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

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)