Ego Trip

Another lovely day in San Francisco, another 5 mile run.  Today I went the other direction, up into the Presidio and over to the head of the Golden Gate Bridge.  After my last experience with running on the bridge, (it sucked, too many aimless gawking tourists to bump into, I advise against it) I opted to take a picture and turn around, knowing that I had a good run in.  Again, I had to stretch it out by going down a block or two, but I got it to exactly 5.00 miles.  For no particular reason, I thought I'd make a very egoistical playlist.

Playlist	In the Key of "I"
I Luv I Jah	Bad Brains
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend	Ramones
I Stole Your Love	KISS
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart	Wilco
I Lost It	Lucinda Williams
I Got The Feelin'	James Brown
I Fink U Freeky	Die Antwoord
I Feel Fine	The Beatles
I Do	J. Geils Band
I Wanna Be Sedated	Ramones
I Wanna Roo You	Van Morrison
I Am That I Am	Peter Tosh

Distance 5.00 miles
Cumulative 20.16 miles
Time 43:49
Pace 8:45 min/mile

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 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

A-Day, Fun Day, Boogie Day

Busy day in the greater Auburn-Opelika area. My daughter's pre-school had a Fun Day, it's A-Day (Auburn Univ.'s spring football game), and the Old 280 Boogie is happening out in Waverly. Plus, my other daughter had a birthday party to attend. So, busy.
I got to sneak in a run today, up Gay and down Wright's Mill. Got a little crazy as I approached Samford, but I managed to avoid incident.

Playlist
Ruby Sees All -Cake
Armagideon Time -the Clash
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic
Up On The Sun -Meat Puppets
Chinese Rock -the Ramones
No Expectations -Rolling Stones
Academia -Sia
Crush -Smashing Pumpkins
Spoonman -Soundgarden

Times
L1 12:09
L2 5:59
L3 16:21
L4 (the Kick, just for fun) 0:52
Total 35:21
Distance 4.0 miles

Long run after a long day

Today I received some bad news. The post-doc I've been expecting to start later this year has pretty much fallen through. So now, I'm in the job market, which is obviously not a fun place to be right now. I'd been hoping to go on a long run today in any event, and I felt like I needed an endorphin boost like you wouldn't believe. Like I said yesterday, I'm starting to feel like 10 k isn't such a long distance. I went out the Ogletree Rd. route, to just about the intersection with Moore's Mill Rd, which is 8+ miles round trip. I wore my old shoes, which I just washed, because I didn't want to get my newer shoes too wet in anticipation of Saturday's 5k, if that makes any sense. I did feel pretty good throughout. My feet are still a little tender, and I has some tightness in my right calf and left knee for a bit, but overall it felt really good. I think I'm making some progress. That or descending into the mania of the jogging obsessed.

Playlist (a new on-the-go one, rather eclectic)
Blitzkrieg Bop -The Ramones
Bold As Love -Jimi Hendrix Experience
Bring The Noise -Public Enemy
Bukowski -Modest Mouse
Bush Doctor -Peter Tosh
Calling Dr. Love -KISS
Chicken Strut -The Meters
Chiney Man -Culture
Coup d'Etat -Circle Jerks
Crosstown Traffic -Jimi Hendrix Experience
Don't Sh*t Where You Eat -Ween
Friends -Led Zeppelin
Gin and Juice -Snoop Dogg
He'eia -Gabby Pahinui
Jimmy the Exploder -White Stripes
Memphis -Chuck Berry
Misty Mountain Hop -Led Zeppelin
Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony -Ween
Motel Room in My Bed -X
Mother Popcorn -James Brown
New Name -Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus
Plateau -Meat Puppets
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese -Ween
Rainy Day Woman -Waylon Jennings
Rock 'n Roll All Night -KISS
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -Ramones

Times
L1 8:44
L2 32:48
L3 33:30
L4 8:40 Felt really good on the last leg.
Total 1:23:43. I reckon that's a personal best (of two attempts, so not a big deal).

Borrowed tunes

While my tuneomatic is in the shop (getting replaced), I thought I'd have to (like a submarine) run silently (if not deeply). But then I borrowed my wife's tuneomatic, which has most of the same tunes on it. I ran up to Gay/Woodfield and back, and then a little extra around the block to get an honest half hour in.

