The Lab

Saturday was the run called The Lab...it's a race prep run...a dress rehersal for the big race...and since i am running a fall marathon...and since 98% of the road running races that happen in austin happen in the winter (much cooler!)...the lab was my first test of how my training has been coming along...so yeah i was totally nervous going into it...

i have been feeling really good lately...yes some runs rule....others are like gutting out the last five miles of an ironman...but all in all things have been going well...coach amy has taken great care of me getting me back to running while still recovering from CdA...for that i am super grateful...so physically feeling good...mentally nervous...85 degrees and about the same % humidity at 5.30 am on saturday i was ready to go...

first 2 miles were slow and a super easy warm up...the next 12 were at marathon goal pace (MGP)...my MGP is 8.23 per mile...amy's advice was this...you may not run one mile at your actual MGP, but you want your average to be close to it...the last 2 miles back to rogue were to be cool down...

here are the splits:
1+2: 20:00
3: 9:18
4: 8:49
5+6: 16:50
7: 8:12
8: 7:55
9+10: 15:49
11: 8:50
12: 8:27
13: 8:46
14: 8:15
15+16: 21:00

overall giving me 8.25 per mile for the MGP miles (3-14)...i will totally take that...i felt strong on the first 6 at mgp...was feeling the effort through 9 and had a few HTFU moments during the last segment...all in all i am proud of what i did on saturday...a much needed confidence booster...and a good mental battle too...