Boxing Day/Golden Gate Park/Lion of Soweto

After a rainy and blustery Christmas, this morning was bright and cheery. It being Sunday, most of Golden Gate Park is closed off to car traffic, so I thought I'd take advantage for a long run today. Amongst the gifts under the family tree was a tuneomatic gift certificate, which I promptly applied toward the purchase of Lion of Soweto, a compilation of the works of Mahlathini. It was this that I listened to as I ran through the beautiful Golden Gate Park, admiring the Rose Garden, the Botanical Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, and other features. I almost got up to the one hour mark, which is a good sign. I could have gone for it without too much trouble, but given that I went yesterday and I'm trying to build up, I didn't think it wise to push it for that artificial goal.

Playlist (Lion of Soweto [LoS] plus some additional Indestructible Beat of Soweto [IBoS])
Baba-Ye -LoS
Bayasazi -LoS
Kudala Besifuna -LoS
Kwa Mfazi Onge Mama -LoS
Bhula Mngoma -LoS
Kumnyama Endlini -LoS
Kumnandi Emgababa -LoS
Amagoduka -LoS
Mahlalela -LoS
Abake Ba Bonana -LoS
Bayasimenmeza -LoS
Ngibuzindlela -LoS
Ilele Insizwa -LoS
Ngiphelekezele -LoS
Emthonjeni Womculo -IBoS
Ngicabange Ngaqeda -IBoS
Qhude Manikiniki -IBoS
Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama -Amaswazi Emvelo (IBoS)

Times
L1 9:15
L2 33:19
L3 9:03
Total 51:38

Distance 5.2 miles
Cumulative distance 19.1 miles

Seasons Greetings!

And also Merry Christmas, Dear Reader. I find the former greeting to be in greater salutary impairment than the latter, so here I use both. I meant to go out yesterday, but my inlaws' dog had other plans,and decided to do all the running for the whole family for the afternoon, night, and yesterday morning. But with a Christmas morning present opening ceremony scheduled for 10:00, I had some time this morning to allow the sugar plums to dance in my head while my feet were pounding the pavement. I went back up to the top of the path through the golf course, but the gate was closed, so I came back down and around Mountain Lake Park again, the longer way, and back under Highway 1, rather than across Park Presidio Blvd. Just short of a half hour. I don't know whether it's being out of shape, or the steeper hills, but these past couple of runs have been a bit tough on me.

Playlist (Mostly Xmas)
Merry Christmas, Baby -Otis Redding
This Time of Year -Mighty Mighty Bosstones
32 Feet and Eight Little Tails -Gene Autry
Santa's Got A Mullet -Various Artists
Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) -Elvis Presley
Frosty the Snowman -Gene Autry
Christmas in Hollis -the A.K.A.'s
Thul'ulalele -Amaswazi Emvelo
Lust For Life -Iggy Pop
Sai -Kanda Bongo Man

Time 26:58

Distance 2.9 miles
Cumulative distance 13.9

Tiger!

Another week or so off. I had some fresh ink applied, and have been nursing it. Lame excuse, I know, but there it is. Now I'm in San Francisco, where it's rainy and cool, though not as cool as Auburn was in recent days. I ran up into the Presidio, near my in-laws home, and up the hill into the golf course and around and down back into Mountain Lake Park. Nice. Feeling okay after the week off. I need to get my mileage up, though, and that's a goal for this trip.

Playlist
Blackbird -The Beatles
16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six -Tom Waits
Prodigal Son -The Rolling Stones
Wai Hu'ihu'i O Ke Aniani -Gabby Pahinui
A Hundred Years From Now -Flatt and Scruggs
Ashes to Ashes -David Bowie
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic

Time 24:32

Distance 2.6 miles
Cumulative distance 11.0 miles

Four miles

The term is over at Auburn, and my students are all assessed. So now I have time to run during daylight hours, or so it would seem. It's gotten quite cold, and I fortunately have some nice new warm things to wear while running. I did get a bit further, 4 miles, up to Samford and back. What the flip happened to my statcounter?

Playlist
Slavedriver -Jenny and Johnny
Candy -Presidents of the USA
Can't Get There from Here -R.E.M.
Rock Problems -the Hold Steady
Manic Depression -Jimi Hendrix
Frontier Psychiatrist -the Avalanches
Black Country Rock -David Bowie
As Good As I Can Feel -Funkadelic
Bubble Pop -Del the Funky Homosapien
Come As You Are -Nirvana
Easy Skanking -Bob Marley

Times
L1 12:38
L2 6:15
L3 6:16
L4 11:27
L5 0:53
Total 37:29

Distance 4.0 miles
Cumulative 8.4 miles

More running. Yay!

Not as cold this evening. It was a small miracle that I got out again, though after taking a night or two off I knew it was the only way to keep it up; to gut up or shut up. I wore the warm suit, but it wasn't as cold.

Playlist
Body -Presidents of the U.S.A
Lump -Presidents of the U.S.A
Ziggy Stardust -David Bowie
The Battle of Evermore -Led Zeppelin
Oh! You Pretty Things -David Bowie
The Wind Cries Mary -Jimi Hendrix
Aurora Borealis -The Meat Puppets
Reggae Street -The Mighty Diamonds

Times
L1 13:18
L2 12:22
L3 0:55
Total 26:35

Distance 2.8 miles
Cumulative distance 4.4 miles

Almost another month off. Ugh

It's getting cold. I've been getting fat. The last month I've been rather a lump, eating badly and not running, though I've gone on a bike ride or two. Okay one. Lots of buffet lunches. Fried food. not much whole grain or salad. But I'm getting back into it. Tonight I finally got out in my new cold weather gear. Over the hill and back. Let's see if I can try and keep it up.

Playlist (mostly newish)
Slavedriver -Jenny and Johnny
What New York Used to Be -the Kills
Rock Problems -The Hold Steady
Paper Planes -M.I.A.
Born Free -M.I.A.
All I Do Is Win -D.J. Khaled

Times
L1 8:55
L2 8:41
Total 17:36

Distance
1.6 miles?
Cumulative 1.6 miles

Been a long time, been a long time, been a long

Almost a month since my last run. The first step back is the hardest, for sure. I finally got my butt up and went back to Gay/Woodfield. A week ago, the Dean of my College was hit and killed while she was running, so part of me has been afraid to get back out there, and part of me inspired to get back out there. Of course, her death doesn't account for the prior three weeks of sloth. My feet looked awful after the Tough Ten, though, with a huge blood blister that's finally worked itself out. But at the heart of it, I don't exactly know why I've been so slothful, but it's time for it to stop.

Playlist
Peace Treaty -Peter Tosh
Carbon Monoxide -CAKE
Lust for Life -Iggy Pop
Opera Singer -CAKE
Can't Get There From Here -R.E.M.
Italian Leather Sofa -CAKE

Times
L1 13:05
L2 11:11
L3 0:55
Total 25:12

Distance 2.7 miles
Total 2.7 miles

Mentally Unstable Mix

I ran to my friends' home again last night. Quite a bit cooler and nicer out, though lots of cars whizzing by. We spent a nice evening of eating chicken, drinking beer, and hot-tubbing. Oh, and looking in on the Yankees LOSING their way out of the ALCS. Schadenfreude, is sometimes the best freude. I'm hoping for the Giants to take the NL, since I did get to see them twice this season (once here, once in Atlanta), and though I don't have a beef with the Phillies, it's nice to have some fresh blood in the World Series.

I thought I'd have another thematic mix. Craziness, madness, insanity.

Playlist
Frontier Psychiatrist -the Avalanches
Crazy -Gnarls Barkley
All the Madmen -David Bowie
Let's Go Crazy -Prince
Crazy Train -Ozzy Osbourne
Love Her Madly -the Doors
Psycho Killer -Talking Heads

Times
L1 8:43
L2 10:41
L3 7:42
Total 27:07. Ugh. Not too good. I think I want to be faster. I'm not sure it's good for me to try though, given my objectives of getting aerobic exercise and wanting to remain ambulatory for a good long time.

Distance 3.0 miles
Cumulative distance 28.3 miles. Over a marathon this month.

Forest Ecology Preserve 5k

Ran the 5k, last weekend now. Let me say this: Chicken fingers are not the dinner of champions. I didn't drink at all last Friday, but I did eat a mess of chicken fingers, and I didn't run at all during the lead up to the race either. I was a bit tender for a few day after the Tough Ten.

I ran as part of the Forestry team, and we won! For the first time since I've been running it, our Forestry five won it. By default, but we'll take it, take it away from those Fisheries sorts. My friend Wayne ran also, and got second in our age group, so in his honor, I started with some Stones, his fave.

Playlist
Tumbling Dice -Rolling Stones
Save It For Later -English Beat
Lust For Life -Iggy Pop
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
Whip It -Devo
Crazy -Gnarls Barkley

I think that's all?

Time
26:34 or so. Awful, really, even for a trail run.

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance 25.3

Tough Ten

That picture there is from the halfway point on the Tough Ten. I finished it, which was objective 1. Objective 2, finishing under 10 minute miles also good. Objective 3, finishing under 9 minute miles, not achieved (see times below). All told, I felt pretty good throughout, even bursting into song during some points (Mexican Radio, Suspicious Minds), I think I was getting large doses of endorphins during those points, really. Thanks so much to my friend, Penny, who organized the race and personally handed me an application a couple of months ago, in plenty of time to train (though I could have gotten under 9 minute miles, I'm sure).

I may do the Forestry 5K next weekend, before my friends wedding and the Arkansas game.

Playlist
Turn It On -Flaming Lips
Crazy -Gnarls Barkley
Modern Love -David Bowie
Caught Up In You -.38 Special
Push Th' Little Daisies -Ween
Houses In Motion -Talking Heads
Whip It -Devo (this one probably drove that 8:48 mile)
Save It For Later -English Beat
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Come As You Are -Nirvana
Once In A Lifetime -Talking Heads
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
The Wizard Turns On -Flaming Lips
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes
Sugar -Imperial Teen
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
Suspicious Minds -Elvis Presley
Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell -Flaming Lips
Heroes -David Bowie
Lust for Live -Iggy Pop
Give It Up of Turnit Loose -James Brown
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs (I was wearing my Kaizer Chiefs cap)
Calling Dr. Love -KISS

Times (by mile)
M1 9:25
M2 8:48
M3 9:33
M4 9:15
M5 9:25
M6 9:13
M7 9:11
M8 9:22
M9 9:04
M10 9:11
Total 1:32:28

Distance 10.0 miles
Cumulative distance 22.2 miles

Adjective Noun

Trying to get one more semi-long run in before the Tough Ten. Gay Samford College Woodfield and back with a little extra at the end. Feeling pretty good, quite good actually. Knees a little sore. Hopefully didn't cripple myself for tomorrow's long day in the lab.

Playlist (lots of adjective noun band names)
Oh, Atlanta -Alison Krauss
Save It For Later -English Beat
The Wizard Turns On... -Flaming Lips
Caught Up In You -.38 Special (a number adjective band, just to mix it up)
Houses In Motion -Talking Heads
Banned In D.C. -Bad Brains
Whip It -Devo
Let's Dance -David Bowie
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Crazy -Gnarls Barkley
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes

Times
L1 13:21
L2 6:28
L3 7:27
L4 3:30
L5 11:45
L6 0:46
Total 43:18

Distance: 5.0 miles
Cumulative distance 12.2 miles

Sunday Morning Toomer's

First run of October, and it was a good one. I did register for the Tough Ten, but I knew I had to get a long one in before even thinking about actually doing it. After my last debacle on a 6+, I had to get a good one in. I thought about going out last night, late, but also thought in spite of my typical morning inertia, I had to do it in broad daylight. The weather this morning was optimal, just a bit cool as I left the house. I ran the route down University to Donahue, up to Magnolia and past Toomer's corner (pictured above, following yesterday's blowout of Louisiana-Monroe), and down Gay over to Armstrong, and then down College to the Art Museum and back via Gay, University, Wright's Mill, Tanglewood.

