October 2

AM: 10 miles easy
PM: 6 miles easy

I got in an easy run at Bayview Park in the morning, and I went to a newer, shorter trail near the Dumberton Bridge from campus at sunset after playing flag football.

October 1

AM: 10 miles easy
PM: weights, core

I got in the standard run from work and made it to the gym afterward.

September 30 (84 miles/week)

Above Donner Lake

PM: 10 miles moderate

While my friends from Duke went rock climbing en route to driving home from Lake Tahoe, I used the time to get in a nice run around Donner Lake. I floated down the mountain highway and around the lake at 6:20-6:30 pace...at least until I had to go back up to where the above photo was taken near where we'd parked the cars. The last 1.5 miles were straight up the highway toward Donner Pass, leaving me thoroughly taxed by the end, especially at above 6,000 feet. I definitely felt the altitude, but like yesterday, today's run was pleasantly invigorating.

September 29

View of the north shore from the Tahoe Rim Trail

AM: 17 miles easy/moderate

I struck out from the rental house in Tahoe, having an idea of where I wanted to go, and I knew that I wanted to get in at least 13 miles. I headed down the main highway that circumnavigates the lake before turning up a highway that connected with the Tahoe Rim Trail. At 6000-7000 feet, I could start to feel the altitude during a 2.5-mile climb to the trail.

Once I got there, I ran up 1.5 miles to an overlook of the lake. After drinking in the views for a few minutes, I turned back and headed down the highway before turning down a fire road. This was by far the quietest part of the run. Several miles went by where I didn't see another soul, but I knew that the trail was taking me gradually back down the hillside toward home. I finished the run with some uneventful shoulder-hugging on the roads to make it 17 miles.

With all of the climbing, altitude, and trails, I barely managed 8:00 pace for the race, but this was a really solid effort that left me totally wiped out by the end. This was probably for the best given that the views weren't the only thing I drank this weekend. I felt the need for a long, tough run, and I certainly got one.

September 28

AM: 9 miles easy

I got in an easy hour in the morning from work before driving to Lake Tahoe in the afternoon with some friends from grad school for the weekend.

September 27

AM: 6 miles easy
PM: 7 x ~500m hill repeats - 10 miles

After a morning shake-out run, I met Carlos at Shoreline for a set of hill repeats on the same hill near Google that we ran with Kevin a few weeks ago. We both conceded that we weren't feeling our best, but we still averaged close to what we did last time (~1:46) with one more rep. Unlike last time, we didn't see any rattlesnakes.

September 26

AM: 9 miles easy

I had an early meeting this morning and had to knock out my run quickly from work.