There\u2019s an out-and-back six-mile run along the trail near my house that I thoroughly enjoy. It includes one steep hill in the middle but otherwise is slightly net uphill on the way out and then slightly net downhill on the way back. Here\u2019s what\u2019s funny, and it may explain why I\u2019m not a cartographer.
The ascent\/descent at the turnaround doesn\u2019t look that dramatic. However, when I make that turn, even if I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m starting to push the pace harder, my per-mile pace noticeably drops, even if I don\u2019t feel that different. Despite the gradual appearance, it makes a huge impact. On the flip side, the first mile out looks pancake flat but my time shows that it’s definitely not. I\u2019ll feel like I\u2019m running at a decent clip but my time is a bit slower than what I think it should be.
The moral of the story? The slightly visible\/invisible changes in elevation may have a major impact on your time. Don\u2019t get too rattled if your time is slower on an invisible climb, and don\u2019t be too shocked if your pace plummets on a nearly invisible decline. Gravity actually works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There\u2019s an out-and-back six-mile run along the trail near my house that I thoroughly enjoy. It includes one steep hill in the middle but otherwise is slightly net uphill on the way out and then slightly net downhill on the way back. Here\u2019s what\u2019s funny, and it may explain why I\u2019m not a cartographer. The … <\/p>\n