The Long Run

7.12@13:10

Happy New Year!

Getting back on track after yesterday's bug.  Set out intending to do about an hour or so walk but turned into run/walk of hour and 33 minutes.

South out of Westlake using the cut through and then a little zig zag over to the Pinellas trail going south.

Grateful to be moving again!

20.21@11:39

Original plan was to meet up with some runners in Ocala for 20 to 30 miles starting out at the "land bridge" over I-75.  But, decided to take it easier and head out from the house.  For something different did a loop around Lake Tarpon.  Crossed US19 at Nebraska, then down to Tampa Road, over to the Tarpon outflow canal.  New trail ends just south of there but is supposed to connect to section just north of there.

So, saw some cyclist turning behind the plaza with Publix and Target.  Parking lot connected to dirt path along the canal and let out into an apartment complex which then connected back to the trail.  New trail will eventually have its own bridge over the canal.

Continued on up toward and past John Chestnut Park, and then up to the intersection at East Lake and Tarpon Ave.  At the traffic light I went to eat my Reese's big cup but it had melted into a sticky mess.

Keystone/Tarpon over 19 but first turned onto some side streets to miss the main intersection.  Temps had warmed up a little, so stopped in at Burger King for a soda (Dr. Pepper). Continued south to Anderson Park to throw out my trash, then a little farther south to cross 19 at Klosterman, then over to Belcher and back to Westlake.

Except for Burger King stop, pretty self sufficient (was wearing Camelack for water).

Walked 4.24 in 1:04

Looped around outside of Westlake Village in typical big square loop

5.13@11:53  HR 114 bpm

Run/walk (3/2) inside Westlake Village

Interesting, HR at 114 today compared to yesterday walking at about 14:45 pace HR was 111.

Hopefully gradually speed up while keeping heart rate low (114-124)

8.49@11:33  HR 115 bpm

More 3/2 run/walk.  Southbound through cut through by the Y then over to Pinellas Trail, then south to Curlew Road before turning back.  On the way down I crossed Alt 19 by the Mobil station, but on way back crossed a little bit north of there at Delaware, so my routed added a little square in the middle.

8.11@7:35  HR: 158 bpm

This was an unexpectedly good run.  Started off thinking I'd do 6 miles total but about a mile in decided that wasn't enough miles for today.  Headed out from the church on Starkey Blvd, warmed up about a half mile until needing a quick pit stop at last chance for a while.  Said hi to one of my strider friends.   He was running faster than me but having some struggles so I caught up to him on one of the stops.

After I got going again, kept on a good pace and gradually got faster.  Mile 1 was 8:29 ( a very good first mile for me),  then next three were 7:42, 7:32, and 7:32.  4 miles out brought me to the entrance to Starkey Park where I turned back.  I had promised myself a stop, so stretched out at the bench for a little just after where I turned around.

Next three were faster than last three - 7:21, 7:17, and 7:15.  With 1 mile left decided to back it down a little but still stayed at a decent pace with 8th mile at 7:27

It was a nice morning and overall my legs have been fresher with the walk and run/walk days instead of just straight running.

It 's good to see that I've actually sped up a little bit when I need to go faster.

11.85@11:34

One "loop" at Cypress Creek Preserve, preview of next week's 100 mile race

2.08@13:44

Short and easy in Westlake Village, mostly walking

2.29@11:28

Another short and easy day.  Westlake Village

3.03@13:19

In and around the outside of Westlake

2.67@10:10

Westlake Village

Long Haul 100  Race Report (in progress as of 2/22)

(note: keep putting off finishing this, sort of a writer's block which has caused me to stop blogging until I finish this)

Time: 27:55:52

 Pacers: Evan and Daisy, then Joe and Cynthia

Start to Mile 10ish

Not the best way to start - I overslept (but not too bad), alarm at 5:02 (ok a few more minutes but didn't hit snooze), woke up panicked at 5:50, out the door about 6:10, got to race start and lined up at 6:56 for 7:00am start.  Fortunately, no time to be nervous or need to use POP.  Brought last minute items and put in small backpack which I wore 1 mile out to "the hub" and dropped off at my site.  Took it easy walk/run and chatted with others taking it easy, pretty much way back of the pack.

Mile 10 to Mile 20

Mile 20 to Mile 30

Mile 30 to Mile 40

Finished mile 40 at about 9:00, one hour slower than last year but one hour faster than my slow year (2020), so in the middle.

Mile 40 to Mile 50

 Finished half way in 11:40 (one hour slower than last year) but no more time lost from my deficit at mile 40

Mile 50 to Mile 60

Anticipating running with Daisy and Evan

Mile 60 to Mile 70

Started off nice enough, attempted run/walk strategy I had been using but it soon changed to much more walk and very little run.  After the first spur, I grabbed a Reese's big cup.  Those things usually help with a burst of energy.  Not this time, mildly turned my stomach, worried it might turn into a disaster but fortunately by the end of this loop was feeling back to normal.

Mile 70 to Mile 80

Mile 80 to Mile 90

At mile 88 switched off pacers, Evan and Daisy packed up and Joe and Cynthia were there to bring me the rest of the way.  Actually, Joe kind of surprised me showing up at the spur 2 aid station, wasn't expecting to see him until back at the hub.  Cynthia had set out walking and we saw her while we were on the sandy section running parallel to the road.  She called out to Evan who said "no, not Evan".  Joe did the same thing.  She didn't realize it was us so she kept on walking until we called out to her.

Mile 90 to Mile 100

Last lap, last of everything, last timing mats, last checkin.  Andy B. gave me a nice talk when I was about to leave his aid station, said "you looked down, but never out".  Pretty good way to sum things up.  Joe would tell me similar things about how I looked, resigned to my fate of trudging through the last 20 miles.  I guess I didn't hide it very well.   Foot was hurting, a dull ache with each step.

Post Race:

 I survived!  Jessica and baby arrived shortly before I finished so were there for cheering.  Charlotte-Dani later said "I clapped for daddy"

Joe and Cynthia helped me pack up and get back to my car.  Dinner out that evening with Jessica, baby, my parents and Jessica's parents at Longhorn.

6.35@11:43  HR 121 bpm

First run since the big race.

Westlake over to the Pinellas trail and south for a bit before turning back