The Long Run

7.13@9:24

New classic 7ish mile route from my house down the Starkey Gap Trail to the point where it meets Keystone/Tarpon Ave.

I saw a snake when I stopped, it either had red touching yellow or red touching black, it was moving along too fast for me to get a good look while trying to remember the poem.  It was most likely friend of Jack as those seem to be more common.

3.71@9:32

Kind of random squiggles in Westlake Village, maybe a figure eight loop and some up and down the street.

2.42@9:45

Another short run, Westlake Village, figure eight looking loop.  Time constrained due to needing to get to the airport for trip to Rochester and the Thousand Islands to see my brother, celebrate my parents 60th anniversary and fit in a short visit to Syracuse for Jessica to see her old school.

Made it to the airport ok and getting around with Jessica's broken toe wasn't as bad as it could've been.  Flight to NYC's JFK airport, change planes to a smaller plane and shorter flight to Rochester where Jim met us at the airport.

He cooked out for us in backyard, which included at my request some Zweigles hot dogs.  Charlotte Dani loved Jim's dog Flynn.

7.53@9:22

Back in my home town.  Staying at my brother Jim's house before we head up to my parent's cottage in the Thousand Islands.  Ran from his neighborhood, onto Klem Road and then turned right once I got to where the Hojack Trail crossed the road and headed northwest.  First mile felt a little bit clunky and slow and thought I'd be doing ok if I could get at least 6 miles in.

But, after the first mile was feeling better and running on the trail of dirt and packed gravel was nice (it's a rails to trails trail).  Running into the shaded part of the woods felt almost cold even though in the sun it was high 70's.  

Made it past 3 miles and then kept on going, decided to turn around before reaching 4 miles out.  Steady pickup of pace on the way back and ended up with a pretty good average pace.  Glad to get a decent run while on vacation.

Got back to Jim's house and then got ready for the drive.  Jim loaned be his car so Jessica, the baby and myself headed up to my parents place but first a stop at Syracuse University.  We stopped by her old sorority house first.  It was moving in day so pretty busy.  Baby was sleeping so I stayed in the car with her while Jessica went in for some pictures.  Next we parked by the student center and walked around the main quad and then went into the bookstore and bought a Syracuse dress for the baby.

Continued on to the cottage but couldn't relax yet, had to get ready for dinner.   Dinner was held at the St Lawrence Spirits Chateau where they had a private room setup upstairs. 

Back to the cottage after dinner.  Had been texting Andy about his flight.  Things looked touch and go.  Tampa to DC was getting delayed enough to put the DC to Syracuse flight in danger.  They re-routed him through Charlotte on a standby flight.   He made it ok onto both flights and arrived just before 1:00am (exited the airpot about 1:15).  We made it back to the cottage about 2:45 - finally time to relax!

4.12@9:16

It was another pretty good run. Out and back from the cottage and into the parking lot at the marina across from the golf course.  I had slept in this morning due to the late night return from the airport but wanted to get something in so started the run at 5:00 pm just before dinner.

Aunt Margaret made baked ziti.

8.21@8:49

It wasn't a "long run" but would be the longest run all week.  Felt pretty good, with knee stuff pretty much all gone.  Ran from the cottage, a little past the marina where I turned around yesterday and then turned onto the "old road" which runs along closer to the river.  The new island road is straighter and shorter but no view of the river.  Decent 10:34 for the first mile, then a 9:09 and then rest under 9:00.  At some point around the turn around I realized I'd finally get sub-9:00 for the run.  It's been well over two months since that happened.  

Earlier in the afternoon did a kayak paddle with Jim and Andy.  We paddled out to Boldt Castle and around the island it sits on, a little over two and a half miles.

In the early evening went to St. Cyrils in Alexandria Bay where my parents renewed their wedding vows as part of the 60th anniversay celebration, and then after the service had a nice dinner at the Edgewood resort.