The bane of my existence is missing mile-markers. I run on a 16-mile bike/run path along Lake Michigan. Generally speaking, there are markers for each half mile. So one of the ways I get through runs is to set mini-targets and hit them along the way. Mile 1... done. Mile 2... done. After hitting each target, I reset for the next, having used up all the mental energy I allocated for that one split.
So few things annoy me more than looking for that mile marker at the end of a lap ("I'm almost done... almost there...") and not seeing it. Because it isn't there. Of course, 12 or 13 minutes into what's supposed to be an 11-minute mile, I generally figure it out. But stopping in the middle of nowhere is not nearly as satisfying as seeing the marker come up and crossing it. I always curse the city parks system just a little bit when that happens (... "Where's my mile marker?!?!?")
Anyway, for the two miles that were correctly marked, I came in at a totally respectable 10:35 (second mile) and 10:19 (fourth mile).
It's quite possible I set my goal too low. If I can run 10:30s now (and I'm not in very good shape), maybe I should be shooting for 9:30s (the miles that killed me this week). We'll see how I feel at the end of the summer.
Today's running project: New shoes. My knees are asking for them.
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