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