The Long Run

6.24@8:37

workout 4 x 4 minutes (pretty much 4 x 1k, each one was about 0.62 or 0.63)

AM   3.75@10:44  HR 126

Easy paced 40 minute run in Westlake Village

PM 3.8@10:38   HR  128

Humpday Hustle/Starkey Market run club, another 40ish minutes in about zone 2 for most of it.

3.71@10:49

40 minute easy paced run in Westlake Village.

Running the midnight run 5k tonight at Dunedin causeway.

Kiwanis Midnight Run  5K - 21:37, first AG

 Last ran this race in 2022 (2023 did Lutz 5k and 2024 did Firecracker 5k in Tallahassee)

This year was nearly a minute faster than the last time but also slower than this year's RAP River Run.

This race is always hot and humid.  Thought I could go out fast and try to hang on, but after maybe about 1/4 mile running in the 6:40's I was struggling to stay under 7:00, first mile 6:57, second mile 6:59, last mile 7:00.  At least I didn't fade too much.  

It had been raining earlier but stopped for the race.  I had to slow a little bit each time going across the draw bridge.  The metal grate section felt pretty  slippery and definitely did not want to fall on that surface.  So, three slight slowdowns - bridge on way out, turn around, bridge on way back.

Age groups were a littled different here, with me being in 56-60.  A friend of mine who just turned 60 and thought he'd be safe from me since I'd normally be in a different age group ended up in second place.

Despite the training runs where I do 1k or 1 mile repeats at sub 6:30 pace, can't seem to manage hitting a mile on race day at those paces.  I'd be happy even if I could get that first mile and then slowdown after that.  Going to try and extend my warmup next time, and maybe race during daylight and perhaps not across a slippery steel deck, and stop making excuses.

AM (the "next" morning") - 5.74@10:56 - 1 hour easyish in Westlake Village

11.8@8:26

Long run/workout consisting of 8 x 1 mile @goal MP.

Tried this run a while back but failed miserably because I waited until the afternoon.

Did pretty ok this time - 7:45, 7:41, 7:33, 7:35, 7:38, 7:42, 7:38, 7:24

One minute easy between the repeats.  Ran this while looping in Westlake Village, probably pretty close to the longest I want to run just staying in the neighborhood.

5.38@11:25

One hour zone 2 running in Westlake Village

Pace a little on the slow side but trying not to worry and trying to trust in zone 2 positive effects, these runs will eventually get faster.  Also, depends a lot on heat/humidity.

6.65@8:31

3 x 1 mile workout - 6:32, 6:22, 6:27

Good to know I can run these miles, just need to figure out how to put them altogether.  Wanted to run intervals a little longer than 4 minutes or 800m, 1k

Strava  let me know that 6:22 was my second fastest ever Strava mile with a 6:18 run at the Hooters 5k in 2019 where it said I got 19:46 but I can't really claim that becuase the course was short by quite a bit.

AM  3.61@11:18 - 40 minute easy pace run in WLV

PM 3.63@11:14 - Starkey Market Run club, another 40 minute easy run

7.26@8:51

Garmin lactate threshold test which put it at 7:19, same it has been saying for a while, but this time I used their test instead of having it update it whenever it feels like it.  Test consisted of telling me to run in a certain heart rate range for a certain amount of time, then bumping up the effort until finally saying the test was done, basically a sort of progression run.

5.06@9:32   HR  138 bpm

Easy run (although slightly harder and faster than more recent easy run pace).

Heading out tomorrow to California for a couple days of sightseeing, a 4 day cruise and one more day of sightseeing.  Cruise stops at Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.  Not going very far so probably a lot of circles in the ocean.  Needed 7 days to go farther like Cabo.

Flying out early, arriving still in the AM.  Will get to visit with my brother as he doesn't live too far from where we will be.

Will try my best to get in some runs so I don't fall too far behind.

Did not get to trun due to early travel.  Got to airport on time but almost missed the flight due to not getting the baby added to the ticket (unable to do on phone/chat support, eventully staff at airport got it sorted out after they had to make some phone calls).

Got to LA and picked up rental cars (two cars easier than finding something that would fit 8 plus luggage).  Headed straight to In n Out for lunch then explored Santa Monica beach and the pier.  I climbed a rope at muscle beach.  I've been meaning to try out my climbing skills that I used to be good at a long time ago, was able to make it to the top but just barely and using my legs (will need some serious work to get back to arms only).

