A Little Better

I was sore most of last week after that first run.  I didn't get back out until today, but taking it slow and easy is probably best.  I did go a bit further this week, heading up all the way to Samford on my 4 miler.  I even ran the whole way, though at a leisurely pace.

Playlist	Eclectic and classic
Love Me Two Times	The Doors
Bonin' in the Boneyard	Fishbone
This Is A Call	Foo Fighters
No One Knows	Queens of the Stone Age
Who Are You	The Who
Queen Bitch	David Bowie
Jump Around	House of Pain
Work It	Missy Elliot
Honky Tonk Women	The Rolling Stones
Whip It	DEVO

Distance: 4.02 miles
Time 41:46
Pace 10:23 min/mile
Cumulative 7.20 miles

Holy Keerap, It's Been a Long Time

I have been out a handful of times in the past year.  It is safe to say that I have fallen off the wagon.  I've been struggling through a divorce, and wallowing in self pity.  To my credit, I've quit drinking and haven't fallen off that particular wagon.  I feel like I've gained weight, though it's really more shifting around to my gut.  Finally, within the past week, I've turned a corner.  I've started playing music again.  I've tried to focus on keeping a better diet.  And tonight, I went on a run.

I decided to try a 3-plus, though after 2.5 I felt like taking a walk for a spell.  Coincidentally, it was when I got to "Before They Make Me Run" on my playlist. 

Playlist	Been a while/Keef
You Got the Silver	Rolling Stones
Circles	Soul Coughing
Here Comes the Hotstepper (Heartical Mix)	Ini Kamoze
Freddie's Dead	Fishbone
Driven to Tears	The Police
Sound of da Police	KRS-One
Thrift Shop	Macklemore & Ryan Kelly (Featuring Wanz)
Before They Make Me Run	Rolling Stones
Sexx Laws	Beck
Happy	Rolling Stones

Distance 3.18 mi
Time 34:23
Pace 10:47 min/mi

Yikes! It's been another long while

Over a month off.  Jeepers.  And still haven't hit my new goal once this year.  But, I did hit the road, went four miles in a decent time, and thus far have lived to tell the tale. 

Playlist
Walk On the Wild Side	Lou Reed
Work It	Missy Elliott
Cult of Personality	Living Color
Milkshake	Kelis
Red, Red Wine	UB40
All the Young Dudes	David Bowie
T.B. Sheets	Van Morrison

Distance 4.02 miles
Cumulative 4.02 miles
Time 35:38
Pace 8:53 min/mile

Been a While Again

Gosh, I've been a lump again.  For reasons I'd rather not go into, I've been a loafing lump again.  Anyway, I'm back.  I went out to Chewacla and back, and felt kind of lumpy doing it.  And a little sore.  Treats me right, hopefully I'm back for good.  It's a little cooler out, so maybe that will provide a little motivation.  I'm way off of any of my goals for the year, but that's just spilt milk. 

Playlist
Hold On	Alabama Shakes
Red, Red Wine	UB40
TB Sheets	Van Morrison
Side With The Seeds	Wilco
Brown Sugar	Rolling Stones
Chicken Strut	Meters
Walk On The Wild Side	Lou Reed

Distance 3.52 miles
Cumulative 7.72 miles
Time 31:37
Pace 8:59 min/mile

Hot End of May

I don't think I'll get out again tomorrow, so this is where I'm likely to hang it up for the month.  Not even close to my monthly goal. Sigh.  I just have to keep trying.  Tonight I went up Gay to Samford, and then turned out toward Dean.  Down Dean to University, and back home that way.

Playlist
Loser	Beck
Heart of Glass	Blondie
Tougher Than It Is	CAKE
(I Was Born In A) Laundromat	Camper Van Beethoven
Epistle to Dippy	Donovan
Electric Avenue	Eddy Grant
New Amsterdam	Elvis Costello
Rock and Roll, Pt. 2	Gary Glitter
What Is Life	George Harrison
Bring It On	Gomez
Chameleon	Herbie Hancock

Distance 4.91 mi
Cumulative 25.00 miles
Time 42:58 min
Pace 8:44 min/mi

Fail, fall down, get up, get going again

So last month ended in abysmal failure.  I failed to meet my monthly mileage quota by a lot, mostly because I failed to get in my third half-marathon, which I was registered for and ready to go to, but my brain kept me away.  Excuses: I had a lot of work to do,  my daughter's softball team needed me,   I've had some personal crises in my life that made ten hours of driving alone and staying in a strange cheap hotel room only to physically exhaust myself all seem, um, unpalatable, to put it mildly.  So.  There's that.

Moving on to this month.  It's been getting warm again, so it's getting to that time of year where I need to put my miles in around the heat.  Today, it's supposed to thunderstorm, and I can hear the thunderheads rolling in.  I knew that three days into May I had to get going or get deeper into the hole, so I chose the former.  I opted for my favorite four mile, up to Samford and back.