Playlist
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) -AC/DC
Mama Africa -Peter Tosh
Black Country Rock -David Bowie
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
The W.A.N.D. -Flaming Lips
Atomic Dog -George Clinton
Lust For Life -Iggy Pop
Suffragette City -David Bowie
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs
Sour Cherry -the Kills
Calling Dr. Love -KISS
Big Chief -Professor Longhair
Candy Store Rock -Led Zeppelin
Swimming Ground -Meat Puppets
All Apologies -Nirvana
The Sky is Fallin' -Queens of the Stone Age
Driver 8 -R.E.M.

Times
L1 16:05
L2 18:36
L3 5:24
L4 7:14
L5 7:48
L6 3:33
L7 12:07
L8 0:47

Distance 7.2 miles
Cumulative distance 7.2 miles

Last Run in September

I got our for one last run this month, this evening. I need to decide if I'm going to register for the Tough Ten coming up next week. I've been able to do 5.6 comfortably in the recent past, but that last 6.2 gave me some trouble. I was pretty sore for a couple of days after. Ten? seems like a lot. If it were at night, that might be okay. Early morning might be fine as well. My friend who's organizing it told me the route. It's up and back on Ogletree, plus Windway and up into Grove Hill. This evening I ran up to Woodfield and cut up to Wright's Mill and back past the Early Ed. Center.

Playlist Mostly HipHop
The Ocean -Led Zeppelin
What New York Used to Be -the Kills
Time is Too Expensive -Del Tha Funky Homosapien
Bust a Move -Young MC
Bring The Noise -Public Enemy
Jam On It -Newcleus

Times
L1 13:17
L2 3:00
L3 6:52
L4 5:13
L5 0:54
Total 29:21

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative Distance 20.2

Oy

I've had to take another chunk of time off. My wife's been out of the country, and I don't feel right going out at night and leaving the kids home alone and asleep, (and not just because it's against the law). Also, the three of us have had a 24 stomach bug go through us in turn, so I've had to tend to them as well. I thought I'd try to get out for a longer run, down to the bike trail and back. I made down and back to Wright's Mill, but had to stop and walk for a bit (grrr.), then got started up and decided I had to walk some more (double grr). Not a big surprise, after more than a week off and trying for a longer run than I'd done in a while. It doesn't bode well for the 10 mile in two weeks, but injuring myself would be even more of a setback. I made it in just as it started raining. I would have missed it entirely had I been able to run the whole way (frown).

Playlist
Pithecanthropus Erectus -Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop
Roxanne Roxanne -UTFO
What New York Used to Be -the Kills
Heroes -David Bowie
Black Country Rock -David Bowie
White Lines (Don't Do It) -Grandmaster Flash
A Little Better -Gnarls Barkley
No More Tears -Ozzy Osbourne
Ventilator Blues -Rolling Stones
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Away -Meat Puppets
Shhhh/Peaceful -Miles Davis

Times
L1 9:11
L2 7:45
L3 15:39
L4 16: 22
L5 1:32
L6 6:21 (walking)
L7 3:11
L8 7:11 (walking)
L9 4:03
L10 0:56

Distance 6.2 miles (not sure how much walking, maybe 1 mile?)
Cumulative distance 17.1

Back to Toomer's

Another nighttime jaunt. Finally made it back up to 5.6 miles, all the way up to Toomer's and back. Felt pretty good, most of the way. A little back tightness, a little calf tightness, but over all, it felt good. I'm glad to be halfway back to 10 miles. Hopefully this bodes well for the Tough Ten.

Playlist
Gimme Shelter -Rolling Stones
Fish, Chips and Sweat -Funkadelic
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Clampdown -the Clash
In This House That I Call Home -X
To Kingdom Come -the Band
Come As You Are -Nirvana
Sissyneck -Beck
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Heroes -David Bowie
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Buckingham Green -Ween
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs

Times
L1 13:39
L2 3:44
L3 12:46
L4 5:59
L5 6:25
L6 11:55
L7 0:55
Total 55:23

Distance: 5.6 miles
Cumulative distance: 10.9 miles

Run with a purpose

I've ended up taking the week off, not on purpose. Today, though, I had the opportunity to run with a practical objective, namely to fetch my wife's car from a friends house. We'd taken two cars, and left one there, so I opted to run the 3 or so miles rather than figuring out some alternative.
It had gotten quite hot and muggy out there, and so it was tougher than I was expecting, especially with a big drop in elevation toward the end. Our friends live out near the elementary school, so it was up and over, then down Ogletree a bit, and then down.

Playlist
Mambo Sun -T. Rex
Black Country Rock -David Bowie
Back in Black -AC/DC
Jean Genie -David Bowie
No More Tears -Ozzy Osbourne
Peg -Steely Dan
Burning Down the House -Talking Heads

Times
L1 8:40
L2 11:21
L3 8:27
Total 28:28

Distance 3.0 miles
Cumulative distance 5.3 miles

New Headphones

Spent a chunk of my first paycheck today, including the purchase of a really nice pair of headphones. I was going to run up to Gay/Woodfield, but then it's gameday and this close to kickoff I imagine there are idiots who are late and driving like maniacs, and I don't need that. So I started up that way, and turned left on Wright's Mill, instead of right. I don't want to miss the game myself, so I only went over to Ogletree stop sign and back. First run in daylight hours in a while. Broke my jar of rejuvenating elixir when I got back.

Playlist
Territorial Pissings -Nirvana
Jean Genie -David Bowie
The Distance -Cake
Under the Gun -Circle Jerks
Safe European Home -the Clash
Time is Too Expensive -Del the Funky Homosapien

Times
L1 1:54
L2 7:18
L3 7:18
L4 1:54
L5 0:53
Total 20:39

Distance 2.3 miles
Cumulative distance. 2.3 miles. Almost added onto the 18.6 from last month. That was the August total. Not great, but better than July.

Another 4.6 miles

Now that I'm gainfully employed again, I need to be on my feet a lot. So I'm concerned that my running may lead to fatigue. Tomorrow I'll be running labs all day, so a lot of time on my feet. Hopefully it'll be okay

Playlist (a hodgepodge of old stuff new to the tune-o-matic)
Sweet Virginia -Rolling Stones
Come As You Are -Nirvana
Ashes To Ashes -David Bowie
Bacteria -Jonathon Coulton
Emperor Tomato Ketchup -Stereolab
Can't Get There From Here -R.E.M.
Pretty Vacant -Sex Pistols
Jam On It -Newcleus
Girl -Beck
Paranoid -Black Sabbath (really good for keeping up a pace towards the end, there)
So Easy -Eagles of Death Metal

Times
L1 13:28
L2 6:31
L3 7:33
L4 3:29
L5 11:18
L6 0:52
Total 43:12

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative distance 18.6

Classic Rock

A little bit further still this evening. Up to Samford, over to College, and back via Woodfield and Gay.

Playlist -all "classic rock"
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith
L.A. Woman -the Doors
Pump it Up -Elvis Costello
I Love It Loud -KISS
Rock & Rock -Lou Reed and Velvet Underground
Crazy Train -Ozzy Osbourne
You're My Best Friend -Queen
Street Fighting Man -Rolling Stones
Oye Como Va -Santana
Bang a Gong (Get It On) -T. Rex

Times
L1 13:25
L2 6:19
L3 7:32
L4 3:34
L5 11:39
L6 0:53
Total 43:21

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative distance 14.0

Exile on Gay Street

I just rebought Exile on Main Street, the Rolling Stones masterpiece, on iTunes. I've listened to my vinyl copy a few times recently, and determined it was a reasonable purchase. Tonight I made it up to Samford/Gay and back after a few days off. Feeling good, building back up in distance. Hopefully will fell okay tomorrow, when I'm on my feet all day.

Playlist
Samba Da Bemcao -Bebel Gilberto
Rocks Off -the Rolling Stones
Every Breath You Take -the Police
The Gnome -Pink Floyd
I Felt Like A Gringo -Minutemen
Sing A Simple Song -the Meters
Sweet Home Alabama -Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Song Remains The Same -Led Zeppelin
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs
Happy -the Rolling Stones
Confusion Fog -Meat Puppets

Times
L1 13:35
L2 6:37
L3 6:09
L4 11:30
L5 0:53
Total 38:44

Distance 4.0 miles
Cumulative distance 9.4 miles

Monaural

Up to Gay/Woodfield again. One of the headphones on the tune-o-matic was out, but I didn't catch it until I was off and on my way. So I kept on going, monaurally.

Playlist
Dirty Water -the Standells (awesome win vs. Angels, Papelbon fans 'em in order in the 9th)
What is Life -George Harrison
Hang On Saint Christopher -Tom Waits
Finger Lickin' Good -Beastie Boys
Roses are Free -Ween
Sweet Thing -David Bowie
For All the Cows -Foo Fighters

Times
L1 13:14
L2 11:35
L3 0:53
Total 25:40

Distance 2.7 miles
Cumulative 5.4 miles

Dang, already missed half of August.

Long time without going out. I couldn't even get out a second time in San Francisco. It's finally cooled off a little bit, and I felt inspired, so I went on a short run, up to Gay/Woodfield and back. My friend gave me an entry form for a 10 mile race in October. It may take some doing, but I think I'm going to try for it.

Playlist
People are Strange -the Doors
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
It's Summertime -Flaming Lips
Rock and Roll, Part 2 -Gary Glitter
The Next Episode -Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs
Rhythm and Rhyme -George Clinton
Found A Job -Talking Heads

Times
L1 13:42
L2 11:47
L3 1:02
Total 26:30

Distance
2.7 miles

San Francisco, a nicer place to run in July

I've fallen off the wagon again, today was my first run in a couple of weeks. It's really been too damned hot for me to run in Auburn, and I've been busy landing a job (!) at the University. Now I'm on vacation in San Francisco, where, it's much nicer for running, to paraphrase Mark Twain. Last night I went to the Giants game at AT&T Park, which was nice, though it was sold out and I spent the game on my feet. My knees were feeling it about the 5th inning on. Great game though; I got to see Tim Lincecum pitch.

Today I went on a pretty short one from my inlaws house to Mountain Lake Park and back. Just a short one to get me going hopefully for a longer one tomorrow in Golden Gate Park.

Playlist
Going to California -Led Zeppelin
Oh! You Pretty Things -David Bowie
Lust for Life -Iggy Pop
Found a Job -Talking Heads

Time
19:55

Distance
? not sure, probably not much more than two miles if that.

Back up to Samford

A night off and a little further tonight. I went up Gay to Samford, over to College and back via Woodfield, a 4.6 mile route. Building my way back up. Still feeling some aches and pains in the legs, but mostly working itself out en route. When I got back tonight, though, I felt it in my left knee, but not in the same area that was affected by surgery. Again, I didn't get out until after 10 pm, and without a shirt. My pasty whiteness is probably reflective enough, though I always carry a flashlight at night. I've been having that "David Bowie is an utter genius" feeling again, as is evident in the playlist.

Playlist
Space Oddity -from "Space Oddity"
Lust for Life -(Iggy Pop) from "Lust for Life"
Black Country Rock -from "The Man Who Sold the World"
Diamond Dogs -from "Diamond Dogs"
Queen Bitch -from "Hunky Dory"
Moonage Daydream -from "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars"
Suffragette City -from "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars"
Sweet Thing -from "Diamond Dogs"
Rebel Rebel -from "Diamond Dogs"
The Width of a Circle -from "The Man Who Sold the World"

Times
L1 13:10
L2 6:15
L3 7:25
L4 3:30
L5 11:14
L6 0:53
Total 42:26

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative distance 10.1 miles

Two days on

I got out again this evening. Pretty late actually, starting after 10:00. Still pretty warm and sticky out there, but almost bearable. I ran up to Woodfield/Gay intersection and back. I felt a few aches and pains in my legs (knees) and my back, under my left shoulder blade. Mostly resolved over the course of the run, but hopefully not doing more harm than good.

