October 30, 2013

The Rain Song.  Temps in the mid-60s as a thunderstorm rolled into town.  Started with a brisk South wind flecked with intermittent rain.  Turned to the West two and a half miles from home and the sky opened up.  Torrential rain ensued for the next couple of miles.  Beautiful.  Waterlogged.  As I have said before, There is nothing like running in the rain.  Times were a bit off, but it was a solid effort.  5.13 miles in 49:24 for a 9:37 min/mile pace.  Feeling the plateau: a bump up to six miles per outing is imminent.

October 28, 2013

Blew off this weekend's run for no good reason at all.  Almost marine layer fog to begin another week of runs.  Temps in the mid-50s with a slight South breeze.  A very dependable 5.10 miles around the campus, per custom.  I generally do not like to use the word "fast" when describing my runs, but todays 9:03 minutes per mile pace is the fastest loop in quite some time.  (I posted a 8:57 per mile pace on June 13, 2013.)  The rest of the week looks like 6-5-6, to round out with 22 miles.  October has been a solid month of running: times trended downward, while frequency increased.  And, most importantly, other than a spastic face plant fall, injuries have been non-existent.  Sitting out July and August due to injury meant that ramping up too fast in September and October was a concern.  With two months of solid progress, I would like to incorporate a long run in to November's schedule. Winter looms...

October 25, 2013

First morning with temps in the 30s (37 degrees Fahrenheit).  Hit the road before the sunrise.  Beautiful, crisp morning.  No wind to speak of.  Layered it up for the five-mile loop of love.  iPhone malfunctioned at the end, which almost caused this author to have a slight nervous breakdown.  Luckily, the run data was saved prior to the phone shutting down.  Another 9:20 minute per mile pace suggests a plateau of sorts.  Times have steadily trended downward since August.  Will get a six-miler in the books tomorrow for Gameday.  

October 21, 2013 and October 23, 2013

Dual runs posted this morning.  Both AM runs were uneventful five-mile maintenance loops through familiar environs.  Cool runnings this AM with temps in the mid-40s.  Gloves and long-sleeves.  No wind.  Not as many people out at 545 AM with the onset of cooler weather.  The reverse loop has now become standard fare: I know instinctively where the elevation changes are, where the low-hanging branches are poised to blind me and which angle to take stepping off a tricky curb.  Thinking about further altering the route, but staying within the general framework of a campus run.  Developing.  Will get four more runs before the close of the month.  Looking at 5-6 (Friday and Saturday) to finish this week.  Cooler temps on the way.  November will witness an uptick in frequency.  I am pondering a Mon-Wed-Thurs-Sat running schedule to help facilitate the transition to Higdon's training regime in late December.  Tuesdays and Fridays would be workout and cross training days, while Sunday would be a day of rest.

October 18, 2013

The routine continues.  Out the door before the sunlight hit the olive oil.  Two Chows came at me in the middle of the road about 5 minutes in to this morning's run.  I went all ape shit on their asses.  Luckily their drug-addled owner came out of the house and saved them from my verbal assault.  I will run with a thick-ass Mag Light Flashlight (Police model) until further notice.  I will get Medieval on their quadruped asses next time.  Scared the shit out me, to be honest.  9:20 per mile pace was the fastest since June.  The weather was nice: 43 degrees Fahrenheit with a touch of wind.  Beautiful.  The hounds of hell (Mustard!) threw me off of my game for a bit, but otherwise it was a solid run.  Should be in the 30s mañana.  Where them tights stay?

October 16, 2013

45 degrees at 530 AM.  Out the door in long-sleeves, shorts, gloves and skull cap.  A solid five and change to start the day.  A slight breeze out of the North kept things in perspective.  Campus loop with the cold-natured and amateurs staying at home and waiting for the warmth of the day to get something done.  Not one other human being on the road today.  Pace for the first couple of miles was at 9:10; however, I slowed up at the turn to East and then again taking it back to the shack with the North wind in my face.  Overall it was a solid, chilly run.  5-7 remain.  Rest Thursday.

October 14, 2013

Misty Mountain Hop.  Out the door at 545 am to start the week.  On the cusp of a rainy, overcast day.  Cool breeze.  A solid five-mile loop around the campus.  Sub-ten minute per mile pace.  65 degrees Fahrenheit will most likely prove to be the warmest run of the near future.  A new pair of NB 1260v3 inaugurated this morning.  Should take me in to 2014.  Chest and Tri tomorrow.  5-5-7 to round out the week.

October 11, 2013

Friday Morning Blues.  5.07 miles on the Campus Loop.  Salami, cheese and crackers and red wine for a late dinner seemed like a stellar idea until about mile four.  Bonked a mile and change from the house.  Brought it back to the shack under my own power, but could have called it a day at that point and slept until noon.  Whey protein and Almond milk for breakfast saved my life.  Interestingly enough, I still managed to get the run in under a 10:00 per mile pace.  Temps in the mid-60s with a bit of humidity; South breeze for added fun.  The run itself was not so bad: it was that nauseated feeling of hypoglycemia and fear in the kitchen post-run that is never good.  Blew off Saturday's run.  May double up Sunday and Monday if the running gods conspire with me.  Cold front on the way.

October 9, 2013

A quincentennial maintenance run: an easy going, uneventful five-mile run through the campus. The reverse route has taken hold and will be standard fare until Spring.  Pleasantly cool weather with temps in mid-50s, a slight breeze and negligible humidity.  9:40 per mile pace.  Right knee is improving daily. 

October 7, 2013

While not technically cold, I did manage to break out the gloves and skull cap for this AM's run. 42 degrees Fahrenheit at 530 AM.  Zero breeze.  Shorts and long-sleeves to initiate the first morning in the 40s for this Autumn.  Five mile campus loop.  Deserted streets.  Probably should have taken another day to rest my hammered right knee, but I could not bring myself to be so rational.  Soreness and range of motion issues aside, it was a decent run.  Hobbling ever so slightly put my pace over 10 minutes per mile by a handful of seconds.  Weather looks good for the rest of the week.  5-5-7 on tap.  

October 4, 2013

Late Friday morning seven and change.  Left the shack at 930 am and it was already approaching the 80 degree mark.  Running in the light of day may have thrown me off my game.  The generally staid sidewalk jumped up and tripped me about 30-seconds into the run.  I lost balance, hit the cement, rolled and miraculously landed on my feet pretty much in stride.  It was an amazing move.  Scraped the hell out my right knee, elbow and both palms, but I survived.  I wisely went on to run a solid 7.23 miles, most of it with a pronounced limp.  It was my longest run since June 28th.  Amazing to think I can run over 200 times a year for years in the pitch black of the madrugada and not have a fall, yet on one of the few times I head out during the daylight hours I promptly clip it.  Blinded by the light, heat stroke fears and hobbled knee issue notwithstanding, it was a good run.  Blink 182 on the box.  Just like the Old Days.  Sunday and Monday back-to-back.  Assuming I can walk.

October 2, 2013

Out the door later than planned meant that 3.50 and change was all I could do timewise.  Solid mini-run through the campus.  Brutal weather with temps in the low-70s and humidity at 100%.  Felt it more than usual due to yesterday's 10k.  Times were a few seconds slower today.  Cooler weather and precip on the way.  Bring it; don't sing it.  Resting mañana.  Six on the agenda for Friday. Cheers.

October 1, 2013

So I took Saturday and Sunday off due to too much food and drink...and drink.  Monday was a wash, as well.  This morning's 10 K was pretty much standard fare.  The weather is not quite sure if it wants to commit to Autumn, so in the the interim we have early morning temps that vacillate between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the day.  Today's pre-dawn AM run was a comfortable 57 degrees.  Reverse loop North to Andrew's Park to start, curving South past the police station and then the campus, crossing over at the Lloyd Noble and then back to the shack through the South Greek and points in-between.  Under the right circumstances I could run this route blindfolded.  Times per mile in the high 9:40s.  Slowly getting back into shape.  Cadence.  Conditioning.  Feeling light again.  Wednesday will see this route again.