Thursday run...cooler!

RUN: 12.25 miles in 1:50

I did the first lap with dc at 5am: 6.12 miles in 51:44 ave HR 154, ave pace 8:24. I knew this first lap would be faster than planned, my long runs are usually more on the order of 9-9:30mm. But I got up early to run with dc, so I kept up the first loop knowing it was going to slow the second one.

A brief pause for gel, water, and meetup with the rest of the group...

The second loop was mostly alone, I ran only the first mile with the group: 6.15 miles in 58:40 and 167 bpm. The pace was 9:35-ish, much slower than the first loop. Interestingly, my HR was on average much higher in the second loop. I can think of a few reasons for this, and they are all worth thinking about.

First off, it was getting warmer as the sun came up. Also I was lower on water in the second loop. I was drinking from my Nathan bottle of cytomax and from the fountains, but the dehydration is still cumulative. Second, I was holding better form in the first loop, and I'm always more relaxed when running with someone else. You'd think I'd relax more alone, since I don't have to think about keeping up and holding a higher pace. But I don't. Also, you'd expect that a slower pace is an easier pace at which to hold good form, but instead when I slow down I get "heavier", my legs don't float as easy and my feet spend more time on the ground.

A more studied analysis of the HR data shows that my HR didn't go up until I dropped off the back of the group in the second loop around mile 7-7.5. Still have to take into account the accumulated time and all, but it's a correlation for consideration!

This is not the first time I've noticed this effect, I have record of runs with bn that are similar--best pace I've ever held and still a low HR. It leaves me wondering a few things. Am I more efficient at a faster pace? What do I do differently when running with someone else? How can I get them to pace all of my races for me...