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

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

Return of It

First run since my bday.  It's getting warm out there, and I should be trying to get out earlier.  Today I went down to Chewacla and back, then turned into the neighborhood across from Ogletree, Wright's Crossing I think it's called.  That made for a 4.56 mile loop altogether.  So my new goals for the new year: 40 miles a month, no run less than 4 miles, and try and complete 1 full marathon.

Playlist	Return of IT
Don't Blame It On I	the Congos
I Lost It	Lucinda Williams
Get It Together	Beastie Boys
It's Expected I'm Gone	Minutemen
Let It Bleed	Rolling Stones
Jam On It	Newcleus
Where It's At	Beck
Tougher Than It Is	CAKE
Life and How to Live It	REM

Distance 4.56 miles
Cumulative 13.67 miles
Pace 8:30 min/mi

Quota for March!

I've been in the swing of things and managed to hit my monthly quota over a week early. I went up Whippoorwill (three sets of double letters, I observed as I passed the entrance sign at the top of the big hill). On the way back, I went down Old Wright's Mill, which I thought would have gotten me over 8 miles today, but not quite. Anyway, a good run. Knock on wood, I'm feeling good. The playlist includes a number of songs I'm currently learning to play, including some Hawaiian slack-key guitar. I was also trying to think up a new challenge for my next birthday year. I'm thinking about doing the Music City Half Marathon at the end of April for my third in this year, and for next year: 40 miles/month, with no runs under 4 miles and at least 10 a month? A full marathon (that's 42+ km)? I've got a little time to figure it all out.

Playlist	eclectico
Manteca	Dizzy Gillespie
Isa Lei	Keola Beamer
Mino'aka	Keola Beamer
Moana's Laundry Basket	Keola Beamer
Papa's Okolehau	Keola Beamer
I Ka Pi Me Ke Ao	Keola Beamer
Blue Ridge Mountain Home	Flatt and Scruggs
Crazy Heart	Hank Williams
Paradise	John Prine
Rowboat	Johnny Cash
The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)	Waylon Jennings
Good Hearted Woman	Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain	Willie Nelson
I'm the Man Who Loves You	Wilco
Heavy Metal Drummer	Wilco
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart	Wilco
War on War	Wilco
Sugar Never Tasted So Good	White Stripes
Do	White Stripes
The New World	X
Motel Room In My Bed	X
Stray Cat Blues	Rolling Stones

Distance 7.79 mi

Cumulative 42.73 mi

Time 1:08:37

Pace 8:49 min/mi

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

Windy and Warm Evening

Another crack at the Gay-Magnolia-Donahue-Lem Morrison-Samford-Gay route. I went out after the girls' bedtime, and after a good sized (i.e. not small) dinner featuring some tasty, delicious sausage. I was worried it would sit like a stone in my gut. I did feel a little sluggish in parts, and felt like I'd slowed down quite a bit on the way home, but I didn't need to stop. It was windy and warm out, my favorite kind of weather really, almost 70 F out there.

Playlist
New Amsterdam	Elvis Costello
Honky Tonk Women	Rolling Stones
Who Loves the Sun	Velvet Underground
Genius of Love	Tom Tom Club
Cities	Talking Heads
Solidify	Sheryl Crow
Smile	Lily Allen
Driving South	Jimi Hendrix Experience
Rock and Roll	Led Zeppelin
Gardening At Night	REM
Bring It On	Gomez
Search and Destroy	Iggy and the Stooges
Electric Avenue	Eddy Grant
Opera Singer	CAKE
Paranoid	Black Sabbath
Beercan	Beck
Sweet Emotion	Aerosmith

Distance 7.0 miles

Cumulative 31.7 miles. The rest should be doable.

