Well it actually came together fairly well today for a good hard long run. Plan was to go out and run 3 warm up miles to get really good and warmed up and then go at least 10 and maybe more at marathon pace (7:28/mile). The first 3 miles were right at an 8:30 pace and then I was able to pick it up for 13.1 miles with these splits: 7:18, 7:27, 7:26, 7:28, 7:28, 7:25, 7:30, 7:28, 7:29, 7:31, 7:32, 7:24, 7:23 and I don't know what the pace was for the last .1 but it was probably in the range of 7:25. Took it easy for the next 3 miles and brought it back down to 8:25/mile pace and then picked it up for the last mile and came in at 7:40.
This was not an easy or even moderately hard run, it was hard! I think it does a little bit to instill me with some confidence that I am farily well prepared but not sure about maintaining that pace for the full 26.2. I was contending with high temps and the entire course was completely flat so on race day I will have a couple of advantages working in my favor, cooler temps and a downhill course. Hopefully those two things will be enough, along with race day magic, to get me across the finish with at least a PR and hopefully a BQ.
Time: 2:35:14 7:45/mile | 