November 24, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Awoke to perfect Autumn conditions: cool and windy with temps in the low-40s (42 degrees Fahrenheit, 6 Celsius) with a 12 mph (19 kmh) South wind. Shorts, long-sleeves, gloves and a beanie for attire. Started relatively slow and finished strong enough to get a sub-10 minute per mile pace. Finished the 5.01 mile campus loop in 49:39 for a pedestrian 9:54 min/mile pace. Spartacus Redux Mix on the box. Winter storms on the horizon for later in the week. Cold rain, sleet and winter mix all possible. Mahalo.

November 21, 2015

Game Day. Long Run. Did not get a Dawn Patrol in this morning. Headed out on the frozen trail well after the sunlight hit the olive oil in a futile attempt to let it warm up a bit. Temp (40 degrees Fahrenheit, 6 Celsius) was bearable, but the 25 mph North wind (40 kph) made it seem a lot colder. Layered up like a fiend and headed South via the Boyd Portal to the Municipal Works Complex. Turned North and endured five-miles of the aforementioned Arctic wind hitting me in the face for 50 minutes. Weaved back through Campus Corner environs to the shack. Overall, it was pretty much a textbook long run: slow and low with no desire to break any land speed records. Completed the 10.02 mile extended loop in 1:44:43 for a sub-sonic 10:27 min/mile average pace. Spartacus Redux Mix on the box. 90s Alt classics receiving heavy rotation. Sunday to recuperate. Monday it begins again. Mahalo.

November 17, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Tuesday Morning Love Dance. Campus Loop. In the rain. Took this past weekend off due to early AM soccer for the boy both Saturday and Sunday. No excuses mind you, simply Modern Life at its finest. Hit the trail this morning and was promptly met by a steady stream of drizzle and marine layer fog in the lowlands. Managed to get a drenched 5.02 miles in the book in 50:20 for a sub-sonic 10:02 min/mile pace. Run Keeper reminded me that this was my 254th fastest five-mile run to date. Proud. No worries though. Another six planned for Thursday and an extended ten-miles for Saturday: the last home game of the season with TCU coming to town. Cold temps coming to town, as well: tomorrow's run will be a manageable 38 degrees, while early morning temps for Saturday's run are expected to be in the low 20s. Bring the noise. Mahalo.

November 12, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Cold start to the day. 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) with a slight North breeze. This was the first morning in the 30s since last Winter. Bowel-related issues (BRIs) began around mile two and plagued this author for 30 minutes. So uncomfortable and disheartening. So difficult to concentrate under such brutal, barbaric conditions. Anyway, to make matters worse I was short-changed by the GPS today, as my go-to five-miler was somehow reduced to 4.88 miles by the unseen powers-that-be. Finished in 48:54 for a slowish 10:02 min/mile average pace. Mahalo.

Novemeber 10, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Campus loop. Cool temps (50 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 degrees Celsius) with a slight Southern breeze. Layered to the hilt with the requisite long-sleeves, shorts, gloves and beanie. Campus loop, maintenance run. 5.02 miles in 50:29 for a super-slow 10:04 min/mile pace. Double digits on the pace is rarely a positive thing. Sans music. Sluggish from start to finish. Helsinki-style. Mahalo.

November 7, 2015

Saturday Long Run. Game Day. Hit the pavement about the same time the sunlight hit the olive oil. Cool temps: loaded up with long-sleeves, shorts, gloves and a beanie. 42 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) with a slight breeze. Extended South to the Municipal Water Works and then back North up the Legacy Trail. Looped around through Campus Corner to the shack. Slow and Low tempo with the Spartacus Redux Mix in full-effect on the box. Shuffled, for shits and giggles. I was giddy with fear and petulance. Finished the 10:03 mile campus loop in 1:45:30 for a sub-sonic 10:31 min/mile pace. Finished the week with 23 miles and change. Solid. Mahalo.

November 3, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Campus Loop. Awoke to temps in the mid-50s (53 degrees Fahrenheit, 12 degrees Celsius) with a brisk wind out of the South. After a week in the mid-40s, it actually felt warm out on the trail this morning. Out the door and headed East for a reversed loop: South to Highway 9 and West to the South Greek and Elm. Finished the 5.59 mile maintenance run in an underwhelming 55:08 for a 9:51 min/mile pace. Mahalo.

November 1, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Extended Campus Loop. A fairly rare Sunday morning run in the books to kick off November. It's tough to call eight-miles a "long-run," so I'll go with an extended maintenance run. Nice and chilly this morning: temps in the mid-40s (43 degrees Fahrenheit, 6 degrees Celsius) with negligible winds. Hit the Boyd Street Portal and headed South past the Highway 9 boundary, looped back North and finished up weaving through the campus environs. Completed the 8.03 miles in 1:25:11 for a 10:36 min/mile pace. 90s Grunge on the box. A solid, cool, Autumn run. 17 and change for the week. Planning on 5-5-5-10 for this week. Mahalo.

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. 

September 29, 2015

Dawn Patrol. An absolutely beautiful morning with that unmistakeable early Autumn coolness in the air. Temp was a pleasant 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) with 85% relative humidity. Started slow and stiff but managed to finish the 5.79 mile campus loop with a sub-10 min/mile pace. We're close to breaking out the long-sleeves, which is always nice. Completed the aforementioned 5.79 mile campus loop in 56:19 for a sub-sonic 9:44 min/mile pace. Another solid maintenance run. Weights tomorrow. Good times. Mahalo.

