Golden Gate Park

It's the last day of our vacation in California, and we're in San Francisco. My in-laws live between the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, and I wanted to get over to Golden Gate Park, which is the further of the two. I wanted to get a good long run in, especially after the sad state of affairs on Boxing Day, and with the extra days rest, and the traveling tomorrow. All of that added up to a nice long run.
It's about 12 blocks to get to the park, so I started out slow, and had to wend my way over to a real entrance to the park. It's such a beautiful spot, one of the US's finest urban parks, in my humble opinion. I got a bit confused and ended up on the far side of the park, over by 41st Ave, when I thought I was coming out on Fulton Ave, but I didn't mind too much. I jogged by the Chain of Lakes, and the bison, back out to Fulton and 32nd Ave, before ambling back to over by Park Presidio. Soundtrack by Gabby Pahinui.

Playlist (From Best of Gabby Volume II and Best of the Gabby Band, 1972-77)
Wai Hu'ihu'i O Ke Aniani
Maile Lau Li'ili'i
'Ia 'Oe E Ka La
Haleakala
Panini Pua Kea
He'eia
'Ama 'Ama
Nanea Ko Maka I Ka Le'a Le'a
Pua Kukui
Kananaka
Mauna Loa
Farewell Medley
Hula O Makee
Wahine U'I
Ku'u Pua Lei Mokihana
Kaua Beauty
Ka Ua Loku
How D'ya Do
Ka Ipo Lei Mani
Lei Ohu
Breeze
Aloha Ka Manini

Time (no splits)
1:06:46

Boxing day

I drove into Glen Ellen today to run in Sonoma Valley Regional Park. The paved direct route is only 1.25 mi, so I thought I'd take the high trail back. It was not good. I never really got into the happy endorphin zone early on, which usually happens, so
the high trail wasn't much fun, with me having to walk bits of the
uphills. I hate having to walk. bleah.
And the worst part, I was only out for about 27 minutes.

San Fran again

Back out into the Presidio and Mountain Lake Park. A little shorter than the other day, without the extra bit up Lake St and back.

Playlist
Jeepster -T.Rex
Bang a Gong (Get it On) -T.Rex
Fight For Your Right to Party -Beastie Boys
No Sleep Till Brooklyn -Beastie Boys
Paul Revere -Beastie Boys
Brass Monkey -Beastie Boys

Time
24:25

San Francisco

In San Francisco, in the Richmond District, where my in-laws live. I went out into the Presidio and Mountain Lake Park, which are right by here, then up Lake Street from 14th Ave to 25th and back, with an extra block of 14th to get a full 30 minutes in.

Playlist
Round and Round -Ratt
Crazy Train -Ozzy Osbourne
little sister -Queens of the Stone Age
No One Knows -QOTSA
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap -AC/DC
Same Old Song and Dance -Aerosmith
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith

Total time -->31:10

Sonoma run

So I've been battling a little cold (mostly a cough) for a few days, since we arrived in California for the holidays. I wanted to get out for a run but didn't want to exhaust myself and turn a small cold into a big one. Yesterday, though, I felt up to the task. I like to run in Sonoma Valley Regional Park, but I would drive there and I was blocked in. So I decided to go out on the mean streets of Glen Ellen, where people drive like maniacs on curvy narrow roads. It turned out all right, and I got a good, almost hour-long run in. I clocked it at about 2.8 miles on the odometer.

Playlist
Thul'ulalele -Amaswazi Emvelo
Hey ya -Outkast
Get back -The Beatles
Let's go crazy -Prince
California love -2Pac, Dr. Dre, and Roger Troutman
Flashlight -Parliament
Coming down -Meat Puppets
Dash board -Modest Mouse
Message to you Rudy -The Specials
Gin and juice -Snoop Dogg
Cities -Talking Heads
Jimmy the exploder -White Stripes
Chocolate town -Ween
Academia -Sia

Times
L1--> 26:13
L2-->27:36
Total-->53:50. A bit more uphill on the way back, but also likely fatigue setting in. I did get a good kick in at the end though.

Gnarls Barkley

So, tonight I got a late start, I really didn't leave the house until
almost 10 pm. But I felt good, and had a good pace going, so I decided
to make an effort to break the 30 minute mark down to Chewacla and
back. Thanks to some inspirational Gnarls Barkley, I did it! Almost
two minutes off my previous best! W00T!!

Playlist
Charity Case
Who's Gonna Save My Soul?
Going On
Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)
Surprise
Blind Mary
A Little Better
Go Go Gadget Gospel
Crazy
Smiley Faces

Times
L1->7:46
L2->6:29
L3->7:15
L4->8:06
Total->29:37

Peter Tosh

I knew it was supposed to rain today, so I wanted to make sure I got out before it really started coming down. It was drizzly as I ran up to the Art Museum. Cool, not too cold. I decided to go with an all Peter Tosh playlist.

Playlist
Stepping Razor -From "Equal Rights"
Equal Rights -From "Equal Rights"
African -From "Equal Rights"
Wanted Dread and Alive -From "Wanted Dread and Alive"
Coming in Hot -From "Wanted Dread and Alive"
Reggaemyelitis -From "Wanted Dread and Alive"
Moses the Prophet -From "Bush Doctor"

Times:
Lap1 (home to stop sign, Woodfield/Gay)->12:29
Lap2(to Art Museum loop)->3:28
Lap3(around the Art Museum pond)->2:50
Lap4(back to stop sign)->3:03
Lap5 (stop sign to home)->12:02
Total->33:54

Dogs

New tune-o-matic. They did rush it right back to me after the previous one got smashed in the face, although at a high price. I've been trying to get out again for a few days, and didn't get out until this evening. It was pretty chilly out there, so I donned the spandex. Tonight's theme: dogs. No reason really, just dog songs. Out to Chewacla and back. Pretty quickly.

