Friday Morning Fun

3 mile w/u4-4.5 miles barefoot incl. 4x100m barefoot strides2.5 mile c/dTotal: ~10 milesI won't steal Jordan's thunder and share too much info about his workout, except to say that he ran very, very well. But who cares about that when I can regale you with the tales of my backwards barefoot laps? Exactly.To begin with, this was hands down the best weather of the entire week. Low 60s with a light breeze and low humidity is just about perfect by anyone's standards, and I was glad for Jordan's sake that his tempo was scheduled for today. As for myself,...

Read More

Uptempo

68 mins. incl. 3 miles uptempo (6:21, 6:25, 6:13)~9.5 milesJust like the old days when we were training for the Boomtown Run half, Jordan and I doubled up for our respective uptempo efforts. As we've done previously, I ran a few miles solo before picking him up back at the house, then once he got warmed up after a few more miles we launched into my uptempo section. Overall I felt solid, good but not great, but much smoother and more relaxed than last week. A light rain fell during the first half of the run but petered out thereafter, leaving the...

Read More

No Complaints

AM: 43 mins.6 miles15 mins. core/stretchingPM: 31 mins.4 milesYou know how every once in a while you have a run that just clicks? Sure, the other 90% of your outings may be sluggish or slow or even downright uncomfortable, but you endure these days by holding out hope for one of those rare moments of perfection. Well, friends, today was one of those days. For whatever reason, I could tell from the first few steps that it was going to be an enjoyable run. The time passed too quickly as we wound through some familiar terrain, and I was almost disappointed...

Read More

Against the Clock

3 mile w/u3 miles barefoot + 4x100m barefoot strides2.5 mile c/d (incl. 1 barefoot)Total: 8.5 milesThe time has come to bid Gary and Roger adieu, so we made plans to rendezvous for coffee at 8am prior to their departure. As a result, Jordan and I were up and out the door by 6:30 for his relatively brief 300m workout. The temperature wasn't too bad but the air was heavy and sticky--not ideal for a workout, but certainly could be worse.I followed my now-familiar routine of warming up with him, then shedding the shoes and hitting the turf for the...

Read More

Monday at the Museum

AM: 58 mins.8 milesPM: 3 milesThe constant drizzle and pervasive overcast skies made this a perfect day to stay inside. Fortunately, we'd coordinated in advance to take a private tour of the OKC Memorial Museum with Stacey, the developmental director there whom Jordan and I met at the marathon sponsors' luncheon a few weeks ago. Stacey showed the four of us around the museum and did an amazing job of bringing it to life. To say we were moved is an...

Read More

Week in Review

65 miles3 miles barefoot2? AFDs (yikes!)1 bedtime past midnightI cut the mileage back a bit this week, though not necessarily by design. Had I run long (~12) on Sunday as prescribed I would've topped out right around 70, but a combination of the weather plus visitors in town plus my own laziness proved to be too much to overcome. Oh well, as Coach Simmons keeps reminding me, there will be plenty of time to buckle down over the course of the fall season. For now I'm just enjoying some time on my feet in the morning and fun with friends and family...

Read More

Summer Breezin'

AM: Cafe PlaidPM: 57 mins.8 milesMaybe it was the fact that we didn't get home and in bed until well after 1 from the Midnight Streak, or maybe it was the heavy drizzle that was falling when I finally rose from my slumber, or maybe it was my rumbling stomach that hadn't been tended to in at least 15 hours. At any rate, I was just not in the mood to go for a run, long or otherwise, this morning. It took little convincing to bring Jordan over to the...

Read More

Midnight Streak and Other Shenanigans

60 mins.8 milesSince Jordan's big race is tonight, we ventured out for an easy shakeout around 8 this morning. He only wanted to get in 4-5 miles while I aspired to loftier goals (read: 7-8) so a spin around campus together seemed logical. First, however, we had to stroll down Asp to check out the scene on Campus Corner. Sure enough, as we'd read in the paper, contestants were lined up for several blocks to audition for "The Biggest Loser" at O'Connell's....

Read More

Saxon Trails, Sort Of

AM: 46 mins.6+ miles15 mins. core/stretchingPM: 4 milesThis morning Jordan and I decided to shake things up by seeking out a brand new running destination, the newly-created trails at Saxon. Jordan heard about this new spot from OU head coach Martin Smith, who was in the store the week prior bragging about blazing this path with the help of the Iron Wolf (if you haven't already checked out the Iron Wolf video on Jordan's blog, I suggest you do so now).On the plus side, we located the trails with relative ease and managed to find an easy access...

Read More

My Dad Thinks I'm Boring...And He Goes to Bed at 8:30

AM: 62 mins.8.5 milesPM: ~2-2.5 milesIt has been brought to my attention by my biggest fan (i.e. my dad) that my blog has been a bit lackluster this week. For that, I apologize to him and all my loyal readers, and I promise to spice things up soon...just not today. Sorry, but it's hard to really generate much excitement over a standard 8-mile run. But this weekend's going to be a doozy, Dad, just you wa...

Read More

Overserved

AM: 57 mins incl. 3 miles uptempo (~6:30 pace)8 miles15 mins. core/stretchingPM: 3 mile walk......and trust me, I'm counting that walk as something. Not miles, but perhaps calories? We ate one flapjack too many for "breakfast for dinner" and needed to walk it off., so I suggested we hoof it to McDonald's to pick out a Red Box selection. By the time we returned home my stomach felt a bit less distended, so I suppose I accomplished what I set out for.The morning run was fine, although being the genius that I am, I picked the only section of the run...

Read More

Barefoot Again

3 mile w/u3+ miles barefoot + 4x100m barefoot strides2.5 mle c/dTotal: 9 milesI did some barefoot jogging during Jordan's pre-race workout. It was swe...

Read More

Monday Double

AM: 52 mins.7 miles15 mins. corePM: 3 milesThis was a great start to the week as I put a solid double on the board. We started things off with a double loop through Sutton and some core this morning, then capped off the evening with a few laps around Norman High. My legs felt surprisingly fresh on both runs, a contrast to the way I felt finishing yesterday's longer jaunt. If the weather doesn't get out of control this could turn into a great week of traini...

Read More

Week in Review

70-71 miles5 miles barefoot2 nights at Blu1 day at Camp StuCatYup, I'm still plugging along. Nothing to report in the way of aches or pains, which is always a positive. To be honest, I have no idea where my fitness is at, as I haven't really tested it any time recently. I think next week I'll try to get in another tempo-like effort in addition to the fartlek just to give myself an idea of how everything is feeling.The highlight of this week was definitely spending time with so many friends: Brittany (Saucony), Cain (Mizuno), StuCat, Kristi, Coleman,...

Read More

Nice and Easy

90 mins.12 milesSometimes you just need an easy, relaxed girl-paced run. If you spend most of your time running with super-fast boys, you don't get these runs nearly often enough. Fortunately I had a chance to take in a morning jaunt with Jenny G. today, and my leggies definitely appreciated the slower pace. I'm already a bit sore from my hill frolicking yesterday and Jenny is still trying to shake a cold, so neither of us were pushing the tempo out there. Instead we were content to meander around town, taking in some familiar sights like Andrews...

Read More

Norman Conquest

20 min. w/u (2.5 miles)Fartlek: 8x2 mins. on, 3 mins. off20 min. c/d (2.5 miles)Total: ~10.5 milesThe Three Musketeers were up and at 'em early this morning, as we rendezvoused with Craig at his casa east of town on Tecumseh. The Norman Conquest bike tour was taking place this morning and we were charged with manning the first water stop. Fortunately, we were also given the latitude to get in a run while we were out there, which meant Jordan would be tackling a tempo effort while I would attempt a fartlek. This is the only place in all of Oklahoma...

Read More

Redemption Run

58 mins.8 milesFor this jaunt we revisited the same loop that I felt so terrible on Monday, and I'm pleased to report that I completed it without any flailing or wheezing today. The temps have dipped just slightly and the difference was noticeable in the way I felt. Hoping for even cooler weather this weekend...fingers crossed.I was going to double in the evening but I was lazy and hungry so I didn't. Got in some core work inste...

Read More

Double Trouble

AM: 50 mins.7 miles15 mins. corePM: 4 miles incl. 3x100m stridesI put in a solid double today with Jordan. The morning run took us to Sutton, where we were seeking shade, and the evening run took us back over to the track. Jordan needed to do some 200m pickups and I just wanted to get in a few easy miles. I think a storm's a brewin' as it was overcast and noticeably cooler on our PM jaunt. Of course by "noticeably cooler" I mean in the upper 80's at 7pm rather than the upper 90's. After his two hundos Jordan coached my form on a few strides. He...

Read More

Barefoot Loops

3 mile w/u~4.5 miles barefoot incl. 4x100m barefoot strides2.5 mile c/dTotal: 10 milesWhere the barefoot magic happensJordan had a mile repeat workout scheduled today, which meant we were at the door and en route to the Norman High track just past 7:00. I was excited at the prospect, not so much because he was working out but because I would be able to participate in my favorite activity, barefoot running. I basically ran backwards loops with some...

Read More

Camp StuCat

AM: 52 mins.7+ milesPM: 31 mins.4+ milesSo, my morning run was kind of a big deal today. It marked the first time I've had the privilege of running with both the men's AND women's champions of the OKC Marathon. I know, I know, you're jealous. But seriously, I had a lovely run with Jordy and Cat up in the city today. The three of us plus Cat's newly-wed husband Stu are attending a luncheon for the OKC Marathon sponsors later this morning, so we planned...

Read More

Worst. Run. Ever.

58 mins.8 milesFor reasons unbeknownst to me, this was one of my worst runs in recent memory. I'm not sure if I'm dehydrated or just tired or what, but at any rate I was ready for this to be over by mile 2. Jordan preemptively banned me from doubling today right after he said, "Seriously, you sounded better when you were running 5:58 pace last week." Guess I better listen to my body and take it easy the next few da...

Read More

Week in Review

69-70 miles6 barefoot miles50 high school football players dodged4 days over 100 degrees1 night out with good friendsThe running is going well, but man, it's hot out the...

Read More

Sweltering Sunday at Sutton

81 mins.11 milesI was feeling slightly less than chipper when my alarm rudely awoke me at 7 this morning, owing to an evening of (too much?) fun on Saturday with friends. Lucky for me, the person I was meeting to run was also among the fraternizing group of the previous evening, so both Kristi and myself were content with taking things slowly at the outset. During the first few miles I could think of little other than my pounding head, but once we entered the tranquil shade at Sutton I started to feel much better.The run passed quickly, but by...

Read More

Official Workout Photographer

3 mile w/u2 miles incl. 5x400m in 75, 74, 76, 75, 742 mile c/dTotal: 7 miles15 mins. coreJordan had another track workout scheduled for today, and asked me to snap a few photos so he could "spice up his blog." I didn't have much else to do--would've liked to run my own workout but didn't want to overdo it; would've liked to run barefoot but didn't want to overdo that either--so I was happy to oblige. To keep myself from getting terribly bored, I...

Read More

Today's High: 104

AM: 60 mins.8.5 milesWind: 20mph gusting to 25mphPM: 3 milesThe wind simply refuses to die down this week, so for the sake of shelter (and soft surfaces) we stuck to Sutton for the morning jaunt. In the evening we both closed down shop at OK Runner and then toured the Brookhaven neighborhoods for a bit. I felt pretty sluggish and am really trying not to overdo it this week, so when we got to a mile and a half I was content to stop and stretch in the shade for a few minutes while Jordan did a quick loop through the adjacent neighborhood. We finished...

Read More

I Got My Swim Trunks and My Flippie Floppies

16 min. w/u (2 miles)Target: 3 miles "uptempo"Actual: 6:26, 6:23, 5:5822 min. c/d (3 miles)Total: 8 milesWind: 19mph gusting to 24mphWe woke up this morning to discover that the water wasn't working in our apartment. As in, sinks, shower, toilet, nothing. Awesome. With little recourse, our plan was to go for the run and hope it was fixed when we returned. (Sort of like my technique of going to the bathroom when we're waiting on our food at a restaurant...

Read More

Easy Double

AM: 59 mins.8 miles15 mins. core/stretchingPM: 2-2.5 milesI was out the door a few ticks before 7:00 this morning to meet up with Jenny G. along Jenkins. I asked a still-sleeping Jordan if he wanted to get up and join us, which elicited a response of "mmmmnnnnmmmm" and a rollover. Guess he's (understandably) tuckered out from his track workout.The run with Jenny was quite comfortable even if the temperatures were not--it's finally getting hot around here again--but luckily the early start time made things manageable. She's off to Vegas today for...

Read More

Barefoot Timing Duties

22 min. w/u (3 miles)~5 miles incl. 15-20 barefoot strides28 min. c/d (3.5 miles)Total: ~11 milesJordan's workoutSince I have nothing to train for in the foreseeable future, my role during today's track workout was primarily as an assistant. Jordan was planning to hit some pretty quick splits and wanted me to call out his times at each 200. I was happy to oblige, especially because I planned on getting in plenty of barefoot running at the same time.After warming up three miles together, Jordan spiked up for some strides and stretching while I kicked...

Read More

And Then There Were Two

AM: 57 mins.8 milesPM: 22 mins.3 milesWith Scotty out indefinitely for a potential stress fracture, Jordan and I were left to go it alone this morning. Lucky for us the weather has taken a lovely (albeit brief) turn for the better, and this morning's run found the temperatures in the upper 60s and the humidity low. I felt faaaantastic on this jaunt, no doubt due to the aforementioned conditions, and really enjoyed being out there.I picked Jordan up from work this evening and we headed over to the GT to put in a few more easy miles on the soft surface....

Read More

Week in Review

58-59 miles1 day off3 doubles4 airports (YVR, DEN, DFW, OKC)2 afternoons poolsideDespite throwing in an unusually high number of doubles, the mileage was conservative this week due to no long run and Monday's cross-training. This was intended to be a week of rest and recovery after last Sunday's half, and I feel successful in accomplishing that. Next week I hope to kick up the mileage just a bit and throw in a few workouts. I also want to make a concerted effort to be diligent with the core, strides and barefoot running like we have been the past...

Read More

Lazy Sunday Run

71 mins.10 milesJordan already recapped this run splendidly so I'll send you to his blog for the relevant deets. I will say, however, since Jeff has called my fitness into question, that the first mile is a typo--it was 7:53, not 8:53. Totally changes your opinion of me, doesn't it?Gotta love the shade and soft surfaces at Sut...

Read More

Freedom Isn't Free--It Costs $20 on Race Day

13 min. w/u (1.5 miles)2k in 7:40, 2k jog back to start25 min. c/d (3+ miles)Total: 7-8 milesThe day of our independence started out very early for the Three Musketeers, as we made our way to the outskirts of OKC for the Bethany Freedom Run. By "made our way" I mean took several wrong exits and wrong turns and somehow stumbled upon the race about 20 minutes before it started. Oops. I didn't care too much since I wasn't racing, but Jordan had hoped to get in a 5-mile workout with Jerry's Kids prior to the start and instead found his plans thwarted.As...

Read More

Pre-Holiday Double

AM: 52 mins.7 milesPM: 4 milesRumor has it that Jordan and Scotty are suiting up for a race tomorrow, so we took the run nice and easy today in preparation. Despite the relaxed pace, I felt like poopy, enough so to call the run short about a mile before the boys did. There's nothing specifically wrong, just heavy legs.In an unprecedented role reversal, I worked until 7 today while Jordan was off early, but he met he at the shop just before closing time so we could put in a few easy miles around Brookhaven. I felt better on this run to be sure,...

Read More

Rounders

AM: 53 mins.7.5 milesPM: 2.5 milesI enjoyed a relaxed, easy run on the soft surfaces of Sutton with Jenny G. this morning. Finished it off with 2.5 in the evening just so I could call it 10. I like round numbe...

Read More

Back in the 405

AM: 62 mins.8 miles15 mins. corePM: 31 mins. + 4x100m barefoot strides4+ milesAfter my seemingly neverending travel yesterday, I relished a restful night's sleep (blowup mattress notwithstanding) back in Norman. This morning Jordan and I jogged over to the OU tennis courts to meet Conor Holt and his wife Camille. Conor is the guy who owns Jordan (and the course record) at the OKC Marathon. Camille, a stud in her own right, was a 2008 Olympic Trials marathon qualifier and runs for Team Indiana Elite. I'd met them briefly on Friday night at Jazz...

Read More