Mellow End of May

After my last run, which I was worried about, I figured I didn't need to rush to end my first month's challenge, especially being so close to my goal. I've learned that the purpose of a goal is to attain it, not blow it away at the risk of injury. So I took a few days off to rest. Today, though, was my last opportunity to complete my first 39 mile months, so in spite of early morning lollygagging, letting the day get hot, I had to get out there. I decided on the route to Woodfield and back, with a mellow playlist.

Playlist
Samba da Bencao -Bebel Gilberto
Across the Universe -the Beatles
Hii Lawe -Gabby Pahinui
Reggae Street -the Mighty Diamonds
Some Kinda Love -the Velvet Underground
Rastafari Is -Peter Tosh

Times
L1 13:42
L2 11:59
L3 0:57
Total 26:37

Distance 2.8 miles
Cumulative distance 40.7 miles

I hate to have to walk, but I guess not as much as I hate to hurt myself for foolish gains. Today I ran the GWCToomers route, backwards, and was experiencing some left knee pain as I came down the hill from the Art Museum. I walked the 0.1 mile to the stop sign and started up again, only to walk up from Town Creek to the next street (about 0.2 miles). The ending felt okay, but I'll have to see how it goes. I'm awfully close to my goal for the month, with about a week to spare, so I don't need to do anything stupid. It's only getting hotter though, and once my kids get out of school (tomorrow) I'll have to adjust my running schedule.

Playlist
Slavedriver -Jenny and Johnny
Turn It On -Flaming Lips
Use Somebody -Kings of Leon
Rock Problems -the Hold Steady
We're Here -Meat Puppets
The Man Who Sold The World -David Bowie
Notion -Kings of Leon
White Girl -X
Jane Says -Jane's Addiction
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo
What New York Used to Be -the Kills
Profanity Prayers -Beck
Rock & Roll -Lou Reed
Where It's At -Beck
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Superunknown -Soundgarden

Times
L1 13:12
L2 6:37
L3 6:17
L4 5:23
L5 6:59
L6 4:37
L7 13:39
L8 0:52
Total 57:36

Distance 5.6 (-0.3 walking) = 5.3 miles
Cumulative distance 37.9 miles

Welcome, Kings of Leon

Newish route today. There was a big event at Town Creek Park, so both sides of Gay Street had cars parked along them, making it less appealing as a return route. I've done most of the bits and pieces except the sidewalk between the museum and Donahue along College. Also discovered that Kimberly Road cuts through between University and College, which is news to me. I didn't run it, I just saw it on the map. I also nearly got smooshed by a car that wasn't expecting to see me in the bike lane. Fortunately, a stern "HO!" was the only necessary action to avoid any unpleasantness.

It's starting to get a bit warmer out there, so I'm glad I got out just a wee bit earlier. Pretty soon I'll have to be up ridiculously early to avoid melting in the sun.

I made a recent deposit into the Bank of Tunes-O-Matic, which was burning a hole in my digital pocket, so I decided to invest in some new tunes. Under the influence of WEGL, and the stamp of approval of Mr. Vince Noir, I decided to buy some Kings of Leon, namely the album Only By The Night

Playlist
(Only By the Night, Kings of Leon)

Times
L1 13:14 (Home to Woodfield)
L2 3:44 (Stop sign to Museum)
L3 6:52 (Museum to Donahue/University)
L4 14:18 (D/U to last stop sign)
L5 0:47 (home stretch)
Total 38:55

Distance 4.1 miles
Cumulative distance 32.6 miles.

A Few Twists

Today I decided to hit an old, longer route; out the bike path and back. It being still a bit cool, I decided to take a few twists and turns, though, to add a little to it. At the end of the bike path near College St, I decided to turn into the area with the car dealership and around, rather than taking the other half of the entirely too steep road cut. Then at the top of the last hill, I decided to head down and around Old Wright's Mill Rd, which added another little bit. All together, it added about another 1.5 miles to this route.

Playlist
Cool Blue Reason -CAKE
The W.A.N.D. -the Flaming Lips
Shadow Stabbing -CAKE
Safe European Home -the Clash
Clampdown -the Clash
Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed -David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust -David Bowie
Plastic Jesus -the Flaming Lips
What Is Life -George Harrison
Mr. Charlie -Grateful Dead
Ashes to Ashes -David Bowie
Search and Destroy -Iggy and the Stooges
Ruby Sees All -CAKE
I Do -J. Geils Band
Rock 'n Roll All Nite -KISS
Rock and Roll -Led Zeppelin
Candy Store Rock -Led Zeppelin
Blanket of Weeds -Meat Puppets
Lump -the Presidents of the USA
Gimme Shelter -the Rolling Stones

Times
L1 8:54
L2 7:33
L3 14:20
L4 10:05
L5 10:03
L6 8:23
L7 11:42
L8 0:52
Total 1:11:53

Distance 7.8 miles
Cumulative distance 28.5 miles

African Cool

It's a lot cooler out than it has been or normally is, quite conducive to my rather laid back approach to getting out early. I went out on a route I think I've only hit once before, and in the reverse of how I did it last time. Over the hill towards Ogletree, down Ogletree to Windway, and up through Grove Hill back to Wright's Mill.