Playlist
Atomic Dog -George Clinton
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Black Dog -Led Zeppelin
Gin and Juice -Snoop Dogg
Do the Dog -The Specials
The Next Episode -Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
If You Don't Give A Doggone About It -James Brown
Rebel Rebel -David Bowie

Times
Length 1--> 8:21
Length 2--> 7:17
Length 3 and 4 --> 15:46 (couldn't thumb the split)
Total--> 31:24 Pretty quick, all right. A new best, but not by much. I think the low temps kept me moving along.

Borrowed tunes

While my tuneomatic is in the shop (getting replaced), I thought I'd have to (like a submarine) run silently (if not deeply). But then I borrowed my wife's tuneomatic, which has most of the same tunes on it. I ran up to Gay/Woodfield and back, and then a little extra around the block to get an honest half hour in.

Playlist
One Nation Under A Groove -Funkadelic
Midnight Rider -The Allman Brothers
Chest Fever -The Band
Walk On By -Cake
Manteca -Dizzy Gillespie
Epistle to Dippy -Donovan
Suffragette City -David Bowie
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -The Ramones

Times
L1->12:23
L2->12:24
L3->5:42
Total->30:29
Wow, exactly the same out and back.

Last time before major tuneomatic surgery

So on my trip to Charlottesville, I dropped my tune-o-matic, which cracked its screen :{(- (that's a frowning emoticon self-portrait). So after calling the manufacturer and the mobile company (who shall remain nameless, to protect the guilty) I now have to pay lots of money to send it away for an out of warranty repair/replace operation. Everything else still works, however, and if I keep it in a heavy-mil resealable bag, it stays dry and doesn't slice my finger to ribbons. Apart from that, I've been a bit lazy. A week off, though with hikes at Natural Bridge in Virginia, and some vigorous insect-collecting work out in T-town. So I haven't been completely sedentary. Anyway, it's good to be back and nice to get out for a run. It stopped raining (it was dumping this morning), and a bit warm for Spandex, but I wore it anyway. Down to Chewacla and back.

Playlist
Here Comes Your Man -The Pixies
Emperor Tomato Ketchup -Stereolab
All Your Goodies are Gone -Parliament
Mother's Little Helper -The Rolling Stones
What I'd Say (Parts 1&2) -Ray Charles
For Your Life -Led Zeppelin
History Lesson, Part I -Minutemen

Times
Length 1--> 8:46
Length 2--> 7:19
Length 3-->7:44
Length 4-->8:34
Total-->32:22 Pretty good, still up near that peak of 2 weeks ago. Can I get it down to 30:00? That would be nice.

Charlottesville

So I'm in Charlottesville, visiting my folks for Thanksgiving. And as expected, I got to go on a run with Ba (my Dad). He took me on a three mile course around their neighborhood, just as dusk was settling into evening.
Time 27:40, I think he said.

The tune-o-matic took an unfortunate spill on the drive up, and while still functioning has a dangerously cracked screen. Apparently, the screen is 99.5% of the value of the phone, as that's what it will cost to replace it. Sigh. Well, I'll just have to wait til I get back to Auburn to figure out what to do next.

Rain

So it wasn't really raining when I went out, but it was earlier, and I thought I'd have a rainy playlist. Nice and cool, comfortable in my spandex and long sleeve T, out to Chewacla and back. Tomorrow we hit the road for Charlottesville, where we'll spend Thanksgiving with my folks. Hopefully more running with Ba.

Playlist
Come in Out of the Rain -Parliament
Look at the rain -Meat Puppets
Rainy day woman -Waylon Jennings
The Rain Song -Led Zeppelin
She's a Rainbow -Rolling Stones
I can stand the rain -Ann Peebles
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall -Bob Dylan

Times
Length 1-> 8:09
Length 2 -> 7:10
Length 3 -> 7:44
Length 4 -> 8:26
Total -> 31:29
Slowed down a bit on the way back. Not sure why. But in reviewing, this is a new best for this route. Huzzah!

Long Run to Shel Toomer and Back

I took an extra day or two off, so I went on a long (1hr+) run today, down to Shel Toomer Bike Path to the end and back. It's about six miles.

Playlist
Jeepster -T. Rex
Motel in My Bed -X
The New World -X
Found a Job -Talking Heads
Take Me Away -Ween
Roses are free -Ween
Cocaine Blues -Johnny Cash
I'll Never Forget You -Husker Du
Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing -Minutemen
Severed Goddess Hand -Meat Puppets
Sweet Home Alabama -Lynyrd Skynyrd
Dixie Chicken -Little Feat
Christine Sixteen -KISS
Our Lips are Sealed -Go-Gos
For All the Cows -Foo Fighters
Moonage Daydream -David Bowie
Shake a Leg -AC/DC
Crazy Train -Ozzy Osbourne

Times
Length 1->8:27
Length 2->7:39
Length 3->15:16
Length 4->15:45
Length 5->8:25
Length 6->9:02
Total->1:04:34
Definitely slowed down a bit between way out and back. Not too surprising, I guess. Shel Toomer has a bit more up and down, unlike the Ogletree route, which is longer but less topography.

To the Elementary School

New Route this afternoon. Up to Ogletree Rd, then down to the Elementary School and back. About 4 miles, according to my odometer.

A jumbly mix for the playlist:
I Luv I Jah -Bad Brains
To Kingdom Come -The Band
Sugar Never Tasted So Good -White Stripes
Mr Charlie -Grateful Dead
What is Life -George Harrison
La La Love You -Pixies
Little Old Country Boy -Parliament
Float On -Modest Mouse
Aurora Borealis -Meat Puppets
Draw the Line -Aerosmith

Times:
Lap 1--> 8:47
Lap 2--> 9:58
Lap 3-->10:24
Lap 4-->8:30
Total 37:39

Briefly...

I only went up and over the hill and back. It was pretty nice and warm, but I just wanted to get out and I only have a short amount of time between appointments for the day. I felt a bit full after a lunch that was bigger than I planned.

