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

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

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

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)

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!

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

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

Summer 5K part II

A little bit cooler this evening, a little bit quicker to the finish. I had a pretty sizable spicy Indian lunch, which was, in retrospect, a bad idea, after all. Not as many familiar faces this week, but that's okay.

Playlist
El Microfono -Mexican Institute of Sound
Ruby -Kaiser Chiefs
Torn and Frayed -Rolling Stones
Mind -Talking Heads
Fish, Chips and Sweat -Funkadelic
Armagideon Time -the Clash
Born Free -M.I.A.
Enjoy Yourself -the Specials

Time (unofficial)
27:36

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance 10.9 miles

Stinky Hat

A route with lots of new terra incognita today. I ran up over the interstate and went left down University, then up into Town Creek Park and around the pond to the left. Out to Gay Street and up to Woodfield, up to the Art Museum and left to Kimberly. Straight down Kimberly back to University and down to Town Creek again. Around the pond to the right this time, and back home via Gay Street, University, Wright's Mill, etc. I was a bit worried about my condition, as a canoe trip on the Tallapoosa River on Saturday left my torso skin fried and my feet cut up with lots of little cuts. When I started out today, my left knee was a little tender, and I felt like I was a bit wobbly. After the first half mile or so, I was feeling loose and well oiled, but my knee was bothering me again a bit at about mile 3. On top of all that, my running favorite running hat stinks. I've tried washing it twice, but it still smells pretty horrific. Maybe I'll try washing it again.

Playlist
Notion -Kings of Leon
Profanity Prayers -Beck
Rock & Roll -Lou Reed
Where It's At -Beck
Superunknown -Soundgarden
Moonage Daydream -David Bowie
The Stallion Part 3 -Ween
Crosseyed and Painless -Talking Heads
Mustache Man (Wasted) -CAKE
Party in the USA -Miley Cyrus
Fireflies -Owl City

Times
L1 18:23 (Home to Woodfield)
L2 3:36 (Woodfield to Museum)
L3 6:56 (Museum to end of Kimberly)
L4 2:12 (Kimberly to Town Creek?)
L5 4:26 (Through Town Creek)
L6 8:14 (Gay Street to Home)
Total 43.47

Distance 4.7 miles
Cumulative distance 7.8 miles

Hot Summer 5K Series

Today was the first of the Wednesday evening 5K's, a series I haven't done before, but have signed up to do this year. I saw a good number of friends and colleagues there, most of whom ran much faster or much slower than me. It was hot, at one point the thermometer got up to 99 F. I wasn't impressed with my time, but between the heat and the new route and the change in elevation, it's somewhat understandable.

Playlist (Hot Summer)
It's Summertime -Flaming Lips
Summertime Rolls -Jane's Addiction
White Summer/Black Mountain Side -Led Zeppelin
Red Hot Mama -Funkadelic
Silver Black Summer Day -Living Funk
Coming In Hot -Peter Tosh

Time 28:43 (unofficial) It just keeps getting worse now :(

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance 3.1 miles

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

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.

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