Time 1:03:58

Pace 9:08 min/mile

Auburn Classic Half Marathon 2012

I wasn't sure how I would do today, given I haven't been as good about training or diet in the lead up. My left hamstring was tender after my run last Thursday, so I have to admit that I was glad that race got postponed until this morning on account of the bad weather. We had a tornado watch in effect for the start yesterday. They had a start at 6:30, and another at 7:30, and though the weather looked to stay fairly consistent (about 57 F, overcast), I opted to get out earlier rather than later. I felt good most of the way, and made it in at 2:02:56 by my reckoning. Not quite under 2 hours, but I'm happy just to get through it feeling OK. My feet are a little blistered up, but all in all...

Playlist	All Rolling Stones
Rocks Off	Exile on Main Street
Rip This Joint	Exile on Main Street
Shake Your Hips	Exile on Main Street
Casino Boogie	Exile on Main Street
Tumbling Dice	Exile on Main Street
Sweet Virginia	Exile on Main Street
Torn and Frayed	Exile on Main Street
Sweet Black Angel	Exile on Main Street
Happy	Exile on Main Street
Turd On The Run	Exile on Main Street
Ventilator Blues	Exile on Main Street
I Just Want To See His Face	Exile on Main Street
All Down The Line	Exile on Main Street
Stop Breaking Down	Exile on Main Street
Gimme Shelter	Let It Bleed
Country Honk	Let It Bleed
Live With Me	Let It Bleed
Let It Bleed	Let It Bleed
Midnight Rambler	Let It Bleed
You Got The Silver	Let It Bleed
Monkey Man	Let It Bleed
Sympathy For The Devil	Beggars Banquet
No Expectations	Beggars Banquet
Dear Doctor	Beggars Banquet
Parachute Woman	Beggars Banquet
Jigsaw Puzzle	Beggars Banquet
Street Fighting Man	Beggars Banquet
Prodigal Son	Beggars Banquet
Stray Cat Blues	Beggars Banquet
Salt of the Earth	Beggars Banquet
Brown Sugar	Sticky Fingers
Wild Horses	Sticky Fingers

Time 2:02:56

Pace 9:13 min/mi

Distance 13.1 miles (Map my Route said 13.36 miles, ?)

Cumulative distance 30.9 miles

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

Couple of days off, back on.

Went up to Gay/Samford and back. I'd been trying to get out again the past couple of days, but haven't been able to. I had a little bit of soreness here and there. Most worrisome in my injured calf. But it seems to be okay.

Playlist
You Got The Silver	Rolling Stones
The Song Remains The Same	Led Zeppelin
Rowboat	Johnny Cash
Dead Flowers	Rolling Stones
Drive My Car	the Beatles
You Can't Catch Me	Chuck Berry
Get Back	the Beatles
Cocaine Blues	Johnny Cash
Yes, I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You	John Prine
San Ber'dino	Frank Zappa

Times
L1	11:52
L2	5:56
L3	5:42
L4	10:49
L5	0:50
Total	35:09

Distance 4.0 miles

Cumulative distance 11.6 miles

Day 2. Sore, trying to make up for lost time

I'm trying to get back on track, but I can't risk hurting myself again. I think the old injury has healed, but I don't want to injure anything else, obviously. I'm feeling just a bit sore today, in my outer thighs. But overall, good. I decided on another shortish run today, an honest 3.8 mile route, out Ogletree to the first road up on the left and back, and down Old Wright's Mill again.

Playlist	Rockin'
Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution	AC/DC
Sweet Emotion	Aerosmith
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da	the Beatles
Paranoid	Black Sabbath
Lust for Life	Iggy Pop
I Do	J.Geils Band
Driving South	Jimi Hendrix Experience
Stray Cat Blues	Rolling Stones
The Song Remains The Same	Led Zeppelin

Times

L1	8:06
L2	5:41
L3	1:19
L4	1:17
L5	6:04
L6	9:55
L7	0:47
Total	33:10

Distance 3.8 miles
Cumulative distance 7.6 miles

Injury time out!

