Tom McArdle Distance

Time: ~5 mins
Distance: who cares

So this afternoon before hopping a flight to Charlotte to visit Meagan and Jeffrey, I met up with Scotty on Main St. for a short jog. I wasn't too warmed up upon his arrival but I did a little backwards running to bring me back to the days when Tom McArdle was around Norman. Next I experimented with running in the Nike Free 7.0 vs. the Lunartrainers because the latter seems a bit too constricting. The Frees are a bit softer around the achilles and seemed to cause less discomfort. I decided to take them for a spin around the streets of Norman but didn't make it too far. I stopped along the train tracks and let Scotty continue on solo because the achilles started to tighten significantly. I walked back to the apartment and massaged the lower calf quickly before showering and finalizing my packing out east.

I will say that traveling with Oxysocks is huge time. My ankles usually swell with all the sitting and the socks help prevent the formation of "cankles." Also, I noticed that walking around the airport I didn't notice that my achilles was giving me too much of a pain indication despite the failed Tom McArdlesque attempt at a run this afternoon.

Time: 37:06
Distance: 5.11 miles

I ran with Scotty D on a route through Brookhaven that I do often on double runs. I know the distance well and wanted to stay on something familiar so that I could know when things started feeling really good/bad. The achilles cooperated well today but I'm not sure if it's better. I ran with a pain level of about 3 for most of the way. The pain is not getting any worse but it's certainly not improving to the point where I would feel most comfortable over 26.2 miles.

Brookhaven Run to Test the Achilles

Time: 20:04
Distance: ~3 miles

This post is long overdue but I ran for about 3 miles in Brookhaven to see how the leg was doing. I remember it being solid without too much discomfort. I was thinking that the leg was on the rebound at this point.

Day Off

Time: none
Distance: none

Don't remember. I think it was icy still and my achilles sucks.

Snow/Ice Day?

Time: none
Distance: none

It's 8:30 am right now and I'm unsure if I'll be able to run today. The achilles was a little sore this morning but I think light running will help me loosen everything up. Currently there is a light snow or small ice balls falling from the sky. OU's classes have already been canceled and OK Runner closed early last night. Not sure when I'll be going in to work. Running in this stuff would not be wise considering my leg is still a bit banged up. I guess a forced day off is not such a bad thing right now.

Not a familiar sight in Norman.

I'll be making the first footprints down the sidewalk today.

Bum in the Hallway

Time: 20:08
Distance: ~3 miles

This morning I got up and smelled a funk in my apartment. It was a body odor funk, but it was unfamiliar and certainly wasn't mine. It was the smell you would get if you mixed cigarettes, stale coffee, moldy crackers and a spritz of urine. Not good. Anyway, I went about my business of getting my running costume on for a short jog to test out the leg. When I opened the door to my apartment I spotted the root of the smell. There was a bum sleeping in the hallway! He was sprawled out on the carpet about 10 feet from my door atop the stairwell. There were cigarettes at the bottom of the stairs at the street level entrance. I can picture Mr. Bum stumbling up the stairs with a handful of half-smoked cigarette butts, the ones that you see bums picking up off the sidewalk, and smoking them one by one getting his nicotine fix. He would then flick them down to the stairwell entrance below before passing out.

How every good night should end...

The run was decent. The achilles felt good the first 5 minutes, a little tight until 15 minutes and then really good again from 15-20 minutes. I would describe the pain as X^2. I'm hoping that if you graphed X^2 it would be a parabola, but my math is really fuzzy since the last time I took algebra/geometry/subtraction was in high school. I probably won't run tonight because we are getting this nasty ice storm and everybody knows that running on ice/snow is the worst idea for someone with achilles problems.

Week in Review

Time: 410:16
Distance: 59.49 miles

I have the day off from work and thought that I would go back and calculate the glory weeks of running. This certainly wasn't a good week of training but I was trying to give my achilles a few days to recover.

Being Smart Again

Time: none
Distance: none

I was tempted to get out there this afternoon with Scotty but declined. I'm hoping that another day of rest will give the achilles what it needs to recover. Usually, I run until my body is so broken down that running is not an option. It's much more black and white that way. Today running was an option and it's hard to tell yourself that it would be wise to rest. It was a lovely day for a jog but not for me.

Day Off

Time: none
Distance: none

Being smart sucks, but I decided to take a complete day off again.

Sutton Woods Tester

Time: 64:09
Distance: 9.23 miles
Pace: 6:57
Splits: 7:47, 7:27, 7:01, 6:59, 6:50, 6:51, 6:54, 6:30, 6:22, 1:28 (for .23 miles at 6:32 pace)
Map & Data

I spent a leisurely morning at Cafe Plaid and then ran home (untimed). I got a quick meal at my place and them spent some more caffeined hours at Winan's. Scotty joined me in the afternoon for a jog in Sutton Woods. I was still testing out the achilles and wanted to keep things slow. We toured the woods for a few laps and things were feeling pretty comfortable until the last 10 minutes when the slow creeping burn to the lower leg came back. Since I felt a bit more discomfort than I would have liked in today's run I might take the next few days off.

Great Day for a Jog

Time: 27:14
Distance: 4.01 miles
Pace: 6:48
Splits: 7:00, 6:54, 6:48, 6:29
Map & Data

I think blogging about running is useless so I have decided to stop. It seems that when I take a day off I get more comments from readers and I figure if I were to blog about something other than running more people will interact. This is the last post about running and okrunner.blogspot.com will now be about mustard. I'm going to share all the intricacies of making mustard and the past/current varietals on the market. The overall focus will explain how certain mustard flavors can be incorporated into all kinds of food (meat, dairy, grains) to enhance the natural undertones and other culinary properties.

Since I have no idea what I'm talking about with concerns to mustard other than the fact that it tastes good and I like it, I'll stick with running. This morning I ran 4 miles from the apartment and after Mr. Garmin messed up around 3 mins I kinda had to start over. The weather was great yesterday and I was sorry to miss out on that 77 degree weather, but this morning was still fair. I toured the streets of Norman before ending at Cafe Plaid to meet Stu, Skolnick and Scotty. Happy birthday to Scotty D who turns the ripe old age of 26. The dude's a fossil.

Day Off Perhaps

This morning I got up and checked my email while I was still in bed and noticed I got a comment from "weeman." He had some wise words of wisdom that were, "take a friggin day off!!!" Since I followed his wisdom once and chose to come to Brown (he's the lad who hosted me on my recruiting trip out east. I also think I was the only recruit that he hosted who chose to attend Brown), I figured I could do it again. I'm currently milling around Winan's on Main Street making sure things are feeling grand. My achilles is a little sore but I was half expecting that the first few steps out of bed were going to involve a limp which was not the case. The right side of my body is a touch sore, but nothing that I'm too concerned about. I'll be sure to massage and lightly stretch throughout the day.

