November 29, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Out the door a bit later than usual; however, I still beat the sunlight before it hit the olive oil. Awoke to relatively cool temps (48 degrees Fahrenheit), but the strong north wind made it seem almost cold. Layered up as if it was a 30 degree morning run and was fine. Completed the 5.17 mile campus loop in 51:19 for a 9:56 min/mile pace. Slow pace with an easy cadence. Went with the Masters of Hip Hop for an undeniable change this AM. A planned respite for Sunday. Monday ushers in a new month. I am definitely looking forward to hitting the pavement. October was a wash due to injury, while November was an exercise in self-control, as I had to limit my miles to recuperate. Mahalo.

November 27, 2014

Daybreak. Out the door a bit later than usual thanks to the Thanksgiving reprieve. Frozen Face. Awoke to 30 degrees Fahrenheit or -1 degrees Celsius depending on your particular point of view. A slight north breeze. Nothing over the top. Just a subtle reminder that it's winter in these parts and that winter and wind make for an uncomfortable combination. Long-sleeves, gloves, skull cap and shorts. The roads were deserted; even the perennial dog walkers were absent this morning. Finished the tried-and-true campus loop (4.91 miles) in a sub-sonic 48:19 and a 9:50 min/mile pace. Nirvana on the box. To the gym Friday; back on the trail Saturday morning. Mahalo.

November 24, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Cold Runnings. 35 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 degrees Celsius) at 530 am with an almost negligible North wind. Hit the trail in the frigid pre-dawn hours. Long-sleeves and shorts, gloves and a skull cap. 80s punk on the box. Angry Samoans, for example. Dead Kennedys, etc., et. al. Finished the Old School 4.94 mile campus loop in 49.44 minutes for a super-sub-sonic 10:04 min/mile average pace. Hit the Yerba Mate and Albuterol pre-run. Rock and Roll explosion. Mahalo.

November 18, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Another Frozen Face. Norman had 3" of snow over the weekend and temps were in the teens. Today was no different, as temps were in the low 20s yet again, with a slight North breeze with which to contend. Out the door before the sunlight hit the olive oil. Multi-layered bliss from head to toe. Ice was still prevalent on the streets and sidewalks. Super sub-sonic pace of 10:15 min/mile, while finishing the 4.57 miles in 46:49. RHCP on the box. Good times. Lift on Wednesday and back out on the trail on Thursday. Mahalo.

November 13, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Frozen Face. Temps in the low 20s Fahrenheit (22F) for a frigid -6 Celsius. There was a strong North wind, as well, which definitely made it feel colder and slowed me down on the return leg of the trip. Layered up like a professional and hit the trail for a no-nonsense four-mile campus loop. Finished the 4.31 mile run in 44:10 for a 10:!4 min/mile pace. Right shin issue persists: it still feels funky and may go sideways at the slightest provocation, i.e., putting miles on it.  Pearl Jam on the box, yet again. Lifted on Wednesday. Another day of lifting tomorrow, Friday, and back on the road Saturday AM. Aloha.

November 10, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Took another week off to nurse a horrible upper respiratory infection that hit me last Tuesday. With two runs in the last 34 calendar days, it has been one of the worst months for running (or lack thereof) in my glorious career. Damn. This morning's run will most likely be the last decent morning for running in the ten-days or so, as the much-anticipated Arctic Vortex will be sweeping down the plains and undoubtedly freeze everyone and everything it touches.  Low temps and high winds make for interesting running. Hit the trail this morning at the appointed hour for a slow and low 5.15 mile campus loop. Finished the sub-sonic run in 50:49 for a 9:52 min/mile pace. Felt good in the long-sleeves, cap and lightweight gloves, even though the temps were only in the low 50s. Pearl Jam on the box, just like the old days. Mahalo.

November 3, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Finally coming off of the IR after what seemed liked an eternity. A month of downtime due to two very distinct and debilitating injuries. Shin splints (right anterior tibialis) began the ordeal in early October, while another unrelated lower lumbar event kept me out of the game for the past couple of weeks. Once again I feel like the back injury occurred in the weight room. Thank goodness for Mobic. Anyhow, it felt good to get back on the trail this morning. Morning temps in the mid-50s with a gale-force wind out of the south with which to contend. Long-sleeves and shorts. Hit the road at the appointed hour for a nice and easy four-mile loop through familiar territory. Finished the 4.26 miles in 43:03 for a 10:07 min/mile pace. Spartacus redux on the box. Chest and back tomorrow. Another four on Wednesday. Will slowly build the mileage back to the 25 miles per week range by the end of the year. Mahalo.