I set out Sunday morning for a 7 mile run while the weather was not quite blazing hot. It was actually quite pleasant as I started out. The sun hadn't been up long and the air still had an almost cool feel to it.
As I started out, I had two options. I had a 5 mile route and a 7 mile option. My decision point was at mile 3. At that point I could make a turn toward home, which would be about 2 miles away, or continue my loop which stretched the route home 4 miles. A good portion of the first 3 miles were uphill. I knew this going in. I also knew that if I made it to the 3 mile mark and was feeling pretty good, the next 2.5 or so were almost all down hill. The first 3 miles did feel good, and though I had a slight urge to make the turn to home I kept going. I needed a good long run. I did the whole 7 miles at a pretty easy pace. My thought as I left the house was that I would like to keep the pace around 10:00/mile. I quickly realized that the humidity was going to keep me from achieving that pace, so I slowed to a comfortable jog and just maintained that. I was faster on the steeper downhill stretches and slower on the steeper uphill stretches, but I managed to stay just a little faster than 11:00/mile on average.
It was good to get in a long run and not have to stop and walk. My last two attempts at long runs turned into alternating walking and running. I think most of that is due to the heat and humidity. Sunday morning was a short-lived, but pleasant break from the heat, if not the humidity.
Today's Stats: I did 7.05 miles in 01:16:38 for an average pace of 10:52 per mile.
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