They all can't be "easy" runs.

Gator Wilderness 10k

Previous YearRecent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesTom K's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageWeek ViewMonth View
Graph View
Next Year
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
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.

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, 17, and 18.

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:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 8.00 Month: 35.00 Year: 251.50
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
1669.618.371677.98
Weight: 205.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail and over SWOM bridge and back. 6:15 am start. I see no "winter" in my future. Just perpetual hot, sticky weather. Also, today there was no breeze. None. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Fri, Jan 04, 2019 at 10:50:11 from 66.87.127.67

You live in Florida, what do you expect? Here in Utah we get winter, in Florida you get hurricanes! I remember the hurricanes when I lived there!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail and over SWOM bridge and back. 6:15 am start. Today, I ran through mist. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Fri, Jan 04, 2019 at 13:39:44 from 66.185.238.62

Looks like a solid start to 2019!

From Dan on Fri, Jan 04, 2019 at 18:05:20 from 104.178.66.147

Through the mist, through the woods

Through the darkness and the shadows

It's a nightmare, but it's one exciting ride....

From Tom Slick on Fri, Jan 04, 2019 at 20:11:37 from 66.87.126.58

Is this your favorite trail? What was the temp? I had a single didgit night and it only made it to 28* during the day! Just do it! ‘Cause you never know what the weather conditions will be at the starting line.....

From Tom K on Sat, Jan 05, 2019 at 15:05:54 from 107.77.253.10

Check Dan with the Beauty and the Beast references! Nice.

Tom, it's not so much as a "trail" as it is a former Railway corridor that used to bring the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus to town here, but is now paved. And yes, it is my favorite place to run. Going over the bays, and along the ICW is a great experience, I think.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.200.0010.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail to Colonia and back. 7 a.m. start. Then we had a soccer game in Bartow. We won 4 to 2, but played just awful. We couldn't trap, shoot, or pass, but other than that, we looked pretty good. We have games out of town on both Saturday and Sunday next weekend, so I don't know how running is going to go.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood trout. Something fishy. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Wed, Jan 09, 2019 at 16:16:57 from 66.185.238.62

I love some good trout cooked on an open flame!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route.  6 am start. Work / life has been crazy lately. I needed this run. There was low humidity and was in the low 50s. Great weather. 

I had this stuck in my head, like out of nowhere...

https://youtu.be/I2tefRyoCTs

 

 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start. I did the gator chomp at a guy wearing all Michigan stuff. That was nice.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 08:38:21 from 173.117.212.38

Well here's a Tomahawk chop for you!This is nice too...

From Dan on Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 10:03:01 from 104.178.66.147

Us Ohio guys even gator chomp at Michigan guys :)

I had the SNOW bridge while you had the SWOM bridge.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 7 a.m. start. Big shout out to my man Michael for completing his fourth race in 4 days today!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 09:03:26 from 99.203.2.227

4 races in 4 days! That’s crazy talk. 😀

From Michael on Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 12:02:33 from 97.71.139.204

Thanks Tom. I just finished my blog write up. If it's all the same to you, let's just stick with dinner tomorrow night and skip the run, okay?

Rhett, not as crazy as the ones who did it in costume. I mean, how do you run in a dress???

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

This is not my video, but it is a short video of my hometown:

https://youtu.be/yv4s19mofeU

Just kind of cool.

 

 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.200.0010.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail to Colonia and back. 7 a.m. start. Very smooth miles this morning.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start. 65 and big winds from the west. That's 2 miles of fighting on the way out and 2 miles of flying on the way back.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

Too much soccer yesterday!

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 49 degrees this morning. Really pushed the pace today.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From JG on Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at 18:12:19 from 174.228.140.121

Hey Tom, I just relocated down to Naples. If youur are ever down this way, ping me for a run. I am sure there are times I will venture up that way.

From Dan on Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at 19:58:16 from 12.191.54.2

Nice weather!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back. 55 degrees. 7:20 am start. Very smooth. And it should have been! I took the last 3 days off! Long story short, work has received most of my attention lately.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sat, Jan 26, 2019 at 11:27:32 from 174.148.158.93

"Work is the crabgrass in the lawn of life"! Got any races scheduled for 2019?

From Tom K on Sat, Jan 26, 2019 at 15:33:58 from 47.201.49.69

That crabgrass really got in my way this week, Tom.

I am not signed up for anything yet, but I'm thinking about...

1. sharks tooth 10k in venice 3/2

2. finding a 5k/10k race in SLC 3/16 maybe?

3. gator wilderness 5k?/10k?/15k? 4/27. This one's a lock, because I believe in the cause. https://youtu.be/1BTBNbB0I2A

From Rhett on Sat, Jan 26, 2019 at 19:35:02 from 206.174.163.107

I hate it when work gets in the way of the important things.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back. 50-something degrees. 7 am start. in the light rain. When I got home, I realized the back of my shorts was still dry. I don't think that's ever happened before. The front of me was soaked. The back of me was dry. How fast have you got to run to make that happen? I must have been flying! Just kidding. It was really smooth though.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From JG on Mon, Jan 28, 2019 at 20:24:21 from 174.228.151.34

Nice job getting it in early. You must have been running faster than me. I was soaked front & back!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood Route. 6 am start. 47 degrees. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

2 up. Then 8 x 100m+ grass sprints with 100m+ recoveries. 0.5 down. 6:15 am start. 42 degrees. The mist over the fields at sunrise was nice.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 10:19:50 from 173.117.217.188

Yo Tom, How many of the fifty states have you run marathons in?

From I Just Run on Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 20:24:38 from 199.38.187.9

Speed work! I love it!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 mi. Hood route. Polar vortex of 47 degrees. 6 a.m. start. I wore a "hoodie."

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start. 60something degrees. First timed run since? But you've got to come to terms with where you are at some point. 1:04:02. 32:16 on the way out.

Then I drove 1.5 hours to boy #1`s last soccer game of the season. They tied 2 2. It was a really physical game. Lots of penalties, a few cards. Some overexuberant parents. Good times. This is rhe only game we have not won. The other team was for sure dirty, but they were well-coached too. Once they got the lead, they slowed the game down to a crawl. Substitutions, extended time retrieving out of bounds balls, goalie waiting to punt. It was briliant, if I wasnt on the other team!

This year, we have outscored our opponents 72-8. It's all tournaments after this until April-ish. it has been both a good and a bad year. Good, in that we won a lot of games. Bad, in that I think Tommy could have got a lot more out of this year in Player Development.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.000.0010.00

5.5 miles. Hood route. 7 am start. Super fog. 70ish degrees. Then I went to church and sat on a TB12 vibrating pliability sphere, while eating a donut.

8:30 pm. 67 degrees. 4.5 slow miles at halftime.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 63 deg. Foggy.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Mon, Feb 04, 2019 at 08:51:00 from 174.148.9.218

Way to get out and plow through those miles...just don't play in the streets with those unforgiving cars and such!

From Rhett on Mon, Feb 04, 2019 at 09:01:03 from 66.185.238.62

Nice start to the week Tom. I bet running in the fog is fun.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

4 up. 8x100M+ grass sprints, with 100M+ recoveries. 0.5 down. 5:45 am start. fogalicious. sprinting feels good again. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Feb 05, 2019 at 08:37:44 from 174.148.239.139

Awesome workout

From I Just Run on Tue, Feb 05, 2019 at 20:16:26 from 199.38.187.9

Lots of fog here too!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to legacy trail and back. 6 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.000.005.00

2 up. 8x100M+ grass sprints, with 100M+ recoveries. 2 down. 5:45 am start.

My brother and his wife were at a recording of The Price Is Right about two weeks ago. He's been sending me photographs of his TV, where I can see them for the last hour. 

Our lives are very different.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Thu, Feb 07, 2019 at 22:44:43 from 66.87.126.253

You’re an animal! Keep up the great training and keep on being a great dad and husband!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 5:45 am start. Light fog

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Fri, Feb 08, 2019 at 20:19:56 from 199.38.187.9

I like to run early but haven't been doing it much lately.

From Rhett on Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 10:37:50 from 66.185.237.66

You had a very solid training week.

From Tom Slick on Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 19:42:48 from 66.87.127.116

I used to run early, but then I retired and just get up any old time and get my Running and workouts done now days!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
2.000.002.00

1 mile on the hotel treadmill in Winter Haven. I realize that I hate treadmills. Then one mile outside the hotel. Tommy had a soccer tournament in Winter Haven this weekend. 3 games, 2 on Saturday. One on Sunday. They won 4-1, 6-1, and 8-1.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 Mi on the Legacy trail from Venice Avenue to Laurel Road and back. It was like 80 degrees. But that's not the big news. The big news is that I saw wrong direction antisocial board shorts guy again! He was running South and I was running North. He had a lady friend with him who was riding a beach cruiser bicycle. I thought for a second about not saying anything. But then I realized I just had to. So I said hi, again. And he ignored me. Again. And I laughed for a little while after that. Now there is no way that it was headphones that was keeping him from saying hi to me. Clearly this is personal!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 06:55:01 from 24.235.56.63

I wonder what would happen if you turned and started running beside him :)

From Tom Slick on Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 07:33:06 from 66.87.127.116

You could be the Venice Ave Stalker! Just ignore the mutt !!!!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM (Stupid Waste Of Money) bridge and back

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

2 up. 8 x 100m+ grass sprints with 100m+ recoveries. 0.5 down. I wanted more this morning, but I overslept. I'm glad I got the speed in, instead of defaulting to an easy run.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 07:37:39 from 66.87.127.116

“ Better and better every day in every way “ !!! Nice speed work...

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail and back. In the rain. Not a mist, not a drizzle, not a downpour, no lightning, no thunder, just constant easy rain. Not that bad, really. 

I took the boys to watch the Venice High girls soccer game last night (Tommy's whole soccer team went.). A win would have put them in the state championship tournament, but they lost to St. Pete, in the 7th round of a shootout. What a crazy game. I mean, even without my home team bias, it was just a great soccer game to watch. A couple of things:

1. First time I have ever seen someone get a blue card. Venice played short handed for the last 12 minutes of regulation and all 20 minutes of overtime. 

2. At the end of every game decided by a shootout I have ever seen, every fan, every coach, and every player I have ever heard says "It's a shame it had to end like this." If we ALL feel that way, why does it have to end like this? You would think something could be done. I mean, I'm the first guy to complain about stuff without offering solutions. But this seems ENTIRELY FIXABLE.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

4 up. 8 x 100m+ grass sprints with 100m+ recoveries. 0.5 down. Like, perfect weather this morning. The kids have no soccer or basketball games this weekend. 

I might have to fix something around the house. 

 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Fri, Feb 15, 2019 at 19:55:30 from 66.87.127.125

Tom K - there will be honey do’s, you can count on it!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.700.0010.70

10.7 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge, then down legacy trail to colinia, and the same route back.

Started at 7. I don't know why I started so late, or why i looked down when I did, About a quarter mile into the run, I looked down to see a roofing nail with the point up in the middle of the sidewalk. I picked it up, and was adequately freaked out about what might have happened for the rest of the run. Next time I run in the dark, I am going to be on full ground scan mode.

After running, I pressure washed the front of my house. Then I pressure washed my dad's driveway. Then I played an hour and a half of soccer with boy #1. Then I took boy #2 to the Venice courts, and we played basketball for 40 minutes. Then he got into two 4on4 pick up games. It was perfect. I got to practice with him but I didn't have to play a game. Then I went home and took a shower. I almost fell asleep in the shower.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start. No nails. Very hot.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 20:23:41 from 199.38.187.9

Our weather has been so up and down and a lot of rain!

From Rhett on Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 09:04:42 from 66.185.238.62

Very hot. The rest of us are freezing, even me here in the AZ desert.

From Dan on Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 15:50:30 from 104.36.5.74

Right! Very hot... 18 my friend. :)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood Route. 6 am start. 

Sometimes life gets in the way of running. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Thu, Feb 21, 2019 at 18:09:37 from 99.20.240.16

I don't know what you are talking about it never happen to me lol.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
13.400.0013.40

13.4 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge to Venice Avenue and back the same way. Longer than I wanted to run this morning. But I changed my plans halfway. Foggy when I started. 78 degrees.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 10:21:12 from 66.185.237.66

Nice flexibility with the plan.

From I Just Run on Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 14:48:44 from 107.77.64.88

Yep....Summer weather is back!

From Yasir on Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 22:28:29 from 99.20.240.16

you change your mind just to run half marathon nice.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 8 am. 80+ deg and humid. Hello, summer.

Which makes this feel more ironic - It's less than 3 weeks until I have these kids in Utah snow.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.000.005.00

2 up. 8 x 100m+ grass sprints with 100m+ recoveries. 2 down. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Mon, Feb 25, 2019 at 17:52:11 from 99.203.28.77

Must be nice to have grass in February. These kind or workout will make fast for sure

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.000.006.00

6 on the trails. 7 am start. beautiful morning. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Feb 26, 2019 at 20:50:26 from 66.87.127.249

Good on you! I gotta try to get up earlier to get my runs in!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail over SWOM bridge and back. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Wed, Feb 27, 2019 at 17:11:54 from 66.185.237.66

Looks like a solid week so far. I really like the grass sprints a couple days ago.

From Michael on Fri, Mar 01, 2019 at 07:13:11 from 24.235.56.63

Was your name drawn for the NY Marathon Tom? Mine was not. Dinner will have to wait, I'm afraid.

From Tom K on Sat, Mar 02, 2019 at 10:56:04 from 47.201.49.69

I did not even sign up. I am starting to wonder if I'll ever be race-ready again.

From Michael on Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 12:29:12 from 24.235.56.63

Haven't commented on your commented, cause I was a little bummed out. Just a little - I know the feeling.

I've bumped into a few "50 Staters" over the years. Even some who were on their second round. I don't think any of them were "racing" any more. They were just enjoying the journey.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 Mi. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge and back. 8 a.m. start. Then we finalized plans for our snowboard trip to Salt Lake next week. Super stoked about getting these guys in snow.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Dan on Sat, Mar 02, 2019 at 18:04:17 from 104.178.66.147

Nice trip you have planned! They will love it.

From Rhett on Sun, Mar 03, 2019 at 09:59:12 from 66.185.237.66

Awesome! They have been getting a lot of snow this weekend there. You should hit up Slick for all the good Salt Lake City info. Enjoy the cross training.

From I Just Run on Mon, Mar 04, 2019 at 06:41:52 from 199.38.187.9

Oooo... That sounds fun but dont "break a leg"! 😁

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.000.007.00

6 am start. 4 up. 8x100m+ grass sprints with 100m+ recoveries. 2 down.

You know how when you have a job and you want to go on vacation and your workload really seems to pile up right before you leave?

I hate it when that happens.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Dan on Tue, Mar 05, 2019 at 06:49:47 from 104.178.66.147

Nice addition of speed....

And YES, work always does that

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
11.450.0011.45

7.75 Miles. Hood route to legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge and back. 5:45 am start. I took advantage of the crisp air this morning and moved at a pretty good pace. I was also running on good feelings left over from boy #1's soccer practice last night. He had a really good practice. It's amazing how remembering moments like that can get you moving. 

6:30 pm. Ran around Islandwalk and got lost with boy #2. 3.7 miles.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Thu, Mar 07, 2019 at 12:56:16 from 99.203.29.56

You were very excited to run you started 15 minutes early. Enjoy it while it lasts

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6am start. 6 days to Utah.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Fri, Mar 08, 2019 at 17:00:01 from 66.185.237.66

Are you doing your cross training so you’ll be ready to ski. I’m going to be skiing in southern Utah next week. Can’t wait!

From Dan on Fri, Mar 08, 2019 at 17:04:04 from 104.178.66.147

Looking forward to it :)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. Hot. It felt really smooth, but then again I haven't run in 5 days. So I had some car trouble last week on top of all the work stuff, and travel to weekend soccer tournament, blah blah blah. I had to get a new alternator. I'm leaving town tomorrow, and now my car won't start again.

In happier news, happy birthday to my dad!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Wed, Mar 13, 2019 at 10:49:06 from 66.87.127.1

How old is your Dad?

From Tom K on Wed, Mar 13, 2019 at 13:23:00 from 47.206.60.114

78. Old, right? He fits right in down here now!

From Tom Slick on Wed, Mar 13, 2019 at 21:40:33 from 66.87.126.220

78, wow! He’s got me by 10 years!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

Am: 7.75 Mi. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM bridge and back 6:30 a.m. start 63 degrees.

Pm: TPA - SLC. Stoked.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 00:26:37 from 99.20.240.16

Its always good to be home. Sorry about the car.

From Rhett on Sat, Mar 16, 2019 at 18:27:27 from 174.23.7.109

I hope you’ve had great skiing like we have here at Brianhead.

From Dan on Sat, Mar 16, 2019 at 19:43:48 from 104.178.66.147

Nice running, hope the car issues get resolved

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

Met up with my brother in SLC. Then we got snowboard equipment, groceries, settled in our place in Midway. The kids are flipping out about snow, icicles, and ice.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

1st day snowboarding for the kids. Brighton. We got them lessons for the day. They looked like they were doing very well. The instructors were great. I spent the day on the blues and greens with my brother. At about 3ish, the instructor released the boys to do a green run with us. The moment I've been waiting for! It was magic, for one run. All four of us, coasting through some really scenic stuff! Near the end of the run John went down hard. Long story short, 2.5 hours later, he walked out of the cottonwood heights walk in clinic with a cast on his arm. Devastated. His snowboard trip is over. I can't risk him further hurting his arm.

So now, my wife and I are scrambling for plan 2. Since we prepaid for lift tickets for 3 more days, i am for sure going snowboarding with tommy and my brother.

But what does my wife do with a 12 year old boy who is really depressed about not being able to snowboard in Salt Lake City area? We are really limited from activities where he might fall.

I'm putting it out to the fastrunningblog for help. How can we make this a fun trip for this kid?

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

.... The continuing story of tom k's Park City family vacation..... Snowboarding in Park City with my brother and boy #1 today. Boy #2 is still pretty bummed out. Spouse and boy #2 toured the Olympic sruff in Park City and a couple of other things. Boy #1 ia very frustrated he doesn't have this snowboard thing wired yet. It is day 2, after all! It's going to take more than 2 days, kid.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.600.005.60

5.6 miles in Midway, Utah. 7 am start. 27 degrees. I HAD to do a run here to see what all the fuss is about. How is this different than home?

Elevation - I didn't notice it that much during the run, to be honest.

Hills - Those we really noticeable and I didn't even run a hilly route.

Dry air - super obvious. I got back "home" and started wheeze-coughing for a few minutes.

Wildlife - I saw 3 deer and a flock of geese. That was crazy. People - I got honked at by a dude driving a range rover.

Temps - It was cold, by human standards. I had gloves, hat, and a long sleeve shirt, but I ran in shorts.

I guess I should have run a trail, or in snow, or something more Utah-ey, bu this will have to do.

Then we went to Soldier Hollow, the biathlon Olympic Village. And we found out that the tubing in snow is out. We missed it by one day. But the kids made a snowman, so that was cool. We also missed the Ice Castles by one day. We also wanted to swim in the 96-degree water at the Homestead Crater in Midway, but we found the scheduling to be too complicated / limiting. Plus now that Johnny has a broken arm, he couldn't go anyway.

Tommy, Andy, and I finished the day by Night snowboarding in Brighton. As soon as the sun got behind the mountain the temperature dropped like crazy. Tommy was so frustrated by this point they told me he hated snowboarding.

This trip is going great.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Wed, Mar 20, 2019 at 07:02:50 from 24.235.56.63

"By human standards". I love it!

Enjoy your holiday. It sounds like a blast.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

We salvaged the Utah vacation today!

Back at Park City for snowboarding for just me and Tommy. Spouse took Johnny and Andy to the airport so Andy could fly home. Then she took Johnny on a snowmobile tour that they both came back totally fired up about. I mean, really excited. It was good that he had something like this, since snowboarding is out for him.

Something clicked for Tommy on the slopes today. In less than 24 hours we have gone from hating snowboarding to wanting to move to Utah. He was pretty proud of the fact that we made it from one side of Park City all the way to the other side of the resort in one day by just snowboarding down and taking lifts up. And to end the day by snowboarding across the bridge downtown with his hands in the air and yelling was pretty huge!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Wed, Mar 20, 2019 at 07:16:04 from 199.38.187.9

Wow...That is so fun! Great bonding time too!!!

From Dan on Wed, Mar 20, 2019 at 18:10:37 from 104.178.66.147

Tons of fun man, good to see!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

Tom K's vacation report. Last day. We fly out super early tomorrow.

Spouse took Johnny hiking for an extended period of time. Then they went to Donut Falls. And Johnny got to slide down a big ice shoot for like 30 yards. The pictures look really cool.

Tommy and I went back to Park City for our last day of snowboarding. This is day five for him. So I spent the entire day chasing him down the mountain and barely keeping up. I mean, he's got it. We went on some great runs. He had 6 falls, total, for the day. Earlier this week, he had 8 falls on one run. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

SLC - TPA. 6 am. What a vacation. The only thing my kids missed on this trip was snowfall! I wish they could have seen that. The snow report says they got 4" snow Thursday night. We missed it by one day.

Back to the soup. Ah, sweet humidity, how I've missed you! I'm glad I don't go back to work until Monday. The time zone thing really has me twisted. We'll see about running Friday, I guess. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
4.000.004.00

4 on the trails. 10 a.m. start. 67 degrees and humid. It's been a while so I wanted to take it easy today to see where I'm at. Snowboarding tweaks you in some unusual places. I'm really feeling it on the outside of the hip and on the groin side. The action of pushing off back to the lift with one foot strapped in a snowboard is not good for runners I think.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 12:26:23 from 24.235.56.63

Glad to hear you and family had an awesome vacation! Good stuff. Sorry you missed the snowfall. I mean, I'm trying to feel sorry for you. It started falling here in November and hasn't stopped since. Hey, I'll bring you some next time I head to Florida! :)

From Rhett on Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 18:35:07 from 66.185.237.66

That was a fun read, hearing about your family vacation. It sounds wonderful. I don’t snowboard,I ski, but I’m sure your legs a spent just like mine were after skiing for a few days. It’s been a week for me and just today they felt like normal again.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 7:30 pm start. Now that vacation is over, I can re-focus on running maybe. Starting up a new plan.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge and back. 6 am start. 67 degrees. So end of March seems like a good time to put together a race plan for the year. Holy Procrastinating, Batman! 

4/27/19 - Gator Wilderness 10k in Punta Gorda

9/29/19 - Nebraska Marathon

11/2/19 - Revel Mt. Lemmon Marathon. 

I'm not signed up for anything right now, which is why I have lost some motivation, I think. I may do both, or just one of the marathons. We will see. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 12:31:13 from 99.20.240.16

Both are great choices I ran Nebraska few years back flat and fast you should love it. I heard the same about the lemon.

From JG on Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 14:26:20 from 174.228.138.202

Tom, I may join you & do the Gator 15k option ... I did not see a course map but am guessing it is a 5k loop since they offer 5, 10, & 15k options. I am like you, if I am not signed up for races, I am not motivated to train ... and a marathon 3-6 months away won't do it on it's own. Lol. I have 4 '19 races under my belt ... and another 5 or 6 before my target race June 29. :)

From I Just Run on Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 20:51:38 from 199.38.187.9

I've got the same motivation problem. I need to sign up for another race. :-)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. 70 degrees.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 09:27:06 from 184.250.141.83

on the road again....

From Dan on Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 21:09:50 from 24.97.190.35

70. So odd. 28 here in NY. Nice running.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
4.500.004.50

6 am start. 2.0 miles. hood route to soccer fields. 0.5 miles home. bathroom stop. 0.5 miles to soccer fields. (8) x 100M+ sprints, with active recoveries. 0.5 miles home.

I totally didn't feel like running. I really didn't feel like sprinting, especially after the bathroom stop. But I forced the issue. And I'm glad I did. I'm really starting to enjoy these short grass sprints. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Wed, Mar 27, 2019 at 08:09:55 from 199.38.187.9

That's mixing it up!

From Tom Slick on Wed, Mar 27, 2019 at 09:44:28 from 173.117.204.10

tough training....

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. a bit cooler out this morning. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. the weather has been amazing lately. nice cool temps. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.900.0012.90

12.9 miles. Hood route to legacy trail to Venice Avenue and back. 7 am start. Steady pace. Nothing crazy. No camelbak.

