Modified Possum Trot, IF

Time: 90:00
Distance: 13.5 mi.
Map

I started with Erik, running down to campus where he had weights. After I dropped him off I headed down towards Town Lake when I ran into Joe, so I ended up with running companions most of the way. Possum Trot worked well for Joe, who was heading around back to his house, off Exposition, so we modified it a little bit and I dropped him off there before heading home. I was near the house at about 80 minutes and was feeling okay, so I decided to add a bit on IF. My legs were tired by the end, and my right glute is sore. I desparately need new shoes, which I will try to take care of today.

Campus Loop

Time: 41:20
Distance: 6 mi.

Easy morning recovery run. I ran down to campus with Erik who had a weight room session with the team, and then I looped back through campus.

IF, 15th Street Loop

Time: 80:00
Distance: 12 mi.

Morning jog starting on IF for 20 minutes and then meeting up with Erik to run the 15th Street Loop. He was only going 40 minutes, so we ran down Shoal Creek and over to the track where he could get weights in. I just ran back up to the house.

15th Street Loop

Time: 60:00
Distance: 9 mi.

Easy morning all-house run with Erik and Brian. We ran to the track so that Erik could switch shoes and then finished up down to 15th and up Shoal Creek. Given yesterday's effort, and the long week, this was fine for me.

4 Mile Tempo, 300s

Time: 81:00
Distance: 12.5 mi.

Target: 4 mile tempo at ~5:10; 6 x 300m in a good effort with 100m quick jog
Workout: 20:46 (5:12, 5:10, 5:15, 5:08); 48, 50, 48, 49, 48, 47 (8:10 for 1.5 mi.)


Mile 1 on Town Lake is on the bridge near Barton Springs

Chilly, windy morning in Austin. Joe and I ran from his house down to the Austin High track. We dropped off our flats and met Stanley, who had run from campus. The tempo was from the 2 mile mark to 0.0 and back. There was a fairly strong wind from the west, so the way out wasn't too bad, but we were fighting it all the way back. I was pretty stiff for the first mile of the tempo, but settled in. If the wind hadn't been so bad it wouldn't have been terrible to make this 5 miles, but the 5:08 at the end was a fight.

Joe and I jogged for 10 minutes and switched into flats before starting the 300s. We knew that one straightaway would have a lot of wind, so we didn't focus on the time other than to try to run even throughout.

Overall, it was a good workout despite the Oklahoma-esq wind. Unlike Oklahoma, however, there has been minimal leg bitage.

Upper Shoal Creek, 29th, IF

Time: 41:00
Distance: 6 mi.

Easy morning run with Erik down upper Shoal Creek, back up to our place and a short loop on IF. Knee was a little bit tight, but not painful. I wouldn't really be tapering like this except I'm just worried about it. I'll be sure to get back on the miles as soon as it makes sense.

Shoal Creek, Town Lake

Time: 100:00
Distance: 14.5 mi.

Easy morning run. I wasn't looking for this much, but by the time Erik and I made it down to Dave's, and then Dave and I made it down to Town Lake, this was the way it worked out. I guess I didn't mind because I'm taking the opportunity to get miles whenever I can at the moment (especially with people), and don't have a lot of time to double these days. Ran into Jake for the last 10 minutes of the run, so I didn't even have to run the last bit alone. Legs are pretty beat.

Greenbelt, Back Home

Time: 80:00
Distance: 12 mi.

Went with Erik to meet Victor Gras, who is here on a recruiting trip, down at Town Lake. We ran from 0.0 out to the Greenbelt and back so that they could get 50 min, and then I ran back up Trinity, through campus, past Handcock golf course and through Hyde Park home. I was thinking of adding on for 90 minutes, but decided that this would be fine for today.


The gorgeous Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs

Today marks the last first day of school for me for... ever?

IF, Random Loop, IF

Time: 80:00
Distance: 12 mi.

Easy morning run with Joe and Stanley... started with Stan on IF until Joe showed up, did a loop that included part of Shoal Creek and some roads on the west side of town, then back to IF to finish up with Joe when Stan turned off. Nice to be running with these guys and good to be building up volume with some soft and relatively easy running.

Met with Vig today who advised that I "get used to racing as much as possible... even twice a weekend." Uhm... okay? Maybe I'll try to do both of the BU meets, though it seems that both will just have 3ks. Maybe I can coerce someone into running with me.

