37 Min Run (Run) --162.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Had to get out of the house to run today. This has been an extraordinary week with Congress whistling Dixie as the banking system seizes up. Can't quite describe what's going on upstairs right now. Steady there.

Uh...well this is funny anyway over at Craig's blog.

60 Min Run (light) --163.5--

SILVER LAKE -- Missed on Friday to make time for a friend in town and Saturday with work down in Orange County and the birthday party in Long Beach. So wanted to make this count.

Turns out the rest was well needed and used. I was slightly -- slightly -- beat up from this quick return back to solid training with little minor tweaks in my right foot and small of the back and maybe a just generally tired set of joints and mind.

So this morning, Beck went out after a late night and I needed to wait until she got back. In that time, my enthusiasm wore down a bit...but there was a bit of a spark that carried the day. Still, I couldn't really get my legs hoppin for the usual loop over into Hollywood. But what else is there to do?

On the fly, I realized I'd never run the Silverlake Reservoir and it's not really that far away. Since I'v been going over there to see Ben, I'm more familiar with the area and decided to go for it. Who knows how long it might be. I'm guessing around a 10k, who knows. It took about an hour. I didn't push terribly hard, but there were challenging and extended hills from time to time. That dirt path on West Silver Lake is great. Just open up the stride and enjoy. Lots of people out. Beautiful morning. Love it.

This should be a little reward course that I let myself do. I'd hate for that water route to get old.

38 Min Run (Run) --163.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Kind of a slog. But this is the kind of run that would have not happened before. Days after the rest day are turning into the worst runs of them all...surprising.

Might have gotten lazy with the form on this one given the lack of enthusiasm. And the right foot hurt a bit during my walk with the dog afterward. Focus, brother. Focus.

36 Min Run (Push) --164--

LOS FELIZ -- Went out after waking up groggy and feeling like I my brain was stuck to a leather couch. Ugh. But went out with a bit of fire and kept up a good pace here and there. Nice. How does a person lose 5.5 pounds in a less than 24 hour period? I mean, that would make a high school wrestling coach proud. I don't get that one.

35 Min Bike (Light) --169.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Watching Mad Money on the bike is awesome. It's better than doing it to Top Chef, because Cramer is just insane. And it makes you actually concentrate. Love it. Really could have run a loop today, but wanted to cross train a bit and really wanted to get the bike wheels turning again. If I could find one more normal cross training activity -- like karate or something -- I'd be perfect. Like one day a week of that. Hmmm.

Also interesting to note, is the weight is up 5.5 pounds in three days. Not surprising as bike doesn't drop the sweat like running does and I can bike with a full stomach, fresh from a veggie-cheese-kind of concoction from Allegria. So good...and about 2 pounds of nourishment.

15 Min Run (Push) --167--

LOS FELIZ -- Farlek style jaunt around Marshall High and back, generally sprinting up the hills and recovering on the downs. Good stuff. I love how you feel at the end of these. The last few stretches are just awesome, it's like you're flying.

60 Min Run (light) --164--

LOS FELIZ -- This is right around 7. Went out with the intention of going a decent distance with less pace. Focus on form. Beautiful morning. Ran down to the 101 and Hollywood Blvd and back. Good time.

37 Min Run (Light+) --165--

LOS FELIZ -- This didn't feel so light, but the breathing was very easy, so we'll just call it that. Guessing it was around 8s, which is a decent 4.5 mile pace for me usually. But who knows.

Look at that weight! Incredible and very encouraging. Didn't have weight data for a long time because I was either not at home or the scale was packed up in the garage. I dug it out. I needs my data.

55 Min Run (Run)

LOS FELIZ -- Thought this was more in the 5 mile range, but actually it was 10k. Down LFB to Franklin and looped around the Scientology castle. Really tried to stay calm and cool the whole time, very zen'd (as much as possible anywho). Had great form for the first half and kept it up decently in the last half.

15 Min Run (Speed)

LOS FELIZ -- Went out on the little hills out front and did about 12 repeats of fast up the hill and recover back down. Pretty good stuff. Actually, these fast workouts tend to sharpen the form better, I've found. You have to pay closer attention to the form the faster you run.

And I worked on the "bringing to the center" concept on the last few. Really ran from the core and it's true...you speed up quite a bit. Should do more of that.

33 Min Run (Light)

LOS FELIZ -- A nice little morning trot along the Hyperion route. I don't like that loop, but it was nice to see again...kind of. Actually, the last part, past the Vista and up Hillhurst was better than I remember. I pulled all the way up to Ambrose, which makes it a very long, extended hill. Cool.

Getting up in the AM and getting some work in is a work in progress.

32 Min Run (Run)

LOS FELIZ -- Ran the hills route with a little change to avoid having to double back on Vermont, which I've always hated. So instead I go back further down Los Feliz Blvd and cross at the light and then come back. Its' about the same.

Decent run. Nothing too special. Trying to get that right foot to plant properly.

38 Min Run (Run)

LOS FELIZ -- Just got over a cold, which prevented this from happening yesterday...but got back out there and did the whole course for the first time in a long time. So great to be back.

The run was basically easy. Just held the pace back and did the distance. Felt easy and calm at the end. Good form. Trying to keep my heel in better form. All that. But my the big thoughts from this run in the end weren't about the run. It's about appreciating this old, well-worn course.

The key to this being better despite the exhaust and bad sidewalks and general traffic hazards, is that there are people everywhere. There are buildings, restaurants and activity everywhere. You're never lost in your own little world, feeling sorry for yourself and focusing on limiting your run. There's always another runner that might bite you, a car full of jerk waiting to hit you or hot chicks all over the place to shame you. You have to stay on your toes. And more than that, there's always something to look at, to process. It's not just running around a row of houses.

I never gave this course credit. I always liked oceanside running (up in Monterey) or along rivers (Indy, MSU, Detroit) as the best courses I enjoyed. But this one, though congested and urban, is really actually quite extraordinary in its own right. hats off los feliz running.

35 Min Run (Push)

LOS FELIZ -- Back! Back! Back!!! We're back in Los Feliz and back on the tried and true trails. I might go back to the Glendale hood to bike (much, much safer to bike up there)...but for running, I will never complain about the old loops again. They are old and I've done them at least 100 times each, but they are awesome. And our new place is awesome. And this hood is awesome.

Anywho, went out on the 4.5 mile course for the first time in quite a while. Pushed extremely hard for some reason to pick off a couple folks in front of me. Temps were fairly high. But I just loved it. After the 5k, the urge to slow down or stop was pretty overwhelming -- not surprising given the lack of consistent training. But pushed up the hill and back down Hillhurst. Didn't do the whole course by maybe a half mile or so, but that was somewhat intentional. To keep the first full loop for another day. I wanted a hard, fast four and got it. I love this place.