Run from Hell is Heaven on Earth!

Note to self: First time since back in May that i've used the stop watch part of my watch. If' i'm going to start using it again, I need to do a better job of stopping the time at water stops. But I kind of like staying at "basics" and not getting all techie.

Last time we ran the route called "the Run from Hell" was over two years ago. A great run through never ending steep hills. Some neighbors up there just aren't happy with life and complain to the police when runners show up on their roads. Seriously people, we're running quietly at 6:30-8am on a Saturday morning. I'm sorry if my running on a street you don't own ruins your day. Get a life, you grumpy humans.

The run is great. Steep and nasty hills one after the other. I love love love love LOVE it.

This time, since we're on a "down" week, we only did a 16 mile version instead of a typical 20 or 24, which meant the opportunity for harder paces! 3 mile flat out to the hills. 2.25 miles of hills, then a 5 mile loop of nasty hills for 2/3rds and gentle rolling for the other 1/3, then back 2.25 miles of hills and 3 miles of flat back to the shop. Here's the route. Press Elevation "LARGE" and check out all the spikes along the course. Love it!

My goal was to tax my legs as much as possible by hopping on to the heels of anyone that wanted to lead the charge with me, essentially run with the fastest climbers of the day. Then, on the return trip, really pick up the pace, especially on the very last mile to see what I've got in me with tired legs. Here's approximately how it went, based on my stop watch and retracing mileage online, or asking for current pace if someone had a gremlin (GPS).

Approximate times:

• 3 miles flat warmup: 8:21 pace, including water stop.
• 2.25 miles of Stratford and up redbud: 7:18 pace
• 5 mile "loop in the clouds": 7:50 pace (with 7:03 pace on one longish flat per GPS)
• 2.25 miles back redbud and Stratford: 7:07 pace.
• 3 miles of flat home (including water stop): 7:14 pace
• (last mile of those 3 miles in 6 min flat)

I'm happy... i really taxed my legs as much as i could, and i'm decently happy with paces. That last 6 min mile didn't really hurt, which is a good sign.

Only 58 more dawns till Boston, and I need to find speed in a hurry. Hope coach knows what he's doing with me. He says he's not worried, so I shouldn't be either, right?