Anyway, tonight's speed workout I used completely to get the big bad pacemaster machine back in business (it's been out of commission for a while!). It was wonderful to just run and not even think about looking at a watch. I could tell after the first pickup that if I was to run the pickups and recoveries without slowing much, then I couldn't run the pickups that fast! Turns out BAP timed us at 7:30 for the first mile which was a bit faster than I wanted to be doing this workout. Pink Monkey and I continued the workout by slowing a bit to maintain no slower than 8s (recovery phase) but no faster than 7:45ish (pickups). I obviously didn't have a watch but I could feel the pace....and hit that stride again. Considering I've got that magic 8 in my brain, I want to work from there. I already know this race will be way better...as I'm going into it with a plan. When I race with a plan, I succeed.
I think I need to base more runs like this...watches are good but sometimes I feel like we get too consumed by time. Sometimes it makes me forget how much I enjoy just to run...and honestly that's what it's all about for me.