They all can't be "easy" runs.

RUNFAIL! Ran 10.38 miles down the Legacy Trail. Then Walk / Run for another 3.93 miles. Intended to go 20.75, but I ran out of gas. Sigh. 

4.6 Miles. 34:28. 7:29 Pace. 

course{Ringling Bridge Short Run}

5.2 Miles. Un-timed.  Ringling Bridge. Ran with a team mate from high school soccer. 

4.6 Miles. 34:21 7:28 pace.  Ringling Bridge.

I saw a dolphin come up for air in the bay, as I was going over the bridge. No matter how many times I see that, it never gets old.  

4.6 Miles. 33:10 7:13 pace.  Ringling Bridge.

no dolphins today.  

5.8 Miles. 45:52. 7:54 Pace.

Ringling Bridge Longer Run 

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail.

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail. 1:44:44. 8:07 pace. 

1 pm. 75 degrees. Warm.  

I went swimming immediately after the run.

It was awesome.  

5.8 Miles. 42:50. 7:23 Pace.

Ringling Bridge Longer Run 

wind. rain. 

5.8 Miles. 46:28. 8:00 Pace. Nice and easy tonight. A little rainy.

Ringling Bridge Longer Run 

When I get home, I  plan on beginning my training to break the world record for catching the most paper airplanes in my mouth, in a 1 minute period. Eventually, when I go to break the record, I plan on doing it in Fiji. Why Fiji? If you have to ask, then you are obviously not in the catching paper airplanes in your mouth bizness, like me.

My wife is a very understanding chick. I'm sure she'll be cool with all this. "Pull the kids out of school! We need them to fold planes!" 

5.8 Miles. 40:50. 7:02 Pace. no rain. no wind. overcast. no people. 

I just might achieve my goal for this weekend's 10k.

(do not count chickens....),

gagged on a plane last night, that dream is over. 

Ringling Bridge Longer Run 

5.8 Miles. 42:34. 7:20 Pace. light wind. cooler temp.

last run before Saturday's 10k.

Ringling Bridge Longer Run 

This is an out and back course. You go over 2 bridges. I'm sure it is scenic, but this morning I ran through very dense fog. There was @ 100 yards of visibility, I'm guessing. I felt the humidity in my breathing towards the end of the race. Going back over the big bridge at the end was a little more difficult than I anticipated, and I'm blaming the fog. The race results aren't up on the website yet. Maybe they will be here: http://www.saynotodrugs.com/finish-results tomorrow.

Since they started the 5k-ers and 10k-ers together, I knew it would be crowded at the start. My plan was to dodge people until I got to the bridge, then (I figured) that the pack would clear on the uphill. The bridge downhill would propel me to a faster pace. My plan was to hold this pace as long as possible. I actually executed everything in my plan, which is a new one for me. Usually, I hear the gun, and then forget everything I planned, but not today. There were a couple of surprises in the race. First, the distance from the second bridge to the turn around point was longer than I expected. Second, on the way back, the ramp down from the second bridge was what they called a "helix." It is like a 6'-8' wide circling ramp down. This is at @ 5 miles into the race, or so. When you go through this part of the track, you are now mixed in with all of the super slow 5k-ers. So the narrow course width, coupled with running in tight circles while descending 40 feet or so, in a crowded area, has a huge impact on the pace. Once you get through running down that spiraling ramp, you go through 2 back-to-back hairpin turns, which I can't see how anyone could run through that part of the course without stopping. I had to stop to make the second hairpin. Once you come out of the hairpins, you are going uphill. So at that point, pace was entirely lost. It was almost like starting a new race. Given the size of the field in this race, I didn't think I would place in my age group, so that was a nice surprise. I was happy beating my goal time of 42 minutes. They gave me a plaque for my 3rd place age group finish. Interestingly, there was 12 seconds between 1st and 3rd place. 12 seconds! That will drive me nuts later. They served blueberry pancakes after the race. Good Stuff! Also, the shirt is pretty sweet.

I really need to lay down some miles for next month's marathon. Time to get going.

Ran home from Shamrock Park down Legacy trail, after Johnny's birthday Party.

