I did a fartlek (Swedish for speedplay) today.  It was hot and difficult, but I was fairly strong.  I do need to stop smoking cigarettes or my running will surely suffer eventually.  When I do fartleks I do four minutes slow, four hard, three slow, three hard.  That fourteen minute segment is one set. My short fartlek is four sets, my longer five. Today was the first five set fartlek; I'll prolly do four more before the Austin, weekly.  I think I prolly ran around 5:15-5:30 for the hards, but I don't know for sure.  I just run as hard as I think I'll be able to hold out.  I prolly got around ten-eleven miles.  It's difficult.

The weather here in Austin in January is difficult and erratic.  A few days ago it was 38 on my run. Today it was 78.  Allergies are bad, and it's very very very dry.

On a road out to the lake (Lime Creek) that I often run I pass an intimidating Mastiff enclosed in a fenced off area, just before the initial downward slope towards the water.  He (gotta be a he) always barks ferociously at me.  I always give him the "you're in there I'm out here" look as I run by. Today I passed him as usual but some fifteen seconds later I heard him quickly coming up on me from behind. Somehow he had gotten out, this was a first. The aggressive approach of a dog is more audibly daunting because there are twice as many feet.  I've always been scared of dogs.  Not exactly sure why.  When I was five visiting family on the Missouri farm my dad let out of a cage a small puppy in the backyard.  He bolted straight for me and I bolted as well.  Puppy chased me clear across the farm.  I was terrified.  My dad was bowled over with laughter.  I think dogs can sense when you are afraid of them.  Anyway, the mastiff approached, quickly and barking ferociously.  First I was surprised, but then I just looked at him plainly in the eyes.  He slowed down and turned around.  I was victorious.