The Long Run

6.56@10:08   HR 127 bpm

Southbound on Starkey Gap Trail out and back run, easy day.  Pretty good pace for the heart rate.

5.62@9:50   HR 126 bpm

Early morning run (just after 6:00 am) inside Westlake Village, run/walk, keeping it easy, a little faster pace than yesterday.

5.24@10:07, HR 125 bpm

Another earlyish morning run in Westlake Village.  More run/walk

8.26@8:01  HR 151 bpm

New Garmin Fenix 6.  Did the suggested workout, 4 x 9minutes at 7:30 pace.

Went pretty well.  First two felt easy.  Surprised to mind myself strugging on the third one a little bit but knocked off the last one easier and ran a little faster at about 7:15ish pace.

Run was up and down Starkey Blvd bike trail.

3.13@10:12  HR 127 bpm

Loop inside Westlake Village.  Keeping it short and easy today. 

50 mile race tomorrow at Croom for the "Fools Run".  Last year got caught in heavy rain for the last loop and thought about DNF but stuck it out although with my slowest 50 mile time at just over 11 and a half hours.  Hoping for a smoother race this year although temps will climb into mid 80's for part of the afternoon.

Very Late and Very Abbreviated Race Report, Fools Run 50 Miles

The good: I was faster than last year.

Not so good: only 14 minutes faster and last year had some severe thunderstorms where I sat out about 15 minutes under a shelter while contemplating a DNF before finishing that last loop.

No weather issues this year, a bit warm but not that bad.  First two loops (plus the little starter loop) went pretty well.  I think I was around 5:15 at about the halfway point but then started slowing down more and more, getting especially slow on the second half of the third loop.  At the aid station at the loop halfway point was where three people blew by me.  I was not sure how long they had been gaining on me and I wasn't even sure they were still behind me (possibly having passed me while I was at the loop start aid station.

But despite slowing down to 17-19 minute miles, I did pick it back up to about 11 minute pace for the last mile.

I think the one distinct mistake I made was taking the 5 hour energy (extra strength) at just before the half way point, it gave me a boost for the second half of the 2nd lap but made me too  jittery, was not worth it.

All in all a good accomplishment to be able to run this many miles in Florida heat.

Laura was there (crewing for her for Badwater Salton Sea at end of April).  She was running with her race partner Jessica.  They were two of the runners that blew by me.  The third person was a 60 year old female, very seasoned ultra runner and nice person.