Day 52 - 4 miles

Was hoping to get a run in today, but just as i was heading back from Koplik into Shkoder the rain started. I was disappointed, but on arriving at the house the rain stopped. I got ready and by the time i was ready it was raining again. However, i decided I would go out anyway. I mean, what is the point in buying a wind/rain jacket if I don't use it!

I decided to leave my glasses behind as they would only get rain all over them blocking my vision, or else get steamed up. that was almost a big mistake!
I was running partly a new route.
the first problem i had was on a very dark part of the road beside the catholic graveyard. A car was coming straight towards me with bright headlights so I moved onto the pavement. As soon as it passed I jumped down and right in front of a cyclist that I never saw in the dark...fortunately he saw me and managed to steer clear.
then, just around the corner, I clocked up the first mile and decided it was time to take off the jacket, tie it round my waist and continue the run in my running top. As i was doing this, concentrating on keeping the same pace and getting the jacket tightly round my waist, a dog attacked me barking at my feet. Yes - my heart rate jumped up 10 beats a minute at that point! Fortunately, I turned round , faced the dog and although it made a couple of attempts to bite me near my feet, I managed to get away untouched!

I had completely forgotten that the extended run tonight was on a road that I had never run before, and although it was well paved, it was pitch black. A couple of dogs looked menacingly at me as I passed them and I mistook the road back on to my main running route and came back a different way than planned and probably about 50 metres too early.

I was trying to run at 9.30 pace, and was fairly sure that the first 2 miles were done at that pace. As I reached the 5km mark I noticed that it was under 30 minutes and I was trying to work out how fast it was, but thought it to be around the 9.30 mark, so just concentrated at going on at the same pace. With 1km to go, I glanced at my watch and saw that I was doing 8.30 pace...
That was a surprise...however, that sometimes happens , as a quick burst of pace changes the reading before dropping back to your average.
I kept going assuring myself that i was nowhere near 8.30 pace, as I would be gasping for breath if I was, so i glanced again just to confirm what I thought was a slower pace. Again it said 8.30.
I thought that it could not be right, as I felt very comfortable and I can't remember ever running that pace.Surely my final mile should be tougher - not easier!

I kept right on running and actually could feel the speed and realised that I really was running quite fast. Got delayed by a car and the turn for the last 500 metres, and crossing the road toward my house made me sure that I would drop pace , but I finished the 4 miles in 36 minutes 50 seconds. I was very pleased with that I was trying to run in under 38 minutes.

I was amazed when i got home and checked my readings and splits with the garmin. It really is fun to have !
Mile 1 - 9.36
Mile 2 - 9.18
Mile 3 - 9.15
Mile 4 - 8.33
(These splits are from Bones in Motion web site and give a time of 36 minutes 42 seconds)

The fourth mile , which was me running further than ever before, and I would have thought slowing down...was in fact my quickest mile pace ever!
I really cannot believe that!

Really encouraged.
I ran in the rain, so that is also encouraging, although it wasn't real rain - Shkoder can have some VERY heavy rain falls, and I wouldn't want to be out running in THEM - not to mention that the lanes would all be blocked!

Pleased with myself, and felt good progress made today.
Only downside was my new Wrights Running Socks. They gave me a blister on the middle right toe. I think I need some inners for my socks!