run, run, run

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:59

A nice morning run. The air was cool and I could tell that the end of summer is nearing because it was darker when I left this morning.

We kept the pace under 8 min (barely) and I didn't feel like I was really pushing myself much at all. Tomorrow I'm planning on my last long run before Pocatello.

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:55

This was my third and final long run before Pocatello. I did more long runs before Ogden, but I think my runs have been a little more intense lately. We'll see how it plays out a week from Saturday. I think the benefit of these long runs is as much psychological as it is physiological. It helps remind me that I won't drop dead at mile 18 when race day comes.

 I fly to NC tomorrow and I'll get a couple more runs in this week, then I'll do my normal 6.5 mile morning runs on Monday and Wednesday next week. 

Youngsville, NC 5:15 am

Pace: 10:29, 7:47

My brother in law invited me to go out running with him this morning. I said sure before he told me that we have to run at 5:15 in the morning because his neighbor has to finish early enough to get to work. I asked if he realized that was 3:15 am in Idaho. He said we weren't in Idaho anymore. That was fine except that the neighbor didn't even show up.

We did a 3 mile loop around his subdivision. I let him set the pace, which was pretty slow. About the same pace a run with my eight year old daughter -- but I won't tell him that. Then I did another loop on my own. After running that slowly, a sub 8 minute pace felt like I was flying.

The weather was awesome. A little humid, but cool enough that it didn't bother me at all. When I finished I went back to sleep.

Youngsville, NC 8:15 am

Pace: 10:21, 8:19

Another slow 3-miler with Fred followed by a faster 5 miles on my own. I didn't have as much gas in the tank for the second run as I did yesterday. Part of it was that it was later and started getting warm, but mostly I was just feeling pooped. Good hill work though. I wish we had rolling hills like this in Idaho. It reminds me of the half marathon I did in Charlotte last year. I really liked the hills -- short up short down. I think it actually helped my pace better than a flat course would have.

One week and one day before the marathon.