pace run: success!

before I begin my running-ramblings, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the second sexiest man in cycling and the world's best sprinter on his newly-held green jersey. A stage win means we'll be seeing more of him. I was worried for a spell. NORGE!

The new plan has only pace runs as speed work- runs where you go at race pace. Since my next race is the CDC, a half marathon, that means half marathon pace. Today served up a 7 mile pace run.

I've never run that far at pace, and when I tried it on the 10K I failed pretty miserably. I set the gizmo with the "training partner" - a little dude who runs with me and tells me how far ahead or behind I am. Started out strong and in three miles had a full minute gap on the gizmoman, but then it started to hurt. Started losing ground and was behind the man with one to go. Kicked out a mile :30 faster than pace, and beat pace on that 7 miler by just 10 seconds. My gizmo beeped and told me, "you win!" Finally. My fastest long run ever. I'm starting to think I can hold this pace for 13.1.