To streak or not to streak that is the question?

May31

  Ok, that is one of many questions but that is the question of the day.   I am lucky enough to belong to an aweome Mom’s Run This Town group with a lot of wonderful and truly inspiring women.       One of the Mama’s has been on a running streak for just over 550 days now.  Another is just starting one after coming back from a baby followed by some challenges of her own.   They as many other Mama’s in our group are so inspiring for many different  reasons.

One of the ways that we like to inspire each other is with challenges.   The gauntlet has been thrown down for the month of June.   A challenge of a minimum of a mile a day.    Part of me wants to jump at it and go for it.   Part of me thinks I need to hold back and let this one pass.   It’s like on one side there is the angel on my shoulder and the other is the devil.

What to do?

What to do?

For some a streak is a great motivator.   For some it will keep them moving.   To be honest, I just don’t know if I need or want it.

I’m just not sure.  My miles are finally going back up and only going to go higher as marathon training begins.   Then there is that nagging foot issue and I’m wondering if it will all be too much.  Hmmm.

This streak is just for the month of June and requires only a minimum of a mile a day.   Seems reasonable.   I’m just not sure.  I guess I have till the end of the day to decide.

What to do?

What to do?

I think what I might do is on my non running days is take the dog on a mile walk.

I think he would like it too.

finn

A mile is a mile.

Right?

Have you ever done a streak?

What is your longest streak?

Friday Five – 5 Reasons to have a Running Coach

May29

Friday Five Link-up with by Eat, Pray, Run DC,   Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What?

Today’s Theme is a Free Friday.

I went with 5 Things I Like about Having a Running Coach.

For those that have been here, you might remember that I recently started with a Running Coach.    Yes, I still feel funny saying it and somehow I even felt a little bit of a fraud like who am I to have a Running Coach.   Then I remind myself that I’m me and that not only can I have one, but so can anyone.   She is my running personal trainer and I deserve one.

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1.   I no longer need to spend countless hours trolling to find the right plan to follow and then let wondering if it is the right one for me.   Caolan sends me a plan customized for me and my goals.   It is not a one stop shopping plan.  It’s a what does Christine need to do plan.

2.   I am learning.   Yes, I’ve read books, blogs, and talked to other runners before but somehow this is different.   Since I’ve been working with her I feel like I have learned so much.   If there is something in my plan that I don’t understand why she wants me to do it a certain way all I have to do is ask.    She then explains her reasoning, what she is looking for me to get out of it, and why she thinks its an important part of my training.

Case in point – Monday’s are the days that I normally do my long runs.   On the schedule for next week, she wants me to do my 9 miles with no fuel making sure to have my recovery drink ASAP when done.   This seemed strange to me, so I asked.   She then explained that ” Doing long runs at an aerobic pace without fuel forces your body to rely on fat for fuel rather than (limited) glycogen. This only works at an aerobic pace where you can actually rely on fat. At faster paces we must use glycogen (which is why races and tempos must be with fuel).”   She also suggested it is good for mental training and some other stuff.  Her explanation made sense to me and maybe it’s a good thing to try to tap into my fat as I do have some to spare:)

**edited to add that she further explained this is not done for weight loss but that it does encourage fat metabolism which most of us can tap into.

3.   I don’t have to think anymore about “What I should do today?”   I already know.   It’s actually helps me plan out my week and is a real time saver too:)

4.   It’s keeping me on target while training smarter not harder.    The first thing she had me do is slow down my everyday aerobic runs as I was running them close to a minute too fast.   I used to do most of my runs at a 10:20 pace or faster.    She has slowed me down to at least as she calls it a 11+ and many and 11++.    My post half recovery run was done at an 11+++ which was lovely.   So now most of my runs are at and 11:20 pace.    You wouldn’t think a minute makes that much of a difference, but it does.

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5.  It is giving me confidence as I gear up to start my MCM training that I will be able to meet my goal.   Caolan knows my goal is to finish MCM strong.   I’m not going in this to be fast and in our conversations we are thinking possibly a 4:30ish time or that’s what she thinks.   That is 15 minutes faster than Philly, but I must remind myself that I jumped into Philly last minute without a lot of “real” marathon training.  I will trust her and the process and see where it takes me.    More important to me though is to run the whole race unless a planned walk is built into it.   I walked at the end of Philly (unplanned) and for some reason it bugs me.   I know that MCM ends on a hill or there is a hill very close to the end.   I want to go into this with the confidence that when I get there I will still be running.

