7 Mile Run (O)

SANTA MONICA -- I've been holding off, but what the hell...here it is. I slapped an outstanding on a run.

This run was really incredible. I was running hard the whole way and thinking very clearly. Not a lot of looking around...not a lot of daydreaming or even pushing...just focus. One foot in front of the other with eyes usually straight down the road.

I was flying for at least 80 percent of this one. And that's saying something. I don't think I've ever run quite so fast for that long. This is probably the equivelent of that 10K on the treadmill, except a bit longer and for real. Very impressive.

Those good vibes carried over as Craigers Monroe cranked a 9th Inning dinger to squash the Yanks. How about that?

From the moment I took my shoes off, I knew something like that would fit right in this evening. A little dash of the good stuff is floating around.

5 Mile Run (A+) *166.5*

SANTA MONICA -- Ran the loop backwards for a little change of pace. It might be harder that way because of the huge hill on the would-be back stretch, which gets pretty much all the uphill in one fell swoop with the gentle downhill on the would-be front.

Hard to tell because it seemed like I really hammered this one out with a fast start and a good push throughout. The only thing keeping it from being a truly epic time/effort was the number of lights I seemed to hit. Not sure how running it backwards would have me hit more lights, but I did.

This was a smidge above average because of the speed, but not above average because it didn't feel above average. It felt strong, but not "challenging" if that makes sense or "inspirational. This scoring system is a bit weird, but it makes sense in my head. So either accept it or grab a piece and slide off.

Thinking about some cartoon strips. I was thinking of the "Boilerroom" movie and how the guys worked for "J.T. Marlin" or something like that. "J. Marlin". Whatever. My guy is "E.F. Tuna". He's a fish who works as an investment consultant. High powered and all that. They trade stuff like seaweed futures, underwater sunken pirate ship replicas, flake food annuities.

This idea could really blow up in my face...in $20s.

4 Mile Run (A-) --162.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Every decision made since the 7 on Wednesday has been the wrong one. We'll just leave it at that.

Friday was scratched for the Angels/Yankees tix and I kept putting this one off...much to my detriment. But by the grace of God, I was able to haul myself out of a rather sad funk and get out for a quick loop.

This was the first bad run that wouldn't look bad by the watch time...actually it was pretty quick. I was deep in the low 8s for a good part of it and scurrying up and down every hill along the way. But it just felt bad. My mental performance was pathetic. But I earned that so you just have to live with it.

The only thing keeping this from being below average was a surprising jolt of positive boost up Commonwealth to the finish. That last half mile was the hardest on the body, but the best in the mind. Good stuff. Very good, actually. Finished very strong and very solid. Good thing.

Diet. Foundation. Focus. They all freakin' count, you dope.

7 Mile Run (A) *166.25*

SANTA MONICA -- That's an "A" for adventure. An average adventure.

I set off without much ambition today, easing up on the pace knowing this would be a toughie if I pushed too hard after Monday's rally. After getting around to Carlyle, it was time to step it up a tad and the next mile was pretty quick. I'd say 9s, then mid 8s to low 8s.

I'm forgetting where, but somewhere on this jaunt -- pretty near the end -- that voice of despair arose. But the trick that has worked this time around is by applying a dose of extra effort. That voice is actually a bit of boredom. I've figured this out before, but it never really took. You can run your way out of it every time...at least thus far.

I was pretty tired. But I haven't eaten much today in the wake of that Cold Stone assault from last night, which was actually a needed blast of sugars. In a way, it got my body running smoothly again.

Anyway, this run was the first that seemed like my body was satisfied with where it was. I'm not satisfied, but my mind is a bit. It knows it can get through these runs and it wants to do it with the least amount of pain. But that doesn't get you anywhere. I'm getting there. Bit by bit.

Running.

My shoes have been real champs since I bought them in Chicago. But there was some kind of filth on them today that made me think they're getting pretty beat up already. Had them since April, I guess. That's a pretty long time. But I haven't run a whole lot since then. Maybe a 100 or 200. I'd guess closer to 100.

5 Mile Run (AA) *166.5*

SANTA MONICA -- I'm having way too many good runs lately.

This one was great. Quick the whole way. Ran hard and finished strong. Lotsa pain but didn't hurt as much as dogging it sometimes does, if that makes sense. Good stuff.

I'd write more, but I just blogged for this stupid "long-term vehicle blog" at work and have been fighting with it. I hate that thing. It never works right.

