Last Run of 2011

I did meet my goal for December, now to fill in for the end of October and all of November. I ran up to Samford and back via the Museum. I didn't feel great on the way. I was getting rather warm out there, with my spandex and long sleeve t-shirt. It's really quite a nice day out there, but I feel like the compression of the spandex helps with my calf. Also, while I measured my course from Douthat at over 6 miles, I don't think my mapping was accurate, given my time, and the hills. So I'm readjusting my estimate to a more realistic 5-6 miles.

Playlist	Most HipHop and Electronica-ish
Erotic City	Prince
Time to Pretend	MGMT
Get The Party Started	Pink
Poker Face	Lady Gaga
Enter the Ninja	Die Antwoord
Big Poppa	Notorious B.I.G.
Frontier Psychiatrist	the Avalanches
Paper Planes	M.I.A.
Ice Ice Baby	Vanilla Ice
Bust A Move	Young MC

Times
L1	11:40
L2	5:47
L3	7:03
L4	3:18
L5	10:40
L6	0:49
Total	39:16

Distance 4.6 miles

Cumulative 39.7-40.7 miles

Douthat State Park

I just got back from a trip to western Virginia, which capped off our grand travels for the Winter Holidays. We had a lovely stay with some old college friends at a lodge at Douthat State Park. We did some hiking up in the mountains, and generally passed the time keeping warm. I went on a run just before dusk, and ended up going farther than I had intended, mainly because I got a bit lost. The last thing I wanted was to get exhausted and have to start walking as the sun was setting, but that didn't happen, and instead I got a long run in instead.

Playlist
Benzi Box	Danger Doom
Blister In The Sun	Violent Femmes
Jump In The Line	Harry Belafonte
Wat Da Hook Gon Be	Murphy Lee
Misty Mountain Hop	Led Zeppelin
Pop Muzik	M
Party in the USA	Miley Cyrus
Over the Hills and Far Away	Led Zeppelin
Dig A Pony	the Beatles
Time to Pretend	MGMT
I've Got A Feeling	the Beatles

Times
L1	14:45
L2	31:35
L3	0:28
Total	46:49

Distance: Not really sure, but about 5-6 miles
Cumulative distance: 35.1- 36.1 miles. Very close to my goal for December. Yay

Charlottesville

In Charlottesville with the whole big happy family. My sisters and my folks and our families all together. Today I got to go out with my Dad and my brother-in-law, on my Dad's three mile loop (actually a little short, I measured) plus a little more for me. Always fun to have a little company, in lieu of music.

Time 46:00

Distance 5.0 miles

Cumulative distance miles 30.1 miles

Roosevelt Island

Last day in DC, I wanted to go check out Roosevelt Island. For the first time in memory, I crossed a state line while running. I ran through Georgetown down M Street, and crossed into Virginia. Then down the Mt Vernon Trail to the footbridge and across. It was muddy on the trails, which are mostly unpaved though there is a good stretch of boardwalk. I stopped long enough to snap a pic of the statue of Teddy.

Then back through Georgetown, trying to dodge Xmas shoppers. A bit cool, but no spandex.

Playlist
Monkey	Matthew Dear
El Microfono	Mexican Institute of Sound
Evil Urges	My Morning Jacket
Fireflies	Owl City
Bassism	Sun Ra
Bring It On	Gomez
Cool It Down	Velvet Underground
Change Clothes	Jay-Z
Chant a Psalm	Steel Pulse
Funky Dollar Bill	Funkadelic
Heroes	David Bowie
Benzi Box	Danger Doom
Wat Da Hook Gon Be	Murphy Lee

Times
L1	34:03
L2	17:46
L3	0:47
Total	52:36

Distance 5.6 miles

Cumulative distance 25.1 miles

Banned in DC

In Washington DC on vacation visiting family. I ran up over the P Street Bridge and into Georgetown, then down to the Potomac and around Georgetown Waterfront Park.

Playlist
I Luv I Jah	Bad Brains
Banned in DC	Bad Brains
Sissyneck	Beck
Evil Boy	Die Antwoord
Dirt Off Your Shoulder	Jay-Z
(I Love It When You) Call Me Names	Joan Armatradding
Secret Laboratory (Scientific Dancehall)	Lee "Scratch" Perry
Born Free	M.I.A.

Time: 33:55

Distance 3.7 miles

Cumulative distance 18.5 miles

Getting ready to head out

Last run in town before end of the year, most likely. We plan on hitting the road this evening, so I knew I had to get out today or not for a few days. I headed up to Woodfield/Gay, turned around and came back through Town Creek Cemetery and Park. I'll call this a new route because it's been so long since I've run it, if ever. Also, even though it was in the low 60's, I wore spandex to hold my legs together.

Playlist
Jimmy James	Beastie Boys
Pictures of Matchstick Men	Camper Van Beethoven
E-Pro	Beck
Rock 'n Roll All Night	Kiss
Search and Destroy	Iggy and the Stooges
(I Was Born In A) Laundromat	Camper Van Beethoven
Back in Black	AC/DC
Why Don’t We Do It In The Road	The Beatles
Just a Friend	Biz Markie

Times
L1	11:39
L2	16:11
L3	0:50
Total	28:40

Distance 3.2 miles
Cumulative distance 14.8

Couple of days off, back on.

Went up to Gay/Samford and back. I'd been trying to get out again the past couple of days, but haven't been able to. I had a little bit of soreness here and there. Most worrisome in my injured calf. But it seems to be okay.

Playlist
You Got The Silver	Rolling Stones
The Song Remains The Same	Led Zeppelin
Rowboat	Johnny Cash
Dead Flowers	Rolling Stones
Drive My Car	the Beatles
You Can't Catch Me	Chuck Berry
Get Back	the Beatles
Cocaine Blues	Johnny Cash
Yes, I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You	John Prine
San Ber'dino	Frank Zappa

Times
L1	11:52
L2	5:56
L3	5:42
L4	10:49
L5	0:50
Total	35:09

Distance 4.0 miles

Cumulative distance 11.6 miles

Day 2. Sore, trying to make up for lost time

I'm trying to get back on track, but I can't risk hurting myself again. I think the old injury has healed, but I don't want to injure anything else, obviously. I'm feeling just a bit sore today, in my outer thighs. But overall, good. I decided on another shortish run today, an honest 3.8 mile route, out Ogletree to the first road up on the left and back, and down Old Wright's Mill again.

