The no-miracles post-vacation run

Run 347
Average pace: 5:18/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Ran Spruce and Conifer Loops
Distance: 10.04 km
Weather: Cloudy with some sun, a few sprinkles; humid
Temp: 20ºC
Wind: light
Calories burned: 772
Total distance to date: 2917

My first week back to work meant I could only run after my shift was over and every day it was pretty much Africa hot except Friday and by then I decided to just run Saturday morning instead and get a full run in instead. With a week between runs, I expected to be soft, flabby and slow.

Instead my pace was nearly identical to my last run, only one second slower at 5:18/km. Conditions were fine, with the temperature staying a moderate 20ºC, a nice breeze blowing at times and a mix of cloud, sun and the occasional light sprinkle.

My left foot was feeling sore before the run–never a good sign–and it became a factor past the midway point. By the 7K mark it was starting to hurt and it probably affected my pace in the last few km. I did turn it up a little for the home stretch but fell a bit short of my opening pace.

By about the 6K mark I began feeling tired and my pace fell off. It never cratered but I clearly did not feel as zippy as I might have. This run also marked the first time my all-time average pace went up, from 5:12/km to 5:13/km. Ouch. My average for the month is 5:20/km and with only one more possible run to go it’s unlikely to change. Alas.

Still, considering a week is a long time in running, I can’t be too disappointed. And on a more positive note this is the first month in a long while where I ran more than 100 km. Woot.

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