Red Dirt Harriers

Jordan and I attended to the long run, which I voted to put off yesterday, this morning. I'm still feeling a bit rough and have been since last week but today we ran fairly steady throughout and I didn't fall to pieces. The main issue was traffic as apparently Monday is more or less the only day people in town get up early to go to work and everybody seems frantic to get going. I made it over 2:10, so we'll call it 19. Mainly struggled with fluids again as it was humid and sunny, but with a northerly gale. I guess this wraps up another 110+ for the week as I was hitting the miles early in the week and thusly left floundering for the second half of the week. I'm lucky I didn't wake up with skid marks on my face. No races in the plans really so I'm guessing we're going to try to introduce some specificity in the coming weeks. In more scintillating news, today marks Bastille Day, so I had to pay attention to the Tour in a most French manner, which means sitting...

Wednesday was an eventful one. To start, Jordan and I undertook a little more daring workout venture. THe workout was a 6 mile tempo run then a jog to the track and an 800,600,400,200 at 5k pace. I surprisingly felt decent when we started the tempo and assumed I would only feel better as the workout went on. However, the tempo proved to be a little tough by the last mile although I just more or less maintained 5:30s throughout despite some miles with slick turns or some strait down a flat road. The mile or so jog over to the track left us pretty soaked as the humidity was quite high. I always have trouble changing gears so I just pretty much progressed into the 800 in 2:29 and then was able to take off a couple seconds per 400 for the next repeats. Jordan was way out front as this is clearly the most glaring example of our inherent abilities. The track work left my legs feeling a little more responsive but by the time I got home, I was definitely a little depleted. A Gu might be a good...

I have been turned on to a choice bit of info from a former colleague in the Chemistry department. Evidently there is an unofficial beer brew-off that will conclude with judging on the weekend of July 12. Hopefully, I will be able to make the judging as the memo that I recieved mentioned there only being 5-7 entered brewers (you must be a current OU student). As luck would have it, my recent batch will be blossoming just about that time so I'm hoping to sneak a couple bottles through security and in front of the judges. I'm also hoping some of the old professors have themselves got some product to be enjoyed. This could be the beginning of a beautiful thing. On another beer related note, Jordan, Skolnick, and I enjoyed our first Cheladas yesterday at the behest of Gus Thompson. I think they are decent and although I wouldn't classify it anywhere near a beer in flavor, it would go well with some summer snacks or maybe poolside...

The rubber bullets are flying and the cars are burning, but in Madrid not Berlin as I anticipated. The German squad was very lackluster and the inspired play of fellows by the name of Sergio Ramos and Torres really defined the game. Regardless, I was excited to watch the game and I am saddened by conclusion to Euro '08 because I don't expect quite the level of play during the Olympics- we shall see. Anyhow, I continue to be irritated by the token coverage in the paper when I know that the tournament drew by far the best viewership of any sporting events this weekend- and yet the fucking sports editor of the Oklahoman continues to refute the capability of soccer to draw US fans and in general question the quality og excitement brought by the sport. I'm sorry but aside from the fact that this game is full of some of the most amazing athletes in any sport, you don't have to have high scoring games to make a sport dramatic and enthralling. I agree that not every game is pur...

I've got to keep this one short and concise- for the big Euro '08 Final is getting started. I got a reprieve this morning and was able to be lazy and not get out the door until after 10:30 while still getting in around 19ish miles. I wasn't sweating much at all, as the heat and humidity were far below normal for this time of the year. I called it at about 2:05. I've got my money on the Germans but I expect an exciting match and judging by the pregame dancing Mozarts and Enrique Iglesias concert, they've pulled out all the stops for this one...

So, in neglecting to press forward with a summer abroad in the US, I unfortunately missed out on a brief return trip to Missoula, Montana and Grand Teton National Park with good friend and current Albuquerque resident, intellectual, and donut king, a one Professor Trevor Gillum. True, the confidential Army funded study that Skolnick and I took part in pretty much completely soured our impression of the UNM HES dept. but Trev extended exceptional graciousness in putting up with our antics for 5 or 6 weeks in his extreme efficiency apartment and man we have some fond memories of last summer. Of course, the summer before that is when I was able to spend a few weeks in Montana and found it to be an amazing place to which I will definitely return. If you are reading this good buddy, I hope you're living it up and making the most of your brief relent from the call of duty in the Duke City. Bobby Dylan would be proud. So in other news, Jordan and I rattled out a decent little 8mile tempo ...

A friend sent me this , proudly brought to you by the good people at The Onion. Managed to roll out of bed for a jog w/ Jack and Jordan. Heal still sore and I was quite lethargic but it was a great morning to meet with those hipsters. Got a nice little bike commute in over to Panera and put down 4 cups of coffee without any response whatsoever. I think I need more sleep. Managed to chat with Mr. Aaron Jagua and as we sat outside his house and admired the newly installed speed bump situated precisely in front of his house, we were serenaded by the screech of breaks and the noise from cars as they hit the bump, regardless of whether they choose to slow or not. I'm going to rant on this one: this is a useless epidemic in Norman and a blight to the already subpar thoroughfares around town. They are putting these things on the very roads that I specifically choose to bike and run over because they are away from heavy traffic but allow for functional transportation around town. I maintia...