Also, somehow I slipped over 1000 hits without realizing it. Yay.

Playlist -African
Dadje Von O Von Non -Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes
Qhude Manikiniki -Umahlathini Nabo
Marie Jose -Ryco Jazz
Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama -Amaswazi Emvelo
Shakalaode -Wganda Kenya
Tin Lin Non -Honore Avolonte et L'Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
Marcus Garvey -Burning Spear
Cooperation -Franco and Sam Mangwana

Times
L1 8:57
L2 13:13
L3 25:31
L4 0:47
Total 48:28

Distance 4.9 miles
Cumulative distance 20.7 miles

Back on track

Even though it's later in the day than when I started on Wednesday, it wasn't too hot. We're supposed to get a storm coming through later today, so it's overcast, but not unbearably hot and bearly bearably humid. I went down an old route I haven't visited in a long while, down Wright's Mill to Chewacla and back. I feel like I'm starting to get my groove back.

Playlist
Dry and Heavy -Burning Spear
F**k You -Cee Lo Green
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
Atomic Dog -George Clinton
Marcus Garvey -Burning Spear
Grits Ain't Grocery -Little Milton
Mystic Man -Peter Tosh
River Luv Rite -Oneness of Juju

Times
L1 8:51
L2 7:38
L3 8:02
L4 8:03
L5 0:51
Total 33:24

Distance 3.5 miles
Cumulative distance 15.8 miles

Getting Hot in Here

Just added a year, and a new goal. I'd like to run 39 miles a month, or 3 half marathons, or both. To this end, I have to run, so I did. It's starting to get hot out there, and I felt it. I started off at about 8:45, which is currently too late to get started, which I should have known given the 5k last Saturday that started at 8:00. Even so, with such an ambitious goal, I knew that I had to push a bit, and I felt that the Gay/Samford/College/Woodfield route would accomplish that.

Playlist
El Microfono -MIS
Black Country Rock -David Bowie
As Good As I Can Feel -Funkadelic
No More Tears -Ozzy Osbourne
Baba-Ye -Mahlathini
Rudie Can't Fail -the Clash
Los Angeles -X
Lust For Life -Iggy Pop
F**kin' With My Head -Beck
Fireflies -Owl City
Lucifer Sam -Pink Floyd
Walk On By -CAKE

Times
L1 13:20
L2 6:41
L3 7:51
L4 3:43
L5 12:23
L6 0:56
Total 44:55

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative 12.3 miles

Marie Wooten 5K

I ran the Marie Wooten 5K this morning. It was a new course for me, starting and ending at the Beard-Eaves Coliseum on campus. I saw lots of familiar faces from the Dept of Biological Sciences.

Playlist
Baba-Ye -Mahlathini
The Way You Move -Outkast
El Microfono -Mexican Institute of Sound
Blanket of Weeds -Meat Puppets
Lust for Life -Iggy Pop
Heroes -David Bowie

Time (unofficial) 27:00
Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance 7.7 miles

Not exactly a great time, but considering the amount of training I've been doing (not very much) and the temperature (rather warm) and the course (a good bit of up and down), well, that explains it. I'm not making excuses, I'm a bit old for that kind of baloney, but just considering the contributing factors.

Merry Month of May

Been off again, but I expect an uptick in activity as my classes took their final exam today. I knew I had to get out at least once before this weekend's 5k. It's a bit cooler than one might have expected, but that just made it a beautiful day for an afternoon run. Up to Samford/Gay back along College. First time in a long while. I've been trying for days to find Speakerboxxx on my hard drives, then trying to find the CD. W00t! Found it! Bowtie!

Playlist -songs getting stuck in my head
Across the Universe -the Beatles
Cooperation -Franco and Sam Mangwana
Bowtie -Outkast
Cantique -Kanda Bongo Man
The Way You Move -Outkast
El Microfono -Mexican Institute of Sound
Blanket of Weeds -Meat Puppets
Search and Destroy -Iggy and the Stooges
Sissyneck -Beck

Times
L1 12:59
L2 6:36
L3 7:53
L4 3:34
L5 11:51
L6 0:49
Total 43:41

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative distance 4.6 miles