Monday Double

AM: 52 mins.
7 miles
15 mins. core
PM: 3 miles

This 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 training.

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Double Trouble

AM: 50 mins.
7 miles
15 mins. core
PM: 4 miles incl. 3x100m strides

I 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 hopes to one day cure me of my shuffling tendencies, which is an admirable if lofty goal.

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Sweltering Sunday at Sutton

81 mins.
11 miles

I 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 halfway we were both pretty parched. (So was the basketball-sized turtle we spotted hunkered down in the mud near the pond. We spent a few minutes pointing him in the direction of agua before continuing on our way.) Kristi's knee was acting up a bit--she injured it earlier in the week trying to dodge an irresponsible driver who nearly plowed into her despite Kristi having both the light and the "walk" signal--and when we exited Sutton around mile 9 she was contemplating throwing in the towel. We made it another mile down the street before she stopped to walk it off. Surprisingly I was feeling better at this point in the run than at any other, despite my thirst and the ~90 degree temperature, but was still content to call it a day when I reached Main Street.

By the way, Jordan was still asleep when I got home and was in no way interested in going out for his 14-miler. I'll let him tell you the story in his blog...stay tuned.

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Today's High: 104

AM: 60 mins.
8.5 miles
Wind: 20mph gusting to 25mph
PM: 3 miles

The 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 up the run together and probably sweated off 10 pounds between us. It's brutal out there.

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Lazy Sunday Run

71 mins.
10 miles

Jordan 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 Sutton

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Rounders

AM: 53 mins.
7.5 miles
PM: 2.5 miles

I 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 numbers.

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Shady Sutton

58 mins.
8 miles

Okay, so I promise not to dwell on the weather every single day...but, the 5-day forecast is indicating 100-degree temps on tap from now until Friday. The "lows" at night barely hover at 80. So just bear in mind that when I describe us going on an "easy" run, it's likely more difficult for me than I'd like to admit, owing to the fact that it's virtually impossible to stay cool and even more so to prevent dehydration. Ugh.

With that out of the way, Jordan and I enjoyed an "easy" run to Sutton Woods today. Two days in a row of soft surfaces felt great on the legs and feet, and I was extremely grateful for the shade provided for most of this run.

Also, at this point I can share that I will be venturing to a much more agreeable climate this weekend, as I am rendezvousing with my parents in Vancouver, BC for a few days of their vacation. I can also spill the beans about my "secret" race, which is the Scotiabank Half Marathon that I will be running with me pops on Sunday. If all goes according to plan, I hope to put in a hard effort and redeem myself for my lackluster showing in Joplin a few weeks ago. If things aren't clicking I can always dial it back a notch and cruise with my dad. Hopefully the flatter, faster course and cooler weather (average temps this time of year are mid 50s to low 70s) will facilitate a much more enjoyable race experience.

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People Like Me. They Really Like Me.

88 mins.
12 miles
Wind: 16-20mph

Today was a very exciting day for me--and probably equally so for Jordan--because I actually met up with and ran with girls! Other than running with Kristi a few weeks ago at Lake Draper, this was the first time since moving to Norman that I didn't have to spend the entire run worried about slowing down the boys. As I said, I'm sure they were just as happy about it as I was.

At any rate, thanks to Jordan's social coordinating efforts, I met up with Jenny Graef and Andrea Larabee at Sutton this morning. Jenny is a grad student at OU and Andrea is a local and both of them are pretty serious runners. Jenny was actually leading the OKC Marathon until she passed out from heat exhaustion near mile 22, and is just now getting back on the training saddle after taking some recovery time.

Jordan, Scotty and I left Main Street together and made the ~2 mile jog up to our meeting spot before parting ways for the rest of the run. The girls and I set off from the far parking lot at Sutton, then made a loop in the trails before hitting the streets. We traversed the now-familiar roads near our apartment, past campus and beside some of the local parks before heading back in the direction from which we'd come. The pace was relaxed and conversational, but by the 75-minute mark I was feeling fatigued due to the rising heat and humidity and the brisk breeze. I turned back at the corner of Jones and Robinson, as I'd told Scotty and Jordan I'd meet them back at the casa, and bid adieu to my new friends and (fingers crossed) new running partners.

The rest of the day was spent as any Sunday should be, reading the paper, drinking coffee and enjoying a homemade breakfast. We also watched the always-exciting Prefontaine Classic on TV and there may or may not have been a nap involved at some point as well. Now that we're less than a week out from the race, we need as much rest and recovery time as possible. Or at least that's how I'm justifying it.

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She Works Hard for the Money

60-61 mins.
8 miles
Wind: 20-24mph

This morning we put in an easy eight at Sutton with Scotty D. The weather is heating up in a hurry around here and I have a feeling that 8am start times are about to be a thing of the past, but at least on the shaded trails of Sutton the conditions were bearable.

We got in another workout of sorts this evening, only in much nicer clothes and slightly different footwear, valet parking cars at Scotty's sister's friend's wedding (you got that?). In addition to the ten bucks an hour plus tips we were also afforded access to the open bar and several plates of the catered food. Jordan also may or may not have coerced me into snagging several almost-full bottles of wine at night's end, with the hopes of subsequently turning them into a tasty batch of sangria. Yes, this is indeed what both my social and professional lives have devolved into on a Saturday night.

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Sutton Woods Recovery

59 mins.
8 miles

Scotty, Jordan and I enjoyed an easy run from Main St. to Sutton Woods this morning. Today is the coolest day of the week thus far, and I have to say this was probably my most enjoyable run of the week thus far as well. Comfortable pace, soft surfaces, shade, cooler temps, little wind. Can't really ask for much more.

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Memorial Day Merriment

AM: 61 mins.
8+ miles
PM: 90 mins. tennis domination

For a day that started out with hardly anything on the agenda, our Memorial Day turned into quite an enjoyable affair. Jordan and I slept in and lounged for a bit before fielding a call from Scotty requesting a run. He swung over to Main Street and the three of us set off toward Sutton Woods, the 1.5-mile shaded trail loop about two miles from our place. Remarkably, this was my first time over there since arriving in Norman, and I was immediately reminded of why I enjoy it so much: plenty of tree cover and soft surfaces throughout. However, I was dragging a bit despite the relaxed pace, no doubt fatigued from the past week's efforts. By the time we finished our loops and popped back onto the streets I was hot and tired. So, naturally, I suggested we detour past the Andrews Park "Splashpad" (finally turned on for the summer) to cool off for a few minutes.


It. Was. Awesome.

Upon returning home, we spent the rest of the morning watching virtual no-name Wesley Korir rack up $189k at the LA Marathon and enjoying a sumptuous brunch of apple-streusal waffles, eggs and potatoes. The food was clearly the highlight of the morning for me, but watching the former Louisville runner win the race of his life was certainly more inspiring.

Less than an hour later, Jordan and Scotty were chomping at the bit to get out onto the tennis courts, so we embarked on an unprecedented third consecutive day of play. After an extended warm-up period which included various combinations of 2-on-1, the boys suggested we play a series of 1-on-1 games, winner stays on the court. Because I am a lady and not one to gloat, I will spare you all the gory details. However let's just say that an hour later I was standing undefeated at 10 games to 0, having bested both Jordan and Scotty in 5 games apiece, before nobly stepping aside and allowing the two losers to play each other for a bit. To say that it was my crowning athletic achievement of 2009 is both sad and true.

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