The Long Run

Back to routines!  Went to the Y this morning, usual warm up on the bike then got onto the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes, 3.78 miles @ 7:56 average pace.

Headed outside on a perfect morning.  Overall, I'd say I felt really good for a Monday morning, which don't always feel the best.  Goal was to get in enough miles for 8 total which I was able to do.

5.19 miles @ 7:39 average pace.

After the run did a few sets of weights - leg extensions, bench press, and two arm curls.

Pretty standard run this morning.  Nice weather which I will cherish while it lasts.  Ran with Jenny around the neighborhood.  Stuck together for 7.5 miles, then I ran a little bit farther ahead to get over 8 for the day.

Average pace: 8:37

Another run around the neighborhood, easy pace for the most part.  A little bit warmer than yesterday, just a hint of the warmer weather that is on its way.  A little bit farther than yesterday at a slightly faster pace.

Average pace: 8:33

Jenny had a tempo run this morning, so I kept her company and carried the water belt so we wouldn't have to stop.  It was once again a little bit warmer out than the day before.  I did one mile easy pace then did 4 miles at 7:40 pace, but a little bit faster than that on the 4th mile.  There were lots of people out running this morning.  We ran together a little bit more then Jenny headed back.  I did about another 3 miles by myself with the last 1.5 at about a 7:00 pace.

Average pace: 7:44

This morning's run went pretty smoothly.  I ran by myself, and made my goal of just over 8 miles.  It is cooler than yesterday and extremely nice running weather.  The only thing wrong is there is a big cloud of bugs next to a pond that I run past where I have to keep my mouth closed so the bugs don't fly in and turn my head slightly so they don't get in my eye.  It's a pretty short section though, so it could be a lot worse.

Average pace: 7:53

One week ago today, we went to visit an old castle not too far from Leuven.  Jenny and her sister went into town for lunch and shopping while the guys headed over to the castle, here's a few pictures from Horst Castle

They had self-guided audio tours that told the story of each room inside and features outside.

 You could go all the way up to the top floor.

Steep, dark stairs going back down

And a great place outside to enjoy a snack.

This morning was my first alligator spotting  while running in Starkey Park/Suncoast Pkwy trail.  Others have spotted them before but this was the first for me.  Much of the route looks fairly dry with pine trees and palmetto fields but there are a few sections with small ponds and swampy looking water.  Just past the water stop on the Suncoast trail, there is a wooden fence overlooking some water.  I saw something splash so I stopped and looked.  Near where I saw the splash I spotted something just barely sticking out of the water, might have been mistaken for a rock or a log but I looked closer and could see eyes.  Turned out to be a pretty big gator that others have seen at this spot.  I didn't have my phone or a camera so the picture above is actually one taken at nearby John Chestnut park.

Anyway, the run itself was pretty big.  I wasn't feeling too motivated so it was nice to run with a group, especially at the beginning when I just sort of hung on behind the other runners.  Started out with Joe M, Bob, Rick, and a few others.  Stopped briefly at the 4 mile stop where Victoria, Jorge, and Eudair had caught up to us.  I had stopped on my way to Starkey and picked up their stuff from where they had parked.  A bunch of people turned around at this point and I continued on with Victoria and Eudair out to the end of the Starkey park trail, then I headed north onto the Suncoast trail.  Rick was already on his way back (he had taken off from us at two miles, that guy is pretty fast!).

I went out to 7.3 miles, then turned around.  Stopped briefly to look at the gator, then topped off my water at the nearby water stop before picking it up for the return trip back. I ran the last 5.6 miles between 7:13 and 6:46 pace.

Average pace: 7:48

Stuck around for a bit for a smaller social hour as a number of people are in Boston this weekend.  Offered to give Jorge, Victoria, and Eudair a ride back to their cars.  I was cleaning out the back seat when I looked and saw the 3 of them had jumped into the truck bed and wanted to ride there.  Ok, why not? Felt a bit like high school, even though I didn't actually have a truck in high school, but if I had I might have done something like this. Fortunately no one fell out of the back and I tried to be careful going over the speed bumps while still in the park.