Sun, Nov 23-Sat, Nov 29

Sun Nov 23: AM. In Marshfield, another early morning run before hunting- ran to the track and did 4x400m (each in 75 seconds). Tired from lack of sleep lately. It was dark and in the low 30s. Got skunked again in the woods today, but I did see another deer when running to the track.

Mon Nov 24: AM. A 30 min run on the Capital City Trail. Darkness gave way to cloudy skies, temp of 33°. PM. A 30 min run over residential streets. It was dark and in the mid 40s.

Tues Nov 25: AM. A 75 min run on the Capital City Trail. It was foggy and in the low 40s.

Wed Nov 26: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt. It was in the low 30s and snowing.

Thurs Nov 27: AM. Ran the Birdie Derby 10k (formerly the Berbee Derby 10k) dressed in turkey suit in 35:20. It started off okay, but the wheels came off with a couple miles to go. Legs didn’t seem to have any zip in them at the end. Good weather though. Windy and cool, temp in the mid 20s. Going to eat a lot now, watch the Packers cream the lions, catch up on sleep then increase the mileage!

Fri Nov 28: AM. In Marshfield, A 64 min run with Justin and the old man over the NW Corner route. It was lightly snowing and around 20°.

Sat Nov 29: AM. A 48 min run in the Donnelly Business Park. It was lightly snowing and 20°.

Tomorrow I start the big push.

Sun, Nov 16-Sat, Nov 22

Sun Nov 16: AM. A 2 hour out-and-back run on the Monona Lake loop route, second half with MSRC group. It was sunny and in the mid 30s.

Mon Nov 17: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt. Clear skies and 29°. PM. A 45 min run around Lake Wingra. It was dark and in the low 40s.

Tues Nov 18: AM. A 60 min run on the Capital City Trail. It was in the upper 30s and raining. PM. In Deerfield, A 45 min run on the Glacial Drumlin Trail. It was dark and 39°.

Wed Nov 19: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt. Darkness gave way to cloudy skies, temp around 30°. PM. In Deerfield, ran 35 mins of loops around the station at end of shift. Gray skies turning black. Temp 42°.

Thurs Nov 20: AM. A 60 min run on the Capital City Trail and the SW Path. It was foggy and in the low 40s. PM. In Deerfield, A 35 min run over residential and city streets. It was dark and 47°.

Fri Nov 21: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt. It was cloudy and 29°. PM. On the Edgewood track, did a 1600, 800, 400, 1600, 800, 400 (5:28, 2:38, 77, 5:28, 2:39, 76). It was mostly cloudy and 44°.

Sat Nov 22: AM. In Marshfield, A 2 hour early morning run before deer hunting (started at 2:45 AM) on the Veterans PKWY Trail, the Hewitt-Marsh Path, and thru Hewitt on Main St/County T. It was dark and in the mid 20s. Only deer I saw today was during the run.

it’s 2:45 in the morning

and I’m putting myself on warning

for waking up in an unknown place

with a recollection that’s half erased

Sun, Nov 9-Sat, Nov 15

Sun Nov 9: AM. Ran the Madison “Marathon” in 2:36:21 (?) ~5:58/mi (?). The race went well, but I am skeptical of the accuracy of the course and/or the timing for a few reasons: 1. I thought my watch’s time was closer to 2:36:40 when I crossed the line. 2. I went through the 24.2 mile marker in 2:25:20 and I’m pretty sure I was slower than 5:30 pace for the last two miles. 3. I don’t think I’m in quite this good of shape. That said, it was still a fine race. I ran a similar race to last year’s marathon, but went a little faster and mostly avoided the wall. The course was almost the same for the first half, but the second half of the course went clockwise around Lake Monona this time, whereas last year it went counter clockwise. I ran the downhill first mile in ~5:28, then ran comfortable 6:05-6:10ish pace till around mile 18. I was feeling good so picked it up to around 5:40 pace till mile 23 when I was greeted by a strong headwind. The wind actually seemed to be at my back for most of the race, but there were a couple miles towards the end when it was definitely in my face. I slowed down slightly, but I think I still managed to sustain 6 minute pace or faster till the finish, even on the last uphill stretch. I’m very pleased with the way it went today and I know I’m going to keep getting better. The weather was beautiful: upper 20s, snow flurries, and a friendly wind (for the most part).