A Stevie Wonder Playlist:
Superstition
Higher Ground
Living For the City
You Haven't Done Nothing (part)

Times
Lap 1-> 8:21
Lap 2->8 :17
Total 16:38. I tried going a bit faster because of the shorter distance. I guess it worked. Nice out and back splits

Gabby Pahinui

So I've had this fixation with Hawaiian music for about a year or more. I started listening to Hawaiian Rainbow, which has excellent Hawaiian music. A friend of mine gave me a large collection, including a lot of Gabby Pahinui, who is featured prominently in tonight's playlist. But I haven't wanted to listen to Hawaiian music while I run for some reason. I guess I thought it would be too mellow, but actually, quite nice. Ran down to Chewacla and back.

The Playlist
Wai Hui O Ke Aniani
Hame Pila
He'eia
How'd Ya Do
Hula o Makee
Mauna Loa
Haleakala
Wahine U'i
Moonlight Lady
My Little Grass Shack

Times
Length 1 --> 8:59
Length 2 --> 7:42
Length 3 --> 8:21
Length 4 --> 8:46
Total time --> 33:49. Good overall. Exactly the same as the previous run.

Midnight rider

Went out to Chewacla and back this evening, before dark. I usually take a little time off after a long run, but I didn't want to hold out this long. Yesterday, my left knee was bothering me after trampoline jumping with my girls and a long walk to and from the football stadium, most of it with one of them on my back. Today I'm all right, though. Mostly just a little tightness in my right calf.

Playlist
Midnight Rider -The Allman Brothers
Get Back -The Beatles
Beautiful Delilah -Chuck Berry
For All The Cows -Foo Fighters
Chocolate Town -Ween
The Sky is Falling -Queens of the Stone Age
Cissy Strut -The Meters
I Gotcha -Joe Tex
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) -Jimi Hendrix. Helped me get up that last hill.
Pinhead -The Ramones.

Times
Length 1-> 8:56
Length 2-> 7:50
Length 3-> 8:17
Length 4-> 8:45
Total 33:48 Pretty slow on the start, but picked up on the way back.

Nd'in ga ba tondi ra yu...

s'a goona desi me ga. Which is a Zarma proverb, ay ma feeri aran se (which I must open for you). "If you want the honey inside the rock, don't look at the edge of your axe". Today I established a new personal best long for running, 1:31:55. I had an objective in mind, the intersection of Ogletree Rd and Moore's Mill Rd. I'm not sure how far it is yet, but I'm going to measure, believe me. Why? I don't know, I felt I had it in me (and I'm pretty sure whatever "it" is, it's gone, or is at least very tired). Knowing I had a long run ahead of me, the theme of the playlist is African. A lot of these songs are long (over 5:00 minutes), including two Fela tracks, which seems to be common in most of the African music I've heard.

Playlist
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama -Amaswazi Emvelo
Lady -Fela
Okuzua -Orchestra Lissanga
Cantique -Kanda Bongo Man
Naam -Christy Azuma and Uppers International
Beaux Dimanches -Amadou and Mariam
Coumba -Orchestre Baobab
River Luv Rite -Oneness of Juju
Funky Crookee -Exile One
Army Arrangement -Fela
New bell -Manu Dibango
Qhwayilahle -Moses Mchunu
Thul'ulalele -Amaswazi Emvelo
Sakutumbe -African Brothers

Time

Home to stop sign 8:45

Stop Sign to Stop light (Ogletree and MM) 35:34

Stop light to stop sign 37:31

Stop sign to home 10:04

Total 1:31:53

Not too surprising that the splits started to lag between out and back. I'm not disappointed.

California love

Clocks fallen back. Went out this afternoon, just as it was getting dark. Down to Chewacla and back. We had a party last night, so I know I had some extra junk in my trunk today. Perhaps that though inspired the theme of tonight's playlist.

Playlist
California Love -Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Superfly -Curtis Mayfield
Fish, Chips and Sweat -Funkadelic
Flashlight -Parliament
Up For the Downstroke -Parliament
Got to give it up -Marvin Gaye
Superbad -James Brown
The Bottle -Gil Scott-Heron

Time
Leg 1->9:01
Leg 2 -> 7:49
Leg 3 -> 8:35
Leg 4 -> 9:10
Total 34:35
Almost a minute drop between 2 and 3, but pretty close on the 1st and last legs. Again, I tried to pour it on on the last hill.

Once in a lifetime

Perfect weather for a jog today. Overcast, mid-60's, no wind. So today I went up and explored beyond the Gay/Woodfield intersection. I ran up Fontaine St, which looked interesting driving by yesterday. It hooked back up with Woodfield, so not too exciting. But then over to Wright's Mill and through Town Creek Park with a loop through the latter. No real theme to the playlist, but fun stuff.

Playlist
Once in a lifetime -Talking Heads
Pink eye (on my leg) -Ween
Guitar -Cake
Jeepster -T. Rex
Going on -Gnarls Barkley
What is life -George Harrison
Hey ladies -Beastie Boys
Fat bottomed girls -Queen
Big chief -Professor Longhair
Motel in my bed -X

Time
Home -> Woodfield 13:31
Woodfield->Fontaine, Woodfield, Wright's Mill, Town Creek Cutover 12:40
Town Creek Loop 13:09
Town Creek -> Home 8:38
Total 39:31
Hard to tell what these splits mean, no two are identical. I guess I can compare the first leg to other days, but not too exciting there.

Africa mix again

I got out again today after a 6 day hiatus. I went out to visit Missoula, Montana, which looks to have some excellent places to go running/hiking/biking/fishing/skiing etc.etc.etc. I didn't run while I was out there, but did go on a couple of hikes, which weren't strenuous at all, but were loads of fun. Today's playlist went back to Africa. Lots of Fela news showing up in the Facebook-o-sphere, so I started with one of his 22 minute opera. This picture is at the turnaround, at the entrance to Chewacla State Park, (which I like to call Chocolate Cake Park, for no real reason), The one below is just before the turnaround, about 1/8 mile.

