July 11, 2015

In the Evening. Hot and humid remains the storyline in these parts. 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius) with the relative humidity at 75% made for another muggy evening run. Started and finished right at the 10:00 min/mile pace and had no problem keeping the tempo slow and low. Completed the 6.22 campus loop in 1:01:52 for a 9:57 min/mile pace. Shoes are shot: 374 miles on 57 runs (61 hours and 46 minutes) with maybe a couple of additional runs left before they transition to walk-around status. 17 miles and change for the week. Mahalo. 

July 8, 2015

In the Evening. Another brutally humid pm run. The temp, however, was a manageable 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or 22 degrees Celsius with a relative humidity of 95%. Returned to the classic Eastern Approach route for a change of pace. Skirting the Eastern boundary of the campus to its Southern reaches and a return on the Western boundary, through the South Greek and campus environs. Beautiful, calm, minimal traffic and various running surfaces with which to contend. Completed the 6.03 miles in 59:57 for a 9:56 min/mile average pace. First sub-10 minute per mile pace since June 18th. Solid finish. Mahalo.

July 6, 2015

In the Evening. Back on the trail as the sun set for another hot and humid run. 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) coupled with an obscene relative humidy made it uncomfortable from about mile two onward. The pace was slow and deliberate from the onset. Completed the 5.39 mile campus loop in 56:32 for a 10:29 min/mile pace. 260th fastest 4-6 mile workout, according to Runkeeper. Regardless of the slow pace, it was a solid run. And a slow, sluggish run is better than no run any day of the week! Mahalo. 

July 1, 2015

In the Evening. Another hot (81 degrees Fahrenheit, 27 Celsius) and humid (80%) post-sunset run. This evening's 5.39 miles was particularly slow and sluggish. Finished the campus loop in an underwhelming 56:05 for a 10:24 min/mile pace. Runkeeper stats informing me that it's my 257th fastest 4-6 mile run! (Exclamation point is theirs!) June's numbers were below average, both in terms of runs and miles. Fiinished the month with nine runs and 55.1 miles. Did take a week off to rest a lingering shin issue, so it does make sense. Mahalo. 

June 29, 2015

In the Evening. Sore right shin issue after last Tuesday's run prompted me to take a week off to recuperate. Felt good to get back out on the trail after a brief respite. Headed out with 75 degree temps (24 Celsius) and 100% humidity. The rain started around mile three. Started at the Boyd Street portal, South to the Highway 9 boundary, East to Jenkins, North to Andrews Park and then back to the shack. Finished the 7.26 mile campus loop in 1:14:04 for a 10:12 average min/mile pace. Spartacus Redux Mix on the box. Good times out there. Mahalo. 

June 23, 2015

In the Evening. Channeling my inner masochist with the temperature a warm 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius) and a relative humidity of 80%. Sweated through the 6.42 mile campus loop in an underwhelming 1:05:51 for a 10:15 min/mile average pace. Mirrored the June 20, 2015 route and then added a bit on the end. Times were almost identical, pace-wise. I have zero complaints as I sit at the kitchen table enjoying a cold Asahi. Mahalo. 

June 20, 2015

Another evening run. Different conditions for an early-morning runner: 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) with a steamy 90% humidity. Headed out through the Boyd Street portal to the Highway 9 boundary and then cut over to Jenkins and up the East side of the campus. Per recent custom, I started relatively strong (9:15 pace) and began a slow descent around the third mile. Water stop at Reeves Park was a life saver. Finished the 6.12 miles in a sub-sonic 1:02:40 for a 10:14 min/mile pace. Three runs and 18 miles for the week. Will get a ten-mile long run this week. Mahalo.

June 18, 2015

A rare evening run. Awoke to torrential rainfall, so I postponed my planned six miles to this evening. Definitely a different buzz changing up the routine. Even pulled out the earbuds and played the go-to Spartacus Re-Mix just like the old days. 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius) with 90% humidity to make things interesting. Completed the 6.02 mile campus loop in 58:36 for a 9:44 min/mile pace. A long run this weekend looms. Good times. Mahalo. 

June 15, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Back on the trail after a weekend of travel left me run-less. Temp was a manageable 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) with 100% humidity and no breeze. Started relatively strong and ended up finishing depleted. The descent began around mile three. Finished the 6.03 mile go-to campus loop in 59:42 for a slowish 9:54 min/mile pace. Mahalo.

June 10, 2015

Early Morning. Out the door a bit later than usual. 70 degrees (21 Celsius), 85% humidity and a negligible breeze from the South. The mid-run H2O stop probably saved me from having a nervous breakdown. Continued the trend of slow and methodical runs. Changed the route a bit: entered through the Boyd Street Portal, headed South to the Highway 9 perimeter, took the gravel East to Jenkins and then returned home through the campus. A nice change of scenery and routine. Finished the 5.60 mile campus loop in 55:41 for a super-slow 9:56 minute/mile average pace. Aloha.

June 8, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Out the door at daybreak after a weekend of downtime. Was a bit slow this morning; in fact, the Runkeeper folks let me know it was my 258th fastest 5-miler! Proud. Finished the 5.61 mile campus loop in a super-slow 55:57 for a 9:58 min/mile pace. Temps in the low-70s and 85% humidity, which I definitely felt. Mahalo.

June 4, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Out the door to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius), 95% humidity and a solid breeze from the South. Completed the 6.03 mile go-to campus loop in a pedestrian 57:52 for a 9:36 average pace, which, according to the fine folks at Runkeeper, was my 168th fastest six-miles to date. Blame it on the Redbreast. Slow and low that it is the tempo, comes to mind. A planned 10-miler for Saturday. Mahalo.

June 2, 2015

Dawn Patrol. Back to familiar environs. Inaugurated June's running calender with a humid 6.04 mile campus loop. Temps were a relatively cool 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 Celsius) with absolutely no breeze.  Back to sleeveless tops and shorts. Finished the loop in 57:37 for a 9:33 min/mile average pace. Felt decent from start to finish. Ended up with 65 miles on 10 runs for the month of May. Should have between 80 and 100 in June. Mahalo.

May 29, 2015

San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hot and humid. Almost killed me. No water on the route and that, ultimately, was my downfall. Out the door at the crack of nine to temps in the mid-80's (84 Fahrenheit, 29 Celsius) with 95% humidity. The tropical heat and humidity were over the top for this pre-dawn runner. Did not have the foresight to run with a bottle of water and there were absolutely zero water fountains along the trail. Finished the 4.25 mile route in a desperate 44:22 for a sub-sonic 10:26 min/mile pace. Regardless, it still beat the hell out of running on the hotel treadmill. A couple of days off after a four-day spate of travel, excess and debauchery. Back on the road mañana to begin June's runs. After a month of travel, waves of storms and torrential rain, I still managed ten runs in the month of May. Mahalo.

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.