Ran a total of 8.75 miles in 60 minutes. The real test was to run 7 miles in 50 minutes. I managed to do it in 46:30. I hit the 8 mile mark at 54:26, which might be the fastest I have ever run 8 miles. I actually hit the 10k mark at 41:03 which is the fastest I have ever run a 10k.
When you are running hard, the run is sometimes more psychological than it is physical. I am not trying to minimize the importance of conditioning, but your mind tries to play tricks on you sometimes. I have read of elite runners who develop pains during a race. Sensing it is psychological (usually a nagging pain versus a debilitating pain), they run through it. Not only does the pain go away but their run usually ends up being quite successful. I am not saying to ignore pains. You have to pay attention to your body. But you also have to know you and what tricks will be played against you. Nobody knows you better than you. With me, if you read my intro, you will know that it took a long time for me to like running. Though I always like running now, I have still not mastered always liking to run fast (though, oddly enough, I usually feel better when I run fast). Running fast, or at least what I call fast (meaning for an elite runner it is just short of a jog) takes a lot out of you. But in order to do well in a race, whether it is a 5k or an ultra marathon, your mind will try to convince you that it would be so much easier if you just slowed down. And the truth is, yes it would. But when you feel that way, convince your body to run just one minute more. You have ran for one minute a thousand times before. Once you run that, run another, then another. At some point you may not be able to complete your goal, but you still will have ran longer than when you wanted to give up, and your body will be stronger for it, mentally and physically. But properly rest your body with cross-training or a very easy run the next day. Unless you are well conditioned, don't run this fast more than once a week, and I have read some people who say don't do it any more than once every two weeks.
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