Playlist
The Wind Cries Mary -Jimi Hendrix Experience
Reggae Street -Mighty Diamonds
Grits Ain't Groceries -Little Milton
Bubble Pop -Del the Funky Homosapien
C.R.E.A.M. -Wu Tang Meets the Beatles
007 (Shanty Town) -Desmond Dekker
Everybody's Got Something to Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey) -the Beatles
Bust a Move -Young M.C.

Times
L1 13:22
L2 11:32
L3 0:58
Total 25:52

Distance 2.7 miles
Cumulative distance 4.5 miles

July? More like Ju-lame!

Well. If I really did have 20 runs in me this month, I'll have to do some two-a-days. And I'm not doing that. Here it is, 12 days in and this is my first run. It is amazingly easy to get out of the rhythm and throw it all in. But today, in spite of my legs coming up with pains to thwart me, and my procrastinator running on all cylinders, I did get out for a very short one. Over the hill to the stop sign and back. It could be the first post to require more time to write than complete, but here it is. I have been doing a little bit of swimming, but really I've just been lazy.

Playlist. New stuff to the tune-o-matic
Prodigal Son -Rolling Stones
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
Tipsy -J-Kwon
Hyphy -Federation

Times
L1 8:55
L2 8:34
Total 17:29

Distance
1.8 miles
Cumulative
1.8 miles

The Moment of Truth and The Width of a Circle

Last day of June. Did I run 20 times? Nope. Did I attain 100 logged miles? Nope. What happened? My diagnosis is that I haven't been able to adjust my schedule to accommodate running. Why? For one thing (which I can't control), the weather makes running no fun during the hours I'm accustomed to going out. Running at night is an option, though I usually find myself doing other things, and there's a relatively narrow window of opportunity to head out. If I don't get out between 9 and 10, there's not going out. And I'm not a morning person, so mornings are out as well. What to do?

Today, I did get out, with the goal of getting up to at least 45 miles. I didn't quite make it, though I'm now over 40 for the month of June and that's a big improvement over last month. I went out on a route I haven't hit for a while, down the bike path and back. After the hiatus prior to Monday's effort, I didn't feel great out there. I did stop and walk between the Ogletree stop sign and the first road there (Estate Ave.), so you know it wasn't going well. But I made it back, and am not too beat up (at least I'm not feeling it yet). July? who knows.

Playlist -an all-Bowie set. I'm quite hung up on Bowie at present, if you couldn't tell.
Life On Mars? -From "Hunky Dory"
All The Madmen -From "The Man Who Sold The World"
Diamond Dogs -From "Diamond Dogs"
It Ain't Easy -From "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars"
Space Oddity -From "Space Oddity"
Black Country Rock -From "The Man Who Sold The World"
The Man Who Sold The World -From "The Man Who Sold The World"
Queen Bitch -From "Hunky Dory"
Kooks -From "Hunky Dory"
Suffragette City -From "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars"
Rebel Rebel -From "Diamond Dogs"
Changes -From "Hunky Dory"
Andy Warhol -From "Hunky Dory"
Moonage Daydream -From "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars"
The Width of A Circle -From "The Man Who Sold The World"

Times
L1 8:55
L2 7:27
L3 14:45
L4 9:35
L5 5:53 (Canary Dr. to Wright's Mill)
L6 8:13
L7 2:20 (walking)
L8 6:50
L9 0:57
Total 1:04:54. Not a terrible time, considering.
Distance: 6.6 miles (previously I've measured this as 6.2 or 6.4 miles?)
Cumulative Distance: 42.1 miles

The Man Who Sold The World

I've been slacking again. A whole week off, almost two. Ugh. The heat and crazy schedule have been to blame, though I did go on a couple of short bike rides. I shouldn't make excuses. If I get two more good runs in I could get up to 50 miles this month, which I would call an accomplishment. Today, up to Woodfield and back. Not much of a run at all but better than nothing.

Playlist "The Man Who Sold The World", David Bowie. I've been enchanted by this album, which is a real steal on Amazon. Before, I'd only known the title track but the rest of it is phenomenal.

Width of a Circle
All The Madmen
Black Country Rock
After All
Running Gun Blues
Saviour Machine

Times
L1 13:00
L2 11:09
L3 1:00
Total 25:08

distance 2.7 miles
cumulative distance 38.2

More days off. Feeling beat up

Another few days off. Sunday I went up to Lake Martin with the girls and some friends. It was fun, but in spite of frequent application of sunscreen, I got sunburned about the head and shoulders. Also got a cut on my foot, and a scrape on my knee. So I was feeling pretty beat up.
Today was the first day I really felt up to the challenge of physical activity. My foot felt better, and without my shirt, my skin felt all right as well. Another nighttime run, up to Toomer's and back. Instead of cutting in at Briarwood as I usually do, I ran down to Tanglewood and in to add a few feet.

Playlist
Dirty Water -the Standells
Alone + Easy Target -Foo Fighters
African -Peter Tosh
Sympathy for the Devil -Rolling Stones
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
What a Day That Was -Talking Heads
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Fell in Love With a Girl -White Stripes
Unfinished Instrumental -Parliament
Electricity(Drugs) -Talking Heads
Gin and Juice -Snoop Dogg
Wanted Dread and Alive -Peter Tosh
Gangsta Gangsta -N.W.A.

Times
L1 12:25
L2 3:20
L3 11:31
L4 6:52
L5 6:00
L6 12:05
L7 0:45
Total 52:59

Distance 5.8 miles
Cumulative distance 35.5. Probably not getting to 20/100.

Couple of days off again.

So the last two nights haven't worked out, but I did get out tonight. Problems: I enjoy dinner and drinking beer too much. I probably shouldn't eat so much dinner, as a rule, but I realize that I enjoy eating a large meal in the evening. Usually, if that comes later in the evening, it totally precludes an evening run at a reasonable hour. Tonight, although I had a heavy meal of Chinese food (greasy, salty), it was early enough to let me digest enough to overcome my SLOTH and get out. I thought I'd be a bloated potato with lead feet after that meal, but I actually felt quite good once I got going, and really kicked it in the end to get in under 32:00 (for a 3.5 mile run which I have run in under 30:00). But since I hurt my calf, this is still pretty good for down to Chewacla and back.

Playlist
Dirty Water -the Standells (Sox cream the Phillies)
Joyce No. 5 -Johnson Mkhalali (SA scores first goal in the World Cup!)
Opera Singer -CAKE
London Calling -the Clash
Get Up Offa That Thing -James Brown
The Rain Song -Led Zeppelin
Mushroom Men -Les Claypool
Gimme Three Steps -Lynyrd Skynyrd



Times
L1 9:16
L2 7:21
L3 7:32
L4 6:54
L5 0:41
Total 31:45

Distance 3.5 miles
Cumulative Distance 29.7 (not looking good for 100 miles this month, so far)

Night time is the right time

First time out at night with the flashlight and no sunglasses. It was a bit muggy but nice out. I got a good pace going and kept it up. I was with the girls all day and stayed up to watch the Tim Wakefield and the Sox beat the Tribe, 3-2. Of course the top baseball story of the day was RHP Steve Strasburg, who lived up to the hype leading up to his first MLB start. 14 strikeouts!

I ran the GWCToomer's route, cutting over to Armstrong to add 0.2 miles. The new shoes are starting to feel good, and the night time does seem to be the right time, at least in the summer months.

Playlist
Dirty Water -the Standells
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) -AC/DC
Hang On St. Christopher -Tom Waits
Alabama Song -the Doors
What Is Life -George Harrison
Fire -Jimi Hendrix
Safe European Home -the Clash
Little Sister -Queens of the Stone Age
Pearl's Cafe -the Specials
The New Pollution -Beck
Standing on the Verge of Getting It On -Funkadelic
The Next Episode -Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Doin' It -Professor Longhair
When Doves Cry -Prince
Oye Como Va -Santana
Times
L1 13:07
L2 3:27
L3 11:57
L4 7:12
L5 6:04
L6 11:14
L7 0:48
Total 53:49

Distance 5.8 miles
Cumulative distance 26.2 (!)

Few days off, back at it again.

I was feeling pretty SLOTHful over the weekend. Friday, I would have gone but my girls got out of camp early, and so I couldn't get going early enough to get out. However, I feel a lot better today for the rest. For one thing, it wasn't as muggy out, clear blue sky for the first time in over a week. I did get out a little later, and it was warm, but I didn't feel absolutely oppressed. Gay/Samford/College/Woodfield/Gay

Playlist (featuring some free downloads from Amazon)
The Day I Tried to Live -Soundgarden
Reggae Street -Mighty Diamonds
The Golden State -John Doe
Bubble Pop -Del the Funky Homosapien
Come Together -the Beatles
Pride and Joy -Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble
Blanket of Weeds -Meat Puppets
Prodigal Son -the Rolling Stones
Death Letter -White Stripes
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Can I Kick It? -Tribe Called Quest

Times
L1 13:02
L2 6:16
L3 7:13
L4 3:23
L5 10:54
L6 0:46
Total 41:35

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative Distance 20.4

P to Z and back to V

Same route as yesterday, only reversed at Gay/Woodfield, i.e. up Gay to Magnolia, and down College from Toomer's. A bit tougher today, even though I hit the uphills earlier on. Probably latent fatigue from yesterday. Feeling a little numb in my right arm and hand. Did I sleep on it funny? Perhaps.

Playlist (P-->Z and back up)
Pink Eye (On My Leg) -Ween
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Run (I'm a Natural Disaster) -Gnarls Barkley
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes
Today -Smashing Pumpkins
Universal Corner -X
Veronica -Elvis Costello
The W.A.N.D. -Flaming Lips
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet
You Can't Catch Me -Chuck Berry
Ziggy Stardust -David Bowie
Zimbabwe -Bob Marley
You're Wondering Now -the Specials
X-Static -Foo Fighters
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
Voodoo Lady -Ween

Times
L1 13:03
L2 6:37
L3 6:21
L4 12:01
L5 3:37
L6 11:54
L7 0:58
Total 54:31. A little slower than yesterday.

Distance 5.6
Cumulative Distance 15.8

Alpha Beta Parking Lot

What a difference it makes going out a little earlier. I left around 9, rather than close to noon. Maybe also a second consecutive day helped as well, in any event I felt a lot better out there today. Not quite as strong an urge to stop and walk, not feeling like death on two legs afterwards. Tired, but not wiped out. I was able to go further today as well, all the way up to Toomer's Corner, adding a mile to yesterday's route.
Route -Gay, Woodfield, College, Toomer's Magnolia, Gay

Playlist (Alphabet Soup A-->P)
Alpha Beta Parking Lot -Cake
Bacteria -Jonathan Coulton
C.R.E.A.M. -Wu Tang Clan meets the Beatles
Dixie Chicken -Little Feat
Elevator Music -Beck
Fat Lenny -Ween
Gamma Ray -Beck
Head Down -Soundgarden
I Feel Fine -Beatles
Just a Test -Beastie Boys
Kye Kye Pe Aware -Sweet Talks
Lady Day and John Coltrane -Gil Scott-Heron
Manteca -Dizzy Gillespie
Never to Be Found -Meat Puppets
One Drop -Bob Marley
Pink Eye (On My Leg) -Ween

Times
L1 12:54
L2 3:26
L3 11:59
L4 6:07
L5 6:10
L6 11:40
L7 0:55
Total 53:12

Distance 5.6 miles
Cumulative Distance 10.2 miles

New month, off to a better start

Last month was the worst in a while. A total of 26.8 miles. Factors: Soreness in calf. Travel. Kids out of school. Rising temperatures. Lack of a good schedule. SLOTH.
Yes, the SLOTH is back. I haven't been eating as well as I should, or as little as I should. I've been getting lazy. I could have gone out either weekend day or yesterday, but I didn't.

Here I recognize the problem and use the changing of the calendar to try and motivate me to repent. Today I went on the same route as a few days ago, Gay, Woodfield, College, Samford, Gay (GWCSG, henceforth). I was tempted to walk for a while, but I perservered. When I got home, I was totally beat. Usually, a rest of a few days leads to an invigoration, but this hiatus left me floored. The weather was deceptive. It looked cooler due to the partly cloudy conditions, and I was prepared for rain, but it turned out to be super-muggy and rather warm. All right June, I don't know if I'll get in 20 runs, or 100 miles, but that's what I'm trying for starting TODAY.

Playlist
I Wanna Know If It's Good To You -Funkadelic
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
(I Love It When You) Call Me Names -Joan Armatradding
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet
Demolition Man -the Police
Wouldn't It Be Nice -the Beach Boys
Speaking in Tongues -Eagles of Death Metal
Shadrach -Beastie Boys
Paradise -Ana Serrano de Laan
Run (I'm a Natural Disaster) -Gnarls Barkley
Rock & Roll -Lou Reed

Times
L1 12:20
L2 3:23
L3 7:25
L4 6:08
L5 11:41
L6 0:55
Total 41:53

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative distance 4.6 miles

Buzz

First buzz cut of the summer today. Or as I refer to it, shaving the squirrel pelt. I'm quite grizzly, you see, salt and pepper with extra salt, if you haven't seen me lately.

I headed out towards Chewacla feeling fine, and decided to head up the bike trail *just* a little bit. So that's what I did, just up to the first paved intersection (up to Whippoorwill) and turned around. It seemed quite a bit hotter on the way back. The heat almost deterred me from heading out at all; I didn't get started until after 11:00. But I think I'm starting to get used to it, or I'll eventually shift back to the night shift. I keep saying that, but I keep resisting as well.

My right foot numbness didn't kick in until the way back. I loosened it up quite a bit at the start, but I think it's still just a little tight, sigh.

Playlist -Mostly classics, some assorted oddments
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith
Loser -Beck
Time is Too Expensive -Del Tha Funky Homosapien
Sugar -Imperial Teen
The Wind Cries Mary -Jimi Hendrix
What Is And What Should Never Be -Led Zeppelin
Hot Pink -Meat Puppets
Dashboard -Modest Mouse
The Gnome -Pink Floyd
Every Breath You Take -Police
Sympathy for the Devil -Rolling Stones

L1 8:17
L2 6:53
L3 5:07
L4 5:20
L5 7:38
L6 7:37
L7 0:57
Total 41:48

Distance 4.6 miles

And yet a little further

Second day with the new shoes. A little numbness in my right foot. Shoe too tight? Loosen laces? I hate to return things. Hate Hate Hate. I'll give it one more try. Up to College/Samford and back via Gay.

Playlist (Rough Guide to Congolese Soukous)
Cooperation -Franco & Sam Mangwana
Amie Mamibo -Zaiko Langa Langa
Loi -Koffi Olomide
Sarah -Tabu Ley Rochereau
La Vie -Deyess Mukangi
Naji -Pepe Kalle

Times
L1 12:30
L2 3:26
L3 7:27
L4 5:47
L5 10:43
L6 0:52
Total 40:44

Distance 4.6 miles

New Shoes

Finally got myself some new shoes. New Balance 993s, following the New Balance 992s. I like them because they're pretty tough in the support department, which I need given the state of my knees. I also like them because they're the last athletic shoe made in the U.S.of A. I got them on Friday evening, and just tried them out today, on the short loop down to Chewacla and back.

Summer is hitting with a vengeance. A friend of my commented, "jeez, Summer, you could have bought me dinner first or something". It doesn't help that my little one is sleeping in, which keeps me off the road until 10:00 or so. Fortunately, I had a big quaff of H2O a few minutes before the slog.

Playlist
No Expectations -Rolling Stones
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet
F*ckin' with My Head -Beck
Alone + Easy Target -Foo Fighters
Over the Hills and Far Away -Led Zeppelin
Oh, Me -Meat Puppets
Walking on the Moon -the Police
Black Hole Sun -Soundgarden

Times
L1 8:48
L2 7:23
L3 7:32
L4 7:08
L5 (the kick, Tanglewood to Millbranch) 0:52
Total 31:43
Still a bit slow, but I'll get there. My calf is telling me it's still not fully resolved. I wonder if it ever will as long as I keep running.

Distance
3.5 miles

Day off, day on

Yesterday I stayed at home with my daughter and a friend. Haven't gotten into night shifts again, yet. With the warmth today, I know it's coming. It seemed nice and moderate when I got suited up, but then as I dallied that Lucky Ol' Sun came out and started cooking up some asphalt. I thought I'd hit Gay/Woodfield and straight back, but I did make it up to Gay/Samford and back. A little bit further, no walking, no calf pain (yet), getting back on track.

Playlist (Mellow)
Shh/Peaceful -Miles Davis
Rastafari Is -Peter Tosh
He'eia -Gabby Pahinui
Academia -Sia
The Overload -Talking Heads

Times
L1 12:31
L2 6:11
L3 5:57
L4 11:16
L5 0:58
Total 36:53

Length 4.0 miles

Two snakes

I saw two snakes on the road today. One alive, the other dead. Actually, on the way home the other appeared to be dead also. But where have I been? I was on a vacation with my wife last week in the Netherlands and Belgium. I packed my shoes but I did not run. So I've been off my feet for a while. My calf is feeling better at the moment.

Playlist
Moonage Daydream -David Bowie
Fall Out -the Police
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Haleakala -Gabby Pahinui
Cooperation -Franco & Sam Mangwana
Dadje Von O Von Non -Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes

Times
L1 8:29
L2 7:29
L3 7:58
L4 8:38
Total 32:33

Distance 3.5. I've lost some serious ground. I've gotten this route down to under 30. Boo

New month. Not off to a good start at all./Old 5k result

So today I did a few things that I HATE doing. Shortened up a route, and walked. Since I started this blog, I can't remember a time where I actually had to walk rather than just slowing down. Factors involved made it necessary.
1. I've taken a whole week off. I didn't mean to, but since my younger daughter is now out of school, I'm taking care of her, and haven't wanted to revert to night running.
2. It's hot out there, and I didn't get out until it was about the heat of the day. Not used to it, and like I've said previously, I should avoid it.
3. Last night's dinner was exceptionally heavy. Ribs AND chopped pork bbq plus corn on the cob (fried). I ate a rather anemic looking salad as well, then probably surprised my guts with the invasion of the pork brigade.

I'm somewhat glad I did it though. It's a fine line between pushing myself and just being stupid. It's a bad precedent to set though, for not too particularly long runs. I tried to do the UDMGAG, but went straight down Gay instead of the jog over to Armstrong (and the other jog down Payne). I walked from Samford/Gay to Woodfield/Gay, which a good chunk of walking, but I didn't want to have to stop a second time. I did get out on a fairly short bike ride the other day, but otherwise I've been rather a SLOTH. Bah.

Playlist- Cinco de Mayo, new stuff, and old stuff.
Mexico -Cake
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Suspicious Minds -Elvis Presley
Roxanne -the Police
It's Summertime -Flaming Lips
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic -the Police
Show Some Emotion -Joan Armatradding
Give It Up or Turnit Loose -James Brown
For Your Life -Led Zeppelin
Enchanted Pork Fist -Meat Puppets
Rock and Roll, Part 2 -Gary Glitter
Speaking in Tongues -Eagles of Death Metal
The Humpty Dance -Digital Underground
Andy Warhol -David Bowie
Chiney Man -Culture
Beautiful Delilah -Chuck Berry
Meanwhile, Rick James... -Cake
War Pigs -Black Sabbath

Times
L1 14:27
L2 17:05
L3 4:45
L4 7:05
L5 12:03
L6 12:13
L7 1:07
Total 1:08:46
Distance 6.6 (includes 0.6 walking)

In other news, I went back and found my time in the Forest Preserve 5k when I ran it in 2006. 26:24. So I've improved quite a bit since then.

15 days, another 7.0 miles

Same route as yesterday, and a tiny bit faster. Accounting for traffic lights, it's statistically insignificant, but I'll take it. A bit warmer today also, and I had a small lunch earlier.

So that's 15 runs, which met my revised goal. How many miles? Must tabulate.....81.6 miles. Not too bad, considering I thought I'd have been cut back a lot more by my calf. For now, I'm just living with it being sore.

Playlist
Dirty Water -The Standells (Sox 2, Jays 0)
Kaua'i Beauty -Gabby Pahinui
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet
You Stepped Out Of A Dream -Nat King Cole
You're My Best Friend -Queen
Mr. Brown -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Going On -Gnarls Barkley
Turn It On -Flaming Lips
Buttons and Bows -Gene Autry
Joyce No. 2 -
Shout It Out Loud -KISS
Severed Goddess Hand -Meat Puppets
Crazy Train -Ozzy Osbourne
Transdermal Celebration -Ween
Party For Your Right To Fight -Public Enemy
I Call My Baby Pussycat -Parliament
Misty Mountain Hop -Led Zeppelin

Times
L1 14:31
L2 15:59
L3 4:54
L4 9:00
L5 5:36
L6 10:39
L7 0:50
Total 1:01:29

Distance 7.02 miles

An honest 7.0 miles/Bohemian Rhapsody

Turns out the University tour route is actually just short of 7.0 as I've run it. Today I took an extra jog around Pine Hill Cemetary and made it an even 7.02 +/-. Felt pretty good out there. The calf is hanging in, not really getting much better or worse.

I just saw a nice one-hour BBC documentary on the making of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody (serialized here) I don't have the Queen version, but the Flaming Lips version is a reasonable facsimile, meaning it is AWESOME.

Playlist
Bohemian Rhapsody -the Flaming Lips
Window Paine -Smashing Pumpkins
Aurora Borealis -Meat Puppets
Rhinoceros -Smashing Pumpkins
I Wanna Know If It's Good To You -Funkadelic
What Goes On -Velvet Underground
Little Birdy -Ween
Some Other Time -X
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 2 -Flaming Lips
This Is A Call -Foo Fighters
The Song Remains The Same -Led Zeppelin
Astronomy Domine -Pink Floyd
Hands All Over -Soundgarden
Crosseyed And Painless -Talking Heads

Times
L1 14:36
L2 16:48
L3 4:43
L4 9:07
L5 5:48
L6 10:39
L7 0:50
Total 1:02:30

Distance 7:02

Ooh, why did I eat first?

Getting to the end of the month, and I should be able to get in 15 runs. Today is lucky number 13, I do believe. Today I had a few things to do in the morning, see another friend's defense seminar, banking, and lunch with my wife and daughter. She requested Chick-Fil-A food, which is about the limit for me as far as fast food goes in general. But I definitely felt a bit logy afterwards, and had to lie down for a few minutes while I charged my personal batteries and the one in my tune-o-matic. Still, I felt a bit logy on the road, and I didn't get very far (not that I wanted to). I prefer my schedule of avoiding eating (except a simple breakfast) before running.

Up Gay to College via Woodfield, back to Gay via Samford, and home.

