How Does DeCoste Do This?

Time: 30:20
Distance: 4.25 miles

I was listening to the news this morning and the weather man was hogging the entire show. All he could talk about was the "freezing drizzle" that was falling on the streets of Oklahoma. He had the brilliant suggestions of driving slowly, leaving earlier and giving more space between cars. Thanks dude. When I looked outside my window I couldn't see any of this alleged "freezing drizzle" so I put my cold weather costume on and proceeded outdoors. I made it 15 seconds across the parking lot before deciding the ever so thin layer of ice wasn't great footing. I was a little pissed because despite it being 18 degrees outside it wasn't windy. The conditions were nearly perfect and I was excited to run on the Norman's 'crete.

I quickly ran upstairs, grabbed my gym key and sought a treadmill. There was one other dude in the gym but he was wanging out on the elliptical so I had free reign on the t'mills. I was still wearing long tights over half-tights so I heated up pretty but it didn't matter. I couldn't last more than 30 minutes. It was terribly boring. It didn't help that I had seen most of the SportsCenter from the night before. I kept wanting to jump off and finally did once the big red letters showed my time was up.

Cccccoollldddd

Time: 55:46
Distance: 8.65 miles
Pace: 6:27

The future apartment will be above Mister Robert's Furniture

The run this morning was cold, not "8, Feels Like Minus 3" cold, but cold. I think it was in the teens with the "real feel." I went out on the roads and looped through campus to start. Next I headed downtown to drop off a rent check to my new landlord/slumlord. I was in a hurry to get back to the Lodge to get things ready for work so I didn't have time to pick up a key. The splits on the run were: 7:30, 6:51, 6:32, 6:30, 6:25, 6:15, 5:57, 5:57, 3:46 (.65 miles). I like seeing the pace drop without consciously trying to make it happen, hopefully that is a sign of fitness.

Morning Nine

Time: 61:55
Distance: 8.79 miles
Pace: 7:02

I met up with Connor Wann this morning at the Lodge for a run through the streets of Norman. I first met Connor last year during the spring when I was trying to put together a relay team for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. He ran the lead off 10k leg for the OK Runner squad that took the victory by 20 minutes. Real competitive race, I know. Mr. Wann was a walk on for this year's cross-country team at OU that didn't fair so well at Big 12's. Did somebody say dfl?

Anyway, he wanted about 9 miles and so we ran through campus and ran on streets that I normally use during morning jaunts. The pace was easy and it was good to have company. He has since been released from the team, but he will continue doing workouts in hopes of dropping his 5k time. I think that the Downard/Kinley morning crew just picked up another athlete.

2 days.

President Elect Barack Obama

Time: 48:27
Distance: 7 miles

Today was an exciting day for obvious reasons. Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America. Pretty sweet. Immediately following the announcement, I went outside to bury all of my guns and money and then I went to Wal-Mart to start stockpiling batteries, MREs and water. That is completely not true, but I know some members of a close family who basically were going to do all that. I mean, seriously!? The thought that an individual could bring the U.S. to complete failure within minutes of taking office is outlandish, but some people, fellow Americans, unfortunately have this belief. I know that at no point in my life will food, energy or water be a scarcity in the U.S., however for those who actually have those thoughts, I say it might be a good thing for their fat asses to go two weeks without food. They might look better afterward. Ha.

The run this morning was good. I ran from the Lodge through campus and around Pickard. The run was very similar to the one yesterday. The legs continue to feel good. Running in the LunaTrainer is sweet. It might be my favorite shoe of all time.

In the evening I suited up to go on a run but Gus and his "wu wu" backed out. He was feeling a little under the weather, or so he claimed, and we went home. I then followed the election on the computer and television for the rest of the night while making claims that Brooks is a racist company that doesn't hire people of color. A few days later I found this on FloTrack which backs me up.

Did you see any black people? I didn't think so.

Random Loop

Time: 37:47
Distance: 5.62 miles
Pace: 6:44

I wanted to change things up this morning and I decided to run through the park that borders Campus Lodge and the crossed Lindsey. I had never really run in the neighborhood across the street and it seemed relatively nice, but didn't continue for very long. I had to head out Sooner Rd. and then ran on Constitution up to Jenkins. The pace was fairly decent for the hour of the day and I was feeling good. I ran back to the Lodge hitting splits around 6:15.

Double Run

Time: 41:29
Distance: 6 miles

I ran back from OK Runner to Campus Lodge after work. I took a slightly different route this time. Normally I along Robinson to the bike path, but the was strong out of the north so I decided to hook a right just before the tennis club and head back through the neighborhoods. It's the same route I use for Dead Presidents at about mile 5. Since I had to get my phone back to the house I ran while listening to music. Much different than being able to hear your footsteps and breathing. I'd rather talk on the phone.