Playlist	Rockin'
Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution	AC/DC
Sweet Emotion	Aerosmith
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da	the Beatles
Paranoid	Black Sabbath
Lust for Life	Iggy Pop
I Do	J.Geils Band
Driving South	Jimi Hendrix Experience
Stray Cat Blues	Rolling Stones
The Song Remains The Same	Led Zeppelin

Times

L1	8:06
L2	5:41
L3	1:19
L4	1:17
L5	6:04
L6	9:55
L7	0:47
Total	33:10

Distance 3.8 miles
Cumulative distance 7.6 miles

Back in the Saddle Again

I finally made it back out on the road after an month and almost a half. My left calf was very tender and the pain affected my walking gait for most of a week after the injury back at the end of October. My web research and conversations with physicians suggested rest was necessary. Then I was busy, and now the busiest part of the year is over. So this evening I finally got out on the road for a fairly short run. I went down to Chewacla entrance and back, then at the top of the hill I went down Old Wright's Mill Rd, to add on a little bit.

Playlist

Back in the Saddle	Aerosmith
Fish Paste	Die Antwoord
Dr. Lee, PhD	Beastie Boys and Lee Scratch Perry
Memphis	Chuck Berry
Moonlight On Vermont	Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band
Stay Close to Me	Bad Brains
(I Was Born In A) Laundromat	Camper Van Beethoven
Guns of Brixton	the Clash
Back in Black	AC/DC

Times

L1	8:23
L2	7:18
L3	7:31
L4	10:03
L5	0:47
Total	34:02

Distance 3.8 miles
Cumulative 3.8 miles

Injury time out!

I set out to complete my monthly quota today, a nice clear, crisp autumn day. I decided to hit the University/Donahue/Magnolia/Gay route, and had gotten past Woodfield on Gay Street when my calf, which had been tender, went pop. I had to start walking there, and hobbled back home. Sadly, assuming I can't get out before the end of tomorrow, this means I'll be a fraction short of my monthly goal, though I did get one of three half-marathons out of the way, and registered for a second one in January. I think it happened at Gay/Samford. I crossed the street and stumbled on the curb at the gas station there. I managed to right myself, but I definitely got contorted, and nearly bit the concrete.

Playlist -lots of reggae

Three Little Birds	Bob Marley
Dead Flowers	Rolling Stones
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)	the Proclaimers
Spoonman	Soundgarden
Can't You Hear Me Knocking	Rolling Stones
Peace Treaty	Peter Tosh
Genius of Love	Tom Tom Club
Walk On The Wild Side	Lou Reed
Turn It On	Flaming Lips
Chant A Psalm	Steel Pulse
Up On The Sun	Meat Puppets
Mama Africa	Peter Tosh
Electric Avenue	Eddy Grant
Rastafari Is	Peter Tosh

Times:
L1 13:42
L2 17:12
L3 4:31
L4 5:23
L5 5:31
L6 3:17
(Walked home, 23:10)

Distance (ran, walked the last mile and a half) 5.3 miles
Cumulative distance 38.2 miles.

After the Half

A lovely morning it is this morning. And with a relative lull in my teaching duties, I decided to go out on a run. I went up out of the neighborhood and into Grove Hill, then left on Moore's Mill, and up to Dean Road. Then back down Dean to University and home. I felt pretty good. After a half marathon and a couple of days' rest, five miles is feeling like not very much. I feel like a key to getting my speed up is using my thighs more and my calves less. Since I started running again a few years ago, my main goal has been aerobic exercise to improve cardio health. I had read that speed wasn't important, and was in fact counterproductive, as it puts more stress on joints and muscles, etc. So I adopted a technique of running with mostly just lower legs.
But I like trying to improve upon my speed as well, and I think to do that a good start would be using my thighs more. After all, they are bigger muscles and have more swing in them. We'll see how this goes. I don't want to hurt myself.

Playlist- leftovers from the Half Marathon playlist plus

Cool It Down	Velvet Underground
Monkey	Matthew Dear
Driving South	Jimi Hendrix
Evil Urges	My Morning Jacket
Sex On Fire	Kings of Leon
Pop Muzik	M
Tougher Than It Is	Cake
Search and Destroy	Iggy and the Stooges
Once In A Lifetime	Talking Heads
Fat Bottomed Girls	Queen
Smile	Lily Allen

Times
L1 23:35 (home to end of Grove Hill)
L2 18:16
L3 0:43 (sprinting with my thighs, not my calves)

Distance 5.0 miles
Cumulative distance 32.9 miles. 6.1 to go for October's goal.

Athens GA Half Marathon

I made it out to Athens, where I ran the Athens Half Marathon as planned. I didn't get any more running in this week, after the 10 mile last Sunday, but that didn't seem to hurt me. My goal was to come in under 2 hours, and I did it. The course was quite lovely, starting on the campus of UGA, and snaking around Athens, up through the neighborhood where we stayed with some old friends from Oregon, Doug and Elizabeth, and their two year old daughter, Clara. Doug ran it also, though mostly because I was there to do it. He bikes quite a bit, and he came in about 1:45. The course was a bit hilly, more hilly than Auburn's half, anyway, with a great big climb at the end to arrive right downtown. As I often do, I was passing people on the late climb, which felt good, especially as many of these folks had been jockeying back and forth with me for as much as 1o or 11 miles. As in January, with the AORTA Half, my hips started barking quite a bit towards the end. I also got a huge blood blister. But apart from that, I'm feeling quite good for having run it, and would probably like to do it again next year.

Playlist
El Microfono	Mexican Institute of Sound
Save It For Later	English Beat
No Expectations	Rolling Stones
Creep	Radiohead
Gardening at Night	REM
Beaux Dimanches	Amadou & Mariam
Epistle to Dippy	Donovan
Steppin' Out	Steel Pulse
Evil Urges	My Morning Jacket
Rocks Off	Rolling Stones
The Distance	Cake
Fish, Chips and Sweat	Funkadelic
Good Vibrations	The Beach Boys
Rock Problems	The Hold Steady
Queen Bitch	David Bowie
Driving South	Jimi Hendrix Experience
Let It Bleed	Rolling Stones
Monkey	Matthew Dear
Monkey Man	Rolling Stones
Bring It On	Gomez
Who Loves the Sun	Velvet Underground
Cool It Down	Velvet Underground
Rock and Roll	Velvet Underground
Lust For Life	Iggy Pop
The Man Who Sold The World	David Bowie
Mexican Radio	Wall of Voodoo
The New World	X
Wat Da Hook Gon Be	Murphy Lee
Here It Goes Again	OK Go
Fireflies	Owl City
Blind Mary	Gnarls Barkley

Time (unofficial)
1:57:??, 1:56:?? net (accounting for wave delay)

Distance 13.1 miles
Cumulative distance 14.8 + 13.1 = 27.9 miles

250th Post!

According to the tabulation apparatus of Blogger, this is my 250th post on this blog. Yay! Almost all of those are tales of a run. This morning, I figured I needed to gain some ground, and see if I'm anywhere near ready for the Athens Half Marathon one week from today. I went out Ogletree and back, then down Wright's Mill to Chewacla and back, a route I calculated at 10.2 miles. It did seem to go all right, so perhaps I am ready. And given my time, I think I may have a shot at getting in under 2.0 hours, which is my goal.

