38 Min Run (base) --160.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Quick little loop. Trying to keep it together through the rain and holiday nonsense.

Endomondo

35 Min Run (base)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Went out with Buckley all over the crazy hills around the Fairmont. We got within view of AT&T Park and the pup had had enough so we turned back. Forgot my effing shoes so had to take it easy myself in Vibrams which seem to hold the key to my running future...yet also seem capable of destroying me if they aren't repected.

Insanely nice day in SF. Best urban running town in my opinion.

39 Min Run (base)

LOS FELIZ -- Quick run in the Vibrams before we leave on the Christmas trip to the Bay. Feet definitely feel stronger with the Vibrams. But still important to mix in the flats for most long mileage at this point.

32 Min Run (base)

LOS FELIZ -- Put a second Vibram run on the board for the week. I'm starting to like these things. It takes some getting used to but my feet definitely feel stronger. It makes running that much more natural. Like a wood bat compared to metal. Or something.

Anywho...like it.

Endomondo

24 Min Run (base) --160.5--

LOS FELIZ -- Did the weekly Vibram run inspired by a video of Rajon Rondo calmly claiming he was the best point guard in the NBA. I really don't understand myself sometimes. But, thanks RR.

I would say I'm getting more used to these things, but it's hard to tell immediately after. Gotta wait like 24-36 hours. I think my chances at running a blistering 5k are much, much higher in these things. Fast pace feels an eff of a lot easier in these.

24 Min Run (RACE) SANTA MONICA CHRISTMAS RUN

SANTA MONICA -- Ran this run with the rest of Team Turbo (JDP and Christine, anyway) and was surprised at the recovery. After the 10k, I figured my legs would fill up with blood and not really want to run again. But they stayed good and loose. Loved it. Just trotted it out, speed up as the miles went by and finished happy. A 24:39, I think, so got all my miles in today under 8 mins. Makes me wonder what kind of straight 5k I could have pulled. Guess that will be answered another day.

10k and 5k Results Page

...about 0.2 from the finish in both races. Hahahaha.

45 Min Run (Race) SANTA MONICA CHRISTMAS RUN

SANTA MONICA -- Did a double race day and wound up drilling the 10k, which came first. Was hoping to just crack 50 mins on an official chipped race and ended up with 45:25. That's 7:20 per mile and a 22:42 5k split/average. Not shabby.

This race has some incredible talent. Dude who won broke 30. 4:47 a mile. Holy moly.

Really went pretty smooth. Just kept the feet moving and never pushed it too hard, knowing I had the 5k after still. Only three people of about 3000 did both races. I'm in 1000.

Also, had a 6:57 split on Mile 2. Nice little bonus there.

25 Min Run (base) --160--

LOS FELIZ -- Did a little jaunt here and there to see what the deal is the day after Vibram day. Right heel was pretty tight, rest was normal-ish. Got a sweat going. Was done.

20 Min Run (base) --160--

LOS FELIZ -- Quick loop in the Vibrams. Will do once or twice a week in the new shoesies for the next month or so.

190 Min Run (push) --156.5--

PASADENA -- The final piece of the stadium runs is now secured. Got over to the Rose Bowl and back. Considering the storylines around MSU, I figured I'd wear my Sparty shirt and take the poor boy to see the place, seeing as he by most logical measures should be playing there Jan. 1.

But whatever. Los Feliz Blvd to Glendale Blvd to Colorado to Linda Vista to Seco, loop the stadium and back. Some real characters hanging around Glendale in the early morning. It was a fairly uneventful run considering the distance. But a few highlights:

--Story at the adult foster care I was running past: "So he tried to stab me and cut my finger. Another guy got stabbed in the back. Other guy in the back, too. It was crazy."

--7-11 in Eagle Rock. Dude has a Tecate 'fan can' on counter. Sees me come up with my running kit and obvious sweat and only buying a water. He looks, thinks and reaches over to a nearby rack for a pack of peanuts. This is at 9a, mind you. Maybe I helped someone today. Important to eat something.

--USC/UCLA was already getting its tailgate on at 8:15a. Pretty cool. Some students throwing balls around, DirecTV dishes set up, lotsa RVs. I loved it. Unfortch, two folks were stabbed during a near riot later in the day at 4:30p when something like 50 fans got into a brawl. Attempted murder charges for three people. Yikes. That is certainly not the stereotype of these fans.



--The course is a challenge. It's hilly as all heck. Long grades up and down. Some steep stuff. So I'm really pretty proud of this pace. It would have been a 4:08 marathon had I kept going around the old loop and done 26.2. That's by far my best time. Feet were pretty chopped up. Some wear and tear on the hip muscles and almost had a calf cramp. But the only real challenging part was the last hill up Los Feliz Blvd. after the park. I'm not sure I've ever run up that thing, only down. And certainly not in the 19th mile of a run. Had to dig a little deeper than I thought I might...and deeper than I've dug in a while. Ha!

--Maggs and Beck followed me on Endomondo and met me when I got back, cheering me on from the front porch. That was awesome. Maggs was really excited about the whole thing.

--Brought along some raw almonds to eat along the way. Ate them while onboarding my room-temp liter of water from 7-11. So good. Really a good snack for along the way. Should consider soaking them in saltwater in the future. Had salt crystals cakes on my face and hat after this one.

--Weather was absolutely ideal. 50s pretty much the whole time and patches of sunshine. Loved it. Great run. That 3 miles around the Rose Bowl hood was kind of electric because of the pregame stuff. And it's a beautiful location anyway.

Endomondo

16 Min Run (base) --158--

LOS FELIZ -- Quick loop to loosen up in anticipation of the Saturday run. Sights are aimed on the Granddaddy.

38 Min Run (base) --158--

LOS FELIZ -- Tried to get the calf-y-ness out of my legs. Those Vibrams really test your lower calf/high ankle. I'm better off than most, I think, because my shoes have been pretty flat for some time now. But it's still quite a difference.

Just went out. Felt pretty quick for most of it. The route is pretty much what the GPS always says this route is...but why is it so effing wobbly today? Weird. It shortchanged me on the trail run by a tiny bit, but was pretty much dead on. This one today is weird. I think running later in the day the GPS doesn't read as well because on Monday it couldn't even get a signal. Who knows.

Endomondo