Start time: 1/4/07, 7:00pm
Location: Old Town Alexandria
Distance: 5.1 miles
Average pace: 9:13min/mile

The regulars were all back on Thursday—and then some. The managers at Pacers said that this was the largest turn-out in the run’s history, and I’d believe it; there were at least 30 people there, probably more. With a lot of new people and a confusing course, it meant that we got a slow start with a bunch of people at our pace tagging along. Without about a mile and a half to go I started picking up speed which felt good, averaging for the last bit around an 8:20 without breathing hard or feeling like I was racing. Hopefully next week we’ll be able to start earlier at a faster clip; I like the people I run with but at the same time I also need to look out for my own running needs. I’d like to be able to go a little faster on these runs.