Sunday 18 Miler

First 18 miler of this training session done. I know yesterday I was being wishy washy and said 16-18 miles, all along my plan had 18 miles on it, I just wasn’t 100% sure if I was going to feel up to 18 miles…thankfully I was.

Mile 1 – 9:36
Mile 2 – 9:32
Mile 3 – 9:18
Mile 4 – 9:35
Mile 5 – 9:26
Mile 6 – 9:25
Mile 7 – 9:27
Mile 8 – 9:16
Mile 9 – 9:01
Mile 10 – 8:32
Mile 11 – 8:57
Mile 12 – 8:47
Mile 13 – 8:47
Mile 14 – 8:42
Mile 15 – 8:36
Mile 16 – 8:40
Mile 17 – 8:37
Mile 18 – 8:34

OK, not the most consistent, BUT following the negative splits pattern that I’m supposed to be. MP + 20% first half, MP + 10% second half. Unfortunately I picked up the pace a little too much in Mile 10 and it was a little under on Mile 11 but the rest was good and I even picked up a bit more at the end. I really thought a few of those miles toward the end were slowing down, they felt slower, but I did manage it. Time was 2:42:57 for an overall pace of 9:03…not too bad. When I hit the end of my run, coming into my association there was a car sitting, waiting to turn out, the driver had her window down and as I turned and was running down the driveway to finish out my run (I was at 17.87 miles at that point) and the woman was yelling out her window trying to get my attention. I’m sure it was to ask directions or something…I don’t get people. Do you not see me running, focused?? I’m not out for a walk…I’m training, and when I’m training, I don’t stop to offer directions, to chat with people, to visit or anything like that…fine when I’m done with the run but don’t bother me when I’m in the middle or worse yet, almost at the end. If that makes me a bitch, so be it!!

Oh, and things I learned, one good thing about the cold and snow, it makes a really nice fridge to keep your water cold and get your Powerade, that is warm cause you failed to put some in the firdge, cold by the time you get to it 55 minutes later!!

I’ll have to post my first week of training tomorrow as I don’t have all the stats with me right now.

Time to rest a bit, I’m meeting MNFirefly a little later for dinner and a beer.