July 30, 2014

Dawn Patrol. The Rain Song. Light rain throughout the run. Deserted streets. Temps in the low 70s. Another slow and methodical campus run. Finished the 5.69 mile loop in 58.58 in 10.22 min/mile. Chest and Tri on Tuesday AM. Back and Bi on Thursday. Cheers.

July 28, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Back at it again after almost three weeks of downtime. Previous run was on July 9, 2014 at the Villa Olimpica in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. From there we moved on to the North Coast and Roatán for a couple of weeks. I wisely decided to eat and drink everything in sight, so now I must contend with weighing in at 207 lbs. (My fighting weight has historically been in the low to mid-190s.) Today ushered in yet another incarnation of the "post-holiday period of intense dedication." Hopefully, this will last until Christmas. Slow and low this morning. Completed the five-mile (5.03) campus loop in 52:23 for a 10:25 mile/minute average pace. Slow, even by my standards. Weather was a bearable 68 degrees Fahrenheit with the humidity in the 80% range. Moving forward, Mon-Wed-Fri and Sat will be running days, while Tues and Thurs will be gym days. Sunday off to recuperate. This, as usual, should be fun. Mahalo.

July 9, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Villa Olimpica, Tegucigalpa. Four miles under sunny AM skies. Next year I will bring long-sleeves for the morning runs, as it is a bit cool. Still amazed at the devoted contingent of runners and walkers who are on the track at 530 AM every single day. Good times. Enjoyed hitting the track with Chilo. Reminded me of the old times, when it was a Sunday ritual, followed by coffee and pan con frijoles at Espresso Americano. Solid.

July 8, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Villa Olimpica. Back-to-back days at the track: walked a mile and then had a fast four miles. Weather was cool and overcast. A slight breeze kept things cool. Solid

July 7, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Villa Olimpica, Tegucigalpa. Four miles, or 16 laps around the track. Sun was out early this morning.  Uneventful.

July 4, 2014

Dawn Patrol. A rare back-to-back. Another overcast morning with a full contingent of early risers on the track.  Four miles and another mile walking while bullshitting with Chilo. Good times.  Effortless. Finally getting used to the altitude.

July 3, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Villa Olimpica, Tegucigalpa. Another four miles under gray and overcast skies. Drizzle early on. Good times with Chilo.  The track was crowded, per custom.

July 1, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Another cool and overcast morning in the capital. Amazing how many people are at the track getting it done at 530 am. Another four easy miles to start the day.

June 30, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Up at dawn and headed to the Villa Olimpica for four miles around the track. Temps were cool and there was a nice early AM mist in the air.

June 26, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Out the door a bit later than usual, coupled with an early meeting, meant that this morning's run had to be cut short a bit. Hot and incredibly humid, yet again. A solid short campus loop without H2O stop. Started strong and dropped off a bit towards the end, per recent custom. Finished 4.27 miles in 40:56 for a 9:36 min/miles average pace. Back to back looms.

June 24, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Another hot and humid run through familiar territory. First run since last Thursday. Taking some time off these past couple of weeks has been nice and pretty much par for the course in this, the early part of the summer. Started strong and then the heat and humidity caught up with me around mile three: there was a full one-minute difference between the first and sixth mile times. Finished the 5.76 miles in 56:57 for a 9:53 min/mile pace. H2O break at the mid-point.

June 19, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Another slow and methodical run around the campus. It was hot and humid at the onset. Started strong and then was drenched around mile two as a massive thunderstorm rolled into town. Times significantly slowed after the rain started, but running in the rain is never a bad thing...unless, of course, there is lightening. Today was lightening-free, thankfully. Finished a short 4.68 mile loop in 46:51 for a 10:01 min/mile pace. Friday off.

June 17, 2018

Dawn Patrol. Out the door this morning after taking a week off. A week of downtime, World Cup games and wine. Felt the heat and humidity. Started strong, yet finished slow and depleted. Finished the 5.02 campus loop in 50:05 for a 9:59 min/mile pace. Wednesday off. Feels good to get back on the road again.

June 9, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Major thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday kept me off the road. Thunder and lightening woke me today. Thought about blowing it off, but instead got ripped to the tits on coffee and waited for the heavy weather to pass. Did head out in a steady, unrelenting drizzle. Hit the trail at the appointed hour with cool temps (mid-60s) and a slight breeze. Finished the 5.23 miles in 52:04 for a 9:58 min/mile pace. Slow going for the majority of the run. May or may not attempt a back-to back mañana...

June 6, 2014

Dawn Patrol. An incredibly warm and humid morning gave way to a torrential downpour 3.5 miles into this morning's run. Soaked. But it was definitely cool and refreshing. It was also beautiful and somewhat scary with the lightening striking in the vicinity, but nothing over the top.  Finished the 5.22 miles around the campus in 50 minutes and change for a 10:00 min/mile pace.  The Runkeeper app jacked my distance and I'm not in the mood to enter it manually. I may run either Saturday or Sunday. Aloha.

June 4, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Out the door at the appointed time for yet another five-mile loop around the campus. It was 72 degrees when I hit the road. A hot and humid run ensued. Will undoubtedly begin incorporating a water stop at the park around mile three. I simply cannot fathom how people run at 300 pm with the temps in the high 90s or even higher. Amazing. Anyhow, no bowel issues or anecdotes to share today. Completed the run (5.13 miles) in 50:22 for a 9:49 min/mile average pace and without complications. Will get back out on the trail mañana for a back-to-back. Good times.

June 2, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to a steady drizzle. Unrelenting, in fact. Stepped out to the rain, as we all know this type of thing will be a luxury in a month or so. The thought of not running never crossed my mind. Soaked. All things were going well until the sudden urge to defecate hit me yet again around mile three. Mother of Jesus. It's not the first time. I toughed it out and then finally exploded in my neighbors' yard a mere 20 yards from my front door. You have not lived until you have squatted in your neighbors' bushes and taken an explosive shit at 630 in the morning...in the pouring rain. Never had a chance of making it into the house (mine, not theirs). I'll be running with a paper towel tucked in my waistband from here on out. Anyhow, I was drenched and tired and sick and tired of stressing about not having a place to take a shit. Fuck it. All for 5.01 rain-soaked miles in 49:44 and a 9:55 min/mile pace. Wednesday-Thursday looms. Tuesday off. Aloha.

May 31, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Saturday morning. Marine Layer Fog enveloping the countryside. Temps in the mid-60s with a nice bit of humidity with which to contend. Started slow on creaky knees. By mile two things were looking good and then serious Bowel-Related Issues (BRI) forced an unplanned pit stop at Reeves Park. Luckily, the restrooms were open and...gulp...there was toilet paper, which, in the scheme of things, is a minor miracle. On a side note, stressing about where to take a massive shit while running is one of the most disturbing feelings a person can have. There are few opportunities in life to experience fear and loathing on this level. Slow Ride: 6.32 miles in 1:02:54 for a 9:57 min/mile. Fun, fun.

May 29, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Beat the sun this AM for another back to back. Summer schedule in affect with Mon-Wed-Thu-Sat runs to become the norm. Tuesday and Friday are gym days. Started extremely slow and stiff, especially in the knees. Time for new shoes, if experience is worth anything. Revisited the Flood Route for giggles and a change of scenery: 5.24 miles in 51:06 for an average 9:45 min/mile pace. Finished relatively strong. A planned eight miles for Saturday AM. Mahalo.

May 28, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Out the door in the blue pre-dawn haze. A solid 6.05 miles around the campus in 57:30. Average pace 9:30 min/mile. Temps in the mid-60s with a spot of humidity. Started slowly and then picked up the pace towards the end. No worries. Summer is definitely on the brink. The humidity and temps will continue to increase moving forward. Another six on tap for Thursday. Aloha.

May 26, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Back on the home front after some time on the road. Out the door with the sunlight hitting the olive oil. Campus loop with a rare southern extension to Highway 9. Completed 6.14 miles in 1:00:24 for a 9:50 min/mile pace. Temps continue to be manageable: 67 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight breeze and some serious humidity. Good times.

