It ain't Chinese algebra!

11 miles this morning, between Jill's house and my new home. It's 3.75 miles from front door to front door. That will be nice to know for future runs. A lot of the streets I ran didn't have a sidewalk and very limited space on the shoulder. I'll have to find some better routes.... After the 11 miles I ran 1 mile with the dog. I should do that more often....

Average Pace: 7:05

Rotterdam (246)

My first of many rainy runs this morning.  I'll have to get some appropriate attire....  I ran from Jill's to East McAndrews, then due east for 4 miles up into the hills.  There were some rollers in there, but it was mostly up.  Consequently, the 4 home was lots of downhill.  I felt pretty good, but the pizza from last night wasn't enjoying the run one bit.

Pace: 7:19 

Rotterdam (254)

4 miles around my new neighborhood, then 1 mile with the dog. It rained again. It's rained every day since we moved here but locals are saying that such a wet May/June is unusual. No watch.

Sinister (184)

I did 4.5 miles this morning around Albertsons and St. Mary's High School, then 1 more mile with the dog. My pace was right at 7:00/mile. Blue skies this morning, so maybe we'll have some good weather finally.

Rotterdam (260)

First 10K since 2004. It was a blast! New pr by 50 seconds with a 32:30 on the most honest course I've ever ran. 1st overall and new course record. I'll write more later...

First weekend in Oregon and I found a 10K/5K in the town of Gold Hill, 10 miles up I-5 from Medford. It seems like there is a race nearly every weekend here, so I'm excited about that. Anyway, I got to Gold Hill and wasn't sure about the race--it seemed less than 100 people were going to be participating, but I signed up anyway. I ran the first 2 miles of the course and then returned for a 4 mile warm up.

We lined up and there were a few ex-SOU runners, so I figured there would be a few of us pushing the pace. From the gun it was just JJ and I. JJ led for the first mile, then 2 and 3 we ran at each others side. I ran with a Nike watch (after Lincoln, I'm done with the garmin on race day) and so I was a little unsure about the pace. It didn't feel too rough, so I figured we'd be okay. We went through 5K @ 16:15 and I began to wish I would have ran the shorter race to get a new pr in that distance. Oh well--too late for that now. There was a slight rise from 3 to 4 and I opened the gap between us by just a few feet. From mile 4 to the finish it was a straight shot on a perfectly flat road. I crossed the line in 32:30, meaning I ran my 2nd 5K in the exact same time as my 1st.

I'm very pleased with the race outcome. My training has been awful since Lincoln, especially with last weeks move. This is a big confidence booster for upcoming races. 2.3 mile cool-down.

• 1. 5:15
• 2. 5:17 (10:32)
  
• 3. 5:14 (15:46)
• 5K       (16:15)
• 4. 5:12 (20:58)
• 5. 5:12 (26:10)
• 6. 5:26 (31:36)
  
• .2            (.54)
• 10K     (32:30)

Sinister (196)

6 miles, nice and easy. I really didn't feel like running this morning, but somehow I got up and did a few before starting the day.

Red (371)

I actually got up this morning.  Crazy!  The move, new job, new routines, etc have taken its toll and I feel worn out every morning.  Somehow I need to get over it.....  8 easy miles around the new neighborhood.

Red (379)

Wasn't able to run until after work because I slept in again. I've never struggled getting up like this before. Maybe it's the water? :) Anyway, I found a pretty good course to run in the future. From my house I ran south on Phoenix Hwy, across the freeway and then north along the trail to Barnett rd, then back to my house. Basically a big square, but it was exactly 8.75 miles so with a few more turns it will be an even 10 miles. I took the dog for a quick 1.25 miles to get to 10 miles for the day.

Pace: 6:51

Rotterdam (270)

4 miles this morning around Ashland. What an awesome town!! I'll try and get a few more this afternoon.

2 more this afternoon.

I didn't really feel like racing today, but I had already signed up for the race, so I went anyway. I ran an easy 5 miles to get to Bear Creek Park and the race starting line. I still don't know many runners here (obviously), so I had no clue what type of competition there would be. It looked like there were a few high schoolers that might be quick.

