Today's Run, July 5

As you could tell from the heat this morning, summer's here. But not to worry--we're going to be running a half hour earlier starting next week. This week's run was run slouch though. Here are the raw numbers:

Time: 1:28:46
Distance: 8.92 miles
Average Pace (including stops): 9:57 minute/mile
Calories Burned: 1222

As you can see, we're doing really well. The most important thing at this stage is to get used to running with the group, and to stick with the group. You'll be amazed at how much help it will be during the marathon to have a familiar bunch of people around you. So over the next couple of weeks, focus on staying with the group. If you have a tendency to race ahead, cool down a little bit and enjoy the leisurely pace. You'll only finish a few seconds ahead of everyone else but it will seem like a much longer run without the camaraderie of your peers. If you find yourself falling behind, the same holds true: you aren't really running that much less strenuously, but it will feel like a more difficult run. So, unless you have a mechanical breakdown or are in pain, stick with the group.

I think that 99% of the problems people have staying on pace are psychological rather than physical. Case in point: no matter how far we run--if it's 5 miles or 20--people tend to drop off in the last mile or so. This is often because runners convince themselves that they can't keep up and they've got to slow down. Sometimes, slowing down really is a good idea, but usually you'd be better served by sticking to your pace. Once we get into the longer distances, you'll see that running 18 miles isn't that much harder than running 8, as long as you pick a pace and keep to it.

Next Sunday, we're starting our run at 5:30, so get there bright and early. I should be moving this blog over to the LV in Motion site by then, so stay tuned!