Playlist	Rolling Stones, late 60s-early 70s
Sympathy for the Devil	from "Beggars Banquet"
No Expectations	from "Beggars Banquet"
Dear Doctor	from "Beggars Banquet"
Parachute Woman	from "Beggars Banquet"
Jigsaw Puzzle	from "Beggars Banquet"
Street Fighting Man	from "Beggars Banquet"
Prodigal Son	from "Beggars Banquet"
Stray Cat Blues	from "Beggars Banquet"
Factory Girl	from "Beggars Banquet"
Salt of the Earth	from "Beggars Banquet"
Gimme Shelter	from "Let It Bleed"
Love In Vain	from "Let It Bleed"
Country Honk	from "Let It Bleed"
Live With Me	from "Let It Bleed"
Let It Bleed	from "Let It Bleed"
Midnight Rambler	from "Let It Bleed"
You Got The Silver	from "Let It Bleed"
Monkey Man	from "Let It Bleed"
You Can't Always Get What You Want	from "Let It Bleed"
Brown Sugar	From "Sticky Fingers"
Sway	From "Sticky Fingers"

Times
L1	8:07
L2	11:27
L3	18:20
L4	18:01
L5	12:07
L6	7:05
L7	7:17
L8	0:47
Total	1:30:22

Distance 10.2 miles
Cumulative distance 14.8 miles

Late in getting to October

First run of October. A bit of resting on my laurels, getting sick, bad weather (but not that bad, really), being busy with work, and plain old SLOTH. I did get out this morning, and did my 4.6 mile loop, up Gay to Samford, College to Woodfield. Not feeling too bad after the hiatus and a night of unhealthy consumption (buffalo wings and beer).

Playlist
Baba-Ye	Mahlathini
Genius of Love	Tom Tom Club
Superunknown	Soundgarden
Academia	Sia
You're My Best Friend	Queen
Here It Goes Again	OK Go
The New World	X
Born Free	M.I.A.
Lust for Life	Iggy Pop
The Width of a Circle	David Bowie

Times
L1	11:51
L2	5:50
L3	6:58
L4	3:16
L5	10:23
L6	0:54
Total	39:12

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative distance 4.6 miles

Last of September

Up Gay Street to Samford, back via College, Donahue, University. Thought about turning into Town Creek Park, didn't do it. I feel like I have a lot to do at work, and I need to get in there. I think I'm doing all right, mileage-wise. Another Stones-rich playlist.

Playlist-Song	Artist
You Got the Silver	Rolling Stones
Good Vibrations	Beach Boys
Stray Cat Blues	Rolling Stones
The Man Who Sold the World	David Bowie
Seen and Not Seen	Talking Heads
B*tch	Rolling Stones
2000 Light Years From Home	Rolling Stones
Turn It On	Flaming Lips
Walk On By	CAKE
Diamond Dogs	David Bowie
What Is Life	George Harrison

Times
L1	11:45
L2	5:35
L3	6:44
L4	5:58
L5	12:10
L6	0:49
Total	43:01

Distance 5.1 miles
Cumulative distance 56.5 miles. A good jump in mileage.

West Pace mileage recalculation

Have I been miscalculating? So my newer longer route out the bike path I previously had at, what, 7. something? Now I remeasure and it comes out around 6.8. Boo. That burns me up a bit. Anyway, I did this route plus a little extra, and it came out to 7.3 miles. I often find it difficult mentally to go past my designated finish point, so today I wanted to break myself of that habit and push just a little bit further. So I went around the block for an extra 0.4. This month, anyway, I know I've got an honest 39+ logged, and enough to fill in, in case I shorted myself on any of the previous months by my poor measuring skills, self-directed blame which I share with gmap-pedometer. No wait, on looking back the fault is entirely my own. The 7.8 mile route included Old Wright's Mill, which added an extra mile. And I think I only botched one other run, in this month, so I think it's okay, I only have to do a little bit of editing to fix everything. Tonight I heading up to Birmingham to see one of my favorite bands, Meat Puppets at the Bottletree. I added their new album to the end of this playlist, and only got into the first two songs.

Playlist mostly mellow
Dead Flowers Rolling Stones
Jack-Ass Beck
Who Loves the Sun Velvet Underground
Rainy Day Woman Waylon Jennings
Burning Down the House Talking Heads
Where I'm From Shelby Lynne
Life on Mars? Seu Jorge
Gardening At Night R.E.M.
Windy and Warm Richard Kiser
Ambulance Blues Neil Young
Walk On the Wild Side Lou Reed
Smile Lily Allen
Notion Kings of Leon
Slavedriver Jenny and Johnny
It's Summertime Flaming Lips
Incomplete Meat Puppets
Orange Meat Puppets

Times
L1 8:16
L2 6:39
L3 12:22
L4 8:57
L5 8:57
L6 7:29
L7 7:07
L8 0:58
L9 3:22
L10 0:56
Total 1:05:04
I did manage to achieve 6.8 miles in just over an hour, so it does make finishing the half marathon in under 2 hours seem plausible if not likely.

Distance 7.3 miles
Cumulative distance 51.4 miles. I've gone back to my last run on this route and edited the mileage, so everything should be correct now.

Bit warmer out = walking on long route.

Much as I don't like to walk, I prefer it to hurting myself. I didn't get out this morning because I had duties with which to dispatch. So, duty done, I got out on a run. It rained cats and dogs last night, but today was rather warm and muggy, and a bit overcast as well. I decided I wanted to go out Ogletree again, since I feel like I need to acclimate to long runs, and I've been doing well. I was doing all right, but getting a bit tired on the way out. On the way back, I decided I needed a short break, so I walked a bit, about 0.2 miles, by my guess.

Playlist
Evil Urges	My Morning Jacket
Jeepster	T.Rex
Epistle to Dippy	Donovan
Round and Round	Ratt
Sex On Fire	Kings of Leon
Dreadlock Holiday	10cc
Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed	David Bowie
Slavedriver	Jenny and Johnny
Hold On Loosely	.38 Special
What New York Used To Be	the Kills
Ventilator Blues	Rolling Stones
Heroes	David Bowie
Atomic Dog	George Clinton
L.M.L.Y.P.	Ween
Ball and Biscuit	White Stripes
Too Hot	the Specials
Houses in Motion	Talking Heads

Times
L1 8'12
L2 11'22
L3 18'52
L4 19'12
L5 7'57
L6 3'37 (walking)
L7 3'23
L8 8'08
L9 0'43"
Total 1:21:23


Distance 8.6-0.2 (walking) =8.4
Cumulative distance 36.7+8.4=44.1. Monthly quota accomplished with 9 days to go in a short month. (little bit proud).

IT

A shortish run over to my friends' house. I was pleasantly surprised to measure it again, 3.1 miles. I realize shortly into my run that my playlist had a theme, so I decided to alter IT to go with IT.