Then went to a recreational league soccer game (friends of my sons). Then went to the Venice barbeque festival, where I played some corn toss, listened to some blue grass, and made some very bad food choices. Pulled Pork Nachos is not health food. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sat, Mar 30, 2019 at 10:39:36 from 173.117.228.191

nice run Animal!

From Rhett on Sat, Mar 30, 2019 at 17:03:58 from 66.185.237.66

Great job every day this week even when you didn’t feel like it.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route 9 pm. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 6:30 am start. 

I can't wait until after Easter, when all of the snowbirds leave. I am so tired of instructing these folks that they have the right of way. Look, it's dark, you have tinted windows, I can't see you, and I get that you want to show me that you see me, but this process works a lot better, if everybody just obeys the rules of the road. When you stop in the middle of a 45 mph road to give me room to cross a very small diveway, you are putting yourself in real danger. I don't run with any distractions. I am looking for you. You have the right of way. Just go. You can brag to your friends about what a safe driver you are some other day.  

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Mon, Apr 01, 2019 at 08:28:14 from 24.235.56.63

Some of my snowbirds have come home already. A little early, as they are shocked by the snow still on the ground.

On the driving side of things, at least in these parts, drivers are anything but careful. Running on the roads is a high risk activity.

From Tom Slick on Mon, Apr 01, 2019 at 08:42:59 from 174.148.23.227

Running on the roads is a high risk activity everywhere! Run facing traffic and expect the worst out of them and be prepared to out think them, that is if they are thinking!

From I Just Run on Mon, Apr 01, 2019 at 19:59:27 from 199.38.187.9

Ha..Ha..Ha.. Move to Texas! :-)

From Tom K on Tue, Apr 02, 2019 at 08:36:55 from 47.206.60.114

I run on sidewalks, against the traffic flow. So when a car is coming towards me, with his right blinker on to turn into a driveway, that I am about to cross, I stop and let him go. If he stops and flashes his high beams at me and waves me across, he's an idiot.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route. No SWOM today. The weather has been great. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to legacy trail and back. 6 am start. Cool and breezy.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route. 5:45 am start. 67 degrees.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Thu, Apr 04, 2019 at 21:50:06 from 99.20.240.16

almost 70 at 5 Am! no thank you. Great running.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. 70 degrees. 

Then the health testing people came into the office (this is for reduced insurance costs). I had to fast before going to work today. But dang! I must have become shorter over last year. One of the most important metrics they use is BMI. I have to get below 170 pounds to not be considered "overweight"?  Right now, I'm 10 pounds shy of "obese", apparently.

I don't think I'm going to see 170 anytime soon. I'll still get the reduced insurance plan, for sure. I have other means to get the points I need.

I work in a building with 80 people. If I'm overweight, then so are 75 of my co-workers. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Fri, Apr 05, 2019 at 10:57:50 from 24.235.56.63

Tom, there is no way you are over weight. And I think you have a few years to go before you start get shorter :)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.700.0010.70

10.7 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail, over SWOM and back to Colonia, and back. 7 am start. Hot Humid. 

Because I am still ticked off about people using pseudo-science and numbers to indirectly call me a "fatty" yesterday, I decided to see if I could still get under a 7 minute mile if I wanted to, on the way out. I got a 6:42. There was some effort there. On the way back, I did it again. 6:47. Much more relaxed. Like, I thought it was going to be @ 7:30ish. All of this does nothing to change my BMI. And these aren’t times that will go in record books. But it does reinforce my opinion that my health is defined by more than BMI.

Also, we went to the Venice High School vs. North Port baseball game last night at the new Braves Spring Training Facility in North Port. What a great venue for high schoolers. I ate some popcorn.  I think the excess salt made me feel like I had a size 11 tongue on this run!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Sat, Apr 06, 2019 at 15:11:34 from 66.185.237.66

You still got it! Your BMI is just a bit high because of all the muscle mass in your legs.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 7 am start. Then 2 around the block miles with Johnny. He is somewhat serious about doing decent at the gator wilderness 5k.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. Then 2 around the block miles with Johnny.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 5:45 am start. In the rain. Then 2 around the block miles, including 2 quarter mile pickups. 1:27, 1:32. The run was short - stridey, so I threw in some speed. Rain was steady at the end of it all.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Apr 09, 2019 at 06:08:23 from 66.87.126.81

Way to get out and getter done, bad weather and all.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.700.006.70

5.5 miles. Hood Route. Then 1.2 around the block miles with Johnny. 5:45 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Dan on Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 08:20:18 from 104.178.66.147

Nice early run. Makes the day better.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 Miles. Hood route. 5:45 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Hood. 6 am.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.000.007.00

7 miles. In Winter Haven. FL. 11 am start. Hot. Tommy's soccer team is in the state championship tournament tbis weekend. They won this morning 5 to 1. Tomorrow is the final. If they win there, apparently we go to Baton Rouge for regionals. Anyhow, after the game this morning, i got to run around a lake in Winter Haven near Legoland. It was a decent run, considering the busy morning and all.

Good luck to all the FRB-ers going to Boston!

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 7 pm start. Tommy's soccer team lost the state championship final this morning 2-0. Then we drive home and unpacked and cleaned. We have 1 more tournament in 2 weeks. Then that's the end of the season. It has been a really long season. Everyone is totally burned out.

Tryouts for next year are mid May!

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge. Smooth. 70 something degrees. 5:45 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood Route. 6 am start. 67 degrees? less than 50% humidity? dew point below 50? Where am I? Is this heaven? 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 06:52:21 from 24.235.56.63

I agree - it's SO nice when the Spring weather makes it a joy to be out there running. Hopefully we'll both get a string of those days.

From Jason D on Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 20:28:55 from 73.144.88.57

That's a perfect spring day in the Midwest. Except that's the high. . .

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

Missed running yesterday after 25 straight days. I played a bunch of 5 on 5 soccer last night, so it's not like I'm a couch potato or anything. I was still a bit ticked about missing yesterday, because this low dew point, low humidity stuff doesn't last forever around here. If I get decent weather, I need to jump on it. I wasted an opportunity yesterday. Enough about yesterday. 

Today - 7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM bridge and back. 5:50 am start. Fast-ish mile on the way out. 6:35. Fast-ish mile on the way back. 6:38. I'm starting to like this fast mile thrown in running thing. I've been running easy miles for 2+ years. It's about time I push it. Even just a little bit. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 09:23:15 from 199.38.187.9

25 days straight...wow! Those fast miles look good!

From Rhett on Sat, Apr 20, 2019 at 09:55:28 from 66.185.238.62

Yeah, 25 straight days is amazing, and I'm sure you got in a few miles playing soccer so I say the streak is still alive!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge and back. Slow but steady pace. late start - 6:15. The humidity has returned. 

So on Tuesday night, I was talking to my dad next to his car. I commented that it was the cleanest car I have ever seen. Like a mirror. He spent roughly 6 hours on Sunday detailing his car. It must be nice to be retired. Then he started singing "Working at the car wash blues." I haven't thought about Jim Croce in years! So, since Tuesday, one Jim Croce song or another has been rattling through my head at all times. This morning it was "One less set of footsteps." So there's that. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
13.400.0013.40

13.4 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge to Venice Avenue and back. 7:45 am start. Very windy. 2 of the first 4 miles were right into the wind. The last 2 miles I was really dragging.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Dan on Sat, Apr 20, 2019 at 17:58:13 from 104.178.66.147

Wind makes for tough resistance running... I would be dragging more than the last 2. Nice work

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 7 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sun, Apr 21, 2019 at 12:41:13 from 66.87.127.205

What state will your next Marathon be located?

From Tom K on Sun, Apr 21, 2019 at 13:02:03 from 47.201.58.119

I'm thinking..... Nebraska. The irony of the Nebraska marathon - 16 miles of it are in Iowa. True story.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge and back. Fast-ish mile on the way out - 7:12. Fast-ish mile on the way back - 6:52. 6 am start. Humidity, ah, there you are. 

I ate WAY too much egg salad yesterday. That's not the best runner diet. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. Feels like Florida summer. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Fri, Apr 26, 2019 at 09:23:55 from 66.87.127.169

Hot & Humid

Race: Gator Wilderness 10k (6.21 Miles) 00:48:24, Place overall: 7, Place in age division: 1
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.210.006.21

My first trail race. I have seen first hand the good work that this camp has done. I believe in the cause of this race, so naturally, I wanted to run it, even though I know nothing about trail racing, and I am not really race ready for anything. My boys ran the 5k. I ran the 10k. They start the 15k and the 10k together at 8 am. Then wait a bit, then start the 5kers. We live an hour from the camp, so we had to get up pretty early for this. We got there, got our bibs, and took the tractor pulled trailer to the start. We wandered about checking out what we could of the camp, did some strides, and looked at the lake. The course goes around this lake to start, on dirt and grass, then into some single track on shell that was not very well compacted, over a couple of small narrow bridges, and then moving out between all of those; dirt, grass, pine straw, shell, sand, narrow, wide, and so on. It was a real mixed bag. Scenic as all get out. Fog through the pines. Running through the oak hammock. Pretty stellar stuff. Anyhow, the first chunk of shell running slowed me down quite a bit. I had to work super hard to get through it. I got turned around and had to double back a couple of times. not really long distances, but enough to annoy me, and get in my head. Then just before mile 3, I had this woman come up behind me and say "I'm pacing myself off of you." (I had a very similar experience in a previous marathon, and it kind of ticked me off.) I said, "you know, I've gone off course a couple of times already". Then she told me that if we got lost it wouldn't be her fault. Is that funny? She should be a comedian! Then we hit a big grass patch, and I left her. It was really great cruising in the grass. But in the next shell zone, she caught back up to me, and I could hear her crunching away behind me. We went around a really tight turn, and my left foot caught a ditch all wrong and I mildly rolled my ankle. I stopped running long enough at this point for her to pass me. I said "just go". I decided to just jog it in, to save my ankle. Then it was just me, making hard turns through the pine trees like I was skiing. A few good long straight grass patches, and my ankle started to feel decent again. Then back to the lake. Big wide areas for running until about a half mile to go, near the POPs, they turn you onto single track stuff. After getting off course at least 7 times, this was the worst part of the race. If you get behind some super slow 5kers here, you're done for. There is no "out of the way" for them to get to. I may have yelled a bit here. So then the course gets wide again, and I cruised through the finish. As it turns out, I won my age group. This is the coolest race award I have ever received. It is a routed, emblazened hunk of a log, cut into a disc segment to look like a race medal. There was an enormous food spread after the race. Shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy, bacon on a stick, tons of food. They had some healthy stuff too. I tried the acai (is that how you spell it?) berry smoothie. Even though a ton of stuff went wrong in the race, I still had a really good time and plan on going again next year. Like I said, I believe in the cause. The boys did decent in their 5k as well. They were too busy jumping off a dock and swinging off a rope swing into the lake to hang around for me getting my award though. 

This race reinforced a couple of things I already knew. 1. "Racing" isn't "running". I forget that sometimes because I go so long between races. The mentality in a race is different, and you just can't get there running solo miles. I need more frequent, shorter, races in my life. 2. I could also add some longer tempos to the running plans. But we already knew that they can't all be easy runs. 

The real story of this weekend was the brutal schedule. This is the last soccer touranament of the season. So Friday night - game in Sarasota. Saturday morning - races in Charlotte County. Saturday noontime - game in Sarasota. Saturday evening - beach for sunset. Sunday morning - game in Sarasota. Sunday noontime - Avengers End Game. Sunday evening - Church childrens program. (I have been involved with the 5th and 6th graders small group for a couple of years, and I do not like to miss it for something like soccer.) This weekend has left me incredibly thirsty. It's crazy. I can't drink enough water. 

....What a weird ending to a race report.....

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sun, Apr 28, 2019 at 21:30:29 from 66.87.126.157

Good on you Tom, you are quite the family man! Did your better half get into the mix?

From Tom K on Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 06:50:54 from 107.77.253.11

I lean on her heavily for logistics and scheduling, but if you see my wife running, something has gone horribly wrong! And you better get moving!

From Michael on Wed, May 01, 2019 at 11:42:00 from 24.235.56.63

Great race report!

I looked up the camp to see what it was about - I can see why you are impressed by what they do. Good for you putting your sweat where your heart is.

And a good trail run too. For sure not the same as road running. Nice result.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM and back. 5:45 am start. It's getting warmer out there. All running systems appear to be functioning post-race.

 

So I've got that going for me, which is nice. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. Warm.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Mike on Tue, Apr 30, 2019 at 06:51:59 from 168.213.5.107

Beyond "warm"! :D

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 5:45 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route 6:15 am start. before the rains. lots of soccer last night. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 6:30 am start. Then drove to Lover's Key. Then spouse and I rode bikes all over the island. What a place!

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.000.005.00

5 miles on the beach on Lovers Key. Sunrise run. From the north end to the south end and Back Again.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.700.005.70

Last day on Lover's Key. Same 5 mile round trip as yesterday, from the north end on the beach to the south end and back. Then I just felt like running a bit more, so I did the bridge over Big Carlos Pass and back on Estero Blvd. Some dolphins were splashing around below me as I crossed. I considered running the trails, but the beach here is too perfect. Spouse and I checked out most of the trails by bike over the last 3 days anyway. The sand on the beach in Venice is much more coarse, and dark. This stuff is like flour and when hard-packed, near the shore break, it is near perfect. If the sand at home were like this, I would have much more beach runs. Then, Spouse and I walked most of the route I just finished running. We went from the north end down to Hurricane Charlie's, and back. Then we packed it up and went home.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail, over SWOM bridge and back. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Eugene on Mon, May 06, 2019 at 08:03:40 from 73.58.34.45

Any races on schedule for this summer?

From Tom K on Tue, May 07, 2019 at 06:54:09 from 47.206.60.114

None. There are not many races here during the summer. I wouldn't think Alabama is loaded up with races in this time of year either.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. I had to stop at McDonalds @ 2 miles. Super hot and humid. The good news is I found out who it was that honked at me a few weeks back. Today, he honked and yelled "Run Forrest, Run!" I haven't heard that in a while. 

Also, this happened:

https://youtu.be/e18zMCavD3A

 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.000.005.00

2 up. 8x100M+ grass sprints w/ 100M+ recoveries. 2 down. 6 am start. In the dishwasher. I found a tennis ball out there. I bounced it while running the 2 down. I feel super coordinated. 

Also, Boy#2's cast (broke arm 1st day snowboarding in Brighton Ski Resort in mid-March) came off last night. That means basketball training starts tonight. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Jason D on Thu, May 09, 2019 at 09:50:46 from 73.144.88.57

If you didn't break at least one arm during childhood you weren't living :-)

From Tom Slick on Thu, May 09, 2019 at 23:24:33 from 66.87.127.75

No race scheduled! good on ya getting out there and getting it done!

From Tom K on Fri, May 10, 2019 at 06:59:03 from 47.206.60.114

You know, I find reintroducing "speed" into the weekly routine much more difficult than bringing back volume. Like, I can be all over the map, week to week, with total distance, and that's not a problem. It seems like every time I try to bring in something a bit speedy-er, I pay for it for @ two days. I am still going to try to force something faster every week.

Jason, he has been going full throttle on the scooter, bike, everything else in life with the cast on. It has really only affected his basketball game.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 Miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge and back. 6 am start. It rained last night, so I ate many bugs this morning. I ran some segments with my shirt over my face. It was bad, but I have for sure been through worse. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Thu, May 09, 2019 at 08:41:02 from 174.148.215.10

Protein on the fly...

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood Route. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.700.0010.70

10.7 MI. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM bridge to Colonia and back the same way. 8 am start. The sun was murder.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.000.006.00

6 Mi. On the trails. Great Wildlife sightings today. Snake, turtle, woodpecker, it was awesome! 2:30 p.m. start. Very very hot. A year ago today I ran the Brookings Marathon. It seems much longer ago than that. Happy Mother's day everyone! Well, everyone that's a mom, that is.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles at 6 am in the dishwasher. I have got to a point that 3.5 miles is regarded as a day off. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Eugene on Mon, May 13, 2019 at 13:52:49 from 73.58.34.45

Is the dishwasher a route or a slight on the humidity?

From Eugene on Mon, May 13, 2019 at 13:54:09 from 73.58.34.45

and it's always nice when your days off still involve running. I see it as running becoming less of a chore.

From Tom K on Mon, May 13, 2019 at 14:53:39 from 47.206.60.114

The dishwasher is the humidity! I think Allie came up with the expression. Flatlander used to call it "running in the soup." I use that one sometimes, too.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 MI. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM Bridge and back. 5:45 a.m. start. Very hot and humid. Quicker mile on the way out 7:06. On the way back 7:30.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Wed, May 15, 2019 at 08:55:28 from 174.148.45.49

Way to pound out those miles!!!!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM bridge and back. 5:45 am start. Really good weather this morning. Lower humidity, dew point. I think this helped pick up the pace. But since I'm not timing anything, who knows? 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
8.500.008.50

3.5 Miles. Hood route. Once again, low humidity. It was nice. I hope to go running again this afternoon with Tommy. He turns 14 tomorrow. Probably no running tomorrow. For his birthday, we are taking a canoe trip down the Peace River, looking for fossils. 

P.m. 2 up. (8) x 100m+ grass sprints w/ active recoveries. 2 down. Most of it with Tommy. Hot, but I've run in worse. Then an hour of basketball with Johnny.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sat, May 18, 2019 at 01:10:23 from 66.87.127.174

You are an animal, keep up the great training! What’s next?

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 8 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.700.005.70

5.7 miles on Legacy trail. 9 am start. Venice Ave. to Laurel Road over the SWOM Bridge and back.

I took the day off work, because today Spouse and I are married 25 years. I was planning on writing this big thing about how much she means to me, and how much I love her. But that is all pretty much covered in the "married 25 years" thing. She's awesome. There have been several versions of her through the years, as we all change, and go through different phases, and pursue different interests. I have been in love with every new phase of her. And I can’t wait to see what’s coming up next.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Wed, May 22, 2019 at 17:10:02 from 104.7.75.67

Very well said sir. I might have to steal this. Happy anniversary.

From Tom Slick on Wed, May 22, 2019 at 17:16:40 from 66.87.127.184

Very smartly stated. “”Aiin’t nobody happy if momma ain’t happy!” Congrats on 25 years of marriage!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail and back. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.450.0010.45

10.45 miles. 6 am start. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge, and return to colonia. Then return trip, minus the bridge. Weather was not as bad as I thought it would be.

Oldest boy's 8th grade graduation this morning.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
11.500.0011.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 7 am start. Still great running weather. Song in my head: Billy Joel - Scenes from an Italian restaurant.

5:30 PM: 6 miles on Legacy Trail. They have these mile markers on the trail that makes it easy to do the math. So tonight I ran 3 miles north and 3 miles back. It's the best part of legacy trail, in my opinion. I crossed Shackett Creek bridge, US41 bridge, Roberts Bay bridge, Dona Bay bridge, and the SWOM bridge on the way out, and again, on the way back. Add to that the whistling of the wind through the Australian Pines, and it is stellar. Just one man's opinion.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.700.0010.70

10.7 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM Bridge to Colonia and back. 6:45 am start. Nice slow miles.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.700.0010.70

10.7 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge to Colonia and back. 9:15 am start. Super hot. That run was rough. I should have got out earlier.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Mike on Mon, May 27, 2019 at 14:55:24 from 35.137.241.58

Right? So hot...

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail, over SWOM Bridge and back. 6 am start. The temperature change between dawn and full sun is huge. I have got to be disciplined enough to begin running before sun up. Also this morning, some guy in a corolla with a trailer hitch changed lanes erratically to pass, and swerved into the bike lane next to me @ 50 mph. After incidences like this, I momentarily think I should have a treadmill.

 

Or carry a change of shorts with me.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Wed, May 29, 2019 at 22:40:06 from 66.87.127.130

Be careful out there !!!!!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail, over SWOM Bridge and back. 6 am start. I saw a dead butterfly and a dead blue jay. I mean an actual blue jay. Not the baseball Jays that lost in extras at the Trop last night in front of a crowd of 37. Why do I feel guilty about not going to baseball games? The Rays are really good, but nobody got time to go to baseball games in Tampa! 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the Swom bridge and back. 5:45 am start. Just finished raining before the start. Super humid.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start. Hot.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.700.0010.70

10.7 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge to colonia and back. 7 am start. Life saving clouds on the way back.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Mike on Sun, Jun 02, 2019 at 18:01:54 from 35.137.241.58

You're brave starting so late!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 5:15 am start. Dewey

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 5:30 am start. left hip is kind of off. But I couldn't go another day without running. So I went. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles on the trails. 8 am start. My hip is still hurting. Then to the south jetty. There were tons of dolphins and manatees out today. Then boy #1 sang goodbye yellow brick road at a show. I think he did well. Then we hung out with some friends we haven't seen in a while for a bit.

This got me to thinking, this is the second time in two weeks that someone has given me a book to read after I've told them that I don't read much. It's crazy. They asked me do you like to read? And I say No, not really. And then they say you should read this, and give me a book. Look, I just wanted to hang out. Why are you giving me homework?

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Tue, Jun 11, 2019 at 19:08:09 from 199.38.187.9

Hey Tom,

I didn't have time to read your blog today but I was wondering If you could message my your address? I have a book I think you would like to read.

Your friend,

Preston :-)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 Mi. Hood Route. 7 a.m. start. First run back in a while. Finishing up a Monster Week! Later, I'm going with the kids to the Rays game.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sat, Jun 15, 2019 at 08:15:20 from 66.87.126.205

How’s the hip coming along?

From Michael on Sat, Jun 15, 2019 at 08:49:04 from 24.235.56.63

Go Rays go!

(Huge Blue Jays fan here, but with the season the Jays are having, I'll throw my hat in with any team that can beat Boston and/or New York!)

From Tom K on Sat, Jun 15, 2019 at 16:47:56 from 107.77.253.10

Tom, Not great, but Im going to try to keep going. Actually over the course of this week it's gone from my hip to my back to my shoulder and now back to my hip. So I'm a big soup sandwich right now. But I'm still going to run.

Padre, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Today's game was a lot of fun even though we lost.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Who's got two thumbs and ran 3.5 Miles this morning? This guy!

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

hood. hot. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Thu, Jun 20, 2019 at 21:51:52 from 174.148.142.180

How hot was it, and how high was the humidity?

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. 6 am start. 83 degrees. 86% hum. 78 dew point. That's what you call dishwasher miles. These are probably going to be my running conditions for the next four to six months.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 84 degrees. 85 % hum. 79 dew point.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
9.250.009.25

1.5 miles. 7 am start. Then home field advantage bathroom stop. Then 7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back, with a 7:24 mile thrown in the middle for funsies. I wanted a faster mile, but this was faster than I expected. 88 degrees. 71% humidity. 77 d.P. my shoes were making squishy noises for the last 2 miles.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Mon, Jun 24, 2019 at 15:23:33 from 99.20.240.16

you are tougher runner than me. That's fast for 88 degrees.

From Tom Slick on Mon, Jun 24, 2019 at 16:18:13 from 173.117.215.217

High mileage under harsh conditions....way to go!

From Tom Slick on Mon, Jun 24, 2019 at 16:20:42 from 173.117.215.217

What state will you be running your next marathon in?

From Tom K on Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 09:56:41 from 47.206.60.114

I'm thinking (not actually signed up) Nebraska 9/29/19.

From Tom Slick on Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 21:15:59 from 66.87.127.126

8 days after JD’s & my run at the Full Monte.....

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.502.007.50

6:30 am start. I don't know what the exact weather conditions were. But imagine Florida in late June. I came home soaked, as if I went swimming, again. Anyhow, 0.75 up, 2 mile tempo in 14:39 (7:20, 7:19), 4.75 down. This is way faster than I expected again. 

So, if I’m going to run Nebraska, I have about 100 days to get ready. I’m kind of on the fence. But these last 2 runs have shown me I have a little bit of speed in there. I’m feeling like I’m a 3:30ish marathon guy right now. I’m trying to be a bit more realistic about my abilities. I’m trying not to train like I am a 3:15 guy, because that guy’s been gone for a while. I might get that back. But let’s get back to 3:30 first. So, when I do these faster miles on my runs, I’m shooting for 8’s. 7:20’s is way too fast. I’m sure this will all sort itself out by the time I’m doing longer tempos.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 5:45 am start. Warm, but I've been in worse.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
4.501.005.50

Track Thursday. 6 am start. 2.25 up. 800 in 3:16. 400 AR. 800 in 3:14. 2 down. Meh, I've been faster, but this is right in line with where I think I am. And this was not redlining. So, all positives, I think. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. We had a ton of rain last night. So it was a bit cooler outside. On the other hand, I had to eat many bugs this morning. I wonder if I will ever get used to bugs pinging off my face and chest while running. I still freak out and have to brush them away, like, every time.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 8:30am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
16.250.0016.25

16.25 miles. Hood route to legacy trail to circus bridge and back. 6:15 am start. 84 degrees. 81% hum. 77 dew point. Yucko. 13.5 up? 2 in 16:07 (8:25, 7:42). .75 down. I was mentally out of it by the time I was supposed to kick. You can kind of tell I forgot I was supposed to be running fast, at least for that first mile.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Eugene on Sun, Jun 30, 2019 at 10:36:19 from 73.58.34.45

Good start to the week!

From Tom Slick on Sun, Jun 30, 2019 at 22:28:54 from 66.87.126.102

81% humidity, Uck!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 8:30 am start. So things were going well for me last week. And I thought it would extend into this week. I had planned on taking Monday off. And then back to Tempo Tuesday. But I got a call Monday evwning rhat my dad was on his way to the hospital. He either had a stroke, had an infection, or something that made him really out of sorts. No balance, words not making sense, etc. So after spending a decent chunk of Monday night in the ER, I didn't run Tuesday. Could have, but didn't. Back to the hospital Tuesday night. Pop was even more delusional, and now angry. The nurses were kind and respectful, but Dad had to have his hands tethered to the bed frame by the end of the night, to keep from pulling out his tubes. It was a rough night. I went to work Monday through Wednesday. So, Wednesday night was much better. He was still a bit disoriented, but was very calm, and apologetic for his behavior the prevuous 2 nights. He's going to be there a while. I'm hoping I can make running still work with all this going on. I was in a very similar situation when I started running, and joined the blog. Pop was in and out of hospitals and rehab facilities back then as well. So it can be done. I just don't want to feel guilty about it.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Eugene on Thu, Jul 04, 2019 at 08:35:41 from 73.58.34.45

thoughts and prayers to you and your father.

From Tom Slick on Thu, Jul 04, 2019 at 15:15:36 from 66.87.127.198

“Be TomK Strong” !

From Yasir on Thu, Jul 04, 2019 at 19:31:49 from 99.20.240.16

I have you both in my prayers.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.900.003.90

0.4 miles. Around the block. Then 3.5 miles. Hood route. My bro is in town from Venice, CA, to see my dad. Dad has been moved to another hospital that is more geared towards pop's condition.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Sat, Jul 13, 2019 at 12:49:00 from 174.148.29.150

TomK - Keep the faith and keep on keepin' on!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

I decided to pretend to be a runner again this morning. 5.5 miles. hood route. 5:45 am start. I passed 2 other runners this morning, which is 2 more than usual. Despite the dishwasher conditions, and not running for so long, the run felt pretty good. 

Tomorrow, we have a meeting at the hospital. They intend to release Pop home on Saturday. Work is bananas. Other family stuff going on. I am stressed out like maybe never before in my life. 

I don't know if that means I should run more or run less. On the one hand, it is like my therapy. On the other hand, it feels a bit selfish right now. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Jason D on Thu, Jul 18, 2019 at 22:23:35 from 73.144.88.57

Tough call, but I am a firm believer in mental health benefits of exercise, but I see how it can take away from family. It seems like you ran quite early today, so maybe that is the way to go, especially with the brutal conditions down there. Perhaps run by time rather than miles, assuming your pace varies a good deal? When I am time crunched it's easier to balance things.

Best wishes with your Pop.

From Tom Slick on Fri, Jul 19, 2019 at 09:25:56 from 66.87.127.174

Keep the faith and keep on keepin’ on! Remember, You must take care of yourself first because if you fall apart then the rest of the Family, who are depending upon you to be strong, fall apart!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.750.005.75

5.75 miles. Legacy Trail. Venice Ave. to Laurel Road over SWOM and Back. 8 am start. 

 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

hood route. 6 am. Fatty is back to wearing a shirt. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. Day started with picking my dad up off the floor. Things are going great.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. Soupy. Ran straight back to my parent's house. Pop was in such bad shape yesterday, I thought it was the end. Today, he wakes up, and was like, what's for breakfast? When old people get fevers, it is devastating. He sweated through 3 or 4 shirts last night. His fever was breaking, mom and I thought he was dying.

We are happy to be wrong.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Jason D on Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 21:08:11 from 73.144.88.57

Thinking of you and your family, Tom.

From Tom Slick on Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 18:30:00 from 66.87.127.193

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. Super muggy. Lots of traffic.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 10:04:26 from 173.26.70.127

Hi Tom, I'm back, kinda, I'm sure you're fighting through the summer heat like me. I'm planning to get serious in September.:-)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. I played some soccer with boy #1 last night. 

I've never been a runner that devotes an adequate amount of time to stretching. Yeah, I know I should be more serious about it, but I need to get on with the day, here. Ain't nobody got time for that. So, you could describe my stretching as something below the bare minimum. What I've noticed recently is that my flexibility has really dropped off, like faster than my drop off in mileage. It seems out of proportion. Like when doing the quad stretch, where you use your hand to hold your heel to your butt, I feel like I may not be able to grab my foot. It's crazy. Yes, there has been a substantial reduction in mileage. Do I feel winded? No. Do I need to buy new clothes, because I've blimped up? No, but that might be next week's problem. Have I lost all flexibility in my hamstrings, calves, quads, hips, back, ankles, and neck? Yes. It is a wonder I can walk. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Mon, Aug 26, 2019 at 09:51:43 from 66.87.127.231

You’ve identified the problem now go and implement a solution!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back.  I had extra time this morning, so I went longer. It was weird because I thought mostly about running. Usually, my head is elsewhere. 

Tommy had freshmen orientation at Venice High this morning. We parents sat in one lecture hall, learning about the dangers of vaping, jeans with holes in them, and not following drop off / pick up proceedures. By the way, the kids can wear one ear bud as they walk from class to class. Interesting rule. The kids had a completely different lecture in another hall. And then a campus tour. The last thing before they sent them off was to give them their class schedules. I mean, wouldn't it have been smarter to give the kids the schedule BEFORE the campus tour, so there was, at least, a chance of them finding the classes they will be attending? 

We're not off to a good start here. I don't feel as though my kid is oriented. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

We took the kids this weekend to NASA, Kennedy Space Center. (This will get running-related later, I swear.) I've lived in Florida since 1983, and I've never been there. It is really worth visiting. It feels like the last place that they make really big things. Like, unbelievably big things. We toured the space center on Saturday and Monday. Went skimming and boogie boarding on Sunday. Also scootered in the skatepark and toured /shopped in RonJon in Cocoa Beach Sunday. The kids want to work for NASA now. Not so they can be cool astronaut types. But so they can get home from work and spend the rest of thier time surfing and skimming. We stayed in Satellite beach, which is notorious for being extremely rocky and shelly. We experienced almost none of that, and I didn't believe it was true, until super-low tide on Sunday evening. I was in waist deep water. I finally stubbed my toe on some rocks. I split my left big toenail. 

Which is why I didn't run this morning. 

The Kennedy Space Center is still buzzing from the 50 year anniversary of the walk on the moon. But I was really impressed with what I learned about Eugene Cernan's 6-5-66 Gemini 9 Spacewalk. That guy's heart raced up to 160 bpm, NASA realized they forgot to put hand holds on the outside of the craft, his visor fogged up, and he lost 13 pounds in 2 hours 5 minutes. I imagined trying to grab the outside of a round capsule with oven mitts on!

He's still the last dude to walk on the moon, though. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Sat, Aug 10, 2019 at 12:11:58 from 24.235.56.63

Awesome! I visited the K.S.C. when I was down there in January this year. Thoroughly impressed, like you. Nice job on the toe.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. sweaty. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. I was stretching out for this, and I looked to the east, and I saw the Atlas V rocket going up on the other side of the state. I ran back inside and woke the boys up. Johnny came out to watch the rocket streak across the sky. We could see flames. Crazy. This seems to mean more, having just visited the launch site. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Thu, Aug 08, 2019 at 15:12:38 from 99.20.240.16

Sounds like a fun trip. Glad to see you getting back to consistent running.

From Michael on Sat, Aug 10, 2019 at 12:12:47 from 24.235.56.63

AWESOME! And yes, I'm jealous.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Hot. Hood. Rain.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. hood route to legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back. 8 am start. Soul sucking heat. I mean, I have run in hot weather before, but this one was bad. no breeze. no rain. but a lot of rain before and after. 89 degrees. 99% hum. 82 d.p. Steam coming up from the roadways. I knew within 50 yards that this run was going to be hard to breathe. It was like running with an undersized snorkel. It was like someone soaked a beach towel with vegetable soup and then draped it over my head and shoulders before I started running. It was like...well you get the idea. emergency bathroom stop at mcdonalds at mile 2. they were blasting frankie valli in that echo chamber bathroom. 

1. i finished the run. 2 i didn't die. 3. i saw a rainbow. 4. there were no gnat clouds to run through, like usual after rains. 

the kids start school tomorrow. I've got one in high school now. How did that happen? 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Jason D on Sun, Aug 11, 2019 at 21:42:10 from 73.144.88.57

I knew that theoretically a dew point could be that high, but I didn't know they actually happened. I'm a baby these days and if the dew point is around 70 or above I seriously question running outside (but I also don't get out early).

In 4 years you'll be saying, "I have one that graduated high school. How'd that happen?" :-)

Any thoughts on signing up for a race? I bit the bullet and signed up for a 50k. I've paid, so I guess I am now committed.

From Tom K on Mon, Aug 12, 2019 at 07:00:14 from 47.206.60.114

I almost couldn't believe the dew point reading either. right now - 9 am monday - 83 degree dew point. feels like 110. Mission Valley - KFLNOKOM9 on wunderground. I'm used to this stuff, and I'm still having troubles.

Yeah, I know, I need to commit to something race-wise. You're right.

From Tom Slick on Sun, Aug 18, 2019 at 16:01:28 from 174.148.230.209

JD - I think I would have called a "Rest Day" rather than run in that"!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 Miles. Hood route. 6 am start. slightly better weather this morning. 79 degrees. 99% hum. 79 d.p. feels like 85. I felt like a humidity plow, and I was leaving a moisture wake behind me.  

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Aug 13, 2019 at 15:25:11 from 174.148.1.248

Oh man, that humidity looks so bad coupled with almost 80*, Uck!!!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. It's still sticky out, but I'm trying to get back to running every day. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.000.003.00

3 miles at track with boy #1. 4 speedyish 200s in there.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. in the lightning and rain. the finish line is Thomas's high school bus stop. This is going to develop into a new thing, maybe. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Thu, Aug 15, 2019 at 08:23:51 from 66.87.126.221

Glory Days...

From Yasir on Thu, Aug 15, 2019 at 10:47:17 from 99.20.240.16

the joy of finding a new route. enjoy

From Tom K on Thu, Aug 15, 2019 at 12:36:48 from 47.206.60.114

Same route I've been running for @ 8 years. Only now that my son is starting high school, and his bus stop is located where I finish running, I have a fantastic opportunity to embarrass him every morning. Today, because of the rain, I let it go. I think tomorrow I might yell "Your mother locked me out of the house again! I need you to boost me up to that window, like last week!"

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6am start. This rain will never end.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6:30 am start. Hot humid blah blah blah ....

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Sat, Aug 17, 2019 at 12:31:39 from 99.203.29.244

Hey you are back to Running daily that’s great

From Tom Slick on Sat, Aug 17, 2019 at 13:15:57 from 66.87.126.35

Good to see ya back chasing the two lane blacktop! It only takes about 2 or three minutes to get in a pre run stretch. The after run stretch is the most important! Hey have I missed something, what’s going on with your Dad?

From Tom K on Sun, Aug 18, 2019 at 07:15:42 from 107.77.253.4

Yasir, I'm just following your lead. Consistent small mileage every day, until I can build up to something substantial, or even doubles. I don't know what race you're training for, but you look ready.

Slick, thanks for asking. Pop spent almost the whole month of July in a hospital. He got out nd was visited by OT and PT almost every day. And things were bad for a bit there. He got another fever and Started acting kooky again. His strength was almost nothing. And it looked like we were going to start the whole process over again. Then one day he sweated through four shirts and his fever broke. His speech and strength came back. Hes not using a walker anymore. It is close to miraculous. It was much later when they finally told us did he had e-coli. The thing is, I think it took this episode to make him and my mom realize that they need to call me to work on stuff over there. If he's trying to lift heavy stuff in the garage in the middle of summer, things are going to go bad.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start. Hot. Humid. I spent a couple of hours pulling weeds yesterday. It's amazing how much that will pull on your hamstrings.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6:45 am start. I wanted more miles than that, but I overslept.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6am start.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Aug 20, 2019 at 08:13:39 from 174.148.62.151

Way to get back into piling up the miles....

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 5:40 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Eugene on Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 19:27:01 from 174.223.140.184

that’s about when i started my (first) morning run today. the 5AM mentality takes a lot of mental fortitude. nice job.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Thu, Aug 22, 2019 at 21:29:57 from 99.20.240.16

5 days in the row and still going. let's keep it up.

From Tom K on Sat, Aug 24, 2019 at 17:04:15 from 47.201.61.24

15 now, but low miles.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 Mi. Hood Route. 6 a.m. start. Song of the run was Goo by Sonic Youth. Then I had a day of "team building" at work, with a few other offices that are working on the same big project. It was so incredibly awful. The project will last the next 2.5 years. Ironically, I think we will all get along much better outside of the "team building" enviroment.

Then I got home and saw Thomas in his new Venice High School Cross Country uniform. Suddenly, my day is better.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.750.005.75

No run in the am, because: I attended my first high school cross country race in @31 years this morning. Thomas didn't race, because he's only been with the team for less than a week. These guys have been training together all summer. Coach says he will race next week. We just went this morning to get a feel for how these events go. I had forgotten everything. We might have to watch McFarland later. 

5.75 miles. legacy trail from venice avenue north over SWOM bridge and back. 1 pm start! 45 minutes after eating a delicious sub sammich! I wore an orange shirt and blue shorts. The gators play miami tonight. Song of the run: blow up the outside by soundgarden. Then swimming. Then I cut the grass. now off to bouncy hoops with boy #2. 

 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 7 am start. It's going to be another long season for this gator fan. The gators beat the canes, the refs, and Felipe Franks kast night.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 5:40 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 5:30 am start. Doughy Shirtless.

So Thomas is racing in his first cross country race this weekend. I'm trying to guess his finish time for an off road 5k race. He ran 7:09 pace for a road 8k 3/17/18. I'm trying to manage expectations. What's your guess?

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Wed, Aug 28, 2019 at 07:20:13 from 24.235.56.63

7:30 pace. Conservative guess. Depends on the course.

From Yasir on Wed, Aug 28, 2019 at 20:27:45 from 99.20.240.16

Great to see you back up to the 775s. Its hard to Guess not knowing Thomas's training but for the fun of it I think he will run 7:09 pace for the 5k.

From Tom K on Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 08:22:31 from 47.206.60.114

Michael, the course (I'm guessing) will be flat, grass, and some crushed shell.

Yasir, His "training" with the team has been less than 2 weeks. They have run between 3-6 miles a day, with some speed work. Before that, the only difference between when he ran the 8k and now is growing up and playing soccer for a year and a half.

I guess this race will be setting the benchmark.

From Michael on Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 08:30:47 from 24.235.56.63

Flat, grass and crushed shell ... then I'm revising my guess to 21:45 for the 5K. Go Thomas!

From Tom K on Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 10:36:34 from 47.206.60.114

He also my be running in hurricane, or pre-hurricane conditions.

From Michael on Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 11:16:41 from 24.235.56.63

Already factored into my estimate. I've been watching Dorian - he'll still be well out in the Atlantic when Thomas is home sipping a recovery drink and bragging about how he can beat you in a footrace Tom :)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail and back 5:45 am start. Misty outside. Like, if you were driving, you would have to use your windshield wipers, even though it is not raining - misty. I'm going to have to work harder to get out by 5:30. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood Route. I procrastinated myself out of a good run. Song of the run: Taking back Sunday - Decade under the influence. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Fri, Aug 30, 2019 at 17:56:46 from 99.20.240.16

did you make 5:30!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Dropped Thomas off at VHS for the bus at 5:30. I came home and sqeezed in a 3.5 mile hood route run.

Then we drove to St. Pete for his first JV cross country race for the High School. It was a really flat track. and mostly paved, as it turns out. He got 23:38. 7:36 pace. 37th overall. 7th and last on the team. Yes, it was stupid hot and humid at 9:45 am. He really looked like he was hampered by that. He's a bit dissapointed by the time, but I told him that we have a benchmark to improve on now. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Mon, Sep 02, 2019 at 08:20:24 from 24.235.56.63

Drat, should have stayed with my first guess! I would only have been off by 6 seconds/mile.

Still, good to have that benchmark going forward. And the experience factor will play big too. Good for him.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.500.0010.50

10.5 miles on the legacy trail at 2 pm. After cutting grass at my house and my dad's house! At the start it was 94, with a heat index of 104. at about 6 miles deep it rained for about 30 seconds. Then the path instantly turned to steam. Within a half mile, all of the moisture on the asphalt trail was gone. I really struggled, and I expected to.

Weird find while running - just south of Colonia, on the side of the trail, there was a neatly stacked, 1 foot thick pile of playboy magazines. Trying to figure out that backstory took my mind off of things for about a mile. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Nora Jo on Mon, Sep 02, 2019 at 08:40:00 from 73.102.192.105

Ha-Ha! Great distraction story!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM bridge and back. 6:30 am start. After yesterday's huge effort, today felt like I was running downhill. Yes high temps and humidity, and I still came home soaked. Everything felt really smooth, though. Song of the run: AJR - Sober Up. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

I am "barely" sick. So no running.

I think the rule is - If you don't have a fever, if you don't have a broken bone, or if you are not in jeopardy of involuntary discharges, you should be running. 

I have the sniffles, and a sore throat. I should be running. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. 6 am start. Well, I got out and did something. It's gross outside. As I'm typing this, it's 9:45. The Mission Valley (Venice) weather station lists 88 degrees, 83% humidity, 82 dew point, and feels like 109. I'm surre it wasn't that bad at 6 am, but it's still nasty.

I devoted some time this morning to think about how people survived here before air conditioning.

Also, what if we invented the world's largest dehumidifier, and stuck it in the middle of town? We could then use that water gain to re-charge the aquifer, so that Zephyrhills could suck it out again and sell it across the country. I am altering the state's water cycle, so I may sweat less. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. For some reason, i ran faster than usual. The fog over the orange groves was fragrant and awesome. A half mile later the goat farm was also fragrant, just not awesome. Then the Venice invitational, where Venice JV finished 2nd,and Thomas was runner 5.then a big day of yard work and pressure washing. Then the gators won. Then sleep.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

Dad went back to the hospital. Luckily, by brother is in town to help coordinate all of that. Still, I didn't feel like running. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 21:32:38 from 99.203.12.183

Take care of the matters of the heart and everything else will find it’s place in life!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
4.000.004.00

6 pm. rainy hill / bridge sprints with Thomas. 0.5 up. (10) x 0.15 sprints up the north bridge. jog down. 0.5 down. Rained hard for the first half, then drizzled for the second half. Then to the beach, where we just missed sunset, but the afterglow was vibrant. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles hood route. 5:45 am start. not as miserable outside as it has been. 75 deg. 99% hum. 75 d.p.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. 

Pm. 4 miles on Venetian waterway park with Thomas. He was very consistent with his pace and movements tonight.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.000.006.00

6 on legacy trail. 8 am start. Venice Avenue to Laurel road over SWOM bridge and back. My brother's last day in town. So I'm skipping work.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

6 am: 2 miles. then emergency bathroom stop at home. then 3.5 miles. hood route. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
1.000.001.00

I got about a half mile down the road, and had to emergency turn around again. Something is wrong with my stomach. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 08:27:07 from 24.235.56.63

Sorry to hear about the GI issues Tom. Nothing has changed in your diet? Or stress levels? Hopefully it's just a passing thing (unintended pun!).

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 Miles. Hood route. No stomach emergencies today. A bit sore from basketball with boy #2 last night. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

Hood route. 6:15 am start.  less humidity than normal. 74 deg. 89 % hum. 70 d.p. glorious.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Sun, Sep 22, 2019 at 18:07:33 from 199.38.187.252

I'm ready to post "glorious" in one of my blog entries! :-)

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to legacy trail and back. 5:30 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. hood route to legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back. 6:10 am start.

Friend/Neighbor/Crossfit/Spartan race/Tri guy was just finishing up his run before I started and talked to me for a sec. Usually, this means I'm going to get a sales pitch for Crossfit/Spartan race/Tri, but not today. We talked mostly about my dad. (We have a meeting at the hospital today. Pop will be released on Saturday.) Also, he said that he just finished 8 miles, at something less than 8 minute pace. Dang. It's been a while since I could say that. I'm like 9 years older than this dude, but still. I have a reputation in the neighborhood. I'm not ready to give up my "running guy" place in society yet. I have a good start to this week, and I have to keep it going. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route to legacy trail and back. 5:40 am start. I tried to book it at the end to catch Tommy at his bus stop, but I saw him get on the bus about 100 yards away. I was moving pretty good for that last mile to try to make that happen. So close. 

BTW, This is already my biggest week of mileage since late June. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Sat, Sep 28, 2019 at 06:50:29 from 166.137.118.33

Nice miles this week! This is my biggest week since February, I think.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 6 am start. Slow.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.001.004.00

At track. Noon. 1 up. 4x400 w/ 400 AR, 1 down. Faster stuff all in - 6:33.

Pop got out of the hospital, again, yesterday. We had a fairly rough night. I spent the night on my parent's couch.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. It is my parents' 53rd anniversary today.  

Weight: 205.00
Comments
From Mark on Tue, Oct 01, 2019 at 11:18:02 from 108.190.210.69

Happy anniversary to your parents!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

Hood route.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Fri, Oct 04, 2019 at 19:06:11 from 199.38.187.252

Any cooler weather coming your way? we should cool down Monday. September was the hottest September on record here I live. I'm ready for some cool down!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

6 am start.

I saw a shooting star.

And a dead armadillo.

These items are not equal.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
11.251.2512.50

7.75 miles. hood route to Legacy Trail over SWOM bridge and back. 6 am start. 

then church, then 1 hour of basketball with boy #2, then track stuff with boy #1. 

track stuff:

1.125 up. (5) x 400m, w/ 400m AR, 1.125 down.

then swimming, where I got a big cramp in my calf. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Sun, Oct 06, 2019 at 20:10:48 from 99.20.240.16

What a day. Take tomorrow off you earned it.

From Eugene on Mon, Oct 07, 2019 at 16:55:37 from 104.189.16.160

if i weren’t already so busy with work and school, i’d add cross training into my regimen. my two top choices would be swimming and basketball. maybe one day i’ll have the time to swim, but i’ve always been worried about getting an injury from hooping. a real shame because i do have a strong love for the sport, definitely the closest one out there to running(not THAT close though... i don’t know what the basketball equivalent to a 165 mile week is but i know i’ll never play that much!) great work today! love to see you run a PR one of these days. 2020 is the new 2012, Tom!

From Tom K on Tue, Oct 08, 2019 at 06:49:08 from 47.206.60.114

2020 is the new 2012! I like it! Thanks, E.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail and back. No SWOM Bridge today. Stupid hot and humid. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

hood route. 6 am start. hot and foggy. 

6:30 pm. 1 hour of basketball with John. The kid was on fire, knocking down shots from everywhere. The teenagers on the other end of the court noticed. 

Also, if you are into underdog stories, you need to root for the Rays. It doesn't matter if you have a connection to Tampa / St. Pete. With the lowest payroll in all of baseball, it's amazing that they win ANY games. Imagine a Red Sox fan, who's team is paying out 4x what the Rays pay, just so their Sawx can NOT go to the playoffs!

Besides, it's crazy entertaining! The play at the plate tonight was awesome! Adames gunned him down!

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route to legacy trail and back. no SWOM bridge today. 5:30 am start. It's down to 73 degrees. But with 100% humidity, and a 73 dew point, miles 2 &3 were just miserable. When Dew point = temp, we get fog. Anyhow, I've been wondering if there is some sort of cumulative discomfort from always running in a dishwasher. Nothing ever dries. Ever. I don't expect Autumn weather for another 3 weeks. Yeah, I know, I choose to live here. But I think I'm ready for this "crisp" air I've heard about. Yes, I seem to remember that once. As I recall, it was pleasant. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route to Legacy Trail and back. No SWOM Bridge. Again, miles 2 and 3 were really slow because of the insane humidity. Much smoother running overall today, though. 

Go Rays! 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Thu, Oct 10, 2019 at 08:15:15 from 24.235.56.63

You gotta love crisp. I hope things cool off for you down there soon.

Go Rays for sure! This has been a crazy playoffs so far. I'd love to see the Wildcard teams go head to head in the World Series.

I saw the Rays play the Blue Jays in the final series of the season a few weeks ago. It would be exciting to see them beat Houston tonight.

From Michael on Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 06:38:14 from 24.235.56.63

Sorry they lost. I was rooting for them. They played a good game.

From Tom K on Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 08:51:47 from 47.206.60.114

It's amazing that they were knocked out of the post season because they couldn't hit off of 1 guy. It was a great season, anyway.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.900.0012.90

12.9 miles. hood route to legacy trail to venice avenue and back. 9:45ish on the way out. 9:15ish on the way back. felt strong. still hot though. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.000.006.00

3.5 miles. Hood route. 7 am start. Last night's gator game had a negative impact on today's run. 8pm kickoffs are just wrong. 16 15 weeks until A1A half.

2:30 after watching my sons and the neighborhood kids go nuts at what appears to be the end of fortnite, track stuff with boy #1. Assorted slow and fast stuff. All in 2.5 miles. I had 2 dill pickles at lunch. That was an exceptionally poor choice. 

 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Sun, Oct 13, 2019 at 10:06:28 from 24.235.56.63

So are 8pm first pitches. Ouch.

From Michael on Sun, Oct 13, 2019 at 12:10:23 from 24.235.56.63

By the way, A1A is just 15 weeks away.

From Tom K on Sun, Oct 13, 2019 at 13:47:42 from 159.21.3.10

Well, 1. You are correct, sir. and 2. That week of missed training is\was critical to my goals!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail. Over SWOM Bridge and back. Pit stop at McDonalds with 2 miles togo. 6:15 am start. Very hot and Humid. Hamstrings were oddly tight this morning. 

I'm okay with the late start because I didn't have to drop boy #2 off at school today because it's columbo day canadian thanksgiving day indigenous peoples day national dessert day. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.100.0012.10

7.5 Miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail and Back. 5:30 am start. Hot and Humid again. POP stop on construction site north of Laurel Road. 

7:30 pm. 4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge Run! Like the old days. I had a chance to run with Tommy tonight, so I thought we should do something cool. It is a much longer drive than it is worth, but still was fun. I'm glad I took advantage of this when I worked downtown. Anyway, the run was still warm, the views were great, and the kid kept my pace honest. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route to legacy trail and back. 5:30 am start. started slow, but then got into a good groove. I'm starting to feel some fitness come back. There's a point where you reach the "sore, but good" feeling. that's where I am right now. I need increase the base, and do more speed work. But i feel like i am progressing towards that at the right pace. I don't want to do too much too soon. Oh, and most importantly, no emergency bathroom stops this morning. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 08:17:10 from 24.235.56.63

Awesome! I like this trend.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 5:45 am start. First shirtless run in a while. 75 deg. 88% hum. 71 d.p. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.753.1213.87

7.5 miles. Hood route to legacy trail and back. 5:45 am start. Ever so slightly cooler this morning. 

1 pm: at track. They were having a chili cook off at work, and I wasn't interested, so I bounced out early. Good news / bad news. Good news: I did a legit track workout today. The Fanken5k! (or, if you like, 5kenstein!)

1 up. 1600M, 400M recovery, 1200M, 400M recovery, 800M, 400M recovery, 400 M, 200M recovery, 400 M, 200M recovery, 400 M, 200M recovery, 200 M, 200M recovery. 1 down.

This might be pushing it for me right now, with my present level of fitness. But I needed to know where I stand. I didn't want to go on in the dreamworld, thinking I was still at 2012 levels of fitness.  So I'm going to feel this one later, for sure. But well worth it, I think.

Now the bad news: 6:31, 5:08, 3:23, 1:36, 1:35, 1:40, 0:42, for a grand total of 20:35. 6:38 pace. So this is the start. No where to go but up from here!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 11:31:39 from 24.235.56.63

Actually a pretty good pace. Not a bad place to be at the start of a training segment.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. 9 am start. hood route to legacy trail over SWOM Bridge and back. rain, wind. felt very smooth and a bit quicker than usual. Because I ran fast yesterday, and that has a tendancy to straighten out my stride? because the rain has the temps down? because the wind was occasionally at my back?

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.000.005.00

5 miles. On the trails. 11 am start. First three with Tommy. Very hot.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 15:11:46 from 166.137.139.50

Still hot in Texas too!

I think we've lost most of our friends on the blog.

From Tom K on Mon, Oct 21, 2019 at 06:53:49 from 47.206.60.114

Shoot! Who left now?

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 tough miles. Hood route 5:45 am start. 79 deg. 96% hum. 78 dew point.

I am having a hard time remembering a run in this miserable, abusive weather conditions. When you get to the point at the end of a race, when things have fallen apart, and you are just focusing on bringing the next foot forward, and nothing else - it was kind of like that. I imagined as I ran leaving a wake of humid air. It was carving my way through soup running.  

 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route. 5:45 am start. Even hotter and humid-er than yesterday, so rough sledding today. I just forced the issue and finished the run. I might have been faster than yesterday. 

Also, I have been obsessed lately with Vitamin String Quartet. I'm sure they have re-done your favorite song. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Wed, Oct 23, 2019 at 11:28:23 from 24.235.56.63

Humid-er. I like that word. I'm just going to pretend that it IS a word. And I'm going to look up the Vitamin Quartet as well.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail and back. 5:40 am start. What a difference a day makes! Temps in the 70s, Humidity below 70%, dew point below 70! Woo-hoo! I had to be a minute per mile faster today. 

We're scheduled to resume the usual steam room conditions tomorrow, but today was great!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Thu, Oct 24, 2019 at 20:35:17 from 99.20.240.16

Great running in this (abusive weather conditions). its 40 in the morning here.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.900.0012.90

12.9 miles hood route to legacy trail to Venice Avenue and back. 6:45 am start. 77 deg. 92% hum. 75 d.p. 1st half 57:17. 8:53 pace. 

1st run in new shoes. Hokas. The last pair (Kinvaras) really lasted way too long. At first I thought that I bought a half size too small, because the toes were really tight. Then things loosened up by mile 3, and I was rolling along. You get some weird pains along the way when you transition in shoes. At one point my hip hurt, then later my knee, then later, my ankle, then my big toe. At the time, all of those felt like "Oh no! Bad shoe" moments. I feel fine now though. 

Life really got in the way of running the last 2 days. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 08:22:16 from 24.235.56.63

I'm curious how the Hokas work for you over time. I've looked at them for the cushioning, but have never tried running in them.

From Yasir on Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 08:50:32 from 99.20.240.16

I thought I’m the only one go crazy during first run on new shoes. Enjoy the hokas

From Jason D on Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 20:58:39 from 73.144.88.57

I do love a new pair of shoes, which is to say I also hate a new pair of shoes as they need to be broken in. Interested to hear how the Hokas work out for you.

Kinvaras are the objectively best shoe :-)

From Tom K on Sun, Oct 27, 2019 at 10:22:37 from 65.218.129.82

This is not my first pair of Hokas. In my opinion, the best version of Hokas was the first I bought. They were heavier, sure, but I just liked the way they worked with my heel strike stride. For a while I tried to become a mid-foot strike runner, but then I eventually embraced my hell striker-ness, and just got Hokas. I liked the Kinvaras too, but I can't get them to last like the Hokas do. I might have run in that first pair for over 1,000 miles. Sure they are stupid expensive, but they last way longer than any other shoe I've tried.

I should note that I have had a pair of Crocs since @2005, but I've never run in them. I heard the cool kids are running in Crocs. Perhaps I should look into that.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. hood route to legacy trail over SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start. slog. hot humid, etc. I'm sore, but I don't think its from the new shoes. I spent the day working on a boat trailer with boy #1. there was a lot of lifting and such.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
11.500.0011.50

7.5 miles. hood route to legacy trail and back. 5:45 am start. hot, humid, blah, blah, blah. The big difference today is that I timed the run. 32:31 1st half - 8:40 pace. 31:24 2nd half - 8:23 pace. All in 1:03:55 - 8:31 pace. okay. 

6:30 pm. 0.5 up, (1) x 0.15 mile hill (bridge, we don't have hills here) sprints, jog down. 0.5 down. I ran the first 2 too fast. Most of them @ 56 seconds. 6:13 pace. 

Then an hour and a half of basketball with Johnny. He was really knocking the shots down. It's really cool to watch your kid improve. His confidence is building. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Tue, Oct 29, 2019 at 14:08:59 from 199.38.187.252

I was hoping you might be starting to get a few days of cooler weather like me...! :-(

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood Route. 5:50 am start. 75 deg. 97% hum. 76 d.p. Left Quad is still beat up from basketball last night.  We were going after a rebound. Johnny's knee went straight into the outside of my thigh.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. did not feel well this morning. many bathroom visits before heading out. also, my job has been trying to keep me from running the last couple of weeks. so, physically and mentally out of it this morning. I still ran it, so, that's..... something? 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Fri, Nov 01, 2019 at 07:38:20 from 24.235.56.63

More than something. Pushing through adversity shows a lot of character and toughness. And in any event, something is always better than nothing.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Good route to legacy trail and back. 6 am start. Still running in a dishwasher down here.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
16.250.0016.25

16.25 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail to Circus Bridge and back. 6 am start. Weather was slightly better than usual. I'll take it.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Sat, Nov 02, 2019 at 08:35:23 from 24.235.56.63

Nice mileage this week.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.700.0010.70

10.7 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail, over the SWOM bridge to Colonia and back. 6 or 7 am start, depending on which clock you're looking at.

We voted to eliminate daylight saving time 2 election cycles ago. Go figure. Oh yeah, running...

The weather was great this morning. Many more runners than usual today.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Nora Jo on Mon, Nov 04, 2019 at 14:49:46 from 73.102.192.105

Interesting to not have Daylight Saving time. The state of Indiana voted about 15 years ago to observe Daylight Saving time. People still gripe and complain about making the switch. Unfortunately, we have a small sliver of the state that is on Central time while the remainder of the state is on Eastern time. It's a little crazy when traveling through the counties.It's difficult to keep track of the exact time.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 5:45 am start. It was even cooler out today. Also, My son won a chili cook-off at our church last night. 24 entries. he was the youngest. blind taste test with 3 judges. Who knew? Which brings me to my next point. It was probably good that I ran alone this morning. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rob on Wed, Nov 06, 2019 at 19:55:21 from 65.130.197.123

Very funny!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
6.300.006.30

6 am start. hood route. And we're back in summer weather around here. hot, humid, fun. 1.55 up. 1 mile in 7:00. 1 mile easy. 1 mile in 7:30. 1.75 down. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail, over SWOM Bridge and back. 5:45 am start. 1st 2 miles were slow, but then things got rolling along. 74 deg. 98% hum. 72 d.p. There was a skimboard in the middle of the sidewalk on Laurel Road. That's a first. 

 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Wed, Nov 06, 2019 at 12:58:57 from 24.235.56.63

No pressure Tom, but you need to average 12.3 miles/day for the rest of the year to hit 2,000 miles. I'm rooting for you!

From I Just Run on Fri, Nov 08, 2019 at 20:55:06 from 199.38.187.252

I'm way off the 2K mileage too! :-(

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route. 74 degree dishwasher. 5:50 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. I was promised a cold front this morning. Now, where is it?

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Fri, Nov 08, 2019 at 06:52:26 from 24.235.56.63

Oh man, I can see it! It's straddling the border between Georgia and Florida.

