May 24, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Patchy drizzle. Hot (72 degrees Fahrenheit, 22 Celsius) with 100% humidity. Started strong and slowed a bit at about mile three, but nothing too extreme. Finished the 5.00 miles in 48:47 for a 9:45 min/mile pace. Reversed the loop and headed out on the Eastern flank for a change of pace. Mahalo.

May 21, 2016

Day light. Campus Loop. Temp was a manageable 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 Celsius), but the 100 % humidity sucked the life out of me. Blew off Thursday's planned six due to the overwhelming desire to sleep another hour. Proud. Which, in turn, dropped my weekly mileage to 10.65 on two runs. Started today's run strong as I headed South on the Western edge of campus to the Highway 9 boundary. Cut across to Jenkins and then to the Northern perimeter by way of graduate housing, the aquatic center and the stadium. Ended at the famous Boyd Street portal. Completed the 5.66 miles in 57:27 for a 10:10 min/mile pace. Last mile and a half was slow and sluggish. May or may not have been due to the bottle of Pinot I drank last night. Focused on cadence and breathing. Sunday off and hoping for three good runs next week. Mahalo.

May 18, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus loop. Awoke to a cool 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 Celsius) with a slight breeze from the North.  Back out on the road after a couple of days of weather-related delays. Solid from the outset, although slowed a bit around mile four. Finished the 5.00 miles in 48:47 for a 9:45 min/mile pace.  Other than almost getting run over by an idiot running a stop sign, it was an uneventful morning workout.  Be safe out there gente. Mahalo.

May 14, 2016

Daylight campus loop. Graduation Day, 2016. Cold runnings: temp was officially listed at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius), but the 25 mph wind from the North made it feel much colder. Never found my groove this morning. Mile splits continued to increase and times got worse as the miles went by. Ended up finishing the 5.65 miles in an underwhelming 1:00:28 for a subsonic 10:46 min/mile pace. Finished the week with three runs and 14 miles (-2.40 miles from the previous week). Upcoming schedule: 5-5-4-8. Mahalo.

May 12, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus loop. Mirrored Tuesday's run and managed to slice a few seconds off the final time. Weather was coolish: temps in the low 50s with a slight breeze from the West. Storms throughout the night meant I was dodging slick spots, puddles and mud. Finished the 4.31 miles in 41:38 for a 9:39 min/mile average pace. No complaints. Mahalo.

May 10, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Expedited campus loop. Temps in the low 60s with a slight breeze from the South. Finished the 4.30 miles in 42:04 for a 9:47 min/mile average pace. Solid effort: started relatively slow, but finished strong. Mahalo.

May 7, 2016

Another rare daylight run. Campus loop. Temps a lovely 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius) with a slight breeze from the South. Started relatively strong, hit a lull and then finished with purpose to get below a ten-minute per mile pace. Headed South to the Highway 9 boundary and then back North through campus and residential environs. Finished the 6.38 miles in 1:03:31 for a 9:58 min/mile average pace. 16.40 miles for the week. The grind continues on Monday. Mahalo.

May 5, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Temp was a cool 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 Celsius) with a slight Southern breeze. Started relatively strong and on top of things, and then slowed down considerably in the last mile. Completed the 5.01 miles in 49:35 for a 9:54 min/mile average pace. Mahalo.

May 1, 2016

May Day. Started the month of April with good intentions only to be upended with upper respiratory issues and a nagging cough. Back out on the trail after a solitary run this week. Hoping the month of May is more productive for this runner. Embarked on yet another Campus Loop after the sun had already hit the olive oil. Cool and luxurious: 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 Celsius) with a slight North breeze with which to contend. Completed the 5.01 miles in 49:42 for a 9:55 min/mile pace. Looks like this week's weather will be very conducive to running. Mahalo.

April 26, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Out the door at the appointed hour to 72 degrees (22 Celsius) and 100% humidity. Back in the game after a ten-day respite due to an upper respiratory infection that knocked me down for a bit. Finished the 4.02 miles in a slow and sluggish 41:31 for a 10:20 min/mile average pace. Slow and Low. Depleted at the end, as the heat and humidity were pretty relevant. Mahalo.