Playlist		What to do about IT?
Turn It On		Flaming Lips
Bring It On		Gomez
Let It Bleed		Rolling Stones
Cool It Down		Velvet Underground
Here It Goes Again		OK Go
I Can't Stand It		the Specials

Times
L1	7:31
L2	9:39
L3	5:39
L4	1:13
Total	24:03

Awesome. 8 minute miles make me happy.

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance miles 35.7 miles

Ogletree longtime

This morning I debated going on this route again. On the one hand, I'm on track for my monthly quota and pride precedes a fall; so why overextend? On the other hand, I'm training for a half marathon, and long miles is the way to train. I've been getting back to that point where I feel really giddy after a run, jazzed on endorphins if you will, rarin' to get back out. Some days I feel like I should go on a second run. So, all in all, good. I did go out Ogletree to Moore's Mill and back. I'm also actively trying to shed a few pounds. I'd like to break the 2 hour mark on the half marathon, not that I want to burn up the track, but dropping a couple of # would help that and decrease the stress on the rest of my body.

Playlist another eclectic one
Cool It Down -Velvet Underground
Andy Warhol -David Bowie
Born Free -M.I.A.
Dixie Chicken -Little Feat
Fireflies -Owl City
Chiney Man -Culture
Shadow Stabbing -CAKE
Mason's Children -Grateful Dead
Notion -Kings of Leon
Party in the USA -Miley Cyrus
Here It Goes Again -OK Go
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) -The Proclaimers
Salt of the Earth -Rolling Stones
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
I Am the Fly -Wire
C.R.E.A.M -WuTang Clan
Buddy Holly -Weezer
Buckingham Green -Ween
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Genius of Love -Tom Tom Club
She Blinded Me With Science -Thomas Dolby

Times
L1 8:14
L2 11:40
L3 18:45
L4 18:23
L5 12:35
L6 7:30
L7 0:46
Total 1:17:52

Distance 8.6 miles
Cumulative distance 32.6 miles, only halfway done with the month of September and under 6 to go for my quota. I must go beyond though. And to top it off, I reckon this time is a PB. Woot.

Shel Toomer West Pace Route again

I wanted to go on the long side again, having missed a weekend run and trying to pack on the miles before the half marathon in October, so I went out on a route I've done once before, out to the Shel Toomer Bike Path and around West Pace (the car dealerships and someday giant consumers' paradise). Remind me not to wear those shorts again. Their not really shorts, they're swim trunks, and they bunch up oddly when I run.

Playlist	-Long and Eclectic
Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go	Soft Cell
Chant a Psalm	Steel Pulse
Creep	Radiohead
Cool It Down	Velvet Underground
Yoshimi Battle the Pink Robots Pt. I	Flaming Lips
Ice Ice Baby	Vanilla Ice
Crosseyed and Painless	Talking Heads
Jeepster	T. Rex
Wat Da Hook Gon Be	Murphy Lee
There Goes My Gun	Pixies
Cracklin' Rosie	Neil Diamond
The Wurlitzer Prize	Waylon Jennings
Enchanted Porkfist	Meat Puppets
Good Vibrations	Beach Boys
Smile	Lily Allen
Round and Round	Ratt
El Bodeguero	Orquesta Aragon

Times

L1	8:32
L2	7:11
L3	22:35
L4	9:25
L5	7:55
L6	7:35
L7	0:49
Total	1:04:03

Distance 6.8 miles
Cumulative 24.0 miles

New Shoes, New Route, New Me?

Another Friday Morning. I went to the new shoe store in town, which caters to runners. I got on a treadmill there (hate those things) and got my gait diagnosed. The nice fellow there showed me how I overpronate in a neutral shoe, and hooked me up with some structured shoes to help correct that. A second trot on the treadmill showed that the new shoes were helping.

Today was my first chance to try them out, and though I usually don't go long in a brand new pair of shoes, I thought I'd chance it since I'm trying to get my mileage up, and the weather is agreeable. I went out University and up Donahue, then cut along College up to Thach, and back via Gay Street. A lot of old bits and pieces put together in a new way. Check out my first experiment with using tables for the data, below.

Playlist

Benzi Box	Danger Doom
Epistle to Dippy	Donovan
The Next Episode	Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
New Amsterdam	Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Save It For Later	The English Beat
Electric Avenue	Eddy Grant
Plastic Jesus	Flaming Lips
What Is Life	George Harrison
Bring It On	Gomez
White Lines	Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel
Rock Problems	The Hold Steady
Search and Destroy	Iggy Pop and the Stooges
Lust for Life	Iggy Pop
Sugar	Imperial Teen

Times L1	14:23
L2	6:27
L3	6:23
L4	7:45
L5	5:41
L6	10:45
L7	0:48
Total	52:13

Distance 5.9 miles
Cumulative distance 17.2 miles

Cool Stones

No teaching today, so I could get out on a run.  It feels odd; instead of trying to get out early to beat the heat, I  was waiting for it to warm up a bit.  It's overcast, and feels like it might rain though the rain stopped yesterday.  I thought I'd run through Grove Hill neighborhood, and make a choice when I got to Moore's Mill, either right towards Ogletree and back that way, the long way, or left and back on University, the short way.  I decided to go left, but instead of heading back on University, I decided to continue up Moore's Mill.  While it's cool, and I've got legs and breath, why not? I came up Moore's Mill all the way to Samford, and back along Samford to Gay St. As I passed the Junior High, there were some kids on the sidewalk.  I wasn't sure if they would let me pass on the sidewalk or I'd have to go around.  Just as I came up to them, they cleared, and one of them gave me a fist bump and a smile.  That gave me a warm fuzzy boost of energy.  The rest of my run felt fine, and I'm loving the cooler weather, at least for running.

Playlist -More Rolling Stones
Let It Bleed -from "Let It Bleed"
Sympathy for the Devil -from "Beggars' Banquet"
No Expectations -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Jigsaw Puzzle -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Street Fighting Man -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Prodigal Son -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Stray Cat Blues -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Gimme Shelter -from "Let It Bleed"
Midnight Rambler -from "Get Your Ya-Yas Out"
Jumping Jack Flash -from "Get Your Ya-Yas Out"
Rocks Off -from "Exile on Main Street"
Casino Blues -from "Exile on Main Street"
Sweet Virginia -from "Exile on Main Street"

Times
L1 26:07
L2 16:53
L3 6:00
L4 11:06
L5 0:52
Total 1:00:58

Distance 6.5 miles
Cumulative 11.3 miles.  On track, though like Ba says,  gotta up the mileage to get ready for the half marathon in October.

Let It Bleed

I've once again let the month get a little older than I wanted before hitting the pavement again. I did get out this evening, after a very rainy windy Labor Day, complete with tornado warnings, wind advisories, etc. But it was nice and cool and breezy and only a little damp out as I headed up Gay St. to Thach, over to Armstrong, and back down Wright's Mill. I haven't been on this route in a while, and I was a little disappointed that it didn't quite make 5 miles. So I'm off to my start for the month, and a little behind. But as they say in Mexico, "Hay tiempo".