Have you ever had a Running Coach?

Lastly,

I wrote about this is my Blog Post Dreaming The Dream Until I can’t Dream It Anymore.   I’m not your typical runner.   I don’t have the runner’s body (what ever that is).   I wasn’t athletic ever, but I’ve become a runner along the way.  I have a passion for it.   I have a need for it.   I love to share it.   So I think to myself, why couldn’t I win to be on the cover of Runner’s World.   Wouldn’t it be cool if just your average running mom made the cover?    So, please vote for me here.

Word of the Week – Determination

May27

determination

noun de·ter·mi·na·tion \di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən\

: a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult

: the act of finding out or calculating something

: the act of officially deciding something

Many things in life do not come easy.   Yes, there are those few people who seem to achieve all their goals with minimal work, but the key word there is “seem.”    Most things in life require work and do not come easy.    When setting your goals it is important to know yourself.   To know what you expect from yourself.  To know what your capable of and dream of what might be out of reach.  I think most importantly though, you must admit to yourself how determined you are to meet those goals.

You have to ask yourself a couple of tough questions:

What am I willing to do to meet my goals?

How much effort do I really want to put into them?

Am I willing to give up anything to get where I want to go?

These questions really pertain to all goals we set in life regardless of weather they are our fitness goals.   Once goals are set then it is time to put in the hard work.   When it comes to our fitness goals, not everyone will understand our drive.   Some may even think we aren’t all there .   Some might unknowingly try to sabotage them by telling us that it’s ok to miss a run, a workout, or what not.

worth it

This is why is really is important to have friends with similar goals.   They understand if you can’t make a breakfast because you’ve got to get your run in.   They will encourage you to skip your shopping trip (unless it’s for new running shoes) to get your workout in.   Yes it is fine to miss an occasional workout or run, but the problem is that it is very easy to go from missing one to missing a week.

That is where determination comes into play.

How determined are you?

How important are your goal?

Determination is the key to meeting your goals.   Determination is what will get you out the door to run when all you want to do is meet friends for coffee.   Determination is what will get you to the finish line.

Now please don’t think that just because I’m determined to meet my goals that is all that I focus on.   It isn’t.   It just causes me to shift my priorities slightly and maybe causes me to go for my run and then stop in for breakfast afterwards.

Not everyone will get your choices and that’s ok.  As long as you make the ones that you are comfortable with.   Your goals are yours and yours alone.  This is why it is key to surround yourself with those people that are just as determined as you.   They understand.   They encourage.  They don’t think your crazy and they understand your determination because they are determined too!

How determined are you?

Friday Five – Favorite Summer Fruits/Veggies

May21

Friday Five Link-up with by Eat, Pray, Run DC,   Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What?

Today’s Theme

Favorite Fruits and Veggies

We all know that we should eat more fruits and veggies, but there is something about fresh summer fruits and veggies that make it so much easier!

Last year, I had them delivered from a place called Just Farmed.  It was great.  Every week, I got a box of fresh veggies from NJ, PA, and some NY farms.   We are going to be gone a lot this summer, so I’m not planning on doing it, but there is always the local Farmer’s Market.

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1.   Fresh Corn – If your from Jersey, there is nothing better than fresh farm corn.

2.  Strawberries – Their season is short, but it is worth the wait.   There is no comparison to the fresh picked on the farm summer strawberry.   It is nothing like the strawberry that you get in the supermarket.

3.   Blueberries – If you ever get a chance to go blueberry picking, go.   First of all it’s fun.   Second of all, you leave with a basket of the yummiest freshest blueberries imaginable.

sangria

I do believe this counts as a serving of fruit too!

4.  Fresh Summer Peaches – just those three words gets your mouth watering thinking of the juiciest peach that only summer brings.

5.  Tomatoes –   I love vine ripened tomatoes.   Growing up my grandmother used to slice them.   Then put them on bread with mayo and a pinch of salt.   So good!

I wonder how many of us love the same summer fruits?

Pass the Kool-Aid Please

May21

A friend of mine who recently got back into running after being on the track team in college has been toying with the idea of running a 10K.   She’s already run a couple of 5K’s which she has rocked, but she thought maybe a 10K would be a good challenge.   I’ve been trying to talk her into a half pointing out that I had only run a 5K before my first half.   She then pointed out that she is not as crazy as me:)    That being said, she wanted to run a 10K as the next challenge and she wanted a medal.   Very doable goals.

The next race on my calendar in the NYRR Oakley 10K in NY City.

Oakley(I must interject to add that this advertisement for Oakley includes one of my MRTT Mama’s from last years race.   Don’t they look like they are having a blast!?!)

It starts by the park, but it is not the 2 loops through the park event that many of their Central Park races can be.    I will admit that running through the park is not always a picnic as there are some pretty decent hills.    I’ve never run Oakley, so I really can’t speak of what the course is like.   To be honest, I’ve signed up for most of my races not giving the coarse a second thought until I’m preparing for the event.   Maybe there is something to this crazy thing my friend speaks of….. No, no, no.

Anyway, most of the MRTT Mama’s that I ran Brooklyn with are running Oakley.   Then there seems to be a bunch of others running this one too.   So I “encouraged” my friend to sign up for this one.  Some may say harassed, but I will go with encouraged!  Thought it would be a fun event for her to do and I think running your first “big” event with friends is cool.   She was concerned because the day of the event is the same day as the end of the soccer season for our kids.    As much as a planner I claim to be, she is what you call a real planner!   This maybe why she is an actuary.   Anyway, the way I sign up for an event is that I see the event, I sign up for the event, I put it on the calendar and everything else just falls into place even if I have to shove a round peg into a square hole.   My husband also doesn’t know what or where I’m running till I tell him.   Now the question has become, “Do you have any races this weekend?”   Now, I’m not racing nearly every weekend (even if it feels like it), but this system works for us.   My friend pointed out that this system would emphatically NOT work for her and her husband.  I get it.   I get it.   That did not stop me from telling her to sign up.   Hey, I knew this race would sell out which it did.   That being said, she did do what was right for her and her family.   She talked to him first and still was able to get in under the wire and sign up.

I think I am more excited that she is doing this race than I am!   I can’t wait and I’ve already secured her a seat in the clown car.   It is going to be such a fun day and I can’t wait for her to experience it.   She doesn’t realize it, but this is how it starts.  SHHHHH, don’t tell her and when you, my friend, read this I’m only kidding (maybe:)

There is something to be said for the mob mentality.   Now, I am by NO means saying that  my MRTT group is a mob, but we do like to pass the kool-aid.

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Should you sign up for a race?

Of course!

Should you sign up for another one?

You bet!

But I’ve never done one before you?

You got this?

Yup, we are an encouraging group.   Yes we are:)   That being said, we do also do tell each other to rest when need be.   To train smart.   To be healthy.    We not only tell you that you can do something, we will also help you do it too.  Just remember that we will be there with you from start to finish and we’ve got your back.

Wednesday Word of the Week

May20

stretch

: to make (something) wider or longer by pulling it

: to become longer or wider when pulled

: to put your arms, legs, etc., in positions that make the muscles long and tight

We all know we are supposed to do it.   We all pretend we do it at least a little.   I’ll let you in on a secret, I am very bad at stretching and I would bet many of you are too.    I go through stages where I try to be better.   Usually if I’m running with other people, I’m better but only if they are a person who stretches.   Then there is the post workout stretches.   I’ve been known to do them while in the shower as time is limited.   Admit it, you’ve done it to.   You go out for a run with limited time, realize that school pick-up or anything else is sooner than you realized.   So you stretch while conditioning your hair.   You do what you have to do.

Then there is the whole debate weather runners should even stretch before heading out the door.   Some say you should.   Some say you shouldn’t.   I’m in the category in between.    I think that each person needs to decide what works for them and their body.   I, personally, think it is more important to warm up before going full speed than it is to stretch. I don’t do  any real stretches before hand unless it is something as simple as hamstring stretch.  I am trying to be better about warming up before a run than stretching before one.   I’ve recently started going out the door at a brisk pace and then do a short warm up with a slower pace.   This may be why professional athletes warm up with a few miles before a race.   So since I’m not a professional athlete and I don’t want to add more miles, I will just continue to warm up the way I do.

As for post race stretching even though I am bad about doing it; I do think it is something that I should be doing more of.  I think that the post run stretches can help alleviate the soreness many of us feel after a long run.    Why wouldn’t it?  We all know that there is nothing better than a good stretch.   So why not do more of them?   I with everything else in life am trying to be better.   I know that if I take a few minutes post run to stretch that maybe I will feel better later and less sore.   With anything else it is getting into the routine of it which I am trying to do.   It will take some time, but I do think it is worth doing.

