I guess technically it was on the 31st, but I already closed the tab I had that thread open in, so.... yesterday I ran somewhere approaching 18 miles (my GPS didn't want to stay on or connected so I just ran the same route as last week's 14 miles and added an approximate 5 mile loop, which accounting for how I added them together without overlap comes out to probably under 18 but more than 17). I decided to get as close as I could to skipping 16 and going straight to 18, but I let go of running at race pace for the last 3 miles. I did run them faster, but not at race pace.

It felt pretty good, though it was at my "endurance pace" so I guess we'll see how that translates when the time comes. I wouldn't say it's effortless but it's certainly not what it used to be.

I think my problem with the Bikila are that the toes don't flex as much as I want them to (or as much as the KSOs do). I feel like my toes are frozen in a specific position and can't curl downward because of the extra rubber pattern on the toes and forefoot. Maybe they'll get softer with more wear and my feet will adapt, but as it was they made my toes almost feel cramped by the end of the trip.

I left late again for varying reasons, it was still a bad idea, though I ran into a lot of trick or treaters at the end.