The Long Run

Ez paced run, temps about 66 degrees.. Beautiful morning sky. Enjoyed.

Yesterday, was a good day of walking around St. Pete cheering on Jenny and her Mom as they ran the Women's Half marathon.  Neither one of them wore a garmin, they just enjoyed their time together on the course and the wonderful day.  Part of the course winds through Tropicana Field (the Tampa Bay Ray's baseball stadium).  Jenny says that when she was going through there that she may or may not have done a cartwheel.  I hope a picture turns up, it would be priceless.

 

Yesterday's walking was also a good recovery day for me after doing a run that might have been a little bit too long on Saturday.  Heels were a little bit tight when I woke up on Sunday, but by the end of the day and especially by this morning I felt pretty much back to normal.

Started out with Jenny, Lisa, and Kathryn, we ran together for a bit then I did a few more miles alone. Jenny's knee was kind of off and on, a little more off than on.  Hopefully nothing serious, leftover aches from Savannah marathon which had some sections of banked roads which might have contributed.

It was nice starting out with the group to share some running. The rest of the run was pretty good, too. Even if you can just part of the run with others it makes it worth it. Kept the pace easy.

I'll try for fast tomorrow at the 10K - going to do the Turkey Trot 10K in Clearwater.

I've been going there for most years since (I think 2003).  But, this will be the first year I'll be going alone.  We usually end up running our own races when we go (although I've run with the kids a few times), but it was still nice sharing the whole experience together.  Oftentimes, Jenny did the 10K, so I would be waiting up in the High School stadium bleachers waiting for her with the kids, watching the clock to see if she would make her time and get that coveted coffee mug which they hand out to the top 125 for each race.

So, I was kind of going back and forth on whether or not to do the race this year since no one else was going.  But, figured I'd keep the tradition going for at least one more year.

2 years ago she "double mugged" - came in top 125 for both the 5K and 10K.

Last year we both did the 5K because her Mom was there and ran with the kids for the 1 mile fun run.

I've never done the 10K here before, but it should be pretty good with lots of people to try and keep up with and tow me along when it starts to feel hard.

 

P.M. - went to Jenny's boot camp, which was extra tough tonight (I think I might have said that before, but tonight was done as a fitness test).  There were three circuits which each included a lap of running and several exercises with the sets repeated 3 times.

39:54 (I never thought I'd see sub-40 again).

Decided I would give the 10K at the Turkey Trot a try this year.  Couldn't talk anyone else into going, although I later found out that my mother-in-law was partially thinking about going.  They did have the nicest looking shirts this year.  Actually, I didn't think I'd have time to get the shirt and get back to my car to drop it off, but when I saw them I figured I could make it and use the run back to the car, and over to the start line as my warm-up.

1.11 mile warmup, got to the start about 15 minutes early to line up. Weather was nice, I was a little cold when I first got out of my car, but half way through the race it had gotten warm enough that I was thankful it wasn't any warmer.

Weaved through the first mile but manged 6:24 pace, 2nd mile was 6:10 and felt great. Hung on after that until I could see tattoo Mike, closed the gap a little but didn't catch him.

Got out-kicked at the very end by my sports doctor (Cottrell). I got a mug with 45th place. I wasn't expecting to do so well after Jenny 's hard core boot camp last night - or maybe that is why I did well, along with the shock top with my father-in-law after the boot camp!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Check here for some pictures (about half way into the post)