Playlist
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) -Talking Heads
What Deaner Was Talking About -Ween
Let's Spend The Night Together -the Rolling Stones
Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You -John Prine
What Is Life -George Harrison
Atomic Dog -George Clinton
Break On Through -the Doors
It Ain't Easy -David Bowie
Beautiful Delilah -Chuck Berry
Rastaman Live Up -Bob Marley
Girl -Beck
Get Back -the Beatles

Times
L1 12:15
L2 3:16
L3 7:09
L4 5:29
L5 9:59
L6 0:51
Total 39:00
Distance 4.6 miles

Monday, Monday/ Jr. League result

No, I haven't incorporated any Mamas and Papas into the tune-o-matic. It is definitely Monday, though, and I took the whole weekend off. Today, a similar route to most of the last few with some twists, Gay, Woodfield, College, Samford, Gay, Thach, Toomer's, Magnolia, Ross, Thach, Armstrong, Gay, home. Still a little tight in my right calf. My back was sore before I went out, but it's resolved now.

Playlist
Life on Mars? -David Bowie
We're Here -Meat Puppets
Run (I'm a Natural Disaster) -Gnarls Barkley
Mona Lisa -Nat 'King' Cole
Tougher Than It Is -Cake
Gamma Ray -Beck
Clampdown -the Clash
The Negotiation Limerick File -Beastie Boys
Hey, Little Rich Girl -the Specials
Iron Man -Black Sabbath
Back in Black -AC/DC
1999 -Prince
Rusty Cage -Soundgarden
Percolator -Stereolab
Bang a Gong (Get It On) -T. Rex

Times
L1 12:20
L2 3:18
L3 12:23
L4 10:23
L5 5:46
L6 10:31
L7 0:52.4
Total 55:33

Distance 6.45 miles

Also, just found out I got 14th in the Junior League run, at 23:40. Not too bad.

More rest, then a hot one

After Monday, I thought I needed a little time off. So I took Tuesday off, then Wednesday I didn't want to risk hurting anything before yesterday's field trip. So there went the whole week. Today I went up Gay to College via Woodfield, to Toomer's, then over to Ross via Magnolia. Instead of cruising down Chewacla, I went up Thach to Gay and all the way home via Gay. My calf is still a little tender. I tried not to go too hard, starting out slow, and taking it easy for the most part.

Playlist
Say It Ain't So -Weezer
What Is and What Should Never Be -Led Zeppelin
Manic Depression -Jimi Hendrix
Good Old Funky Music -the Meters
Ocean Breathes Salty -Modest Mouse
Lucifer Sam -Pink Floyd
Once In A Lifetime -Talking Heads
Pollo Asado -Ween (also what I had for dinner last night)
White Girl -X
Jigsaw Puzzle -the Rolling Stones
Oye Como Va -Santana
The Sky Is Fallin' -Queens of the Stone Age
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend -the Ramones
Rhinoceros -Smashing Pumpkins

Times
L1 12:37
L2 3:22
L3 11:02 (Museum to Toomer's)
L4 11:27 (Magnolia to Gay)
L5 6:05
L6 11:23
L7 1:03
Total 56:59

Distance 6.2 miles

Monday, a new route.

New Route today, up Gay to Woodfield, Museum, Toomer's but then continuing on Magnolia to Ross (by the fire station) and down to Samford that a-way, then back down Gay. Pretty nice day for it, a bit overcast so not too terribly hot.

Playlist
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
What Goes On -Velvet Underground
Today -Smashing Pumpkins
Burning Down The House -Talking Heads
In The Garage -Weezer
Sugar Magnolia -Grateful Dead
Shoot to Thrill -AC/DC
Chest Fever -The Band
Rental Car -Beck
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Hello, I Love You -The Doors
She Don't Use Jelly -Flaming Lips
Mind Your Own Business -Hank Williams
Books About UFOs -Husker Du

Times
L1 12:08
L2 3:14
L3 10:55
L4 14:05
L5 5:44
L6 10:48
L7 0:59
Total 57:54

Distance 6.55 miles

A-Day, Fun Day, Boogie Day

Busy day in the greater Auburn-Opelika area. My daughter's pre-school had a Fun Day, it's A-Day (Auburn Univ.'s spring football game), and the Old 280 Boogie is happening out in Waverly. Plus, my other daughter had a birthday party to attend. So, busy.
I got to sneak in a run today, up Gay and down Wright's Mill. Got a little crazy as I approached Samford, but I managed to avoid incident.

Playlist
Ruby Sees All -Cake
Armagideon Time -the Clash
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic
Up On The Sun -Meat Puppets
Chinese Rock -the Ramones
No Expectations -Rolling Stones
Academia -Sia
Crush -Smashing Pumpkins
Spoonman -Soundgarden

Times
L1 12:09
L2 5:59
L3 16:21
L4 (the Kick, just for fun) 0:52
Total 35:21
Distance 4.0 miles

Penance for Pigging Out

Last night I totally pigged out. I was well-mannered for most of the day but as it got into the evening I began snacking heavily, then had a large dinner and just kept going, mostly with things that are not on my diet. So I wanted to do penance today, only I didn't want to hurt myself any further.
Route: Gay Woodfield College Toomer's Corner Magnolia Gay Samford Wright's Mill Woodfield Gay Home

Playlist: African
Cooperation -Franco & Sam Mangwana
Marie Jose -Ryco Jazz
Mondo Soul Funky -Ebo Taylor Jr & Wuta Wazuri
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Sini Lindile -Nganeziyamfisa No Khambalomvaleliso
Sai -Kanda Bongo Man
Dadje Von O Von Non -Gnonnas Pedro et ses Dadjes
Makojo -Chief Osita Osadebe
Tin Tin Lon -Honore Avolante et l'Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

Times
L1 12:12
L2 3:21
L3 11:13
L4 6:08
L5 7:05
L6 11:54
Total 51:53

Distance 5.85 miles That's 28.7 miles for the week. Which is pretty good, considering I'm on healing time

Here's to you, #42

Today all of Major League Baseball will be wearing #42, which besides being the answer to life, the universe and everything, was also the number worn by Jackie Robinson. Mr. Robinson was the first openly African-American player to play in the Majors. He was born in Cairo, Georgia, on January 31, 1919, though he spent most of his youth in California. Though he did play in the Negro Leagues, it was when he started playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 that his star began to rise.

He was the first "Rookie of the Year" in 1947, was the Most Valuable Player in 1949, and won a World Series Ring with the Dodgers in 1955.

In honor of this, I put together a Jackie Robinson playlist.

Ran the UDMGAG route with a slight variation, at Toomer's I turned right to cross College, as I arrived just in time for the light to change and I didn't feel up to a long stop. I got a new pair of running shorts, which suited me nicely. I may have to get another pair while they're still on sale.

Playlist
Dirty Water -The Standells (yes, the Sox won yesterday, and they're on now!)
The Song Remains the Same -Led Zeppelin (not really in the theme, but I wanted to hear it)
Give It Up or Turn It Loose -James Brown
Equal Rights -Peter Tosh
One Nation Under A Groove -Funkadelic
Jeepster -T. Rex
Bruca Manigua -Ibrahim Ferrer
Banned in D.C. -Bad Brains
Lady Luck -Billy Eckstine
You Can't Catch Me -Chuck Berry
April in Paris -Count Basie and his Orchestra
Manteca -Dizzy Gillespie
The Jack-Ass Song -Harry Belafonte
I Refuse to Lose -James Brown
Quizas, Quizas, Quizas -Nat "King" Cole
Rosa Parks -Outkast
What'd I Say -Ray Charles

Times
L1 11:34
L2 5:35
L3 11:01
L4 4:26
L5 7:21 (these two splits, I'm not exactly sure where they start/stop)
L6 5:22
L7 11:35
Total 59:54
Distance 6.7 miles

Back to it and still at it

And yet a little further. Up Gay to Thach, east to Brookwood down to Samford and back down via Wright's Mill to Loftin. Feeling pretty good.

Playlist -More of that same genre as yesterday plus some others
The Day I Tried To Live -Soundgarden
Say It Ain't So -Weezer
Mutilated Lips -Ween
Speaking In Tongues -Eagles of Death Metal
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes
I'll Stick Around -Foo Fighters
Ego Tripping At The Gates of Hell -Flaming Lips
Watching The Detectives -Elvis Costello
It's Summertime -Flaming Lips
I Gotcha Back -Genius/GZA
Going On -Gnarls Barkley
Our Lips Are Sealed -the Go-gos
Purple Haze -Jimi Hendrix
(I Love It When You) Call Me Names -Joan Armatradding


Times
L1 12:20
L2 5:56
L3 (Top of Gay Thach Brookwood Samford) 19:14
L4 (Wright's Mill Loftin) 10:52
L5 6:17
Total 54:40

Distance 6.0 miles

A little longer, a little better.

Another day, a little longer. Started out a little tight, but loosened up and went with it. Not all out, of course. Similar to yesterday's route, only all the way up College to Toomer's Corner, down Magnolia to Gay and all the way back down to home. At this point, I'll be glad to get 15 runs in this month, or over 75 miles.

Playlist -I'm sure these all belong to a genre that has a name, but I don't know what it is.
Cherub Rock -Smashing Pumpkins
Siva -Smashing Pumpkins
Sugar -Imperial Teen
Hot Pink -Meat Puppets
We're Here -Meat Puppets
Jane Says -Jane's Addiction
Books About UFOs -Husker Du
Little Man With A Gun In His Hand -Minutemen
There Goes My Gun -Pixies
God Is A Number -Sleater-Kinney
Superunknown -Soundgarden
Emperor Tomato Ketchup -Stereolab
The Day I Tried To Live -Soundgarden

Times
L1 12:03
L2 3:20
L3 (To Toomer's) 11:14
L4 0:49
L5 4:51
L6 5:43
L7 11:58
Total 49:57
Distance 5.63 miles

More rest, little bit longer, new music

Took the weekend off again. Slowly but surely things are improving. Half my friends are encouraging me to get back out there, and the other half are calling me an idiot for running in the first place and inviting injury.

I'm definitely not going hard, but I did feel good enough to go a bit further today, up Gay Woodfield Museum College Samford Gay Home. So far, so good. Definitely starting to warm up quite a bit out there. It was 70 F when I left. I uploaded some new tunes to my tune-o-matic, so I listened to those.

Playlist
Cooperation -Franco & Sam Mangwana
Prodigal Son -Rolling Stones
Lucifer Sam -Pink Floyd
Been Caught Stealing -Jane's Addiction
Rhinoceros -Smashing Pumpkins
Bruca Managua -Ibrahim Ferrer
The Gnome -Pink Floyd
No Expectations -Rolling Stones
Interstellar Overdrive -Pink Floyd

Times
L1 12:35
L2 3:24
L3 7:28
L4 5:42
L5 12:03
Total 41:12
Distance 4.54 miles

Short day, healing

I've taken almost a full week off after the 5k. My calf has been feeling better with the rest, but now the cartilage in my right knee (not the one previously surgeried) is feeling a little floppy. Ugh. I've been feeling like a lump, like all the weight I've lost has come back a-runnin', and I don't know when I'll be able to get back to the regime I had going last month. On the plus side, the past week has been a good time to be off the roads, as the pollen has just been off the charts. The air is yellow out there. Yesterday it rained a bit which has knocked it back a bit. Today I went on a short one down to Chewacla and back, slowly, just to see how everything feels. I still feel more or less intact, but definitely not 100%.

Playlist -Fela
Lady
Shakara
Gentleman

Times
L1 8:48
L2 7:57
L3 8:11
L4 9:19
Total 34:16

5k. Ow my calf

I took yesterday off, because of my calf. I ran in a 5k race today, feeling a little better. Now, it feels a bit worse, so the rest is probably a good idea. I will take a few days up now.

I ran just a little under 24:00 again, a few seconds better than the last one. I felt pretty good during the race for the most part. There were a lot of runners, and the race was not well organized, sad to say. I stood in line for a good while to get registered, which I hadn't done for ahead of time, and the course map never did appear before the race. The local politicians, mainly judges, were pressing the flesh. And fortunately I ran into my good friend Penny, figuratively speaking, who was helping with the finish line. The course started at the Art Museum, down Woodfield and up Gay to Virginia, then down Wright's Mill to Loftin, and back up Gay to Woodfield and around the pond to the finish in front of the museum. Once again, the last big hill was a spot for me to overtake several folks. I was hoping to shave a bit of time off my previous attempt, and am a little disappointed in that. Given my calf, and a slight hangover after celebrating my friend's successful defense last night, I guess it's all right.

