May 26, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Back out on the trail after a planned four-day break. Heavy rains and flooding in this area has been off the proverbial chart. Awoke today to Marine Layer Fog and cool temps (55 degrees Fahrenheit, 13 Celsius). Super nice running conditions. Completed the go-to 6.03 mile campus loop in 57:45 for a 9:35 min/mile pace. Mahalo.

May 21, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to cool and windy conditions: temp was 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) with a nice North wind. Pulled the long-sleeves out of temporary storage yet again. Pace was consistent from start to finish. Completed the 6.03 mile campus loop in 57:45 for a windblown 9:35 min/mile average pace. Mahalo.

May 19, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Out the door to cool and windy conditions. Temps in the low-60s (61 F, 16 C) with a decent North wind. Thunderstorms were in the forecast; however, graciously held off until later in the day. Humidity was also pretty high (90%), which, coupled with the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that I consumed last evening, made for a sluggish finish to things. I call it wine-soaked bliss. Felt a bit parched afterwards. Anyhow, completed the 6.02 mile campus loop in 58:22 for a 9:41 min/mile pace. No complaints. Shoes have 275 miles on them after 40 runs, so they are rapidly approaching their retirement. Mahalo.

May 16, 2015

Early Saturday Morning Long Run. Temps were a manageable 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 Celsius) with a slight South breeze. The sun came out around mile five, which, coupled with the humidity, made things interesting. Luckily, the sushi and Asahi from last night provided the requisite carbs to get me home. Bowel-Related Issues (BRIs) lurked and could have potentially derailed the good vibes, but, thankfully, they did not. Pace was slow and low, per Hal Higdon's long-run philosophy. Headed North to Robinson, over to the Legacy Trail, South past Highway 9, then looped back to the campus and the shack. A solid 10.05 miles completed in 1:45:11 for a sub-sonic 10:28 min/mile average pace. Good times. 22 miles for the week. Mahalo.

May 13, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Another beautiful morning for running. Cool (50 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 Celsius) with a slight North breeze. Long-sleeves and shorts once again. The first three miles were slow and methodical, while the second three miles saw an increase in speed (relatively speaking, of course) and focus. Completed the standard 6.00 mile campus loop in 56:34 for 9:25 min/mile pace. More people getting out on the trail with the weather turning. It's all shits and giggles until it's 88 degrees with 100% humidity at 500 am. I'm enjoying the weather until then. Mahalo.

May 11, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to temps in the 40s, so I broke out the gloves and long-sleeves for this one. Most definitely overkill, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Cool with a slight North breeze the entire run. I was, however, slow and sluggish from start to finish; never quite found a solid groove. These things happen. Finished the 6.01 campus loop in a slow 59:17 for a 9:52 min/mile pace. More precipitation looms for the remainder of the week. Mahalo.

May 9, 2015

Early Morning Saturday Run. The combination of Bushmills and West Coast NBA Playoff games is not conducive to quality, early morning long-runs. Unless, of course, you are a masochist. Out the door about an hour later than planned this morning. Another soaked, post-thunderstorm run after yesterday's round of storms. Temps in the mid-60s (63 F, 17C) with a slight South breeze. Headed South past the Highway 9 boundary and then back North through campus, around Andrews Park and back to the shack. A slow, sluggish run. Water stops at Reeves and the Skate Park probably kept me alive. Completed the 9.01 loop in a sub-sonic 1:33:04 for a 10:20 min/mile pace. Finished the week with 20.3 miles. Mahalo.

May 7, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Post-Thunderstorm Bliss. Out the door an hour or so after massive thunderstorms moved through the area. It was a cool and breezy 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 Celsius). Long-sleeves and shorts. Water everywhere, so I kept to the streets and sidewalks. Finished the go-to 6.02 mile campus loop in 57:23 for a 9:32 min/mile average pace. Solid. Mahalo.

May 4, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Back on the street after a week of planned down time. Temps in the low-60s, a slight breeze from the South and humidity in the 90% range. Short sleeves and shorts to initiate the first run of May. Completed the 5.28 mile campus loop in 51:57 for a slowish 9:50 min/mile pace. Started slow and never sped up. Solid effort in spite of the sluggishness. Hitting the gym tomorrow for S and G's. Mahalo.

April 26, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Took a couple of days off this week to rest in preparation for The OKC Memorial Marathon. A beautiful cool and overcast day to get a 13.1 mile run in the books. As opposed to the previous three years, the weather cooperated and was absolutely perfect. Temps in the mid-50s and a nice breeze throughout the race. Great turnout, as usual. I actually ran a bit faster than last year's effort. Finished the weaving, rambling 13.50 miles in 2:06:56 for a 9:24 min/mile pace. (Actual race distance of 13.1 was completed in 2:04.10 for a 9:29 min/mile pace.) I was pleased with my results: I felt good from the onset; maintained a solid, steady pace; and finished strong. What else is there? Good times running solo in the midst of 15,000 other runners. Mahalo.

April 22, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Out the door in the pre-dawn hour to a cool 51 degrees (11 Celsius) and the threat of rain on the horizon. It was a cool, breezy morning. Started things off at the Boyd Street portal for a change of pace. Headed South and returned on the Eastern edge of campus. Had a Bowel-Related Issue (BRI) during the last quarter of the run and was forced to poach a bathroom at Kaufman Hall. Luckily, most campus buildings are open at 600 am and can save a brother when necessary. I loathe to contemplate the outcome had the building been closed. Finished the 5.29 miles in 51:33 for a slow 9:45 min/mile pace. Not bad for never feeling the "groove" this morning. Rain started to fall as I walked in the front door post-run. Mahalo.

April 19, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Sunday Long Run. Hit the trail later than usual so I could sleep in a bit. Out the door with the sun. Cool temps (51 F, 11 C) with 100% humidity. No rain this morning after an eventful late afternoon and early evening yesterday. A slow, solid 10.07 mile campus loop. Headed North to Robinson and the Legacy Trail, South past Highway 9 and then hooked up with Chautauqua and the South Greek to the house. A very mellow running environment. Finished in 1:42:23 for a 10:10 min/mile pace. Started faster and gradually slowed down as the miles added up. Ran with my go-to Espanish Mix, which prominently features Calle 13, Jarabe de Palo, Julietta Benegas, Manu Chao and others. A very eclectic mix of good tunes. It's been a while since I've run with earbuds, but I thought today it would be a good change of pace. 13-miler next Sunday looms. Mahalo.

April 17, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to temps in the low 60s (63 F, 17 C) with the humidity in the mid-90% range. A cool front came in from the North around mile three and definitely made things more enjoyable. Beat the rain by a couple of hours. A bottle of Merlot Thursday night made today's run a bit sluggish...and Thursday night more enjoyable. Finished the standard, go-to 6.02 mile maintenance run is a wine-soaked 59:03 for a 9:49 min/mile pace. Absolutely no complaints. Mahalo.

April 14, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to a beautiful, almost cold Spring morning. A light drizzle greeted me at the door and accompanied me throughout the run. Soft, passive rain. Hit the pavement to still, deserted streets. Broke out the winter gear for this one. Completed the 6.03 mile campus loop in a soggy 57:22 for a 9:31 min/mile pace. Felt good getting back out on the road after a day to recover from the heat and hills of the Redbud 10k run on Sunday. Would have loved to have run in these conditions instead of the heat and fear of last Sunday. Stoked for the impending half-marathon in a couple of weeks. Mahalo.

April 12, 2015

Redbud Classic 10K. 200 pm kickoff. Temps in the mid-70's, which, for someone who runs under cover of darkness in the pre-dawn hours, was like baking in an oven. Luckily, there was a nice breeze from time to time or I would have burned up like a meteorite on re-entry. Overall, the temps took it out of me; however, the doctor, a.k.a. Serpico, and I did manage to break the one-hour mark, albeit by a handful of seconds. Finished the 6.26 miles in 59:39 for a 9:32 min/mile pace. The course was, per custom, a bit crowded this afternoon. People were tapping out due to the heat, at times miles from the finish line. And that is never a good thing. Free beer at the finish line was a first, and should be mandatory for all runs. The amateurs at the OKC Memorial should take note, but they won't. A solid effort under different and difficult circumstances. Two weeks until the half at the OKC Memorial Marathon. Mahalo.

April 10, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Cold Front Blues Revisited. There was a 24 degrees drop between Tuesday's and Friday's runs. Hit the trail this AM with temps at 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 Celsius) and no wind.  Cold front moved through on Thursday night and kept temps low through Friday morning. No big deal. Broke out the lightweight gloves and long-sleeves and the hit the road.  Finished the 6.01 mile campus loop in 56:52 for a 9:28 min/mile average pace. Solid run. Saturday off. The Redbud 10K on Sunday with the Doctor. Good times await. Mahalo.

April 7, 2015

Dawn Patrol. The temperature at 530 am was a perfect 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 Celsius) with 100% humidity and a gentle wind out of the South. "Humidity" now replaces "wind chill" as the variable to watch in addition to the temperature. Finished the standard 6.01 mile campus loop in 57:37 for an uninspired 9:35 min/mile pace. Will get two more runs in before the Redbud Classic 10K this Sunday. Mahalo.

April 5, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Overcast, periods of chilly rain and a somewhat uncomfortable South wind for this morning's campus loop. Awoke to temps in the mid-40s with a steady drizzle. Headed out to deserted streets and the prospect of a wet, cold Sunday morning run. Took the go-to route and extended it to the Highway 9 boundary. Completed the 6.39 mile campus loop in a wet 1:01:22 for a 9:36 min/mile pace. Managed 21 miles last week. Solid. Warmer weather on the radar. Mahalo.

April 2, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Temps in the low 60s to start the month of April. Given a super-generous spot of 6:05 minutes on the first mile due to an obvious GPS glitch. So instead of spending way too much time and effort trying to straighten it out on the the back end, I ditched the Runkeeper and used one of last week's times for today's loop. For the record, finished the 6.06 mile campus loop in 55:47 for a 9:12 min/mile pace. Sore right knee, although I'm almost sure I did not tweak it running and it does not seem to be a huge issue. Cold front on the way to lower temps substantially and bring 50 mph winds. Joy. Mahalo.

March 31, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Marine layer fog. Finished March with 12 runs and 80 miles on the road. Hit the trail this morning to heavy fog and temps hovering around 60 degrees. Not a trace of wind. Entered at the Boyd portal and headed South down the western boundary of campus, past the Lloyd Noble Center, over to Jenkins and back North to the shack. Finished the 5.25 mile campus loop in 50:01 for a 9:32 min/mile pace. Looking forward to April, as the RedBud 10K is scheduled for April 12th and the OKC Memorial Marathon will be on the 26th. (I will run the half-marathon.) Good times. Mahalo.

March 29, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Sunday Long Run. Hit the trail in the pre-dawn darkness for a ten-miler. The temperature was a cool 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) with a moderate South wind. Absolutely perfect conditions. Headed North to the Robinson boundary, down the Legacy trail to Jenkins, onward past Highway 9 and then looped back North through the campus. Slow pace from start to finish, per Hal Higdon's training wisdom. Completed the 10.09 miles (16 kilometers) in 1:47:34 for a sub-sonic 10:40 min/mile pace. H2O stop at Reeves Park is open for business. Cadence, mechanics and system maintenance all received prominent placement. Cheers.

March 26, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Cold front arrived last night and brought strong North winds and a serious drop in temps. Awoke to a coolish 40-degrees Fahrenheit (4 Celsius) and a strong North wind that made it feel more like 34 degrees (1 Celsius). Broke out the heavier long-sleeves and gloves for this one. Such is the life of a runner during March and April in these parts. In three months I will be fantasizing about mornings like this one. Finished the 6.0 mile campus loop in 57:35 for a 9:35 min/mile pace. Absolutely no complaints. Mahalo.

March 24, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Temps in the mid-50s with a decent South wind. Long-sleeves and shorts, although I could have worn short-sleeves and been just fine. Another 6.06 mile campus loop finished in 55:46 for a 9:12 min/mile pace, which, according to Runkeeper is the 61st fastest time that I've run this route. The weather is absolutely phenomenal. Waiting for the heat and humidity to build. Mahalo.

March 21, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to a windless 48 degrees Fahrenheit (9 Celsius) and fog. Pushed my planned ten-miles to next weekend due to work commitments, but managed to get a short fun-run in for shits and giggles. Long-sleeves, shorts and gloves. Another great morning for running. Completed the 4.27 mile campus loop in 40:11 for a 9:25 min/mile pace. Finished strong. Mahalo.

March 19, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Marine Layer Fog and brief moments of drizzle to start the day. Out the door after two-days off. Torrential downpour kept me indoors yesterday. Shorts and long-sleeves for excellent running weather: 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) and calm winds. Completed the 6.03 mile campus loop in 56:39 for a faster-than-usual 9:24 min/mile pace. Faster is obviously used in the relative sense. A day to recuperate prior to Saturday's planned ten-miler. Mahalo.

March 16, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Felt good to get out on the trail after a planned five-day respite. Finished last week with a Monday-Tuesday back-to-back for a total of eleven miles. Took the rest of the week off. The weather is definitely changing. Not ready to give up the long-sleeves just yet, but I left the gloves and soft cap at the shack. Temp was 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius) with a slight breeze. Finished the uneventful 6.04 mile campus loop in 57:39. The average pace was 9:33; it was, according to Run Keeper, the 139th fastest time I have clocked for this route. Proud. Hitting the road without music has been a nice change of pace. Mahalo.

March 10, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Rare mid-week back-to-back. Awoke to cool temps (45 degrees Fahrenheit and 7 Celsius), marine layer fog and cold drizzle. A perfect morning for lacing up the New Balance kicks and hitting the trail. The Runkeeper app clocked my first mile at 7:20, which is not in the realm of possibilities, and the second mile a bit slower. Obviously having serious synch issues, I blew off the auto-tracking and went on about my business. I ran the same route as yesterday and simply used that data for this morning's run. It should not too far off. Completed the 5.47 mile campus loop in 54:07 for a 9:54 min/mile pace. Mahalo.

March 9, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to 44 degrees Fahrenheit (7 Celsius) and a negligible breeze from the West. The drizzle and fog from start to finish in no way diminished the joy felt running in these relatively "balmy" conditions. The tail end of Winter feels good. Spring looms, although there will inevitably be set-backs, false starts and dashed hopes. And rain. A lot of rain. Started at the Boyd Street portal for a change of pace. Finished the campus loop with a fly-by of the SAE house and the media circus. Completed the 5.47 mile run (9k) in 54:07 for a 9:54 min/mile average pace. Mahalo.

March 7, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Saturday Long Run. With temps right at freezing (32 F, 0 C) and no wind, it felt like a Spring day out on the trail. Layered up and waited until the sunlight hit the olive oil before heading out. Extended the loop North to Robinson and the Legacy trail and then pushed the Southern boundary past Highway 9 and the Oliver Stone Wildlife Preserve. Completed the 9.40 mile loop (15.12 km) in 1:32:08 for a 9:48 min/mile pace. Ditched the ear buds yet again and will continue to run sans music for a bit. It's a nice change and lets me focus on breathing, cadence and mechanics. Day Light Savings time arrives tomorrow, which will give me a good excuse to tweak the routes for shits and giggles. Finished the week with 21.61 miles.

March 4, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Awoke to freezing temps (27 degrees Fahrenheit or -3 degrees Celsius) and a brutal 20 mph wind out of the north. Started cold, but it was definitely manageable. The discomfort level increased exponentially when I hit the 1.5 mile mark and the sleet started. Finished the last three miles fighting the sleet and wind hitting me in the face. Relentlessly. Ended the run soaked to the bone and super cold. Completed the 6.16 mile campus loop in a frigid 1:00:56 for a 9:54 min/mile pace. I'm ready for Spring and a change of weather patterns. Ditched the earbuds and focused on cadence, mechanics and the wind-driven sleet. Mahalo.