Yesterday was a hard workout. I was amazed at how well I recovered from it. I had no problems heading into today's run. The plan was to run 10 easy miles and get close to 50 miles for the week. I haven't been to the Saucon Rail Trail in ages, so I headed there.
The weather was kind of a problem. It wasn't raining hard, but it was coming down off and on. It made choosing clothes difficult. I knew wearing a jacket would be overdressed, but I did so anyway. I wanted to stay dry. The temperature was in the upper 40s.
I started from Water Street. I planned to head out 5 miles and then come back. The legs felt good at the start. I was slightly worried because I had some issues running longer distances on this surface last year. I cruised along with an 8:06 opening mile.
I came across a few walkers and joggers here and there, but not many people were out. This is usually a busy trail, but not on this day. It was simply too miserable I guess. The effort didn't pick up in mile 2, but the pace did, as I ran a 7:36. This trail is slightly uphill to start. I still felt good, but I was fighting a slight headwind.
It seemed to take forever to get to miles 3 and 4. Eventually, I got to them though. I came to mile 4 right at the Upper Saucon Community Park. I was starting to struggle as I headed toward mile 5. Fighting the wind and being overdressed was catching up to me. I was sweating quite a bit.
I headed onto the new section. The stone by the library sucks and I struggled getting through it. I ran on the grass next to the trail for some time. I just focused on making it to mile 5. I did that with a 7:37.
Heading back to the park, there is a lot of downhill initially. The pace got quicker without more effort. I ran a 7:10 sixth mile. Things then got a little interesting. A guy running around the park followed me up the trail. I couldn't let him pass me, so I picked it up a little. I doubt he'd run 7 minute miles anyway.
This was still only about a moderate paced effort. With the downhills though, the times dropped. Each of the next 2 miles were run at 6:52. I tried to focus on each upcoming mile.
Being able to get to that 8th mile was great. My pace dropped even more in the final 2 miles. I kept watching my overall pace dip and dip. Mile 9 was a 6:44.
I didn't feel like I was pushing on that last mile, but I guess I must've been. I was starting to lose it a bit as I was sweating a lot. I came through with a strong 6:34 and finished up right before the road crossing.
It was great to be done with the run. Perhaps most importantly my legs didn't bother me at all. I ran all of the final 4 miles under 7 minute pace and averaged under a 7 minute pace for the back half of the run. I need more quality runs like this where I push a little, but not too much.
I'm now at 44 miles for the week. I'm hoping I can get up to run with the BCR tomorrow. That's always hit or miss for me though. I do need to run 6 miles regardless. I want to up my mileage even more next week. It is time to kick it in gear during spring training.
10 miles - 1:12:29 (7:15 pace)
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