They all can't be "easy" runs.

Springfest 12k. 7:30 am start. 2.5 up. 12k in 49:20. 6:37 pace. Temp. was @ 50 at the start. I don't know Humidity or dew point, but my guess is they were not a factor. This might be my best non-marathon race to date. I am very pleased with this result.

I ran this race @ 2 years ago. The course has some goofiness that I don't like, so I didn't run it last year. The timing hit just right for the Boston build-up this year, so I went back. There were a bunch of kiddies at the start. The 5kers and the 12kers start together. You go @ 200m down the road and then turn right. That first 200m was a HUGE log jam! While I was in it, tripping over children, I didn't like it too much. But @ mile 2, I realized that it was a blessing. It kept me from going out too fast, like I normally do. The last time I ran this, I was racing the 5kers, until they split off. This time, I left them before the split. I ran with a guy with a cough for the majority of the race. We were both hacking together! He finished 7th. I asked him what time he was shooting for. He said he didn't know beecause he had never run this distance before. I told him I was going to try to keep up with "that girl" (first female). She left us @ mile 5. I had to really kick in the last 100m to catch 2nd place girl. I passed her at the line. The 5k winner was just under 20 minutes! I could have won it outright! And what kind of wacky age group am I in? 9th overall is 4th in my age? 17 seconds between 2nd and 4th in my age group! I scooted to Tommy's baseball game right after the race. They lost it in the 6h! But, It has been a Good day!

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail to Venice Avenue and back. 6:00 am start. 1:54:46. 8:54 pace. 59 degrees. 88% hum. 67 d.p.

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 39:54. 7:40 pace. 5:30 pm start. 73 deg. 74% hum. 64 D.P. This was work. 

5:30 am start. Run cut short for time. I was supposed to do 10.2. I got out there, started running, and started doing the math to figure out how much time I had, and realized there was not enough time to run. I should have run something shorter than the scheduled 10.2, but I didn't. Other than the switching of Sunday and Tuesday runs, this is the first time I went off schedule. So, that's a good thing. 

Or maybe I just needed a break. 

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 38:50. 7:28 pace. 5:30 pm start. 75 deg. 72% hum. 66 D.P. Still, with the fog? 

10.2 miles Legacy Trail to Colonia and back. 5:30 am start. 1:27:06. 8:37 pace. 66 deg. 100% hum. 66 d.p. More Fog. (This is kind of a make-up run from Tuesday.)

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 40:15. 7:44 pace. 5:30 pm start. 69 deg. 86% hum. 65 D.P. Running through mist. Back on schedule, mileage-wise. 

Friday off. 

16.83 miles RUNFAIL. I left at 6:30 am. I Went to Caspersen Beach (halfway of my 20,75 miler). i didn't run it home. I got part way, but not all of it. Bummer.

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail to Venice Avenue and back. 1:30 pm (after church) start. 1:39:56. 7:45 pace. 72 degrees. 64% hum. 59 d.p. Shirtless run. 1st half- 50:05, 7:46 pace. 2nd half- 49:51, 7:44 pace. This consistent pace is pretty unusual for me. Anyhow, beautiful day. I ran the whole thing with a smile on my face. When I got home, I took the kids to the beach, cooled down my legs in the water. and watched them skimboard like lunatics. I can't wait to get back to the summer, when we do this every Saturday.

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 38:21. 7:23 pace. 5:30 pm start. 69 deg. 58% hum. 54 D.P. The guy that won Springfest 12k was out running. He introduced himself to me, and we ran together for @ 2 miles. He trains on Saturdays with another local fast dude that I vaguely know, (both guys are going to Boston) and asked me if I would like to run with them. 

I feel like the nerdy kid that just got invited to the cool kids' table. 

10.2 miles Legacy Trail to Colonia and back. 6:00 am start. 1:26:47. 8:30 pace. 57 deg. 100% hum. 57 d.p.

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 39:06. 7:31 pace. 5:35 pm start. 75 deg. 76% hum. 67 D.P. 

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 39:46. 7:39 pace. 5:35 pm start. 65 deg. 47% hum. 44 D.P. Windy.

Weird twitch in my right upper hamstring for the last couple of days. Not exactly a pain, but something's off. Long story short, I don't feel too optimistic about racing this weekend. I'll race, but I'm not expecting a PR. Treatment? - I'm sitting on a tennis ball.