Playlist
Rastafari Is -Peter Tosh
Marie Jose -Ryco Jazz
Cantique -Kanda Bongo Man
Let Forever Be -Chemical Brothers
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab

Short Day, No Fooling

That last 10-miler hurt. Yesterday I came up lame, with greater tightness in my right calf. It's been troubling me for some time and not getting better. Also, my left knee started giving me some grief, in front on the inside (away from where I had surgery before). So I decided to stop at 21 for March, and try my luck at April. I'm still a little sore today, but decided to get back out there for a little shorter of an endeavor, and not too quickly either. Up Gay to Samford, back down College to Woodfield, and back via Gay. A nice little 4.54 mile run. I may go for 20 more this month, but not if I have to try and hurt myself in the process. I like to say, brave is doing something dangerous because you have to, stupid is doing something dangerous because you want to.

Playlist-African
Dadje Von O Von Non -Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes
River Luv Rite -Oneness of Juju
Marie Jose -Ryco Jazz
Beaux Dimanche -Amadou and Mariam
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Joyce No. 2 -Johnson Mkhalali
Cantique -Kanda Bongo Man
Gazera -Moussa Poussy
Coumba -Orchestra Baobab

Times
L1 12:38
L2 5:41
L3 0:49
L4 6:11
L5 3:27
L6 12:15
Total 41:01
Distance 4.5 miles

What comes after 20?

21! Just to make sure I didn't start resting on my laurels, I decided to go on a long run today. The 10.2 mile course down Ogletree and back, plus Chewacla and back. I entertained the notion of going down Shel Toomer bike path to cap off the month with a half-marathon, but dismissed it. I'm glad I did, because it's getting warm out there for half-marathons with no water breaks.
I'm going to have to start running earlier or later soon.

Playlist, a rocker
Whorehoppin' (Sh*t, G*dd*mn) -Eagles of Death Metal
Super Stupid -Funkadelic
Run (I'm A Natural Disaster) -Gnarls Barkley
Sugar -Imperial Teen
Crosstown Traffic -Jimi Hendrix
I Love It Loud -KISS
Over the Hills and Far Away -Led Zeppelin
Rock & Roll -Lou Reed and Velvet Underground
Hot Pink -Meat Puppets
No One Knows -Queens of the Stone Age
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment -The Ramones
Gimme Shelter -The Rolling Stones
Roses are Free -Ween
Transdermal Celebration -Ween
Fell In Love With a Girl -White Stripes
Jimmy The Exploder -White Stripes
The World's a Mess, It's In My Kiss -X
The New World -X
Bang a Gong (Get It On) -T. Rex
Hands All Over -Soundgarden
God Is A Number -Sleater-Kinney
You're My Best Friend -Queen
There Goes My Gun -Pixies
Bukowski -Modest Mouse
I Felt Like A Gringo -Minutemen
Confusion Fog -Meat Puppets

Times
L1 7:53
L2 11:08
L3 17:55
L4 18:03
L5 12:25
L6 7:31
L7 8:03
L8 8:32
Total 1:31:30
Distance 10.2

20 Days!!!! Yee-hah!

This was it. The 20th Day of running in March. Hurray! Only one day under 4.0 miles. Up Gay, to College via Woodfield, up to Toomer's Corner, back down Gay to Armstrong, back on Gay and home. I'm over 126 miles this month!

Playlist (Country & Western &c.)
That Girl From Brownsville, Texas -Jim White
In Heaven There Is No Beer -Brave Combo
Cumberland Blues -Grateful Dead
Paradise -John Prine
Dixie Chicken -Little Feat
Loser -Beck
Walk On By -Cake
Tweedle-O-Twill -Gene Autry
Big River -Johnny Cash
Bob Wills Is Still The King -Waylon Jennings
The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You) -Waylon Jennings
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town -Cake
Pretty Girl -Ween
Dear John -Hank Williams
I Got Stripes -Johnny Cash

Times
L1 11:26
L2 3:05
L3 10:45 (Woodfield to Toomer's)
L4 0:46
L5 5:31
L6 5:28
L7 11:04
Total 48:06
Distance 5.77 mi

Junk Support

Day 19 of the 20 day challenge, and I'm feeling pretty good after a day off. It's been threatening to rain all day long, but hasn't really started yet. Pretty warm and nice. I finally got myself an athletic supporter, to keep my junk in place during the warm weather. I wasn't sure if I should get the size 30-32 inch waist, or the 34-36 inch. I've been at about 33 inches, and being an optimist, I went with the 30-32. I did so with furrowed brow, because I don't imagine it's the kind of item one can return to the store. TMI? I call it deep sharing.
The stoplights all seemed to be against me today.

Playlist-All Gabby Pahinui
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
Hula O Makee
Wahine U'i
Ku'u Pua Lei Mokihana
Kaua Beauty
Ka Ua Loku
How D'ya Do
Ka Ipo Lei Manu
Lei Ohu
Breeze

L1 14:17
L2 5:46 (Univ/Donahue to Woodfield)
L3 10:55 (Donahue/Woodfield to Magnolia)
L4 6:14 (Magnolia)
L5 5:38 (Gay Armstrong)
L6 5:35 (Top of Gay)
L7 11:18 (Bottom of Gay)
Total 59:43
Distance 7.0

Another new combination of old routes to make new

Up Gay Street to Woodfield, across College over to Donahue, down back across College to University, then back home. My first time taking the big dip in this direction.

Playlist
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
C.R.E.A.M. -Wu Tang Clan
De Camino A La Vereda -Buena Vista Social Club
Fourth of July -Dave Alvin
Gold -Genius/GZA
Hit It and Quit It -Funkadelic
In And Out -Del The Funky Homosapien
John, I'm Only Dancing -David Bowie

Times
L1 11:27
L2 3:27
L3 2:06
L4 5:04
L5 12:59
Total 35:03

Distance 4.27 miles. Day 18 of the 20 Day challenge. My feet are feeling a little tender. I don't think I've done a day under four miles, either, which is also good. Actually, one day under four, still...

Short Day Plus

My feet are feeling a little tender, after 17 days of running this month. Blisters on both of my middle toes, in the front. What's up with that?
I thought I'd take a short day, but just to show I'm not slacking (to who? myself? Sure why not) I added a little somethings extra in the form of and extra lap (down toward the lake and back), for an extra 0.9 mile.

Playlist (Stormy Weather Mix)
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet
Get Off My Cloud -The Rolling Stones
The Rain Song -Led Zeppelin
Purple Rain -Prince
Come In Out Of The Rain -Parliament
Rainy Day Woman -Waylon Jennings
Look At The Rain -Meat Puppets
Riders On The Storm -The Doors

Times
L1 7:54
L2 6:31
L3 6:42
L4 7:18 (that makes 28:23 on the 3.6 mi Chewacla route, a new PB)
L5 7:27
Total 35:51
Distance 4.5 miles

Whippoorwill Again

Today I went back up into the Whippoorwill neighborhood again, off the bike path. I did the full loop today, including the last long hill. A little dog started following me up the hill, and I had to jump over him once or twice. Add the uphill small dog steeplechase to the list of things I do not like while running. More good news, though. Barring incident, I should make my goal of 20 days of running this month.

Playlist
We're Here -Meat Puppets
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Train In Vain -The Clash
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -The Ramones
Loser -Beck
Draw The Line -Aerosmith
Rastaman Live Up -Bob Marley and the Wailers
Crazy -Gnarls Barkley
Black Hole Sun -Soundgarden
Backwater -Meat Puppets
Rock and Roll, Part 2. -Gary Glitter
All Your Goodies Are Gone -Parliament
Got To Choose -KISS
Undone (The Sweater Song) -Weezer
Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache) -Cake
Yo! Bum Rush The Show -Public Enemy
Pink Turns To Blue -Husker Du
Moonage Daydream -David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust -David Bowie
Suffragette City -David Bowie
Lady Madonna -The Beatles
The Next Episode - Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Equal Rights -Peter Tosh

Times
L1 8:12
L2 6:42
L3 4:58
L4 8:29
L5 8:39
L6 27:19
L7 5:18
L8 7:47
L9 ??
Total : I don't know. I didn't thumb the last split :( I *think* I can in around 1:25 or so. If I got the last split in, say 9 minutes, that would be 1:26.

Distance 9.65 miles

Ogletree loop

Ran out Ogletree and decided to go around the loop rather than turning around. That's actually the shorter route. Seven plus miles. Missed yesterday, because my daughter didn't have school and I was in charge.

Playlist
Sweet Child O' Mine -Guns 'N Roses
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song -Flaming Lips
What Is Life -George Harrison
Rusty Cage -Soundgarden
Catch All This -Del the Funky Homosapien
16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six -Tom Waits
Rock The Casbah -The Clash
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Jesus and Tequila -Minutemen
That Girl From Brownsville, Texas -Jim White
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes
You Can't Catch Me -Chuck Berry
Atomic Dog - George Clinton

Times
L1 (Home ->SS) 8:28
L2 (SS ->Windway) 11:33
L3 (WW ->Moore's Mill) 18:40
L4 (MM ->University) 12:28
L5 (MM/Univ ->Home) 12:16
Total 1:03:26
Distance 7.07 miles

Road Trip, and back on the Road

I spent the last four days in Charlotte, at a meeting my wife was attending. I did see people running through downtown Charlotte, but I didn't really get the opportunity to join them. I swam in the pool at the hotel, but not in a real exercising sort of way. I also tried the treadmill in the hotel gym. I hated that thing. I spent 12+ minutes on it, and did not care to watch TV jiggle in front of me, or to have all these buttons to regulate the speed. I almost fell off the thing. Suffice to say, it is not for me at this point; I much prefer feet on concrete. So I went for an evening run out to the bike path, bringing a flashlight with me for the first dusky run in a while. It was brisk out, nice for running. Ahhhh. Home sweet home.

Playlist
(I Love It When You) Call Me Names -Joan Armatradding
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Ocean Breathes Salty -Modest Mouse
Honton Soukpo Gnon -Antoine Dougbe
Rastafari Is -Peter Tosh
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese -Ween
Hotel Yorba -White Stripes
Jolene -Cake
Andy Warhol -David Bowie
Cissy Strut -the Meters
Heavy Heavy Heavy -Geraldo Pino
In This House That I Call Home -X
No One Knows -Queens of the Stone Age

Times
L1 7:47
L2 6:39
L3 13:25
L4 8:14
L5 4:55
L6 6:55
L7 7:17
Total 55:12 Another PB. Yay!

Old Route plus New Part = New 8.35 Mile Route

Shel Toomer Bike Path plus up Canary Road on the way back. A nice neighborhood, about the same age as my own, lots of hardwood forest. Would run again.

Playlist (a mishmosh, with the new tag "Too Many To Tag")
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Run (I'm a Natural Disaster) -Gnarls Barkley
Rock & Roll -Lou Reed and Velvet Underground
Ocean Breathes Salty -Modest Mouse
There Goes My Gun -Pixies
Outshined -Soundgarden
Holiday Fortnight -The Specials
You Were The Fool -Ween
Moses the Prophet -Peter Tosh
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Let's Go Crazy -Prince
Let Forever Be -Chemical Brothers
Honton Soukpo Gnon -Antoine Dougbe
Rastafari Is -Peter Tosh
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith
Memphis -Chuck Berry
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese -Ween
Rainy Day Woman -Waylon Jennings
Hotel Yorba -White Stripes
Jolene -Cake

Times
L1 8:06
L2 6:41
L3 13:35
L4 (College to Canary) 8:38
L5 (Canary Loop, around Oriole) 15:31
L6 (Canary to Wright's Mill) 5:13
L7 7:19
L8 7:49
Total 1:12:51
Distance 8.35 miles

UDMGAG, a new tagged route.

