The Long Run

Overall Place: 51, Age group: 1

I had originally planned to try and do the 5k in Lutz on the morning of the 4th, but surprisingly that one sold out (not surprised by good attendance but maybe by the cap).  I had been dreading the heat and stillness and humidity of the night air, but it didn't feel so bad.

Warmed up with some jogging and a few short strides to stretch the legs.

Race splits: 7:13, 7:23, 7:20, 0.1@6:43

Simple out and back on the Dunedin Causeway, race starts at 11:40 pm.  First mile felt decent and I thought ok, I can pick it up a little more and be just under 22:00 or at worst a few seconds over.  Away from the start line there are no street lights.  Most of the light is from far away or from the green light for the drawbridge traffic signal.  Turn around is about a half mile past the bridge.  Running over it and onto the grate, worried I'll catch my foot and trip, wished I was wearing a light, but made sure to pick up my feet and was ok.

After the turnaround was passing people here and there, but I'd slowed a little instead of picking it up.  Seeing 7:23 for the second mile a little disappointing.  After that I started looking at my watch more often, pace had slowed even more down to 7:30.  Didn't want to get passed, so dug in and got my feet to turn over a little faster and improved a little on 3rd mile compared to 2nd.

Jessica was near the finish line with the baby fallen asleep in the stroller.  3 years ago was the 10k which I ran with Jacob and we had Sophia and Aubrey there to cheer as well as Jacob's dad and three years before that, Andy and I did the 5k and 10k, my brother Jim ran the 10k, and Jamie was there, and Tom was just starting to run but did not come with us.  Good memories, glad to be back here one more time.  I'll bring a light next time!

1.12@10:10

Post race cool down, technically Monday morning July 4th.  Got in a mile running around the parking lot and killing some time waiting for awards.

I met a guy from Strava, Bill, who came in just behind me but was happy to hear I was not in his age group.

After getting back to the house, stayed up for a bit and watched an episode of Stranger Things with Aubrey.

For evening firework watching that night we went to the airport parking garage to the top deck.  360 degree view of Tampa area, with fireworks near and far.

5.26@8:45

Somewhat standard run, two loops inside Westlake Village, first mile 9:50 , last mile 8:09

2.59@8:58

Felt good to do this - out the door and started run at 4:40 am.  I just wanted to get in any sort of run.  7:15 am flight for same day out and back trip to Atlanta.

It was nice to start and finish the run while it was still dark.

Then, with some airport walking and walking at the customer site able to get over 12,000 steps for the day..

6.31@8:26

Picked up Stella from Jenny's (Tom and Jenny watched Stella while I was gone and Andy also out of town), then ran about 6 miles with alternating quarters of easy and faster - none of them all that fast until the second to last one which was at 6:15 pace.

7.42@9:36

Ran with Joe in Foxwood.  6:25 am start, early enough to see the sunrise.  Ran on the Starkey Gap Trail, south to Keystone before turning back.  Finished up with 6x100m strides near my house.

Took a half day off work to go with Jessica to Tallahasee to go see Jacob.  Stopped by his dorm, had a quick dinner out before dropping him off.

5.13@9:18

Ran in Tallahassee from the Aloft Hotel, ran south, and then west over to near the stadium and then found a trail (nicely shaded) to run on, then back to Call Street which sort of appears and then disappears changing from a street to just a sidewalk through the campus.  Ended run at the dining hall where Jessica and Jacob (and baby) were having breakfast.

Was planning on doing a long run today but due to the driving and unfamiliarity with the area just decided to get in any run.  I'll do a tempo run (or maybe more like a marathon goal pace run) tomorrow.

Headed back to the hotel, then back on the road, pretty easy drive back to Tampa.