Playlist (Let it Bleed, the Rolling Stones)

Gimme Shelter

Love In Vain

Country Honk

Live With Me

Let It Bleed

Midnight Rambler

You Got the Silver

Monkey Man

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Times

L1 12:49

L2 6:15

L3 7:44

L4 15:51

L5 0:52

Total 43:31

Distance 4.8 miles

Cumulative 4.8 miles

Another month's quota accomplished.Thank you, Major Tom

With one day to spare, I hit my target today, ending up at 39.2 miles. I waited til after the girls had drifted off to sleep, and the Sox game was over (alas, a loss to the dreaded Yankees), for my departure. I went up to the corner of Samford and Gay, passing my wife and her friends closing down Amsterdam Cafe.

I told my Dad about my cunning plan to run 3 half-marathons between my birthdays, and he told me my monthly mileages were too low. I still have almost two months until Athens (GA), so I think I still have time to work up to it. He said he's not in any condition to run it, but he'd be glad to come watch me. That's HIS birthday weekend, so I'm really touched that he'd do that for me.

Playlist, all David Bowie
Space Oddity -from "Space Oddity
Queen B*tch -from "Hunky Dory"
The Man Who Sold The World -from "The Man Who Sold The World"
Moonage Daydream -from "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars"
Diamond Dogs -from "Diamond Dogs"
The Jean Genie -from "Changesonebowie"
Ashes to Ashes -from "Changesonebowie"
Oh! You Pretty Things -from "Hunky Dory"
Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed -from "Space Oddity"

Times
L1 12:25
L2 6:09
L3 5:51
L4 11:13
L5 0:46
Total 36:24
Not bad for me, almost back under 9:00/mile.

Distance 4.0 miles
Cumulative 39.2 miles. Whew!

Warm Friday

Having finished my lecturing for the week, I knew it was time for another run. I set out shortly after 8 AM, which was, of course, the coolest it was going to be on this run. I went over the Interstate and west on University, up Donahue to College, and past the Art Museum back to Gay and home (not turning down Briarwood). Looking at my time, I didn't think I'd gone 4, but measuring the route showed that I went 4.1 miles. Yay. My BRAND NEW headphones have started going all wonky again. I think that when they get sweat in the microphone they start trying to activate Voice Control, and making the music play oddly. Boo. Otherwise, they're nice headphones.

Playlist
Turn It On -Flaming Lips
Novacane -Beck
Safe European Home -The Clash
The Width of a Circle -David Bowie
E-Pro -Beck
Crazy -Gnarls Barkley
Purple Haze -Jimi Hendrix
Notion -Kings of Leon
For Your Life -Led Zeppelin

Times
L1 15:06
L2 6:27
L3 3:26
L4 11:53
L5 0:50
Total 37:42

Distance 4.1 miles
Cumulative 35.2 miles

Night moves

No, I'm not suddenly down with Bob Seger. I just went on another nighttime run; a variation on the GWCToomer's route, tacking on enough to make it just over 6 miles. I turned on Samford and went up Armstrong, which I haven't done in a long while, and at the end I went around the block a bit to add the last 0.37. It's just warm enough out there, hopefully Fall will be upon us soon.

Playlist -Grungey
Les Yper-Sound -Stereolab
Breed -Nirvana
Devil's Haircut -Beck
On A Plain -Nirvana
Nothing -Meat Puppets
Scum -Meat Puppets
Use Somebody -Kings of Leon
Blanket of Weeds -Meat Puppets
The Sky Is Fallin' -Queens of the Stone Age
Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts -Funkadelic
Superunknown -Soundgarden
Flaming Heart -Meat Puppets

Times
L1 13:00
L2 6:26
L3 7:20
L4 6:18
L5 6:45
L6 3:33
L7 12:15
L8 1:50
L9 0:59
Total 58:27

Distance 6.0 miles
Cumulative 31.1 miles. Getting close again.

Postscript: I think blogger is running some kind of cuckoo clock, it's actually 11pm, not 8:47

Warmer again

My semester has officially started. I taught yesterday, but have not teaching commitments of Fridays. So I thought I'd go on a morning run. The heat has not gone away completely, yet, which I should have thought about before I laid about prior to my run this morning. As it was, I went out towards Chewacla SP and down the bike path, but thought better of seeing that course through to its conclusion and back. I turned around at Canary Drive.

Playlist
(audiobook)

Times
L1 8:56
L2 7:33
L3 5:36
L4 5:44
L5 8:14
L6 7:53
L7 0:48
Total 44:45

Distance 4.7 miles
Cumulative 25.1 miles

Cooler

More nighttime running. The temperature dropped a good bit today. I ran Gay/Samford/College/Woodfield/home with a little extra bit at the end. I ate a pretty large dinner, with beer and potato chips and cake, which is a thing I do on most Mondays. I then came home and took a short rest, which I often do. When I got I, I thought I'd hit the road, because I was feeling like it, but once I got out, all that crappy food caught up with me. I didn't feel awful, but I wasn't going fast and I didn't feel great until towards the end when I felt a bit better. At least I felt better enough to tack a bit on. I listened to one of my new CDs from Amoeba, a collection of African psychedelia put together by David Byrne (of Talking Heads fame) on his Luaka Bop label. Most of it doesn't sound too psychedelic to me, rather more there are a lot of other influences evident as well.

Playlist -Love's a Real Thing (World Psychedelic Classics 3-Africa)
Minsato Le, Mi Dayihome -Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey
Love's a Real Thing -Super Eagles
Keleya -Moussa Doumbia
Ceddo End Title -Manu Dibango
Porra -Sorry Bamba
Guajira Van -No. 1 de No. 1
Better Change Your Mind -William Onyeabor
Allah Wakbarr -Ofo & The Black Company
Awon-Ojise-Oluwa -Gaspar Lawal

Times
L1 13:23
L2 6:28
L3 7:47
L4 3:32
L5 11:14
L6 3:05
L7 0:55
Total 46:24

Distance 4.9 miles
Cumulative 19.4 miles. *Almost* half way there.

Muggy muggy muggy

A hot and muggy run, even at 7:45 at night. Friday night with good friends, I ran to their house through Grove Hill. It didn't add much to the run, just changed the topography a bit. I listened to some African music, mostly my new collection of South African township stuff (Amaswazi Emvelo "You're Telling Tales", featured on Indestructible Beat of Soweto), but started off with some Beninois stuff.

