Greenland Trail PR

Late yesterday I did the 8 mile loop - was the 3rd time in the past 3 days.  It also took my weekly miles up to 50 - first time in about a year for that and was also 37 miles in the past 4 days.  I've been working throughout March in increasing weekly mileage by adding 5 miles per week.

The previous 2 days were just about completing it.  Wednesday was the day after getting up to Barr Camp so I was a little weary.  Thursday I did it w/ my wife at her pace.  So going into Friday I was both ready to go hard - but also weary after a long week.

I started out and the first mile was "wobbly" - wanted to be at 8 minutes but with that "weak like my legs are mush" feeling, it ended up being 8:20.  I pushed on and felt better as I did, picking up the pace a little but not really getting the average down much.

3 1/3 miles in to the bottom of the hill climb I was still at 8:20 average but was able to get up the hill (about 1 mile climb) and be only down to 8:30 average.  I series of mostly ups rollers, with some down rollers for the next 2/3rds of a mile and I hit the 5 mile overall mark at an 8:28 average. 

3 miles to go, mostly downhill but w/ 1 climb and some traversing around the saddle.  I pushed and was able to do those last 3 miles at a 7:05 average.

New PR - beat my time from the 2010 race by 40 seconds.  I am especially pleased because it came at the end of the week - on weary legs - and with 5 weeks to go till race day (we signed up last night) - I should be able to improve.

Rest day / kids soccer day today - then back at it - probably a Greenland / Spruce (leaning more towards Spruce Mtn and open space) long run tomorrow.  Probably backing off the 50 miles this next week also to help the body.