May 23, 2014

Chicago. Early morning run along the shores of Lake Michigan. Amazing trail system that runs along the lake. Beautiful spring day: cool, no humidity and a steady breeze off the lake.  Headed south from Grant Park, past Soldier Field and the United Airlines Center and returned for a solid 7.12 miles.  Pace was slower than usual, as my head was on a swivel and I was geeking out at all of the amazing sights. Finished in 1:11:25 for a 10:02 min/mile pace. Good times.

May 20, 2014

Dawn Patrol. A week off to recuperate a sore and strained lower back. No worries, other than a chronically delicate back that dislikes heavy lifting, moving furniture and otherwise overextending my 45-year old frame. Out the door at the appointed time. 6.01 miles around the campus, per custom. Hot and humid from the onset. Consistent pace throughout. Overall, 57:12 minutes for a 9:31 min/mile pace. Wednesday off. Back in the game Thursday.

May 13, 2014

Dawn Patrol. A rare back-to-back. Cold Front in effect. North winds gusting to 20 mph with temps in the mid-40s. Took advantage of the weather because in a couple of months I will be yearning for mornings like this one. Broke out the long-sleeves, cap and gloves for this one. Tight and slow at the onset.  6.02 campus loop in 57:34 for a par-for-the-course 9:33 min/mile pace. Finished strong. Cheers.

May 12, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Blew off the planned weekend runs for no good reason at all. Sloth Master. Wine Master. Awoke re-energized and ready to hit the road this morning. Headed out into the pre-thunderstorm dawn for a 5.69 mile run around the campus. Light mist, temps in the mid-60s, high humidity and a brisk South wind. Slower than usual with stiff legs at the onset. Finished in 54:53 for a 9:39 min/mile pace. Altered the route at the end and came up a bit short of six miles. Will get out tomorrow for six, as a cold front arrived this morning and temps should be in the mid-40s. Mahalo.

May 9, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Cool breeze, temps in the low 60s, isolated pockets of fog and bouts of humidity. Shorts and short sleeves. Competed for the slowest run of the week. Out the door a bit earlier than usual. 48:22 for the five mile loop for a 9:35 min/mile pace around the campus. No complaints. Planning on an extended campus loop mañana. Have a nice weekend. Aloha.

May 7, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Out the door at the appointed hour for the go-to five-mile maintenance run. Campus-centric, reverse loop and sans headphones until further notice. Bread and butter. Finished the 5.05 miles in 47:27 for a 9:24 min/mile pace.  A mere ten seconds per mile faster than Monday's run covering the same territory.  Conditions are beautiful: mid-60s with bearable humidity and a trace of a breeze. More of the same planned for Friday. Cheers.

May 5, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Took a week off to rest and recharge. First run of the summer season. Reverse loop until winter for a change of pace and scenery. Sans headphones. Completed the 5.05 mile loop in 48:19 for a relatively slow 9:38 min/mile pace. Temps in the mid-60s with light and variable winds. Perfect running conditions.

April 27, 2014

OKC Memorial Marathon. Dawn Patrol. In the corral at 540 am, per custom. Rain, lightening, high winds, fear and locust. The race was postponed for almost three hours, finally kicking off at the crack of 830 am. Worked the long-sleeves for this one: temps started in the mid-60s and felt cooler with the constant rain; however, once the storms passed things heated up quickly. Total run activity per Runkeeper has the route at 13.46 miles completed in 2:11:12 for a 9:45 min/mile pace.  Official race results pending. Spartacus Redux Mix on the box. Ditched the earbuds at mile ten for a change of pace. Overall, it was a solid morning and yet another good running experience.

April 23, 2014

Dawn Patrol. Managed the rare back-to-back with this morning's run. Solid. Weather was nice: temps in the low 60s with almost no wind with which to contend. Finished the 5.04 campus loop in 47:59 for a slower than usual 9:31 min/mile pace. Retro-Fitted Spunk Mix for accompaniment, with the RHCPs getting prominent placement. Thursday will be an off day--no run, no weights. A planned six for Friday and a 13-miler scheduled for Sunday. Weather concerns loom for Sunday's festivities. Cheers.