I set out to complete my monthly quota today, a nice clear, crisp autumn day. I decided to hit the University/Donahue/Magnolia/Gay route, and had gotten past Woodfield on Gay Street when my calf, which had been tender, went pop. I had to start walking there, and hobbled back home. Sadly, assuming I can't get out before the end of tomorrow, this means I'll be a fraction short of my monthly goal, though I did get one of three half-marathons out of the way, and registered for a second one in January. I think it happened at Gay/Samford. I crossed the street and stumbled on the curb at the gas station there. I managed to right myself, but I definitely got contorted, and nearly bit the concrete.

Playlist -lots of reggae

Three Little Birds	Bob Marley
Dead Flowers	Rolling Stones
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)	the Proclaimers
Spoonman	Soundgarden
Can't You Hear Me Knocking	Rolling Stones
Peace Treaty	Peter Tosh
Genius of Love	Tom Tom Club
Walk On The Wild Side	Lou Reed
Turn It On	Flaming Lips
Chant A Psalm	Steel Pulse
Up On The Sun	Meat Puppets
Mama Africa	Peter Tosh
Electric Avenue	Eddy Grant
Rastafari Is	Peter Tosh

Times:
L1 13:42
L2 17:12
L3 4:31
L4 5:23
L5 5:31
L6 3:17
(Walked home, 23:10)

Distance (ran, walked the last mile and a half) 5.3 miles
Cumulative distance 38.2 miles.

250th Post!

According to the tabulation apparatus of Blogger, this is my 250th post on this blog. Yay! Almost all of those are tales of a run. This morning, I figured I needed to gain some ground, and see if I'm anywhere near ready for the Athens Half Marathon one week from today. I went out Ogletree and back, then down Wright's Mill to Chewacla and back, a route I calculated at 10.2 miles. It did seem to go all right, so perhaps I am ready. And given my time, I think I may have a shot at getting in under 2.0 hours, which is my goal.

Playlist	Rolling Stones, late 60s-early 70s
Sympathy for the Devil	from "Beggars Banquet"
No Expectations	from "Beggars Banquet"
Dear Doctor	from "Beggars Banquet"
Parachute Woman	from "Beggars Banquet"
Jigsaw Puzzle	from "Beggars Banquet"
Street Fighting Man	from "Beggars Banquet"
Prodigal Son	from "Beggars Banquet"
Stray Cat Blues	from "Beggars Banquet"
Factory Girl	from "Beggars Banquet"
Salt of the Earth	from "Beggars Banquet"
Gimme Shelter	from "Let It Bleed"
Love In Vain	from "Let It Bleed"
Country Honk	from "Let It Bleed"
Live With Me	from "Let It Bleed"
Let It Bleed	from "Let It Bleed"
Midnight Rambler	from "Let It Bleed"
You Got The Silver	from "Let It Bleed"
Monkey Man	from "Let It Bleed"
You Can't Always Get What You Want	from "Let It Bleed"
Brown Sugar	From "Sticky Fingers"
Sway	From "Sticky Fingers"

Times
L1	8:07
L2	11:27
L3	18:20
L4	18:01
L5	12:07
L6	7:05
L7	7:17
L8	0:47
Total	1:30:22

Distance 10.2 miles
Cumulative distance 14.8 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.

IT

A shortish run over to my friends' house. I was pleasantly surprised to measure it again, 3.1 miles. I realize shortly into my run that my playlist had a theme, so I decided to alter IT to go with IT.

Playlist		What to do about IT?
Turn It On		Flaming Lips
Bring It On		Gomez
Let It Bleed		Rolling Stones
Cool It Down		Velvet Underground
Here It Goes Again		OK Go
I Can't Stand It		the Specials

Times
L1	7:31
L2	9:39
L3	5:39
L4	1:13
Total	24:03

Awesome. 8 minute miles make me happy.