Playlist
Dadje Von O Von Non -Gnosnnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes
Ukuluma Izindaba -Amaswazi Emvelo
Akekho Noyedwa Owaziyo -Amaswazi Emvelo
Uyivila -Amaswazi Emvelo
Intombi Yami -Amaswazi Emvelo
Ziphi Ezakhithi -Amaswazi Emvelo
Sengikala Izinyembezi -Amaswazi Emvelo
Indod 'Emenyama -Amaswazi Emvelo
Amusuke Eduze Kwami -Amaswazi Emvelo

Times
L1 31:21
L2 1:18
Total 32:39

Distance 3.5 miles
Cumulative 14.5 miles

Back in Sweat Home Alabama

And I do mean sweat. It's been muggy and hot, though not as hot as a lot of other places in the southeast where it's been totally unbearable. I've been off partly because of sloth and fear of melting into a puddle of saline ooze, and partly because of work and no childcare and temporary single-parenting and baseball addiction.

However, tonight is the last night of summer vacation for my girls, and I felt I was overdue for a run, which I am now, so I doffed my shirt and hit the road after the last out of the Red Sox-Twins, which coupled with the Yankees loss means happy good news for me, though a late start for a long run.

I ran to Toomer's, which was pretty quiet this time of night on a Tuesday between semesters, so now I'm pretty well back on track for the time being, except I don't think I should do all of it in large chunks like that (large for me, 5+ miles).

Playlist
Dirty Water -the Standells
Honky Tonk Women -the Rolling Stones
I Lost It -Lucinda Williams
Big Time -Peter Gabriel
I Zimbra -Talking Heads
Bust a Move -Young MC
Caught Up In You -.38 Special
Black Country Rock -David Bowie
Way Over Yonder In the Minor Key -Billy Bragg and Wilco
Party in the USA -Miley Cyrus
Search and Destroy -Iggy Pop
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs
Emperor Tomato Ketchup -Stereolab
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab

Times
L1 12:29
L2 6:18
L3 5:58
L4 4:57
L5 6:39
L6 3:32
L7 11:29
L8 0:54
Total 52:15

Distance 5.6 miles
Cumulative 11.0 miles

Goodbye SF, Hello August

Last run in cool San Francisco, up into the Presidio, around the golf course and back down and around Mountain Lake Park. Then around Presidio Landmark and down part of the Anza Trail, which wasn't on the gmaps-pedometer :( Also on this uncharted leg, I ran out of playlist, so I stopped to re-up it. I emerged over near Baker Beach, and came back up Lincoln to 25th Ave and home via Lake St. I'm going to miss this weather, for sure.

Yesterday my wife and I went to visit some other neighborhoods, namely the upper Haight and Japantown. We came across the SF Marathon coming through. Also, I stopped at Amoeba Music and got some new CDs to plug into the tune-o-matic, some of which featured in today's playlist :)

Playlist (mostly 80s and 90s again)
Working For Vacation -Cibo Matto
Solsbury Hill -Peter Gabriel
Right Place, Wrong Time -Dr. John the Night Tripper
Pictures of Matchstick Men -Camper Van Beethoven
Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key -Billy Bragg and Wilco
Shock the Monkey -Peter Gabriel
Driver 8 -REM
Tide is High -Blondie
Sledgehammer -Peter Gabriel
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road -Lucinda Williams
Catapult -REM
Devil's Roof -Throwing Muses

Times
L1 37:48
L2 (pause for playlist adjustment, a bit longer than 0:54, really)
L3 11:40
Total 50:23

Distance 3.8+1.2+0.4 =5.4 miles?
Cumulative 5.4 miles

A Golden Finish to July!

After a nice long run through Golden Gate Park, I thought I'd head the other direction and attempt the Golden Gate Bridge. It's 2.25 miles from the house to the bridge plus 1.2 miles each way, for a round trip of 6.7 miles. That puts me over my quota for the month! The route over through the Presidio is quite beautiful, although it's mostly up one side of a big hill and back down the other. Once on the bridge, it's quite a tangle of tourists on foot and bicycle, not too many other runners. It got much less congested after the first stanchion, and even less so after the second, although there was some traffic coming from the Marin side at the end. Yay for nice cool conditions to get me up to my goal with a few days to spare.

I have to wonder if I've set the bar too low, seeing as how I was slacking off at the beginning of the month, and I have a couple of days to spare at the end. On the other hand, this is only the third month I've completed my goal out of the twelve I've committed to, and I'm certainly a bit worn about the calves and knees as a result. Look out August! Here I come!

Playlist (California and Western States Influence)
El Microfono -Mexican Institute of Sound
Corona -Minutemen
Straight Outta Compton -NWA
No Phone -Cake
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
In This House That I Call Home -X
Come As You Are -Nirvana
Let Me Drown -Soundgarden
Jane Says -Jane's Addiction
Hot Pink -Meat Puppets
History Lesson Part 2 -Minutemen
I'm a Mindless Idiot -Meat Puppets
Time Is Too Expensive -Del The Funky Homosapien
When I Win The Lottery -Camper Van Beethoven
Motel Room In My Bed -X
Long Line Of Cars -Cake
Gin and Juice -Snoop Dogg
Carbon Monoxide -Cake
Walk On By -Cake
Strange Apparition -Beck
Mustache Man -Cake

Times
L1 37:25
L2 36:57
Total 1:14:22

Distance 6.7 miles
Cumulative 34.0 +6.7 =40.7 miles W00T!

If you're going to San Francisco...

I'm back in California for a visit to my in-laws who live in San Francisco, pretty much right between the Presidio and Golden Gate Park. Since it's Sunday, I thought I'd head west towards GGP, which is largely closed off to car traffic today. I up 14th Ave to Geary, then across and across again and up Funston to enter through the Rose Garden, then down towards the beach.
It's probably about 15-20 degrees cooler here than back home, which made my body happy, and enabled me to get a nice long run in. My calves are still barking a bit, but hopefully Vitamin I (as in ibuprofen) will help sort it out. I ran in my old New Balance, since I don't think I'm up to such a long run in the Five Fingers.

Playlist (in honor of GGP, mostly hippie hits from the 60's and 70's).
Going to California -Led Zeppelin
One More Saturday Night -Grateful Dead
Rocks Off -Rolling Stones
The Jean Genie -David Bowie
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) -Jimi Hendrix
Breakdown -Parliament
Rock & Roll -Lou Reed & Velvet Underground
Friends -Led Zeppelin
Celebration Day -Led Zeppelin
Lucifer Sam -Pink Floyd
Standing on the Verge of Getting It On -Funkadelic
What Goes On -Velvet Underground
What Is Life -George Harrison
No Expectations -Rolling Stones
Width of A Circle -David Bowie
You're My Best Friend -Queen
Chicken Strut -the Meters

Times
L1 1:12:29
L2 0:30
Total 1:12:59

Distance 7.7 miles
Cumulative 34.0 miles. Getting close to my goal!