**Speed Work** (A)

LOS FELIZ -- Started doing what I've never been good at...speed work. But I'm guessing that I hate it because I'm bad at it. So working on it is probably very important to becoming a better distance runner.

Just kind of ran little tenths maybe from two streets down up the hill, trotting back, sprinting, trotting back...10 reps. Amazing how much you can sweat in a workout that takes half the time of a real run.

Rad.

5 Mile Run (A) *167*

SANTA MONICA -- This was the definition of an average run. Set out to do a "recovery" run and did just that. Rarely pushed, recovered very quickly after stopping. Fairly mindless.

The cool thing about the last few days has been responding to a column that I wrote for the DetNews about ethanol vehicles. There's fewer topics that can piss off the State of Michigan, I guess. I had no idea so many people had high hopes for this garbage to save us from the evil Arabs and their evil oil. Pretty funny really. Unfortunately, it takes more energy to produce ethanol than it provides when burned, there isn't enough farmland on Earth to produce enough ethanol to fuel our vehicles and finally...there are hardly any places you can buy the stuff outside the Midwest. Ta-daa.

In fact, the response of GM and Ford and their honks has made me even madder about the whole thing. It's a complete scam. I thought it was just a bad idea, but turns out it's more likely the darker scenerio I brushed off... a massive dupe to get government CAFE credits for the Big Three. Great stuff. Good work everyone. Meanwhile, Toyota does virtually nothing for the environment with their modest hybrid program and consumers think it's one of the greenest companies on Earth. But who's the bad guy...some dork who wrote a column daring criticize ethanol because it's not available and thus useless. It's like the State of Michigan has Stockholm Syndrome for the Big Three.

If GM and Ford make it out of the next few years alive, it will be proof that they are indeed invincible. They have done virtually everything in their power to go out of business, yet still they rise. Sometimes I get a little angry at them and their pathetic "feel sorry for us" attitude. Poor us! We pissed away 90 percent marketshare! Poor us! Toyota stole our Big Three monopoly while we lazied away the 70s and 80s. Poor us! Who could have seen the SUV boom coming to an end? How could you pick on us?? How could you? You obviously hate America.

Grow the fuck up.

6 Mile Run (A+) *166.5*

SANTA MONICA -- Went back to the treadmill after blowing yesterday off. Lotsa travel...not a good excuse, but whatever.

Thought I should get some times together and see what I'm doing. Ran 8:30s without any trouble and put together a 25:30 5K and then picked it up to notch a 49:25 10K, which I think is my best 10K ever...on treadmill or no.

So that's nice. Not much on my mind other than my Spanish CD. Tango hungry. Tango ciad? Look at the colors of my life.

Seattle: 6-7 Mile Run (AA+)

(From some Starbucks)

SEATTLE – Now this was a run. The kind that just gets better as you think back on it.

Went from Occidental and Jackson in downtown (near the sports complex) up 1st past all the tourism, then up Pine, I believe, up some serious hills, across the 5 and up more and more hills, past some domed church and over by the cathedral. I think this is the place where grunge got going. It was hard to tell. Great, great hills though.

Went down about 150 feet, I'd guess…maybe more…and got back down to sea level. Ran back down to the start and around all the sports stuff. Around Qwest and Safeco…even got back where I shouldn't have been by just nodding to security folks. Rad.

This is the kind of running that keeps me coming back for more. There is no better way to explore a city. You get such a feeling of direction and place by running around. Much more than driving. Street level.

Starbucks rocks. I won't tolerate trashing of it anymore. This place is more welcoming than any of the places I swear by…let me use the bathroom anywhere without buying anything as a runner, accept sweaty money, let you sit here for hours doing nothing, cooling off. I've done it in every city I've been to…Starbucks is a home away from home when you have nothing but $10, a change of clothes and a gym bag. Love it.

This city is interesting. I'm sure we could have fun here. Haven't quite gotten a read on the people or the place, but getting there. Woodsy roots, that's for sure.

Seattle: 3 Mile Run (BA-)

SEATTLE -- Been out since a week ago with the usual sore throat become ear becomes sinus becomes cough thing. Would have knocked it out much sooner, but had to put in a difficult week -- not the least of which being the 20 hour drive up here.

We've been here since Wednesday, but didn't get out to run until today. Wanted to make sure the hack was gone. It's not quite, but it's far enough that it should stay away.