Brief Brookhaven Workout

Time: 62:34
Distance: 9.78 miles
Pace: 6:24
W/u Splits: 7:41, 7:13, 6:52, 4:04 (for .60 miles at 6:47 pace)
Workout Splits: 5:13, 5:09, 1 min rest for .13 miles, 5:06, 4:58
C/d Splits: 7:48, 7:10
Map & Data

I was chatting with Scotty this afternoon and it sounded like we weren't going to head up to OKC a little early for a jog with Spenis. Since I wasn't going to be able to get on the Bishop McGuinness track and I had my mind set on working out, I figured I'd do something in Brookhaven with Scotty. We met up around 5 pm and we took a quick spin to see where the 2 mile mark would be and then returned to his sister's house. I changed shoes and geared up for the hard section of the workout.

Scotty was great at blocking traffic and riding at a speed just out of reach which gave me something to focus on. My legs felt great. Lots of power, smooth gait and efficient. The breathing was relaxed as well. I kept at it knowing I was going to hammer the last mile and I felt great doing so. I would have liked to run 3 by 2 mile, but we didn't have the time because we were already running a little behind for breadsticks.

My hamstring warmed up nicely and it was a non-factor during the workout. On the cool down I could feel that my achilles tendon was a little tight. I'm planning to wear the Strasburg Sock tonight just to make sure the tendon remains flexed. When I got done cooling down I took the time to massage my right calf and could tell the ligaments/tendons that run from the base of my heel, up to my soleus are tight. I was glad to get this one in and happy that it felt so easy.

GT Recovery

Time: 41:38
Distance: 6.19 miles
Pace: 6:44
Splits: 7:50, 6:58, 6:34, 6:22, 6:23, 6:22, 1:08 (for .19 miles at 6:08 pace)
Map & Data

I took a spin up to the GT this morning and ran a bunch of laps on the outer loop. I wanted to stay on a soft surface and didn't want to go far. I think this evening I'll be hitting up the Bishop McGuinness track before going to have some Guinness at McNellie's. The hamstring felt okay, but it was a little stiff upon getting up this morning. My right achilles tendon seems a little tight too, I just noticed it for the first time after finishing up with Kristi last night. I've been giving myself mini-massages throughout the day in hopes of increasing some blood flow to the lower leg. I don't need things to fall apart right now after weeks of steady build-up.

Slow & Steady

Time: 54:44
Distance: 7.08 miles
Pace: 7:44
Splits: 8:15, 8:00, 7:47, 7:43, 736, 7:27, 7:20
Map & Data

I got a text this morning on my way to work from Kristi who was going to be getting off early which meant she wanted to run around 7 pm. I needed an extra run or two to let my hammy recover and thought running with Kristi would provide a good easy slog. We left her place and I found us an easy 7 miles around the dark streets of Norman. School started today which means there is a lot more traffic out there. Luckily, I was prepared with my headlamp and reflective vest. That second part is a lie, it will be a few more years before I start truly geeking out with Nightlife garbage.

I wore a compression sleeve on my right calf and right hamstring in hopes of keeping things loose. I looked a bit ridiculous, but if it keeps me running I'll do it. The pace was slow so it took a few miles before the body started feeling comfortable. It was a great night to be out running in Norman, glad I was a part of it.

Racing to 9

Time: 59:52
Distance: 9.01 miles
Pace: 6:39
Splits: 7:34, 7:09, 6:52, 6:49, 6:47, 6:24, 6:19, 6:03, 5:53
Map & Data

This morning's run featured familiar streets and sites. I toured North Base, ran out Robinson, hooked a left at Westwood GC, ran through the neighborhoods and down Hwy Symmes. When I left I had 10 miles in the back of my head but when I was actually out there 10 miles seemed long. I changed it to 60 minutes or 9 miles, whichever came first. At about 7 miles I started a little race against the clock which is why the final 2-3 miles were a bit quicker. My right hamstring continues to be a bit tight but I've been paying more attention to it the last 48 hours than I have in the past 6 weeks. I think the niggle isn't anything to be concerned with, but I'll keep a close eye on it nonetheless.

Another Recovery Run

Time: 35:55
Distance: 5.18 miles
Pace: 6:56
Splits: 7:30, 7:03, 6:48, 6:43, 6:39, 1:11 (for .18 miles at 6:43 pace)
Map & Data

Tonight's run was another easy run through Brookhaven. I didn't have my headlamp so I decided not to run down Rock Creek Rd. to the flats. Instead I kept the run up in the neighborhood where there are street lamps. My right hamstring is a bit more sore/tight than it was earlier this morning. Not sure what that is all about because I was pretty good about warming it up before leaving on the run and stretching when we were slow at the store. I'm going to monitor this thing pretty closely the next couple of days in order to prevent any further twinges to the muscle. I could use a massage in the near future, but don't really see that happening. I want to put in a couple harder, more pace type workouts this week, but I don't see that happening if opening up the stride is going to be limited by a tight hammy.

When the Drums Beat Slow

Time: 60:10
Distance: 9.01 miles
Pace: 6:41
Splits: 7:54, 7:12, 6:49, 6:40, 6:41, 6:33, 6:16, 6:07, 5:57
Map & Data

Sometimes the drums beat fast, sometimes the drums beat slow. I think that's like an ancient Chinese proverb or something like that. I'm not sure if Gabe Jennings said those exact words but it was close enough for people to conclude he was a bit off his rocker. I ran up to Sutton this morning and took a few spins around the dirt loop to keep things lite (in the calorie sense). I heard the wind pick up last night and I didn't know that was going to happen so when I woke up I didn't want to fight the wind most of the run. Sutton provided a little bit of shelter during the run. The body felt pretty good, but I can tell my right hamstring is a bit fatigued. I'm going to make sure to stretch throughout the day while I'm at work in hopes of loosening the sucker up.

Week in Review

Time: 737:50
Distance: 108.42 miles

This was a good, solid week of training. The main focus was on mileage for the week and I definitely accomplished that. Next week I hope to back off the miles and put the focus back on the intensity. The big downside to this week was the fact that the majority of the running was done between 6:30 and 7:00 minutes/mile. I'm going to get lots of sleep this weekend and let the body recover so that I can resume a good training routine next week. Running 40+ miles on the weekend most definitely broke the body down a little bit and I'll need to take it easy until Tuesday or so.

