Red Dirt Harriers

1. Ran a low-key 10k last weekend around the state capitol, winning by default to collect a few clams, more happily, I didn't seem to injure anything and was able to get after it the last 5k meaning progress has been made... 2. Jerry Faulkner ran a solid time at the Quad Cities Marathon last Saturday. The guy had done some great summer marathon training and it paid off. That being said, it also may have knocked out a few chinks along the way, but I think it took his training to a new level and I guarantee he's got faster days ahead if he keeps his head down. 3. We finally were able to get a proper-like sushi crawl going in Norman. We went Gaijin (at their new location?), O- , and In the Raw. Lance wasn't the only tired puppy at days end but I closed the day at the shop (45minutes tardy) meeting and re-inspiring some OU art kids. One was a scrawny ex-runner for Calvin College and Brian Deimer, chances are I probably ran against him at the Notre Dame Invite in 2001 and that ...

Since I've returned to the level of health that is needed to run 6 or so miles at a go, on pavement, I often find myself doing just that and as a added benefit I can start at the digs and conclude at the shop. I actually rather enjoy doing this and usually I have enough crap in my locker at the shop that I don't have to take extra things along. However, every once in a while, I do take the running pack along laden with a few clean layers and essentials. Well, on Friday morning I took this route and low and behold I getting so fit that I was actually ahead of schedule when I arrived so, what's a boy to do besides add on. For me that consisted of some lappers on the grass field behind Don Cies Realty (basically only Jordan will know where I'm talking about). Anyway I tossed my pack on the edge of the field next to the alley way that runs behind CVS, Brookhaven Goodyear, etc. Each lap on this thing takes at most a minute and consists of a completely open flat grass lot. I ...

Yesterday marked the 24th annual Brookhaven Run and despite myself not being as fit as I had hoped, I did hit the streets with something around 1100 other folks. All things considered, I was fine with my own performance and I think the race turned out pretty well, despite not being able to quite get the caliber of athlete ready to set a new state record. We ended up closing the shop early in preparation for the big OSU home opener, which was immediately followed by the OU opener in the Jerry-dome. Unfortunately it gave me way too much time to drink way too much beer and thusly I will probably not be as productive on this long weekend as I might of hoped. Hopes are sometimes meant to be dashed and words are sometimes meant to be slurred-

Alot of changes around here these days. Norman is back in business with OU starting up. At the same time it's a little lonely too with the sudden departure of Jordan ( hope all is well, man). It was nice to have a counterpart on the roads and at the shop but the siren song of Charlotte, NC doth beckon. Anyway, my foot is still improving and I hope to be able to return to the roads soon but I'm having a hard time freeing up energy while working at the shop. I intend to keep things as light as possible but there are big shoes to fill. I also am hoping to get a couple projects under way in regards to putting together some training resources for local runners. Post title refers to the fact that one of salt's many uses is a neutralizing, sterilizing agent, and all around good luck charm meant to shake up the way things have been unfolding, presumably for the better. Evidently such glam sluggers as the Hanshin Tigers have made fervent their belief in such miraculous fixes. In an...

Monsoons this morning left things nice and cool for a quick jog and some pet-sitting errands for myself but sabotaged Kinley's workout. I always liked running in the warm rain but if you're raging 4hundos in spikes, I reckon it's best to wait it out. Yesterday, it was around 100 as I put in some biking after dropping my car off to fix a flat and heading east for pet-sitting, I managed to get a decent workout over the hills. The biking makes the heat less noticeable but it subtly rears it's head and I managed to get a bit of a head ache from the sun beating down on my noggin. There was a nice dynamic on Boyd St. as someone laid on the horn at me for riding across the intersection so they had to yield and then not a half mile down the way a nice gal said "Hi" as she walked sown the sidewalk. However, my car did make it back from the shop, the animals were fed and medicated, and I got in a jog on the grass loop since the OU football team continues to hold practic...

Maybe I'm just the everlasting cynic but I'll continue on with this existence anyhow. I'll go further to add that it breaks my heart to see other, fellow cynics sell out. Case in point, Anthony Bourdain doing a candid ad for Bing.com. Just when I thought I knew the guy he betrays his image for something. Oh but for what cost is the question I s'pose. My foot seems better maybe, but I'm not running yet. Spenis and I have convened at Lake Hefner a couple times for some laps in the saddle. I continue to enjoy the bike ride to work and just wish there were a little more scenery along the way. I'm always listening to tunes on the bike which may lead to my demise, but it adds some pep and seeing as how KOMA is the official station of OKRunner, it's hard to get much musical interlude any other time. We'll work on that one day at a time...

It's been a wearying last few days at OKRunner Edmond. We sold alot of shoes out there under the hot sun and brought alot of attention to the store, which will hopefully keep Jerry a bit more busy selling shoes instead of shining the floors. Anyway, in the interest of decompressing, Jerry, Ayuko, Tim, and meself went and had a few beers after loading up Tim's sweet new ride, a U-Haul. After that I proceeded to OKC to join up with Spenis, and of course toast the evening with a shot of Sauza. McNellie's followed then, a visit to the Mini-mart with Mike and Spenis in tow on the way to cheer on Team OKRunner at the Midnight Streak. Against my better judgment we went to Edna's and the smoke and noise basically put the cap on the evening. At some point I passed out in the proximity of Spenis's house and woke up with a rug burn over my back from Benoit dragging me around in the front yard. Spenis was a doll and even made me coffee this morning which we held high in salutin...