NW DC Loop

Time: 38:33
Distance: 5 mi.

Easy evening run with Colin. This is my first run in 17 days, which is the longest I've taken off as long as I can remember. The weather is finally starting to return to normal, and I'm hoping this is the last run I go on this winter in long pants. And by return to normal, I mean that we had a blizzard last weekend and this weekend it is supposed to be over 70 degrees both days this weekend.

Mizuno Wave Creation 10

I succumbed to getting some everyday running shoes that are more supportive of my feet than the LunaTrainer. I will keep them around for some faster efforts, if those happen at some point. After wearing a bunch of different models around at the Georgetown Running Company, I went with the Mizuno Wave Creation 10, as they don't carry the Nike Elites that I have worn for a long time. I am very wary about getting in new shoes, but I don't have much of an option at this point. They felt fairly good on this short effort, and despite feeling some tightness, my foot didn't really hurt. My right hamstring, on the other hand...

Rock Creek Regional Park

Time: 80:30
Distance: 12 mi.


View Larger Map

Well, the weather is finally cooperating for a few days--it was about 50 degrees and I headed out this afternoon in a t-shirt and shorts. I ran just outside the Beltway through what I believe is called the "Rock Creek Regional Park." The bike path through this area continues from the top of Rock Creek Park along Beach Drive through Chevy Chase, MD and farther north. I started at the intersection of Cedar Lane and Beach Drive in Chevy Chase and did a simple out-and-back run on the winding and somewhat hilly bike path. There are a smattering of distance markers along the way, though none of them seemed to form a coherent measure for the trail.


Clown shoes?

I also finally started running in a new pair of kicks, courtesy of the OK Runner. The Nike LunarTrainer is essentially a beefed up Free with a new "LunarLite" midsole that is supposedly more durable and distributes weight more evenly across the bottom of the foot. I like that the upper is wide and flexible and that it has a wide midsole base. Weighing at under 9 oz (25% lighter than the Nike Elite 3s I have been running in), it might just be a trainer for the next month as well as my marathon race day shoe. Unfortunately, the shoes aren't miracle workers, as my legs felt pretty dead today, and my left sesamoid was a little sore.

Bike Path

Time: 60:00
Distance: 9 mi.
Map

Easy evening run from the house out-and-back on the bike path. It was getting dark on the way out, and there was a great sunset over some of the South Amherst hills, but it was nearly pitch-black on the way back. Good thing I've run this bike path and the trail that leads to it many times.

I did finally bust out a new pair of shoes (more Nike Air Zoom Elite 3s), as my old ones were just over 500 miles... more than I've put on the Elites before, and probably more than they should be used.

Right hamstring tight throughout the run.

Half Miles

Time: 77:00
Distance: 12 mi.

Target: 8 x 800m in 2:30 with 200m rest in ~60 - 5 miles total
Workout: 2:30.7 (58), 2:31.3 (62), 2:28.6 (61), 2:30.2 (58), 2:30.8 (65), 2:28.5 (68), 2:28.5 (62), 2:27.2 (56) - 28:06; 2 x 200m untimed

Decent workout for the first time I've been below tempo pace in a long time. I headed down to the Amherst Regional High School track to relive the memories. My legs felt pretty uncomfortable from the beginning which I attribute somewhat to running on dead shoes, but I did recover aerobically fairly quickly. I settled in somewhat, but had to get back in the mindset of doing intervals, focusing through each one, taking one at a time, etc. I threw on two 200s at the end just to try to clean out my legs.

I did finally got a new pair of Nike Elite 4s which I finagled for less than cost a FinishLine.com.

New Shoes: Mizuno Elixir 3

Time for some new shoes. While I've enjoyed the Nike Elites which I've been wearing for the last year (it's the only Nike shoe I can stand, basically), I'm not tied to them, so I was happy to try something else. I like a lightweight trainer with a stiff midsole, so I considered the Asics Landreth 4 (I was a big fan of its original incarnation... I tried the DS Trainer once and wasn't a big fan) and the Brooks Axiom 2 before settling on the Mizuno Elixir 3. It is a bit roomier than the Elite 3 and has a softer upper, but the midsole is stiffer and lower-profile.


Plus, I want people to look at my feet.

IF

Time: 30:00
Distance: 4 mi.

Easy jog on the intramural fields before dinner. Legs tight, but not too sore.


Nike Air Zoom Elite 4

Broke out a new pair of shoes: Nike's new Air Zoom Elite 4. The construction of the shoe has not changed much since the last version, which I've been wearing since last spring. The upper is slightly remodeled, but does not change the fit significantly. The midsole is almost (if not completely) identical. After one run it feels like this model runs slightly longer--good for me, as my left food is ever so slightly longer than my right.

For my Asics, Brooks and Mizuno wearing friends... yes, I do agree that in general your preferred brand makes higher quality running shoes than Nike. However, this shoe (while not the most durable I've ever worn) fits great and is a good combination of cushion and lightweight support. When Nike screws this shoe up in its next incarnation I'll be back in the Landreth or try out the Axiom or Elixer, I'm sure.

Amherst Loop

Time: 59:00
Distance: 8.5 mi.
Map


On the town common facing Amherst College

Met up with Mr. Gould (Amherst High School coach) for our biannual run from his house, around the center of Amherst and back. Great to catch up with him and get a decent run in. Legs are a little bit tired, but not too bad.

