5 miles run and done today... felt good because I got myself out on a new route - which, innitially, I wasn't going to do... but it also didn't feel good because I was slower than usual. I know, I know - i'm obsessed with going faster.

I'm committed to putting in the work, though, to make myself that way. I'm increasing my long runs and trying to incorporate a hard run in at least once a week... hard run as in focusing on form and pushing myself rather than simply letting myself zone out completely.

Certainly, it is nice, sometimes, to zone out and just go with the flow and rythm of the run, but if I am going to improve, I have to pay attention to the machine that is my body and how it feels and what it is doing, to improve the form and function of the biological machine, as it were...

Good news- the route I chose was one that I believed to have no hills. Turns out that it has two appreciable hills... I haven't run hills in so long it felt strange! Not painful per se - actually felt a little easier than usual - almost like I was floating? I enjoyed it though.

I am looking forward to more hills in the future. I am also looking forward to getting faster. I am just... unsure of how to proceed. Today I felt so tired, like I really couldn't go any faster, however I was going slower than normal. I have taken 3 (unintentional) days off since my last run so I should be well rested... but it occurs to me now that, in the past, I've done worse with more days off in a week... as in 1 or 2 rest days is optimal... so next week I guess I shall experiment with fewer rest days.

Breakdown:
5.14 miles/1:34:49

1: 17:00
2: 17:50
3: 19:19
4: 20:24
5: 20:14

Average pace of 18:49...

Run happy!