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