Woo hoo! New Long!

Today was notable for no fewer than three reasons.
Momentous occasion 1. It was a crappy crappy day, at least at the very end, so I thought about going home and drinking my problems away. But on my way home, I encountered many jogger brethren and sistren, so I thought maybe I’d run my problems off instead. To be brutally honest, this was a bold step forward for me.
Momentous occasion 2. I made it to the 1 hour mark, which extends my previous long by eight minutes. I thought about punishing myself with two laps around the fat part of the sportscentrum yesterday, but realized it was better not to, after the week off. But today I thought I could and I should do it, so I did. I really don’t know how long it is, but I know it’s twice as long as usual, so that must count for something. Momentous occasion 2.5. This is also the first time I went running on two consecutive days I started again.
Momentous occasion 3. An all Talking Heads playlist! Let’s see if I can remember it all in order…
Crosseyed and Painless –from Remain In Light. This song had a great video, choreographed by Toni Basil (as in Oh Mickey, you’re so fine…)
Making Flippy Floppy –from Speaking In Tongues.
Warning Sign –from The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads. One of my favorite TH songs, evar. Funky and fun to play. Ooh my hair! I move it around a lot!
Don’t Worry About The Government –from The Name of This Band… One of those songs that seems to transcend most situations, seems equally applicable in the USA or here in South Africa right now.
Memories (Can’t Wait) -from the Name of This Band… Living Color covered this song, which only made both acts cooler, in my humble opinion.
Once In A Lifetime –from Remain In Light. Another of my favorite TH songs. I think the Peace Corps should use this song for an advertisement. I’d be glad to volunteer my directing skills.
Burning Down The House –from Speaking in Tongues. A commercial success, and a great song. Can’t help but think of Revenge of the Nerds, though.
What A Day That Was –from Stop Making Sense.
Life During Wartime –from Stop Making Sense. “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no foolin’ around.”

I think I may have missed a couple, but whatever. I’m celebratin’ with some tasty salad, featuring the most buttery avocado I’ve ever eaten. Yum!

Week off

I just got back from a field trip, and, no, I wasn't able to get any running in. So no running for almost a whole week. I could have gone on Saturday, but I didn't. I saw the little guys on my shoulders, the one with the halo telling me to get off my lazy duff and get out there, and the one with the horns telling me to open a beer and watch my duff grow. So it was, I found it hard to get out the door on Sunday morning, although I really didn't feel like a beer just yet anyway. I think I felt like I had to punish myself for the break, but in the end, I went on a short one just to get back in the swing of things. Given how my legs were feeling, I'm sure this was the right thing to do. I did carry the tunes-o-matic, but didn't feel like listening, for some odd reason.
It was pretty lonely out at the sports center. Just a few odd tennis players out there.
Maybe I'll go again tonight...

Much better

I went back out to the Sports Centrum again yesterday. Took it a bit easier on the speed, and had a good kick at the end. Good thing I got out when I did, it started raining shortly after I got back.

I'm headed out to the field this week. We'll see if I can get some running in. Maybe my friend and colleague Gilbert will want to go out with me.

The playlist:
Joyce No. 2. -Johnson Mkhalali. I seem to be working through the entire Indestructible Beat of Soweto album, case in point...
Holotelani -Nancy Sedibe. From the same album.
Stereotypes, Part 1 & 2-The Specials.
Rhythm and Rhyme -George Clinton. GC Gone crazy.
Man in the Street -Don Drummond. The great Ska trombonist and his orchestra.
War in a Babylon -Max Romeo. Another of Lee 'Scratch' Perry's proteges.

Upside down

I started out with the intention of going on a quick one, then changed my mind. I found I had to slow down, and ran out of gas before I wanted to, so I had to walk for the last quarter mile or so.
I did listen to some tunes, with a distinctly African flavour.

Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo. Another great from the Indestructible Beat album
The W.A.N.D -The Flaming Lips. Not African, but still a great song
Okuzua -Orchestra Lissanga. From Afro Rock Volume 1. Will there ever be a Volume 2? Who knows?
Dimanches a Bamako -Amadou and Mariam. The Blind Couple of Mali once again
Cantique - Kanda Bongo Man. Some lovely lovely Zouk.

Still exploring the Sports Centrum

I've been out a couple of times to the Sports Centrum. I've got a pretty good course now, that takes about 35 minutes for me to get around. Yesterday I even dared to bring the tunes-o-matic.

Qhwayilahle -Moses Mchunu This and the next are from the Indestructible Beat of Soweto compilation.
Sini Lindile -Nganeziyamfisa No Khambalombvaleliso
Beercan -Beck
I Gotcha -Joe Tex
Cold Sweat, Part I -James Brown For some reason, I don't have part 2, which starts with giving the drummer some.
Hit It and Quit It -Funkadelic
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith

A long one

I got a day off again, so I do what I normally do, and go a little longer.
I went out to the east this time, toward the sports centre. The sports centre has all the sports fields; rugby, soccer, cricket, tennis, basketball, and I did see a sign for baseball, but never found the diamonds.
I was out for about 45 minutes, so it was a good long evening run.

A quick one

I went for a quick one last night, in both senses of the word. Quick in the sense of a short amount of time, and quick in the sense of the rate at which I ran. I worked later than I'd hoped and found the sun starting to go down, so I hurried home, togged up and went back to UP campus for a speed round. I kept up a good pace, but my breathing was labored. I don't know if it was because of city pollution, the dry air, or just being out of shape that most contributed to that problem. Today the only problem is a little tightness in my left calf, which is a bit of a problem spot for me.

The UP campus is quite a lovely milieu for my running around. The students are all back from holidays, so it's a bit more crowded than before, but at evening time it's thinned out a bit compared to midday.

Back on track

This morning I went out again, with several new twists. One: instead of going at night, I went in the morning. Two: I haven't been out in almost a week, and I had a few beers last night. Three: I'm in South Africa, so a change of scenery. Also, no music. I don't know if I'll be comfortable jogging with my tune-O-matic, because of the crime here in Pretoria. But I did get out, after consulting with a coworker to get the low-down on safety.
I'm glad I went out. I felt pretty bad when I was out there, but I'm feeling a lot better now. I was inspired to go to the shops and get some fruits and veggies to complement my diet of mostly cah-rap.