This is an 8 mile loop on dirt with 540' or so of elevation gain - this has been a combination of nemesis / fitness test for me in the past few years. I set my PR on the trail August last year - a few weeks before Pikes Peak Marathon.
This morning I went with no intentions of going zippy - just wanted to do a moderate 8 minute average for a 64 minute "shake the cobwebs out" run. I have run 3 times since PPM - each time was just an easy jog, near 9 minute average.
Started out the first mile at exactly 8 minutes and all seemed good. The first 3 1/3 miles are a gradual grade up, mindless at times and often times I have gone out too fast - and subsequently have hit the crapper by the time the last few miles roll around.
I didn't look at my watch again until just before 3 miles in, I thought I had been maintaining the same effort as mile 1, but was surprised to see my average was down to 7:52. Hmmmm, I thought - maybe I should see what happens if I kept going like this.
Kipps saddle is the meat of the run, a decent climb up with just a couple of flat spots. I kept going and by the time I reached the top of the saddle, with 3 miles to go - I was 40:20 in to the run. I have been able to do 7 minute miles from here to the finish before. So, I was encouraged with the possibility of coming close to the 61:16 PR I had set a year ago.
I pushed forward, feeling strong. The 3 miles begin mostly downhill, then with 3 flat and slightly uphill traverses across spread out amongst more slightly downhill trail. At 1 1/4 miles to go the last downhill goes for 1/3 of a mile - leaving just under a mile of rolling terrain - that is also more downhill than up. But it always seems like a long, tough mile when working to get through it in a hurry.
2 miles to go and I was tracking well, not sure what I could finish up with, but sensing I was now tracking a new PR. I slowed just a bit on some of the flat traversing sections - wanting to keep a bit of energy to push the last 3/4 mile. As I came down the last hill I had lost track of math - not really surprising - but I knew I had a shot of getting under 61 minutes for the first time ever.
As always - that last mile was wearying, but I managed to find another gear and grind out a solid effort, crossing the 8 mile mark and finish line in 60:30. 46 seconds better than ever before. The last 3 miles in 20:10 - really close to a 5K PR pace.
Really happy with the time, not expected nor planned for - but I will take it.
Nice Craig! Sometimes the best runs are the ones you don't have any expectations for. Good to see you recovered well from marathon. Have fun at ADT Marathon.
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