So old it's new

I ran a new route tonight, at least it seemed new since it's been a while since I did it if I ever did. I ran up to Woodfield stop sign and back down to Town Creek Cemetery and out Town Creek Park back to Gay Street and home. I wore the Five Fingers again, and my calves were tender on the way out until they loosened up. Right now, my right foot feels a sharp pain toward the heel, hopefully it'd resolve itself sooner rather than later. Three more good runs should get me to my goal, though it will have to be in California because that's where I'm headed tomorrow.

Playlist
(listened to Red Sox-Mariners game)

Times
L1 12:36
L2 1:53 (ss to cemetery entrance)
L3 6:42 (Town Creek)
L4 7:22
L5 0:53
Total 29:24

Distance
3.2 miles
Cumulative 26.3 miles. Over a marathon done.

Back out there

I've taken a week off, partly because my legs have been a little sore after the 7 miler, and partly because I've been traveling (down to Tampa to visit a good friend of mine and to see the Red Sox play). This evening, since there was no 5k, I went on a slightly longer route. My friend invited our family over for dinner and a swim, so while they drove, I ran. I ran up into Grove Hill, to the far pool over near Moore's Mill Rd, and back via Windway to Ogletree and down into Springwood, about 5.2 miles. It was a bit nicer weather after the downpour we received today. My calves are definitely barkin' now, though. Over halfway to my monthly goal, but not that much month left.

Playlist (mostly 80's stuff I recently added to the Tune-O-Matic)
Sledgehammer -Peter Gabriel
Moral Kiosk -REM
Rapture -Blondie
Up On The Sun -Meat Puppets
Dizzy -Throwing Muses
(I Was Born In A) Laundromat -Camper Van Beethoven
I Lost It -Lucinda Williams
Radio Free Europe -REM
Adult Books -X
Blitzkrieg Bop -Ramones
Car Jamming -the Clash
Coming In Hot -Peter Tosh
Devil's Roof -Throwing Muses

Times
L1 25:15 (home to turnaround)
L2 23:59 (turnaround to Springwood stop)
Total 49:14

Distance 5.2 miles
Cumulative 23.1 miles

Summer 5K part VI- Wet

Tonight was the last of the Summer 5K series. It was overcast and rumbly at the the start, and then it started raining HARD, with thunder and lightning. It felt absolutely fantastic, truth be told, very refreshing. I was concerned about the possibility of shorting out the tune-o-matic, so I tucked it into my shorts to try and keep it dry. I also ran it in my Five Fingers, which also felt good.
I felt tightness in my left quad this morning after yesterday's long run, but it didn't bother me on the course. I showed up just in time for the start, and didn't stay too long after for the BBQ and such. I didn't feel wiped out afterwards either. Truly exhilarating.

Playlist
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Zombie -Fela Kuti
Safe European Home -the Clash
Shakara -Fela Kuti

Time (unofficial)25:47 Cut more than a minute off my time!

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative 17.9 miles

Long+Heat Exhaustion=Walking

There's been a heat exhaustion warning throughout much of the south over the past few days. When I started out this morning, I thought it seemed all right, though very humid, and overcast. So I opted for a long run, down Ogletree, not sure how I'd come back, either by doubling back, or coming back via Moore's Mill, or cutting it shorter by coming up Windway. I decided to take the middle route, distancewise, and come back via Moore's Mill and University. As I got to the intersection of Ogletree and Moore's Mill, I thought I needed a little break so I stopped to walk for a little bit. I did get going, but decided to walk up the big hill to Grove Hill as well. Then I walked a bit again. It was pretty hot and miserable out there, so I really didn't want to hurt myself.

Playlist
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) -AC/DC
Italian Leather Sofa -CAKE
It's Summertime -Flaming Lips
Gimme Shelter -Rolling Stones
Black Hole Sun -Soundgarden
Hands All Over -Soundgarden
Don't Sh*t Where You Eat -Ween
Once in a Lifetime -Talking Heads
Fat Bottomed Girls -Queen
Come As You Are -Nirvana
Burn the Honkey Tonk Down -Meat Puppets
Back in Black -AC/DC
Across the Universe -the Beatles
Iron Man -Black Sabbath
Tougher Than It Is -Cake
Queen B*tch -David Bowie
Watching the Detectives -Elvis Costello
What Is Life -George Harrison

Times
L1 9:09
L2 13:12
L3 21:16
L4 (walk) 4:58
L5 6:04
L6 (walk) 4:15
L7 9:08
L8 (walk) 4:53
L9 3:54
L10 0:51
Total 1:17:41

Distance 7.0 miles - 0.5 walking =6.5 miles
Cumulative 14.8 miles (just about back on track)

Five Fingers with Veronica

My daughter, recently turned 8, has been trying to get out on a run for a few days. She got some Five-Fingers for her birthday, and I got some as well. I've been wanting to try them on a short run, so we went around the neighborhood. The shoes don't feel that weird just yet; they feel quite good, actually. Veronica started out running quite fast and got about 50 feet ahead of me. I tried to rein her in, telling her she'd get tired if she kept up that pace, but she is pressed on and had to walk before too long. At the end, she walked the last bit home, after jogging about 100 m with me.

No playlist

Time 13:49

Distance 1.2 miles
Cumulative 8.3 miles

Still Catching Up

Somehow I thought this route would be a bit longer than 4 miles, but according to gmaps, it's not. I'm trying to play catchup and haven't quite caught up yet. But, being summer in Alabama, it's hot out there and I didn' want to go too far or too fast. I got a new pair of shoes yesterday, the Five Fingers variety, but I'm hesitant to go running in them until I get used to them a bit. My daughter wants to go running with me, so maybe we'll take a short one out to give them a try later today or tomorrow. I'm reluctant to take her out while I'm in catchup mode, seeing as she's a noobie and all.

Playlist
What New York Used to Be -the Kills
Buckingham Green -Ween
Use Somebody -Kings of Leon
Search and Destroy -Iggy and the Stooges
Birds in the Treetop -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Mind -Talking Heads
Clap Hands -Tom Waits
Undone (The Sweater Song) -Weezer
Manhattan -Kings of Leon
Shout It Out Loud -Kiss

Times
L1 12:45
L2 6:39
L3 18:12
L4 0:54
Total 38:30

Route. Wright's Mill Univ. Gay Samford WM Univ. Home.
Distance 4.0 miles
Cumulative 7.1 miles

Summer 5K part V, Welcome to July

Because of some wheeling and dealing (and sloth and indolence) I've been idle until today, July-wise. Tonight was the 5th Summer 5K, and I knew I'd get out there, so here is where I start the month. I wasn't sure if I'd feel well rested, or like a soggy lump. I did have to stop at the water stop on the way back, which let the Sheriff pass me, and kept me from getting in under 27:00. Maybe, perhaps I just needed a break and wouldn't have made it under 27 regardless.

