The Long Run

7.12 mi, 1:06:54, 9:24 avg

It was supposed to be a day off from running but today was Joe's birthday. Jamie suggested a run.  I've run with Joe about once so far during the pandemic and Jamie 0 times.  Couldn't pass up.  If my legs didn't feel good I could cut it short a little.  But, I felt fine and even few in a few strides at the end (although not all 6 that were scheduled for tomorrow's run that I was doing today).

After the run, stopped by Joe's house with Stella, we had breakfast on the back porch and Stella got to run around in the back yard and visit with Joe's dog Jasper.

finally, day off, felt good

8.54 mi, 1:12:14, 8:27 avg

Workout of the day, 6x800m with 6:47 pace goal, 2 minute jog between.  2 mile warm up and cool down.  These felt kind of rough, really hard to get onto pace for the first few, paces were: 7:18, 6:54, 6:54, 6:44, 6:48, 6:34

It wasn't written on the schedule but there were supposed to be 2x400m after the 800's, I was going to do them if I felt good.  Maybe should've done them since I was warmed up by then although was a little frustrated (which is way I did the 6th one a little too fast).

These felt really hard, so I mustv'e really needed this workout.  Good to get the job done.

4.02 mi, 35:46, 8:53 avg

Shorter easy run day.  But, it took me a while to get to the run, had some sprinkler heads that were broken and a bad solenoid so water was shooting up in the air.  Tried to find the cut off valve (I was very close - it was just a couple feet away burried under some dirt).  

Did an up and down the street run waiting for the sprinkler fixer to show up.  All worked out eventually, and since I had to pay someone to come out and turn a valve I couldn't find also got the other repairs done (I might've put it off a little if I had been able to shut off the water).

It was also decided later in the day that we'd do Thanksgiving turkey on Wednesday, it was just Jessica, her kids, me and of course Charlotte (but she's not eating turkey).  Simple dinner of turkey breast (bought one of the few left at the store), canned cranberry, dressing, and roasted vegetables thrown into the turkey baking dish.  Turkey was pretty good with the somewhat random seasoning rub from what we had on hand along with fresh garlic cloves, lime juice and some leftover wine.

Will just have dessert with my parents, the boys, Jessica, and some of her kids (and Charlotte Dani of course but she's not eating dessert yet).

The "Westlake Wobble" was kind of a last minute decision.  Put together by some of the residents partially due to so many of the usual races being cancelled.  Advertised as no signup, no fees, no times.  It turned out there was a guy that called out the start and recorded people's places as the finished.

I had 10 miles on the schedule for today, but figured why not.  Sophia was going to walk it with one of her friends so we left the house together and walked to the club house.  As we got closer, I jogged a little bit for warmup but we got there pretty much right before it was going to start.  I had thought about getting up early enough to run about 2 miles and do some strides first.

There were 3 high school age kids and another that couldv'e maybe been middle school.  We ran north up Lakeview and took a left onto Pinewood, curving around back to Village Way.  About a half mile in I caught the middle schooler.  From Village Way back to Lakeview and a quick right onto Sandy Hook.  Runing up Sandy Hook I eventually caught two of the high school boys.  My pace had slowed a little.  I wasn't losing ground on the first place guy but wasn't gaining either.  Got to the top of the hill where it crosses Lakeview again and then turns into Woodcutter.  I wasn't breaking 7:00 like I wanted to, kind of going around the same speed as I did when I did the informal 3 mile time trial about 2 months ago.

Crossed over Westlake Blvd (fortunately no cars to wait for), headed north a bit, then crossed back again.  Coming up a little hill a guy called out to me "catch him on the hill".  I gained a little bit but still way too far to outkick.  Back onto Village Way, heading downhill and got to the finish line back on Lakeview near the clubhouse.

My splits were: 7:05, 7:10, 5:39 (0.81 @6:54 pace)

Not long after I finished, the two other high schoolers finished and then I can't remember if it was the first place female or the soldier wearing a weighted vest.

Next, I saw Jessica coming around the corner pushing Charlotte Dani in the stroller, so I walked with them for about a mile, then I started the rest of my run.

Next part was 7.23 miles on an out and back route to Conservation Park via Eniswood neighborhood and Alt 19

Rest of the day was good with a brunch at Jessica's parents house on their pool patio and then later dessert at my parents house along with Tom and Andy as well as myself, Jessica, Charlotte, and Sophia

Lots to be thankful for today!

6.51 mi, 56:19, 8:38 avg

Flexibility time, decided last minute to ride with Jessica to Kissimmee so she could watch Aubrey at the cheer meet and wouldn't have to risk dealing with a crying baby while driving.  I ended up driving, the baby slept the whole way and it wasn't such a bad area to run.  The main road near Silver Spurs arena is not that busy. I found a route that ran along it on the sidewalk and then onto a cut through bike path onto a less busy road with a pretty wide sidewalk until finally reaching a park which had a fountain.  Looks like it eventually joined up with a bike/run trail but three miles out was all I needed.  Turned around and headed back then finished up with strides in the parking lot.

It was a pretty nice morning, sunny and cool.

Drove back and made it in time to buy 2-for-1 Celsius at the bike shop for black Friday.

14.4 mi, 1:59:10, 8:29 avg

Week 8, Day 6 of the plan, long run with some tempo miles toward the end.  Not too late of a start but not that early either (about 9:15 am).  Headed out from Westlake Village, cut through Eniswood and onto the Pinellas Trail, then headed south until I'd covered about 6.5 miles.

Headed back north until just past the old train tunnel then started the faster three miles with goal pace of 7:22.  First mile ok at 7:21, turned around after a little bit on Klosterman, back south, feeling pretty good at first then was struggling to hold the pace, did what I could and came in at 7:26 but it felt a lot harder.  Paused for a minute to collect my thoughts, then was able to pick it up for the last mile to 7:10 despite part of it being off of the Pinellas Trail and back onto regular sidewalk.

Last mile after that was easy-ish pace back to the house (actually about 1/4 mile short of the house) walked the remainder in just after reaching 14 miles.

Pretty good run overall although not pretty but got the job done.