University, Donahue, Magnolia, Gay, Armstrong, Gay. UDMGAG. Perhaps that what I should tag this route? It's cool and overcast. No students around due to Spring Break. Pretty much ideal conditions.

Playlist
Jumping Jack Flash -Rolling Stones
Miuzi Weighs a Ton -Public Enemy
It's Expected I'm Gone -Minutemen
Hot Pink -Meat Puppets
Cocaine Blues -Johnny Cash
So Easy -Eagles of Death Metal
Love Me Two Times -The Doors
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Send a Message To Her -Beck
Finger Lickin' Good -Beastie Boys
Pay To Cum -Bad Brains
Back In Black -AC/DC
Peaches En Regalia -Frank Zappa
Run (I'm A Natural Disaster) -Gnarls Barkley
Our Lips Are Sealed -Go-gos
Manic Depression -Jimi Hendrix
I Love It Loud -KISS

Times
L1 (University) 13:56
L2 (Donahue) 16:04
L3 (Magnolia) 5:13
L4 (Gay/Armstrong/Samford) 5:47
L5 (Upper Gay) 5:35
L6 (Lower Gay/Home) 10:55
Total 57:31 Looks like a pretty good time. PB? YES! 7.0 miles in under an hour. Yay!

Two days off, short day on.

Not too long a day out there. My right calf is still a little tight. My wife is back from her trip to Belize, and the kids are off from school for Spring Break. Up Gay Street and back down Wright's Mill.

Playlist
Hosanna -Harry Belafonte
Learn To Fly -Foo Fighters
What A Day That Was -Talking Heads
Jeepster -T.Rex
International Colouring Contest -Stereolab
Superunknown -Soundgarden
God Is A Number -Sleater-Kinney
No One To Depend On -Santana

Times
L1 11:46
L2 5:49
L3 16:28
Total 34:02
Distance 4.0 miles

Friday isn't 10k day today. Day 10 of the 20 Day Challenge

So I didn't go 10 km today after the long day yesterday. I went (lemme check)...4.6 miles, or 7.4 km. Up Gay to Woodfield, then up College to Samford and back down Gay to home. A bit wet out, not really raining though. A bit warm for spandex again, but I wore it anyway. It felt really pretty good out there, even though I have an avulsion on my left heel. I bandaided that bad boy up and ran with it. It didn't seem to bother me.

Playlist-Reggae
Trenchtown Rock -Bob Marley and the Wailers
African -Peter Tosh
New Name -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Chiney Man -Culture
Coming In From The Cold -Bob Marley and the Wailers
Cold Blood -Peter Tosh
Babylon -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Mystic Man -Peter Tosh

Times
L1 11:57
L2 3:16
L3 7:02
L4 5:34
L5 11:07
Total 38:55. Pretty good on the way out and quite happy with the way back. I don't think I'll be able to get out this weekend, so I'm glad to have made it to the halfway mark well ahead of the 15th. Also, I managed to get in 26-plus this week, which was another goal of mine that I failed to mention. Under 12 minutes appears to be two PB's for the legs to the stop sign and back. While I don't think I'll keep an eye on every split's PB, that one's kind of a landmark worth celebrating.

A Day of Rest was a Good Idea

Felt much better today. Good enough to run 10.2 miles. It was warm out there, and I probably should plan on running this route in much warmer weather without some sort of rehydration scheme. Down Ogletree Road and back, then down to Chewacla and home. Another all-African playlist. Why do I like African music for long runs? I think because most of the songs I listen to are amazingly upbeat, and they're also typically longer than pop songs, so I can listen to a few of them and keep a mood going.

Playlist
Makojo -Chief Osita Osadebe
Sweeper Soul -Super Mambo 69
Dadje Von O Von Non -Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes
River Luv Rite -Oneness of Juju
Marie Jose -Ryco Jazz
No Condition Is Permanent -Marijata
Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama -Amaswazi Emvelo
Lela-Lela -Kanda Bongo Man
Honton Soukpo Gnon -Antoine Dougbe
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Afro Funk -Peter King
Cantique -Kanda Bongo Man
Gaweizo -Moussa Poussy
El Son Te Llama -Orchestra Baobab
Coumba -Orchestra Baobab
Soyeya -Saadou Bori
Howkouna -Ali Farka Toure

Times
L1 (Home-Stop Sign) 8:29
L2 (SS-Windway) 11:53
L3 (W-Moore's Mill) 18:31
L4 (MM-W) 19:00
L5 (W-SS) 12:41
L6 (SS-Chewacla) 7:53
L7 (C-SS) 8:13
L8 (SS-Home) 9:03
Total 1:36:42. Slower on all the return lengths. Oh well, a long run is still a good run, if it doesn't hurt me.

Short Day

What used to be a regular huff is now a short day, the trip down to Chewacla and back. According to the gmap pedometer, that a route of 3.55 miles (5.77 km), give or take. I may have to burn a rest day tomorrow, as I'm starting to feel some aches and creaks. Not just because it's supposed to rain, really.

Playlist. Shhh... Instrumental
How D'ya Do -Gabby Pahinui
Nuevo Pueblo -Buena Vista Social Club
Well, You Needn't -Thelonious Monk
Spanish Key -Miles Davis

Times
L1 8:11
L2 7:06
L3 7:04
L4 7:30
Total 29:50. What used to be my goal is now the effort of a "slow day". Yay. Faster on the return splits. Yay. I've been working on pumping my arms to go a little faster, especially climbing hills.

Warming Up

Today was the first day in shorts/no spandex and short sleeves. I'm not sure if it's the weather, my lunch or the challenge I've laid before myself, but I was feeling a bit sluggish out there. The route, University, Donahue, Magnolia, Gay, Thach, Armstrong, Gay, Home.

Playlist "World Music" or African and Hawaiian.
Okuzua -Orchestra Lissanga
Wai Hu'ihu'i O Ke Aniani -Gabby Pahinui
Dadje Von O Von Non -Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes
He'eia -Gabby Pahinui
Dofana -Ali Farka Toure
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
My Little Grass Shack -Gabby Pahinui
Goye Kur -Ali Farka Toure
Cinquante Six -Ali Farka Toure
Mauna Loa -Gabby Pahinui
Mahini Me -Ali Farka Toure
Nansi Imali -Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Makojo -Chief Osita Osadebe

Times
L1 14:18 (Home->Donahue)
L2 16:27 (Donahue ->Magnolia)
L3 5:15 (Magnolia->Gay)
L4 6:36 (Gay, Armstrong, Samford)
L5 6:04 (Samford/Gay->Gay/Woodfield SS)
L6 12:25 (SS->Home)
Total 1:01:04

One day off, then 10 km again

Today my kids are at a sleepover, so I got the chance to get a run in this morning. Shel Toomer Bike Path and back. I listened to more of the biography of the Buddha.

Time
59:59. I tried to take it easy, but not too easy. Still, just under an hour is a-okay for not pushing it.

Friday is 10K Day/ My 20 Day Challenge

Back onto the old 10K route, the Shel Toomer bike path and back. Fifth day in a row. W00T! So I confess that my goal for this month is 20 days of running. That should be 20 blog entries. I've been reluctant to post about it, in case of failure. But I blog to set goals and prevent failure. So here it is: my challenge to myself, 20 runs in March.

Playlist
Rastafari Is -Peter Tosh
Show Some Emotion -Joan Armatradding
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
1999 -Prince
Let Forever Be -Chemical Brothers
Love Gun -Kiss
Sissyneck -Beck
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese -Ween
In This House That I Call Home -X
Jeepster -T. Rex
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes
Buddy Holly -Weezer
Under The Gun -Circle Jerks
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised -Gil Scott-Heron
Atomic Dog -George Clinton
Loser -Beck


Times
L1 7:54
L2 6:44
L3 13:26
L4 13:27
L5 7:11
L6 7:48
Total 56:30 a new PB, yay!

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday, on Thursday

A new route through a fairly new neighborhood nearby. I've avoided it thus far, as all my driving through the neighborhood kind of creeped me out, in how all the houses look exactly the same, and bear the name of the flora and fauna they've replaced. My subdivision is not better in this latter regard, though I'm not sure what a tanglewood is, anyway.

Playlist
Sissyneck -Beck
L.A. Woman -The Doors
I'll Stick Around -Foo Fighters
What Is Life -George Harrison
Purple Haze -Jimi Hendrix
Corona -Minutemen
Standing On The Verge of Getting It On -Funkadelic
Maiden's Milk -Meat Puppets
Cobbler -Meat Puppets
You're My Best Friend -Queen
Pink Eye (On My Leg) -Ween

Times
L1 11:30 (through neighborhood 'X')
L2 21:06 (Jct Ogletree Rd)
L3 7:38 (Ogletree SS ->Home, reckon that's a personal record for that leg!)
Total 40:13
Distance 4.9 miles A little over 8 minute miles. Not bad though, for the 4th day in a row. Good on last split, no doubt

Double Cross, Wright's Mill and Gay

Another day, another new route, another mix of old routes. Up to Wright's Mill, down Woodfield to Gay, Up to Samford, back to the top of Wright's Mill to Woodfield, and back down Gay to home.

Playlist (Hippity Hop)
Parental Discretion Iz Advised -N.W.A.
Ms. Jackson -Outkast
The Humpty Dance -Digital Underground
Catch All This -Del Tha Funky Homosapien
The Next Episode -Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Gin and Juice -Snoop Dogg
Gold -GZA
Wack MC's -Del tha Funky Homosapien
You're Gonna Get Yours -Public Enemy
Finger Lickin' Good -Beastie Boys

Times
L1 (Wright's Mill to Woodfield/Gay) 15:00
L2 (W/G to Samford) 5:28
L3 (Samford to W/G) 7:38
L4 10:57
Total 39:04
Distance 4.6 Not too long, but it's my third day in a row.

Back to an old favorite

The Shel Toomer bike path. A bit damp, but not really raining. Pretty nice day for it. I felt a little logy on the trail, but I did well. Slacked a bit on the way back, but finished strong.

Playlist
Changes -David Bowie
Our Lips Are Sealed -The Go-Go's
What Is And What Should Never Be -Led Zeppelin
Straight Outta Compton -N.W.A
Buk-In-Hamm Palace -Peter Tosh
The Day I Tried To Live -Soundgarden
Hands All Over -Soundgarden
White Girl -X
Beginning to See the Light -Velvet Underground
Pretty Girl -Ween
Rudie Can't Fail -The Specials
My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mamma -Frank Zappa
Fish, Chips and Sweat -Funkadelic
Little Wing -Jimi Hendrix

Times
L1 8:02
L2 6:35
L3 13:43
L4 14:11
L5 7:29
L6 7:54
Total 57:54

New Month, New Route, Will I ever go back to my old ways?

Another couple of days off, followed by another long run. I'm not sure how this pattern affects my desired goals, i.e. getting more fit, losing weight, going longer, getting ready for half- or full-marathon. Most of the route I've done before, only now I've mish-mashed them into a new combination. Down University up to Donahue, up onto campus and up to Magnolia, across College and down Gay to Thach, Armstrong to Samford and back home via Gay St.

