It was back to the 8-mile run along the Metacomet to Copper/Peak Mountain from Phelps Road.  I was a little leg tired from yesterday's adventure, so I didn't have plans to run all that hard today.

My previous two runs on this ridge were positive ones, as follows:

May 13th - 1:47:00
May 20th - 1:41:00

I haven't worn a wristwatch in five or so years, but I do carry my GPS with me and it offers feedback.  This is one of the very few "courses" where I actually consult it to see my speed (or lack of).  I started out on the climb and gained some momentum once topped out.  I realized I did not feel all that weary after all.  The high 60's with no humidity had a lot to do with it as well.

At the halfway I was really pleased to finally look at my GPS and see 50-minutes.  Wow, if I could recreate this going back, I could dip under 100 minutes!  The route heading north is much easier, with only one difficult uphill in the middle, about a 150' steep climb out of the notch.

I ran steady but not all-out hard going back.  The uphills were a struggle, and I really bogged down, but the flatter sections made me feel as though I was still a force.  Completed the run in 1:37:00, which is again improvement.

This is about as close to racing as I get.  The main difference is, even as I try to run hard during my training, I am still in control of the pace the forest gives me.  The lack of other runners influencing my effort is rewarding, and good for injury prevention.  So, while there are days when I think about a race, the thought fades pretty quickly.