3 Mile Run (A+) --169--

GLENDALE, Calif. -- It was supposed to rain all day, but I was pretty determined to get in back-to-back runs for the first time in who knows how long. Fortunately, I awoke to sunny skies and mild temps. So off I went on a shorty, 3.5 miles that covered some steep climbs, up about 600 feet or so in maybe a half mile in one of the access roads up to the cliff houses.

Really enjoyed the uphill and really figured out a good swing on the downhill. But instead of taking it a longer, I just kept my mind on the form and retreated early to the house to watch MSU/UM in hoops with the Bairds, who are in town for the week.

5 Mile Run (A+) --168--

GLENDALE, Calif. -- Another solid, enjoyable experience on the new form. Pushed out a a few blocks more into Burbank on the normal route to get this up to 5 Miles (Angeleno Ave.) Having the most trouble keeping the back straight or at least relaxed on uphills, but generally feel as though I am seeing a tremendous reduction in strength and effort expenditures.

It's also great to see number higher than 4 up there for the first time in a while. Maybe a 7,9 or (gasp) 11 is in the cards?

5K Race (AA) -- Malibu High CC Course (24:30)

MALIBU, Calif. -- A cool race on a beautiful Sunday morning on the California coast. This race is a fundraiser for Malibu High School. It's (I believe) the high school's home cross country course, running all the hell over the place around softball fields, down hills, up ridiculously steep dirt hills, finishing on the track. All this on a campus that overlooks Zuma Beach. Needless to say, I enjoyed it.

I used the new strategery and it worked decently well. After the finish, I saw a time of 24:30 and wondered just how challenging the course was. I felt like I had pushed very hard from nearly start to finish. After 23:40 in the LB T-Day, this was certainly faster than that effort-wise. But whatever. I figured it was a good effort and things will only get better as I improve my form. The time might also be suspect because they said something about their high-tech timing system (that they bought with last year's profits) had gone on the fritz because it wasn't set up correctly. So who knows.



But then, as Team Turbo gathered and regrouped after the race, a woman came over and congratulated Trang for winning her age group. And we all went nuts. We were just about to leave. Turns out, JDP finished 18th, I finished 21st...both second in our age groups. So we got to participate in the little medal ceremony. So I guess I didn't realize that the time was actually pretty good for the field. So Team Turbo ran four runners and scored three medals for age group finishes. We were pretty pumped. Cool little medals, too. Certainly not mind-blowing times, but fun and a beautiful day.

4 Mile Run (AA) --167--

GLENDALE, Calif. -- Out with the new format and tested it out. Had some minor back pain in the lower back about 1.5 to 2 miles in, but then figured it out a bit better for the rest. Honestly made the run significantly easier on the muscles, a bit rougher on the back, probably the same or better on the knees and somewhat easier on the feet.

Lots to learn. Exciting. Running in Malibu this Sunday. We'll see how it goes...

4 Mile Run (A+) --165.5--

GLENDALE, Calif. -- Went out and tacked on another half to the route by going further on Kenneth, actually all the way into Burbank a bit. There's a good deal of elevation to play with, which I tend to enjoy. Had a good gameplan, the weather was perfect, ran in the road for at least half of it...great times.

Off to Motown.

3 Mile Run (A+) --164--

GLENDALE, Calif. -- The second in a series of beginning runs around here. There's nearly a one mile ascent up about 250 feet in this course, which makes it pretty fun. This after the first quarter mile loses nearly that much, so you start off thinking you're a star. But it's good to get a little cheat warm up anyway...and you get used to going quick. So the pace ends up strong.

Actually, I'm in decent shape considering the complete lack of work, so that's a positive. And I just don't understand how my weight keeps staying down. Getting the diet figured out in the past few years is paying handsome dividends in these layovers. Usually, it'd take two months to get the chub off and really get going.

Beautiful day out. Sunny and not terribly warm, but not at all chilly. Some might say...a great day for a run.