Water Bottle Run Around OU

Today was nuts. I did everything under the sun from work to driving all over town to picking up my kitty to running mini errands.  Once I was done with all this and a bottomless stomach since I never even had the chance to stop and pick up food, I finally went on my run!

I was able to purchase with a gift certificate a hydration bottle and it worked out nicely.  I was able to constantly hydrate while on the go and my body responded well. I kept a fast pace (6:20's) as I sprinted around the whole University of Oklahoma campus.  On days when the heat is boiling, the bottle is the way to go.  I feel much more at ease during the run and I never tire out completely from dehydration.  With the little kitty back in the household, it is going to be another job to watch both cats to make sure Nollie does not harm Libby again because my wallet cannot afford another big animal bill.  There has been so much stress lately but I hope that with clearer skies in the horizon, everything will be just fine.

68 minutes of running in the books 10.7 miles of action!

Long Run with the Dudes!!!

1 hour and 40 mins...Doughnuts...a good pace...shade and we beat the heat!  I will take running at 7am everyday I think.

Scott, Connor and myself all headed out along 36th street and we were greeted by water, shade and some fun stories.  I wish Connor the best of luck with his hike and I think the Riverside 5000 will be a fun race!

I have not run as long as I did in a couple weeks as I did today and I thank my fellow OK runner cohorts for putting in the work.  I still wish Norman had more trees but that is from a Jersey boy so you cannot take all of what I say to heart.  Though running on the hills by 7 means we get some nice shade and finish just as the sun is ready to boil our bodies!

Things to do: Head to OK runner

Buy a hydration bottle from Backwoods

Clean the apartment
See Libby

Watch Inception!

Heat Training SUCKS!

Running in the heat can be tough and lately, my running in these hot temps still can be tough. I take numerous pit stops at local churches, water fountains, inside buildings and still I get tired.

Tues---I ran 73 minutes in 104 degree heat at the OU xc trails...Too many grasshoppers to enjoy the run

Wed---Run out along Hall Park and some hills but the rising temps and strong sun plus some humidity beat me up.  I was only able to eek out 71 minutes from the deal.


I have been looking at athletes such as Ryan Sandes, Kilian Jornet and the great ultra-distance and mountain running stars of late.  I hope that more running exposure will land me a sponsor deal with Montrail, Salomon, Inov 8 or another trail company!  

Running Recap for the End of July 2011

I have not been able to tack on all of my runs on my blog but I have been able to acclimatize to the heat here in Oklahoma. I can go run in 100 degree weather and still feel okay which has taken me a couple months but I have finally made it!

I still want to train on more hilly sections but it can be hard when that sun is right there beating on you to get in a nice long run and especially when a water fountain or a church with water may not come up for another 3-5 miles.  I need to find a running water bottle that I have somewhere in my Condo and use it!  Overall, I have been running well getting in my 65-90 minutes of exercise everyday and that is awesome in this heat.  With work, it is hard for me to run twice which would also be the solution in hot weather but I cannot afford that so I must go into every run knowing I am going to be out there for a long time. My fitness continues to improve and I look forward to racing in August.

August 13th---- Riverside 5000m in Tulsa, OK

Sept 3rd---Brookhaven Run (5k)----Norman, OK

Sept 10th----Do Wacka Do Trails Run (25k)---Erick, Oklahoma

These are the races I am eager to run next! Wish me luck and I look forward to giving everyone more insight on my exploits!

Dog Days

Im still running and it is still HOT!  I ran out on Alameda out towards Lake Thunderbird. I cut off the road at 72nd and ran on some private neighborhoods.  I stopped at the Church of God for some much needed Holy water and prayer before I set back along the hot farm road.  83 minutes and 14 miles of work not bad, not bad at all.

Libby To The Doctor?

So I just finished taking my new kitty, Libby to the cat clinic today because she was running a fever and had a limp as one of her paws was very tender and she chose not to walk.  It was very sad to see this happy happy kitty just sleep and you could tell she was unhappy. I have been able to run decent runs such as yesterday's 82 minute run and today's 65 minute OU campus run.

The heat is  been very tough but I feel like I am getting accustomed to it even though hydrating constantly and crawling in ever section of shade is tough out in Norman, it is what must be done.

My next race will be August 13th at the Tulsa Riverside 5000m where the best Oklahoma road racing teams head to stake their claim as the best team in the state!

A new CAT!

So I now can say I am the proud owner of a new cat named Libby for Libra named after my zodiac sign.  We picked her up yesterday and she is the sweetest little thing imaginable. She loves to sleep, play, cuddle, explore and defend herself from our other cat Nollie who has not become accustomed yet to the new guest.

