Recovery Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:22
Pace: 9:19 min/mi

Comments: Between the neighbor's shrieking kid that kept me up all night and the soreness in my hamstrings from the run on Thanksgiving Day, I didn't think this run was going to happen. But temperatures in the low 50s are an opportunity not to be passed over lightly. And once I got started I was glad I did because it was about as beautiful a morning as one could ask for.

Started intentionally slow due to the hamstring soreness and general stiffness. That mostly worked itself out by the end of mile one and I could concentrate on keeping a reasonably steady pace. I sped up slightly on the second half of this run but all of the splits were comfortably over the nine minute mark.

Conditions:
Hour: 7:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 55 degrees
Humidity: 83 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: Both hamstrings, but particularly my left, have felt tight since yesterday. They warmed up fine for this run but I can still feel the discomfort somewhat.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 34:23
Pace: 8:35 min/mi

Comments: Any run someone gives you a "Roll Tide" is a good one. Since it is Thanksgiving, I waited until the temperatures were out of the 30s to do this one and that worked out about perfectly. It was brisk that first half mile but pretty much perfect the rest of the way.

Overall I am feeling much stronger and knew I had this one under control. Still the conditioning isn't there yet and the effort was sloppier than I feel comfortable. Still, this was a very good pace and, even better, the variance between my fastest and slowest split was five seconds. Tough to get better than that.

Conditions:
Hour: 8:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 40 degrees
Humidity: 50 percent
Wind:
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:32
Pace: 9:07 min/mi

Comments: Well that was certainly bracing. I thought the temperature was going to be in the 40s but it turned out to be just kissing freezing. Been awhile since I took a run with frost on the ground. As one might expect, the first mile was not particularly pleasant. And, as one also might expect, it got a lot better after that. While the overall pace wasn't earth-shattering, I did do each mile faster than the one before; one of the nice upshots of cold weather running and a solid day off.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 34 degrees
Humidity: 88 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Recovery Run

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 22:57
Pace:9:11 min/mi

Comments: I wasn't intending to do this run at all but when I got up the skies were clear, the temperatures were about perfect and I need any excuse I can find to get back into my running routine.

Of course I was incredibly stiff starting out. And, once again, even though I tried to keep the pace down the first mile, I knocked it out quicker than was advisable. The second mile went well enough but I was clearly battling harder than I needed.

Instead of the usual four miles, I settled for 2.5 because I don't want to push it so hard I break my workout streak due to exhaustion.

Conditions:
Hour: 8:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 60 degrees
Humidity: 92 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada