When I started training last fall, I was doing a 24 minute mile (and it was about killing me). Worked up (down???) to a steady 20 minute pace that I could hold for several miles but couldn't go faster. Pushed hard right before the Mini trying to get it down under that 18 minute cut-off pace. Did do a 17:33 for the first mile of the mini, but chalked that up to the adrenaline, since all subsequent miles were at 19-20 minute pace.

HOWEVER - both last week and again tonight, I tried doing a hard mile and both times I was in the teens! (16:46 and 16:05)

I'm so happy to be out of the 20's and down into the teens - I just had to share Hope ya'all don't mind.