: 9:22 min/mi

Comments: Having done the reconnaissance on the Coombs Creek Trail last run, I wanted to do the full five miles to get a feel for the uphills it includes. Basically, this course is out-and-back with all of out going down and all of back going uphill.

I just tried to keep a constant but not overfast pace on the first half and then slugged it out on the second. There are some steep sections that are not too fun but, overall, I think my performance was reasonable for a first attempt. Still, it's not fun to see my pace fall precipitously on the final mile.

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 35:32
Pace: 8:52 min/mi

Comments: The plan was to put in six miles over the weekend but that didn't happen. I was feeling really worn down and took two days off, planning to go on Sunday. But, on Sunday, I felt awful. It turned into my first three-day layoff.

With a race this weekend, putting the long run in today didn't make much sense so I tried a different route for my run. This is an out-and-back run that actually ends up being about 4.7 miles all the way. I just put in four since it was an exploratory effort. Felt pretty good and got under the nine-minute-mile threshold.