Ummm. This isn’t 9 min pace.

Alisha and I finally meet up for the Thanksgiving morning trail run. Looking to do 14 miles. Well, I got antsy when she ran a couple minutes late after her swim/weights session and added on 2 extra miles.

After Monday & Tuesday off and a stiff spin class Wednesday night, I was feeling fresher than before. But not fresh enough to handle crazy Alisha pace. We arrive at the base of the big hill with stairs on Company Mill already feeling raw. Knowing how she lopes up hills, I knew I was in trouble and soon I was. I cried and whined and she slowed. And let me lead, which worked out fine. She blames the pace on Rich Harper, who wasn’t there, but she’s been running with him lately. Oh, OK.

Well, Alisha says she tried to talk Rich into running with us but he decided to ride instead. Oh. Too bad. That would have been great. “Thanks Rich and Alisha for coming out and keeping me company on my long run, I mean painful Alicia-pummeling exercise. Appreciate it!”

Later, running at comfortable Alicia pace, instead of Alisha pace, we intercept Alisha’s husband Joe who is a very talented runner but hasn’t been running so much lately. Alisha’s all “Come on Joe! We’re running easy pace!” He joins us as I continue to dictate pace except up hills, where Alisha comes around and half steps me until the top. I tell you– she lopes up slopes like a little gazelle. Dangerous stuff.

We’re on an extended gradual downhill and I stretch out the stride, still keeping it relaxed and conversational. Joe pipes up, “You know, Alicia. This ISN’T 9 minutes per mile pace. You said you run 9 minute miles in your blog.” Well…we’re going downhill. And I’m fresher after a couple days off earlier in the week.

Smelling an opportunity to have someone else blamed for too fast a pace Alisha helps by adding, “what about the uphill parts? You’re running fast up those too.” Wait a second. Did you not just tell Joe we were running easy? I have not picked up my effort level at all. Joe, tiring of our madness, drops back, to which Alisha informs me “There goes your credibility! HA HA HA HA!”

So in case you’re wondering, I ran around 15.8-16 singletrack miles (as best I can tell) in 2:13:33. That’s 8:20-8:30′s. Nope. It wasn’t 9 min pace. I will say I the running legs weren’t so fresh the next day. I ran 11 on the bridle trails about the same pace I ran the singletrack 16. For some reason, I was tired. Duh.

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