The Long Run

6.29@9:52

I'm not sure what a good name for this route is.  It started as the classic t-shaped route where I'd cross Trinity Blvd running on Tamarind, run the length of Robert Trent Jones Pkwy, then come back to Foxwood.

But now, once I get to the Starkey Gap Trail, run south for a bit, then run north, crossing Trinity at the warning light.  There's sort of a parallelogram in the middle because I run back to Tamarind along Trinity Blvd in the grassy ditch next to it so as not to run on the pretty narrow shoulder (which could be fatal).

Anyway, it was a pretty good run.  I dropped Stella off at the house for some Andy and cat time and to give Jessica a break from being home with the dog, although the baby seems to miss her.

Knee is still bothering me a little bit starting out.  If I push too hard during the run it might bother me afterward, so I've been being careful to not get to that point.

5.36@9:26

Two slightly different loops inside Westlake Village.  9:26 average put my pace one second faster than that last run of June that set me back, so today was progress.

2.26@11:39

The phone app said "drizzle for the next hour".  Ok, I thought I can run in that.  Started out in Westlake Village and was going to head over to the Pinellas Trail and maybe get 7 or 8 miles.  Heading down Alderman Road I saw the first flash of lightning.  Thought about turning around and running in the neighborhood.  But, then I thought of the screenshot someone posted from a recent thunderstorm and all of the strikes inside Westlake Village.  So, changed my mind and kept on going down Alderman and was going to cut through Eniswood and run to the Pinellas Trail north and could shelter at Conservation Park if necessary.  

The lightning was getting bad, so finally decided not to chance it and stopped at a friends house in Eniswood and stood on her porch.  I texted Jessica where I was and also texted the friend so she wouldn't be creeped out that a half dressed man was on her porch.  She soon let me in, gave me a towel and then drove me back home.

Quite the adventure.  Not many miles, knee felt a little worse, so maybe if the weather was good might've ended up pushing too hard and setting my progress back.

5.26@9:33

Sort of a re-do of yesterday's run cut short due to lightning.  Cut through Eniswood, up Alt 19 and a little onto the Pinellas Trail to Conservation Park for the water fountain than back the same way.

5.16@11:11

Parked at the church near Longleaf.  Ran up Starkey Blvd to a little bit past the bridge but not all the way to Alico Pass and then turned back around. Was slower today especially the first mile.  Hot Florida morning.

10.42@10:20

Finally!  Ran over ten miles, will call this a long run even though not too long ago this would be a medium long run.  Ran from my house out to the Tamarind nbhd exit, along Trinity Blvd to the Starkey gap trail.  There was a guy walking on the road while I was in the ditch.  After I was on the trail I heard footsteps running up behind me. It was the guy who had been walking was now running.  He was a maybe a little bit older than me.  As he passed me, asked if I was coming back from an injury "because when I see you, you are usually sprinting".  I slowly gained some speed and eventually the guy was not disappearing but as I reached SR54, he had already turned back so I did not end up catching him.

Ran up Starkey Blvd, past the entrance to Starkey Ranch.  I turned right into Heartwood Preserve, did a small loop on a trail there.  There was a funeral going on toward the cemetary side.

By the time I reached Longleaf, decided I wanted something besides fountain water.   Fortunately I had some money on me, so went into Havana Dreamer's and bought a can of Iron Beer soda and also filled my handheld with ice.  Nice treat.

Back out on the road, crossed over SR54 and soon made it home.