Big run Saturday! 4/21/12

The runs keep getting longer, and somehow I manage to stay alive:

We actually ran the Turkey Creek Trails first, then jumped in the car and drove back home.  From there, we ran to the in-laws and back.  We added a little addition here, or slightly different route home there.  N.B.D.

We actually had a friendly join us for the first seven mile leg.  "sttscan" graciously joined us - and gave us a little boost on the pace, too.  We managed this stretch at just over a 9 minute/mile pace.  It was good to get us going and get the mileage done, but it may have also contributed to a slightly higher HR overall.  I think I felt that pace when I was in the closing miles of the second stretch.  It wasn't incredibly noticeable, but it became apparent whenever I needed to kick it up a notch (read - any hill).  My HR jumped way up and took a lot longer to lower.  That said, the first 7 miles on the trail took just over and hour and three and a half minutes to complete.

The second part was a little slower.  Oooorrrrrrr, a fair amount slower.  We managed about a 9:57 pace.  When you average out the first and second leg, it still comes out a little faster than I wanted, but at the same time I was hoping for better on part 2.  To be fair, there are more hills (or, hills at all), and it was getting later (warmer) in the day.  So, a few things working against me there.  But, yeah - just excuses.  We were both a little hungry at the end, but aside from a few aches here and there, we finished in good shape.  Maybe a little hungry - which reminds me that I need to order more Gu.

Whether 16 or 26 miles, it's a process.  I've got another almost 2 months to prepare, and I'm hoping that I'm laying the groundwork now for something along the lines of this pace - overall.  9:34 would put us at 4:10:48 (ish) - and I think I could live with that - given everything.  Who knows, if the weather is cool and the route is as flat as I think it might be, 4 hours might not be too far off.

Okay - now back to reality, and bed time.

D

Running Total:
April:  65.52
2012:  162.52