Using hips to generate power is feeling a little more normal now, same with relaxing the lower legs. Upper body posture also felt pretty good - uplifting.
Second mile (which is largely uphill) was significantly stronger and easier than yesterday - lap time and HR for yesterday was 8:36 and 158, today it was 8:09 and 149. Probably largely due to not chatting, though.
On the third mile, I had a glimpse of things to come - was flying along comfortably at < 6:30 min/mile and lower legs felt pretty damn relaxed. It was one of those moments when everything feels so in tune with everything else - posture, power generation, hip rotation, leg recoil, foot positioning, etc. Of course the HR started getting close to 160 and I didn't want to push things too much - but I let myself move along like that for just a couple moments to help set in my head and body what it felt like. Always easier to get back to something once you've been there - so when the time comes to do intervals or threshold runs, I have an idea of what it should feel like.
By mile 5, the ankle was acting up a bit and just being annoying in general. Tried as much as I could to compartmentalize it and keep it from subconsciously making me tense up, so a few times I had to consciously re-relax everything. Was a little concerned that it'd really be inflammed and ouchy afterwards, but so far doesn't seem any worse for wear. Can't wait to repeat this kind of thing once the ankle is healed and not having it as a constant minor distraction every time my right foot hits the ground.
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