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

Gettin' out

Wasn't quite sure about my run today.  I was more sure about my music choice.  I got David Bowie's Aladdin Sane a while ago, and haven't really taken the time to try and fall in love with it.  So I decided to give it a listen as it was intended.  I went up Gay and decided to go all the way up to Magnolia and Toomer's Corner, which was quiet, since the Tigers have been at their worst in years and years and lost today to Vanderbilt.  I thought I would do my 5.46 mile run, but decided to extend it a bit by not turning down Woodfield, but heading down to Donahue along College.  I was huffing and puffing up that last hill, but I did keep my feet moving, albeit a little more slowly than usual.

Playlist	Aladdin Sane
Watch That Man
Aladdin Insane
Drive In Saturday
Panic in Detroit
Cracked Actor
Time
The Prettiest Star
Let's Spend the Night Together
The Jean Genie
John, I'm Only Dancing
The Jean Genie
All the Young Dudes
Changes (Live)
The Supermen (Live)

Distance 6.24 miles
Cumulative 14.68 miles
Time 56:30
Pace 9:02 min/mile

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

Start of June, Summer 5K series

Tonight the summer 5K series started over at the High School.  There was a bit of high drama, as I tried to entice my daughters to participate in the 1 mile fun run.  My elder daughter wanted to run the 5K, but hadn't been training as I'd encouraged her to.  My younger daughter was keen to run, but had a hard time pacing herself, and pooped out.  My wife ran the 1 mile with them, and helped the little one get across the finish line with me.  I told the elder that if she trained with me she could start the 5Ks with me next week.

As for me, I felt pretty good on the course, and I think I achieved a PB for this route.  Yep, I beat my previous PB by over a minute.  As you can see from my measurement, it's a bit longer than 3.1 miles, so I don't feel too bad about being a bit slower on my 5K times.  Also, it was warm but not blazing out there.

Playlist
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap	AC/DC
Sure Shot	Beastie Boys
Diamond Dogs	David Bowie
I Lost It	Lucinda Williams
I'm Amazed	My Morning Jacket
Here It Goes Again	OK Go

Distance 3.25 mi
Cumulative 3.25 mi
Time 24:22
Pace 7:29 min/mi

Getting Hot/ 4

I tried to convince my daughter to come out with me on a shorter, slower run.  She was up for it yesterday, but I wasn't, then this morning I was up for it but she wasn't.  Rather than argue, I decided to model the behavior of getting out and running.  Instead of doing the shorter route, I went up to Samford and back, my 4 mile route.  It's definitely getting hot out there, to be running at 10:00 am.

Playlist	whatev's
Where It's At	Beck
Pictures of Matchstick Men	Camper Van Beethoven
Chiney Man	Culture
Jean Genie	David Bowie
Jump Around	House of Pain
Spanish Pipedream	John Prine
Notion	Matthew Dear
Fireflies	Owl City
Come As You Are	Nirvana

Distance 4.09 miles

Cumulative 20.09 miles

Time 34:33

Pace 8:26 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

Start of April

Due to business, I've had to skip getting up to 50 miles last month, and gotten a late start on April. Today, I opted to go up and into Grove Hill, out towards University, up Moore's Mill to Dean, and back down to University and home. Turns out it's not quite five miles. One more good run will have me back on track for my monthly goal, though. Hopefully I can find the inspiration for those eight nine ten mile runs again.

Playlist
All Apologies	Nirvana
Jump Around	House of Pain
The Jean Genie	David Bowie
Walk On By	Cake
Strange Apparition	Beck
Draw the Line	Aerosmith
Manic Depression	Jimi Hendrix
Tougher Than It Is	Cake
A Little Better	Gnarls Barkley
Notion	Kings of Leon
Heart of Glass	Blondie
Epistle to Dippy	Donovan

Distance 4.95 mi

Cumulative 4.95 mi

Time 42:42

Pace 8:38 min/mi

Double dippin'

Took a few days off, went up to Atlanta with a dear friend, ended up spending the night on Friday, and didn't get out yesterday. So today another dear friend of mine invited me out for a bike ride in Tuskegee National Forest, on the Pleasant Hill Trail. We went, he and I and his son. It turned into another misadventure, though no bones broken, only an inner tube, and I spilled over the handlebars three times. Distance on that was only about five miles.

