Easy effort across U campus to 11th Ave, then over to B Street and back along 11th up to Shoreline Trail, then over to Fort Douglas and home. The only exception to the easy effort came just after the fire station on 11th Ave., while I was taking it especially easy so that I could eat my Nutri Grain bar (couldn't find a spare Power Gel). A guy I didn't recognize started to pass me going around 6-minute pace. Since I have never been passed while on a regular training run, I decided today wasn't the time to start, so I upped the pace enough to stay with the guy. It made the Nutri Grain bar a little hard to eat, but my pride was at stake, so it was worth it. He continued down toward City Creek at my turnaround point, so that was it. In the end, although I let him stay about 10 feet in front of me, I am not going to count this as a pass, since I kept pace with him quite easily and just didn't feel like passing him back, thereby making my childishness even more obvious.
Although the final push above Popperton (before the trail turns to dirt and descends into Dry Canyon) hurt as much as it always does, the Shoreline Trail was particularly spectacular this morning. I love having it so close by.
As far as the pain/tightness in my left leg is concerned, I felt better today. It didn't hurt throughout the day yesterday after my interval workout, presumably because of the effort I put toward massaging, stretching, and icing it the night before. I did a shorter version of it last night, too, and will try to continue doing so for the next week or so in hopes of eradicating the problem altogether.
Pace: 7:30 (with the one on 11th Ave at 6:00 and the final mile in 6:20 or so)
AHR: 151 | 