Playlist

Just Like That -Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Egypt 80

Marie Jose -Ryco Jazz

Sakutumbe -African Brothers

Time

Home->SS1 9:34

SS1->SS2 8:26

SS2->SS1 8:23

SS1->Home 9:08

Total: 35:33

Total 35:33
Most excellent splits, I'm quite happy with that. Faster on leg 4 than leg 1. Statistically identical on 3 and 4. I was able to pick it up a bit on the last hill, which was awesome.

Mobile blogging is back

Oh yeah!

And also, Happy Birthday, BA!

Acca Dacca

Today I felt plucky and up for a bit of a longer run. Up to Woodfield, to the Art Museum, and back. Since I was wearing my AT/GC shirt (pictured), an homage to bio-nerditude and Australia's most celebrated ambassadors, I had an all AC/DC playlist.

Playlist
Shake a Leg
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Back in Black
Girls Got Rhythm
For Those About to Rock, We Salute You
Highway to Hell
Have a Drink on Me
Big Balls

Time
Home-> Stop Sign 13:11 Stop Sign->Museum loop and back 10:44, Stop Sign->Home 13:55 Total 37:50.

Guns

I went for about a 5k today (probably a bit less, given my time), out to Gay and Woodfield and back. It's finally cooled off a bit, though it was a bit warm for the long sleeve shirt I had on. The playlist started out with guns, and that became a theme...

Playlist:
For Those About to Rock, We Salute You -AC/DC
There Goes My Gun -Pixies
Hangin' Tree -Queens of the Stone Age
Man at C & A -The Specials
Sock It To 'Em, JB -The Specials
Guns of Brixton -The Clash
Tommy Gun -The Clash

Time:
Home -> Stop sign 13:12
Stop sign -> Home 12:55. I'm happy with that.
Total: 26:08

Longer, lighter, better

Another evening run. I definitely need to get into a rhythm, but I had a lighter dinner (after prolonged afternoon snacking, bad bad bad), so I felt ready to go.
All in all, it felt good to be out on the street. That, and the temperatures dropped, so it was quite pleasant.

Playlist
Cumberland Blues -the Grateful Dead
The Payback -James Brown
Reggaemyelitis -Peter Tosh
Stepping Razor -Peter Tosh
Living For the City -Stevie Wonder

Time
Home --> Stop Sign 9:24
Stop Sign --> Other Stop Sign 8:00
Other Stop Sign --> First Stop Sign 8:07
First Stop Sign --> Home 9:34
Total 35:05 All in all, good splits. I'm happy

Heavy Lunch + Heavy Metal

I did get out again, on my actual feet, today. I ate a heavy lunch of beans & rice (& chicken, cheese & salsa), late as usual. But I really wanted to get out and run, at least some part of me that found my socks, shorts, a teeshirt and shoes and covered my body with them. So I knew it would be short, over the hill to the stop sign and back, plus a little extra, though there was nothing kicky about the something extra.

Playlist
Gimme Shelter -the Rolling Stones
Rock and Roll, Pt. 2. -Gary Glitter
Love Me Two Times -the Doors
Shout It Out Loud -KISS
Celebration Day -Led Zeppelin
Round and Round -Ratt

Time:
Home -->Stop sign 9:01
Stop sign --> Home 9:48 (ugg)
Extra bit--> 2:27
Total 21:17

Oh the terrible, terrible sloth

So I've been lazy again. I took a trip to Jackson Hole, WY, and even though I brought my gear I didn't go running. I've been back for a week and haven't gone running. Today I finally got out on a bike ride, to the Shel Toomer Trail and back.
37:22.
I listened to Kanda Bongo Man.

Saturday Morning Jog

I've been trying to get back out again for a couple of days. I did this morning, as it was starting to warm up. I went all the way out to Chewacla and back, with splits.
Home to Ogletree Stop sign 8:55, Ogletree to Chewacla 7:28, Chewacla to Ogletree 8:17, Ogletree back home 9:34. So I slowed down quite a bit. Total time 34:15

Playlist (a hodgepodge)
Word Up -Cameo
Hang On, St. Christopher -Tom Waits
Freedom of '76 -Ween
Confusion Fog -Meat Puppets
River Luv Rite -Oneness of Juju
Birds in the Treetops -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Blanket of Weeds -Meat Puppets
Jeepster -T. Rex

At long last, feet on the concrete

So today I went on a run, at long last. Up over the hill and back again towards Chewacla. I wanted to head all the way down, but after such a prolonged hiatus, I figured it better to keep it short and sweet.

Playlist (punky):
Sweet Child of Mine -G'n'F'nR (I'm learning this song on the banjo uke, FUN!)
Stay Close to Me -Bad Brains
Coup d'Etat -Circle Jerks
The Glory of Man -Minutemen
Motel in My Bed -X
Fell in Love with a Girl -White Stripes
I'm a Mindless Idiot -Meat Puppets
Time out 19:24

Where have I been?

Not running, sad to admit. Even though I just graduated and should theoretically have had more for running and exercising, it hasn't happened. I did have another bronchial infection which kept me off the road. Other than that, I've been fairly lazy. And to be honest, my diet hasn't been great. I haven't been able to eat as much salad as I would like because of my teeth.
I have been biking a bit. Not enough to fill the void.
Today I decided to go on a bike ride. A decent one, about 48 minutes. I listened to The Indestructible Beat of Soweto.

Running with Ba

So this is my Dad, who is an inspiration to me. He ran cross-country in high school and at the Naval Academy. He's been a regular jogger since the mid-70's, before it was cool. Ran the Boston Marathon for the first time in his late 50's. So pretty much as long as I can remember, he's been getting out in the muggy summer or deep snows to get a few miles in. This was one of the first times I've really gone jogging with him.

