The Long Run

2.51@13:31

First time attempting to run since June 30.  Kind of a run/walk but I'll count it as a run.  One medium loop inside Westlake Village.

2.13@14:31

Another couple of days off and then tried a walk/run today, so I'll call this a run to get myself motivated.  One loop inside Westlake Village at night.

1.26@13:03

Another short walk/run.  Loop inside Westlake Village late in the morning. At least a little bit faster than the last one.

In addition to this walk/run I did a couple of walking loops with Jessica and the baby and then one last walking loop myself.

Goal was to get 85,000 steps for the week, which I did by getting in over 17,000 steps today.

I haven't hit many goals of any sort, so today felt like a turning point.

4.26@11:32

Finally a run!  Still slow but faster than what I had been doing.  Also, this was the farthest at one time for July.  I can build on this.

4.66@11:16

A tiny bit farther and a little bit faster than yesterday.  Working down the pace to try and get out of the 11's .   Been keeping up with doing some mobility exercises and some exercises to strengthen around the knee.  Changes have not been night/day but enough to keep me moving.

5.22@10:43

Made it back into the 10 minute pace range finally.  Ran from my house, then along SR54 and crossed the street and then to the pool at Longleaf where I used the fountain before heading back.  So, besides faster, once again a little bit farther.

4.62@10:49

One big loop inside Westlake Village and then a little more added on up and down Lakeview.  Starting to add up some miles finally.  Have my sights set on 100 which I missed last month by just over 6 miles due to getting sick at the beginning of the month, some travel days - more than I've had in quite a while, and then knee problems.

6.25@10:32

Adding in some more miles in tha bank.  From WLV, cut over to the Pinellas Trail and then southbound until reaching just past 3 miles, then turnaround and com back.  A little bit faster than yesterday.

7.27@10:09

At the start of the run, wasn't sure if I had 6 miles in me or if I would have to run slower today than yesterday, trying to be careful not to push to much.

Ran inside Westlake Village.  After the first loop started a second one and as I approached 6 miles felt like 7 would be ok.  The extra mile helped get my overall pace faster.  Maybe get out of the 10's soon.

33 miles for the week!  100 for the month is definitely doable.

4.53@10:32

Starting off the week with something easy.  Old t-shaped route heading out from my house, but with the return trip via the ditch on Trinity Blvd rather than crossing Trinity at Tamarind.  

8.15@9:48

Finally back in the 9's.  Ran from Westlake Village, over to Pinellas Trail and then northbound to just past the old train tunnel and then a quick stop at the fountain at the entrance to Wall Springs park (water there is kind of warm this time of year, should probably have gone to the cold fountain at Conservation Park on the other side of the train tunnel). 8 miles make me feel like a runner again, although I should feel that way at any distance.

6.61@9:44

Ran from Longleaf, into Starkey Ranch and looped around Cannon Lake, then a little bit past it and then returned back to where I parked.  Slow and steady pickup from 11:40 first mile down to 9:02 for the last mile.

7.21@9:30

Did a couple big loops followed by a little loop inside Westlake Village.  Overall pace slowly getting faster.  Trying to be patient and not set back my knee progress.  I estimated that I'm 92% back.  My right knee is still the weak link on my runs but getting less and less so.

5.52@9:59

A little bit slower and shorter than yesterday.  On track to reach 40 miles for the week (hopefully).  Did the classic t-shaped route from my house, but with the return trip via Trinity Blvd pedestrian flashing light, so it doesn't really look like a "T" any more.

8.78@9:33

Started out with 2.25 mile loop inside Westlake Village running with Jacob, he's slowly returning to running.  He had to get going to work so I did an out and back running southbound on the Pinellas trail after he left in the time I had before Jessica needed to leave for body combat class at the Y.  If I had a little more time I would've gone for 10.  Thought about going back out but decided to take it easy.  Made my weekly goal and should easily break 100 miles for the month.

6.29@9:52

I'm not sure what a good name for this route is.  It started as the classic t-shaped route where I'd cross Trinity Blvd running on Tamarind, run the length of Robert Trent Jones Pkwy, then come back to Foxwood.

But now, once I get to the Starkey Gap Trail, run south for a bit, then run north, crossing Trinity at the warning light.  There's sort of a parallelogram in the middle because I run back to Tamarind along Trinity Blvd in the grassy ditch next to it so as not to run on the pretty narrow shoulder (which could be fatal).

Anyway, it was a pretty good run.  I dropped Stella off at the house for some Andy and cat time and to give Jessica a break from being home with the dog, although the baby seems to miss her.

Knee is still bothering me a little bit starting out.  If I push too hard during the run it might bother me afterward, so I've been being careful to not get to that point.

5.36@9:26

Two slightly different loops inside Westlake Village.  9:26 average put my pace one second faster than that last run of June that set me back, so today was progress.

2.26@11:39

The phone app said "drizzle for the next hour".  Ok, I thought I can run in that.  Started out in Westlake Village and was going to head over to the Pinellas Trail and maybe get 7 or 8 miles.  Heading down Alderman Road I saw the first flash of lightning.  Thought about turning around and running in the neighborhood.  But, then I thought of the screenshot someone posted from a recent thunderstorm and all of the strikes inside Westlake Village.  So, changed my mind and kept on going down Alderman and was going to cut through Eniswood and run to the Pinellas Trail north and could shelter at Conservation Park if necessary.  

The lightning was getting bad, so finally decided not to chance it and stopped at a friends house in Eniswood and stood on her porch.  I texted Jessica where I was and also texted the friend so she wouldn't be creeped out that a half dressed man was on her porch.  She soon let me in, gave me a towel and then drove me back home.

Quite the adventure.  Not many miles, knee felt a little worse, so maybe if the weather was good might've ended up pushing too hard and setting my progress back.

5.26@9:33

Sort of a re-do of yesterday's run cut short due to lightning.  Cut through Eniswood, up Alt 19 and a little onto the Pinellas Trail to Conservation Park for the water fountain than back the same way.

5.16@11:11

Parked at the church near Longleaf.  Ran up Starkey Blvd to a little bit past the bridge but not all the way to Alico Pass and then turned back around. Was slower today especially the first mile.  Hot Florida morning.

10.42@10:20

Finally!  Ran over ten miles, will call this a long run even though not too long ago this would be a medium long run.  Ran from my house out to the Tamarind nbhd exit, along Trinity Blvd to the Starkey gap trail.  There was a guy walking on the road while I was in the ditch.  After I was on the trail I heard footsteps running up behind me. It was the guy who had been walking was now running.  He was a maybe a little bit older than me.  As he passed me, asked if I was coming back from an injury "because when I see you, you are usually sprinting".  I slowly gained some speed and eventually the guy was not disappearing but as I reached SR54, he had already turned back so I did not end up catching him.

Ran up Starkey Blvd, past the entrance to Starkey Ranch.  I turned right into Heartwood Preserve, did a small loop on a trail there.  There was a funeral going on toward the cemetary side.

By the time I reached Longleaf, decided I wanted something besides fountain water.   Fortunately I had some money on me, so went into Havana Dreamer's and bought a can of Iron Beer soda and also filled my handheld with ice.  Nice treat.

Back out on the road, crossed over SR54 and soon made it home.