Pre-run snack: Chocoshrooms, coffee with sugar (I know, so healthy...) Post-run snack: Chocolate almond milk If I had to describe today's run in one word, I would use "ridiculous." If I had to use two words, I would use "hilly" and "windy." Uphill, both ways, into the wind. It's sunny with temperatures around 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind chill makes it feel like 30 (says the weather man). I get all whimpy about this, but then I read everyone's blogs from Utah with 9-12 degrees, snow, and wind...AND they're getting their runs in like nobody's business! Inspired. I will not complain about D.C. weather until it gets that cold. :)
I ran the first 8.5 miles with Jack. He showed me a new way to run to the gym, then he ran me back to a trail (he claimed it was the same distance...I think it is a tiny bit further). I had planned to run 14 miles, but I ran 15.5 miles instead. There were a lot of hills both ways. It was windy (17-21 mph winds!!). I thought I was going to pass out at one point on the return trip (dizzy, running uphill into the wind, swallowing wind with every breath). With Jack, we were averaging 7:00-7:30 pace. On the return trip, I was slower (I was spent!).
Garmin watch says: average pace of 7:25/mi!! Yay. That includes all the miles I ran at 8:00/mi pace (I think it was the hills and wind). I did not wear my heart rate monitor. I think having coffee before my workouts definitely helps; it gets my heart rate up faster/without exerting energy, so the rate perceived effort is less than when I do not take any caffeine. I'm also making my own coffee again (French press + Hallowed Grounds coffee + I don't know how to make coffee well = really strong coffee)...need to remember to hydrate. Thank goodness for the bathroom and water fountain at the gym!
Each mile split:
7:28, 7:09, 7:00, 7:16, 6:53, 7:17, 6:43, 6:58, 7:35, 7:50, 8:02, 7:28, 7:14, 8:15, 7:58, 4:56
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