Faster Than I Thought

This weekend was our first Saturday group training run. On Saturdays we practice LSD, known to marathoners as "long, slow, distance". Ramon reminded us that we should feel good and be able to talk to our neighbor.

Since I am still in my 2-week recovery plan from the last marathon I decided to run with the 10-minute pace group instead of the 9-minute pace group. Unfortunately within this group there were only two other people who planned on doing the longest distance (which was 6 miles). No big deal, just not as fun, because I now like talking while I do my long distance runs.

It was crowded in the park.

Not only was it a Saturday morning, but it was also the Saturday morning on the Healthy Kidney run which is one of the largest NYRR races. It had 10,000 runners. So navigating was sort of an issue.

Ramon told us we had to be two across and no more, but this was exceedingly difficult because my group had a very long explanation of our workout, which meant we left after the 11-minute mile group, which meant we were actually running slower than 11-minute miles. Throw in a bunch of Healthy Kidney runners, who were actually walkers at this point in the race and it becomes a navigating nightmare.

Ramon was yelling at us because we were all breaking the two across rule. When Coach Sandy explained to him why this was happening he told us we should pass. So I did. I tried to stay with the group but it still felt painfully slow. So at the 102nd street turnoff I asked the group if anyone was doing the whole 6 miles. People kind of scoffed at this, like "no way!". I looked around for the other two people that I knew were doing the full loop but didn't see them, so I figured I was free to pace at what felt best to me.

Curiosity got me and I started paying attention to the Healthy Kidney mile markers because I didn't have my GPS with me. I felt like I was doing a steady 10:00 pace.

Unfortunately when I hit the first one, I kind of forgot what my last clock marker read. I guess I was in "the zone". I was either doing a 10:20 or a 9:20, I figured that it was the former and decided to really remember my number for the next mile.

My next mile was a 9:00.

And so was my next mile.

My last mile was a 9:10 but that is because I basically had to walk through the finishing area on the west side of the park because it was so crowded.

The thing is, I felt great the entire time and I felt like I was running easy.

So I guess that clinches it for me. I need to run with the 9:00 pace group. Because even if I am the last one in the group it is better to be in the back of the group than struggling to hold back.