37 Min Run (base) --158--

LOS FELIZ -- Did the standard loop with the Vibrams and thought it was generally pretty great. I'm not in love with running in these things, but I respect them. And I'm sure I'll grow to downright love them.

But for now, it's just a bit weird. And you get to a point where your feet just kind of collapse and you can't execute any decent form. But those little muscles will strengthen and the ligaments will tighten up and I'm sure it will be great. Plus they look exceptionally stupid.

Strange moment where this chick was running and passed me twice at lights...Hillhurst and Vermont...but she must have known I was just going to pass her again. She was either really in her workout and oblivious or couldn't believe a dork in such a dweeb outfit could blaze all her Nike gear. Vibrams, a basically matching running shirt, the white running hat and those gray cloth running shorts plus glasses = birth control.

25 Min Run (base) --160.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Got some Vibram's today and took them out for a conservative 5k around the hood. Went out thinking I'd do the reservoir if they felt all normal...but to be honest, they didn't. You can feel your feet working a bit harder, getting a little more stretching/etc. Nothing resembling pain, but I figured playing it conservative would be the smart move. And I'm alway right.

Had to go across town to get them at Frontrunners. Maggs went with. It was pretty fun. These are a gift from dad, so even better. Weird little product, but I get the feeling I will like them very much. Not swearing off the racing flats yet, though.

Endomondo

97 Min Run (Race) --158.5-- (TOPANGA XTERRA)

TOPANGA CYN, Calif. -- Some crazy Xterra race up in the State Park. Ran with two members of Team Turbo, JDP and Caroline. I opted for the 15k, which was some kind of official Xterra series race for points and standings. They had some top flight runners there for sure.

I took it pretty carefully, but it was still pretty challenging. Crazy trail from mile 2 to 5. CRAZY. Like barely able to "run" upon. Shoe came untied. Hat got knocked off. Nutty.

But basically just cruised up the climbs and glided down the drops. Good time. Stopped for water and took an indulgent two minute+ urination break. If you look, I probably lost 20 or 30 places in that. But the finish was much more enjoyable. And I wasn't winning isht.

Good times. Here's a herky-jerky video, which could have shown the Pacific in the background and the Topanga State Park hills all over. And my sweet "Scary Fast" Team Turbo shirt.



Hit breakfast with JDP, Caroline and Jay Kav after at the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica. Gorgeous day. T-day is always so awesome.

Endomondo
Official Results (Over: 118/Div:20/#597/MICHAEL HUDSON/33/M M3035C 1:37:10 10:27)
Video (Team Turbo breakfast/postgame)

36 Min Run (base) --158--

LOS FELIZ -- Did a basic loop, screwed up the GPS thing and had to cut about a mile off it so we could hit lunch with Joe/Ben/Gaines. Worth it as it was Langers.

But a nice easy loop to loosen the system in prep for Thursday. I can't believe the speed I've got in the tank thanks to all these miles. Love it.

109 Min Run (push) --155.5--

GRIFFITH PARK -- Went out in the rain and mud to charge up the hill. At some point, I'll figure out Griffith enough to not end up climbing over boulders and using bushes to pull myself up trails...what am I doing?

One portion of this must have taken me 20 minutes to go a half a mile. It was nuts. Plus, it was super cloudy, so I couldn't see where I was going or what the hell was happening. If it weren't for GPS, I would have been completely lost and had to backtrack. Pretty hilarious.



Once the thing came together, it became a solid workout. T-day run is coming right up. I'm in good position to enjoy it.

Tunnel Video
Narrow Path Video

Endomondo workout

71 Min Run

ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Ran the Painted Creek Trail which runs from Rochester to Lake Orion on what appears to be a civic path and part of an old passenger rail line. Went out pretty early just before 6a so I could hit a breakfast with a pal. Still nighttime darkness on the parts that weren't lit up. A good portion of this run was in the country, tree-lined dirt trail. I didn't have a headlamp, obviously, and saw that the six or so folks I encountered all had them. It was amusing when they were coming at me, but I passed two guys who were grinding and speaking loudly. I coughed. I spit. I kicked the dirt a bit. Nothing.

So I got about 20 feet behind and said, "Passing you on..." but didn't get the whole phrase out. Poor guys jumped out of their gear. I seriously almost gave these guys heart attacks. I plead ignorance as this was my first time out on this path and I didn't have a lamp. They seemed to laugh it off...but they were authentically freaked out at first.



Turned back at a certain point and brought it in to the hotel. Ate some apple pie last night, and I swear it affects your motivation on the run. Felt a little empty despite the awesomeness of the trail and the open/flat nature of it. Stupid sugar.

Video is a shaky mess, but shows some of the creek (swelled from a night of rain) and some of the city part of the course. Really nice little path. It connects on the South side of town with the Clinton River trail, which might go for 100 miles. I have no idea. Lotsa trails in Michigan. No one ever seems to take full advantage of these. Of course, I say this now that I'm finally using a few of them.

