90-95% of my workouts are done with a posse. Sometimes it's 1, other times 6+. Usually there are 3-4 people training for similar distances and races, so it works out. It's that 5-10% of the time where the work gets hard. All I need is the foot strike behind me to keep me honest. Without? My attention wanes and my mind seizes the doubts sending the workout into a spiral of doom.
This morning I got a chance to slay the solo workout dragon. It was 4 easy leading into 12 miles at 5:52, and 2 easy. After the first 2 miles and a shoe switch, it was continuous. Last fall I hit this workout in 1:11:40 for the 12, caveat being that is moved the workout back 3 days due to a nasty cold/sinus issue. Nonetheless, I remember that fall workout as miserable, uneven, gutsy, and deflating. It was only gutsy because I didn't quit at mile 8 like I wanted to.
This time was a big difference. I started in 5:52 and 5:48, after floating between 5:50-5:56 for the next 9 miles (most 5:52-5:54), I closed in 5:42. What changed? Well, I'm fitter and healthy. Those make workouts go a little easier. I had hydration. I had 2 mini water bottles filled with Nuun Lemon-lime, plus a 3rd if I needed it. Hydration is a big factor in ensuring pace maintenance. I also did the workout in the morning when I was fresh compared to the evening when I was tired. Makes a huge difference.
3 weeks to go. More work to be done. But the work is way easier when you've slayed the dragon of workout's past.
