Two Slow Long Runs

Four weeks ago was the TC 10 Mile, and the very next day I got a vasectomy. I had some easy "return to exercising" runs 3 weeks ago before leaving on a trip to the Faroe Islands. I did my first "harder running on that trip, and I was SLOOW, but it felt good to be pushing again. (The harder 4 miles in the middle of that shorter-than-normal long run [of only 8 total miles] averaged 6:58/mile, which is slower than my half marathon race pace. Ouch.)

Last week was meant to be a "normal" long run of around 11 miles total with 6 harder miles in the middle. My "fast" miles were still very sluggish, and even though I normally run those around 6:15 pace, they were 6:40.55 / mile pace. I've NEVER seen "fast" miles look like that! (I also only lasted 5.5 miles for my harder pace instead of 6 miles.) On top of that, I also took a hard fall at the end of that run, cutting it a bit short (10.22 miles instead of 11+ miles). I actually skipped my Wednesday run last week because it still hurt too much to run.

I got back out this morning for another "normal" long run. I was determined to make sure I got in 6 harder miles, and I did! But my pace was still slow: my harder miles were at 6:41 pace. And it started raining during my cooldown so I turned for home a bit early so my phone didn't drown:

USUALLY it's a true out-and-back run, but see split #16?
I turned around after that and headed across the bridge.


Close-up of the unexpected turn-around.

It was neary 60 degrees and humid, so it was a rare November SHIRTLESS run! The rain let up a little and I was able to keep running around home to hit 11.42 miles in the end. Just not fast.

Oh, and speaking of warm weather, I'm still getting veggies from my garden. I posted this yesterday about our Halloween night and a Halloween harvest:

The boys both went to Halloween parties, so it was just Sarah and I. So we dressed up the cats and handed out a record amount of Halloween candy (until we ran out and had to hit the lights and hide).