November 30, 2013

Ended the month with a solid 10k run this AM. Out the door a bit later than usual, but it's the weekend.  Beautiful Autumn morning: 40 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight South breeze. Shorts and long sleeves, gloves and a cap. Started South down the West side of campus for a change of scenery. Pace was a predictable 9:19 min/ mile.  Generation X Trail Mix on the box.  Last run of November.  December and Higdon's Training Regiment looms. 

November's Numbers:
Runs: 14
Miles: 81
Average Pace: 9:36 min/mile 

Calories Burned: 12,256

Time on the Road: 12:55:43

November 28, 2013

A beautiful start to Thanksgiving Day.  Test drove a bottle of Pinot last night, so I was just happy to get up at 530 AM relatively clear-headed.  Hit the trail a bit later than usual, per holiday custom.  Out the door at 640 AM for a cold 7.5 mile run.  Temp at 30 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill making it feel like 23 degrees.  The wind, although out of the South, was as unpleasant as ever.  Layered to the hilt, I also donned ear buds for the first time in months. Went with the tried and true Generation X Trail Mix to get me through.  Pace started slow, but I managed to finish with a decent 9:37 min/mile average.  I had to purposely slow down at times.  Stride, cadence, pace and posture all came in to focus this morning.  Good times, albeit a bit frosty at the onset.  Chest and Tri yesterday morning, while Friday will be devoted to a solid Back and Bi workout.  Whirlpool and steam as a reward.  Cheers.

November 26, 2013

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were, unfortunately, a wash. Ice covered landscape, per the forecast, meant no running.  Luckily, the streets and sidewalks were manageable today.  Did manage to get a good back and bi workout in Friday AM prior to the weather arriving.  Hit the frozen road this AM for 6.38 miles of fun.  Had a couple of slips, but thankfully, no slides. Temp was right at freezing, but 24 with the cruel 10 mph North wind sweeping down the plains.  Pace was a bit slower than usual at 9:46 min/mile.  It was cold, but nothing I haven't had to deal with before. Chest and Tri tomorrow; another six planned for Thursday.  

November 21, 2013

Early AM run with temps in the high 50s.  The wind was out of the South and was fairly strong at times.  Arctic cold front on the way, so this morning's 10K will probably be the last comfortable run of the week.  Saturday's temps may irrelevant if the landscape is covered in ice, as it is predicted to be. Today's pace a bit slower than usual at 9:38 min/mile.  Back and Bi workout tomorrow AM, weather permitting.  Saturday's eight will be postponed to Sunday if the weather is too much.  It is never too cold to run.  I draw the line at ice...and lightening.  Found a nice groove early today and went with it. Solid.

November 20, 2013

Out the door at the appointed early AM hour and promptly met by gale force winds, or so it seemed. Luckily, it was 50 degrees outside and the wind was out of the South.  It was still a bit chilly heading into it for the first 2.5 miles.  Should have worn gloves.  Times were obviously slower at the onset, but my pace picked up toward the end.  Completed the go-to 5.08 miles, mirroring Monday's route, only a minute and change slower.  Overall, pace was 9:30 min/mile. Winter weather heading this way from the Northern environs later in the week.  Thursday morning's six and change may be cold, but Saturday's eight will most likely be miserable.  Fear and loathing.

November 18, 2013

Saturday's run did not materialize due to this author simply wanting to rest after a brutal week.  I assume that I'll get to make up the miles somewhere down the line.  In blowing off my scheduled run, I missed the last Game Day of the season, which is kind of a downer.  Monday's five miler went reasonably well.  Started strong and then finished with a 9:15 min/mile pace.  The weather was great: temps in the mid 40's with a slight North breeze.  No complaints.  Tuesday morning Chest and Tri workout.  Whirlpool and steam followed.  Planned six miles for Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday morning Back and Bi, followed by a longer run on Saturday.  Is eight enough? There is a certain peace in finding one's groove.

November 14, 2013

Another cold morning.  32 degrees with a 15 mph wind made it feel like it was 21 degrees out there.  I preferred yesterday's straight-up 23 degrees with no wind.  But that's no surprise.  There is something so taxing, so draining about running into the cold wind for this runner.  Anyhow, it had to be done. Enough whining.  Completed a 5.38 mile campus loop with a 10:07 min/mile pace--about the same pace as yesterday and not too discouraging considering the climate.  Thought I was going to get a six-miler in; however, I did not go far enough South for some reason.  Friday Back and Bi workout. Saturday, last home game of the season, a planned seven awaits.  The weather should be a bit more manageable, although it may be raining.