Distance 3.1 miles
Cumulative distance miles 35.7 miles

Cool Stones

No teaching today, so I could get out on a run.  It feels odd; instead of trying to get out early to beat the heat, I  was waiting for it to warm up a bit.  It's overcast, and feels like it might rain though the rain stopped yesterday.  I thought I'd run through Grove Hill neighborhood, and make a choice when I got to Moore's Mill, either right towards Ogletree and back that way, the long way, or left and back on University, the short way.  I decided to go left, but instead of heading back on University, I decided to continue up Moore's Mill.  While it's cool, and I've got legs and breath, why not? I came up Moore's Mill all the way to Samford, and back along Samford to Gay St. As I passed the Junior High, there were some kids on the sidewalk.  I wasn't sure if they would let me pass on the sidewalk or I'd have to go around.  Just as I came up to them, they cleared, and one of them gave me a fist bump and a smile.  That gave me a warm fuzzy boost of energy.  The rest of my run felt fine, and I'm loving the cooler weather, at least for running.

Playlist -More Rolling Stones
Let It Bleed -from "Let It Bleed"
Sympathy for the Devil -from "Beggars' Banquet"
No Expectations -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Jigsaw Puzzle -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Street Fighting Man -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Prodigal Son -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Stray Cat Blues -from "Beggars' Banquet"
Gimme Shelter -from "Let It Bleed"
Midnight Rambler -from "Get Your Ya-Yas Out"
Jumping Jack Flash -from "Get Your Ya-Yas Out"
Rocks Off -from "Exile on Main Street"
Casino Blues -from "Exile on Main Street"
Sweet Virginia -from "Exile on Main Street"

Times
L1 26:07
L2 16:53
L3 6:00
L4 11:06
L5 0:52
Total 1:00:58

Distance 6.5 miles
Cumulative 11.3 miles.  On track, though like Ba says,  gotta up the mileage to get ready for the half marathon in October.

Let It Bleed

I've once again let the month get a little older than I wanted before hitting the pavement again. I did get out this evening, after a very rainy windy Labor Day, complete with tornado warnings, wind advisories, etc. But it was nice and cool and breezy and only a little damp out as I headed up Gay St. to Thach, over to Armstrong, and back down Wright's Mill. I haven't been on this route in a while, and I was a little disappointed that it didn't quite make 5 miles. So I'm off to my start for the month, and a little behind. But as they say in Mexico, "Hay tiempo".

Playlist (Let it Bleed, the Rolling Stones)

Gimme Shelter

Love In Vain

Country Honk

Live With Me

Let It Bleed

Midnight Rambler

You Got the Silver

Monkey Man

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Times

L1 12:49

L2 6:15

L3 7:44

L4 15:51

L5 0:52

Total 43:31

Distance 4.8 miles

Cumulative 4.8 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

Getting Close

...to the end of the month. Last week's 5K was canceled due to stormy weather. It's be a mix of overcast and stormy off and on the past week til today. It did storm earlier, but right now it's muggy and overcast, but not even a drip. We need the rain very badly. Over the weekend, I got a terrible pain in my leg which made it unpleasant to even walk. A little ibuprofen (or Vitamin I, as I call it) and rest made it all but disappear. No hint of it this evening as I went out and ran up to Samford and back via College. If tomorrow's 5K pans out, I'll have my monthly goal for the second month.

Playlist, an odd melange
El Microfono -M.I.S.
Party in the U.S.A. -Miley Cyrus
Fireflies -Owl City
Life During Wartime -Talking Heads
Emperor Tomato Ketchup -Stereolab
What Goes On -Velvet Underground
On A Plain -Nirvana
Black Hole Sun -Soundgarden
Crush -Smashing Pumpkins
No Expectations -Rolling Stones
Mexican Radio -WoV

Times
12:41
6:23
7:40
3:42
11:47
0:54
Total 43:08. That's my best time for the route in a while. It's nice to see the time go down, even a little bit.

Distance 4.6 miles
Cumulative 37.4 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