38 Min Run (base)

LOS FELIZ -- This was probably as good as a push, but it wasn't a huge effort. Just very focused. Good work thinking about landing on the catch of the foot. Flats are definitely better for that. So either I'm getting stronger or working on focused is the best thing possible.

38 Min Run (base) --160.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Traditional loop around the hood. Good stuff. It's getting hot outside.

17 Min Run (base) --160.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Got out before picking Maggie up. Just a little prep for the weekend. Good and good. These little loops are useful. And I'm thinking maybe we can start doing them as repeats. Like two or three or four loops with water and recovery back at the house. That would be a good change of pace for a workout.

22 Min Run (push)

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- After a week off, you'd expect some dust...but hanging out in NY means a heck of a lot of walking and stair climbing. So turns out, it felt like only three or four days off. Not bad. Thinking about working regular long walks into the regular training routine. It definitely does something for you that running doesn't.

20 Min Run (base)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Got out for a little recovery run around the neighborhood that Heather and Erin live in. Easy little neighborhood deal.

38 Min Run (race) HOHA 5 MILER 38:56

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Great stuff. Wanted a run on Sunday after flying in the day before...turns out they had a great 5 Miler I got in on. Ran another very good race from a planning perspective...wanted a better 5k than in GR the other week and got it. Pretty sure it would have been 23 flat, which is great considering this course had some big, big hills. Took an easy 4th mile and then brought it home.

This race had some big time runners. Very impressive times.

Running along the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson River on a great Sunday morning. I'm getting spoiled with these runs. I actually kind of zoned out on downtown during the last .5 miles.

7:47 pace
38:56 finish
144th out of 453

20 Min Run (Push)

LOS FELIZ -- Quick one before the flight.

20 Min Run (Base)

LOS FELIZ -- Quick little guy.

38 Min Run (push)

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. -- Did some professional elevation work this morning in a memorable run. The scenery in this place is downright staggering. Two mountain lakes near the cabin we rented with a road that runs back down a few thousand feet to the city. Some waterfalls. Wildlife. Nuts.

Took off in the early morning as the sun was hitting the western wall of rock, heating up whatever it touched. Shadows were freezing and ice was everywhere. In the sun, it was very comfy. Went out with the idea of going only 15 minutes downhill as I figured the trip back up would be difficult to predict. It's 2.5 miles down to the town and it was tempting after 15 minutes to just keep going. The scenery was truly among the best I've ever seen on a run. The valley near the mountains in the early morning. Birds. Nobody out anywhere. Visibility of 50 miles. I mean...impressive and humbling. And on top of that, I felt great having gone about 2 miles downhill. Thankfully, I stuck to the plan to turn back.

As soon as I turned around, it hit me that the problem wouldn't be the altitude or my ability to run uphill in thin air (though I was wise to respect this aspect). The problem -- and it was pretty close to a dangerous one -- was the 30 mph wind with gusts of well below the air temperature of 40 degrees. I'd guess it was close to 0 wind chill. But combined with the uphill run, my lack of experience at this altitude and the lack of anybody being around...the run became a bit more thrilling than I was expecting.

By the time I got back, my skin was definitely starting to chap and numb. I couldn't retain any heat. Had I been out another 15 minutes, I'm sure I would have gotten frostbite here or there.

Instead, I got back just in time. And the lakes were amazing. And as some shutterbug hippie with tons of gear and weatherproof gear wandered past...I nodded to him in my shorts and t-shirt and said "Good Morning."

Ha! Fortunately, a nice fire awaited. Normally I wouldn't show skin on my blog, but this was such a great memory, I've got to keep it here to remember.

35 Min Run (base)

LONE PINE, Calif. -- Did the little Mt. Whitney Portal run up the hill a bit passed that "LP" rock formation on the hill. Good stuff. Great scenery obviously. Nice for this time of year was the healthy stream of mountain snow melt that powered the little stream to an impressive roadside attraction for 75 percent of the course. Good to be back up there.

24 Min Run (Race) GR 5K

WYOMING, Mich. -- Went to some hospital campus and ran around in the rain. Wet and mild temperatures. Old high school track teammate John Lee was there and won the thing. Good little run. I think I finished fifth overall out of about 60. Probably only 30 or 40 runners.

Effortwise, a great run. Time wise, not so much.