November 13, 2013

Frigid start to the day: 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 Celsius).  Luckily, there was absolutely no wind. Layered up from head to toe and hit the pavement.  It took a mile or so for my lungs to get acclimated to the cold air.  Pace was off from previous runs. Finished the 5.88 miles in just over an hour.  Swung out West at the start to Berry Rd and then headed South.  Strange running down an unfamiliar road/sidewalks--in complete darkness.  Will attempt another six miles tomorrow. Forecasting high 20s at five bells.  Could have a bit of wind, as well.  Had a solid chest-tricep workout on Tuesday.  Feels good getting back to the gym.

November 11, 2013

I will attempt to remember today's relative balmy 48 degree run as a massive Arctic cold front bears down on these parts.  Wednesday's and Thursday's runs may be frigid, in the technical sense of the term.  Today's five-mile jaunt started slow and then finished with a fairly predictable 9:20 min/mile pace.  No complaints.  Tried to get in a groove early to focus on cadence, breathing and form.  I am feeling super stoked after 2.5 months of gradual gains.  Chest and Tri at the gym Tuesday, followed by a pair of six-milers mid-week.

November 9, 2013

It was an absolutely perfect Autumn morning for running.  Temps in the low 40s with an ever-slight breeze from the South.  Long-sleeves, shorts, gloves and a cap may be my favorite ensemble.  Headed out thirty minutes later than usual, so I had the opportunity to actually see the ground I was traversing. Seven easy miles around the campus.  Slowed things down a bit for a 9:38 min/mile pace.  Headed North to Andrews Park, down the Legacy Trail to Jenkins, South to the Lloyd Noble and then back North through the South Greek and the West side of campus.  Solid.  22 miles for the week.  Taking Sunday off.  Next week: 5-6-6-7.  Tuesday and Friday to the gym.

November Numbers:
Runs: 5
Miles: 27.9
Average Pace: 9:31 min/mile
Calories burned: 4,248
Time on the Road: 4:25:36

November 7, 2013

A calm and cold five miles through familiar territory.  It was a chilly 35 degrees at 530 am.  There was, thankfully, little or no wind out on the trail.  Campus loop, per custom.  Good back to back mid-week runs to initiate November.  Started slowly and gradually picked things up to finish with a 9:15 min/mile pace.  The last two miles were solid.  Rest Friday; will try to add a couple of miles to Saturday's run.  Cheers.

November 6, 2013

Perhaps I knew, subconsciously, that the temps outside were, with the windchill, in the mid 20s. Or maybe I just need to sleep in a bit this cold morning.  Whatever the reason, I overslept by 30 minutes and was forced to contend with a four-mile improvised loop around the campus.  Temp at kickoff was listed at 35 degrees Fahrenheit with a constant 18 mph gale out of the North.  This, per the Weather Channel App, made it feel like a respectfully cool 27 degrees.  No problem with the weather.  Layered up with tights, a long-sleeve compression shirt, a long-sleeve dri-fit, cap and gloves.  It was a "refreshing" four miles.  Slower than in previous runs, with the overall pace in the 9:40 min/mile neighborhood.  On tap for five tomorrow morning.

November 4, 2013

Post-thunderstorm fun.  Six miles to usher in another week of runs.  Strong South breeze (20 mph) meant that the first three miles were spent fighting a headwind and wondering why I left my gloves at the Casa.  Temps in the high 40s.  Times creeping back to mid-nine minute miles.  The added mile per run will definitely slow things down a bit in the short-term.  I plan on doing six on Mondays, doubling up Wednesdays and Thursdays with five-milers and finishing the week with six or seven each Saturday of the month.  My goal is to average 22-25 miles per week for November.  Which is completely feasible.  

November 1, 2013

Started the month with a solid, but chilly, 5.78 mile run around the deserted campus.  Not another soul on the streets this early AM.  Temps in low 40s.  No wind.  A beautiful, crisp Autumn morning.  Added half a mile to the loop for giggles. Broke out the gloves and cap for this one.  Times were a bit off last week's low nine minute per mile pace by a handful of seconds.  November will see a change in schedule--four runs per week on a Mon-Wed-Thurs-Sat schedule--and distance, as the daily maintenance run will now be six miles.  Bring on the noise.