They all can't be "easy" runs.

10.2 miles. Legacy Trail to Colonia and Back. 1:20:58*. 7:56* pace. 75 deg. 97% hum. 75 d.p. 7:30 am start. Johnny paced me on his bike. He lost his chain @ 6 times. As you could guess, he lost his chain at the worst possible times (crossing streets, etc.) That's why the time and pace have asterisks, because I had to stop a bunch of times. So this experiment went both good and bad. I've got to get that chain fixed. He did well holding pace and responding to my instructions. I needed to beat the 8 minute man, as I have been running way too slowly lately. After you have chain-oiled fingers, brushing sweat out of your eyes is joy! The kid was so proud of himself this morning! He gave mom the sweaty hug when he got home.

I plan on taking Tommy to the track later to see where he is at with some 400s. I may do a couple too. I've got to work on Webbed Feet's parents to let him race next year.

This tri-race relay idea might turn out really well.

4 pm: Okay the trip to the track didn't go as well as expected. There was a very high heat index, so Tommy was burned out quickly. he did 2 laps warm up, 3 minutes rest, then 1 lap @ 1:56. then that was it. It was just too stinking hot, and it was not wise for me to take him at that time. We still have 51 weeks to get our act together.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 36:44. 7:59 pace. 90 deg. 40% hum. 68 d.p.

7.5 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail and back. 5:30 am start. 1:05:16. 8:42 pace. 75 deg. 99% hum. 75 d.p. I saw Pop finishing his walk, and got to hang out with him for a spell after the run, which was nice. 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 35:56. 7:49 pace. 87 deg. 74% hum. 75 d.p. Intermittent rain. All sun showers. I never got out of that inferno. I had "baby did a bad bad thing" stuck in my head for the whole run. Splain Dat!

The Cool Kids from Sarasota invited me to go run with them this weekend. 16 miles. I think I'll do it. It might force me to pick up my pace on the long runs. I'm still hovering @ 30-45 sec/mile below where I was last year. 

We shall see. 

16.16 miles (I mapped out the distance when I got home) with the Sarasota cool kids. 5:30 am start. 2:06:53. 7:51 pace. I kept my watch rolling through most water stops. I was the only Camelpak runner, again. Then we went out to breakfast. It was a good crowd, 12 of us, although only 3 of us did the full 16 mile loop. It's funny. The "what's your next race" conversations reminded me about "what's your major" conversations from years ago. Anyhow, they want to run trails next weekend. They want me to go, but I don't know. That's not my bag, baby.

When I got home, spouse had done some research and found cheap flights to the Houston Marathon in January, and suggested that maybe we go there, instead of Birmingham in February. But it looks like Houston is sold out.

7.5 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail and back. 5:30 am start. laughable slowness. Legs still a little beat up from yesterday.

Then church.

Then, as an experiment, we had a family triathlon. Next month, the Rev3 folks are having a kids' tri the day before their event. So, I mapped out a 75 yard swim, set up a transition area, then a 2 mile bike, transition at our house, and finish wth a .7 mile run (These distances were listed on the website as race distances.). Before I invest $60 each for signing my kids up for this event, I want to know, and I want THEM to know, that they can finish the distance. So, this afternoon was Tri Practice #1. Spouse even went! I think this went GREAT. Tommy and I finished with 24:23. Johnny had 28:00. and Spouse finished with 29:20. Tommy took off like a rocket, after he got off the bike. Johnny had some cramps (we ate lunch right before this little drill, duh!) It took me a longer time than expected to catch Tommy after dealing with Johnny. He was moving! We learned some things that will make things go smoother next time. We have 4 weeks to get ready. Of course, I won't be pacing the boys on race day, but by then they should be comfortable with the routine.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 36:54. 8:01 pace. 88 deg. 66% hum. 75 d.p.

Weezer. The Good Life. 

5:30 am start. 0.75 up. 2 mins. rest. 1@6:35. 4 mins. rest. 1@6:45. Then, I was ticked off at the slow times, so I ran 3 miles. 2 mins. rest. 1@7:15. 0.75 down. 75 deg. 98% hum. 75 d.p. This does not look good for my 5k this Saturday. But, this is what happens when you "jog" every run. The legs forget the speed. 

