The Long Run

10.23 mi, 1:34:22, 9:14 avg

As hoped and promised ran today after yesterday's long run.  Colder than expected but I'm sure "balmy" compared to half of the country with this morning's temperature at 37 degrees.  Still shorts weather though.

Ran with Jamie, meeting at 9:00 and heading out towards the golf course.  Went to Little Road and decided to head down the street and do the Kinsmere loop.  After getting there saw Carin out for a run.  Hadn't seen here out running in literally years, said hi for a bit then continued on. 

The miles went by pretty quickly.  I was afraid at the start of the run that I'd feel achey and clanky but it felt pretty easy and relaxed.

7.08 mi, 1:04:14, 9:04 avg

Ran at Longleaf.  I was a couple minutes late but fortunately Joe hadn't left yet so was able to run with him.  Was warmer this morning, low 50's, was a little cold at first with short sleeves and then it was perfect after a mile or so.  Forgot to stop my watch at the one stop so the average is the total time average.

6.26 mi, 52:34, 8:24 avg

Avoided the rain as long as I could.   It died down finally.  Got out about 6:45, ran a loop around the neigbhorhood (1.7 miles) , woke up the boys and then did another out and back.  Originally was going to get running at 5:45 and try and get in an extra mile or so, but at least it wasn't a total wash.

7.14 mi, 57:45, 8:05 avg

I was up way too late the night before, had to go back into work to try and get some things working that were due at the end of the week and didn't get to bed until 1:00.  Thought about skipping the run and then decided I'd just do an out and back to the water stop at whatever pace.   Joe was there so I ran with him and I actually felt pretty good.  Decided to run out to 3.5 miles for 7 total.  Last two miles 7:23 and 6:58.  Glad I didn't skip!

7.42 mi, 1:00:16, 8:08 avg

Got started reasonably on time.  Second mile looked like it was really fast (6:18) but it was definitely a glitch.  Pretty good run in the neighborhood overall.

30.04 mi, 4:45:58, 9:31 avg

I needed to run far today.  Started from my house just after 6:00 and ran to Longleaf where I met Jamie for 6:30ish start.  Brief stop at Diane's lemonade stand and continued into Starkey Park, stopped at the shelter and then continued on.  Jamie headed back after a half mile so she could get back with 13 miles total.  I noticed a couple of times that my pace was very steady until I realized I had stopped it at the shelter and forgot to start it again.  Missed about maby 0.7 miles (Starting where the shelter trail intercepts the main bike trail is a Sun sign and then planets spaced proportionally until Pluto (which was still a planet when the signs went up) which is 1 mile from the Sun.  Started my watch again at Uranus.

At about two miles out from the shelter are the big power lines with a dirt access road running underneath.  Turned onto the access road and ran north until I thought I had enough to make it to 30 miles round trip (not counting the 0.7 that I missed on the way out but knowing it would count on the way back and planning on bypassing the side trip to Diane's house).  It was a great place of solitude.  Also, the road was rutted and pot-holed with lots of water to avoid.  It was a pain dodging around the obstacles but soon I forgot I was doing it and was just doing it instead.  Saw a really big buck crossing the trail.  Stopped and picked up a big white feather and was going to bring it back with me but it kept on falling out of my belt.   I wanted to stick it in my hat but there was no place to make it stick.

My pace felt pretty good, sometimes slowing a little as the road was harder to pass and speeding up a little when it was smooth.  Near the turn around my legs were getting tired which was kind of worrisome when only half-way done.  But, this was why I was here and doing this distance - to run on tired legs.

Made it back to the bike trail, topped off my water at the last water stop and was soon leaving the park.  Starkey Blvd was mostly uneventful.  I thought of stopping a few places but didn't.  I'd think about stopping at a bench up ahead or a fence where I could stretch, but when I'd get to that spot I'd just keep going.

Made it back to SR 54, only two miles left to go.  Slowed a little on second to last mile and then got some spring in my step for the last mile and ran about an 8:45 pace.  Done.