Time out, yesterday 28:15 (Woodfield and back)

Today 30:11 (towards Chewacla and back)

Pdx again- key of T

Last day in Portland. Went on a short run, not in the best part of
town for running except a bit flatter.

Playlist:
Thululalele
Time Will Tell -Bob Marley
Tear for Eddie -Ween
Think -James Brown
Time 20:18

Washington Park

So I'm in Portland, OR, where I used to live many moons ago. I'm here for a meeting and staying on my friend Dave's couch for a few days. He lives in NW Portland, not too far from Washington Park. So I ran up there. The hills are much bigger here than they are in Auburn, so they kind of well, kicked my a$$. But I did get some nice views. Washington Park is where the Rose Gardens, Japanese Gardens and lots of other PDX attractions. That's where the two pictures below are from.

Playlist:
River Luv Rite -Oneness of Juju
Get On the Good Foot - James Brown
Get Up (Sex Machine) -James Brown
Hey Ladies -Beastie Boys
Okuzua -Orchestra Lissanga

Time Out 33:52

African mix

Went on a nice fairly long run. It felt really good. My back has been sore for the past few days, so I wanted to be out for a good long one. I'm headed out of town for a week and hope to get a change of venue. Out to Chewacla and back, and the splits were almost perfect. 18:03 out 18:00 back. .

Playlist
Dirty Water -The Standells. You know why. Actually, haven't had much Dirty Water lately :{(-
Stupid Marriage -The Specials. (And then a turn to Africa)
Aboagywaa -K. Frimpong and Vis a Vis
Ererimbot Ayafung Oko- Rex Williams
Takuta -Babatunde Olatunji

Time out: 36:03.

5 k

So tonight I ran a 5k or so, based on my car's odometer. My time 27:57. So okay.
No playlist tonight, I listened to an audiobook instead.

Happy Birthday, GC

Yesterday was George Clinton's Birthday. I celebrated yesterday and today by getting funky.
I meant to go out last night but I fell asleep with the girls. I think the funk had me going a little faster than usual.

Playlist
Flashlight -Parliament
Funky Woman -Parliament
As Good As I Can Feel -Funkadelic
Jimmy's Got A Little Bit Of Bitch In Him -Funkadelic
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic
Sexy Ways -Funkadelic
New Bell -Manu Dibango
Jungle Funk -Nkengas

Time out, 31:52

UK Mix

Not too long tonight. Late dinner, not too heavy. Able to go pretty quickly up to the stop sign at Gay and Woodfield and back. Tonight's playlist, all UK artists.

Playlist
Rudie Can't Fail -The Clash
A Message to You Rudy -The Specials
Pump It Up -Elvis Costello
Gimme Shelter -The Rolling Stones
Jeepster -T. Rex
You're My Best Friend -Queen
Crazy Train -Ozzy Osbourne
Time out, 27:39

Not quite as long

I had a heavier dinner than I should have, and was feeling rather lethargic starting out. Truth be told, I felt unmotivated and was close to bagging on the run tonight. The weather is supposed to turn ugly here soon, so I figured I'd go anyway. It didn't take long to get into the spirit of the thing, although I didn't feel up to crossing the Interstate, so I just went on a couple of loops around the neighborhood.

Playlist, another "alternative" mix:
Cellphone's Dead -Beck
Dashboard -Modest Mouse
Going On -Gnarls Barkley
Buddy Holly -Weezer
The W.A.N.D. -Flaming Lips
Confusion Fog -Meat Puppets
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend -Ramones

Time out, 26:09

A good long alternative mix

I thought about going out Sunday night after Saturday night, because I knew I'd miss last night due to a prior engagement. I didn't, so I went a bit longer tonight.

Playlist:
Spinal Meningitis -Ween
Sugar -Imperial Teen
Making Flippy Floppy -Talking Heads
Enchanted Porkfist -Meat Puppets
It's Expected I'm Gone -Minutemen
What's Going On -Husker Du
Float On -Modest Mouse
The Sky Is Falling -Queens of the Stone Age
Turn It On -Flaming Lips
The Distance -CAKE
Emperor Tomato Ketchup -Stereolab
Time out 44:13.5

OK, OK, don't push us when we're HOT!

Another daylight run. I want to eat and relax (read BBQ and heavy food and beer) so I decided I needed to go on a daylight run to enable both exercise and dinner plans. Went up to the corner of Gay and Woodfield, up to Wright's Mill, down to ??? and into Town Creek Cemetery. Down into the park part, and had a pee at the restroom there. (Too much information? Sorry, that's what I do here, you know, sharing). Then back home. A nice playlist, in my humble opinion, featuring some new additions to the tune-o-matic. It was hot out there, and after a late night of beer drinking and a heavy brunch this morning, I was pretty tuckered by about a quarter of the way in.

Playlist:
Armagideon Time -The Clash
Rental Car -Beck
To Kingdom Come -The Band
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Warning Sign -Talking Heads (from The Name of This Band...)
Fish, Chips and Sweat -Funkadelic
Whatever Makes My Baby Feel Good -Parliament
It's Summertime -The Flaming Lips
I Just Wanna Have Something To Do -The Ramones

Time out 40:00

Dirty Whistling

Yes, I've gone out again! Third time is indeed a charm. Now that I've finally defended, hopefully I can keep my feet on the concrete. Tonight's theme started out dirty, then started whistling, and ended up somewhere else entirely.

Dirty Water -The Standells. You should know why by now.
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap -AC/DC
Big Chief -Professor Longhair
The Whistling Song -Meat Puppets
Undone (The Sweater Song) -Weezer
Roadhouse Blues -The Doors
Calling Dr. Love -KISS

Total time: I forgot to stop the clock, but about 30:00 or so.

Happy Birthday, 'Murica!

