10k/6.21 mi in 55:31 (8:56/mi)! Still not amazing, but a drastic improvement from last time (59:23 or 9:33/mi). I'm happy with it, but you can always do better. Around 4.5 miles, a bunch of dudes (anywhere between late teens and early twenties) started clapping as I passed them leaving a building. I assumed it was sarcastic, but instead of...God, I dunno, breaking down in some sort of shame, I thrust my arms into the air. They laughed, clapped harder, and one of them shouted something that sounded like "Yeah!" I'm used to this sort of mock approval. I got it a lot in middle school. Being incredibly socially inept, it shut me down. I could either call them out on it--which was met with intensified faux praise--or I could just shut down---which was met with intensified faux praise. But now I know to roll with it. What do I care they find some gangly pale guy bounding through Courthouse amusing enough to taunt? Fuck, man, you're still clapping for me! I'll take my applause where I can get it.