Mon Nov 10: AM. A 35 min run over residential streets and on the Capital City Trail. The sun was rising over clear skies with a temp of 21°.

Tues Nov 11: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay. It was cloudy and 27°. PM. A 45 min run over residential streets and on the Capital City Trail. It was dark and 38°.

Wed Nov 12: AM. A 50 min run on the Capital City Trail and over trails in Olin Park. Darkness gave way to clear sunny skies, temp 37°. PM. A 50 min run on the Capital City Trail. It was dark and in the upper 40s.

Thurs Nov 13: AM. A 68 min run on the Capital City Trail, the Wingra Creek Path, the SW Path, and over city streets. Darkness gave way to sunny skies, temp of 35°.

Fri Nov 14: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt. The sun was rising over clear skies, temp of 36°. PM. A 45 min run around Lake Wingra. It was dark and in the mid 50s.

Sat Nov 15: AM. In Verona, ran 20,000m on the Badger Ridge Track in 1:14:42 (6:15, 6:15, 6:13, 6:15, 6:00, 5:59, 5:59, 6:00, 5:43, 5:44, 5:42, 5:42, 2:50). It was mostly cloudy and in the upper 50s.

Started the week with a 26ish mile race, finished with an upbeat 20k. Mostly ran easy on the days in between.

Watch out the wind doesn't blow your hat away!

Sun, Nov 2-Sat, Nov 8

Sun Nov 2: AM. A 90+ min run with MSRC group on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt and over city and residential streets. It was partly sunny and in the 30s.

Mon Nov 3: AM. A 60 min run on the Capital City Trail and over trails in Olin Park. Darkness gave way to clear sunny skies, temp of 44°. PM. A 45 min run around Lake Wingra. Clear skies turning dark. Temp around 50°.

Tues Nov 4: No AM run - Worked early. PM. On the Edgewood track, did 2x800m, 2x400m (2:29, 2:30, 72, 71), then ran 45 mins around Lake Wingra. It was sunny and 60°.

Wed Nov 5: AM. A 75 min run on the Capital City Trail and on the SW Path. Darkness giving way to clear skies, temp of 48°. PM. A 45 min run around Lake Wingra. It was dark and around 50°.

Thurs Nov 6: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt. Darkness gave way to clear sunny skies, temp of 27°.

Fri Nov 7: AM. A 30 min run over residential and city streets. Darkness gave way to clear skies with a temp of 46°. Resting for Sunday.

Sat Nov 8: AM. A 30 min run on the Capital City Trail. It was cloudy and 36°. Resting for tomorrow.

I probably over-tapered these past few days. Not used to running only once a day. Hopefully the legs aren’t too rusty for el marathon tomorrow.

Sun, Oct 26-Sat, Nov 1

Sun Oct 26: AM. A 90 min run around Lake Monona. It was sunny and in the low 40s.

Mon Oct 27: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and over trails in Olin Park. Clear skies, temp 35°. PM. A 45 min run over residential streets and on the Capital City Trail. Clear skies turning dark, temp in the low 50s.

Tues Oct 28: AM. A 2 hour run on the Capital City Trail and on the Yahara Riverway Trail. Darkness giving way to clear skies, then became more cloudy. Temp of 35°.

Wed Oct 29: AM. Ran 25 mins to the Edgewood track, did 3x800m (2:33, 2:33, 2:31), ran 25 mins back. Darkness giving way to clear skies, temp 41°. PM. A 45 min run around Lake Wingra. Clear skies with a temp of 53°.

Thurs Oct 30: AM. A 30 min run on the Capital City Trail. It was dark and 37°. PM. A 30 min run over residential streets and on the Capital City Trail. It was dark and in the mid 40s.

Fri Oct 31: AM. A 50 min run on the Capital City Trail and over trails in Olin Park. Darkness giving way to clear skies, temp of 38°.

Sat Nov 1: AM. In Appleton. Good day to race. Mostly cloudy and around 40°. Ran hard but alas lost (33:51 to 33:45) to Scott Downard in the Houdini 10k. I led for the first five miles, but could hear footsteps closing in. Scott pulled even with me for a minute or two, then broke away in the last half mile. It’s a little frustrating to lose it like that but still it was a solid effort and a nice tune-up for next week.