Playlist
One Nation Under A Groove -Funkadelic
Midnight Rider -The Allman Brothers
Chest Fever -The Band
Walk On By -Cake
Manteca -Dizzy Gillespie
Epistle to Dippy -Donovan
Suffragette City -David Bowie
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -The Ramones

Times
L1->12:23
L2->12:24
L3->5:42
Total->30:29
Wow, exactly the same out and back.

Midnight rider

Went out to Chewacla and back this evening, before dark. I usually take a little time off after a long run, but I didn't want to hold out this long. Yesterday, my left knee was bothering me after trampoline jumping with my girls and a long walk to and from the football stadium, most of it with one of them on my back. Today I'm all right, though. Mostly just a little tightness in my right calf.

Playlist
Midnight Rider -The Allman Brothers
Get Back -The Beatles
Beautiful Delilah -Chuck Berry
For All The Cows -Foo Fighters
Chocolate Town -Ween
The Sky is Falling -Queens of the Stone Age
Cissy Strut -The Meters
I Gotcha -Joe Tex
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) -Jimi Hendrix. Helped me get up that last hill.
Pinhead -The Ramones.

Times
Length 1-> 8:56
Length 2-> 7:50
Length 3-> 8:17
Length 4-> 8:45
Total 33:48 Pretty slow on the start, but picked up on the way back.

Not quite as long

I had a heavier dinner than I should have, and was feeling rather lethargic starting out. Truth be told, I felt unmotivated and was close to bagging on the run tonight. The weather is supposed to turn ugly here soon, so I figured I'd go anyway. It didn't take long to get into the spirit of the thing, although I didn't feel up to crossing the Interstate, so I just went on a couple of loops around the neighborhood.

Playlist, another "alternative" mix:
Cellphone's Dead -Beck
Dashboard -Modest Mouse
Going On -Gnarls Barkley
Buddy Holly -Weezer
The W.A.N.D. -Flaming Lips
Confusion Fog -Meat Puppets
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend -Ramones

Time out, 26:09

OK, OK, don't push us when we're HOT!

Another daylight run. I want to eat and relax (read BBQ and heavy food and beer) so I decided I needed to go on a daylight run to enable both exercise and dinner plans. Went up to the corner of Gay and Woodfield, up to Wright's Mill, down to ??? and into Town Creek Cemetery. Down into the park part, and had a pee at the restroom there. (Too much information? Sorry, that's what I do here, you know, sharing). Then back home. A nice playlist, in my humble opinion, featuring some new additions to the tune-o-matic. It was hot out there, and after a late night of beer drinking and a heavy brunch this morning, I was pretty tuckered by about a quarter of the way in.

Playlist:
Armagideon Time -The Clash
Rental Car -Beck
To Kingdom Come -The Band
Diamond Dogs -David Bowie
Warning Sign -Talking Heads (from The Name of This Band...)
Fish, Chips and Sweat -Funkadelic
Whatever Makes My Baby Feel Good -Parliament
It's Summertime -The Flaming Lips
I Just Wanna Have Something To Do -The Ramones

Time out 40:00

New Direction

I think I missed posting a jog and playlist. I'm pretty sure I did because I did go on another dog swapping jog. Yes. Really I did.
Tonight I decided to leave the dogs at home because I wanted to go out on some less dog-friendly roads. I went over the Interstate, up Gay Street, and over to the Art Museum. Once around the pond and back. Oh and it was around 11:00 PM, so it was pretty quiet. And cold.
I was somewhat surprised at how quickly I could get almost downtown. I like that route. A bit more scenic than just around the neighborhood.

The Playlist: Rock and Roll in more or less alphabetical order
Shake a Leg -AC/DC
Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith
Love Me Two Times -The Doors
Epistle to Dippy -Donovan
Rock and Roll, Part 2 -Gary Glitter
Christine Sixteen -Kiss
The Song Remains the Same -Led Zeppelin
Fat Bottomed Girls -Queen
I Wanna Be Sedated -The Ramones

Total time, 33:33

Mountain Lake Park again

Hi and Happy Boxing Day
I did manage to get out again this morning, after ministering to the needs of my kids. I went out around Mountain Lake Park again, with a lovely boof of eucalyptus trees, and the San Franciscans out mendicating. I was out a bit longer than yesterday, and had much less hacking and gasping from the microbes in my bronchi. Hooray for that.
Playlist
Turn It On -Flaming Lips
Transdermal Celebration -Ween
Tried and True -Ween
I Gotcha -Joe Tex
One Nation Under A Groove -Funkadelic
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -The Ramones, for the kick
Total time out: 26:01

Another run through Brooklyn

No, not the one in the Big Apple, the one in Pretoria.
I managed to get out this morning and stay out for 35:49, without Scotch (I didn't have his lead).
But it was probably for the best, as I jogged down to Magnolia Dell and up Queen Wilhelmina Street to Nieuw Muckleneuk Trim Park. Scotch probably wouldn't have been welcome in the parks.

