Long Run

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 53:27
Pace: 8:54 min/mi

Comments: The run on Thursday took a lot more out of me than I had initially expected. I was dragging most of Friday and slept pretty hard that night as well. Today I felt a lot better so I thought a reasonable challenge might be in order.

I decided to take a stab at six miles. Not an inordinately difficult goal but it has been awhile and with temperatures where they are at, I didn't want to get a good ways out and try to walk home in the chill.

The run went really well, though. I started overslow and let myself speed up as I warmed up. I took an off-the-sidewalk route around one of the ponds which was a nice change of pace. The biggest problem was the cold breeze on the way back. Overall, my pace stayed under 9 min/mi so it was a solid effort.

Conditions:
Hour: 1:20 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: overcast
Temperature: 38 degrees
Humidity: 43%
Wind: 10 mph
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:14
Pace: 8:17 min/mi

Comments: Oh this was not pleasant at all. With temperatures in the 20s and wind chills dropping it another good dozen degrees, a morning run was out of the question. It warmed up during today but it was damn chilly when I finally got started.

So, as you might expect, I ran this at as quick of a pace as I could in order to get the misery over with. The first mile was 8:25 pace -- as fast as my fastest in most runs -- and I didn't slow down any the rest of the way. Overall, it was difficult but not nearly as much as I expected.

Conditions:
Hour: 5:05 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 36 degrees
Humidity: 45%
Wind: 5 mph
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 34:11
Pace: 8:33 min/mi

Comments: The weather, while not warm by any stretch of the imagination, was positively balmy compared to what the rest of the week is slated to bring. So I got off work and got out the door to enjoy it.

I felt kind of slow the first half of this run although my pace came out pretty much in line with what I've been doing the last week. But since I thought I was falling behind, I pushed it a little harder on the back half. I was a little shocked to see my final mile hit 8:03.

I think at this point I have to chalk up this to more than just the cold weather. I've really been trying to eat better since Christmas and I'm thinking that's one of the key things that had been holding me back before.

Conditions:
Hour: 5 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 55 degrees
Humidity: 58%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 34:49
Pace: 8:40

Comments: It was damn cold this morning so there really wasn't a chance I was going out to run before work. Of course I didn't get off until late and the light was almost gone by the time I got my shoes laced up. Still, the sunset was pretty spectacular.

Once again I had a pretty strong run. I thought I took the first mile pretty easy but it turned out to be as fast as any of the faster miles in my previous runs. And I was flirting with 8:30 pace for half of this effort. The best part is that I really didn't feel like I was pushing it too much. I just hit a nice groove and rode it the whole way.

Conditions:
Hour: 5:48 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 42 degrees
Humidity: 52%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 35:21
Pace: 8:49 min/mi

Comments: Now that went a lot better. The storms passed through during the evening and while it was still a bit chilly, it wasn't as raw as yesterday afternoon. I also have been focusing on eating a bit better and it really seemed to pay off today.

I started out the first two miles pretty much right where I wanted to be -- 9 min/mi pace. The last two I increased my pace as my legs seemed to allow. Finished the final lap in sub 8:30 pace. Not too shabby.

Conditions:
Hour: 8:20 a.m,
Surface: concrete
Weather: cloudy
Temperature: 38 degrees
Humidity: 99%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Training Run

Distance: 1.5 miles
Time: 12:56
Pace: 8:34 min/mi

Comments: Well that was perfectly awful. It's been cold and rainy all day so I figured it wouldn't be any worse than the light drizzle in the late afternoon. Forgot about the breeze. It wasn't too stout, mind you, just enough to feel like my face and front of my legs were encased in ice.

As you might expect, I headed out way too fast. An 8:35 first mile and well on the way to matching that in the second. I knew that I was not only going to melt down on the second lap but push getting ill by walking in under these conditions. So I just let it go at 1.5 miles. I'll take another stab at it tomorrow. Hopefully it'll be a little less miserable.

Conditions:
Hour: 4:37 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: raining
Temperature: 39 degrees
Humidity: 100%
Wind: 6 mph
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: none

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 35:40
Pace: 8:54 min/mi

Comments: In an effort to get 2015 started right, I made sure to get a run in even though I had a winter storm to contend with. There were forecasts of icy rain and sleet but it seems those conditions were a bit to the west.

Still, it rained all morning and it wasn't till noon it let up enough to think about the run. These grey, cold, wet days are really some of my favorite running weather.

I didn't really think that much about my pace on this one, just went out and tried to avoid the big puddles. So I was a little surprised to find every one of my splits was sub-9:00. I tend to speed up a little bit in cold weather but I didn't expect that kind of consistency. Nice start to my running year.

Conditions:
Hour: 12:45 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: light rain
Temperature: 34 degrees
Humidity: 100%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:17
Pace: 9:04 min/mi

Comments: Getting out the door over Christmas was tougher than I expected. The weather was cool, if dour, which tends to make ideal running conditions. But I didn't feel well most of the past week and, to be honest, my motivation levels were at rock bottom.

But New Year's is just around the corner with the requisite resolutions. It's pretty clear getting back in the swing of this is gonna be mine and might as well get started early.

This was a decent run. I waited until the temperatures got out of the 30s before going out and that seemed to be exactly the time the sun came out. It was pleasantly warm by the time I finished. Can't say this was a banner effort by any means but a solid start is all I was looking for.

Conditions:
Hour: noon
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 45 degrees
Humidity:
Wind: ca;,
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:31
Pace: 9:07 min/mi

Comments: This is one of those weird things about running. Went out this morning and felt like I just nailed it. Slightly creaky start, warmed up quickly, hit a solid pace and held it pretty much the whole way. Ran the last mile as smooth as I've been able to muster in months.

Then I look at the watch and it's just two seconds better than yesterday's run which felt terrible. Whatever. I just want to keep at it this whole week and this is a great start.

Conditions:
Hour: 6 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 55 degrees
Humidity: 63 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:39
Pace: 9:09 min/mi

Comments: It has been a busy week and finding the time to run has not been easy. I wanted to get out the door earlier this morning but there was too much stuff to do and when the one opportunity opened up... it started raining. I figured that was it but things cleared up at 3 p.m. so I headed out before the next round of showers could arrive.

This wasn't a spectacular run. I felt sloppy and slow the whole way. Part of that is probably the weirdness of running in the afternoon for once. But the goal was get in the miles and not settle for a partial effort. Mission accomplished.

Conditions:
Hour: 3:30 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: overcast/cloudy
Temperature: 66 degrees
Humidity: 93 percent
Wind: 10 mph
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada