What's with all the hills?

Week four, already?

Sunday's run was the last of the challenging ones: we ran 3.3 miles in 35 minutes, or about 10:30 pace, a little brisker than last week. Your homework is paying off!
The reason I say it was the last of the challenging runs is that from now on, we'll hit the water stop. The first mile and a half are hills - both up and down, and once we cross under the railroad trestle we're done with that nonsense. A little detour under the streets we cross but that's it for the steeps - it'll be back to our beloved flat, level, smooth surface!
The six am start time is a little cooler, isn't it? I hope you enjoyed yourselves, and that you'll be ready for next Sunday - to celebrate our distance achievement and the magic water stop milestone, we'll celebrate with mimosas - one of the Running World Approved post-run cocktails. Look it up!

Week Three - in the bag!

Good job runners!
Thanks to Fearless Leader Erin's secret shortcut, we had a nice little run in the park. And in the wash. And under a bridge, like trolls looking for plump Billy Goats Gruff. And always up a hill!
The new course information is out, there's links on previous posts that show the route. Tim Kelly told us it's flat, so the whole idea of a hill is anathema. However, I know something: hills build leg strength. It's a good idea to get some hill work in as part of your homework. I have a nice route by my house that gives me a mile warm up then some laps on a nice little hill.
So where are we?
Today, we ran 2.66 miles in 30 minutes, for an average pace of 11:16 per mile.
(by the way, that's another 1/10th of a marathon, with a 5 hour estimated finish time- did you know you had that in you?) It's hot, we're still on soggy tired desk-bound legs and it's EXCELLENT work. The marathon is in December. Now is the time to the basics down, the time to train your mind. The body will come along with whatever the mind tells it to.
We will be back to 6 am next Sunday, looking for more billy goats!