I got out again, a bit longer this time. I went out this evening before dark, while the air was still good to breathe, before the celebratory pyrotechnics. Again, I rarely indulge in daytime jogging, but with the kids out of the house for a few days, it seemed like a reasonable proposition.
Hopefully the days of post-running ibuprofen will soon end. For now, I AM BACK. Now, to eat my lovely green salad with Chicken a la Yuengling (AKA Yuengling up the YinYang).

The Playlist, featuring Americans.
Fourth of July -Dave Alvin (A natural choice for today's kick-off)
The World's a Mess It's in My Kiss -X
Astro -White Stripes
Bob Wills is Still The King -Waylon Jennings
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith
Shake Your Rump -Beastie Boys
Get On The Good Foot -James Brown
Plateau -Meat Puppets
What I'd Say Parts 1 and 2 -Ray Charles
Time out, 34:39

Finally got back out there

I've been lazy. I haven't been running in a couple of months. I finally got back out there. I finally figured out why the tune-o-matic keeps shuffling without my consent. There's a button that makes it shuffle when you shake it, which I had to turn OFF.
So I listened to some cuts from the Club Africa compilations. Good stuff. I don't know how long I went out, but not very long, maybe 15 minutes or so, but at least I got back out there.

Bike ride

So it's been another long while since I went running. No better reason than sloth and having been busy doing things that aren't running. I went on a bike ride today, to the library. I am embarrassed at how worked I am from the experience. I need to get out and run some more. If I wasn't blogging about it, I could have quietly quit with no one to judge, but somehow the blog is my confessional to the sin of sloth.

I also got to listen to some music. On the way out, excerpts from Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, by the Flaming Lips:

Fight Test
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Parts I and II)
Ego Tripping At the Gates of Hell
Do You Realize?

On the way back, some Gabby Pahinui. I've been all about the Hawaiian music of late. It just puts me in my happy place. I highly recommend Hawaiian Rainbow to anyone who agrees. I have a kama aina friend who gave me some of da kine Hawaiian tunes.

Hii Lawe
My Little Grass Shack
Lei Aloha Lei Makamae
Mauna Loa
Ka Ua Loku
Wai Hu'i O Keaniani
Ahulili

Knee problems

So I blew out my knew last weekend, playing hacky-sack. It slowed me down quite a bit, and I think I've done my damage to my poor meniscus. It's already been trimmed down once, and I hope I don't have to do it again.
I've been off it, and probably won't be trying any more hacky sack for a while. Running, however, doesn't seem to agitate it much.

No playlist, I was listening to the Red Sox-Yankees on the tune-o-matic. The sweep took the sting out of the Celtics getting tied up with the Bulls. Actually, I'm a lot happier about how the Sox are doing in any event.

Tonight I headed out over the big hill towards Chewacla and back.
Time out 22:04.

Just a short one

I just went on a short one, to keep my legs moving.
Playlist
Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby -The Rolling Stones
Oye Como Va -Santana
Pearl's Cafe -The Specials
Dirty Water The Standells (okay, the Sox played last night, but given how badly they've been doing, I have to get my Dirty Water when I can. Nice job last night, Timmah! Flirting with a no-hitter, pitching a complete game, resting the bullpen, AWESOME)
Time out 15:42.

Easter Greetings

Easter's here which means a few things to my running. 1. Lent is over, so I've chosen to return to those things which I've given up for 40 days, namely coffee, beer, and sugar. This last one has had several of my scientist colleagues challenging me on what I define as sugar. For the purposes of the my fast, I defined sugar as any of several listed ingredients including: sugar, dextrose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup. I did eat honey and maple syrup, which are course full of 'sugar', at least in terms of simple carbohydrates. Anyway, the purpose of the fast (besides the spiritual challenge) was not attained. I did not lose any weight. I haven't been running as much as I'd wanted due to illness, so that didn't help. Also, I did not abstain from other sources of caffeine (tea, diet soda) or alcohol (wine, liquor), so that couldn't have helped either.
2. Today was a feast, including doughnuts (of the Krispy Kreme fundraiser variety, not my favorite but there they were), cheesy grits, chocolate, but a modest dinner after all that.
3. We went to an Easter egg hunt at a friend's house on bicycles, with me lugging the Burley trailer. Our friends do not live far away, maybe a mile and a half, but I felt shamefully winded by the experience. I haven't ridden my bike at all for a while, and clearly I should.
4. The Easter Bunny brought a new yoga ball into our lives, along with an exercise DVD, so perhaps I'll be doing some stretching, cardio toning kinds of things to help with the whole fitness adventure.

And finally, after all that, I did get out on a jog. I went faster than normal, maybe due to the lighter dinner. I jogged up to the Museum and back, with an extra quarter mile or so around Town Creek Park, and still made it back in under 40 minutes.

The Playlist.
Turn It On -The Flaming Lips
Oh, Me -Meat Puppets
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese -Ween
Tried and True -Ween
Undone (The Sweater Song) -Weezer
I'm Gonna Put Some Hurt On You -The Meters
Cold Blood -Peter Tosh
Mother Popcorn -James Brown
Get Off My Cloud -The Rolling Stones
Get On Down -Meat Puppets.

Time 39:56 Considering this is the same route as last Sunday, and a bit longer, I'm happy with the time.

Inspired and all over the place

I decided to do something I haven't really done since I was in South Africa; run in broad daylight. It's been unseasonably cold the last couple of days, but today it warmed back up. I was working from home, and I just felt the need to get out. I wasn't exactly planning on going so far, but then I did. I headed out towards the State Park, then down the bike path. I think it was a new long, at least since South Africa. The musical theme was inspirational and springy, from all over the place.