St. Patty's Day 8k. 32:32. 6:33 pace. 3 up (with the moon setting over the gulf- Nice!). Temp. in the 50's at the 8:00 am start. Not much wind, not much humidity. Not my fastest race, but one of my smartest races. I didn't go out to fast. I was passed by one guy @ mile 1.5 (he finished 2nd). Then I was by myself for the rest of the race. A very polite kid from Lemon Bay High School won. The whole family was there. Aunt Marilyn got the sweaty hug. We had the green eggs after the race. The kids wrestled in the sand. Great morning.

Again, this race is on the same weekend as the Sarasota Half. So, I don't put too much stock in the placing. I am pleased that I could hold this pace for the whole race.

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail to Venice Avenue and back. 1:15 pm (after church) start. 1:46:08. 8:14 pace. 77 degrees. 69% hum. 66 d.p. Shirtless run. 20-25 mph winds out of the south.

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 41:01. 7:53 pace. 5:30 pm start. 70 deg. 90% hum. 67 D.P. HEAVY Rain. How much rain? I heard a voice from the sky say "Pair them up, Noah!"

I had the place to myself. Before I started, a guy in a car asked me if I needed a lift. Well that was nice of you sir. But I am an idiot that is trying to keep a running schedule, you see, so a ride will not be required, thank you. 

10.2 miles Legacy Trail to Colonia and back. 10 pm start. 1:25:59. 8:26 pace. 63 deg. 68% hum. 52 d.p. I slept through the alarm this morning, so I had to get my miles after Tommy's baseball game (he went 2 for 4, with a RBI, his best game ever!), and then we had homework to do. It was "this" close to sleep-running. But, running by the orange groves - wow. The orange blossoms are really putting out the fragrance right now. 

5.8 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 43:13. 7:27 pace. 5:30 pm start. 73 deg. 54% hum. 56 D.P. Breezy. 

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 39:08. 7:32 pace. 5:30 pm start. 71 deg. 66% hum. 59 D.P. 

Song of the run: http://youtu.be/sxkMFgFjC8E

20.75 Miles. Legacy Trail to Caspersen Beach and back. 2:45:30. 7:59 pace. 6:52 Last Mile. 64 Deg. 100% hum. 64 d.p. 5:30 am start. Dense fog 1st half.

I was invited to run with a bunch of folks in Sarasota this morning. I had never met any of them before, I didn't know where we were running, and I didn't keep time. They told me we did @ 13.5 miles @ 7:45 pace. 6:00 am start. 70ish degrees 100%ish humidity. Then we went out to breakfast. There were some guys that ran Boston several times, and they were giving out advice over waffles. Then back to Venice to clean up. Then back to Sarasota to go to the Orioles - Pirates game. Then back to Venice. Then back to Sarasota.

Anyway, the group is running a 20 miler next weekend. I beleve I am scheduled for a track workout or race next weekend. I am not sure which way to go here.

4.6 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 36:26. 7:55 pace. 5:30 pm start. 66 deg. 92% hum. 64 D.P. Light rain. 

10.2 miles Legacy Trail to Colonia and back. 6:15 pm start. 1:16:04. 7:27 pace. 6:39 last mile. 64 deg. 50% hum. 50 d.p. 17 mph wind. When the alarm went off at 5:00 am today, and I listened to how hard the rain was hitting the roof, I decided to put off today's run until the evening. I stand by this choice. Only 3 more of these goofy Tuesday runs.

4.6 ugly miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:30 pm start. 

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 39:16. 7:33 pace. 5:35 pm start. 67 deg. 72% hum. 58 D.P. 

At Laurel Nokomis School Track. 11:30 am start. 1.5 up. (6) 1 mile repeats @ < 6:20 w/ 4 minutes rest. Then (1) 400 @ 1:24. 65 deg. Light rain at the end of the workout.

I dread running on the track more than running in races. How much more? For 3 days leading up to this, I have had a kink in my neck from anxiety. Post-workout, I am nearly cured. Man, I hate the track!

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail to Venice Avenue and back. 6:45 am start. 1:49:17. 8:28 pace. 63 degrees. 63% hum. 50 d.p.

4.6 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 35:17. 7:40 pace. 5:30 pm start. 69 deg. 58% hum. 54 D.P.

My biggest month ever.