Some of my favorite post run stretches.

run-stretch

Do you stretch before or after your run?

What is your favorite stretch?

Race Recap Part 2

May19

So yesterday I told you all about the numbers.

Today lets talk about the fun stuff!

The actual run:)

Ok, not all of it was fun.   I admit it.   The getting up before the sun really, really sucks.   I’m always worried about oversleeping, so I set backup alarms.    Good thing too because I didn’t get moving till 4:00 and everyone was arriving at 4:30.   It was my turn to drive the clown car, so there was no being late.

I have to say if you have to get up before the sun, at least do it with friends.   One by one they arrived – Elaine, Teri, Dawn, and Mary.   Then off to pick-up Karyn who was to be the co-pilot.  I may have been the wheels but I had no clue as to where I was going.   Luckily, Karyn works in Brooklyn and Elaine used to live there.    I literally just went where I was told to go and when I got there I made Karyn park as I’m not that good at parallel parking.  It’s really not required where I grew up.  She thought I was kidding until I jumped out of the car and made her do it.

Since this wasn’t a normal out and back run, we had to decide if we should park at the start or park at the finish line.   There was some back and forth as to which way to go.  We decided to park at the start.   Since parking appears to always be a concern in the city, we allowed for plenty of time to get there.    We actually got through security and in our corrals before 6:30.   Yes, we had to wait but waiting is better than stressing out if you will make it to the start on time.   It wouldn’t have been such a long wait if we were in Corral 1, but Corral 2 didn’t start till 7:45 sot that added some time.  Although both Karyn and Mary were in the first corral.  That being said at least we had the backdrop the the Brooklyn Museum looking very prestigious even with a line of port-a-potties in front of it.   I am by no means knocking them either as I was very happy to have them.

Brooklyn5

I will say that I was impressed with the security and ease of it at the start too.   We had to go through medal detectors and only runners were allowed in the corral area.   Then there were all of the police that you saw and even those that you didn’t.  There were the ones on top of the Brooklyn Museum with binoculars.   I liked it.   I liked it a lot.   If made me feel warm and fuzzy like we were being watched over especially with the sentencing for the Boston Marathon Bombing just taking place.  I don’t dwell on the what could happens of this world, but it is good to know that those that should were prepared.

Brooklyn6

Then there was the actual race.   As you know I’m not a city girl.   My sister who used to live in NY and I visited all of once in all the years she lived there (in my defense my boys were much smaller) jokes about how often I visit the city now that she is in California.   Although she does love that I am finally broadening my horizons as I am not as much as a traveler as her.   Anywho, I have seen a lot of the city and I like it.   I think what is nice is that I’m seeing more than the tourist destinations.   There is something to be said about running through a city.    It is kind of cool to be running down a road that on any given day would be hard to even cross.

Brooklyn2

Case in Point

What I love about going in with the women I go in with is that once the actual race starts, we all know we have to do the race we want to do.   We all follow the motto, “your race, your pace.”   Not to say that we haven’t run together, but this was not to be the case this day.   We all had our own ideas of what we wanted to do.   If you were here yesterday, you know what my plan was already.  Then at the end even with 26,000 people we come back together.

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I would do this race again.  It was a fun race with a really nice course even if it did start raining at mile 4.   At least it was a humid day so it did feel good even when it started really raining by mile 6.   Although, I was worried about my phone as I thought we dodged the rain and didn’t properly protect my phone in a baggie.  Luckily it then cleared up.   I was happy that even in the rain I was able to maintain my pace too. .

I was also happy that I saved some energy at the end, because in a cruel twist you had to run up the ramp to get to the boardwalk which was very cool to finish on.   The music was pumping and that helped too.   When I was approaching the finish they started playing Salt N Pepper’s Push It.   This song takes me back to my Ahem party days and I will admit that I was singing it as I was running at the end.   How could you not?

Then off to collect my medal, rest some and then make our way back to the other side of Brooklyn to collect my car.   As happy as I was to be at the start in the morning, I will say it did suck having to take the subway back.  It did add at least an extra hour of travel time, but what are you going to do.   Traveling in NY is supposed to be rough, so it lived up to it’s reputation.

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Finally we made it to the car.   After a Dunkin Donuts stop and another food stop.

I was sore at the end.   Not the I can’t move sore, but the sore that does indicate you just ran a good race and pushed yourself.   My quads were sore and my feet were somewhat sore.   Atlhough, I did not have any pain while running.   Yeah!!!     I’m wondering if it was the pace or the shoes.   I didn’t wear my inserts and I’m happy about that.   Running a half is not the way to break them in!    That being said my foot problems are not gone, but I got through the race!

Did you race this weekend?

Running By The Numbers – The Brooklyn Half

May18

Let’s start with the first number which is very impressive.

There were 26,482 finishers for the Airbnb Brooklyn Half.   This is a record breaking US finish count for a 2015 Half Marathon.   I am happy and honored to say that I am one of them.  More women than men finished too with 18,759 women crossing the finish line.

Then there is my finish time which not as impressive, but a good time that I am very happy with.

Official Time 2:14:47

This is right where I wanted to be.   I wanted to be at 2:15, so I can’t believe how on the mark that I was with this.   Might have something to do with that I followed a plan this time.   What was my plan you ask?

Go out at 10:20-30 for the first 10, start cutting down the last few miles a few seconds a mile.

I will say that in the beginning it was hard to follow the plan, but I reigned myself in.   It wasn’t hard because I’m Speedy Gonzales.   It was hard because I always go out too fast.  It was hard because I was caught up in the excitement of the start of the race.   It was hard because my ego took a little bit of a bruise allowing myself to be passed and  needed to be seriously checked.  It was easy though because I knew I had a plan that I needed to follow.    I think I like having a plan now that I’ve experienced running with one.

As far as the ego even though I know I’m not competing against the other runners,  it really is an ego killer being passed left and right by them.  It’s human nature (or at least mine) to want to pass them and not be the one feeling like your left in the dust.  That is UNTIL you remind yourself that you need to stick to pace and not theirs.   I’ve heard race bystanders yell at other races and even yesterday the chant, “Your race, Your Pace.”   I never gave it much thought till yesterday where I internalized and owned it.   It made so much sense.   This was my race and I needed to run it.   I needed to allow myself to be passed.   I was not competing with those passing me.   I was challenging myself and in order to do that I had to follow my pace.   It was a good pace too.   And although I didn’t hit every mile goal I was pretty darn close.

10:16

10:18

10:09

10:20

10:39

10:24

10:03

10:22

10:10

10:25

This was right where I wanted to be.   I was doing the math to keep me there and I used my Garmin to keep me on pace.  If you know me too, you know that I hate math but it kept my mind occupied.  Each mile I would mentally add my goal 10:20 to my time and try to hit the target.   More often than not, I did.   Although, I do need to adjust my setting for time display as it was only giving hours and minutes and not seconds which really is key in pacing.   Then at mile 10, I took some Gatorade and allowed myself some freedom.

Mile 11 – 10:00

Mile 12 –  9:56

Mile 13 –  9:39

Then the .1 at 8:21 as I always like to sprint at the end if I can which I did since I controlled my pace!

I think because I kept a good pace that it helped with my feet too.   I was able to run without the foot pain that has made me walk during races in the past.   I think it is a combination of new shoes, new running plan, and just being a little smarter in my running lately (thanks to my running coach).    Now this is not to say that after the race I was fine because I did have some heal pain and it’s not that my feet were not sore.  They were and I did waddle a little on the walk to the car, but

Runable and livable..

Brooklyn

Sex/
Age		 Overall
Place		 Gender
Place		 Age
Place		 Net
Time		 5K
Split		 10K
Split		 15K
Split		 20K
Split		 Pace
per
Mile		 AG
Time		 AG
Gender
Place
F46 18,759 8672 422 2:14:47 0:31:40 1:04:47 1:36:58 2:08:15 10:17 2:04:26 6512

There is more to talk about as this really was a great event.

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you a little more about the actual event and not just boring but important numbers:)

Do you follow a race plan?

PS – Don’t forget to vote

Runner’s World Cover Contest

Friday Five – Where is all Your Stuff?

May15

Friday Five Link-up with by Eat, Pray, Run DC,   Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What?

Today’s Theme

5 Ways to Organize Your Fitness Gear

corner

I would like to say this is what it looks like everyday, but it doesn’t.   This is what it looks like after a clean up.   To be honest, this is what it looks like most days.

gear

Not too bad, but not as good as when I first organized.

Some days worse, but you don’t need to see that!

1.  Bags – different activities require different gear.  Therefore, I have these things in their own bags that I can just grab and go.   I’ve got a yoga bad, a running bag, a gym bag, and a swim bag.   Might seem overkill, but it works for me.   This way when I’m heading out I can just grab the right bag.

2.  Shoes – I don’t know a runner who only has one pair of running shoes.   Maybe this is just the runners in my circle, but most of us have several pairs of shoes.   Plus we find it hard to let go of our old ones.   I keep my shoes under my bed which is right next to the bins in the picture.   This way everything is right there for the taking.

3.  Bins, Bins, Bins – the smaller bin contains smaller things that I use all the time such as my Garmin, running hat or headbands, gels, ect

The back bin holds all my aforementioned bags.

The front bin which has a lid holds miscelanous items that I need but not every day – night running vests and lights, extra belts, ect, ect.

4.  Bags, Bags, Bags – Under my bed, behind my shoes is a bag filled with tutus ( you know I have more than one!).   In the bins, I have my extra belts in a bag, my night time running equipment in a bag, my race day stuff in a bag.   You get the idea.

5.  Clothes – Just like I have to change out my normal wardrobe by the season, I change out my running clothes by season.   Then all my running shorts, pants, shirts ect will fit into one of the bigger drawers in the dresser.   I have a hook to hang vests and jackets above the bins.

My goal is to keep everything contained and out of the way.   There is a method to my madness to because if it’s left out hubby might actually see how much stuff I have.   Then he might begin to ask questions.   What he doesn’t know, he doesn’t need to know:)

Where is all your stuff?

Word of the Week – Pace

May13

tortoise

pace

noun

  1. Pace is the rate of speed or a single step taken when walking.
    1. An example of pace is when change comes slowly.
    2. An example of pace is one step taken.

verb

  1. To pace is defined as to repeatedly walk the same path over and over or to regulate the progress of something.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my pace recently.   Probably because if you remember, I’ve recently had to slow it down.   Not really by my choice and not really because I’m Speedy Gonzales.   It’s just something I was told to do by running coach.  I’m getting better at it and I’ve been spending a chunk of my runs making sure to stay on pace.  I’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’ve seen some improvement in just the few runs I’ve done already.

Runner’s spend A LOT of time thinking, talking, and trying to improve our pace.    That being said, very rarely do we try to master our pace (or maybe it’s just me) and usually never spend time trying to slow it down.    It’s always about going faster, faster, faster.   Now it’s about putting on the breaks a bit.   Strange.

Often when talking to another runner and sometimes even a non runner, the question of our pace usually comes up.   What’s your normal pace?   Do you want to run your pace or mine?  I think all our focus on improving our pace sometimes makes us forget that faster isn’t always better.    Also faster is all relative.   What is lightening fast to me, would be a snails pace to a front of the Pack runner.  And what is slow to me is fast to another runner.   We need to remember the story of the Tortoise and the hare to remind ourselves that it’s ok not to run fast all the time.

I’m learning to embrace my inner tortoise.   We all know the story of the tortoise and the hare.   We all know that sometimes taking your time is the best way to get to the finish line.   Yet, we all want to be the hare.     We forget that the hare lost the race and that sometimes slow and steady is all that is needed to win the race.
On my now slower runs, I’ve really been thinking about my pace.   I’ve realized that in order to be able to do the things that I want to do with my running that some days I will need to be the tortoise.   I need to do that so that on the days that I will be the hare, I am prepared.   I need to learn to control my pace, so that when I do finally get to the Marine Corps Marathon I will not have negative reverse splits like in Philly.    Although, I kept a steady and decent pace my time per mile kept creeping up and not down.   Case in point, my first mile was 10:06 and my last was 11:16.   I even had a 12:30 at mile 22.    I would like to get control of my pace, so that when I start in DC, I will be the one able to hold it back in the beginning and have the energy to push it at the end.
One of the things that I had an Aha moment about was that I need to control my pace and not let m pace control me.   It is also a good idea to have in your running arsenal.    There will be days, runs, hills, and everything in between that will benefit.   Maybe, just maybe if I get a handle on it, I will be able to see the right kind of splits in DC.   Luckily, I’ve got months to work on it!
Do you control your pace or does your pace control you?