They all can't be "easy" runs.

March 03, 2026

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Venice,FL,USA

Member Since:

Oct 31, 2012

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

5k:
21:01, (6:46 pace) 11-19-11.
20:08, (6:29 pace) 9-1-12 (Part of a Mini-Triathlon Relay).
19:17, (6:12 pace) 11-17-12.
19:19, (6:13 pace) 11-23-13.
19:30, (6:17 pace) 1-4-14.
20:34, (6:34 pace) 9-13-14
19:49, (6:23 pace) 10-25-14
19:32, (6:17 pace) 11-22-14
19:40, (6:19 pace) 12-19-14
19:49, (6:23 pace) 1-31-16

8k:
34:42, (6:57 pace) 3-17-12.
32:11, (6:28 pace) 3-16-13.
32:32, (6:33 pace) 3-15-14.

34:00, (6:50 pace) 3-14-15.

33:09, (6:40 pace) 3-11-17.

32:56, (6:38 pace) 3-17-18.

10k:
44:18, (7:08 pace) 4-14-12.
41:22, (6:39 pace) 12-15-12.
42:11, (6:47 pace) 4-13-13.
41:06, (6:37 pace) 12-8-13.

42:03, (6:46 pace) 3-5-16

44:35, (7:11 pace) 8-26-17
12k:
53:53, (7:14 pace) 3-24-12.
49:20, (6:37 pace) 3-1-14
15k:
1:18:16, (8:24 pace) 2-26-11.

1:04:37. (6:56 pace) 2-20-16

1:08:25 (7:18 pace) 2/22/20

Half Marathons:

1:37:57 (7:28 pace) 1-26-20. Fort Lauderdale - A1A
14 Marathons:
1. 4:12:08, (9:37 pace) 1-9-11. Disney.
2. 4:18:18, (9:51 pace) 10-30-11. MCM.
3. 3:42:26, (8:29 pace) 1-14-12. Charleston.
4. 3:13:15, (7:22 pace) 10-7-12. Steamtown.
5*. 3:12:26, (7:20 pace) 1-19-14. Louisiana.
6*. 3:14:06, (7:24 pace) 4-21-14. Boston.
7*. 3:19:38, (7:37 pace) 7-19-14. U. of Okoboji.
8*. 3:16:27, (7:30 pace) 2-22-15. Mercedes-Benz
9*. 3:30:38 (8:03 pace) 5-15-16 Sugarloaf

10. 3:24:21 (7:48 pace) 11-5-16 Savannah RNR

11. 3:27:37 (7:56 pace) 5-12-18 Brookings

12. 3:46:02 (8:38 pace) 10-7-18 Towpath

13. 3:35:11 (8:13 pace) 9-12-21 Med City

14. 3:45:45 (8:37 pace) 4-16-23 Coastal Delaware

* = These 5 races were run at 67.9 seconds per pound. If I want a PR, I need to weigh less than 170 pounds.

Other:

Logged (on computer) 24,901 miles (circumference of the earth) in 5,744 days (11/20/25)

Short-Term Running Goals:

2024 GOALS:

to not get fat

Long-Term Running Goals:

Continue running as often as I can, as far as I can, as fast as I can. Teaching my kids (by example) the rewards that come from putting in the work. Very slowly get to 50 states.

Personal:

I'm married, with two sons, 19, and 20. And as of January 18, 2025, one grandson.

I started running because someone dared me to.

I ran my first race 3 days after my 40th birthday. (Disney)

My profile picture story: http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1492&boston-marathon

Favorite Blogs:

Ukraine Can Win With Crowdfunded Drones!

Click to Donate

Miles:	This week:	14.00	Month:	14.00	Year:	280.10

Fri, Feb 20, 2026

Slow miles	Fast miles	Total Distance
10.00	0.00	10.00

10 miles on Venetian Waterway Park. Finished after dark. 5 pm start. I felt like running longer. It's been a stressful week.

About a mile into the run I felt the need to pee. Knowing that there is usually no one around at the turn around near the Marina, at 2.5 miles, I figured I would wait until then. As I got to the turn around, there were people sitting on a bench. When I saw them I smiled and said "I was kind of hoping there would be no one here." They asked why and I told them. They said "Go ahead!" She said "I might join you!" which got a laugh out of me. We got to talking.

Alan and Annie. Both of them were wearing tie dye shirts, she had pink - cotton candy looking - hair. Lots of it. He was wearing a colorful hat and shoes. Very friendly folks. They were in their late sixties, maybe early seventies. She said "Do you want to see my pet turtle? I take him for a walk every day." In her lap was a small box turtle. "You guys are some kind of different, huh?" They asked me how long I lived here, and I gave them my Venice backstory. Since we could see the Circus bridge from where we were, I told them about the whole town turning out to watch Ringling Brothers bring the animals over the bridge to the winter headquarters, when I was young. He told me that's part of the reason they retired here. He was a puppeteer for children. He went to a show with 500 kids, realized he forgot his puppets, and started blowing up balloons. From that day on, he created a show with balloons, that his wife performed in, dressed as as an insect, for some reason. They toured the world doing this balloon show for children. This was their only job for their entire lives. They have an adult son. When they got to Venice, they saw the circus stuff, and decided this place was a good fit.

I was completely fascinated by this couple and their story. I talked to them for about 30 minutes, but I could have talked to them all night. They spoke every sentence in a non-threatening sing song voice. It was completely obvious, in hindsight, that they have spent their entire lives talking to children. I'm still smiling thinking about this.

THEY RETIRED FROM A CAREER OF BLOWING UP BALLOONS!

Weight: 0.00

Comments

From Michael on Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 08:39:58 from 148.64.88.250

I love it!

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