Met up with Raj and Derek this morning at a spot about 2 miles from the start of the Pinellas trail. We had decided this would be a good week for a change of scenery from Starkey Park. Got going about 6:15. It was mid 40's and a bit windy from the North. I brought gloves with me but accidentally had picked up two left hands. We went out nice and easy while running in the dark. The first couple of miles seemed to fly by. The trail headed north for a short bit then crossed under US 19 by way of an underpass that looked kind of like a tunnel. We approached Tarpon Springs and ran through it past the various shops and restaurants that were closed. The trail went behind the hospital and then ran through a more secluded wooded area. We passed behind the Primate Sanctuary (but didn't see any of the chimps out, although we could smell them). At around 7.75 miles we came to Wall Springs park where we stopped for a quick pit stop and I found a fountain to top off a water bottle. Continuing on, we made it into Palm Harbor and were near the entrance of Pop Stansell park at the 10 mile mark. We turned around and then had the wind to deal with. We picked it up for a bit and were pushing a 7:30 pace when we got back to Wall Springs park. Stopped there for a brief stretch break and to look at the old bathing springs. We could see some fish swimming in the spring. Got moving again. Wind was a little bit lighter now. At about 4.5 miles left to go we had spread out a bit. Raj told me to go ahead, so I picked it up a bit and finished that mile under 8:00. With 4 miles left to go, I had just gotten into a good groove and was now heading east, so no longer into the wind. Ran past the things that were too dark to see when we started out like the house on the corner with big solar panels and lots of white geese and some chickens. The final mile finished up on pretty good uphill, followed by a short down hill. Finished the last 4 miles under 7:00 minute pace with the final mile at 6:34. Average pace: 7:57
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