Decided to take it a little bit easy this afternoon and not put in a second run. I'll get a long run in tomorrow before I head to Providence and then a normal distance run on Sunday there.

Update: I forgot to mark when I got new shoes, but it was sometime around here. More Elite 3s.

Fayettenam

Time: 37:00
Distance: 5.5 mi.

Dubbed Fayettenam by collegiate running enthusiasts because whenever you're there you're "going into war," Fayetteville, Arkansas embodies the term in more ways than just that one... it's pretty bleak in these parts and people feel very strongly about the way things happen here. (Incidentally, it appears that the term originated for Fayetteville, North Carolina.)


10k Course Map

We headed out to the course (the same one used for the Chili Pepper Invite) when it "opened" at 10am to run it over. I like it a lot... hard-packed ground, wide paths and gradual hills and turns. It reminds me a lot of the course in Grafton, MA at the Tufts Vetrenary School that hosted the Massachusetts State Meet my junior and senior years... and I ran quite well both times there. Hips/glute definitely feeling a bit better and striding out felt pretty good.

As for the race, I am excited about the plan and the race itself. Jake and I are going to run together, hopefully a bit more conservatively than last year when my 5k splits were something like 15:00/16:10. Goals are pretty simple: run a smart race, make it to nationals.

Other stuff:

Got a new pair of Elite 3s, which I've been running in all fall. Since my last pair I also wrote a very light review of them for RunTex.

Check out the NCAA South Central Regional meet website, the TexasSports preview, hating on us in the LetsRun polls, and this great Lil' Wayne song.

Also, the first local news source that comes up in a Google search (NWAnews.com) seems like it could be easily confused.

IF, Hyde Park

Time: 42:00
Distance: 6 mi.

Easy morning run with Jake and Kyle around IF and then a loop through Hyde Park. Supposed to meet up with a couple more guys, but that didn't materialize. Feeling fine.

New shoes! Another pair of Elite 3s. Definitely due for them.

Bull Creek, Balcones

Time: 90:00
Distance: 14 mi.

A bit of a mixed up run that was not planned well from the start. Noted to a few guys that we should be planning runs together that make sense for everyone... there was general agreement. Started up Red River and looped around north of IF to Bull Creek (or at least what we call Bull Creek, as there is another Bull Creek park in Austin, and park-area doesn't seem to have an official name, it is just on Bull Creek Rd.). Some of the guys going ~60 mins headed back and those of us going longer looped around somewhat aimlessly until we hit Balcones and headed back the beginning of the Mt. Bonnell run. Finished with about 1/2 mi. on the infield.

Legs feeling a little dead, but woke up feeling generally much more rested.


The "Bull Creek" Park

New shoes! Back in the Nike Elite 3.

RCP North

Time: 82:02
Distance: 12 mi.

Shuffled through a morning run... not exactly sure why I wasn't feeling quite as sharp today, but a bunch of miles yesterday coupled with being dehydrated before I even walked out the door this morning was not a good combo. Really have to stay hydrated this weekend!


Someone give me a black Sharpie

Also, got a pair of the original Saucony Tangents from RunTex to try out, which are a pretty big contrast to the Air Max Moto. Will try to switch off between these, maybe wearing the lighter weight Tangents for my shorter runs.

RCP Superloop

Time: 95:00
Distance: 14 mi.
Map

Big day... the return of the mid-week medium-long run, the completion of the RCP Superloop, and new shoes (though for the record "buying shoes" for "full price" sucks).

RCP Superloop: connects the Western Ridge Trail and the Valley Trail making for 12 miles of trails on a 14 mile run. Most of it is pretty good except the southern section of the Valley Trail which is very technical (thus slow and prone to ankle-turning). The map provides a good idea of approximately where the trail goes, but is easily almost 2 miles short because of how much it oversimplifies.


Nike Air Max Moto+ 5

New Shoes: couldn't wait any longer, so I picked up a new pair of trainers at Fleet Feet in DC (owned by Mayor Fenty's family, incidentally). They didn't have a great selection, including no Elites, so I went with the Air Max Moto+ 5. They seem pretty good so far, but the cushioning is a little bit sloppy... I guess I'm used to a bit of a stiffer shoe. The upper fits very well, though.

Legs feel a little bit better, but it'll be a few days before they've really recovered from the dead shoes, I'm sure.

Long IF

Time: 40:00
Distance: 6 mi.

This sort of feels like the first run of the rest of my life. For the first time I don't know what my goals are or what the purpose of my running is... at the same time, for the first time, I have the freedom to determine both of those things. In the short term, I think that I want to jump in a road or track 5k. In the medium term, I want to stay in shape and shoot for the CVS Downtown 5k in Providence this fall to try to make the Ivy Ekiden team. In the long term... marathon? Get in really good 5k shape by next spring? Barring two fairly unlikely events (someone not declaring in the NCAA Midwest region in the 5k and being granted a 6th year for cross country), my collegiate career is ovah.

Felt okay on the run after a long day of travel... still a bit sore. Haven't been sleeping great, so it's not too surprising that I haven't really recovered well.

Also, I'm running in an almost new pair of Nike Elite 3s... by far the best Nike trainer I've had.