Norman Loop + Bobkitten

Time: 150:16
Distance: 22.01 miles
Pace: 6:50
Splits: 7:29, 7:12, 7:01, 6:55, 6:39, 6:45, 6:37, 6:27, 6:22, 6:49, 6:59, 6:48, 6:49, 6:48, 6:46, 6:38, 6:57, 6:57, 6:57, 6:47, 6:50, 6:43
Map & Data

Another long run in the bag. Yesterday's run wasn't intended to be my long run of the week so I had to get out there this morning to put in down. I put in about 10 miles before running back over to the parking lot at the Duck Pond to meet Adam Cohen. He joined me for the next 12 miles on Bobkitten. I was surprised to learn that Adam had never run out on Cedar Lane before. It was a comfortable jaunt out on the east side of town. The pace never got too blistering as it hovered around 6:50s. The body was feeling good but around 18 miles I could feel my right hamstring getting a little tight on the hills. I was glad to have a running partner today because despite the bearable temps, I am tiring of these long runs and the amount of time you have to be out there.

Adam and I finished up back at the parking lot and then headed to Cafe Plaid for some food. I had the Tuscan eggs benedict which had some pesto and sundried tomatoes on top. Pretty good eats.

Warmer Temps, Better Spirits

Time: 131:53
Distance: 19.17 miles
Pace: 6:53
Splits: 7:48, 7:09, 7:06, 7:11, 7:27, 7:04, 6:59, 6:52, 6:51, 6:52, 6:54, 7:00, 6:51, 6:52, 6:42, 6:31, 6:18, 6:18, 6:07, 1:02 (for .17 miles at 6:12 pace)
Map & Data

This morning was going to be a run focused on enjoying the movements of running than getting in a good aerobic effort. Today was the first time the morning group met to run this spring on Saturdays from OK Runner. I wasn't expecting there to be too many people so I was surprised to see that 25-30 people showed up. There were all levels of runners in attendance but I was able to run with Carrot Top and Adam Cohen for about 12 miles on the flats. I left my apartment before sunrise to make it over to the shop before 7:30 which gave me a little over 3.5 miles, then I ran with the group and followed that up with a run back to my pad. I would have gone 20 had I known Gus was going to take his sweet ass time showering and eating breakfast. I thought I was going to be pressed in my own shower/change department. That clearly wasn't the case as I had a few moments to hit the intertubes at Winan's before heading off. My legs felt good and the pace was really comfortable today. The spirits are high and I'm looking to put forth another strong run tomorrow to cap off the week.

Paintball Gun

Time: 66:10
Distance: 10.01 miles
Pace: 6:37
Splits: 7:33, 6:51, 6:48, 6:32, 6:37, 6:31, 6:16, 6:22, 6:31, 6:06
Map & Data

It was another cold one out there this morning. I was out the door in tights, jacket, hat and gloves for the nth consecutive run. I wasn't feeling too hot after last nights epic night up in Oklahoma City with the boys. After my run around Lake Hefner, we met up with Spenis to get some Beamish and then headed on over to Stu's place. We enjoyed a few scoops and proceeded to Cheever's. It was a good night, but a bit too expensive. I had a great time with Scotty, Skolnick, Spenis, Stu and Miguel before returning home to watch a bit of the office. Scotty did a bit too much research and spent the rest of the night going over his notes. I didn't feel that bad this morning so I was running to put some time on the feet. I made the mistake of running a portion up on Northbase during the latter stages of the run which meant I had to run the final two miles back into a southern wind. I know it's going to warm up later today I will be enjoying the tropical 40 degree temps soon.

In the evening I opted not to go for a second run knowing I would be putting in some good distance the next few days. Tomorrow I will be running with the morning crew at OK Runner and on Sunday I may try for a 3 hour run. Check out the map & data because the route looks like a paintball gun.

When the Wind Blows, Why Choose Hefner?

Time: 61:01
Distance: 9.44 miles
Pace: 6:29
Splits: 7:39, 7:05, 6:34, 6:23, 6:11, 6:23, 6:12, 6:08, 6:02, 2:32 (for .44 miles at 5:46 pace)
Map & Data

I got off work a touch early this afternoon and headed up to OKC with Mr. Downard and Skolnick. Scotty was going to the ART/bone bender whose office isn't to far from Lake Hefner. I decided to tag along and get in a run while he was at his appointment. When I got to the lake I noticed that there wasn't a soul/sole in sight. Nobody was out walking, jogging or biking like they had been a few days prior. The weather was cold (20s) and windy (20 mph) which makes for piss poor conditions. I suited up and bit the bullet by running over the dam to start which wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. My fingers were definitely numb at times and the face was a bit tingly, but overall I managed. My legs felt fantastic and the lungs did too. I got a little frustrated running on the dam and at the first hint of having the wind at my back I took off. My stride opened up, the pace quickened and the body warmed.

I didn't want to slow the effort and I knew Scotty and Skolnick were going to be waiting on me so I didn't slow the pace. I finally saw a few other brave souls/soles near the golf course, but I think they were out there mainly for their dogs' benefit. The final two miles were rough as I had to run back into the wind but I tried to keep the pace about the same according to Mr. Garmin. The effort was definitely elevated, but I was more interested in finishing and needing to find some warmth.

It Could Be Worse

Time: 55:20
Distance: 8.01 miles
Pace: 6:54
Splits: 8:10, 7:27, 7:07, 6:54, 6:46, 6:27, 6:18, 6:06
Map & Data

It was not warm out there this morning, but I had to get out there because I didn't run last night. Most of yesterday was spent building shelves for shoes in the back office. A cold front moved in from the north and by the time it was time to run last night, I didn't feel like it.

I woke up and saw that it was 21 degrees with a "real feel" of 5. Five! That's ridiculous. It was a miserable, cold, windy run that took me to Sutton Woods for a few loops. I was really surprised to see at least 4 different people out walking their dogs around the 1.5 mile loop. I was really surprised when I saw a high schooler walking to school without a jacket. What a dumbass! It's 5 freakin' degrees and this moron doesn't have a jacket on. I think he was also wearing makeup or eye shadow. Not sure where that puts him on the wu wu/wee wee debate.

I was cold for most of the run and was glad to be done at 8 miles. This evening after Scotty's ART appointment up in OKC I will run at Lake Hefner again. Perhaps it will be another one lap evening. Scotty also told me that in some places up north, temperatures have been in the -30's. That's brutal. Good luck running with that DeCoste.

Feeling Great and Keeping it Going

Time: 68:56
Distance: 10.55 miles
Pace: 6:32
Splits: 7:34, 7:04, 6:55, 6:32, 6:34, 6:31, 6:29, 6:08, 5:34, 6:04, 3:26 (for .55 miles at 6:16 pace)
Map & Data

I had a great run this morning out on the 'crete of Norman. The first few steps out the door told me that the legs were feeling great. I half wanted to cut some shapes but I didn't want to be confined to the track. I ran by campus, toured the old neighborhood and found my to the OU golf course. I was needing many more miles and the legs continued to feel great. The body was relaxed and the running was going well. I glided through Scotty D's 'hood and then up to Pickard where I started a little Fartlek. I set the watch and rattled off 6 x 1 min on, 1 min off. I'm not sure how fast the "on" intervals were and I don't really care. There were a couple mile splits in there that were rather quick and that was because there were more "on" intervals for the mile than "off" ones.

Pre-Ted's Run

Time: 41:50
Distance: 6.01 miles
Pace: 6:58
Splits: 7:41, 7:03, 6:52, 6:49, 6:47, 6:36
Map & Data

Earlier this afternoon Kristi shot me a text saying that she didn't have to go into work. She was up for doing something and mentioned that Aja was coming to town. The pair stopped by the store around 6 pm and we decided to go to Ted's Cafe Escondido. After a quick run that is becoming really standard for the evening's from the store, it was off to grab some grub. The legs were feeling quite good tonight and I enjoyed the run thoroughly. Gus and I had a brief conversation on the run as we crossed paths. It went something like this:
Gus: "Are you wearing a jacket?"
Jordan: "Yea."
G: "You're a wuss!!!"
J: "Are you wearing pants?"
G: "Yea! I don't want my willy to look silly!"
J: "That's not a problem because you have a wu wu."

If you're unfamiliar with a wu wu, then let me share with you another exchange that Anna (Gus' wife) overheard between her two grandsons.
Colin: "You have a wu wu!"
Caleb: "I do not! I have a wee wee!"
Col: "No you don't!"
Cal: "I do too!"

Anyway, around the store if you do something to downplay your machismo, inevitably a wu wu comment will come out. Tonight Gus got it for making fun of me for wearing a jacket and shorts when he was wearing long sleeves and tights.

E.T. in Norman

Time: 68:21
Distance: 10.21 miles
Pace: 6:42
Splits: 7:40, 7:01, 6:53, 6:42, 6:40, 6:29, 6:37, 6:25, 6:24, 6:16, 1:14 (for 21 miles at 6:01 pace)
Map & Data

The cold front that moved in last night is exactly that... cold. I ran in tights for the first time in a good while from my apartment through one of the windiest sections of Norman for some reason. I headed up to North Base where they were examining E.T. or something. Dudes were walking around in their moonsuits near the airport. It was probably a bomb squad training but I'd like to think that E.T. was on the loose. The remainder of the run was easy and the pace dropped gradually depending on the wind. My legs felt good and the breathing is incredibly relaxed these days. The aerobic system is in top form right now.

E.T. Spotting in Atlanta

1 Shirt, 2 Shirts, Red Shirt, Blue Shirt

Time: 48:15
Distance: 7.01 miles
Pace: 6:53
Splits: 7:33, 7:04, 6:36, 6:38, 7:02, 6:45, 6:34
Map & Data

Taking inventory sucks. It's terrible counting items and trying to keep track of those items. I wasn't even counting nuts and bolts from a hardware store. I was tallying shoes, shirts, jackets and big items from the store in Gus' barn that is obviously not heated. It doesn't help when it's colder in the barn than it is outside. I think I was cold most of the day and the monotonous task was worse than watching the Sooners get beat by Tim "Jesus" Tebow. Did you hear the one about how he's skipping the NFL Draft and ascending straight to heaven?

I spent most of the day in the barn but then Gus and I were called in to pick up some items from Stein Mart because the location in Norman was going out of business. Everything must go. Literally, everything in the store was for sale. All the clothes, wall hangers, mirrors, fixtures, tables. Everything. Anna (Gus' wife) made the decision to purchase a good amount of those items, and Gus and I were responsible for loading all those items and taking them to OK Runner, back to the barn and leaving them out at some abandoned house that Gus stores random stuff. Pretty cool.

By the end of the day I was not wanting to run. I was pretty tired and mostly bored, but running was one of the last things I wanted to do. I finally started feeling yesterday's workout around 3 pm when the body started shutting down. Unfortunately, I only had run 6 miles this morning and that's pretty pathetic so I laced up the boots and ran home from Gus. It didn't help that a cold front was blowing through which quickly brought dropping temps and 30-40 mph gusts. I had the wind at my back for most of the run but I also had it at my side for parts. Getting blasted by sand/dirt is not fun and the hills coming in from Gus' are really dark. I had my dorky headlamp which helped immensely but the run wasn't fun. It was kinda cool that it's exactly 7 miles from Gus front door to mine based on the route I took. Glad to be done and done.

Thanks Mr. Garmin

Time: 45:59
Distance: ~6 miles

This was an easy morning run from my apartment that was planned to be incredibly easy. After yesterday's big time workout I definitely needed a solid recovery day of running. I went nice and easy and my misfortune of Mr. Garmin geeking out may have helped me. I started before Mr. Garmin was ready to record pace so I just have a timed run instead of accurate distance. The legs didn't feel too fatigued from yesterday's effort which I am greatly thankful for. Tonight I will be putting in another shorter run after doing some inventory work in Gus' barn. It's gonna suck.

Week in Review

Time: 689:55
Distance: 104.78 miles

I finally cracked 100 miles this week and the body doesn't feel too exhausted. I had a great day of running to finish off the week with my two 13 milers. It was huge having a couple buddies with Scotty D and Spenis in attendance during the second of those runs. I definitely feed off the energy of a workout done where there are other people excercising. I felt strong on the majority of the runs this week and overall the body is healthy. I need to start getting to bed earlier to ensure the recovery process takes place. I would also like to start doing a few more situps and focus on stretching well a couple times during the week. It will be all the little things from here until Austin that make the difference since my fitness is more or less where I want it to be.

I want to start writing what my workouts were for the week at the bottom of the "Week in Review" post, but I think that will have to wait until I can put that in later this week.

Two By Louie's

Time: 79:27
Distance: 13.51 miles
Pace: 5:53
W/u Splits: 7:31, 7:08, 6:53, 6:41
Workout Splits: 5:19, 5:24, 5:24, 5:26, 5:23, 5:23, 5:25, 5:19, 5:24, 2:21 (for .44 miles at 5:19 pace)
Map & Data

Scotty came by the store around 2 pm and we headed up just north of Oklahoma City to Lake Hefner. I had finished lunch at Louie's around 1:40 and I wasn't sure how the second hard effort of the day was going to feel. I hoped for the best and was lucky to have a perfect day for such an effort. It was sunny and in the 50s with little wind (7 mph) and a good amount of walkers, joggers and bikers out on the bike path. According to the website the bike path is 9.1 miles around but the route we took was more like 15k (9.3 miles). I didn't want to blow the opportunity to have a great workout on a rare day in Oklahoma. It was great having Scotty D there on his bike and Spencer decided to come along too with his bike. Having two friends there to hand me Soonerade (I will never call it Gatorade again) and keep the cars clear was huge. It also kept me accountable during the workout so I wouldn't bitch out by slowing down or stopping early.

Scotty and I warmed up from the Stars and Stripes Park parking lot to just past Louie's on the Lake and back. It was a comfortable 4 miles that allowed me to check out the weather, see part of the course and warm up the body. I changed into the LunarRacer for the first time, Scotty grabbed his bike and we geared up for a hard lap around the lake. This morning I was envisioning a second workout in the 6-8 mile range but decided that one lap would be easier.

The workout started out a bit quick but I was excited to have Scotty D and Spencer along for the endeavor. I knew I'd find the pace eventually and from miles 2 through 6 I felt incredibly relaxed and comfortable. The breathing was calm, the legs felt great and I was taking down fluids without any problems. The wind wasn't a factor on the dam along the far side of the lake. People could tell that I was throwing down and a few bikers yelled out words of encouragement. The pace hovered around 5:24 for the majority of the workout and it was starting to get somewhere between tough and monotonous between miles 6 through 9. I could tell I was tired and the legs were getting a little heavier, but the pace wasn't too difficult to maintain. I guess I was getting out of my rhythm as the bike path started to get a little more sinuous around mile 8. Regardless, I was happy with how things went.

Scotty and I headed back to Spenis' house to watch part of the Steelers v. Chargers game. Spenis is a big time Steelers fan for whatever reason and he was hooked to every play. Once we had caught up courtesy of TiVo, it was off to Louie's on Meridian Ave. to watch the rest of the game. I ordered chili in a bread bowl and a caesar salad on my second trip to the Grill & Bar for the day.

Running with a Purpose

Time: 79:02
Distance: 13.02
Pace: 6:04
W/u Splits: 6:55, 6:43, 6:42, 5:57 (for. 91 miles at 6:34 pace)
Workout Splits: 5:40, 5:31, 5:41, 5:41, 5:41, 5:57, 6:12, 5:56, 5:46
Map & Data

This morning was Part I of a pretty legit workout I'm doing today. Scotty D did something similar in his lead up to Boston this past spring. It's also a workout that Scotty says Renato Canova prescribes and one that James Carney would do in preparation for the NYC Marathon. Specifically the workout consists of running about 12 miles in the morning with 6-8 miles at race pace. In the afternoon/evening, the goal is to come back and run the same workout again. The purpose is to get body to use some of its energy reserves, practice taking fluids and run at goal pace.

I didn't feel great out there this morning, but it was a decent effort. I got out the door a little late and ran nearly 4 miles as a warmup. I started running hard at 24th Ave. and Lindsey St heading out east of town. The hills were going to add another element to the run and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to hit 5:30s. The focus was mainly on getting the legs a bit tired and relaxing on the terrain. I unfortunately had to stop a couple times to avoid an "Ian Marcus Experience" which broke up the hard portion of the run. The late night snack after hanging out with Spencer and Scotty probably wasn't the best idea.

The course was two miles east on Lindsey, two miles north on 48th and two miles back into town on Robinson. The wind wasn't really a factor when I started but it had picked up by the time I reached Robinson. Running directly into it was frustrating on the hills when I was trying to go fast but I was still able to accomplish the task at hand. When I saw that the pace had dropped off to 5:56 I decided just to run back to the apartment at an uptempo pace. I was running late and had to head to the store to take inventory of all our products. The goal for the afternoon is to meet up with Scotty and drive up to Lake Hefner for another effort similar to this morning's.

Northern Winds Blow

Time: 69:23
Distance: 10.18
Pace: 6:49
Splits: 7:59, 7:32, 7:06, 6:54, 6:43, 6:27, 6:26, 6:18, 6:14, 6:36, 1:09 (for .18 miles or 6:31 pace)

This was an easy morning run from my place on Main St. Nothing too much to report here other than the wind that was miserable. I ran in Sutton Woods yesterday and I did a little bit today, but after a couple laps I was getting bored. I left the woods and headed south on Ponca and found my way to campus. I turned up Jenkins and had to run straight into the wind. I was not happy with the 25 degree temps that were matched with a 25 mph breeze.

Nuttier than Squirrel Poop

Time: 39:21
Distance: 5.73 miles
Pace: 6:52
Splits: 7:42, 7:02, 6:56, 6:31, 6:36, 4:35 (for .73 miles or 6:19 pace)

I worked a relatively slow day at the store, but I did sell a couple pairs of Lunartrainers. I think they are going to be flying out the door soon at OK Runner, better get yours today. A few customers mentioned that there was a cold front moving in tonight that was to arrive around 10 pm. When we closed shop Gus and I put on our costumes and headed out for a run. I was surprised to see that the wind had switched directions already. This morning it was out of the south and tonight it was most definitely out of the north. The temperature hadn't dropped too much yet so the run was still pleasant despite the constant 20 mph wind. I ran the standard out and back course down to the corner of Robinson and 60th. The legs felt good and I kept the pace easy. On the return, I ran a bit quicker with the boost from the breeze.

Gus returned from his run a few minutes after me and he immediately went to the refrigerator for a beer. He had a Corona while I enjoyed a Moose Drool. The bottom of the cap said "Nuttier than squirrel poop." I liked that saying and hope to incorporate that into my daily banter. When it was time to leave out the back door, Gus and I noticed that it was significantly colder and much windier. The drive home was accompanied by clouds of dust that were a result of the ongoing construction along 36th St. A quick check on the iPhone showed me that it was 49 degrees with a wind of 39 mph and gusts to 49 mph. That's pretty legit.

Tonight I'm posting from Winan's on Main St. It's a cool little coffee/chocolate shop that has Internet and overly priced treats. I also took a quick spin through Native Roots for the first time and bought some stuff to eat for dinner. I'm glad that they have a decent, albeit small, selection of food in bulk. Overall, the prices of Native Roots are a bit high, but the items are locally grown and of high quality. I also can't complain that it's located 300 meters up the street from the new pad.

Boomer Screwner

Time: 68:16
Distance: 10.01 miles
Pace: 6:49
Splits: 7:37, 7:01, 6:57, 6:55, 6:46, 6:45, 6:43, 6:31, 6:31, 6:23

Getting up this morning was rough because OU lost last night's BCS Championship game against Florida. Scotty D, Spencer, Jerry's Kids and I met up over at Coaches on Main St. to watch the game and get something to eat. The tv viewing was great but the crowd wasn't as lively as I would have liked. We ate a good amount of nachos, cheese fries and a few slices of pizza along with a healthy number of 1/2 gallon growlers. After OU lost we walked up to a nearly empty Bison Witches and Spenis kept the party going with a few gin and tonics or some other iced beverage with lime. I was happy to be able to walk home in 2 minutes and I would have loved to see Scotty D ride his bike back to his house at 1 am. I imagine he was a little wobbly and the route wasn't the most direct. Needless to say I wasn't looking forward to crawling out of my nest this morning.

I still managed to put in an easy 10 miler out in Sutton Woods. I ran about 4 dirt loops and was glad to be protected from the Oklahoma wind that just returned. I don't feel any residual signs from yesterday's mini-workout which is a good sign. I'd be in trouble if I were sore from such a light amount of work. Tonight I hope to put in another run from the store.

Trying to Open the Stride Up

Time: 88:23
Distance: 14.03
Pace: 6:18
W/u Splits: 7:40, 6:53, 6:42, 6:43, 1:45 (for .27 miles or 6:31 pace)
Workout Splits of 3 mins on/off (distance/pace): .52/5:45, .48/6:15, .56/5:24, .48/6:17, .55/5:26, .47/6:22, .58/5:10, .48/6:11, .56/5:22, .45/6:38
C/d Splits: 6:24, 6:23, 6:10, 3:40 (for .58 miles or 6:20 pace)

This morning I took a quick spin around North Base to warm the legs up. I ran easy around the empty streets and didn't see too much action other than a parking lot full of diners waiting at Ozzie's. I knew I wanted to change things up by running a bit quicker for part of the run today and before I headed out the door I set my watch timer for repeating 3-minute intervals (was that correct "-" usage Jilane?). I was dreading the change in pace a bit but I didn't want to stress about the pace and focused on turning the legs over so that I could open up the range of my stride.

At just over 4 miles into the run I tossed in the first hard effort along Robinson St. and averaged a whopping 5:45 pace. The pace dropped during the following intervals and the quickest ended up being the 5th one when I averaged 5:10 pace. I wasn't purposely attempting to follow the "hammer" interval that Jailhouse Jeff often has Team MJ do, but it just turned out that way. Also, the last interval I ran up the steep grass incline near Scotty D's house. The efforts on the hard intervals all felt about the same regardless of the pace. The rest intervals weren't run slow, but I was felt like I was recovering at the pace I was running.

I was glad to put in a solid amount of running this morning so that I can watch the OU vs. Florida game tonight and not have to put in some miles before heading to the bar.

Garmin on Wrist, Computer in Hand

Time: 31:03
Distance: 4.70 miles
Pace: 6:37
Splits: 7:01, 6:37, 6:36, 6:24, 4:25 (for . 70 miles or 6:21 pace)

Tonight was a great night for a run as it wasn't too cold and the wind was blowing just a touch out of the south. I suited up, grabbed Mr. Garmin and my computer and planned to finish my run at Thai Raja on Jenkins. I guess you could say the new computer is pretty small if I could click off 6:30s while carrying a computer. I wouldn't recommend it and I will try not to do it again, but it's definitely possible. I was feeling good and overdressed for the night with a 1/4 zip and jacket. It was a bit longer than expected over to Thai Raja but well worth it. I didn't feel like looking at the menu too carefully so I asked the waitress what would be delicious. She picked out a chicken dish that came with a bowl of rice that was simply amazing. The chicken was fried lightly which created a small crust and the sauce was sweet with a hint of spice. I asked for a 7/10 on the spice level but it was more like a 3 or 4. Regardless, the dish was tasty and I was even able to take some of it home for another day.

Morning Romp Through Norman

Time: 75:54
Distance: 11.57
Pace: 6:34
Splits: 7:33, 7:09, 6:51, 6:42, 6:41, 6:22, 6:19, 6:16, 6:13, 6:16, 6:07, 3:25 (for .57 miles or 6:02 pace)

I woke up a little earlier this morning so that I would have a little bit of time to mill around the new apartment and wake the body up. I was thinking about running a bit more up-tempo today and perhaps throw in some surges on the road. When I got out the door the body was feeling good but I didn't feel like turning the legs over so I scrapped the fast idea and enjoyed the windless morning. The legs felt good and the breathing was very much relaxed. I spent a portion of the run chatting with Meagan and during the other I listened to some tunes. I need to get some new music, but there isn't anything out right now that catches my attention.

The run took me up on a loop around North Base and then I messed around in the neighborhoods near campus. The good news is that campus is quiet right now which makes it really easy to cross some of the busier streets during the morning hours. It'll be a bit of an adjustment in a few weeks when stopping at red lights becomes customary. Speaking of OU students, I think the track and field team opens their season this weekend in Arkansas. I wonder what kind of shape Rob Sorrell, Jacob Boone and Kevin Schwab are in?

I Almost Pissed Off Jilane Because I Forgot a Title

Time: 47:49
Distance: 7.02 miles
Pace: 6:49
Splits: 7:29, 7:02, 6:56, 6:42, 6:40, 6:31, 6:21

Tonight after work I ran from the store back to the new pad on Main St. It is my hope to take a few picks and post them some time this week so that you can see how ghetto my place is. It's great. I also want to snap a few photos of the restaurants and shops that are along Main St. because there are some quality places I need to check out. The run home was fine and the legs felt good. I was running with the backpack and my new computer which I could hardly tell was there. I dropped the bag off around 4 miles and then added on a few more miles down toward the mental institute.

I was hoping to meet up with Scotty D at Bison Witches to watch the GMAC Bowl between Tulsa and Ball St (my parents grad school alma mater), but it wasn't to be. He was busy brewing up some beer at his place and I thought that was a legitimate excuse for missing out. Instead I walked down to the street and sat at a booth eating chili in a bread bowl, half a sammich, drinking a Pacifico and browsing the intertubes.

Morning from Main St.

Time: 50:23
Distance: 7 miles

This morning was an easy run from the new pad on Main St. up to the GT and over to the west side of town. I got in late last night to OKC and Scotty D was kind enough to drop me off at my new place. When I left Oklahoma I did so in a hurry and finished moving the day I traveled to California. I was greeted by lots of shoes, unopened boxes and a draft. One thing I was not greeted by was a bed. I made a little nest over in the corner that was quite comfortable and warm. This more or less means I slept on the floor, but I'm okay with that. I enjoy sleeping on couches and the floor isn't too different.

I had never run from there before and I now need to make some new loops. I have lived at the Campus Lodge my entire time in Oklahoma and most of my runs started and ended in the apartment complex. Now that I've changed spots I'm going to find some new places or at least loops to run. I noticed that it only took me just over 9 minutes to get to the GT when in used to take 25 minutes from my old place. My legs felt great and I tried to keep the pace easy. I only had enough time to put in 50 minutes of running but I will get back out there this evening. I just hope the wind holds off.

Final Balboa Park Run

Time: 60:54
Distance: 8.01 miles
Pace: 7:36

View of the San Diego hills from the airport. It's kinda hard to ignore the ramp for gate 32, but try hard to focus on the hills.

This was an easy run done in Balboa Park with Meagan on our last day in California. Both of us fly back to our respective apartments for some time. I like running in Balboa Park, and I hate to say this, but it is kinda boring. I'm not too impressed with the trails on the far side of the park across from the zoo and the upper section along Sixth St isn't big enough. I love the weather and seeing lots of people outside playing football, frisbee, soccer and walking/jogging, but from a true running perspective the park lacks quite a bit. This final run was nice and easy and my body doesn't feel too sore from yesterday's 23 mile effort. I probably won't be able to again today so I guess this week is starting off with an easy 8 miler.

Week in Review

Time: 686:16
Distance: 96 miles

A solid week of training topped off with a 23 mile long run. I got in a good tempo run on the track during Meagan's shape cutting session and another decent effort of 3 miles after her tempo. I don't really have a scheduled training plan right now and have just been running hard or up-tempo when the body, legs and mind sync up. I'm glad that I have been able to toss in some sub-5:20 pace miles at the end of runs and not feel like it takes that much out of me. A few months ago I used to bicker to Meagan about how she and Jilane could close runs at 6:30 pace and not think too much about it. Their marathon pace was closer to 6:55 and for them to run 25 seconds faster rather easily just didn't make any sense. Now that my fitness is coming around I can toss in miles at sub-marathon pace without too much thought.

Balbo Park Domination

Time: 153:55
Distance: 23.00 miles
Pace: 6:41
Splits: 7:58, 7:20, 7:39, 7:07, 7:14, 7:13, 7:39, 7:25, 7:33, 7:50, 7:30, 7:09 (dropped Meagan off at the house), 5:56, 5:52, 5:59, 5:43, 5:52, 5:46, 5:31, 6:14, 5:20, 5:37, 6:27

This morning was a long one. I wasn't too concerned with the distance, but I wanted to be out the door for roughly the amount of time I would be running during the marathon in February. Meagan and I took a leisurely stroll from the house to Balboa Park and ran a few miles on the upper section. Next we ventured in toward the zoo and across to the other side of the park where we attempted and failed to find the Footlocker Nationals course for the 8th time. Meagan was trying to run in the neighborhood of 15 miles but woke up feeling crappy and decided to cut things short about 8 miles into the effort today. I tried to keep things easy as we ran back to the house and when I dropped her off I was ready to start increasing the pace.

The split times on the upper section when I ran back to Balboa Park came easily and I didn't start pressing until I ran back to the opposite side of the park. Along Florida is where I dropped a 5:30 and then slowed to 6:14 on the uphill/switchback section. I made one last pass around the upper grassy section and threw down a 5:20 feeling confident and then backed off to 5:37 before calling it a day at jogging back home. I took one Gu around 60 minutes and ran the entire run without taking water. It was probably not the smartest thing to do but it all worked out in the end. I was happy to put in over 2 hours and 30 minutes of running today and it is quite possibly my longest run ever. I know I can run hard for over 2 hours and 20 minutes, I just hope it's not too much more than that in February.

A Little R&D (Run & Drills)

Time: 31:46
Distance: 4.01 miles
Pace: 7:55

This afternoon Meagan and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire and when we arrived to the theater the line was draping around the corner and down the stairs. Meagan and I got lucky because I looked up and saw that my dad and Roger were already in line to see The Reader. Pops was even kind enough to purchase the tickets to our flick. The movie was great and I would recommend it to anyone. Afterward, we went back to the house, put on our costumes and were out the door for a short run. We jogged over to Balboa Park and did a few loops on the upper grassy sections along 6th Ave. My legs were feeling good and at 3 miles we stopped, stretched and did some drills including the one that made both of our calves entirely sore. A quick jog back to the apartment gave us just enough time to clean up and head out to Kous Kous along 4th Ave.

The Moroccan restaurant served up some great dishes including a appetizer sampler that had spinach, roasted tomatoes and peppers, caramelized carrots and egg plant. The pita bread was delicious and I even tried the Stone Pale Ale one more time. (An anonymous poster called me arrogant, potentially Scotty D, for not liking the beer on the first go around). This time it was out of a bottle and I enjoyed the brew fully. I also sampled a Red Trolley Ale which I also though was pretty tasty.

Later in the evening Meagan and I met up with her friend from TCU who is known as either (a) "The Hot Cop" because she is hot and is a cop or (b) "Dirty Pirate Hooker" because I probably don't want to know. We patronized the Princess Pub which was full of San Diego Chargers fans who were celebrating the OT win over the Colts.

Pimp Daddy Graddy

Time: 61:01
Distance: 8.01 miles
Pace: 7:38

Yesterday when I was finishing up the run I received a phone call from Pimp Daddy Graddy who is from the Torrey Pines/Del Mar area of San Diego. He wanted to know if I was interested in putting in some time on the feet in the morning and I suggested that we meet at the parking lot where Jilane, Owen and I had about a year earlier. Ms. Rodgers was kind enough to transport Meagan and I to San Diego last night which means we are currently in our fourth city on this trip (Santa Rosa, Palms Springs, Brea, San Diego).

The morning was drizzly so I prepared for the run with a jacket, towels for the Jag, and extra shirt and new computers in case we wanted to find Internet access at a cafe post run. We drove to the parking lot, I parked and then I proceeded to open the trunk. With my socks in hand I let out a "oh, shit. I'm an idiot." Meagan was curious as to why I was so upset and it was because I had forgotten my running shoes. I had driven to go running, yet I had forgotten my fucking running shoes! I was not happy. I'm still embarrassed for such a boneheaded move. Simply terrible. I quickly put a ring out to Graddy and asked him what size shoe he wore luckily he was a 10 otherwise I would have run in his shoes no matter what. He made a quick trip home, grabbed an extra pair of kicks and promptly was back at the parking lot to start our run.

Last year we went up the hill to the Torrey Pines Golf Course, past Scripps and then to UCSD. This time we went in the other direction and through the Del Mar community. The pace was easy and it was great catching up with Graddy and all that is happening in Providence these days. We were content to turn around at 4 miles and head back to the car. I returned the shoes which were a pair of Nike Alaris. I had never heard of them before but my man Ozzie Meyers gave them to Graddy at some point during his Nike gig. They weren't the best shoe I've ever put on but considering I was thinking about buying a pair of shoes off the next Schmo that walked by, I was happy to have them.

Throwing Down on the Santa Ana Bike Path

Time: 84:13

Distance: 13.02 miles

Pace: 6:28

Jilane, Meagan and I spent a good amount of time milling around the house before ever deciding to leave the house to do her workout. Coach Jailhouse Jeff wanted Jilane to hop in to Meagan's 6 mile tempo at 6:20s and she found a decent spot for us to run. The Santa Ana bike path wasn't the most scenic of venues, in parts it down right hideous, but it worked for what we were doing. We warmed up nice and easy in the cool OC temps. I was playing pacemaker on this day with slight hopes of doing something a bit up-tempo at the end of Meagan's effort.

Jilane's Workout

We hit splits of 8:06, 7:42, 6:14 (for .77 miles or 8:03 pace) on our warm-up. My legs were feeling ready to roll and I was going to have a hard time to keeping things at 6:20 for Meagan's benefit. She was ready to "get things over with" and I tried to come back with a Coach Lake line about wanting to do the workout rather than having it be a burden. I don't think it worked, much like Lake's insight.

When things got underway our splits were 6:23, 6:34, 6:26, 6:18, 6:18, 6:10 for ~38:12 total. Meagan ran strong and I was trying to help by encouraging her to pick a spot on the road and make to closer points. Once she was done I picked up the pace and started throwing down some sub-marathon pace work and ran 3 miles with splits of 5:17, 5:19, 5:12. I felt smooth and I was trying to make every stride a bit more efficient than the previous one. My breathing was relaxed and I was happy how I was able to go from 6:10 to 5:17 without problems. I jogged the mile back to the parking lot in 6:38 and called it a day just around 13 miles.

Carbon Canyon Park

Time: 61:37
Distance: ~8 miles

Jilane, Meagan and I spent most of the day hanging around her house being bums. It was a grand time. I don't even think I played a drop of Wii. Meagan spent a few hours at the pool, Jilane and I watched the Rose Bowl (and parade) and that's pretty much it. It was a very relaxing day and we finally got out the door for our double run around 5 pm. USC was crushing Penn St. at the time and we needed to get out there before it got too dark.

We ran in the same direction as this morning but just kept going. Just before the 4 mile mark we came to the entrance of Carbon Canyon Park which suffered a bit from the wildfires this fall. Meagan's coach gave her a workout tomorrow so she was instructed to take the run really slow. I felt much better this evening as my calves loosened up a little bit and weren't nearly as sore. I really need to stretch a little bit more after runs but probably won't because I'm a slackass.

Morning Shakeout

Time: 31:52
Distance: 4.00 miles
Pace: Really slow

Last night was a great time in downtown Brea for New Year's Eve with some awesome friends. Our group consisted of Team MJ and myself, plus Jake and his fiancé Erin, along with Jaclyn, Jilane's sister, and a couple of her friends. We started off at Octopus Japanese Fusion and then made our way over to Yard House to enjoy some good brews and ring in the new year. I sampled a Stone IPA which recommended by Jake the Schnake. It was good and I liked the fact it is brewed in San Diego but I didn't love it. Next I had a solid fallback in Smithwick's which was followed up by the novelty beer of Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat that tastes like either Fruity Pebbles or Fruit Loops.

Me, Meagan, Erin, Jake. Sweet jacket Meagan.

They passed out noise makers as the clock neared midnight.

Usain Bolt joined the party.

The run this morning was rather short and rather slow. We ran down from Jilane's house and put a few miles in along Lambert. The most notable part of the run was the fact that the 1.5 mile turn around was actually 1.68 miles which means Jilane's 3 mile runs all throughout high school and college were closer to 3.5 miles. Who would have thought that to be the case. Freakin' overachiever. I added on a little bit extra in the neighborhood to get to 4 miles. Yay me.

Week in Review

Time: ~110:18
Distance: ~14 miles

Awful. Terrible. Only went back to add this week up so I will have totals at the end of the year. This was a week of achilles nurturing and not running on ice. I was in Charlotte at the end of the week too.

Year in Review

Total Miles: 2,501
Total Time: You figure it out.
32 weeks of running?

I actually ran a little bit farther than the 2,500 miles I have logged on this blog, but a few of those weeks were a little depressing when I was struggling with injuries in the spring and didn't feel the need to record anything. This was a good year of running, but I didn't have any breakthrough performances. Last year I was lucky enough to race in Japan and run some big 5ks around the country. This year I was trying to do some new things on and off the track and just didn't put it together. I had wanted to run the Marine Corps Marathon with Team OJ/Team MJ, but in the process I over trained. Live and learn.

I hope there will be some new running experiences in some great places this new year. I'll be running my first marathon in Austin in the middle of February and potentially will race the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon for OK Runner too. After that I don't know what my running plans will be. I want to take another crack at running a fast mile or even stepping on the track to run a quality 5k/10k, but I'm not sure if any of that will come to fruition.

As I write from Jilane's house in Brea, CA the body is feeling good and the spirits are high. I think I can sub 2:25 in my debut at the 'thon and know I can run some quality races in the spring/summer. Norman is getting a stronger running community together and I want it to continue to grow. Scotty D had been a great training partner and hopefully his foot stops being a bastard so that he can join me out on the 'crete a bit more. Jerry Faulkner had a breakthrough performance at the Tulsa Marathon and he should be able to run a fast 10k somewhere. Even though we lost Holly to 'zona, there will be many good runs to come in '09.