Freaky Friday/Sunday/Tuesday

It's been a weird month or so for me. I've had multiple moments where I've felt like I've somehow slipped into the body of someone noticeably faster & stronger. In the past I've had races or runs where I've really mustered my strength, mentally pushed myself to try harder and suffer more and come out of it with exciting times, but this has been a little different. It makes sense to me that greater effort should result in faster times; it makes less sense that the same or less effort should result in faster times.

Two Fridays ago I had six miles to run at half marathon pace (~7:40), ending up running a 7:32 average, and could not believe how easy it felt.

Sunday I ran a 1:16 5K PR on about 90% effort, basically no 5K-specific training, and zero taper.

Today, only two days post-5K PR, I ran eight miles at a 7:29 average pace with warm weather, rolling hills, and a stiff headwind half the way. It wasn't quite as easy as the six miles a week & a half ago, but it was extremely manageable, especially considering that I went into it unsure I'd even be able to keep a 7:40 pace the whole time (and totally fine with it). My splits were 7:48, 7:39, 7:37, 7:34, 7:32, 7:24, 7:12, 7:14. Yes, the last couple of miles were downhill and really too fast even so, but I was getting a little impatient & the pace felt good & not at all like I was pushing too hard, so I went with it.

I don't know whether I'll be able to run a sub-1:40 half at Windsor Green (not least of all because I'll have spent the previous evening at a wedding...), but I'm feeling pretty good about taking a more aggressive tactic this time around & seeing where it gets me. :)