Next, made it to hotel ok, a Marriott property called the Burton House which used to be a Residence Inn.  Located in Beverly Hills so great location, not super fancy, but more than decent.  Expensive parking but I guess average for the area.  Great view from the rooms which were across from each other.  

After a little bit of relaxing, went to Hollywood to see walk of fame and the famous Chinese Theater.  Met up with Jessica's cousin's daughter or lives in the area.  So yes, it is very touristy but if you only have a couple of days and first time here, good to hit these spots.  For dinner, we tried heading over to The Grove market, but as it got later and had trouble deciding what to get, missed our window as things closed at 9:00.  Andy and Jacob did score some pizza, and Aubrey had some sort of pickle sandwich thing.

Headed back to hotel and ended up walking across the street to gas station store and bought sandwiches and some snacks for the room, so that was dinner.

Tomorrow we head up to Universal and plan to meet up with my brother and his family and also later with Jessica's cousin and her husband and also Taylor.

5.52 @11:19, HR  120 bpm

Visit to Universal but first I was able to get in a run.  Strava suggested a loop route.  There were some hills and one surprise.  I thought I had lost the route, thought I'd missed a street to turn down, but it turns out there was a staircase next to a hotel which I didn't think was part of the route but turns out that it was.  (I was running the route in reverse so it might've been less confusing going the other way).

Run was relaxing a quiet.  Even the main streets were pretty empty.  Mostly through residential area.  Maybe should've incorporated Rodeo Drive which was pretty close to the hotel (less than a mile).

61 degrees!  Certainly not Florida, but for some reason I didn't associate LA with chilly in July.

Stopped at McDonald's on the way to Universal, a little behind schedule, Tim was already there enjoying traditional English breakfast at Harry Potter section,

Made it there eventually and met up with Tim at the studio tour.  Honestly, if it had been an option to just do this we probably would have but in the end glad we had to do the whole park.  I had been here in 1980 when it was just the studio tour.  Had a few of the same things but mostly it was different.  CD was scared by the robotic shark and explosion and then again inside the earthquake/flood tunnel and fortunately for her the King Kong portion was out of service.

Spent a good portion of time with the little ones in Nintendo world while the older kids did Mummy ride.  Other highligts were having a Duff beer and buying a big pink "Lard Lad" donut which we had later that night (the donut was very good and well worth it).

Had dinner at Margaritaville with Jill, George, and Taylor and all of us, so like 14 altogether.  It was my first time at this chain.  The day went by pretty quickly.  When we got back to the hotel, Jacob went out again with Taylor and Jessica joined them because Jill was still with them.  I stayed back at the hotel with the little ones and Andy.

Tomorrow is the start of the cruise.

4.16@10:18

Quick run in Beverly Hills from hotel before getting ready for the cruise

1.14@12:43   

Ran on ship's "track" which was very small, since we were at anchor did not use run indoor setting, but since it was very short and we were at anchor instead of being docked the ship was moving so it distorted things.  Switched to treadmill

1.63@7:12

Pace probably not accurate, treadmill said 7:50 .  Not a big running day but better than nothing

Today was port visit to Catalina Island.  Andy hadn't packed anything nicer than t-shirts, yesterday for dinner he was able to fit into one of my short sleeve button down shirts so first stop today was at a store that sold shirts where he picked out one with turtles and one with jellyfish.  

Dipped my feet in the water, had some lunch and took a hike up the hill, stopping on the way down to look at a deer and buy some lemonade from a stand.

In the evening spent some time in the piano bar and went to the casino a little bit with Jessica while the older girls watched the little ones.

6.39@9:21

Treadmill on ship.  That's more like it, much better than yesterday's better than nothing mileage.  Trying to make it home without losing much fitness while on vacation.  Today was port visit to Ensenada, took the shuttle into town and then a bus tour with a guide named Hector.  We sat down for a light snack, some chips and guac, a couple of margaritas and it was somehow $80.  Also went to a local taco place which was very good but felt stuffed afterward.

Back on the ship that evening decided on Wednesday night sushi with Jacob and Andy instead of doing the full sit down restuarant.