Tag: Pinellas Trail Challenge

8/18/24

Sunday long run was a thing today. I’ve been trying to run 10 miles on a Sunday for like two months now without success. Heat just unbearable until this last week. The humidity dropped a little I guess. Also, I’ve increased mileage in the past few weeks, running more slowly and focusing on form. I don’t really ever worry about pace anymore, but if I don’t pay attention, I will gradually run faster and faster, maybe to get it over with I guess. This happens during after-work runs. And the next morning I wake up and my legs hurt, then I walk 12-13 miles. I don’t like that. My form gets out of whack doing that, as well. So focusing on form and basically just doing zone 2, with a little tempo thrown in when I feel like it. I’m not trying overdo it at this point. I’m feeling my age now. Saving what I got left you know. I still would like to do another 100, which is a realization I’ve come to after learning of the Tampa 100. But that got me thinking about like, I don’t have to do that one. There are so many out there. It would be cool to do that one however, because it covers this whole area, and I’ve done the PTC so I could claim both of those, being a “local.” Sad to say I am a local.

But the run though. 10 miles out and back on the Pinellas Trail. I wore Saucony Triumphs. I had Maurten 160 in my bottle. I took and ate a whole pack of Skratch Labs Sour Cherry. Peed at mile 3.75. Sweating was profuse from mile 4 to 8. Pace was let’s say 10. Had a good time. I started using LMNT during work and have seen my sneaky debilitating cramps go away. So I use that for recovery. And I had a coffee later. Ate pisto for dinner, in honor of the Vuelta, same as last night. There was so much. We finished it. It’s gone. I am gone too, I am tired.

I should not make any promises about how often I will write here, because I cannot keep them. I can say that I will try. Wedding is soon. Bachelor trip sooner. Good night.

2/11/24

Okay so I ran 10 miles today. More eventful than usual. This is not the first time, probably the eighth or ninth, that I’ve run into some race I didn’t know was going on. Looked like it was a marathon. People at the aid stations were offering me refreshments and cheering me on. Random people cheering me on. Such an indulgence on my routine Sunday long run. I had my own water and gels so I was good. It was not hot today, relative to how hot it will get here soon, but it was hot by any other standard. Second thing that happened was I fell. I was running pretty quick across a busy street to get out of the path of traffic. Crosswalk of course. I had the walk sign and all that. I just like to be out of the way. But anyway I was moving too fast to take the turn of the sidewalk. I chose to take the short cut over. It just didn’t go as I planned. Kind of impossible to describe with any accuracy, and still keep the vibe. Some guy on a bike asked if I was okay as he rode by. I got up and started moving. Finished the run of course. I remembered the people cheering and it was game back on. No more events after that. I went back a different way so as not to disturb any more runners who paid to run on the trail. I’ll do the Pinellas Trail Challenge again, which is free, but I’m not paying to run on the Pinellas Trail. It was a good run. I had a good time. I guess it had to balance out you know? People cheering for me. Falling. 

Later, we went out for real pizza, with gluten. Then, took a little drive to a place where we took a little walk. Next week we have engagement photos. Hopefully I get my entire long weekend plus President’s Day. See you next month. Hopefully sooner.

7/31/18

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Photo is from last week. Since I’ve been running in the morning, I haven’t been bringing my phone along so I have no new photos. It’s actually cool enough that all I need is one of my handheld water bottles. Therefore, no storage capability for a phone like I’d have with my pack.

This morning was tough. My stomach has been all bubbly for a while now and it was making crazy noises while I was running today. It sounded like there was one of those red playground balls bouncing around in my gut. I think it’s this new schedule. It takes time.

Also, leg did not feel better at all. It felt worse. I’m going to finish out Wednesday’s and Thursday’s runs and then see how I feel.

Loooong day at work.

12 miles, 12:50 pace.

7/24/18

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I walked about 10 miles at work today and then ran 12 miles afterwards. I am tired.

While I was running, sunblock-laced sweat started leaking into my eyes. It burned so badly. Closing my eyes was the only thing I could figure out that made it better. So I started running with my eyes closed for 10 seconds at a time. One time, the last time, I veered right and off the trail. I fell down but it wasn’t too bad. Just a little road rash on my left hand. That’s probably the last time I try to run without eyesight.

12 miles, 10:35 pace.

7/23/18

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Can’t find the signature on this one so I don’t know whose it is. Tight though.

I usually don’t run on Monday but it made sense to do so today. We’re getting some big storms here so it’s a little cooler with all the wind and cloud cover. Pretty nice run. Had fun.  Left quad still a little funky but it goes away when I run or walk. I only really feel it upon standing after sitting a while.

10 miles, 10:15 pace.