September 26, 2015

Early Saturday Long Run. Out the door at daybreak: temp was a manageable 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 Celsius) with 100% humidity. Completed the 10.03 mile extended campus loop in 1:44:49 for a 10:27 min/mile average pace. Started strong and finished relatively depleted. "Could have been the Willie Nelson, could have been the wine." Finished the week with 21.55 miles on three runs. Also completed two quality workouts at the gym. Two days off for rest. A solid week of exercise. Will break 20 again next week. Downtime planned for Sunday. Mahalo.

September 24, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Completed the 5.71 mile campus loop in a pedestrian 56:08 for a 9:50 min/mile average pace. Awoke to a manageable 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius) with a relative humidity of 60%. Autumn remains firmly out of reach at this early stage. Holding out for cold fronts and cool, crisp air; long-sleeves and gloves. Had a solid Chest-Tri workout on Wednesday. Feeling it today. Will get into double-digits with Saturday's long run. Thinking Ten would be nice. Mahalo.

September 22, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Hit the road to deceivingly warm and humid conditions. The thermometer read 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the humidity was a balmy 90%. It felt warmer as the run progressed. Water stop at Reeves was a lifesaver. Finished the 5.81 mile campus loop in an underwhelming 57:48 for an average pace of 9:57 min/mile. Entered through the Boyd Street Portal and headed South to the Rugby Fields. Very standard, uneventful, beginning-of-the-week maintenance run. Mahalo.

September 19, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Game Day #2. Hit the road after solid rains throughout the witching hours. Cool temps (63 degrees Fahrenheit, 17 Celsius) and a nice North breeze. Post-thunderstorm bliss. Extended the route South to the gravel and North via Legacy Trail. Finished the 8.69 mile campus loop in 1:25:21 for a 9:49 min/mile pace. The junkies, pre-emptive tailgaters and early-birds were out in full-force, as kickoff was at 1100 am. The truly dedicated are sucking down Bud Lights and Malboro Reds at dawn. Spartacus Redux Mix on the box. Generation X Grunge-Masters. Solid. Finished the week with 19.78 miles and three runs + 2 gym visits, Chest and Tri and Back and Bi. It was a good week. Mahalo.

September 17, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Out the door before the sunlight hit the olive oil. Another go-to maintenance run: uneventful and predictable. Boyd Street Portal to the South, returning up Jenkins. Completed the 5.26 mile campus loop in 52.26 for a blistering 9.58 min/mile  pace. Conditions were hot and humid. Water stop at Reeves Park was necessary. Flirting with a Mon-Wed-Thurs-Sat running schedule. Tuesday and Friday at the gimnasio. Developing. Mahalo.

September 15, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Back in the game after taking yesterday off due to lightening and torrential rainfall. The weekend was lost to drunkenness and debauchery, which is always interesting, even at this advanced stage of the game. I digress. Hit the road this morning and was greeted by a cool 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) and a nice Southern breeze. Autumn looms. Finished the 5.83 mile campus loop in a mere 55:35 for a 9:32 min/mile pace. H20 stop at Reeves really helped out. It was, compared to my recent runs, a blistering pace! To the gym tomorrow for a chest and tricep workout; had two solid workouts last week. Thursday and Saturday runs to keep me honest. Mahalo.

September 9, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Misty Mountain Hop. 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) with a cool breeze, 100% humidity and a light mist. Beautiful conditions for a seemingly effortless five-mile campus loop. Bowel-Related Issues (BRIs) caused an unplanned pit stop at Reeves Park around mile three. The citizens of Norman should be commended for their tax dollars being spent on such world class facilities. Finished the mist-shrouded campus loop (5.01 miles) in 49:03 for an average pace of 9:47 average pace. Chest and Tri workout on Tuesday. Mahalo.

September 7, 2015

Sunlit Campus Loop. Out the door to hot and humid conditions: 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius) and 90% humidity. The Song Remains the Same. Completed the 5.02 miles in 50:38 for a slowish 10:06 min/mile average pace. Returned to the Boyd Portal route. Temperature change, albeit a slight one, on the horizon for later this week. Autumn looms. Mahalo.

September 5, 2015

Out the door as the sunlight hit the olive oil. Hot (73 degrees Fahrenheit, 23 Celsius) with 90% humidity. First Game Day run of 2015. Campus was alive and kicking. Entered through the Boyd Street Portal, South to the Highway 9 boundary, back up Jenkins to the skateboard park, and then returned to the shack via Andrews Park. It was extremely warm and humid: H2O stops at Reeves and Andrews Parks were vital. Started sub-10 and then settled into a slower groove. Finished the 7.24 mile campus loop in 1:13:44 for a 10:11 min/mile pace. Spartacus Redux Mix on the box. 19.28 miles for the week. Mahalo.

September 2, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Inaugural run for the month. Out the door to a cool 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and 85% humidity. Entered campus through the Elm portal and finished on the East side for what I like to refer to as "reversing the route." Will spend the next few months in this mode. Completed the 6.02 mile campus loop in 58:58 for a 9:48 min/mile pace. Sore left calf pain after Monday's run dissipated and was not a factor this AM. To the gym on Thursday. Mahalo.