From I Just Run on Fri, Nov 08, 2019 at 20:55:38 from 199.38.187.252

I saw that on the weather too and thinking about you!

From Nora Jo on Sat, Nov 09, 2019 at 16:00:41 from 73.102.192.105

Mother Nature is so cruel!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.200.0010.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail to Colonia and back. 10 am start because I took my parents to the airport this morning. Still humid maybe 5 degrees cooler. But because I ran so late, I had to deal with full sun and windy conditions. I timed this one. 1:31:54. 9 minute miles.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
11.500.0011.50

6 am start. 7.5 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail and back. About 5 degrees cooler. Still with the humidity.

Then after church. 4 miles on the trails with Tommy. Then an hour of basketball with Johnny. We did an hour yesterday also. Tryouts are tomorrow. I want him to be confident.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 6am start. Something below 70 degrees. Yes, it felt like fall. 

So on Saturday night, when the temps droppped like 5 degrees to put us in the low 70s, my buddy decided to build a bonfire. One of the conversations was - If you were a major league baseball player, what would your "walk-up' song be? I think I have this narrowed to 3:

1. Blur - Song 2

2. Win Win - Victim

3. Local H - All right (Oh yeah)

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to legacy trail and back. 6 am start. Warmer today, still humid. I wanted a 6 mile tempo this morning. (Right now, I'm counting anything beating the 8 minute man as "tempo".) Last night I made dinner choices that go against this goal (3 chili-kraut hot dogs and a bowl of black cherry ice cream). So this is what I ended up with (and honestly, it's not as bad as I thought it would be) 0.75 up. 1 mile in 7:57. Emergency bathroom stop at McDonalds. 2 miles untimed, 3 miles in 23:03 (7:41 pace), 0.75 down. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail, over SWOM bridge and back. 5:40 am start. 60 deg. 91% hum. 57 d.p. chilling? misty wind. coldest run in a very long time. other than another stop at McDonald's (seriously, they might refuse entry for me if this keeps up), things were clicking along this morning. nice even cadence. 

Johnny had tryouts forthe middle school basketball team on monday and tuesday. We have been playing a lot of basketball as build up for this. This morning, we found out he made the team. So we're all pretty stoked about that. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 20:58:40 from 199.38.187.252

Now that's my kind of weather! Enjoy it, it was 28 degrees here this morning when I started running.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 6 am in misty rain. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
16.250.0016.25

16.25 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail to Circus Bridge and back. Cooler, but windy. The wind beat me up a bit. There was a 5k in the middle of this run. Some of the people in the Turkey trot recognized me and said that I should be racing. Not ready yet. I didn't know there was a race today either. This is the first time I've seen a race in Venice, that didn't run by the pier. Something different.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.200.0010.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail to Colonia and back. 7 am start. Much cooler this morning. No gloves yet, but we're close!

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Mon, Nov 18, 2019 at 09:18:50 from 12.206.84.69

I got to run in your state Friday. I was in Ft Lauderdale but left out on a cruise that day.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

6 am start. hood route. 0.75 up. 2 miles in 15:30. excatly even split. 2.75 down. 

what can i say about yesterday? sometimes life gets in the way of running, or somebody had a case of the mondays, or whatever lame excuse you like. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route 6 am start. much less humidity this morning, which made it feel cooler. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.200.0010.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to legacy trail to colonia and back. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route. 6 am start. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail, over the SWOM bridge and back. 8 am start. we went to the beach later. I made it waist deep. It's getting cold in the gulf.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
4.000.004.00

4 miles. Venetian waterway park. 10 am start. No AC last night. Barely slept. I really wasn't feeling it this morning.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
14.200.0014.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail to Colonia and back. 7 am start. 1:27:30. 8:35 pace. Second half faster by a ton.

Pm: bridge Sprint workout at North bridge to Venice. 0.5. miles up. 10 x 0.15 mile bridge sprints.jog back. 0.5 miles down. The restaurant on the other side of the intracoastal was really cranking out the fried fish tonight. It smelled amazing! But then again I really appreciate seafood.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 7 am start.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the Pachev family, and how many Turkeys they claim this year.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.850.007.85

7.85 miles. Fruit cove big route. 7 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 Miles. Fruit cove. 8 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.850.007.85

7.85 miles.7 am start. Fruit cove.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 8 am start. Hot out.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
11.750.0011.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 8 am start. It's just like summer out there.

A half hour later, 4 on the trails with Tommy, with a fast finish.

A half hour after that, 1.25 hours basketball with Johnny. Weather for basketball: 81 degrees, 76 % hum., 71 d.p. Like I said, summer. 

 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Nora Jo on Sun, Dec 01, 2019 at 17:56:01 from 73.102.192.105

Good job adding miles to your day!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 Miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail and back. 5:45 am start. great weather, decent running this morning. 

While I was out of town for Thanksgiving, I turned off my alarm. I thought I had forgotten to turn it back on and then over slept Monday. Not the case. When I overslept Tuesday's run, I was kind of ticked that I missed two days of good weather running for no good reason. So last night I focused on what was wrong with the alarm. Somehow I had inadvertantly unchecked the box that says "alarm in silent mode." Which means that whatever the volume of my phone ringer is, that will bethe volume of my alarm. Since I live with my phone on vibrate, there was no alarm. I checked the box, and we're back in business today. I wish I had a better story for missing running the last 2 days. 

In other news, I waited until Cyber Monday to officially sign up for the Publix Fort Lauderdale Half. I had an Active.com 25% off discount code. There was no discount, and Active.com is the biggest scam ever. To sign up for most races, you need them. They default you to signing up for their membership on every page, which you have to be looking for to get out of. Then if you accidentally miss one, 30 days after you sign up for your race, they surprise extract $100 from your account (This would be after your 30 day "trial membership" that you unknowingly signed up for.) These people should be sued.

Beaten first, then sued. 

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michael on Sat, Dec 07, 2019 at 08:50:36 from 24.235.56.63

I look forward to seeing you there Tom.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. hood route. 5:45 am start.

Johnny's Laurel Nokomis Middle School Basketball team won their first game in 3 years last night. The boy was grinning from ear to ear all night. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back. 7:30 am start.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
9.500.009.50

5.5 miles. Hood route. 7 am start.

Then church.

Then 1.5 hours of basketball with John. We spent a lot of time on footwork today, pivoting, etc.

Then 4 miles on the trails with Tommy. 80+ degrees.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles. Hood Route. Heavy Fog. 6 am.  

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Yasir on Thu, Dec 12, 2019 at 08:34:15 from 99.20.240.16

Nice to see you still hitting the hood route.

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
9.750.009.75

9.75 miles. Hood route. 0.75 miles in a heavy downpour, then the rain just stopped. So for the rest of the run I was singing Cracker's Another Song About The Rain. So I ran to the corner of Laurel and Edmondson, then back to McDonald's to use the bathroom then back to legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back home.

Another bad week of running. Sometimes life gets in the way.

Johnny, AKA boy #2, turns 13 today. So for his birthday, he wanted to spend the day at the skateboard park on his scooter. So that's where I am typing this. it rained this morning, but I squeegeed the skatepark, and now it's 74 and sunny. Good day.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM Bridge and back. my endless summer. 

then church. 

then the track with Tommy. I don't know. I chickened out / was too tired / whatever I guess. He ran and I timed him. He needs volume. I need speed. someday we'll figure this out and run great. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.750.007.75

7.75 miles. Hood route to legacy trail over the SWOM Bridge and back. High of 81 today. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
3.500.003.50

3.5 miles. hood route. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.500.005.50

5.5 miles of is it raining? or just super misty? 6 am start. by the time I got to work, it has become 10 degrees cooler. weather is super confusing, yo. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. hood route. 5:45 am start. cooler and breezy. At the turn around, homeless guy was awake earlier than usual, and he said good morning.  

For some reason, I had Van Halen's "Could this be Magic?" stuck in my head for the whole run. So on my morning commute it was a Van Halen medley. - little guitars, you really got me, beautiful girls, top jimmy, and so on. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail and back. 7 am start. Windy.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.500.007.50

7.5 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail and back. First half faster. I didn't realize I was running with the wind timed the second half 31:00. Started off heavy rain light wind. Finished heavy wind light rain.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.900.0012.90

12.9 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail to Venice Ave. and back. 7 am start. Longest run in a while. Warm and sunny today.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
9.750.009.75

9.75 Miles. Hood route to the legacy trail over the SWOM bridge and back with an extra 2 miles thrown in because of bathroom stops. Then 2 hours of soccer with neighborhood kids. It's been a while since I've played soccer. So now I'm sore.

Merry Christmas, FRBers! I have a long night of eating traditional Polish Christmas Eve food. Fish, pierogi, and a ton of other stuff that I love.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
7.000.007.00

7 miles on the trails. 2 pm. 70+ degrees. Merry Christmas.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.200.0010.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail to Colonia and back. 8 am start. The Sweat burns the eyes today. It's got to cool down someday, right?

Also. Is "brick" by Ben Folds Five the only song about December 26th? It certainly has to be the most famous.

Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Eugene on Fri, Dec 27, 2019 at 11:09:55 from 174.223.130.31

he has a fantastic cover of a song off dr. dre’s first album with a title definitely not blog friendly. excellent mileage so far this week! especially factoring in the holidays.

From Tom K on Sat, Dec 28, 2019 at 08:27:10 from 47.203.147.43

Thanks, E! Of course, you say that, then I take a day off!

Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

I was planning on running today. But I think I have a good excuse this time. 

This is my brother's last day in town, and his birthday is tomorrow. At a young age, he took up golf, influenced by my Uncle Joe. Because of many hours on the golf course together, he has a great friendship with my Uncle. So, he really wanted to be that guy for my sons. So he set it up that the five of us, Me, Andy, Uncle Joe, Tommy, and Johnny would do 9 holes at Lake Venice Golf at 8 am. It's not too long until my boys are learning to drive. The Floridian learns to drive by first recklessly driving a golf cart. Later, you can advance to the roads and do some real damage. So, that was part of my motivation for this. How did I play? I haven't played in 4 years. But, for 5 holes, I was awesome. I was putting for bird or par. Then the wheels came off. I shanked 2 into the woods. On the same hole, I hit 2 separate trees on different shots, both times sending my ball backwards on the course. After you have a double digit score on a hole, it is tough to keep competative. But my brother's goal, about influencing my kids into golf was, I think, accomplished. After, I spent about an hour on the driving range with my sons. 

Then Johnny spent the day at the skatepark. Then we saw the new Star Wars. Big day.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.900.0012.90

12.9 miles. Hood route to legacy trail to Venice Avenue and back. Slow, but steady. 8 am start. Stupid hot. 75 degrees. 85 % hum. 71 dew point. Really crowded out there today.

At the base of the US41 bridge, a lady passed me on her bike. Then she slowed up because of the incline. So I said "Come on!, You aren't about to get passed by a runner, are you?" Then she had to explain to whoever she was talking to in her earpeice, what was happening. And she was pretty embarrassed about it. So I yelled back "I'm sure you'll catch me on the downhill!"

She didn't. When I crossed the line where the overpass ends, she was still coming up behind me. I threw my arms in the air and yelled Woo Hoo as loud as I could so that her phone call friend could hear.

BTW, this talking to people while you exercise thing is getting really commonplace. I used to be self conscious about having arguments with myself while I'm sorting out life's problems while running. Now everybody is talking to someone. And who is on the other end of the line? Do I want to listen to you huff and puff while describing what happened last night? Not this guy. I don't get it. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
13.000.0013.00

5.5 miles. Hood route. 7 am start. Comedic levels of heat and humidity. Also, I've developed something of a cough lately. I hope that goes away soon.

Pm. Surprise second run! 5:30 pm. 2 on the trails then I ran out of light, then 5.5 miles. Hood route. I ate a swarm of gnats!

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
10.200.0010.20

10.2 miles. Hood route to the legacy trail to Colonia and back. 6 am start. Really hot and humid. Song of the run- when I grow up by NF.

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.000.000.00

I woke up coughing and sneezing. No fever, so I should have ran, I guess. I just didn't feel it. No, this is not from watching my Gators stink up the Orange Bowl and still win last night. Just your regular head cold. Maybe I'll write a year-end thing later. 

Happy New Year, all. 

Weight: 0.00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
1669.618.371677.98
Weight: 205.00
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
Recent Comments: