October 29, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Abridged Campus Loop. Awoke to a cool 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) and a light North breeze. Long-sleeves, shorts, cap and gloves for this one. Once the wind starts cutting me in half I'll transition to tights, but we're not there yet. Completed the 4.47 mile campus loop in 44:08 for a 9:52 min/mile pace. Another low-key maintenance run without issue. Saturday morning's ten-miles looms. Mahalo.

October 27, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Back on the trail after taking a couple of days off. Temp (50 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 Celsius) was perfect--even broke out the skull cap and gloves for shits and giggles, even if it was a bit premature. Super stoked for the arrival of true Autumn running weather. Headed through campus and to parts South before tacking back North through familiar environs. Per custom, the first mile was right at the ten-minute pace, while I finished in the mid-nines. Completed the 5.19 mile campus loop in 49:46 for a sub-sonic 9:36 min/mile pace. Planning on another 21 miles for this week. Mahalo.

October 24, 2015

Out the door in the pre-sunrise hour. Campus Loop. Game Day. Long Run. Extended the go-to maintenance route to the North and South for the required ten-miles. Entered through the Boyd Street portal and headed South to the Municipal Wastelands. From there, continued North to Robinson and then returned to the shack via Campus Corner and the unparalleled game day prep. Temp was 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius) with a slight North breeze. Finished the 10.01 mile campus loop in 1:43:28 for a 10:20 min/mile pace. Not my fasted work, but I'll take it. Spartacus Redux Mix on the box. Finished the week with 21.43 miles. Mahalo.

October 22, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Out the door in the pre-dawn hours: temp was a comfortable 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 Celsius) with a slight Southern breeze. Lovely running weather. Reversed the loop for a change of pace, heading East out of the gate instead of South. Solid effort after starting in the ten-minute per mile range and then settling into a nice groove. Completed the 5.74 mile loop in 55:35 for a 9:41min/mile average pace, which was my "fastest" five miles in five weeks (September 15, 2015). A day off prior to a planned ten-miles on Saturday, Game Day. Mahalo.

October 20, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Bagged a planned ten-miler on Saturday due to a bit of extensor tendonitis in the right foot. Not a huge deal, just an occupational bi-product of months of consistent, successful running and a steady increase in miles. Back on the trail for yet another week of the grind. Headed out to a wonderful Autumn morning with temps in the high 50s (58 degrees Fahrenheit, 14 degrees Celsius) with a slight Southern breeze. Started strong and finished with a nice groove (cadence?). Completed the standard, no frills, go-to 5.68 mile campus loop in 55:14 for a 9:44 min/mile pace. No issues with the right foot. Planning on 20+ miles for the week, including an extended Game Day run on Saturday. Mahalo.

October 15, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Autumn on the brink: 61 degrees at the start (16 degrees Celsius) under absolutely still skies. Another basic Campus Loop in the books. Weather pattern may change in the next 24-hours, bringing much cooler temps for next week's runs. Completed the 5.02 miles in 48:50 for a 9:44 min/mile average pace. Per custom, started slowly and then found a mid-9 minute mile pace. It was my 175th fastest 4-6 miler, according to Runkeeper. Proud. Will drink too much Jameson this evening and rest Friday. Somewhere between eight and ten for the weekend run. Mahalo.

October 13, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Back on the trail after a forced five-day respite. Took some time off to rest and recuperate after a nice stretch of running with little or no issues. I get neurotic and force myself to take time off when things are going well. Felt great to get back out; left the shack before dawn with an absolutely perfect climate for running: 51 degrees Fahrenheit, or almost 11 degrees Celsius, and no wind with which to deal. Cool and calm. A beautiful Autumn morning. Finished the go-to 5.01 mile campus loop in 49:28 for a 9:53 min/mile average pace. Started slow and finished strong. 6-8 to finish out the week, with a couple of days at the gym for fun. Mahalo.

October 8, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Cool and comfortable with temps in the mid-50s (13 Celsius) and a slight Southern breeze. Bowel-Related Issues (BRIs) forced an unscheduled pit stop along the way; luckily facilities were located and utilized prior to an accidental discharge. Mother of Jesus. Imagine the primal, unrelenting and uncompromising urge to defecate in the next two minutes. Now imagine you are three miles into your six-mile route and the closest bathroom is three minutes away and you have to run there. It is the textbook definition of abject fear and loathing. Makes a brother want to run with a paper towel tucked into his shorts. For shits and giggles and emergency stops. Completed the 5.01 campus loop in 49:46 for a lamentable 9:56 min/mile pace. Off Friday to prepare for Saturday's planned ten-mile long run. Mahalo.

October 6, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Another week commences after a two-day respite following Saturday's long run. Campus Loop. Worked the super-bright neon green shorts that may never be worn again, as there is no back pocket for the personal tracking device; I had to break out the inconvenient blood pressure cuff apparatus, which, due to my particular neurosis, really bothers me. Edited the Runkeeper tally of this morning's run, as it spotted me a generous 6:48 minute first mile. There's not an animal on the planet that could chase me into a sub-seven minute mile at this stage of the game. Anyhow, finished the go-to 5.23 mile campus loop in 53:02 for a slowish 10:08 min/mile average pace. Super cool conditions this morning: 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 Celsius) with a negligible breeze. Solid effort. Planning 5-6-10 for the week with a couple of gym days for shits and giggles. Mahalo.

October 3, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Game Day. Sushi-fueled Long Run. A lot of moving parts. Temps a cool and crisp and windless 48 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius) at the start. Extended the campus loop to the South and the Highway 9 boundary. Headed North to Robinson St. and then West to the Westheimer Airport perimeter. Turned South and meandered to the Boyd Street portal. Felt so good that I extended my planned ten-miler by a mile and change. Solid run: slow and low for a nice tempo, excellent weather and no physical or mental issues with which to contend. Completed the 11.37 miles in 1:56:07 for a 10:13 min/mile pace. Finished the week with 22 miles and change, which continues to trend upward poco a poco. Mahalo.

October 1, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Temps (59 Fahrenheit) felt like Autumn. Humidity was 100%, but the 10 mph wind out of the North made it negligible. Probably broke out the long-sleeves a bit early in the scheme of things, but it felt like the thing to do. Completed the 5.14 mile campus loop in 50:54 for an underwhelming 9:54 min/mile average pace. Finished September with 70 miles, which was a couple of runs short of my baseline (80 miles). Another 10 miler on Saturday looms; back and bi tomorrow. Mahalo.