Negative splits on my 18 miler (streak day 92) #twit2fit

Last week, I ran a 16 miler in which I never got my legs under me.   My expected easy/long run pace is roughly 9:30 per mile, but I’m okay with 10 minute miles given the warmer weather. My result was a 10:19 pace for 16 miles, with the last few miles being a struggle to stay under 11 minutes.

This week’s run started off slow (10:30 1st, 10 minutes for each of the next four miles). Starting about mile 8, I started hitting my stride, and finished with a nice, comfortable 9:42 average pace for the 18 mile run — 2:54:43 for 18.03 miles.

Last weeks’ run was roughly the same conditions as this weeks, but I made a few adjustments to get me a negative split (first half/second half):
Powered by RunningAHEAD.com

Change 1:
Two Fridays in a row with brutal afternoon conditions (~100′F Heat Index). Last week, I ran a 5-miler on Iroquois Hill in that nastiness. This week, I ran a 4.25 mile 2% treadmill run yesterday. Hydration and muscles were much better today.

Change 2:
Added the Camelbak Elixir electrolytes tabs this week… they’re lemon-lime flavored with electrolytes but no sugar to mess up the Camelbak liner:

Change 3:
Last week was probably the first run in which I really needed to take in extra sugar before or during the run. I didn’t take anything with me, and had to end up taking a detour to Wal-Mart (the gas station part) at mile 11 to get some orange juice.

This week, I got some Strawberry Banana GU and took them at miles 2.5, 6, 10.5, and 14. My normal pick is the Powerbar brand gels, but I thought I’d try the GU since it’s a bit thicker. (By the way, this flavor was one of the nastiest gel flavors I’ve used of any brand, but it did the trick)

Course map:

RunningAHEAD – Strings_n_88keys’s log: View Workout.

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • As for me, I plead insanity. I'm shooting for 60 miles this week all of a sudden, after 42 last week. My legs/brain may change my mind later.Lunch workout: 6 miles in 55'09" at a 1% incline on the treadmill (Precor 966i).Ran to the Rutter Requiem... It's not nearly long enough for 6 miles at my......
  • Slightly up tempo 4 miler I had a slightly up tempo 4+ mile run today: 4.27 miles in 34:55, or 8'11" paceMy "sluggish" first mile ended being 8:16. I decided to try and kick it up tempo for the next mile, finishing in 8 minutes even. I took it easier the 3rd and 4th miles,......
  • I get more miles in before sun up than most people get all week #running #twit2fit I ran 12 miles (just below 10-minute pace), mostly in the dark, on a clear morning in Fern Creek this morning.  When away from main roads, I could clearly see more stars in the sky than I ever did growing up in my old neighborhood.  The sun came up by......
  • I ran 15 miles at sub-9 pace the hard way #running #twit2fit (and on the treadmill at 11pm) I decided that I'd do a progressive workout, starting @ 6.0 mph (10'00") and going to 7.4 mph (8'06"?), by 0.1 mph increments per mile.  I have the speed to run 6'30" intervals, but I'm still hesitant to push for a sub-9 pace long......
  • 5,4,3,2,1 mile MP intervals. Long run 18.24 miles at 7:45 pace. #running #twit2fit 15 miles of marathon pace intervals, in 5,4,3,2, and 1 mile intervals. 18 mile long run. Felt pretty good, despite lingering cough. - 1.2 mile warm-up, 10:16 (8:35/mi) - 5 mile MP interval, 38:52 (7:46/mi) Note: this was mostly uphill. - 5 minute recovery, 0.61 mi - 4 mile MP......
  • Trying to break the monotony of running outside... *heh* #twit2fit #running It's amazing how running 50 miles in 7 runs over 4 days can make even running in pleasant weather a bit of a mental challenge.  On Monday-Wednesday of this week, I ran outside, starting at 5:45 AM.  Daylight doesn't bleed into the sky until near 7, so running down streets......
Blog Traffic Exchange Blog Traffic Exchange
This entry was posted in workout commentary and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.