Three Things Thursday, speed edition ...

1. Since I am tapering right now, it's only natural that I feel like I could run forever but that I am being held back by the limited miles on my training plan (everyone feels this way, right?) Well, since I am sticking to the plan and cutting my mileage, my stored up energy seems to be manifesting itself in the form of speed training.

Yesterday morning, IronJ (awesome article about her brother and injury prevention HERE), G (on the bike) and I took the strollers out for a six mile run. It was nice. We chatted. And laughed. And the kids behaved. And when we finished, we had somehow managed an 8:50 pace. WITH THE STROLLERS. Really not sure how that happened.

2. Since I had 10 on the schedule yesterday, I needed to finish up my miles after the girls were in bed. My legs were feeling pretty strong, so I decided that I would throw a one mile time trial in the middle of my four miler. I hadn't run a time trial in almost a year (2 miles @ 7:24 pace), so I just kind of guessed what I thought I could hold and followed Dorothy's tips HERE.

I did a mile warm up, followed by a 1.2 mile time trial (just to be sure) and a 2 mile cool down. That mile was my fastest recorded mile EVER - 6:33. Yeah, I killed it. And it was wicked hard. I can't imagine holding that pace for one step more than I did. Crazy.

3. And considering I took it SO easy yesterday, I woke up bright and early for another 5 miles in the pouring rain and wind. When I left my house, I didn't really remember which Posse members said they were running today, but I was going to "take it easy." Um, about that.

It just couldn't happen. The only other people who showed up were speedy pants, 3L and the Illusive Dave. I knew I was in trouble. I told them I ran hard the day before and to feel free to leave me, but they protested and instead ran what was an "easy" pace for them and a kick in the face for me. When I finished my five (they ran six), my Garmin showed an average pace of 8:30. I'm going to need a nap today ...