We started out quick and it was my and a high-schooler to the lead. We went together through the first mile, then he faded pretty quickly. The course was an out and back course on the river trail system. I tried to push it through to the end, but I didn't have a watch and so had no clue on my time. It didn't feel as fast as last weeks 10k though, but I wasn't sure. Anyway, I finished up the race in first, crossing the line in 16:14. Pretty sad that I was only 1 second faster today on a 5k than I was last week on a 10K. I wish it hadn't been an out and back course--that may have helped keep the time down by a second or two.

2 mile cool-down and then back for awards. I got some lizard that was carved out of wood and painted in Oaxaca, Mexico. Oh yeah, and I also won a $25 gift certificate to a Mexican restaurant in town. Not bad for a race that only cost 5 bucks! Finished the day off with 4 more miles back to my house.

Red (384)

Sinister (205)

I found a pretty sweet out and back course from my house that's exactly 5 miles. It took me up a dirt road into the hills above East Medford and when I turned around to come back down I could see the whole valley. Anyway, I didn't run until after work today and I don't know if that was so wise. It was very hot and I don't enjoy it nearly as much as a morning run.

Red (390)

Nice and easy around town, including 2 miles around St. Mary's track. Enjoyable morning.

Pace: 7:03

Rotterdam (277)

5 very easy miles on the treadmill while I studied flashcards.  It wasn't too bad-- I might have to do that again during the next couple weeks.  Also broke in a new pair of Adidas Supernova's.  It's the first time I've ever tried this model and after the first run, they feel very good.

Adidas (5)

4 miles around the subdivision and then 2 more on the treadmill after I got home so I could study for a bit. I feel like anytime I'm not studying, I'm wasting time. That makes getting a good run in hard to do.

Pace: 7:14

Red (396)

All around Medford this morning. Started by going west across the freeway, then north past the mall and nearly to Central Point. I crossed back over the freeway and ran the last 10 miles or so around East Medford. For the first time in what feels like ages, I felt REALLY good today. It was nice to finally have a Saturday to go out and relax for a couple hours and not worry about a race, moving, job, etc.

Pace: 7:11

Rotterdam (293)

I finally managed to get up early enough to get in some decent miles. I ran down North Phoenix Highway to exit 24 and kept on going down to Talent, staying on the east-side of the freeway the whole time. It made for a nice course with plenty of rolling hills and very little traffic. I made it out 6 miles in 7:10 pace and back 6 miles in 6:45 pace, so a pretty good negative split.

Pace: 6:58

Red (408)

That's all I had time for. It's going to be busy the next few days.......

Sinister (208)

Yup, 2 miles on the treadmill. That's it. How sweet is that?!

Red (410)

3 by myself and 1 with the dog.  I need to get to bed earlier so I don't struggle to get up early.  Thank goodness for Saturday's and free-time in the morning to get some miles in...

Red (414)

It was kind of a rough one this morning. I'm fully captivated with the Olympics right now, so I stayed up until 1am to watch a portion of the trials. I was glad I did though because for once, they actually showed quite a bit of the distance events. I was able to watch the 2nd heat of the mens 5000m semi and the final for the women's 10000m. Pretty sweet races! I'm STOKED for next weekend!

Anyway, the late night made for a rough time getting out of bed. I didn't run until 8 and by then it was pretty hot. It's supposed to be 103 here today along with some humidity, so it makes for a hot run even in the morning hours. I ran north to Lone Pine Rd and ran some loops around Jill's neighborhood to get in some hills, then back home. 13 miles in total at a fairly easy pace. The last 2 miles were a little quicker just so I could get home before too late. It's going to be a busy day again....

Pace: 6:59

Rotterdam (306)

I wasn't sure about going out this morning, but I did anyway. Our area is all sorts of smoky from the fires that are burning in California. Visibility is low and I'm sure it's not that great for ones lungs. Oh well. Nice and easy down Barnett, south on the trail to Harry & David Field, then north on the highway past the armory and back home. Felt really good.

Pace: 7:07

Red (422)