I ran 10k yesterday, up and around the local running trails, and managed to do so without walking for more than about 2 minutes of the hour total, mostly on the steep uphill grade to the dam. My time was nearly a 10 min mile pace, which is nothing to brag about, but a new record for me for that distance. It matches my 5k pace of the other day, so I am happy overall as well as how I am tracking in running faster AND running farther sustained distance. A beautiful day with a really gratifying run.
I think a lot of the benefit came from the shorter faster runs I clocked in the last week, fueling, and training my body to run at 10 min miles vs. 11 min miles for 5k. Since my 12/23 run, I have gone from running a 10k at a 12:36 pace to running a 10k at a 10:06 pace.
The next goal I have, other than trying to exceed my monthly milage total again, is to reduce my per-mile pace to 9 minutes, as well as do the same lap I did yesterday without stopping, which should be a worthy goal given the distance and angle of the uphill leg. Having said that, I see in the weather forecast that snow is finally headed towards Iowa, so it may make the outdoor running logistics harder. If I can do that, I may enter a 5k or 10k when I am on the road in February, like the President's day run in San Mateo.
On a lighter note, to remind myself to train while I am traveling in January, I made a public resolution (right) to run 50 miles this month or I will shave my head. That should keep me on the trails around San Jose and Raleigh (or at least the treadmills around San Jose and Raleigh) in January.
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