Playlist
Dirty Water -The Standells. Baseball season again! Woot! Beckett pitched a gem last night!
Sexx Laws -Beck
Magic Toy Missing -Meat Puppets
Maiden's Milk -Meat Puppets
Buddy Holly -Weezer
Nite Klub -The Specials
Nitemare Hippy Girl -Beck
Moonage Daydream -David Bowie
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic
Tougher Than It Is -Cake
Zombie -Fela. I love Fela, but I rarely listen to him while running because it can be uninspiring to be listening to the same song for 15:00, and realize that I have to keep running that whole time. But today, I knew I'd be at gone for at least another Fela song.
Marie Jose -Ryco Jazz
The W.A.N.D. -The Flaming Lips
Hey Ya! -Outkast
A Little Better -Gnarls Barkley
Novacane -Beck

Time 1:07:06. Yup, that's a new long

Irie Jog

Another long one, first in a long while. Up to the Art Museum and back. For no apparent reason, I decided to go with an all-reggae playlist. Uplifting, soulful, spiritual reggae. It's been so rainy here this spring, which tonight made the jog smell very nice; Wisteria, cedar chips, Sunday night laundry. Somehow I think that inspired me to go long.

The Playlist
Feast of the Passover -The Congos (Passover is coming right up, friends)
Birds in the Treetops -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Much Smarter -The Meditations
Roast Fish and Cornbread -Lee 'Scratch' Perry
Chinee Man -Culture
Tradition -Burning Spear
Never Get Weary -Toots and the Maytals
Equal Rights -Peter Tosh
New Name -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Time 40:39

Back on track?

I got out again tonight. Another fairly short one. It was drizzly, so I didn't bring the tunes. Just around the block.

Time out-19:58

Songs in the Key of W

Good gravy, I've been slacking again. My excuse this time? I've been working on my dissertation. I'm almost done with that. Anyway. I did manage to get out again. Tonight, all W artists.

Playlist
Undone (The Sweater Song) -Weezer
Death Letter -White Stripes
Roses are Free -Ween
The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You) -Waylon Jennings

Time -17:48

Finally out again

So I've just been lazy. I'll admit it. Lazy and busy. Mostly lazy. But tonight I felt the urge, and I managed to get out. My wife came along, so no music. We did get out for a good while, 31:40 or so.

Another setback, but back out again

So it's been almost 2 weeks since the oral surgery. After I went off the steroids I started feeling worse again, the cough returned, but still not as bad as at the nadir of the respiratory plague. I hadn't really felt like running, but I knew I had to get back out there sooner or later. So tonight I finally laced up and managed to go on a short run. Yes, there's been a bit of SLOTH on the table as well. Hopefully I can get back out there soon enough to keep it going.

Playlist
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
Transona Five -Stereolab
Gamma Ray -Beck
Sini Lindile -Nganeziyamfisa No Khambalomvaleliso
Total time=16:58

Off track again, but getting better. More PED's

I had a relapse into the bronchial nightmare, which has again kept me from running. Then I had oral surgery (three teeth removed), which I'd already delayed because of the coughing, and the coughing prevented them from putting in the implant, which was the last step. Now I really feel like I'm getting to the end of it.
To help the process along, I'm also on antibiotix (again), and steroids (and narcotix as well), to help the healing of the teeth, with the lagniappe of helping to kick this cough. But I can't go running for a week, Doctor's orders.
But it's Lent, and I'm going try and give up three things that should help me lose some weight: beer, coffee, and sugar. We'll see how that goes!

Songs in the Key of G through J

Two points make a line, and so you can say I'm back on track. I went back over the Interstate, up past Town Creek Park, to the stop sign. I thought of this as a short run. But after such a long hiatus, the hills felt a lot steeper, and my pace was a bit slower, and I did make it without expiring. For some reason, the them of the playlist was songs by artists in the G's through J's.

The Playlist
A Little Better -Gnarls Barkley. This felt like an appropriate song to kick off on. Nice, triumphant and inspirational tone.
Our Lips Are Sealed -The Go-Gos
The Jackass Song -Harry Belafonte
Paint The White House Black -George Clinton. A prescient ditty from the early Bill Clinton years. You may think George Clinton should be filed under C, or Harry Belafonte under B, but then you wouldn't be my Tune-O-Matic.
Sufferer's Time -The Heptones.
I Gotcha -Joe Tex
Police and Thieves -Junior Murvin. I much prefer this original version to the Clash's version. Sorry, The Clash.
25 Minutes to Go -Johnny Cash. An upbeat song about capital punishment.

Total time: 31:29

Finally back out. Thanks, PEDs!

I finally have been able to get back out on the road, for a short run. Today was the first day that I even felt like it may be possible in a while. I've been on antibiotics (didn't really help, must be a virus), and an expectorant (although my cough hasn't been too productive), and an albuterol inhaler, which has helped more than anything else. And I've been sucking on Ricola by the bagful, which has helped some, but meant a lot of sugar intake.
My tidal volume is slowly coming back. The coughing fits are getting more controllable. And I've been able to return to bed with my wife, rather than self-imposed exile to the futon. Somebody should be getting some sleep, no? The coughing was so bad it would make my head and back ache, more than anything else. That, and the feeling of breathing through a coffee stirrer.

Anyway, the albuterol has been a big help, and thankfully, I'm not a real athlete, who might be banned for using such a substance. No, I guess it's not really a banned substance.

I was worried, as I am during any hiatus, that the SLOTH may creep back in, and I'd never get my feet back on the concrete. So for that reason as well, it's nice to get out, even for a short run.

Playlist. African
Sini Lindile -Nganeziyamfisa No Khambalomvaleliso
Mondo Soul Funky -Ebo Taylor Jr. & Wuta Wazuri
Nansi Imali -Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Total time out: 13:40. Short, but I'll take it.

Where have I been?

I've been sick. Coughing fits have kept me out of my running shoes for a couple of weeks now. I've finally gotten on some antibiotics, and hopefully that will help. Seriously, it's been quite a pain. I wanted to run a 10K last weekend, my first in years, but my lungs wouldn't let me. Boo!
I hope to get back on the road soon. I'm starting to get some of my tidal volume back, and it's been warming up. Meanwhile, here's some pix from the Sportscentrum in Pretoria, promised so long ago.

