Florida x 10

In celebration of 10 years since my first Florida visit, I put a recap together.

2009 (quick 2 day trip)  I got a taste of summer on Saturday, running at 6 AM in 70 degree temps. My noon run was downright hot with temps just under 90 degrees. In between we trekked over to the Pasco County High Point. It was unremarkable despite being one of the top 10 highest counties of the 67 in Florida. We walked around the edges of an orange grove looking for the highest point (301’) and were pretty sure it was highest right by the orchard sign. We then went over to LeHesup hill in Dade city. Some of the locals erroneously thought it was the highest point (240’). It did have a nice view and towered over the surrounding countryside. We finished the day with a nice dinner at a local steak-house (I had some great ribs).  The short trip was over early Friday morn as I caught a 7 AM flight back to Boston.

2010 (Friday-Sunday) spent the weekend hanging out with my parents and enjoying my birthday. Mom also joined me on a couple of runs (she on the bike) which was a lot of fun.

2011 (Saturday – Tuesday) a good opportunity for me to take care of the folks taxes and have a few days relaxing in the balmy southern climate.   I got in a lot of miles, most of them doing a 2.3 mile loop around the development that they live in.  It was nice in the mornings before it got hot but I felt it even at sunrise running in 65 degree temperatures (which were a big shock after the 30’s at home).

We went out to dinner one night (well really it was early afternoon) to celebrate my birthday.  A nice gentleman got us a bottle of champagne after the staff sang their version of the birthday song.  I cut loose having a vodka and red bull along with the champagne, I must have been dehydrated from the heat.

On the last full day in Florida we went to  Sugarloaf Mountain (310’) which is the highest point in Lake County.  It is also the most prominent point in all of Florida AND it is also the most isolated “peak” in Florida with no other higher point within 200 miles.  We drove to the top and kicked around the radio tower looking for the highest point.  We didn’t have much time as it soon started to pour.  The rest of the day featured downpour and lightning.

We made a quick stop at another county high point (Orange) which was appropriately located in an orange grove.  The final stop of the day was a visit to the Richloam trailhead which also had a fire tower.  Everything I could ask for in a day trip!  Unfortunately the rain was unrelenting so I did not climb the tower nor run on the trails. 

2012 (Thursday – Sunday)

Only note was the race mom and I did in Bradenton.  Big race with over 1,200 people on some nice trails.  It was hot and a night race so not the best for me.  I got 7th and 2nd in the 40+, mom had a good run.

Place    Time      Runner's Name          Age      City                  Place   Pace

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    1     16:07 Hank Campbell               32   St Pete, FL                 1    5:11

    2     16:17 Sean Daugherty              19   Bradenton, FL            2    5:15

    3     16:24 Michael Rosato                23   Gainesville, FL           3    5:17

    4     16:35 Douglas Morton               40   Sebring, FL               4    5:21

    5     16:51 Bruce Bragg                    17   Bradenton, FL           5    5:26

    6     17:08 John Biffan                      28   Unknown, XX            6    5:31

    7     17:29 Dave Dunham                 48   Bradford, MA             7    5:38

516 Men 1,254 total finishers

  494     38:45 Regina Dunham               69   Zephryhills, FL           935   12:26

738 women

2013 (Wednesday – Saturday)

We visited Colt Creek State park where I ran on some very muddy trails and checked out the fire tower in the park.  We also visited the Richloam fire.

2014 – Tore ligaments in my ankle.  Skipped the trip.

2015 (Wednesday – Saturday)

Nice break from the cold and snow of New England.  Luckily my 2 weeks off with an ankle injury were over and I was able to start back running.  Most of the running I did was in the development, which is very quiet.

One day I got in a nice run at the Hillsborough River State park.  The park had a lot of trails both paved and unpaved and it was very quiet at this time of year (on a Friday morning).  I checked out the Florida trail and then we visited the fire tower!

2016 (Tuesday – Friday)

It was a relaxing trip.  I read over 700 pages, killing two books and got in some very flat running.

We visited the Hernando county high point, the 274' Chinsegut hill had a cool mansion on the top, an old cemetery, and a view.  Well worth the stop.

2017 (Sunday – Wednesday)

I love visiting fire towers.  This one was only 45 minutes from Z-hills so a nice drive with the folks.  No access to the tower.  We also checked out a nice 46 mile long rail trail (Withlacoochee) about 1 hour north of Tampa FL.  Next time I visit when I'm injured this it'd be a good spot to do some Go training!

2018 (Saturday – Wednesday)

This year I was able to find a race nearby that looked interesting.  The course at Trout Creek State park was very well marked and very run-able.  It was warming up as about 250 lined up for both races, temps were in the low 60s at the start and low 70s at the finish but comfortable in the shade.  I took the lead right from the start with 2 guys following right behind me.  They both passed on getting water and moved on ahead of me at the 5k water stop.  My legs started to feel very heavy and I was running out of energy over the last mile.  I slowly lost ground and ended up crossing the line 24 seconds back.  First LOSER. 

Place   Time    Name                     Age      City                  Pace

   1   1:01:47 Chris Petrock           47   Tampa                    6:38

   2   1:02:11 Dave Dunham          53   Bradford, MA           6:40

   3   1:04:48 Steve Wilcox            47   Clearwater               6:57

   4   1:04:50 Chris Liston              40   Ruskin                     6:57

132 finishers

We also visited our first letterbox in Florida!

2019 (Sunday – Thursday)

As always, celebrated my birthday with the folks and worked on a puzzle with mom.  We visited (and I ran on) the James Van Fleet rail trail.  This was a nice shady run on another hot and sunny day.  We also visited a county high point!  Looking down from the highest point in Osceola county.  Of course, I had to visit a couple of fire towers (Green Swamp & Davenport).  We also visited a letterbox in a cemetery in Lakeland.