4.6 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 36:54. 8:01 pace. 89 deg. 53% hum. 70 d.p.

"Life" kept me from running Thursday and Friday. This race is a fund raiser for the North Port Fire Department. My buddy Brian said he was going to run it, so I decided to join him. He got 2nd in his age group! I went into this race expecting to get under 21 min. So, in that respect, it went well. 2 miles up. Race started at 7:30. They had one of those videotaping drones flying overhead at the start. I hope to find that video some day. I traded places with a guy in a neon green shirt for @ 2.5 miles, then he faded behind me. I then focused on dude with american flag shirt. I got right on his heel at the 3 mile mark, and then he found another gear and left me. I was @6:15 at mile 1, @13:00 at mile 2. It was a well put on event, and Spouse has already told me that I am doing this one again next year. Great food, and a good awards ceremony after. You've got to be impressed with the fire fighters that run in these conditions in their full get-up. It was pretty humid at the start. Great day.

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail to Vence Avenue and back. Right after a rain. Steaming roads, again! 86 deg. 67% hum.  73 d.p. The run started smooth, but ended a bit rough.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start.79 deg. 84% hum. 74 d.p.

4.6 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 37:43. 8:12 pace. 86 deg. 67% hum. 74 d.p. I got invited to run with the cool kids from Sarasota on Saturday. I haven't gone 18+ miles since Okoboji. This should be humbling interesting. 

18 miles in Sarasota with the "cool kids." Adam remembered that I said I've lost my Mojo the last time we were running, and actually brought a Mojo bar. My Mojo was at Publix. Who knew? Anyhow, I started early (5:00 am) from Urfer Park with Paul and Adam for 3 miles around the neighborhoods there. 78 deg. 81% hum. 72 d.p. We had several different kinds of rain for the run(s), but none of them were intolerable. It rained, in one form or the other, the whole time. I wore my camelbak, thinking that we were going to do 18 miles, straight away. But I was not aware of the plan for the morning. The rest of the group got there, and said that they staged water out at Benderson Park, so I left my Camelbak in the car for that run. So, shorthand: 3 miles-Camelbak, 15 miles-No Camelbak. I ate the Mojo bar and we headed out for the 15 miler. There was 7 of us now. It is @ 6 miles from Urfer to Benderson Park, 3 miles around Benderson, and then the 6 miles back. Benderson is a new park, with a long, rectangular lake, where they hope to have rowing championships someday. It was pretty nice, but it was also dark and rainy, so I didn't see as much of it as I'd have liked to. Before we left Benderson on the way back, I had to stop at a POP. My running was never really smooth after that. I struggled on the way back, and finished last. Not a race, but still. Then we went out for Banana pancakes. Longest run(s) in a long time. I'll take it. They want to run a 50k in the woods up north of here in a couple of months, in honor of one of the guys' 50th birthday. I don't know, man. I don't know.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 36:47. 8:00 pace. 75 deg. 90% hum. 72 d.p. In the rain. There was one other guy out running. When we saw each other, he raised his fist in the air. I shouted "Where is everybody else, huh?" and kind of looked around. I guess you had to be there. When I got back to the office, they said that the news just reported there was a waterspout in the bay, and that I was nuts for running in that stuff. How in the world did I not see a waterspout? It must have been when I was trying to remember the lyrics to "Can you stand the rain?" 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 37:07. 8:04 pace. 75 deg. 94% hum. 73 d.p. Just finished raining when I started. I was introduced to SBVD by way of one of the cool kids on this run. My buddy from Monday, the other waterspout runner was out today, as well. 

5.8 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 45:11. 7:47 pace. 84 deg. 74% hum. 75 d.p. Love that fresh autumn air! Pretty smooth going today. 

7.5 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail and Back. 1:30 pm start. 1:05:07. 8:41 pace. 89 deg. 61% hum. 74 d.p. There was not much nice about this run. 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 5:45 pm start. 35:23. 7:42 pace. 77 deg. 90% hum. 74 d.p. In the rain.