Walk lightly.

I did not imagine four miles was overdoing it, but that is what happened. Mammoth blisters on both of my big toes -- and three adjacent toes (that's five out of ten, for those of you scoring at home.) In addition, the balls of my feet feel like someone took a blackjack to them, and the back of my shins ache (not shin splints, those are in front.) 

I was hobbling around yesterday like an old man, though that did not prevent me from walking half a mile up the beach to take the boy fishing.

Oh, and my hips ache.

Complicating matters, some of our fellow houseguests brought a bag of fat, spicy, Slim Jim-like snacks which I sampled throughout the day yesterday and now I have some nasty, cramping diarrhea. Also, I have a sore throat, which I can only attribute to all the air conditioning.

I'm not complaining, mind, this is a great vacation. But I am a mess. Welcome to Day Two.

Distance: 2 miles
Temperature: 69°

That was majestic. Yesterday, at roughly the same time of day, people were already out in numbers. It was sunny and hot. Last night it stormed (so they tell me, I heard not a thing) bringing the temperature down and keeping everyone inside. For most of them, like us, today also is probably their "second day" and perhaps sleeping in was on their agenda as well. But not for me.

My toes were ripped up because of the sand, of course. But if you looked at my footprint yesterday, you would see how deeply I was digging into that sand with my toes. Today the sand was packed and I hit it with the middle of my foot, feeling my foot roll over the surface of the surface.

Super Bon Bon Genius Playlist
Soft Serve - Soul Coughing
Sugar On My Tongue - Talking Heads
I'm The Man Who Loves You - Wilco
Radio Song - R.E.M. ft. KRS-One
Slippery People - Talking Heads
Hang Me Up To Dry (182 bpm) - Cold War Kids

During racing season, the kids overheard stories on the news about horse doping, and they wanted to know what that meant. I told them people give pain relievers to the horses so they can't feel pain, and run faster -- and that's why they get injured, they can't listen to the signals their legs are giving to them.

Running shoes do that. By absorbing impact in the feet, we do not notice the damage being done to the rest of the leg, the knee, the hip. I am becoming a hippie barefoot running convert.