I did this last week. My silly Garmin got the “out” route as 3.67 (3.75 last week, though 3.86 with the online pedometer) but the times were 56:31 out (slower than last week) and 51:32 back (slightly faster this week). I then walked an extra 11:30 to make sure I got 8 miles. Garmin got 8.17; course correction was 8.75; the 8.4 seems about right to me.
Right past the Riverplex I encountered a long column of women with strollers; I’d say this was a bit like a small 5K race (in number). So I did my “extra” small loop near the River to avoid them.
I don’t want to make a big deal of it, and yes, there was a mild headwind on the way out, but I’ve forgotten how much work distance walking is. That uphill segment is about 380 feet over about 3-3.5 miles. I was talking to myself again.
I am glad I can do it, but anything resembling a long race would eat me alive right now.
Pain: like last week; some discomfort from, say, 1.8 to 3.8 ..felt decent on the way back and didn’t notice it during the last flat loop. First half was tough; second half was pleasant.
Life of an old goat 