Playlist	pretty hard stuff
For Those About to Rock, We Salute You	AC/DC
How Many More Times	Led Zeppelin
The Jean Genie	David Bowie
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution	AC/DC
You Got The Silver	Rolling Stones
Books About UFOs	Husker Du
Corona	Minutemen

Time 32:55
Distance 4.00 mi
Cumulative 4.00 mi
Pace 8:13 min/mi

Third Run, last before Half

I've been meaning to get out for a long training run before the Half Marathon on Saturday, but have been busy/indigent/reluctant. I've been doing a lot of papier mache, which isn't particular aerobic nor calisthenic, but has occupied a lot of my not working time.

I've also gotten a new application for my Tune-o-matic device, which will map my route in real time, complete with distance, duration and the easily calculated pace. One thing I need to figure out is how to get splits from it. Anyway, I ran up into Grove Hill and out Windway to Ogletree and back via Wright's Mill, which according to the new app is 4.83 miles. Not too too long for a pre-half training regime, but with only two days to go, I didn't want to get too worked up or out.

Playlist
Sledgehammer	Peter Gabriel
Rapture	Blondie
I Am The Fly	Wire
Pass the Dutchie	Musical Youth
Fish, Chips, and Sweat	Funkadelic
Midnight Rambler	Rolling Stones
Aurora Borealis	Meat Puppets
Time to Pretend	MGMT
Dead Flowers	Rolling Stones
Let's Spend the Night Together	Rolling Stones

Time: 42:15

Distance 4.8 miles

Pace: 8:45 min/mi

Cumulative distance 17.8 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

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

Midday getting warm

I've been busy today, but I got some time between appointments to get out and run. Up to Woodfield/Gay stop sign and back. Not far, but I need to get my feet back out there. I ran in my old trainers again, I really need to get some new ones. It's getting warm out there, too. I need to try and get out there earlier.

Playlist
Fireflies -Owl City
Benzi Box -Danger Doom
Frontier Psychiatrist -the Avalanches
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs
Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed -David Bowie
Ventilator Blues -Rolling Stones
Mexican Radio -Wall of Voodoo

Times
L1 13:03
L2 11:42
L3 0:57
Total 25:42

Distance 2.8 miles
Cumulative 7.2 miles

Mississippi mud

It's been entirely too long since I went running. Yesterday, I was out on a field trip with the class I'm teaching, and just felt the urge. We were down at the Grand Bay NERR, and I was having a hard time sleeping. I was planning on getting up early, and thought a run might be in order. The road was nice and flat, but a bit longer than I expected even though I'd driven it the day before. But it didn't hurt me that badly, though it was a bit warm for 6:30 am and very humid of course. I had my old trainers with me, which felt better than my newer ones. I think I need some new ones.

Playlist
What New York Used to Be -the Kills
El Microfono -Mexican Institute of Sound
Paper Planes -M.I.A.
Fireflies -Owl City
Rock Problems -the Hold Steady
Slave Driver -Jenny and Johnny
Been Caught Stealing -Jane's Addiction
Dreadlock Holiday -10cc
Fascinating Rhythm -Ella Fitzgerald
Frontier Psychiatrist -the Avalanches
Freedom of '76 -Ween
Guns of Brixton -the Clash

Times
L1 20:27
L2 20:23
Total 40:49

Distance
4.4 miles
Cumulative distance
4.4 miles

Another month off

Slacking again. It's now Spring, and the yellow rain of pollen has descended. Last week was Spring Break, and in spite of not much to do, I didn't go running. Finally, my idle blog is shaming me back out on the roads. I went up to Woodfield/Gay and back. My hips and knees have been hurting, and I've been using that as an excuse.

Playlist
Dreadlock Holiday -10cc (inspired by the ICC World Cup)
Windy and Warm -Richard Kiser
Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed -David Bowie
Can't Get There From Here -R.E.M.
Electric Avenue -Eddy Grant
New Gods -Meat Puppets
Lowazo -Kanda Bongo Man

Times
L1 13:09
L2 11:43
L3 1:00
Total 25:52

Distance 2.8 miles
Cumulative distance: same

Taking some time off.

After the half marathon, I felt like I was done for a bit. My hips got sore, my feet were in bad shape, and I just needed to recuperate. But I probably went a little longer than I should have, and finally today I got back out there. I'm thinking about running the Love Your Heart 10 k again this year, and I needed to get back on the concrete. I thought about going all the way down the bike path and back, but decided to ease in with a trip down to Chewacla and back. I did make an extra effort on the big hill, to try and work on the hills, but I'm pretty sure a shorter run was a good decision for today. A bit overcast, but warmer than it has been in recent days. First time out in shorts in a while, but with a long sleeve shirt.

Playlist
Federal Funding -CAKE
Benzi Box -Danger Doom
What New York Used To Be -the Kills
I Zimbra -Talking Heads
Rock and Roll Problems -the Hold Steady
Cities -Talking Heads
Search and Destroy -Iggy Pop and the Stooges
El Microfono -Mexican Institute of Sound
Life During Wartime -Talking Heads

Times
L1 8:25
L2 7:18
L3 7:42
L4 7:13
L5 0:54
Total 31:32

Distance 3.5 miles
Cumulative 3.5 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

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

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.

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