9:03 (-:25)

Tonight was an important run. After a much improved performance on Saturday, this run would prove whether I made an official leap forward or my last run was a fluke. It ended up being somewhere in between. I did feel a lot better on my run tonight. I was breathing better and I didn't get winded as quickly. However, I clocked in at a 9:03 mile, a setback of 25 seconds. The one thing that didn't go so well tonight was the strength of my legs. At the start of the run they felt stiff, and soon the muscles felt taxed (something that hasn't happened yet). But I thought I was holding a nice, steady pace. Perhaps my breathing felt better because my pace was too slow. At any rate, a 9:03 isn't terrible compared to some of my other runs of late. But I'd much rather be out of the dreaded 9's for good. I'll have another chance tomorrow.