April 13, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Rainy Campus Loop. Awoke to constant drizzle and a slight breeze from the South. Temp a manageable 54 degrees (12 Celsius). Out the door in spite of the conditions for a solid 5.27 miles. The thought of not running did not cross my mind. Bonus points for still being a fiend after all of these years. Completed the go-to campus loop in 51:59 for a 9:52 min/mile average pace. Strong, water-logged finish. Mahalo.

April 11, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Missed the Hash Bud 2016 10K yesterday. The Doctor and I postponed our annual rendezvous due to scheduling conflicts and the like. Promised to renew our bond on the Reunion Tour 2017. I digress. Hit the pavement this morning to find the streets nicely cleansed from overnight storms. Post-Thunderstorm negative ions in the air. Blissful running. Completed the 4.31 mile campus loop in 42:33 for a 9:53 min/mile average pace. On a side note: The heart rate monitor on the Fitbit HR is just what a junkie like me needs. Really helps set the pace and keeps me from wallowing in complacency. Mahalo.

April 9, 2016

Day Lit Campus Loop. Slept in a bit and hit the road well into the morning hours. Temp was a cool 49 degrees (9 Celsius) with no wind. Absolutely perfect running conditions. The hop heads and football junkies were out in force, getting ready for the annual Spring Game here in Norman. Headed South through the South Greek to the Highway 9 perimeter, over to the Eastern approach and then back to the shack through the residential environs. Many folks out on the trail this morning: Slow walkers, unmedicated Yuppies, ROTC Nazis and those imbued with the Fear. Solid run from the start. Finished the 6.38 miles in 1:02:10 for a 9:45 min/mile pace. Ran 22 miles for the week. Not bad. Mahalo.

April 7, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Hit the pavement in the pre-dawn hours for an expedited maintenance run. The Boyd Street Portal (see below) is a classic embarkation point for the campus loop. On the perimeter of campus, this intersection is busy pretty much all day long. Not much traffic at 530 am, though. This morning was beautiful: temp a manageable 52 degrees (11 Celsius) with a slight breeze from the West. Solid run from beginning to end. Finished the 4.31 miles in 42:15 for a 9:48 min/mile pace. Absolutely no complaints. Mahalo.

April 5, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Excellent, albeit windy, weather continues to be a hallmark of this Spring's running season. Hit the trail to 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 Celsius) with a substantial Southern breeze ladened with pollen, dust and flying debris, which pounded my eyes in unrelenting waves of fear and loathing. I felt heavy and sluggish from the onset (generally a lethal combination). I never seemed to find a solid groove and my splits confirmed this: finished the 6.01 miles in an underwhelming 1:00:45 for a 10:07 min/mile average pace. Slow and Low that is the tempo. Another 10k planned for Thursday. Mahalo.

April 3, 2016

Day lit campus loop. Out the door well after the sunlight hit the olive oil. Finished the 5.25 mile run in 52:10 for a 9:57 min/mile pace. Beautiful, cool Spring morning: 42 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) and calm. Mahalo.

March 31, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Last run of March, 2016. Started back on March 15th and finished the month with six runs. (Two runs in February, Ten in January) Feels good to get back in the groove. Cool runnings with 53 degree temp (11 Celsius) and a slight North breeze. Completed the uneventful 4.32 miles in 42:52 for a 9:56 min/mile pace. No complaints. Weather looks good for next week. Mahalo.

March 29, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Another low-key maintenance run in the pre-dawn hours. Weather remains comfortable, consistent and predictable: 52 degrees (11 Celsius) with a gusty South breeze (10-15 mph). Springtime on the plains. Finished the 4.67 miles in a pedestrian 46:12 for a 9:53 min/mile pace. Mahalo.

March 26, 2016

Early Saturday morning. Sunlight had already hit the olive oil. Solid campus loop. Finished the five mile maintenance run in 49:44 for a 9:56 min/mile pace. Another 50 degree (10 Celsius) morning with a brisk South wind with which to contend. My legs and lungs have returned. Will add a run to next week's schedule. Mahalo.

March 22, 2016

Dawn Patrol. 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) with a brutal South wind. Finished the 4.75 mile campus loop in 47:17 for a 9:57 min/mile average pace.  Purposefully taking my time getting back to 20-25 miles per week, as experience has informed my decision-making process. Mahalo.

March 17, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Temp (52 degrees Fahrenheit, 11 degrees Celsius) and lack of wind made for another great morning of running. Hit the trail in a concerted effort to recreate Tuesday's route, yet ended up .10 of a mile long. Close enough. Finished the 4.44 mile campus run in a sub-sonic 43:41 for a 9:50 min/mile pace. Good times. Mahalo.

March 15, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Back in the game after a six-week hiatus. Felt good to get back out on the road again. Spring and Summer running season officially began today with an easy 4.32 mile loop around the campus. Finished in 44:25 for a 10:18 min/mile average pace. Temp (52 degrees Fahrenheit, 11 Celsius) and a slight breeze from the South combined for awesome running conditions. Inaugurated the Fitbit Charge HR this week, as well. Mahalo.

February 16, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Sleep-deprived and slightly hung over is a lethal combination when it comes to completing a five-mile run in the pre-dawn hours. Hit the trail to unseasonably warm weather (57 degrees Fahrenheit, 14 Celsius) and a solid North wind. Completed the 5.24 miles in a slow and sluggish 54:36 for an underwhelming 10:26 min/mile average pace. Mahalo.

February 2, 2016

Early morning Campus Loop. A rare sunlit journey around campus. Temps were a manageable 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 Celsius), but the wind was calm and the sun was out. Lithium Mix on the box. Headed down the Eastern slope to the Highway 9 boundary and then back North. Hitting the trail well past 930 am meant that there were students to deal with on the campus streets and sidewalks. Interesting dynamic, especially where running on the road is concerned. Overall, it was a nice change of pace and the weather was excellent. Finished the 6.07 campus loop in 1:00:25 for an underwhelming 9:57 min/mile pace. Mahalo.

January 26, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Frigid campus loop. Hit the proverbial trail with temps well below freezing (27 Fahrenheit, -3 Celsius) and a slight breeze out of the West. Started a bit "faster" than normal and somehow managed to maintain a sub-10 min/mile pace for the duration. Felt good about the pace until Runkeeper informed me it was my 206th fastest five-mile run. Proud. Completed the 5:02 mile loop in a frozen 49:18 for a blistering 9:50 min/mile pace. Mahalo.

January 24, 2016

Daybreak. Windy campus loop around familiar territory. Headed South to the Highway 9 boundary, over to Jenkins and then back to the shack through campus environs. The South wind was absolutely brutal: 25 mph (40 kph) which made the 33 degrees Fahrenheit (1 Celsius) feel like 22 (-6 Celsius). Layered up for the elements with the Lithium playlist on the box. Finished the 5.80 miles in a wind-blown 58:55 for a 10:09 min/mile average pace. Mahalo.

January 21, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Frozen Fog. Temp was below freezing yet again this morning. Hit the road to frozen fog and a slight breeze from the South. Completed the 5.00 miles in 50:06 for an average pace of 10:01 min/mile. Headed back to the Reverse Loop and may keep the Eastern approach going for the near term. Inaugurated a new pair of New Balance 1260V5s. Mahalo.

January 19, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Frigid wind out of the south (20 mph, 32 kph) made the 30 degrees Fahrenheit feel like 13 degrees (-10 Celsius). Layered up and hit the trail after taking a couple of days off to recuperate. Finished the 5.01 miles in a chilly 49:49 for a 9:57 average min/mile pace. No issues or complaints. Solid run: sub-10:00 min/mile pace. Reversed the loop for a change of pace. Mahalo.

January 16, 2016

Early Morning Campus Loop. Hit the trail to frigid conditions: 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) with a strong North wind (20 mph, 32 kph) that made it feel much colder. Extended the default campus loop to the Southern boundary, past the Municipal Works Facility and North to Legacy Trail. Finished the 8.85 miles in a deliberate 1:34:49 for a 10:43 min/mile average pace. Week Summary: 19 miles and two gym days. Solid. More of the same looms for next week. Sunday off to recuperate and recharge. Mahalo.

January 14, 2016

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Completed a 5.01 mile early morning run in 52:39 for a super-slow 10:31 min/mile pace. "Could have been the Willie Nelson, could have been the wine," regardless, I was very slow and sluggish from the first steps onward. Temps hovered around freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit, 0 degrees Celsius) with a very manageable breeze from the South. Friday to the gym. Saturday precipitation imminent. Undeterred, a long-run is planned. Mahalo.