Long Run Done

This weekend I had a 12 mile run on my to-do list.  I hadn't done a long run in a couple of weeks for various reasons, so I knew I had to get it in this week.  I was hoping to be able to dominate the run like I had my most recent long run.  My last 12-miler I went out in 9:00 pace for the first half and 8:20 pace for the second half.  Part of me really wanted to shoot for a run like that, but I also knew it had been a few weeks and I wasn't sure how it would go.

Ty stayed home with Carter while he napped and I took off for my run.  I felt sluggish during the first mile which I ran in 9:00.  Pretty typical for my runs these days, I start slow and feel sluggish the first mile.  I didn't feel like I picked up the pace, but looked down to see I'd run the 2nd mile in 8:35.  I figured I wouldn't be able to hold that pace and that mile must've just felt easy because my 1st mile was so slow.  I was surprised when my I completed my next mile also in 8:35.  I averaged 8:37 pace for my first 6 miles.

When I turned around I decided to pick up the pace a bit.  I knew if I ran the last half of the run in under 8:30 pace I could finish my run with an average of 8:30 pace.  Mile 7 was 8:20.  I felt really good and decided to hold the pace there and then try to pick it up some more the last 3 miles.  Typically I think about a 12 mile run in quarters and chunk it into 4 different 3 mile stretches.  Sometimes I'll set goals for pace within each quarter.  Most of the time I just shoot for my last quarter to be my fastest.

I finished mile 10 in 8:13 and mile 11 in 8:08.  I told myself if I want to run a half-marathon at 8:00 pace I should be able to run my last mile of a 12 mile run in 8:00.  I picked it up for the last mile and finished mile 12 in 7:48.  I felt awesome.  I love runs where I am able to progressively pick up the pace throughout the run.  My 2nd half of the run I averaged 8:11 pace.  I couldn't believe how good it felt.

Back when I set my sights on running a half-marathon at 8:00 pace I was afraid it was too lofty of a goal.  I thought I might have to re-evaluate closer to race time and go for a slower pace.  Now I'm thinking it's something I can actually do.  I'm getting pumped for the half-marathon in November and I still have 2 months of training to get there.  I may not be anywhere near my half-marathon PR of 1:31, but I'm ready to set a postpartum PR!

And just because they're both so cute...

Practicing his standing!

Linking up with Ashley for Move It Monday: