My best run since the injury.

I would not have believed it from the pace of my first mile but today was my best run since I sprained my ankle. Four miles were on the schedule today and I was planning to run them at a 8:10 minute/mile pace. I felt like I was exerting a lot of energy during the first mile so I was disappointed when it clocked in at a 8:20 minute/mile pace. I ran mile number two at 8:15 minute/mile which was better but I was starting to worry that my goal of an 8:10 minute/mile pace was now out of reach so I decided to run hard but to satisfy myself with an 8:15 minute/mile pace for the overall run. As I mentioned in the post previous to this one mile number three on my four mile route is a hill. Because of the hill my mile times usually increase for obvious reasons. Today was the exception. My legs must have finally warmed up and I was enjoying the cool temperatures in the mid fifties, mile number three was run at a 7:48 minute/mile pace. At that point I was feeling really strong so about a third of a way into mile four I figured out how fast I would have to run in order to have the entire run come in at an 8:00 minute/mile pace. I ran strong and for the first time since the Shamrock Shuffle in March I ran a 7:30 minute/mile pace which gave me an overall pace of 7:59 minute/mile! I am going to rest as much as I can today and I hope to run eight miles tomorrow. If I am not up to it tomorrow I will run the eight on Sunday.

4 miles at 31:54