Running down underground to a dive bar In a West End town

Over the last 7 days, my legs have seen some hard miles. Friday I did my 20 so I could race 10 on Sunday. I found out this morning that I placed 2nd in my age group on Sunday! I am very excited about this. I take an age group place from time to time in small xc races but this was a bigger race (not a huge NYCC race, but a nice size). This weeks big work out calls for 15 miles, 12 at marathon pace. With my fast race on sunday, I went to the McMillan calculator to see what my new, faster paces should be. Now granted, I use this all as a guide, but according to mac, I should be able to run a 3:42:15 marathon, which is 8:29 pace. I decided to use that for my run today. 

Over the past few months, a small and steady group of girls have been meeting for runs at my house at odd hours during the week. We all have flexible schedules, so this has been great. Me, Ishii, Rachel, and Hilary headed out together. It was like having my own personal peleton. Hilary and Rachel went 1 loop of Central park and then were done with their work out. Ishii stayed with me until the bottom of the park and then off she went. I still had 4 more marathon pace miles to do on my own. I was 10 miles in. I never felt like OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO DIE NOW, I actually felt pretty good. Sure, the last few miles were a bit of a challenge. 

When my preset Garmin workout buddy beeped to tell me I was done, I had done 12 miles 1:41:09, 8:26 pace, well ahead of my set 8:29 pace. My garmin did it's little beep with the WORKOUT OVER YOU WON thingie. I am so glad when I don't hit my pace it does not say WORKOUT OVER YOU LOOSE, cause that would suck.

I'm tired. The rest of my week should be much easier. I have a 14 miler and some easy 6s. I'm doing a 5k on Sunday that will just be part of my 6. 

My mom is coming to do the 5k. She's been on the couch to 5k since xmas. She did twist her ankle a few weeks ago which has thrown a wrench in the plan. I'm hoping she'll be able to get through it. If not, we'll get her healed up and looking ahead to another race.