5 x 7 miles

Today I ran the first of what is planned to be a series of five runs of seven miles. I used the Superblast 3s, which I had just used in the Island Vines 10k two days ago. 

7.02 mi
Distance
1:07:22
Time
9:36 /mi
Avg Pace

Next up is Vomero Plus. I have not run in those for a while now and I'm looking forward to it. I was taking it pretty easy today - I'm surprised my pace was that fast.

The Superblast 3 foam did seem to go a bit flat/compressed in the forefoot near the end of the run. I think it will bounce back before the next run.

The Toronto half marathon is a little over 3 weeks away now (26 days). This series of runs will be the main part of my buildup for that. I'll see how it goes and play it by ear. I would love to run an 8:30 pace for a whole half marathon.
 
Update (Thur Sept 24th): I did one rest day and ran again just now in Vomero Plus. I changed the route, so it's not an exact comparison. Overall, I like Superblast 3 more than Vomero Plus, but these are pretty ok. I should have tied them tighter - one of my toes was hitting the end of the shoe and is a little sore. My right Achilles was sore yesterday, but was down to 1/10 pain today.
7.01 mi
Distance
1:04:44
Time
9:14 /mi
Avg Pace
I didn't feel pain in the Achilles during the run, and I have plenty of rest days I can take if I need to. I feel like 7 miles is long enough to earn / need a rest day or two or three between runs. 24 days to Toronto.

Update (Sat Sept 26th): I just finished run 3, in Red Rocks park. Wearing Glideride Max 2. Most of these runs, including today, have included my poodle, Margot. This was a nice easy run and the Gliderides were good.
7.01 mi
Distance
1:13:25
Time
10:28 /mi
Avg Pace


Julie and Margot in Red Rocks Park in South Burlington, Vermont on September 26, 2026
Update (Mon Sept 28th) I have just completed the 4th 7-mile run, in Asics Megablast. They were good. My legs are feeling ok. The right knee was the weak point early on, but then even that felt fine by the end.
7.01 mi
Distance
1:03:58
Time
9:07 /mi
Avg Pace
That was my best time of the four runs. I might give Asics Glideride Max 2 a second run in this series for the final installment. They had a nice, traditional feel in Red Rocks Park on Saturday (two days ago).
Update (Tue Sept 29th): I just finished the 5th 7-mile run, in Glideride Max 2. I ran yesterday, so this run was without a rest day. This series started and finished on a Tuesday.
7.02 mi
Distance
1:12:50
Time
10:23 /mi
Avg Pace

The next series is going to be five 10-mile runs, including this Saturday in Central Park.
These Glideride Max 2s feel like a slight upgrade on the Novablast 4s I ran in for around 3 years. For New York City, I'm thinking Megablast. I could get in the first 10-mile run on Thursday in Vermont and the 2nd one on Saturday in NYC.

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