Nothing like a #fastfinishrun to get you pumped up for your next run. I cruised along easily today for 4 miles, up and down the rolling hills of #fairfaxcity but as I got close to home, I told myself “let’s put in some work.” Dropped a minute per mile off my pace and then a little more. Once I hit 6 miles I dialed it back for a cooldown. I’m in Week 5 of #basebuilding and I’m feeling stronger than I have in a while. There’s no telling when there will be a race to run but I’m targeting the fall anyway. My coach at @mcmillanrunning says I should be a beast by then. That’s the plan. #runblr #fitblr #springrunning #runningforfitness #endurancetraining (at Fairfax, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_A1Mr1H3mq/?igshid=1sqsepx1jx2q4

Next to last big workout on the road to Long Branch. I had to postpone this for a few days because of schedule complications, but glad I finally got it in, a 14 mile #fastfinishrun. In keeping with the advice a few years ago of my friend and great masters marathoner @keithfreeburn I broke it up in two pieces. First I ran my neighborhood 7-mile loop at easy effort in my regular trainers (@brooksrunning PureCadence). Then back at the house I did a quick shoe switch (and switched to a singlet while I was at it) to my marathon racers, the @nike LunarTempo. Then I was right back out the door and ran the same loop. This is a tough, hilly route, a far cry from the flat terrain of the Jersey shore. For a 3:20 marathon, I need to run 7:38/mile, and 7:42 on this course is a good indicator I can do that. It’s also a confidence builder after last week’s very rocky #longrun. Next up: #gwparkwayclassic10miler, the final dry run before @njmarathon. Hard to believe it’s so close now. #marathontraining #springrunning #njmarathon2018 #runblr #fitblr #bqorbust (at Mantua, Virginia)