Tired - but 'good' tired.

First big test today - Stu's 30K in Clinton - fairly hilly course around the Wachusett reservoir.

Original plan was to run 3 laps on the track before/after the race to bring the total to 20 miles. Hooked up with a few GLRR members in the parking lot and went out for a 2.5 mile warm up. Not sure this was the best day idea, but at least I wouldn't have to do a cool down, right ;-).

I had a couple goals for the race:
- start at 7:40'ish pace and negative split
- don't cramp!

Well I succeeded on both counts - kind of. Went thru mile 1 in 7 minutes - not good. Then I saw another Children's jersey up ahead (I was wearing mine), so I decided to pull him in and chat for a while - not good again. Eventually settled into a 7:30 pace and went through 15K in 69:57. It was difficult to get into a groove with all the ups and downs, but all the mile markers seemed to be pretty much pegged at 7:30 pace. Mile 17 is mostly down hill, then you turn and start climbing for about a mile to a mostly flat finish. Went thru mile 18 in almost exactly 2:15 and wanted to pick it up to get under 2:20 for my negative split. My calf complained a little, but never actually cramped! Got in in 2:19:44 (69:46 second half) without cramping - YEAH.

All in all a pretty good day - 7:30 pace on a difficult 30K course and no cramping. Not sure I would recommend the 2.5 mile warm up ;-)

We are leaving for FLA on Friday, so I will be out for 2 Saturdays. I'll probably back off the mileage a little - probably do a couple 10-12 milers in place of a long run. I will run long on Sunday, 3/21 when we get back (probably in the 18-20 range) and the 3/27 is the organized run on the course - 1st 21 miles from Hopkinton.

Then it's taper time!