11.97 mi, 2:00:38, 10:05 avg, HR 144 bpm
Sort of an adventure running to the Lake Dan Preserve.
When running down the new trail connector to the Pinellas Trail, off to the east is a lake which I had always thought was on private land (trail is fenced off on both sides). It turns out it is part of an 11,000 acre preserve.
So, I ran down the paved trail to Tarpon Ave, turned left, running along the road a bit (kind of a busy road but a decent amount of shoulder to run on). Turned left ontoTyler Ave, to Tyler Run, to Huckavalle Rd, finally reaching the Lake Dan preserve main entrance which has some signs, maps, a small playground about 8 parking spots. I ran into the entrance and across a board walk over some water, onto an unpaved trail. This was about 5.5 miles so far. Turned left at a Tee intersection (not quite sure which way to go), which brought me to a smaller entrance, an official entry point to the preserve but nothing else (was at the dead end of a dirt road (Tyler Road, down to one lane).
It was already kind of late in the morning so I ditched the 5/1 run/walk at a low heart rate and picked it up, from 10:30~11:00 pace, to 10:00, and finally 8:50ish pace.
My goal had been to make it to the fishing pier on Lake Dan but did not make it this time, but did get to see some of the preserve.
|