Pace discipline

I now have to forgo the trail running for road running because of the dark nights, so I needed to pick a route that would tax my legs and give me the opportunity to teach myself some pace discipline. I haven't been very good on the pace front, constantly going too fast or far too slow.
So, after deliberation, I decided to run a loop that I have only attempted once. I did this run in the summer and got hailed upon halfway through. I had to walk a lot because of the really steep long hills and I was shattered when it was done. So... That was the challenge for today on a 15:5.

I began by taking it really easy, although the first mile came in a sub 10. The second mile I found I had got to the top of a half mile long steepish hill before I was due for a walk break. I felt like I'd crawled up this hill however every time I looked I was doing a 10.13mm. I felt quite good when the walk break was due, and the double thermal layers in 16.5 degree heat weren't as suffocating as I was expecting (although I was rather warm). The next running section started a quarter of the way up Ellisons Bank. The lower part is fairly flat but as this hill is around a third of a mile and culminates with about 150 metres on a 17% gradient, I have to admit that I have never managed to run all of this without resorting to a walk. I started my 15 minute run as the hill got steeper and I made sure I controlled my pace well. I got to the top of the hill for the first time ever and didn't collapse by the bollards in a sweaty heap. In fact, I continued on with the running and managed to fully recover within about a minute and a half. I was so chuffed!

The rest of the run was relatively easy apart from the very last half mile hill. Again this was on a 15 minute run, so I controlled my pace and got it done. Today was a big confidence booster and gave me a bit of insight as to how I need to pace myself for the race. And as the end of the month closes, I find I've done 128 miles this month, which is my highest mileage month for a year and a half. My powerbreathe actually felt easy today, and as from Saturday we became "dry" and have ditched the wine until after the race. I'm going far too far away to go and bugger it all up with something as avoidable as dehydration!