I ran 3.19 miles (which is a tad over 5k) in 43 minutes 9 seconds. That's an average pace of 13 minutes 33 seconds per mile, which is quite a bit slower than my average pace in the gym.
I have a few observations about my first outdoor run:
- It is very time consuming to dodge patches of snow and ice. (People, please! Shovel your sidewalks!)
- It is possible to sweat A LOT in 32 degree weather. I can't imagine what it will be like in Orlando.
- Traffic slows you down.
- It's a lot more fun to run outside than in a gym.
Here's a recap of my current training status:
- Time since ankle surgery: 6 months, 3 weeks
- Time to Beat: 16 minutes per mile
- Target Pace: 12 minutes per mile
- Countdown to Race: 22 days
- Confidence Level: Fairly High