The Long Run

3rd Overall, 2nd place male, 1st place masters

Since yesterday's race was rained out, I looked for a race nearby for today.  They had bib pick up and registration yesterday at American Running company, so signed up there.

Was hoping for the cooler weather of yesterday morning, but today it was back to typical warm and muggy.  Race start time was 7:15 so still slightly dark.  Race starts on the side street next to the original Hooters location, heads north up to Drew Street, then takes a right onto Drew where one lane of traffic is coned off.  It's a little over half a mile, on a slightly uphill (38 feet), not too bad to start out on and a nice little downhill for the return trip.

For most of the first mile I did not look at my watch but just sort of kept up with the back of the lead pack and slowly passed a few here and there.  Looked at my watch a little before the 1 mile marker and saw I was on a good sub-20:00 pace, finished the first mile in 6:17.  My fastest mile for quite some time.  

Headed south down a street off of Drew until taking a left onto a small street going on a block through a neighborhood before coming out back onto the road leading to Drew Street.  Still holding onto a decent pace but had slowed down a bit, now about a 6:50 for the second mile, then my pace seemed to slip further and I was struggling to get back under 7:00.  I was following a woman in an orange top (very fit and somehow managed to keep her hair in place perfectly and all make up in place), she was running next to a guy and they seemed to be running together.

But, when we got to the 10k/5k split, the guy headed onto the 10k course.  The woman was the only one that I could see in front of me (there was another guy way up in front but I hadn't seen him for some time).

I followed the woman trying to lock onto her pace but she was slowly pulling away.  Turned left off of Drew back down the street we started on with the downhill.  I was able to slowly get back under a 7:00 pace, down to 6:54

Then, made the last turn into the parking lot where they had the finish arch.  Watch showed 2.96 miles, so a little bit short but regardless, I was still 3rd place.  First place guy was 17:49, and the first place woman was 19:27.

They had beer, chicken wings (two types) and a few other assorted refreshments.  It was a pretty fun race, and now can't wait to run another 5k.  Next up will be the PHSC Bobcats 5k in two weeks, hopefully get Jacob to run with me.

6.61 mi, 1:01:04, 9:14 avg, HR 142 bpm, elev gain 120 feet

Basic run from Westlake Village to Pinellas Trail via Alderman Road up to Conservation Park, and then back the way I came.

4.79 mi, 45:20, 9:27 avg, HR 131 bpm

Loop around Westlake Village and up and down Lakeview Ave.

5.13 mi, 47:58, 9:20 avg, HR 138 bpm, elev gain 165 feet

South out of Westlake Village via the cut through to 16th street, to PA Ave over to Pinellas Trail until reaching just past 2.5 miles, then turned around and back the way I came.

6.1 mi, 59:55, 9:49 avg, HR 127 bpm

Ran with Joe and Jamie in Foxwood and near the golf course on t-shaped route.  Nice easy run with good heart rate and pretty early 6:30 start.

6.2 mi, 54:11, 8:44 avg, HR 146 bpm, elev gain 273 feet

Afternoon run in Central Park NYC.  Arrived in New York last night, got to hotel about 11:00.  We were meeting Jessica's parents and sisters for breakfast at the Luxemburg Cafe at 10:30 so I decided I'd run after breakfast and before needing to get ready for the wedding (her cousin's son).

Weather was perfect, cool and sunny.  One week out from NYC marathon, lots of people running in the park, covering the last miles of the race.  Ran from the south end of the park to the north end and a few blocks continuing north, then turned around.  Great way to sight see.