Playlist
Superunknown -Soundgarden
Queen B*tch -David Bowie
Girl -Beck
The Whistling Song -Meat Puppets
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Cretin Hop -The Ramones
Ruby Sees All -CAKE
Salt of the Earth -the Rolling Stones

Time
unofficially 27:07

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance 3.1 miles

Summer 5K part IV

Last week's 5K was canceled, as I've probably mentioned a couple of times now.
This week's 5K was warm but clearly not as hot as it has been if my hypothesis about temperature and time holds. I ran with a completely different knot of people again this week. And as I came into the last turn, I saw I was doing much better than previous weeks, I almost broke through 27:00. I was trucking at the end and almost crashed into a chariot.

In other news, I've attained my 39 mile goal for the second month. YAY!

Playlist (may have missed a couple due to Tune-O-Matic fail)
Train in Vain -the Clash
Party in the USA -Miley Cyrus
Roses are Free -Ween
Seven Nation Army -White Stripes
Wow and Flutter -Stereolab
Search and Destroy -Iggy and the Stooges
Grits Ain't Groceries -Little Milton
Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed -David Bowie

Time
27:09 (maybe a hair faster)

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance 40.5 miles!

Getting Close

...to the end of the month. Last week's 5K was canceled due to stormy weather. It's be a mix of overcast and stormy off and on the past week til today. It did storm earlier, but right now it's muggy and overcast, but not even a drip. We need the rain very badly. Over the weekend, I got a terrible pain in my leg which made it unpleasant to even walk. A little ibuprofen (or Vitamin I, as I call it) and rest made it all but disappear. No hint of it this evening as I went out and ran up to Samford and back via College. If tomorrow's 5K pans out, I'll have my monthly goal for the second month.

Playlist, an odd melange
El Microfono -M.I.S.
Party in the U.S.A. -Miley Cyrus
Fireflies -Owl City
Life During Wartime -Talking Heads
Emperor Tomato Ketchup -Stereolab
What Goes On -Velvet Underground
On A Plain -Nirvana
Black Hole Sun -Soundgarden
Crush -Smashing Pumpkins
No Expectations -Rolling Stones
Mexican Radio -WoV

Times
12:41
6:23
7:40
3:42
11:47
0:54
Total 43:08. That's my best time for the route in a while. It's nice to see the time go down, even a little bit.

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative 37.4 miles

Hot Hot Hot.

I tried to get out early, but even getting out before 9am doesn't quite count anymore. It is, after all, the Summer Solstice, so it should not be surprising to encounter heat in the morning in Alabama. I'm getting ever closer to my monthly goal, and I skipped the weekend so I knew I had to get out this morning to keep on track. Tomorrow is another 5k which should put me within a scant few thousand feet for June. I ran University-Donahue-Kimberly-Town Creek-Gay-Home

Playlist -Reggae
Peace Treaty -Peter Tosh
Marcus Garvey -Burning Spear
Reggae Street -The Mighty Diamonds
Natty Dread -Bob Marley
Three Little Birds -Bob Marley
Slavery Days -Burning Spear
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
Till Your Well Runs Dry -Peter Tosh
Equal Rights -Peter Tosh
Crystal Ball -Peter Tosh

Times
L1 15:32
L2 5:06
L3 7:22
L4 4:20
L5 7:22
L6 0:51
Total 40:33

Distance 4.3 miles
Cumulative distance 32.8 miles

Muggy but nicer

It's a bit overcast and it might rain shortly, which is good because we need rain. The temperature is down a bit, but the humidity is quite high. I got off to a good start and decided to go down to Toomer's Corner and back, the ol' 5.6 mile route. And it's our Wedding Anniversary, yay!

Playlist -A nice one, seemed to flow well.
Take Me Away -Ween
Cut -Minutemen
China Girl -David Bowie
Highway to Hell -AC/DC
Celebration Day -Led Zeppelin
Buk-In-Hamm Palace -Peter Tosh
Loser -Beck
Cobbler -Meat Puppets
The Gnome -Pink Floyd
It's Up To You -the Specials
The Day I Tried To Live -Soundgarden
It's Summertime -Flaming Lips
Meanwhile Rick James... -CAKE
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic

Times
L1 12:23
L2 6:31
L3 6:11
L4 4:49
L5 6:38
L6 3:34
L7 11:16
L8 0:48
Total 52:11

Distance 5.6 miles
Cumulative distance 28.5 miles

Summer 5K part III

Another hot one for the Summer 5K series. The t-shirts have arrived, my first "tactical" or whatever they're called. And to top it all off, the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup! Which is awesome for me, since they hadn't won it since I was a few days old, and missed out on it during a formative period of my life.

Playlist
Jean Genie -David Bowie
Run (I'm a Natural Disaster) -Gnarls Barkley
Hit It and Quit It -Funkadelic
Mother Popcorn -James Brown
Stepping Razor -Peter Tosh
One Nation Under a Groove -Funkadelic
Good Old Funky Music -the Meters

Time (unofficial)
28:05

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance 22.9 miles

Hot again.

Another hot day, lazing in bed until it's almost the hottest part of the day. I did see a couple of friends driving by as I went along on my 4.6 mile route, up Gay to Samford and back via the Art Museum. Another 5K tomorrow. Overall, I felt pretty good out there, no major aches or pains or crippling fatigue. As always, glad to get home.

Playlist
The Battle of Evermore -Led Zeppelin
Up on the Sun -Meat Puppets
Singapore -Tom Waits
Going to California -Led Zeppelin
Little Man With A Gun In His Hand -Minutemen
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -Ramones
Street Fighting Man -Rolling Stones
Burning Down the House -Talking Heads
The Jean Genie -David Bowie
They'll Need A Crane -They Might Be Giants
Dreadlock Holiday -10cc
Exactly Where I'm At -Ween

Times
L1 12:51
L2 6:26
L3 7:49
L4 3:45
L5 12:06
L6 0:55
Total 43:51

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative distance 19.8 miles

Hot Lazy Saturday Morning

I knew I had to get out there today. I'm slipping behind in my challenge, and I don't think I should try to backend all my miles at the end of the month. Another newish route, left on University and up to Donahue, then back down Kimberly and down University to Town Creek. At the restrooms, I stopped and rested, both my bladder and the rest of my body, and had a little sip of water from the fountain, then back out to Gay and home.

Playlist
Use Somebody -Kings of Leon
Lucifer Sam -Pink Floyd
Spoonman -Soundgarden
Notion -Kings of Leon
Blanket of Weeds -Meat Puppets
Transdermal Celebration -Ween
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
Turn it On -Flaming Lips
Heroes -David Bowie
Benzi Box -Danger Doom
Manic Depression -Jimi Hendrix
Say It Ain't So -Weezer

Times
L1 15:24
L2 3:12
L3 7:12
L4 2:11
L5 3:17
(Break 3:26)
L7 9:13
L8 0:56
Total 44:53 -3:26 =41:27

Distance 4.3 miles
Cumulative distance 15.2 miles