When I got home, I felt like hitting the road again, only metaphorically this time. So I suited up and went on my four mile, up to Samford and back. In spite of being beat up and a little tired, and it being warm, I actually increased my pace a bit. Maybe it's the shorter route compared to what I've been doing.

Playlist	David Bowie
Life on Mars?	from "Hunky Dory"
Queen Bitch	from "Hunky Dory"
Oh! You Pretty Things	from "Hunky Dory"
Diamond Dogs	from "Diamond Dogs"
Heroes	from "Heroes"
Black Country Rock	from "The Man Who Sold The World"
The Width of A Circle	from "The Man Who Sold The World"
The Man Who Sold The World	from "The Man Who Sold The World"

Distance 4.02 miles

Cumulative 28.05 miles

Time 35:21

Pace min/mi 8:47

Closing In on the Goal for February

I tried a new route this evening: Up to Gay, then right at Thach to Chewacla (Street, not the State Park), and down to Samford. Then up the hill to Dumas, and around to Wright's Mill down to University, and home. I thought it would have been longer, but it came out to be 5.4 miles. In my mind, I thought I could finish the month's goal with this one effort, but I didn't want to push it and finish with a big greedy bite; better to take it in two. I wore the compression suit, although it was just about 50 F when I left the house. I was still feeling a little heavy with dinner, too, though that was worked out about 2 miles in. Overall, I felt good.

I also wish to note that if there is any song that expresses joy moreso than "Cooperation", I'm not sure my heart could stand to hear it. That song just nails it.

Playlist
Vibrate On	Lee "Scratch" Perry
Over the Hills and Far Away	Led Zeppelin
Rudie Can't Fail	the Clash
The Man Who Sold the World	David Bowie
Mexican Radio	Wall of Voodoo
Jane Says	Jane's Addiction
Stay Close to Me	Bad Brains
Cooperation	Franco & Sam Mangwana
Can't You Hear Me Knocking	Rolling Stones
San Ber'dino	Frank Zappa

Time: 48:06

Distance 5.4 miles

Cumulative 37.1 miles

Pace 8:56 min/mi

I didn't run the Love Your Heart 10k this year because my calves were feeling like they might go bad again. So I've been kind of a lump and haven't gone out again until today. I tried a variation on my typical 4.0 mile, up Loftin (a bit daunting hill) and across Peachtree back out to Gay, adding about 0.3 miles to the route.

Playlist - a bunch of songs to play on the guitar

The Width of a Circle	David Bowie
Fiona	Lyle Lovett
Mexico	Cake
New Amsterdam	Elvis Costello
Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You	John Prine
Two Glasses Joe	Ernest Tubb
There's a Tear In My Beer	Hank Williams Sr and Hank Williams Jr
Paradise	John Prine
Rowboat	Johnny Cash
Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)	Waylon Jennings
Folsom Prison Blues	Johnny Cash

Time 37:47

Distance 4.3 miles

Cumulative 24.7 miles (yes, I need to get on my horse and run to reach my goal).

Pace 8:50 min/mi

Fun with a Purpose

I ran up to my office on campus today, to print out some papers for tomorrow. It's just up Gay to Samford, and across College St. It was bitterly cold (at least by Alabama standards), so I donned the compression suit. Still, it seemed rather unpleasant, and I wasn't feeling great on the way out. On the way back, after about a 15 minute break (to work), I felt a lot better. Probably because I was warmed up, and because it's mostly downhill on the way back home. I also added another bit to try and get a little longer run in.

Playlist	Electronica et cetera
Chameleon	Herbie Hancock
Frontier Psychiatrist	the Avalanches
Monkey	Matthew Dear
Fireflies	Owl City
Enter the Ninja	Die Antwoord
Big Poppa	Biggie Smalls
Under Pressure	Queen with David Bowie
Dirt Off Your Shoulder	Jay-Z

Times

L1 20:03 (2.27 mi)

L2 20:46 (2.53 mi)

Total 40:49

Distance 4.8 miles

Cumulative 19.4 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

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.

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

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!

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