0.2 mile warm up, then 9.8 miles. 1:20:44. 8:14 pace. great sunset.

4.6 Miles. 38:49 8:26 pace.  Ringling Bridge.

It was hot out, but I was just not feeling it.  

10.4 Miles. 1:18:35. 7:33 pace.  Ringling Bridge (x2). The 4.6 mile loop, drank a bottle of water, then the 5.8 mile loop. I needed this run. I missed Tuesday night so I could hang out with Pop, before his surgery Wednesday. I got the report Wednesday afternoon that he was stable, and I just hit the road at night (and ditched our building's Christmas party, while running). Not exactly "floating" yet, but much better. The sky is no longer falling. 

Funny thing is I had this song http://youtu.be/RAEqsnOQrxY  stuck in my head. I have heard this song at least 100 times this holiday season. Every time I thought of it, I would get mad and run faster. You just can't run away from Dean and Frank, I guess. 

5.8 Miles. 42:57. 7:24 Pace. Ringling Bridge Longer Run 

10.2 miles. Legacy Trail. 1:25:31. 8:23 pace.

13.5 miles. Hood Route - 3 laps. 1:54:30. 8:29 pace.

Then a half hour on the trampoline with the kids. Thanks Santa.

8.11 miles. Legacy Trail. 1 hour. 7:23 pace. New shoes. They felt good. New shorts. Man, these things are SHORT! Might not be using these again. I felt exposed!

Emergency stop. Dang it!

2.98 miles home. 25:27. 8:32 pace.

10.2 Miles. Legacy Trail. 1:18:47. 7:43 pace.

The cold I got on the Friday before Christmas seems to be on its way out. I still spit like crazy while running, though.

Then I took the kids to Celery Mound in Sarasota. We ran up and down that hill for an hour. At one point, I was racing up hill with my 6 year old on my shoulders. He was kicking his heels into my chest yelling "Go Faster, Daddy!" I have made better choices than this in my life. My legs and back are toast.

5.5 mile Hood route. 47:11. 8:34 pace. Yesterday's hill run with the boys really beat me up. we'll see what I can get tomorrow.

20.75 miles. Legacy Trail. 2:43:12. 7:52 pace. I haven't gone more than 20 miles since my last marathon, almost 3 months ago. So, in honor of this momentous occasion, I'm going to attempt to write today's run report, like I'm Kendall. Just so there is no confusion, I am writing this way because I like the way Kendall writes. This is not intended to be mocking.

The temperature dropped last night, making for a brisk noontime, post church run. The sky was azure, with streaks of wispy clouds. As I crossed the first bridge of my run, I noticed the winter low tide common to Venice. The exposed oyster beds made for a good lunch spot for groups of turkey vultures. Although their circling patterns seemed random and uncoordinated to me, I can't help but feel it makes sense to them, in their own turkey vulture society.

As I worked my way alongside the intracoastal waterway, few boats passed me. But the boats on the water today were large, leaving shimmering "V' shaped" patterns reflecting through the no wake zones. Across the waterway, I could clearly see the construction cranes at rest on the Venice High School Campus. The dark outlines stood out in sharp contrast against the clear, sunny sky.

The new Chistmas present Jet Blackberry flavored Gu I ate at the halfway point was a pleasant surprise. After an hour and 20 minutes of tasting nothing, the sweet flavors awakened me.

On the way back, As I passed the former Nokomis Elementary School (which is now a playground) I could hear the echoes of children's laughter across the soccer fields. Immediatedly after, I ran through a stand of Australian Pines. The winds passing through the needles produced a "Shhh" sound, almost requesting that the playground children quiet themselves.

Although the temperatures had cooled overnight, I found myself repeatedly warmed by the smiles I encountered from fellow pedestrians and cyclists.

This is too hard.

Maybe the next run report should be in iambic pentameter!

3.5 miles. Hood Route. 29:33. 8:26 pace. I just wanted to work out some of the kinks from yesterday, and I think I did. The second half felt faster than the first half.

I saw some late teens- early twentys folks poking an alligator with a stick. Seriously. This is exactly why I like running before dawn.