OBJECTIVE 8 mi. w/5x2 min.@CV (6:40) & 2 min. active recovery (non speed miles @ EZ pace 8:24 - 8:54/mi.) ACHIEVED 8.02 mi. @ 8:29/mi. - broken down as follows: 2.43 mi. @ 8:50/mi. 2:03 @ 6:52/mi. 1:56 recovery 2:02 @ 6:32/mi. 1:57 recovery 2:00 @ 6:30/mi. 2:59 recovery 2:00 @ 6:27/mi. 1:59 recovery 1:59 @ 6:24/mi. 2:03 recovery 3.00 @ 8:31/mi. 5:26AM Good run this morning. It felt like the pace for the speed sections was better dialed in than last week. I missed the split on the first rep but once I got going I was under for the remaining 4 reps. I wondered how this was going to impact my 3-mile return but I was able to increasingly pick up the pace to finish the run. I seemed to notice a pronounced recovery over the last 3 miles. This made me wonder about my heart rate. I haven't ever monitored my heart rate during training but something was going on this morning over the final 3 miles that I think could only be quantified by a heart rate monitor. What I suspect happened is the speed sections took my heart rate up and the recovery sections were too short - by design - to fully recover. By the time I finished my fifth speed section, I needed time for my heart rate to come down. As I continued running at a slower pace, my heart rate dropped. As my heart rate dropped, I felt better and was able to gradually pick up the pace to the finish without going into oxygen deficit or overtaxing my heart. That's my theory. As I've said before, I'm not a doctor or a scientist but that doesn't stop me from spouting physiological theory about myself or the human body in general. I'm sure someone has already figured all of this out. I just need to find the source and read up on it. Slow 3 miles tomorrow. PRE RUN Clif bar & water POST RUN SlimFast Later, Kahsi GoLean cereal w/skim milk, apple juice & multivitamin | 