Yesterday’s rest day did the trick – my knee joints felt much better today and the residual upper body soreness from the hundred push ups plan has disappeared too. I fancied a slightly quicker run today so decided to race my Garmin Forerunner 305 over a 10k course. If you weren’t aware, the 305 has a built in “Virtual Partner” that allows you to set time, distance or speed goals and then compete against a runner icon that appears on screen. I wrote about it some time ago if you’re interested.
The temperature for the run was great (just under 80°F), but the moderate SW wind meant the air was filled once again with the smoky air from the wildfires still burning in North Carolina. I headed outside, waited a few minutes to get a good lock on the satellites and set off fairly fast to hit my planned pace of 7:00/mile.
The first mile came in at 6:43 and a quick glance at the Garmin screen had me 119 feet ahead of the Virtual Partner! Unintentionally I quickened in the second mile and recorded a 6:15, but I was still feeling good and pushed on to the halfway mark. 6:20 for the third mile, but by now I was feeling thirsty and went in search of a water fountain.
Despite several soccer games being played, the first three fountains I found were shut off. Luckily the fourth was switched on and I took 20 seconds or so to rehydrate and cool myself off. Not surprisingly this mile was slower (6:49) but I picked it up again for the final two miles and finished with a couple of 6:22’s.
The victory sound played when the 10k distance was complete and I was surprised to find I was almost half a mile ahead of my Virtual Partner – most satisfying in a geeky kind of way.
So, all in all a good run today and a nice way to finish off the week. 43 miles isn’t bad at all and coupled with the last two weeks of 40 miles, my base is almost ready to launch myself into a 20-week marathon training plan for the Richmond Marathon in November.
I’ve never actually tried running against the virtual bastard so I’ll have to give it a go.
I beat he cheats on the hills.
Do it!
I never tried it either, but I think I might this weekend for my Virtual 5K.
I’ve owned two earlier versions of the Forefunner prior to the 305, and was always able to access virtural partner just fine. With the 305, I have absolutetly no clue…the only place I see it is under “training” and all I see there is an option to turn it on or off–suggestions?