Lunchtime run at work!

So we had a pretty good crew today for an afternoon run. Mike P and I got together for an 11am run on the Oxon Hill route, but when we got to the gym found that a couple others, Bill (who I know from softball), another Mike and a guy Steve from Optical Sciences joined in as well. We got off at a bit slower of a pace, putting in the first mile in 8:46, with me then having to briefly stop to answer the call of nature at about 1 1/4 miles in. As they continued on without me, I put in a strong pace to catch up with them putting in a second mile in 7:46, before settling in with the guys at a decent pace of around 8:30 min/mile. However, just before the big hill, Steve, and Bill peeled off to head back (the other Mike had fallen off and I think he also turned around earlier). Mike and I picked up the pace at this point, finishing mile 3 in 8:36, which includes the 1/2 mile hill that hits up to 13% grades at certain points. From here on, Mike and I finished the next few miles in 7:48, 7:58, 7:51 and the final 0.15 miles at a 7:45 min/mile pace. Really good run, especially considering how I felt on Monday's run and actually turned in a PR on the course without really pushing!