The plan for today called for a 90-minute "3/1" run, with the first three-quarters (1:07:30) targeted at an 8:45 pace and the final one-quarter (22:30) targeted for a 7:45 pace. I met up with the Sunday group today for a 7:30 AM departure on what was a beautifully sunny but crisply cold and windy morning. I ran the first couple miles with Dave, Dennis and Drew at about an 8:30 average before realizing my first name didn't start with a "D" and dropping back, or at least trying to ... unsuccessfully. As much as I tried to pull back, I couldn't manage to slow my legs down enough, ending the "easy" part of the run with that same 8:30 average. By the time I hit the "fast" part of the run, I was all alone with the wind at my back (mostly) and, though I thought about running closer to an 8:00 pace to compensate for the "hot" start, my legs would have none of it. I ended up with a 7:40 average on that stretch and actually felt pretty strong pushing at that pace (again, with the wind at my back).

I've eventually got to get my pacing under control, but I'm not sweating it right now. I still have nine weeks to get there and am pretty sure the pace will become more reasonable as my weekly mileage increases or as the distances of my long runs start climbing. That could be as early as next Sunday, when I've got a 16-miler on the docket.

Off to shower and nap and, hopefully, shake off the last remnants of my cold.