Wellington Neck and Back

Did a straight run out Wellington Neck as far as the big curve. Very humid day. A taste of what summer will be like. But I waited until 7 PM to go and enjoyed the setting sun.

Wearing my Vibrams more often now - including today. I'm finding that it works better to do the whole run on the hard surface. My stride changes too much when I alternate between the shoulder and the road. Plus the grass is growing now so the shoulder is not as attractive. I'm slower in these shoes, though. My pace has been getting worse.

But the ITB problems seem to be gone. Second toe on my right foot is a little strained but otherwise I'm feeling pretty good these days.

4.77 miles
55:15

Mountain Mama Mia!

Enjoyed the hills of Pipestem State Park in West Virginia until I decided to run one today. We're here for a family reunion. Yesterday we did a long hike from the bottom of the Bluestone Canyon to the top. Picked up a stray German Shepherd along the way who did most of the hike with us.

Today I went down the hill and back up on a short run. Only they don't make hills like this on the Eastern Shore. But I did the whole run and felt pretty good at the end. All in Vibrams. Now country roads, take me home to the place I belong - the flatlands!

3.46 miles
36:45

Holly Grove By Morning

Got in an early morning run before we headed off to West Virginia for the Memorial Day weekend. Did the Holly Grove loop in my Vibrams. Felt a little lightheaded at one point and had to walk it out. Early morning is not my favorite time and allergy season is not my favorite season. But I do love that run.

4.25 miles
51:40

Quick and the Dead Again

A quick run around the block today, including the cemeteries. The back cemetery has a lot of soft ground in it, plus weeds that get between your toes when you're wearing Vibrams.

2.65 miles
29:08

Holly Grove in May

Did the Holly Grove run today since I couldn't do my usual Monday at Assateague run.

4.25 miles
47:42

Cross Peninsula in the Rain

Bay to Sea again, though I didn't make it all the way to the observation stand this time due to time constraints. It was dark and spitting rain at times, but I felt good. Knee is getting better, perhaps due to ITB strap. I did wear shoes today.

6.62 miles
1:16:23

Picking Up the Pace

Time to start getting serious about this. I've missed too many runs. Just around the block today in my Vibrams. Did not feel too well at the end. ITB is iffy.

2.42 miles
27:06

Assateague South

Back to the beach. Ran south first as far as the area where the beach is now closed for the birds. Everything felt pretty good. My pace was good. And it's the beach!

4.65 miles
49:38

Late Night Run with Guest Host Tim Tate

At a conference in Richmond with one of the other participants in this Richmond marathon challenge, Tim Tate. After the evening session we took a run through his old haunts on far West Broad Street. I didn't know suburban streets could be as quiet at night as the Shore but they were. Great run. Gave me some confidence that I might be able to hang with this crew. And I got to know Tim better.

All in Vibrams. Knee is borderline but OK.

6 miles
1:07:36

Smith Island Biathlon

The weather is getting just right for this biathlon stuff. Kayaked across the shallow bay behind Smith Island at the southern end of Virginia's Eastern Shore. A little windy and choppy going out, but once I arrived the beach was great.

Ran 5.3 miles from the southern tip of the island north. (The island is closed for the season, BTW. If you go, you have to stay by the water's edge. The better to protect our mating and nesting birds. So the signs say.)

About a half-mile in to the run I found this beached sailboat. Evidently ran aground last week. Besides the boat I saw pelicans, oystercatchers, gulls, willets, egrets and more.

Misjudged the tide going back. At low tide you can walk across most of this bay. And that's what I had to do for about a half-mile. The laughing gulls were surely mocking me when they called out as I trudged by dragging the kayak.

But a great day.

6 miles by water.

5.3 by land.

1 hr 4 min. of running.

Assateague in May

Back to the beach with my new ITB strap. Seemed to help for about 3.5 miles. But as the tide came back in I had to run on a slope more & it started to act up. Felt pretty good all in all.

4.5 miles
55 minutes (45 running)