Freezing Morning

Time: 67:11
Distance: 10 miles

What a rough morning. I woke up to see that it was 14 degrees with a real feel of -2. What is this? A Greenbay football game? Last night I chatted with Scotty D. and he told me that he and Holly were meeting on Pickard around 8:15. I was being picked up by the Runner Mobile (Gus' car) at 9:10 so I had to get out there a bit earlier. I wore half tights, under tights, under a pair of Brooks pants. On top I had on another three layers and my orange Brooks jacket with the hood attached. The cold was fine, but the wind was brutal.

I was just interested in putting about 45 minutes on my feet before meeting up with the boys. I made a loop out by Irving Middle School and then I headed in towards campus and out Jenkins. I looped over by Scotty D.'s house before making my way to Pickard. At this point, my face was rather cold and I couldn't see that far ahead in front of me b/c my eyes were frozen. I had hoped that meeting up with the Scotts would give me a little boost in the cold weather, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

I finished up back at the Lodge and was able to thaw out before Gustavo came to pick me up for work.

Lloyd Noble

Time: 73:15 (not including strides)
Distance: 11 miles (~12+ including strides)

Today was a little different. Tom is keeping me on my toes. Not really. I was instructed to "run easy and do strides." Instead of having to stride on pavement I designed a different run, that wasn't really different at all. I first did a loop out by Irving (one similar to what the bus does), then I ran in towards campus and ran Lloyd Nobe ending at the track. That was a total of 50:02 at a fairly easy pace. I spotted Scotty D. around the corner of Jenkins and Lindsey but he opted to not come this time.

At the track I stretched a little, mainly the larger muscles. Did a few drills that I'm working into the routine. Then I ran 10 x 100 meter strides with the wind at my back. I wanted to feel as fluid as possible, so I ran down the home stretched and jogged back to the start. I wasn't pressing, simply working on turnover and form.

After the strides I looped back out onto Brooks and finished the run with 23:15 of easy jogging back to Campus Lodge. I ran in the normal route but turned just before the elementary school and ran the bus route in reverse. I stretched out a bit and did some abs.

Later in the day I got a chance to speak with Mr. Neil Hamel about his struggles of getting back into shape. I urged him to write about it and he has put together a blog for all of us to enjoy:
http://neilhamelbackontrack.blogspot.com/

Long Run on Dead Presidents

Time: 110:50
Distance: 17 miles

I met Scotty D. for a run this morning around Norman. We had a little mix up at the start of the rut but were able to work things out. I took him on what is now being called Dead Presidents for the majority of our run. Once we got back onto Pickard the route deviated and headed across Lindsey so that more time could be added on. I felt pretty good out there. Tom wanted me to run the first 5-6 miles easy and then gradually pick up the pace. I tried to do that as much as possible while still running with a friend. The pace didn't get as swift as it would have if I were alone, but I will take company on a run any day. Scotty D. dropped me off back at Campus Lodge before swinging around to his place. He was trying to get in a good 20 miles.

Former teammate "Ridiculous" Nicholas Neely competed in the P.F. Chang's Rock 'N Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon today. Isn't that a mouthful of a name. Kind of like a mouthful of General Tsao's chicken. Nick competed well in his first 13.1 mile race finishing in 3rd place with a time of 1:10:28. Congrats to him. Results can be found here.

12/7 to 12/13

Time: 0 minutes
Distance: 0 miles

A few days ago Tom and I decided not to run the Dallas White Rock Half Marathon and opted to take some time off instead. I have been able to focus on school work and let my body fully rest for the first time since late June. The few runs that I have done were nice knowing that I didn't have a workout in a few days and needed to be rested. I was just able to enjoy the run.

I thought about starting up the training on 12/10 b/c most of my work was already completed. However, when I got up I found out that Campus Lodge was without electricity. Not only were we without electricity but most of the state was too. There was no way I was going to put in some time on the feet, come back and sit around in dirty running clothes without the ability to take a hot shower. I was able to hang out at campus, Kristi's and Jilane's for a few days before leaving for Cali. On Weds. night when I went by the Lodge to pick up my clothes, the apartment smelled like Marijuana, was probably 40 degrees and darker than most caves. After grabbing a random assortment of apparel I was off to Jilane's to pack and go out for the last time of the running break.

Now that I'm back in Cali I have started running again. Slowly but surely getting back into things. The break was nice. But, not feeling useless is nicer. Also, not having to run in ice storms where power lines are snapped by falling branches is pretty nice too.

Double Run

Time: 40:27
Distance: 6 miles

Ran from OK Runner to Campus Lodge. It was a beautiful day out to run. A slight breeze was blowing out of the east which was the direction I was heading. I was still feeling a little sluggish, but I had on a new pair of Supernova Control 10s. Quickly showered, changed and hopped on the bus to get to class.

For dinner, I'm pretty sure I ate a vending machine size bag of pretzels, chex mix, a frozen yogurt from Braum's on the walk home from class, and a Nestle cookie once I got home. I still probably lost weight.