Playlist
Over the Hills and Far Away -Led Zeppelin
Alone + Easy Target -Foo Fighters
Crazy Train -Ozzy Osbourne
Superunknown -Soundgarden
The Distance -Cake
Chest Fever -The Band
Don't Sh*t Where You Eat -Ween
God is a Number -Sleater-Kinney
Dr. Lee, PhD -Beastie Boys (with Lee "Scratch" Perry)
Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell -Flaming Lips
Gold -GZA
For Your Life -Led Zeppelin
Coming In Hot -Peter Tosh
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet

Times
L1 (Home-> Donahue) 14:32
L2 (Donahue->College) 3:16
L3 (College-> Samford?) 4:33
L4 (?->Toomer's Corner) 13:58
L5 (Toomer's -> Samford/Gay) 7:01
L6 (Samford->Woodfield) 6:01
L7 (Woodfield-> Home) 11:54
Total 1:01:14
Distance 7.0 miles

Yet Another New Route

After the 13.2 miler, and a couple of days of rest, going out for an hour doesn't feel like much at all. It felt surprisingly nice, actually. I took two days off, which wasn't in the plan, but Tuesday I had some parental responsibilities to attend to, and yesterday, even after togging up, I didn't feel up to it. So today I went up Gay Street, across Armstrong to Thach, over to Brookside, back down Samford to College, down to Art Museum and Woodfield to Gay and back home. At first it felt a bit chilly, but I feel pretty darn okay now.

Playlist, a hodgepodge featuring some new tunes to the Tune-O-Matic
Time is Too Expensive -Del tha Funky Homosapien
Lady Day and John Coltrane -Gil Scott-Heron
So Easy -Eagles of Death Metal
I Gotcha Back -Genius/GZA
Gold -Genius/GZA
Whorehoppin' (Sh*t, G*dd*mn) -Eagles of Death Metal
Stay Close to Me -Bad Brains
Loser -Beck
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
Pump It Up -Elvis Costello
Outshined -Soundgarden
The Whistling Song -Meat Puppets
Jimmy James -Beastie Boys
Kooks -David Bowie
Turn It On -Flaming Lips
Whip It -Devo
What Goes On -Velvet Underground

Times
L1 (Woodfield Stop Sign) 12:17
L2 (Gay/Samford) 6:31
L3 (Armstrong/Thach/Samford loop) 19:41
L4 (College St) 7:03
L5 (Woodfield) 3:18
L6 (Woodfield SS--> Home) 11:30
Total 1:00:21
Distance 6.8 miles
8.8 minute miles.

13.2 Thirsty, Perspiring, Tired

New long today. I wanted to try out the half marathon route, which is down Shel Toomer Bike Path, then out Ogletree Rd to Moore's Mill, and back. According to the pedometer, it's 13.2 miles. Yay, I did it. It was overcast but a bit warm. I didn't need spandex to keep warm, but I wore it anyway. I need to get some biker shorts or something like it for the upcoming warmer months. I started to get thirsty and hungry on the way, which is good for the burning of calories, I suppose, but is making me a little light headed at the moment. I'm imbibing 2 packets of Emergen-C Joint Health instead of one, which is my typical post run quaff.

Playlist
I listened to an audiobook on the life of Buddha, which was an interesting choice due to frequent reference to suffering.

Times
L1 8:37
L2 7:16
L3 14:41
L4 15:19
L5 8:04
L6 34:22
L7 35:20
L8 9:05
Total 2:12:44. Definitely slowed down a bit as I ran, which isn't too surprising.

Another New Route

First day without spandex in a while. It was nice out, but I like how the spandex keeps my downtown region nicely secured, if you catch my TMI. Another new route, this time up Wright's Mill Rd. toward downtown, through AU campus again, and back via the Arboretum, Art Museum, Woodfield, and Gay Street

Playlist. Enough with the alphabet, just some songs I wanted to hear.
Xtabenium -Acme Rocket Quartet
(I Love It When You) Call Me Names -Joan Armatradding
I Felt Like A Gringo -Minutemen
I Wanna Rock -Twisted Sister
I'm A Mindless Idiot -Meat Puppets
Jimmy The Exploder -White Stripes
Let Forever Be -Chemical Brothers
Rock & Roll -Lou Reed and Velvet Underground
The Song Remains The Same -Led Zeppelin
The Stallion Pt. 3 -Ween
I Wanna Know If It's Good To You -Funkadelic
To Kingdom Come -The Band
Rosa Parks -Outkast

Time
49:23
Distance 5.7 miles

Onto Auburn campus

New route again. I went over the Interstate and to the left this time, down the big hill of University and back up to Donahue, up to campus, cut over by the President's house, down Samford and home via Gay St. I'm losing my fear of big hills.

Playlist, O to U.
One Nation Under a Groove -Funkadelic
Our Lips Are Sealed -The Go-gos
Peas and Rice -Blind Blake and his Royal Victorians
Pilot Can At The Queer Eye of God -Flaming Lips
Queen Bitch -David Bowie
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Roses are Free -Ween
Ruby Sees All -Cake
Shadow Stabbing -Cake
Small Axe -Bob Marley and the Wailers
Take Me Away -Ween
Train in Vain -The Clash
Universal Corner -X
Up On The Sun -Meat Puppets

Time
48:21. Distance 5.4 miles. Includes a stop at a traffic light. A rare stop for me.

New Route, New Long or From Fat to Ashes

Today's title is a reflection of my love for Bullwinkle cartoons, which always had two titles. Yesterday was Mardi Gras, and I did party hardily, feasting on jambalaya with lots of naughty cholesterol-bearing meats, and drinking a generous amount of beer and wine (though not a ridiculous amount). Today, therefore is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and though I'm not a devout person, I do like to engage in the spiritual fasting of the Lenten Season, giving up a vice or other bad habit for the forty days 'till Easter Sunday. This year, I'm going to try giving up meat (except fish), which I've cut way back on anyway to try and get my cholesterol numbers back into whack. And to celebrate and atone for yesterday's excesses, I decided to take a new route, which turned into a new long. I decided to go along University to Moore's Mill, down the big hill and back up the other side to Ogletree, and once I got back to Wright's Mill, I decided to head out to Shel Toomer and back, rather than just head home. I'm not exactly sure how long the run was, but I was out almost 2 hours, and got to O in the alphabet using a new double A to Z playlist. To wit...

Playlist (the playlist is too long to tag every artist, which has been happening more and more as I run farther)

Andy Warhol -David Bowie
Armagideon Time -The Clash
Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos -Public Enemy
Burning Down the House -Talking Heads
Celebration Day -Led Zeppelin
Confusion Fog -Meat Puppets
Day Tripper -The Beatles
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Enchanted Pork Fist -Meat Puppets
Egg Man -Beastie Boys
Funky Dollar Bill -Funkadelic
Frank's Wild Years -Tom Waits
Gabrielle -Ween
Go With The Flow -Queens of the Stone Age
Hang On St. Christopher -Tom Waits
Here Comes Your Man -Pixies
I Against I -Bad Brains
In Heaven There Is No Beer -Brave Combo
Jack-Ass -Beck
Jimmy's Got A Little Bit of Bitch In Him -Funkadelic
Kaw-liga -Hank Williams
The KKK Took My Baby Away -The Ramones
Les Yper-Sound -Stereolab
Little Sister -Queens of the Stone Age
Maiden's Milk -Meat Puppets
Moonage Daydream -David Bowie
A Night In Tunisia -Dizzy Gillespie
Novacane -Beck
One Nation Under A Groove -Funkadelic


Times
L1 (Home to Moores Mill overpass) 13:13
L2 (Moore's Mill to Ogletree) 11:50
L3 (Ogletree Rd) 31:49
L4 (Stop Sign to Shel Toomer) 7:38
L5 (Shel Toomer path out) 15:06
L6 (Shel Toomer path back) 15:07
L7 (Chewacla to stop sign) 8:09
L8 (SS home) 8:34
Total 1:51:26

According to the GoogleMaps pedometer link, this route was about 11.8 miles, so I think I'm almost ready for a half marathon!

double A to Z

Back out after the 5k. One day of rest. All the snow is gone, except for the muddy, shrinking snowmen. A pretty nice day, though chilly enough for spandex. I went back out to the Shel Toomer bike path, with a playlist featuring two songs for every letter of the alphabet. The only missing letter is X. I think I know of one really good song to fill that void. Anyway, the playlist, which I got through to H.

Playlist
Alabama Chrome -Jim White
Andy Warhol -David Bowie
Babylon System -Bob Marley
Beercan -Beck
Calling Dr. Love -KISS
Carbon Monoxide -Cake
Draw the Line -Aerosmith
Don't Believe the Hype -Public Enemy
Exactly Where I'm At -Ween
Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache) -Cake
Fell in Love With A Girl -White Stripes
Flaming Heart -Meat Puppets
Get On The Good Foot -James Brown
The Great Curve -Talking Heads
He'eia -Gabby Pahinui

Times
L1 8:07
L2 6:46
L3 13:34
L4 13:36
L5 7:07
L 7:50
Total 57:02 New personal best for that route

Helping Haiti 5k

Yesterday it snowed. They say it is rare for Alabama, but in the four years that I've lived here it's happened twice. It's very beautiful, I must say, but it did give me pause this morning as I got out to hit the road for the Helping Haiti 5K. I got to see a friend from my lab there and her fiance. It was nice to catch up with them a bit before the start. Also, I donated my two old pairs of trainers (yes, the ones with the dog poo on them, freshly scraped were one of those pairs). So now I am down to my one pair, which are probably almost ready to be replaced. Maybe for my birthday in May.

I got off to a good start, as I watched the top runners jet out in a knot. I stayed in the less dense second knot of runners, including one kid maybe 10 or 11 who I passed after the first half mile or so. He finished strong, under 30:00 minutes, I believe. Most of his contemporaries ran in the 1 mile, so I know that kid will probably go far, literally and figuratively. For my own part, I stayed about in the same spot for most of the course, after the first mile, although I did have an older gentleman overtake me in the last mile. I finished in just under 24:00 minutes, probably 23:56 or so, which I'm happy with given what I've been training at, the weather conditions (not too icy, overall), &c.

After I finished, I cheered Becca and John in, as they ran together. They made it in under 30:00 as well, which Becca was quite happy with. I ate some bananas, drank some water, chatted with a couple I recently met who are headed off to Africa next month, and brought some doughnuts home for my girls. I'm still paranoid about cholesterol and trying to get my weight down, so no doughnuts for me. We had pizza last night, and given my new phobia I'm glad I didn't wake up dead. Everything in moderation, I suppose, including moderation.

Playlist. The same as the other day, Sissyneck-->Clampdown.
Time 23:56 or so. I'll call it an unofficial PB, at least in the Auburn era of timed running.

Sweet Virginia

I didn't listen to this song today, but there's a line in the song that struck a chord with me. And my shoes. Last night I was wearing the recently cleaned old New Balance shoes and misstepped in the dark. I thought, perhaps rather than scrape, I could run to get the mashed excreta off my shoes. Another reason this song resonated today was my route. Apparently I've been running the wrong course for this Saturday's Race to Help Haiti. I've been running all the way up Wright's Mill Rd to Samford and back to Gay Street, but the proper route cuts back over to Gay St. via Virginia St. I don't think it's much of a difference distance wise, but it does add an extra dip and climb. So I ran the proper course today, out of sequence since I wanted to try for a decent time but not end up doubling the route. Theoretically, this is an easy day. It's pretty cold out there (count my blessings, most of the rest of the country is deep under snow right now), and I wasn't feeling fantastically great out there, but my time was OK.

Playlist (more eclectic on-the-go)
Sissyneck -Beck
Tougher Than It Is -Cake
The W.A.N.D. -Flaming Lips
Walk On By -Cake
The Book I Read -Talking Heads
Buddy Holly -Weezer
Clampdown -The Clash
Cold Sweat -James Brown
Crazy -Gnarls Barkley
Fish, Chips and Sweat -Funkadelic
Guns of Brixton -The Clash
Hot Pink -Meat Puppets

Times
L1 (to Loftin) 6:57
L2 (the proper 5k, out of order) 26:47
L3 (back home) 6:34
Total 40:18.