Endomondo workout

43 Min Run (base)

GREENVILLE, Mich. -- Did the Flat River Trail in the morning with Stever. Icy on the little bridges. Kind of treacherous, really. We both used the Endomondo thing, but Steve's appears to be underestimating the distance by about 0.2 miles. Weird. I double mapped it with MapMyRun and it matched my result.

Weird.

Good stuff. That trail is fantastic. Steve is taking on the new stride. He seemed to take to it extremely well. It's just more natural.

Endomondo

114 Min Run (base) --158--

LOS ANGELES -- Got out early so Beck could go to try out CrossFit in Pasadena. I've been really cranking up the miles, so I wasn't sure last night what I'd end up doing. But I set the sites on Staples and went for it.

Definitely felt some twinges and pangs here and there from the wear. But generally a surprisingly simple effort. Lotsa vids. I'm only going to post one in the post from now on. One pic, one video limit. I'll try to give links to other vids from the run. And I'll be linking to the Endomondo workout report instead of posting it. It's effing huge on the page. This blog looks like a ringtone store. This is one of the best so far, though. McCarthur Park...not so frightening in the dawn.



Somehow hit pause on the goofy thing and blew the GPS track. I used the splits and some simple math and think the run came in around 1:54 for 13.1 (8:42). Might be faster, more likely either right or slightly slower. But it's close.

Also, this...in-run espresso!

Endomondo
Videos (Downtown) (Staples)

56 Min Run (base) --158.5--

SILVER LAKE -- Went out in the morning as Beck would be working late and Maggs was home from daycare. No afternoon-ing today.

Love running in the morning these days. Gets the day off to a great start and feels natural. The only problem is, I just can't conjure up the will most days...would rather get a jump on the days work and save the run for later. Who knows.

Anywho...used Endomondo on Steve's recommendation and loved it. Much better than CardioTrainer. Social concept is phenomenal. Here's the embed from the workout page.

And, of course, a video...

38 Min Run (base) --157.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Got out a for a quick loop on the Old Course. Enjoyable. Things getting darker earlier. I apologize for the gratuitous video taking, but I'm loving this live camera ability.

53 Min Run (Push) --160--

SILVER LAKE -- Breakthrough run by any measure. Watched some NY Marathon on TV today and couldn't shake the idea of getting out today just to shake off the rust from yesterday. Thought about the usual loop, but thought it might be interesting to do it on the reservoir after a pretty grueling effort yesterday.

Took the little phone app and tried a minor adjustment to the form -- kicking the leg up firmly behind the tush like a sprinter...something I read about in New Yorker and saw in action during the 'thon. Took a few peeks at the GPS and saw I was doing a decent pace so I kept it up. Really started flying around the water (the only real flat portion) using the new form...took a quick vid of the sunset that might cause nausea, but is still worth capturing. Really picked people off left and right. At the flat parts I was drilling down under 7m/m.

Got around and saw I was easily besting my all-time 5 mile time by minutes. Watched the 10k arrive on one of the last uphills with the clock @ 46:58. Finished the course which was seven miles at 53:01, I think. I'll try to post the course on here, though the app is a little wonky.

The thing said my top pace was 5:20, which I might have gotten in the last sprint. Really like that leg kick thing. But this entire run was beyond expectation. Best time on this course by like 4 minutes plus.

120 Min Run (push) --157--

GRIFFITH PARK -- What a run. Took Maggs over to the park a few days ago and thought...hey, a run over to the East entrance and back across the hills might be fun. Woke up today and felt the urge.

Trying to different running programs on the new phone...started with MapMyRun which didn't work. Went back to CardioTrainer, which did. Ran all over the hills and whatnot, probably 2000 to 2500 of total elevation gain. Trying to get ready for the T-day trail run and this probably did that. Time and distance are pretty guestimate, but conservative. I'd say the distance was in the 13 range.

You can see from the vids there were some incredible hills and views. What you don't see is that I ended up fooling around and getting on some scrub trail to get over to Bronson Canyon and ended up having to descend down a rock face and ended up in some rich dudes' backyards. Snuck through the security fence and made my way to Franklin and eventually back home.

This MyTouch 4G is insane. It tracked the run on GPS (80% anyway), took live videos uploaded to Qik, took photos, got emails, texts and even made a phone call. And I checked the MSU score. Wow. No problems. Lightning fast. Love it.

One note from the hill, some mountain goat dude I passed didn't take kindly and nearly tracked me down by the time we summited. Awesome.

15 Min Run (base) --161.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Went out to try out his running app on the new phone. It didn't work very well. Will try the MapMyRun one.

40 Min run (base) --158.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Fun little loop. Ate tons of sugar today and yesterday for first time in 10 months. Ate fantastic other than that. Felt hallowed out. There was a weakness inside during this run that was undeniable. Just more evidence. Incredible really. I somewhat remember that feeling. Just an internal weakness. Like slight poisoning of motivation. Hallow.

Blew through it, though. Great stuff.