More Metal

As you may have gleaned from the last few playlists, I've been having a metal renaissance of sorts, with AC/DC featuring prominently. Being a fan of Malcolm Gladwell, I feel that there must be some strange, evanescent reason for this behavior. And being not a psychologist and somewhat intellectually lazy after a nice run, I don't really concern myself with what that reason may be.

I suited up last night, but couldn't find my flashlight. Honestly, I stopped looking after only the most cursory of investigations. It was cold, and late, and I figured I would go tomorrow, which is tonight, and I did. It was a bit warmer tonight, and I took a slightly different route from the trans-Interstate route I've been favoring, which turned out to be slightly shorter than the other route, although I think I was going a notch faster than usual.

The Playlist
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap -AC/DC. A good song for some long strides.
Back in Black -AC/DC
Highway to Hell -AC/DC
Draw the Line -Aerosmith
Roadhouse Blues -The Doors
Hit It and Quit It -Funkadelic
Calling Dr. Love -KISS
Iron Man -Black Sabbath. The fast bit at the end was ideal for the kick!
Total time, about 37:00. I didn't time properly AGAIN.

Slackin' again

I've taken a week off. I blame my children, which I admit is an awful thing to do. However, since I've been with them by myself for the past week, I plead parenting as priority over peripatry. Now my wife is back, and we just got her some new running shoes today. So we may start running together, Hooray!
It's cold out there, at least it feels cold. The weather station says 30 degrees, though most other folks around the country are under snow and such. I had to warm up with a lap around the neighborhood before embarking on the path over the Interstate, which I now prefer. The dogs now have a fenced yard, so they don't require my walking/running services quite so much.

I did go a bit long, which I like to do after a long rest. A week is too long though.
In any event, the playlist. It started out with a genre, then spiraled into lunacy. I just listened to whatever I felt.
Jeepster -T. Rex. My latest fave song.
Girls Got Rhythm -AC/DC. Continuing to explore the oeuvre of Australia's ambassadors of Rock
Midnight Rider -The Allman Brothers.
Sugar Never Tasted So Good -White Stripes. This song reminds me of a former co-worker whom I just reconnected with.
Sweet Home Alabama -Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Turn It On -The Flaming Lips
Good Old Funky Music -The Meters
Higher Ground -Stevie Wonder
The Sky Is Falling -Queens of the Stone Age
Gnawoe -Orchestre Baobab
Time out: about 45 minutes. I didn't start the timer until about halfway through Jeepster.

New Direction

I think I missed posting a jog and playlist. I'm pretty sure I did because I did go on another dog swapping jog. Yes. Really I did.
Tonight I decided to leave the dogs at home because I wanted to go out on some less dog-friendly roads. I went over the Interstate, up Gay Street, and over to the Art Museum. Once around the pond and back. Oh and it was around 11:00 PM, so it was pretty quiet. And cold.
I was somewhat surprised at how quickly I could get almost downtown. I like that route. A bit more scenic than just around the neighborhood.

The Playlist: Rock and Roll in more or less alphabetical order
Shake a Leg -AC/DC
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith
Love Me Two Times -The Doors
Epistle to Dippy -Donovan
Rock and Roll, Part 2 -Gary Glitter
Christine Sixteen -Kiss
The Song Remains the Same -Led Zeppelin
Fat Bottomed Girls -Queen
I Wanna Be Sedated -The Ramones

Total time, 33:33

New Year's Resolutions

So it's a New Year, and looking back on my resolutions from last year. I don't think I did so well on my resolution to drink less. However, I did not drink more, so that is achievement of a sort. I did much better on my resolution to eat more salad. I ate a salad just about every day through June, and then at least four times a week until December. With all the traveling at the end of the year, it was tough to keep up with it, but I'm back and settled and ready to recommit to salad eating. Maybe I'll try to drink less as well, eat less processed food, and of course, keep running at least three times a week.

So I finally went on my first jog since I got back to Auburn. While I was in South Africa my family got a new puppy, which matches our older dog Trixie. So I had a bit of a quandary; the puppy, Jin-Jin, is still quite a fresh young thing, so I didn't want to take both dogs out together. So I decided to go out with Trixie first, then Jin-Jin. That worked out pretty well, since running around the neighborhood is a series of loops anyway.

Playlist:
Our Lips Are Sealed -The Go-Gos
Blind Mary -Gnarls Barkley
When Doves Cry -Prince
Cold Sweat, Part 1 -James Brown
(This is where I switched dogs)
Carbon Monoxide -Cake
Watching the Detectives -Elvis Costello
Veronica -Elvis Costello
Total time 26:13

Sonoma Valley Regional Park

Last Sunday I engaged in something I'd rather not do: drive somewhere to go jogging. We're up in Glen Ellen, in Sonoma County California, and there's not much of an alternative.
The alternatives are to go up and down the short landing strip several times, or to drive for five minutes to get to Sonoma Valley Regional Park. SVRP is a nice place for a short jog.
Playlist
Thul'ulalele -Amaswazi Emvelo
Beaux Dimanches -Amadou and Mariam
Lady Luck -Billy Eckstine. A recent addition to the Tune-o-matic. I have this one CD (No Cover, No Minimum), and some 45's by Mr. B.
Never Get Weary -Toots and the Maytals
Bedy -Kanda Bongo Man
The Battle of Evermore -Led Zeppelin. Okay, one of these things is not like the others, and there is a reason. I received a 'tater bug mandolin as a Xmas present, and I've been trying to learn to play it. As with most instruments I've picked up, I come to enjoy songs that feature the new instrument, so there may be more mandolin-containing or mandolin adaptable songs in future playlists.
Total time: 25:48.