Too bad I was not wearing a race bib

Went out Saturday for a 14-mile run with Team Rogue. Hadn't run since Tuesday and so I was feeling very very fresh. Goal was to stay between 7:30 and 8:00 min/mile pace the first half and then let my legs do what they want to do the second half.

Most of the first half of the run was uphill. And since it was an out and back, the second half was mostly flat or slightly downhill.

First half pace: 7:37
Second half pace: 6:59

That is 14 miles in1:42:21, a pace of 7:19 min/mile. If it were a half marathon race, I would have had a PR, which is 1:36, set Jan. 31, 2009 at the Benbrook (Fort Worth) Lake half marathon.

This, of course, bodes well for me next weekend, as I am signed up to run the Austin 3M Half Marathon, which is mostly flat or downhill.

Back to Saturday's training run... I felt very very very fine cardiovascular-wise. Never pushed past my comfort level until the last 2 or 3 miles, and that's because my right knee was beginning to stiffen up because the last few miles take you through downtown Austin and there is a lot of stopping and starting as you wait for the lights.

And something else. When I took water (twice during the run, at Miles 5 and 8.5) I felt worse for a half mile afterwards. Of course, by now, from my training that lead up to White Rock and the marathon itself, water is not really my friend. Over the last seven miles Saturday, six were 7:00 min/mile or faster. The "slow" mile? From 8 to 9, when I stopped for water. (I turned hit the "stop" button on my Garmin, so the slower mile split was not because I stopped).

I don't know -- I just get sluggish when I have water, though I know it is probably good for me and keeps dehydration at bay.