Pre-Preseason and The Beginning

8/11/08- Back way to Churchill. Saw the last band of CHS runners I will ever have known. Felt kinda weird, kinda sad. Kevin Levine told me the Wash U wasn’t letting people walk on unless they could run 16:30. That’s BS, you can walk onto any DIII team in the country (except possibly Williams) with under and 18:30 5k/sub 18 3 mile. I hope for the best for him. I ran many a race side by side with him my Senior year (he was a soph). At my PR race, the Pages run 5k, we battled it out over the course of the last 2 miles, at the hill past Shusaku’s house he put in a big surge to drop me back 5m, but on the 3rd mile flats I caught him. As we entered the stadium, he put in another surge with 300m left. We both blew by several quick older folks but I was unable to catch him. Goof times. Easy out, medium back. Still a bit tired but decently rested.
Miles: 10.5

8/12/08- No run =( climbing at Seneca all day, see facebook for pics. Too tired to run when we got back, but I got to see Atul for the first time in 2 years.
Miles: 0

8/13/08- a.m. 4.5 easy in more typical D.C. weather with Tim. 36 minutes
p.m. 15 hours and 2 plane flights later, S.S.S.S.S.S (10.2 5miles) medium easy with iPod for 1st time. Man it makes a big difference. Too bad only one of my shorts will fit it. I’ll have to ration. Dream Theater and Black Mages made up an excellent spontaneous playlist. 1: 24 minutes.
Miles. 14.75

8/14/08- Tempo day. Kangway and I headed to the Arroyo for 4x2.5 km at tempo pace with 2 and half minutes rest. Arroyo in 21 minutes, so quick warm-up. First loop in 11:05 (6:58 pace) easy as a warm-up, second loop in 10:05 (6:18 pace), 10:20 (6:27 pace), 10:10 (6:21 pace). The last three laps would yield a 31:50 5 mile if held continuously. Kangway ran the last lap in 9:30 or so, which is rather impressive. I think he will be competitive this season. Easy back, but starting to get dehydrated.
Miles: 11.5

8/15/08 – Easy Huntington up Virginia at midnight. Should have run sooner but eh. Not feeling amazing, real slow. 46 minutes total
Miles: 5.5

8/16/08 – Nice medium intensity Trail run from N. end of RB up almost to water fall. Got a late start so couldn’t make it all the way up. Ran at a good effort level on the way, pretty good clip (7:30 pace) on the way down. Last 10 minutes from Devil’s Gate and south in complete darkness. Note to self: It is impossible to run after 8:05 these days. Total time: 1:35 minutes
Miles: 11.5

8/17/08- Climbing a Tahquitz rock, 1:30 of hard hiking at 8,000 feet but no running. At least my hill running muscles will be in good shape.
Miles: 0

Weekly Miles: 54

8/18/08 – Shortened S.S.S.S.S.S. medium. A pleasant run.
Miles: 9
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2189797

8/19/08 – I created a run I like to call the “Drayna Grassy Special/Sierra Madre Express.”
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2189780
This beautiful run is known for endless and verdant grass fields of the North Sierra Madre Highlands. It climbs up from Pasadena to a stretch of grass so paradisic, with the panoramic San Gabriel’s as a backdrop, it is almost too good to be true. Descend down into the quaint and nostalgic town of Sierra Madre whose picturesque setting is reminiscent of times of yore. Took is real easy, 1:42 minutes (almost 2 hours total due to stoplights =( ).
Miles: 13.5

8/20/08 – Late run, easy hour with Kangway around the Huntington area.
Miles: 7.5

8/21/08 – Full S.S.S.S.S.S backwards plus exploring around South Pas. I saw the South Pas water tower and decided I had to get to it. I almost made it but ended up 50 feet below it unable to continue. I think it’s only approachable from the South side.
Miles: 12

8/22/08- Morning JPL to the waterfall with Kangway, also accompanied briefly by Ian and Keith from Oxy. A very nice run, as the JPL trails always are, beautiful morning. Pre-season is going to be awesome.
Miles: 9

8/23/08- Was going to try 5 mile race-effort, but legs were feeling flat, so I mustered up the strength to do a 5 mile progression run instead, still clocking 35:22 for the 5 miles, a good sign. California to arroyo around the RB and back down Orange groves to California.
Miles: 11.5

8/24/08- Again climbing at Tahquitz, quicker approach and descent on better trail. Got some quality climbing in with Jeff today.
Miles: 0 (3)

Weekly Miles: 65

8/25/08 – Easy Huntington at night. Very easy. Practiced running with my eyes closed and focusing after being inspired by Mark’s stories from Buddhist meditation camp.
Miles: 6

8/26/08- Lower Arroyo night time edition (up Orange Groves) with Robet Kaspar, who is progressingly nicely.
Miles: 8

Summer Miles: 756 (+ 70 cycling + 20 hiking + 2000 yards swimming)

8/27/08- Preseason begins! Time for the summer to begin paying its worth in gold. A large pack of good frosh, all seem strong and good natured. Rather excited! Huntington medium/med. hard. Mar k and Matt were both there and pushed the pace (and Dennis/Chief) despite my specific directions to run no faster than 8 minute pace. As a result we dropped half of the frosh, on the first day. Bad! Hopefully we will be more careful tomorrow.
Miles: 6

8/28/08- a.m. Full Arroyo at a much more controlled pac, still medium exertion level. People packed up and ran smart. Ran with Travis, Andrew and Daniel today, the baller fast frosh group. I am excited, as all of them are cool guys and seem to have a lot of potential.
Miles: 10