The City of Seattle offers some choice running and I dove in to the Green Lake circuit today. It ended up being a 3.5 mile course around a mid-sized lake smack-dab in the middle of the city. At times, you can see the Needle from the course, but the only real view is the lake. The course features two rings...the inner asphault loop which is crowded with walkers and bikes and runners (2.8 miles) and the outer dirt-ring which is much less traveled thanks to the proximity to the water (3.2 miles). I parked the car with the Buckster in it and that added on a bit more than a quarter mile. Maybe more.

Anyway, it's a great city that offers such prime running trails and keeps them tended. The city even has a page on it's City Hall site where you can search out running routes. Rad.

Half-way through, I heard the cheer "Lions!" go up and looked over to see Becky celebrating a win with her team. Chatted for a bit and went back to the run, not feeling nearly as well as I should for such a shorty.

Originally planning two loops, I cut it short at one when I returned to the car to check my Blackberry for any problems with the news push. Not sure what it was, but this one didn't feel right -- and a bad run on a new course in a new city on a beautiful setting is about the rarest of the rare. If you aren't having a good time on these runs, something isn't right.

So I called it a day. But there should be some good stuff to run tomorrow.

7 Mile Run (A)

SANTA MONICA -- Probably won't write much, though I could. Wrote a ton on a book review for Rocket Fever.

Did the little things today and it paid off. Blew through the longest run on the latest ramp-up without any major difficulties. Funny how you feel fine, but then do something like put your key in a locker...turn it...turn it...turn it...check the number...then realize this is the locker you used on Wednesday. Your stuff is in a locker on the other side of the room. Maybe I am a bit fatigued. It took me about two or three seconds to conjure the word "exponential" on the run...not that I really understand why I needed that word around mile 6.

Good stuff. Going to see Talladega Nights with Sivert and Gaines tonight. We'll see.

5 Mile Run (A)

SANTA MONICA -- Now that's something.

After four runs of the old loop, a normal one finally happened on the fifth. It was over before it really began. One of those where you're thinking more about other stuff the whole time -- not focusing on pushing at all. Just get out there, trot it out and shower off.

The key I'm trying -- and there will be many such efforts to unlock new running capacity in the coming months -- is to look for a challenge in every run. Don't ever think, "This is a normal run." There's always something standing in the way. Heat. Boredom. Soreness. Feet. Rain. Bad day. Good day. Cold. Sick. Hungry. Busy. Whatever. The point today was, "This is an average run. Try to get through it without unnecessary anguish." and "This is the first run with only a day's rest." And with this, I'm hoping to get every planned run in. Nothing missed. No runs on days when it's not planned. No misses/make-ups when it is planned.

And it happened. Simple run. I wouldn't say I pushed it hard up, but did OK. And I certainly was going pretty strong back down. Whatever happened, something clicked and this one just flew past. Everything seemed so simple. Average in every way.

Looking for other little things beyond the "push when the twinge hits". Simple stuff like not dropping my head when I'm done. Or swinging my arms more when speeding up. It's a bunch of little stuff.

Didn't get to write after the last one. But my thoughts were pretty much centered around "Fiasco" and what an incredible book it is. It's kind of worn off by now. Cognitive dissonance. It's impossible to keep your mind in that horrible place without actually being there. And I'd imagine it's hard to even when you are there. It certainly created a new understanding of what's going on over there and how the arguments we're having in the U.S. aren't the right ones. The nation's newspapers and TV have done a horrible job keeping us in the know as to what is actually happening -- for various and somewhat understandable reasons. But in the end, we are not putting our resources toward winning this thing. And if our armed forces weren't so incredibly talented, we'd be down 10,000 people and have vacated Iraq, leaving it in turmoil. Tom Ricks, the author, is speaking in Santa Monica tomorrow evening. I'm going to be there.

Today the sun was out, the sky was clear and nearly every Angelino you met said, "Great weather out" which is really saying something for someone in LA to say. Had lunch. Read some news. Read some blogs. Laughed with coworkers about garbage. Ran. Planned to hit a Saturn/Hurley Pre-XGames party. Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bremer, Sanchez and Abu Ghraib don't fit into this reality at all. So I'll just water it down as the days pass and focus on planning out my life.

Phil Hendrie also said something interesting today. He said, referring to Mel Gibson and his Passion flick, "I'm always amazed at this deal with people saying the Jews killed Jesus. The Jews killed Jesus. Sure they killed him, but Christians have been killing him every day since."

5 Mile Run (AA+)

SANTA MONICA -- No report.