14 Miles in 1:34:33 (6:45/mile) on a clear morning, 58 degrees at start of run (4:30 am). Treated this morning as a a training pace assessment of sorts, given that it was my first long run of the Fall training season. Got up at 4:00 am, ate a wheat roll and cup of coffee, washed down some GU with 8 ounces of water, and out the door shortly thereafter. Headed north, starting with steep quarter mile climb, then west out of my neighborhood down Kanis and Chenal. The Parkway is pretty pleasant this time of morning, so I continued west past Chenal Country Club and the Promenade, turning to the south on Rahling Road toward my old stomping grounds around Taylor Loop and Hinson (4-Mile split at 27:53). Turned back east on Hinson and ran past my old neighborhood, uphill to Pulaski Academy, then looping back south on Napa Valley (8-Mile split at 54:33). Recognizing I had picked it up a little and still feeling pretty good, I shot a GU Roctane and committed to holding that 6:40 pace though the remainder of the run. Up and down, up and down, lots of rolling hills on Napa Valley before cutting over on Markham to Autumn Road past Barnes & Nobles and back over Chenal Parkway near IHOP (still heading South). After a quick right back east on Kanis, and another quick left turn south on Bowman, I was now in the home stretch and running strong (12-mile split at 1:21:30). Back at my Woodlands Edge neighborhood, turned east toward my home. Finished strong, running the last 2 Miles at 6:31/mile, finishing at 1:34:33. Not only did I make it home before my son, Max, got up (sleepy head is still not up), I had time to write this, doubtless the most detailed entry by me in months! Maybe it's the good weather, or the anticipation of another Razorbacks victory over New Mexico (Hogs' 59 - Lobos' 10), whatever the case, how could it not be a good day after such a great start? Wesley | 