A Case of the Mondays

63 mins8+ milesToday was a great morning to run, unusually cool (low 70s) and overcast. I ran through Crestwood to the levee, ran down to the White Settlement bridge, back on the levee and up Hidden Road (last time up that beeotch of a hill!) and to Rivercrest. Since it's probably my last time on the golf course, and since the course is closed to golfers on Mondays, I decided to extend my time there and meander around for a few miles.As I was running, my mind wandered to all the various people I've run with on the golf course over the years. Some...

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Week in Review

70 miles1 hour yoga, 1 hour tennis (yes, I'm counting that)A solid Week 2 in the books. Like last week, it felt surprisingly easy to achieve this many miles (not to mention I feel like a slacker because my teammate rocked a whopping 93 miles this week!!). I had several solid workouts and overall my legs felt fresher and stronger than the previous week. Still slightly concerned about my left hamstring, which remains tight. Not sure what to do besides stretch, which I've been doing ad nauseum. I'd love to get a massage but I don't have that kind...

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Sunday Long-ish

1:1510+ milesAfter an uncharacteristically late night, I got an even later start on the run than usual. Not what I was hoping for. Fortunately, a storm rolled through earlier this morning, leaving overcast skies and temps in the 70s for most of the run. The humidity was pretty out of control, though, and I looked like I'd jumped in a swimming pool by the end of the run.I started at a fairly easy pace, heading south on Bailey to University and then...

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Easy Saturday

AM: 46 mins6 milesPM: 35 mins4.5 miles Ran super easy this morning on the mini-loop. Today would've been better for yesterday's workout, as it was overcast and not too windy, but that's how it goes sometimes. Finished up with a few loops on the golf course before heading home to start packing for the ATL. As I was weeding through all the useless crap I've accumulated in my apartment, I stumbled upon a Ben Gay pain relief patch. There's a solid chance...

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Windy Tempo Workout

25 min. w/u6 mi. tempo @ MP (6:52, 6:52, 7:00, 6:37, 6:36, 6:35)13 min c/dTotal: ~11 milesThis morning dawned with less than ideal weather for a long workout: hot, humid and quite windy. I ran an easy warm-up through the cemetery and added on a bit extra to make sure my left hamstring was nice and loose. Started the tempo on the levee and hit the first mile marker comfortably in 6:52. Shortly after, I rounded a bend and was hit smack in the face with a stiff headwind. It persisted for the next two miles, during which I felt as though I was running...

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Trifecta, Week 2

AM: 47 mins6+ miles1 hour yogaPM: 25 mins3 milesRan the mini-loop around 7:20 pace this morning. I felt pretty sluggish at the start, but by the time I hit the golf course at halfway things started coming together. Added on down Monticello and around the park to get in an extra mile.At the end of a particularly intense yoga session today, the instructor announced to the class that I was moving to Atlanta next week and wished me luck. I may or may not have teared up a bit. It's funny, I couldn't be more excited about moving, but I find myself getting...

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Norman Run/Katy Trail Double

AM: 67:249 milesPM: 25 mins3 milesMaybe it was the hour of Wimbledon-esque tennis that Jordan and I played yesterday afternoon, or maybe it was the peach-flavored Lindemans I enjoyed in the shower immediately following, but for whatever reason my legs didn't feel nearly as bad as I was expecting them to this morning. What a refreshing change of pace.Jordan and I left Campus Lodge circa 8:00 and ran to meet Scotty D for an easy recovery run. We met him along Jenkins just past Lloyd Noble, looped through the neighborhoods, ran back through the OU...

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Grass Track Workout

25 min w/u (3+ miles)8x800 at 10k pace (adjusted for GT) w/2:00 recovery:3:03, 3:03, 3:03, 3:00, 3:01, 3:00, 3:00, 2:5721 min c/d (3 miles), 15 mins stretchingTotal: ~12 milesToday's workout was designed to be 8x800 at 10k pace. However, given that I was running on the grass track (GT) in Norman--which runs more like a cross-country course than a road or an actual track--it was unanimously agreed upon that I should adjust the times considerably. According to Jilane and Jordan, the conversion from the GT to mondo is about 12-16 secs per mile, or...

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Early Morning Run

52 mins.~7 milesI was slightly confused when my alarm went off at 5:55 this morning, as I couldn't initially recall why I needed to get up at such an unorthodox hour (thank goodness I don't have a real job, otherwise 5:55 would probably be standard). After a few groggy moments, I realized I was meeting Cindy for an early run before she headed to work. Our schedules have been off the past few weeks so we haven't had an opportunity to meet up, and I was looking forward to catching up with her on an easy run.In order to meet her on "our corner" near...

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Week in Review

~64 miles, 1 hour yoga(Like Jilane, I have no desire to add minutes)After adding up my mileage, I was surprised to see that it was as high as it was. I probably haven't run over 60mpw in six months, but the number seemed quite easy to achieve (which is good, because I'm sure my mileage is only going to increase from here). Although I spent the majority of the week feeling stiff and sore, it was a refreshing change and a signal to my body that it's actually doing something significant for once.As important as the physical manifestations are, what's...

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White Rock Loop

1:20 ~10.5 miles Had a great Sunday run on a day that was cooler and less humid than those in recent memory. I ran a loop around White Rock Lake in Dallas with my dad and his friend Tim. After starting at Norbuck Park, I ran the first 20 minutes at their pace and then picked it up a bit for the rest. Immediately I could tell my legs felt 100% better than yesterday, even though I'm still a bit stiff and sore. I ran comfortably under 7:30 pace for...

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Dad's Day (Belated) 5k

35 min w/up, 5k (23:20), 10 min c/d68:20 (~8.5 miles)Since my parents are in town to visit me one last time before I move, my dad wanted me to run the Dad's Day 5k with him. Granted, Father's Day was last weekend, but apparently the race management chose to move it a week later this year in hopes of increasing attendance. Since I was pretty stiff and sore from my first week of actual training, I was perfectly content to wog the run at my dad's pace. My schedule called for a 4/4 double, but because I knew I'd be spending the entire day with my parents,...

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Levee Workout

3x2mi @ MP (6:52 for 3:00)800m wog in between~11 milesStarted the run with an 18 min. warm-up through the cemetery and down to the closest mile marker on the levee. My legs felt pretty tight at the start and I had no idea how the pace would feel. Since the trail is only marked at the miles, with no intermediate markers, I had to do the workout largely on feel (which can be a challenge when the legs feel equally tight at 7:30 pace or 6:30 pace). I nearly fell over with shock when I split the first mile in exactly 6:52. Second mile was 6:45 to finish...

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Trifecta

AM: 50 mins, ~7 miles on treadmill1 hour yogaPM: 25 mins, 3+ milesI was supposed to do a 6 mile cut-down of sorts with Cindy, but I awoke to torrential thunderstorms that persisted throughout the morning. I resigned myself to doing the run on the gym treadmill before yoga instead. Treadmills are stupid and I was frustrated with the entire situation, so after a very easy mile or so I just set it on 2% incline and 7:20 pace and held it there. Finished at a round 50 mins and headed to yoga, which was intense. I will honestly miss this challenging...

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Recovery Day

1:05~8.5 milesToday was supposed to be a 4/4 recovery day, but since I wouldn't be able to run in the evening I decided to combine for a longer morning run. I was a bit apprehensive about how the legs would feel post-workout, but to my surprise/relief I didn't detect much soreness. That said, the legs were pretty heavy, and I'd be shocked if I ran a single mile under 7:30 today.In hopes of keeping things flat, I decided to run down Bailey Ave. to University and then onto the crushed gravel trails in Trinity Park. Finished up through Greenwood Cemetery....

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Cutting Shapes

Scheduled: 2-3mi w/u10x400 in 82-84 w/400m jog in between2mi c/dAs I parked my car at the TCU track, I texted Jilane something along the lines of: "I'm wearing spandex and T5's and I'm ready to change my life." Translation: "Please let me finish this workout without passing out, pulling a muscle or otherwise maiming myself." Even though I knew the prescribed workout was doable, I was a bit nervous about stepping onto the track after a multi-year hiatus. I started as early as possible in an effort to beat the heat, but even at 7:30am the temperature...

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Starting Off

46 mins.~6 milesToday was Jilane's and my first day on Jeff's training schedule, and can we please talk about how excited I am to finally have a purpose to my training?? Until today, when various friends/family/accounts have asked, "So what are you training for?" or "How has your training been going?" my standard response has been, "I'm doing a lot of yoga." I feel like that succinctly sums up the general apathy I've been feeling toward running lately. However, ever since Jordan and Jilane and I have been talking about MCM (and cajoling/bribing/threatening...

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Attraversiamo

The literal Italian translation of "attraversiamo" means "to cross to the other side." In common Italian vernacular, one would use it to say "let's cross over," as in crossing the street. At this point in my life, "attraversiamo" represents a new beginning. Crossing over from one phase of my life to another. I'll have a new city, new work environment, new friendships, and a brand-new training goal: Marine Corps Marathon 2008. Coached by Jeff "G-Unit" Gaudette, Jilane and I comprise Team MJ, and we share one goal: to win the MCM challenge and put...

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