Week 4 Key Run #3

This week's long run goal: 11 miles at PMP + 45 seconds/mile (10'37").

This run started out sucking again - I have no idea what is wrong with me. I was barely hitting my goal pace in the first mile. But miraculously after a couple miles I started settling in. I never used to have this problem that other runners talk about, but I guess I do now. I still kind of think I need to eat more carbs for dinner before these runs. Since I do long runs so often now I don't think about carbo loading ever, and perhaps it is making a difference.

Since I got to go slow today, I decided I would add some hills. (I don't really think that's the point, but whatever!) I ran down GGP to the Ocean, then up the nasty hill by the Cliff House to Land's End. I'm not going to lie - I walked up some stairs in Land's End. After heading through the ritzy Sea Cliff neighborhood I entered the Presidio and up I went again. Also not gonna lie - I did walk for awhile. I was trying to finish at the bridge so I could hop on the bus back, but I was a little under mileage so I had to run around the area for awhile, managing to require an uphill finish.

It was tough, but not impossible. And even with the walking, I hit a 10'39" pace. Total elevation gain: approximately 760 feet. Yeah, considering the Big Sur Marathon will have more gain than this, I'm guessing I won't meet my PMP there. However, I'm still going to train for it.