The Long Run

6.25 mi, 55:28, 8:53 avg, elev gain 86 feet

I did not want to run more than a few miles, I did not want to run a new route, I didn't want to leave the neighborhood, I didn't even want to have a run where you're amazed at how much better you feel at the end of the run vs the start of the run because it means you had to make it past the sucky part.

So, despite all of this, I ran a new route, east on Alderman, south on 19, and then east on Nebraska, turned right onto 19th street thinking I could cut through the side streets to get to the Palm Harbor Y, which you can't do, so  I turned around, went back to Nebraska, and then headed up 18th street, and then to Pennsylvania Ave to 16th Street where the Y is located.  There were some new hills to run on, there's even a hill to get to the Y parking lot.  I went inside to use the fountain and take a gel, then headed back out and used the cut through to get back into Westlake Village where I took Village Way back to the house but going the long way.

So, I ran more than a few miles, ran a new route, it felt like an adventure and I was glad that I had one of those runs where you feel a ton better at the end compared to the beginning.

7.67 mi, 1:13:09, 9:32 avg

Wanted to do a fairly simple route with only an out and back (although did end up with one small loop and a little side trip to Pop Stansell park).

Ran from Westlake village, exited south through the cut through past the Y, continued south until reaching Florida Ave which took me to the Pinellas trail, headed about 1.75 miles south until reaching the closed pedestrian bridge (could have crossed the street at street level but decided that was a good spot to turn around).  Headed back north and took a short detour to Pop Stansell to go look at the water from the dock and then stopped for water refill at the fountain before heading back to Westlake village.  

Felt like the right amount of miles for today.

AM 5.51 mi, 52:02, 9:27 avg

Ran in Foxwood neighborhood with Jamie.  Usual route from neighborhood out by golf course, Joe wasn't running today.  Temperature a little nicer, 75 degrees.

PM 11:57, 1.15, 10:21 avg

Short version of humpday hustle with the Striders at Longleaf and Stella.  Saw Tom running on the way back as he was heading out.  Ran into Jenny after the run while she was walking Sammy and Nikyo, like a small dog party.

Did not realize it was going to be 6.66 miles until after I finished.

3.17 mi, 29:52,  9:25 avg, elev gain 50 feet

I thought this would be the first of two runs today, but it turned out it would be the only run, but maybe I needed less mileage today.  Westlake village loop, with an inner loop around the park next to the house.  81 degrees at the finish, not too bad as long as it was shaded.

7.33 mi, 1:07:33, 9:13 avg

Stayed at my house, was going to sleep in a little but Jessica had to head back to Palm Harbor so I ran a little longer, solo, as it was too late to bother Joe or Jamie by the time my plans changed.  I wanted to run a little bit on the new section of Pinellas trail that ends at the Pasco county line which will soon have a connector going to Starkey Blvd trail as part of the Florida coast to coast connector trail system, linking existing trails with new gap connectors to traverse from St. Petersburg to Cocoa Beach.  This new section heads south just over 2 miles, then heads west on Keystone Blvd where it links up to the main Pinellas Trail.  It was a very peaceful run (especially since the northern end is officially closed), running next to (fortunately not directly underneath) power lines.  It's mainly open but there's some shade here and there, no water stops.  Saw a deer cross the trail.  It didn't seem to care that there was a 4 foot high fence on either side of the trail area.

14.13 mi, 2:05:00, 8:51 avg, elev gain 85 feet

Ran out and back from Westlake Village to Tarpon Springs just past US 19 by running on Alderman Rd (about mile and a half), and then up the Pinellas Trail.  Temps were reasonable at first but humidity was wearing on me.  Had a 10oz hand held bottle at first with gatorade and then refilled with water at the Tarpon sprayground and Wall Springs Park.  

I decided to run a little faster and was able to get under a 9:00 for the average but it seemed like I should have been able to go faster with the same effort, maybe on a cooler and less humid day.

This run capped off my first 40+ weekly mileage which used to seem like such a standard, even lower bar, but I'm feeling pretty good and staying away from being overtrained.

I would go on to cover some of these miles on the Pinellas Trail while on the father's day bike ride with the boys and lunch at Tarpon Tavern.