Seeking a better country...

8 in 68.  TM incline varied from .5 to 3.  Early miles were slow, the end ones were quicker.

This run has been looming over me for weeks.  10 miles, 8 miles at 6:53.  I know, that's a pretty relaxing pace for many runners. 

I didn't feel great getting started at 8:30 p.m.  I did the first mile at 9:00 and cranked things up to 6:53, figuring I'd just hold on as long as I could.  After 3 miles, I told myself to keep going until 4.  Then, "If you've gone 4 you can go 5," and so on to the finish.  

I don't know why I'm intimidated by these quicker workouts, or the 7:00/mile pace.  I've never failed on one of these workouts, and all my shorter races are below this pace.  I normally don't feel amped up enough to "race" a workout.  I guess that's not necessary.  If I can hold on for 8 miles at that pace on a night like last night, it should be doable anytime.

8 TM miles in 65 minutes.  1st mile was slow warmup; I made up for it with a couple quicker ones toward the end.

I've felt better than I do now.

OAP:  7:55

The beginning was better than the end.  I was pretty good until mile 14.  By then my 16 oz of gatorade had become insufficient to sustain an acceptable effort level.

At times like these I seriously question whether I'll do another marathon after Boston.  I'm sure I could be just as fit training for halfs, and much less beat to crap.  I just feel lousy.  I realize one should feel somewhat lousy after 20 miles, but this just seems stupid.  My day is shot, probably my tomorrow, and I have two more of these runs to anticipate.   Perhaps I'll have a more intelligent fueling strategy next time, and enlist some company for some of the miles. 

Maybe beating Lance isn't all that important.