Playlist:
Round and Round -Ratt
The Sky is Falling -Queens of the Stone Age
You're pretty good looking (for a girl) -White Stripes
Jumping Jack Flash -The Rolling Stones
19th Nervous Breakdown -The Rolling Stones
Fat Bottomed Girls -Queen
Won't Get Fooled Again -The Who
Blitzkrieg Bop -The Ramones
A hard rockin' playlist. I'm feeling a bit more sore than usual. Maybe because of the hills and uneven terrain. Maybe because of last night's dinner of beer, biltong and cigarettes. Yeah, probably that last one.

Success in the war on sloth

Another double loop. Yay me. The weather and work have not been cooperating, though the days are getting longer.
Another bonus for today was making the double loop in 48:22, which usually has taken me over 55 minutes when I've counted. I tried to keep on pace with the music which may have helped. I lengthened my strides on the slower songs.

Playlist
Hey Ya! -Outkast
Mabala -Yahoo. From Afro Rock Vol. 1.
Chicken Strut -The Meters
Dirty Water -The Standells. In honor of Dustin Pedroia winning AL MVP.
Fight Test -The Flaming Lips
Nappy Dugout -Funkadelic
Sock It To 'Em, JB -The Specials
Backwater -Meat Puppets
Manteca -Dizzy Gillespie
Wasted Words -The Allman Brothers Band
Got To Give It Up -Marvin Gaye
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -The Ramones

Yes, I've still been running

Okay, so I missed two nights of blogging but not two nights of jogging (going every other night). You see, I was jogging with my wife, so I wasn't listening to music, so there's not playlist. I could tell you what we talked about, the exact spots where Trixie the Dog took a dump, etc., but I don't see that as good blogging.
Instead, here's the playlist for tonight. I didn't go out until after the end of the Auburn-LSU game, which features into the playlist.

The World's A Mess It's In My Kiss -X. Auburn lost, the Sox lost. What can I say, this song just expressed my feelings at the moment., in a delightfully upbeat way that's good to get started jogging with.

Love Her Madly -The Doors. Perhaps inspired by the Ray Manzarek influence in the previous song.

Our Lips Are Sealed -The Go-go's. This is one of my favorite pop songs of the 80's, because of the awesome dreamy chord progression. I've thought it kind of ironic to sing a song about one's lips being sealed. I mean, it could just as easily be instrumental if one's lips were truly sealed.

The Boogie Monster -Gnarls Barkley. Another song with a catchy chord progression. It also reminds me of my jogging inspiration, my dear old Dad, who would call home from work sometimes. When one of the kids would answer and ask who it was, he would always say, "The Boogie Man".

You're My Best Friend -Queen.

Junco Partner -Professor Longhair. In honor of the other Tigers (from LSU), who took the game from my Auburn Tigers this evening. I loves me some Professor Longhair. My favorite verse:

"I heard him singin', six months ain't no sentence.
He said one year, was not no time.
He said he had a friend, still in Angola,
Servin' from 14 to 99"

Seven Nation Army -White Stripes.
Meg's thump-thump-thump sounds like my feet. I used to find the line "make the sweat drip from every pore" a little absurd, until I her it while jogging. I still find the idea of going to Wichita on a whim a little absurd.

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker -The Ramones.
I often like to end with the Ramones for two reasons, their songs are usually short, and generally quick, which is good for my ritual of "digging it out" at the end. My typical strategy is to go slow, because my goal is to get my heart rate up and get the cardio benefits of jogging, while reducing stress on my joints. I'm not trying to get fast, I'm not worried about my legs giving out, I just want to get my ticker going. However, I do like to get a little sprint on at the end of my run. This is on the advice of another of my running inspirations, my brother in law, who told me this is a good thing to do. So I do it.

Total time: 26:20