West Austin Hills

Time: 74:30
Distance: 11 mi.
Map

Glad that Erik got me going this morning, as I otherwise would have put this off until the afternoon. It was hot enough (mid-70s) in the morning... I wouldn't have wanted to do it in the mid-80s of the afternoon. Just checked the calendar... it is in fact December. A bit tired from staying up late last night, but not feeling terrible.

Map is very approximate as we looped around a little bit on some small trails and were trying to explore a little bit.

There is a surprisingly well-written piece in the New York Times about the physical-mental connection in endurance athletics. Nothing most serious runners don't know or haven't experienced, but a good reminder and a good story for the average NYT reader.

Northern Loop, IF

Time: 50:00
Distance: 7 mi.

Feeling pretty beat from last night, but had to get out with Hanley before he went to work. Legs starting to feel decent again. Some random loopy-ness and lacrosse ball tossing.

25th, Shoal Creek, Groovy Lube

Time: 65:00
Distance: 9.5 mi.

Easy morning run with Han an' Stan. Legs tired and stiff, but it was good to run with them. Looped through campus up to Shoal Creek and then back up to Groovy Lube for Hanley to get his car. Finished up on IF.

Handcock, IF

Time: 41:00
Distance: 6 mi.

Easy early morning run with Erik. Feet are pretty much fine and legs (both calves and right hamstring) are tight and sore as I expected, but they warmed up nicely. The weather here is finally cool again (34 this morning), though no indication that it will stay that way (it was 85 on Sunday). Hoping to run again this evening with Hanley and Burnham to watch their workout.

Bull Creek

Time: 45:00
Distance: 6 mi.

Very easy morning run with Erik. Right hammy very tight from yesterday's workout. Got a pretty good night's sleep, so I'm hoping to start feeling better. Still congested and coughing stuff up, but better than yesterday.

IF Loops, Neighborhood Loop

Time: 60:00
Distance: 9 mi.

Easy 9 mile morning run with some of the guys around IF. Went 50 minutes, did 6 x 100m strides and then finished with a 10 minute loop around the neighborhood. Hips pretty tight again, and it was definitely one of those days when I felt far better after the strides than before. Right glute sore throughout... hopefully the massage this afternoon will help. The weather is chilly enough that it takes some time to get warm, which is a little deceptive because its not really cold... better pay attention to that on Saturday.

IF, Hancock

Time: 93:00
Distance: 13.5 mi.

A very easy mid-week medium long run. Stayed on the soft surfaces with Erik and it was good to run the whole thing with him. Sore from yesterday and the legs (especially quads/hip flexors) were pretty tired by the end of the run.

15th, Shoal Creek

Time: 63:00
Distance: 9 mi.
Map (approximate)

A little bit of a hodge-podge easy run... Stan and I left our place and picked up Leo and Dave on the way down towards campus. Stopped at the track because I couldn't do a whole run in the Victory's that I am (trying to) wear-test. Not sure that shoe is built for me. Then ran down to 15th, and over to lower and upper Shoal Creek and back to the house. Fine run, but a little disjointed... never got into a rhythm. Left hamstring/glute feeling better today.

Town Lake, Lake Austin, Scenic

Time: 93:30
Distance: 13.5 mi.
Map

No practice this morning because we're traveling this afternoon to Boone. Ran with Stan from the house and met up with Kyle at the track. Did the standard loop, but it was a little longer than usual because we got started a bit slow, stopped at the track and I think we were all feeling yesterday's workout a bit. My legs felt a bit dead overall, and right hamstring/adducter/piriformis tightness returned as it did last week after the Tuesday workout.

Possum Trot

Time: 80:00
Distance: 11.5 mi.
Map (approximate)

Met some of the older guys at the track for a run. Looking to do something a little different, so after getting off Town Lake past MoPac we headed north into the neighborhoods and onto Possum Trot. Running pretty slow most of the way, as people seemed a bit stiff and lethargic. Fine for a recovery run though. Finished up on the grass of the infield for the last 10+ minutes. This could be a decent regular run... there are some pretty roads in that area.

Town Lake, Lake Austin, Scenic

Time: 90:30
Distance: 13.5 mi.
Map


Bridge on the north side of Town Lake

Easy morning run with Stanley on the 90-minute loop. The pretty serious humidity continues so it almost doesn't matter that the temperature has been down somewhat. Having some soreness in my right leg... hamstring, adducter, glute... that seems similar to what I've had in my left leg for the last few years. Might be related to hip balance, so I'll get that checked out. Stopped twice to stretch. Cold lingers.