Mills

The run for the day was supposed to be a 9 miler. Finally I get a break from the 10 mile runs. So what do I chose for my run? Well I could run around my city, no that's too boring. I could run one of our school runs again, no not that again... I get an idea and I hop in my car and head north. Mills.

Mills was our toughest training course in high school. It is a 5 mile course, doesn't seem like much huh.

The thing about the course is that it begins with a slight gradual uphill that many do not notice because they are too busy taking off and going crazy with the pace. Those that did this would soon be seen later at around the 1 mile mark or if they got lucky the 1.5 mile mark. You would see veteran varsity runners slow to a pace that resembled walking, just with more rapid arm movement.

I begin going starting up the pace rather quick. I've ran this course many times and have tried going all out on this. This is my course. I know everything there is to know about it. The hills, the turns, the declines, the mile markers etc.

Back to the description.

At about the half mile mark you get to a hairpin turn that leads you to an incredibly steep uphill. And if that's not enough the top of the hill hairpins so that you have to travel about another half of a mile to get to some kind of flat ground.

I keep pushing as my pace begins to deteriorate. I am running slower yet I am giving more energy then when I was running faster. At around the mile mark I really begin to feel it. My legs begin to really burn as I feel the lactic acid build up. I keep going knowing that there is one a little bit to go and I'm good. First mile is 8:35.

Then comes three hairpin hills. Each bigger than the one before. First flat, then slight incline, then steep.

I hit the first hill and I am taking off, the pressure on my legs has been relieved. Then comes medium and it begins to get a bit tougher. I keep pushing, just one more hill to go and its all downhill. The big hill comes. I sprint to the top. I know from here the downhill will be my rest. The second mile passes by. 9:00.



Once you get past the steep hill it is all downhill. At that point gravity just takes you down the hill making a jog turn into a sprint. From then comes one more steep hill, which becomes easy because of the downhill. Momentum shifts your body forward.

I decide not to fight it, I let the downhill take me as fast as I need to go. I run up the hill easily and arrive at the top.

Then you arrive at a random gazebo at the top. This is where you can take a short breath after the hills.

I take a moment to look at the view and stretch. You can see the whole city from this point. I get to the Gazebo at about 19:30.

Did I mention you're not even half way done...

From then on it becomes easy for the next half of a mile. It's a slight downhill so the gravity quickens the pace.

I begin again and I take off. I am now cruising at a 5/6 minute pace. I feel great.
No more struggling. I get to the 2.5 mile mark at about 21:00.

It dips and you head uphill for a bit then it gets flat. Then comes the biggest hill. The trail curves around the hill and you have to pick up the pace beforehand so you don't have to work to force yourself uphill.

The hill doesn't seem so hard anymore. I have developed a taste for this part. This is fun.

The rest of the run is all downhill. That becomes the most dangerous part. It's about 1.5 miles of downhill, and it hurts. The pace is quick and if you try to slow down you find yourself stomping your feet. Then it finally finishes.

From then on I hold back. No use going all out if I still got 4 miles more to go. I finish the run at 38:08. Fun little jog.

From there I head to the flat course. It's just an out and back 4 mile. I finish that in about 30 minutes.