Saturday's run was short and consisted of a 40 minute tempo where  I would hit 5 mins on and 5 mins off where the on sections were at around 5:30 a mile and the off sections at about 6:30s.

Sunday was a nice 80 minute run to deposit may pay-check across town as I trucked it all across Norman to the Bank of America on West Main. It has been so hot and muggy here that it takes so much out of you to run even 20 minutes.

Monday which is today I ran and dropped off a netflix movie then headed on East Lindsey by the hills and ran out that way until   I could not handle the pummeling sun any more.  72 minutes did the trick now it is time to hang out with the cats and work on house work.

RUNNING--THE NORM

Wednesday- Lake THunderbird Run of 60 minutes or so which was about 9-10 miles with Connor

Thursday--Long Run out towards Noble on the Hills---15-16 miles

Friday---Hot Run of 73 minutes and about 11-12 miles or so out on the trails of Sutton Wilderness

The Weekend That Was

SO I have run here and there this weekend as for once I had it off. I had an awesome Lake THunderbird run to begin the weekend as we headed to fayetteville, Arkansas because I am looking to potentially go to graduate school there.

Saturday I did not run because of the travel and the swimming and water fun at a small water park in Alma, Arkansas with Ashlee's sisters.  And plus we had the chance to check out Dickson Street which was awesome. So many bars in such a short stretch.  I was amazed how there was a bar for every type of person.

That next morning I woke up and ran all around The Razorback campus and let me tell you I could see myself doing some incredible mountain and hill training there.  Right off of campus  I could run on a tree-lined small road and run to the top of the Ozark Mountains and then back down.  The campus already sits at about 1 thousand or so feet above sea-level and even the temperature there was more tolerable than OK.

I was Able to run by the Hog stadium which sits on a hill side.

Let me tell you that Fayetteville is beautiful with the Ozark Mountains and a quaint town of Fayetteville which reminds me of Norman.  There are great running trails in the area and the parks are so legit.

After the run and breakfast. We spent the afternoon in Devil's Den State Park.  This park was great even though it was super hot like upper 90's, the shade helped to cool things off.  Bats are what make Devils's Den famous and the trails should too.  I really enjoyed our trip and potentially look forward to going back sometime soon when it is cooler.

Once I have been back I have run 85 minutes on the hills of Norman on tues and a 35-40 minute slog in the heat of the day on Monday where 104 temperatures are certainly enough to make you go slow.

Run to the Bank, Run to Work

I am so tired of running around. I did a nice group run with the OK runner squad last night on the OU trails and it felt real good but what gets me is that  I was sleepy this morning and then I go run to the bank at 9:30 am and get back at 11 to realize that on Fridays we need someone to come into work at 12 and that is always me. SO what was planned to be a slow day of chores such as buying toilet paper, doing laundry and the dishes has now become a frantic race to make it to work and to ensure I eat something before I work my butt off for 10 hours!

This week I will average 77-82 miles for the week which is not terrible but could be higher. My level of fitness can handle 90 mile weeks but it has been hard with the temperatures and the constant grind working does to you.

Anyway I ran both 70 minutes total these days which is 11 miles or so.

Sky Running and the Man Kilian Jornet--Lake T-Bird Run

Tuesday I ran a nice  campus loop and I feel like  I am finally getting used to the warm Oklahoma summer climate.  I make sure I eat enough and hydrate properly and then I continue to hydrate along the way. I ran 70 minutes and trekked 11 miles.  The run was not very eventful but it was the first step in the right direction.

Today's run was special! I decided that I wanted something different so I drove to Lake Thunderbird on the Alameda side.  I parked at 84th street where the bridge into the Lake begins and headed out along the various side-roads along the park.  I think I have found my new resurgence with running again.  I felt great running up vast hills and it is so nice to run hills and to have shade all around you.  Norman Police training was going on and I received much love from the PD.  I hit the docks when I felt hot and splashed some cool lake water on me and I continued running.  It was amazing how great the shade made me feel!  I really felt like a new man as I pushed along and was able to run 75 minutes and 11.5 miles or so of a great effort. Then before work I have been looking at the most incredible mountain runner I have ever seen: Kilian Jornet. This guy from Spain has run up Mount Olympus and Kilimanjaro to name a few and I really think he is something special. And I have learned that sky running is ascent running where you run up steep mountain ranges and it seems like something I might try one day soon.

65 is the new 80

I have been averaging 65 mins to 70 mins a run with my new light lunar elite 2s because the heat is so killer and hot.

With working fourth of July, I was able to squeeze in a 45 minute run in 100 degree heat and then I worked all day long.  Let me tell you that Oklahoma running has become more of a chore than something just plain fun and enjoyable.

Today I am off from work and will go on a run this evening as the temperature begins to fizzle.