There's a coldness in the air, but I don't care.

Ohio is bisexual now.

Beautiful Christmas jazz in Cincinnati, then home. Now with snow! Had to skip Wednesday, the night before was miserable. Young cats like to keep me awake, old cats do, too. It is difficult, at 1:30 pm, to manage the chaos. I slept two, maybe three hours uninterrupted -- not consecutive hours, mind you. Just an hour or two that were uninterrupted in and of themselves.

Last night was not much better. And I have another stye.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:27
Route: rec center
Temperature: 27°
Climate: cold
Mood: tired

The Aughts

Get Innocuous! - LCD Soundsystem

Dilemma - Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland

Just Dance - Lady Gaga ft. Colby O'Donis

As the Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping Strings Remix) - Motorcycle

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs.

Goal: 155 lbs.

Membership renewed! One year as a rec center member, and it has paid off. But I need a revised goal. I don't need to be 155, I need to lean toward 155. Because of now, I am leaning in the wrong direction.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

¡Que no pare la fiesta!

The holidays begin. Last Wednesday I was inspired, and picked up a tree. Did not consult a soul, just did it. The tree is trimmed -- for the month -- the nutcrackers and other decorations are out, and we have started feeling festive. 

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 24:57

Track running for the time being. And me trying not to scarf the snacks. Yeah, I made a pie on Saturday night. You have a pumpkin, you make pie. 

Short trip to Cincy to hear some live, holiday jazz. Can you blame us?

Route: rec center
Temperature: 29°
Climate: cloudy & cold
Mood: determined

On the 10s Playlist

Running Up That Hill - Meg Myers

Don't Stop the Party - Pitbull ft. TJR

Harvest Moon - Poolside

Only Girl (In the World) - Rihanna

Surrender Under Protest - Drive-By Truckers

Blackout - Frank Turner

Doncamatic - Gorillaz ft. Daley

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 163 lbs.

Tweaked my ankle after the race, I have found ankle rolls to be very effective at alleviating the pain. Run today was good and swift.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Good Lord, is it me? Am I the jerk? I'm just trying to run here, people, read the signs.

Music and love have magnetic properties.

Yes, glad I did the Turkey Trot. My fastest five mile was in the 36 minute range, and that was a very long time ago. But we do not need to go fast. This is the only official race photo they got of me, I'm trying to turn on IG so I can record a few moments by the Guardians of Traffic and I look up and there's the photographer and even then I thought, well that's going to be the dumbest picture ever.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 24:34

Route: rec center
Temperature: 32°
Climate: cold
Mood: all right

Roaring Twenties Playlist

White Horses - Wolf Alice

Mutante (Gui Boratto Rework) - Rita Lee & Roberto De Carvalho

Bean Fields - Shannon & The Clams

Fortnight (BLOND:ISH Remix) - Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone

The Loop *  - Toro y Moi

Open Relations - Heart Bones

The song "White Horses" popped up on The Current a month or so ago and I was playing it so loud and it filled my entire soul and I couldn't stop moving to it and now it's my favorite song of the year.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 161 lbs.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

2025 Cleveland Turkey Trot

2025 Cleveland Turkey Trot
Distance: 5 miles
Start: 9:30 AM
Official Time: 42:41.88
Pace: 8:32
Place Overall: 581 of 2018
Place Men 55-59: 19 of 67
Temperature: 33°
Climate: wind & light snow
Mood: Okay, so we're doing this.

Have not raced in some time. Have not raced in inclement weather for longer than that. Just walking to the venue from my parking spot was horrid, the wind coming off Lake Erie was almost unbearable.

I ask myself, why am I doing this? It’s not pleasant, it’s not social. I should be at home watching the parade, safe and warm.

The staging area, Public Hall, was a relief. Vast and clean, at least I could wait for the start in comfort.

155 - 164 BPM Playlist

Another Sunny Day - Belle & Sebastian

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen

If I Can't Change Your Mind - Sugar

Shadows in the Rain - The Police

Why Should I cry For You - Sting

A Man Needs to Be Told - The Charlatans

Twistin' the Night Away - Sam Cooke

Bejeweled - Taylor Swift

Everything - Nine Inch Nails

These Dreams - Heart

Give Me Back My Man - The B-52's

I started far back in the pack, which was unfortunate. It took a while before I could actually run. My fault. But soon I was running freer and could focus on just enjoying myself. And it was pretty all right. 

But I was even regretting choosing the five mile instead of the 5K ... until we split off around the second mile. At Carnegie and Ontario they took a right, and we continued onto the bridge. Oh, yeah. This is why. I would have missed that. Lorain-Carnegie, down West 25th and onto the Detroit-Superior. Worth it.

By the time I reached the finish line I was feeling good, and satisfied. My time was great, all things considered. And it was a well-organized race full of happy runners. But for a race like this, I really missed having a partner. Maybe next time.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

I got my shaking move.

Thanksgiving week begins, I rise early to be in and out of the gym before a plumber arrives to fix the dishwasher. This is only the beginning of our many escapades.

On a whim, I decided to apply for the Turkey Trot, gobble gobble. Haven't done that one in (checks notes) ten years??? Well, I guess it's been ten years. For many years since then we have been in Athens on Thanksgiving, the past several years, well. You know.

But this year few are coming into town and we are not going out of town. Why not a race. I haven't even participate in a race in (checks notes) two years???

Today, I will run, then rest for two days before the Thursday five mile. Maybe it will snow?

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:47

Upbeat Thanksgiving Mix

A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey (162 bpm)

Another Sunny Day - Belle & Sebastian (156 bpm)

Do You Love Me - The Contours (151 bpm)

Common People - William Shatner

Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing - Stevie Wonder

Proud Mary - Tina Turner

Love Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon

Route: rec center
Temperature: 34°
Climate: clear & cold
Mood: all right

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 161 lbs.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: TBA

I'm on the dark side of the street (not the light side of the street).

We reach the end of another (abridged) week. I am full of anxiety but I do not know why. I mean, there are reasons. I have a headache for one. Don't appreciate that. But there are a myriad of little things, many of them are normal, I guess. The writing contest matinee approaches, the possibility of additional work, the IRS thing, the writing, the research.

I reached back and found that an anniversary is approaching for a particular artistic piece which has not aged well. But I want to share it. Should I fear? So many wonderful people collaborated on it, but I made a couple mistakes. Should I draw attention to it? Probably. Admit your mistakes and move on. Though, it's much easier when they are simply memory-holed. 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:10
Pace: 8:46

God, it feels like years since my last run. Two days, but it feels like years. These have been busy days. I should embrace that. And what about today?

Everything But the Girl Workout Playlist

Lullaby of Clubland (Jay 'Sinister' Sealee Remix)

Come On Home (Extended Mix)

Twin Cities (Wildwood Remix)

One Place (acoustic)

Driving (Masters at Work Racing Mix)

These Early Days (Dave Bascombe Remix)

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 43°
Climate: sun w/light clouds
Mood: all right

Lovely, outdoor run. Wore the jacket, brought gloves which I removed halfway through. Still slight head pain but there is so much to do today -- and so much time to do it! 

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 164 lbs.

Maintain, son. Maintain.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

My head’s so clear.

Okay, I did it. An hour-long playlist featuring one track from every single Everything But the Girl LP. That's including from Worldwide.* 

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:53

Everything But the Girl Workout Playlist

Five Fathoms (Kevin Yost Everything & a Groove Mix)
Fascination 

Nothing Left to Lose (Extended Club Mix)

When All's Well

Rollercoaster (King Britt Scuba Remix)

Route: rec center
Temperature: 35°
Climate: partly cloudy
Mood: get it

A few days off become anxious, I have been neglectful, and there is so much to do. I need to re-collect. Last night we were back in town, had dinner with old friends. Tonight my slate is clean, but that also requires planning and preparation.

Make. Clean. Do. Read. Write. These are things I enjoy. Feel good. It will feel alright.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

*Two tracks from Temperamental to make it an hour, and nothing from their eponymous American debut because it is mostly identical to their UK debut Eden.