Run number three was back outside. There was a slight snow this morning which hid a little bit of glare ice early in the run, but once I got onto the main drag, it was pretty easy going. At least conditions-wise. Now add the fact that I've forgotten just about everything I had learned about pacing myself, multiply by the snazzy new running jacket I procured, and subtract the fact that the good-for-me run I had on Saturday was on a treadmill where I couldn't help but go at a reasonable pace.
It was a fairly rough run this morning. I felt pretty good going out -- a little too good, in fact. Almost a mile into my run, I realized that I was on-pace to finish with an 11:00 minute mile (slow for many, pretty fast for me) despite having walked the first three minutes. Once I realized this, I finally slowed down (substantially) and ended up walking the last little bit. Come to think of it, I can't remember exactly at what point I started walking, but I did finish mile one at around twelve minutes.
Then the turn-around. My two mile course has always been an out-and-back down the main street where I live to a local trail. The interesting thing about this morning was the fact that it was snowing. On the way back, I could see my footprints from the way out. Suffice it to say that I was talking two steps on the way back where I only took one on the way out.
Which brings me back to the point: pacing, pacing, pacing. I've forgotten how important this is, and how much of a learned skill it is. While training for my first half-marathon, I could eventually feel about how fast I was going -- "This is my 10:00 pace, this is my 12:00 pace," and so on. This morning, that internal speedometer was malfunctioning. I didn't FEEL like I was going fast on the way out...until I looked at my watch. However, I DID feel like I was going slow on the way back in.
Final time: 25:05 for two miles
Total mileage to date: 6
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