Start time: 8/16/07, 7:30am & 6:30pm
Location: Clarendon/CourtHouse/Rosslyn & W&OD Trail
Distance: 5 miles & 4 miles
Average pace: 8:50min/mile & 8:38min/mile

Now, I’ve been told for years that splitting up a long run into two portions throughout the day will give you the same benefits as running it all at once, and that various studies have confirmed such ideas. But, I’ll be honest, I’ve always been a little wary of that. As my scheduled Thursday runs get longer, though, splitting them up into morning and evening seems like a better and better plan. So, today I chopped my 9-miler into two segments.

The morning part started out well, but around halfway through with a huge uphill trudge and enough humidity to make me feel like a smear on the pavement, I was definitely slowing down; by mile 4, I couldn’t take it anymore and I ended up taking a minute walk break to help recharge somewhat. Oof. Not a pleasant run.

The evening part was hotter, yet I ended up actually doing a lot better. It was only the third mile that really brought my average down; I was pretty pleased with my splits overall (8:40, 8:34, 8:54, 8:24) and I felt like I could’ve kept going for another mile or two at that pace. Well, if it wasn’t for the fact that I was so sweat-soaked I was afraid I was going to pour out of my clothing. As I told a friend later, only three times before have I ever been so miserable while running that I took my shirt off, but if tonight’s run had been any longer it would’ve been the fourth. Oof!