The Daily Log 11/18/08

Distance: 4.08 miles
Time: 35:59
Pace: 8:49/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Mostly uphill for first two miles, mostly downhill after
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: Adidas long-sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas running fleece, K-State stocking cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 91.44 miles
Days until Marathon: 61

My goal today was to run at 9:09 pace, as that will be my goal for the Gobbler Grind, so after I mapped everything out at mapmyrun.com, I noted where the mile markers would be, and tried for that. Unfortunately, my efforts were scuppered by two things. Firstly, this was a new course, and the first mile was almost completely uphill, which wasn't ideal for a tempo run. Secondly, although the total distance is, I think, correct, mapmyrun seems to not quite get the mile markers right. When I got to where it said mile 1 was, my watch read 10:50. I've run that pace with Jill before, and I was amazed to be running that slow, it certainly didn't feel like it. I sped up as a result, but at mile 3, I was at almost 30 minutes, so, apparently still only at 10:00 pace. However, my finishing time was 35:59. Unless I did the last mile and a bit in sub-7 minute pace, which I assure you I did not, the mile markers were clearly somewhat off. I wasn't going that slow at the beginning, or that fast at the end.

So ultimately, this wasn't the most fruitful of runs in terms of pace control. I came in at 8:49 pace but certainly ran a couple of miles quicker than that, and it didn't really help me from a tactical standpoint. I don't want to experiment again before Sunday, it's simply too close to take those kind of risks any more... so I'll just have to wing it and hope I don't go out too fast or slow.

On the plus side, basically no pain at all in either leg; my hamstrings felt better, my shins didn't hurt and even my left foot was comfortable, so, big picture-wise, everything's on track.