Turn your rut into a groove.

am--5.25 A nice easy run to get the ache out. I put on the headphones and took off. Didn't take a watch. I just wanted to run. I helped with a block wall afterwards, so we'll see if I'm up to another run today or not.

pm--5.75 I just had to get out. The half got me pumped. I really feel like my running is improving. At the same time, I see how many runners are at a higher level, and it makes want to improve more. There is such a thing as over-training. Nonetheless, I justify these two runs on the heels of a half because I took it really easy and just enjoyed the run.  

pm--I just took it at a nice, easy pace up to the ball fields and around the barrio. I really love running, and if I'm never uber fast, I don't care.

pm--Loop around Clary w/ extension to the round-a-bout. The weather is near perfect. I wore my PVXC long-sleeve and got some yells. Must've been the Gillespies.

pm--6.25 So my in-laws got me some running shoes for Christmas. They were pretty sweet but heavy stability shoes. Me, I'm a neutral. So I returned them, and, lo and behold, the new Landreths were out. Needless to say, that's what I got in the exchange. So, having promised myself that I wouldn't run in them until I had 100 miles on my other shoes, lightweight trainers excluded, I broke them in tonight with an easy 6 and a quarter. I also thought it would be a good idea to give a top 5 list of running shoes I have experienced:

1. Nike Air Hayward (2 different pairs)-- Maybe it's because these were the first real running shoes I ran in, I'm partial to them. Real lightweight and flexible. 

2. Asics Gel Landreth 4--I really like these shoes. At first they seemed a little stiff but have become a ride that I love.

3. Asics Gel Cumulus 10--Similar to the Landreth but with a little more cushion. I can't really say why the Landreth edges out the Cumulus, but my feet can tell the difference.

4. Asics Gel Stratus 2.1--More flexible than the other Asics I've run in but a little less comfortable. Also, I'm slightly vain. So the yellow and black are almost too much.

5. Nike Air Skylon--The Haywards replaced the Skylons and so on and so forth. Similar feel to the Haywards but not near the durability. After about 350 miles these seemed shot.

In truth, I've never had running shoes I didn't like. If anyone has suggestions for future reference, please let me know. 

pm--7.25 I ran in the light drizzle and noticed some smells: Syrup, not syrup on waffles, but syrup in the heating apparatus of a late '80s Volkswagen Golf and tennis balls, the smell of virgin tennis balls. Weird things to smell on a run. I know. But they made the run that much more enjoyable.

am--3.5 I intended to do a long run--10 or 12--and it was drizzling, so I set out with my beanie, my gloves, and my windbreaker. About a mile into the run the rain had stopped, the sun was out, and the temperature was going on 60. I was sweating. I had to ditch the cold-weather gear somewhere, so I decided to run to my parents. My mom's a runner. I thought, Maybe I'll ditch my stuff at her house, and she'll want to run 5 with me. But she wasn't there. My dad was, and we shot the bull. So much bull that I was nearly late for the snow activity with my religious affiliation. So I bagged the rest of the run.

 pm--6.5 I got back from the snow day and had to get some more running in. So I did. Next week I plan on work some hills or doing some speed work and begin strategically planning weekend long runs. We'll see how it goes. Peace. Oh and Austin, maybe I won't forget running stuff everyday next week.