Half Marathon Training Week Five

(Photo: Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

A week ago, Saturday, my daughter participated in the March For Our Lives in downtown Cleveland. The guy from cleveland.com caught this photo to the left, it's featured in an online slideshow.

Full-voiced, unafraid. I could not be more proud.

Distance: 6 miles
Duration: 59:29
Route: Lakeview Cemetery Loop
Temperature: 50°
Climate: cool, breezy & overcats
Pavement: dry
Mood: all right

My wife returned Thursday night. Parenting alone, getting out this past week has been impossible. But also, the hunger. Trying to eat at regular intervals, and in appropriate amounts. I've hit a consumption wall. Hungry and tired, and therefore unhappy and listless.

Of course, I am also going through post-show depression, so that's a thing. And the weather. And the wife out of town, and uuuhhhh ...

Stretches: yes

We were going to run four, but we ran six. Chris led me through the route he likes to take through the cemetery, which was pretty cool. The military plot (I did not know there is a military plot) is far down at the end of a cul-de-sac. We walked through the stones.

Also, got to show him the final resting place of Plain Dealer theater critic William F. McDermott.

Tomorrow we may run another six. I have catching up to do.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 167 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Still. Fifteen runs in March. How did that happen?

Half Marathon Training Week Four

Schedule prevents me from running with Chris Today, our schedules did not meet up. Big weekend, so glad yesterday turned out well. My girl went downtown for the march, the boy attended a masterclass in bass, the both got to see RENT and I closed my weekend of performances of The Way I Danced With You at Blank Canvas.

What's next?

2010 Playlist
Rocketeer - Far East Movement
Home - LCD Soundsystem
All You Need Is Now - Duran Duran
Shake It Up - Selena Gomez & The Scene
Psychic City - YACHT
Too Dramatic - Ra Ra Riot
Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) - Shakira ft. Freshlyground
Derezzed - Daft Punk
Blow - Kesha
On Melancholy Hill - Gorilaz
Hello - Martin Solveig & Dragonette
Dynamite - Taoi Cruz
Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club
Fuck You! - Cee-Lo Green

A playlist from when my children were about to be tweeners. Talk about pop music!

Distance: 5.82 miles
Route: Forest Hill-Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 32•
Climate: cold & windy
Pavement: dry
Mood: all right

Phone died part way through, I was supposed to go seven miles but I just ran until I needed to get back to take the boy to the tennis courts.

Tennis courts? Yes, really. Tennis courts.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 167.5 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.

These are my intentions.

Blank Canvas Theatre

Here's a thing. My kids eat breakfast before they go to school. That means around 7:00 AM. If I eat with them, I am hungry by nine. If I wait to eat breakfast until nine, then I can make it to lunch.

1999 Playlist
Push Downstairs - Underworld
I Want You To Want Me - Letters to Cleo
Blame - Everything But the Girl
Porcelain - Moby
The Generator - Lilys
Push Upstairs - Underworld
Compression - Everything But the Girl

First performance of The Way I Danced With You at Blank Canvas last night. Nice crowd for a Thursday, I mean a really nice crowd. It was good to see so many friends there. Friends and strangers. It also felt good to hear people reacting to the work, they are a lovely duo and the director has done remarkable work with them.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Pace: 8:39
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 28°
Climate: bright & cold
Pavement: dry
Mood: good

It has been a difficult wee, schedules a little crazy. The wife is in France (yes!) with her mother and her sister. I feel ad to be leaving the kids home alone most nights to go to rehearsal, but they're fine, really. And friends are helping with transportation. Still, it's a little dizzying and it makes my heart ache. I am fortunate it is just for a few nights. That's the only way to put it, fortunate.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 168.5 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.

I try to remember to take my phone with me for every run now, in case I have a heart attack.This isn't a joke.

Law man has put an end to my running and I'm so far from my home.

The first day of spring, and I am on my own. The children are here, of course. But the wife, her sister and mother are flying to Paris. They should be there by now, except the transportation gods thought they needed a little more time in Airportland, to be guided through different cities, and to get to know each other better over warmed-over mall food before being distracted by the City of Lights.

She left yesterday morning before lunch. They should get there by this evening.

March 20th is, of course, the vernal equinox. It is also Calvin's Day. But the children will go to school, I will go to work. Visiting the zoo, the aquarium, his grave, these things will have to wait until we are re-united. And that is all right. Waiting is also a thing I can do.

1979 Playlist
Renegade - Styx
Let's Go - The Cars
Disorder - Joy Division
Got the Time - Joe Jackson
Got To Be Real - Cheryl Lynn
Ring My Bell - Anita Ward

Distance: 2.35 miles
Route: Newbury Loop
Temperature: 28°
Climate: cold & cloudy
Pavement: dry
Mood: hungry

Stretches: yes!

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 169.5 lbs. (+2.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Needed to get a prop - a yearbook - across town last night. There will be staged performances of my new play The Way I Danced With You at Blank Canvas Theatre this weekend. I encouraged the boy to come with me by promising dinner at Happy Dog. Not a light supper, but highly satisfying.

Half Marathon Training Week Three

Bright, sunny day. Cold but sweaty. Much more pleasant than last week, but also shorter. Talking, making our way up inclines is easier. Something to distract. We have a good time.

Distance: 4.4 miles
Duration: 41:04
Route: Lakeview-Uptown Circuit
Temperature: 38°
Climate: cool and bright
Pavement: damp, mostly clear
Mood: good

Headed to see a run-through of the play this afternoon. Hope that goes just as well!

Stretches: not really. a little.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 167 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Don't stop. Get it, get it.

Ducks on ice.

I'm not Irish.

2005 Playlist
Every Day Is Exactly The Same - Nine Inch Nails
Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand
Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
Keep Hope Alive (JDS Mix) - The Crystal Method
Sixteen Military Wives
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz ft. De La Soul

Not my favorite playlist. For some reason, it's not a particularly long one. Lot of repeats, year to year. Probably all the children's music I was listening to that year.

Distance: 3.55 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 37°
Climate: bright & cool
Pavement: damp with islands of snow
Mood: better

Such a bright, shiny day, you wouldn't think it's in the mid-30s. Went out in my shorts, thought I'd do two -- Chris and I are running four tomorrow. But that sun ... headed into the park, instead. A bit winded, but I'm also hungry.

Hunger makes me depressed. I am sure that it does for everyone.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 168 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Run for your life.

Stupid fucking dog.

A late winter torpor. Perhaps its the end of the tour Maybe it' that I am dreading my wife leaving the country next week. Maybe it's the general fucked-uppedness of the nation. And maybe it's just the snow and cold, which will not end any time in the next ten days.

1965 Playlist
Nowhere To Run - Martha & The Vandellas
Meditation - Astrud Gilberto
Shotgun - Junior Walker & The All-Stars
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - The Beatles
I Want To Be Your Driver - Chuck Berry
Five O'Clock World - The Vogues
Run For Your Life - The Beatles
Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) - Kim Weston
The Last Time - The Rolling Stones
You've Got Your Troubles - The Fortunes
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

This year, we reach back as far as 1965. Surprised to find an interesting variety of tunes in my collection to make up such a list.

Distance: 3 miles
Route: Rec Center
Mood: dealing

This morning, walking my son to the bus, I was bitten by a dog. It didn't break the skin, just a nasty abrasion and a bruise. I thought I had given fair warning, but, you know. Old man, big fucking dog.

I hate dogs. I hate all dogs. I hate your dog.

Stretches: not enough

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 169 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Rubber Soul is the second-best Beatles album, after Revolver. Except for "Run For Your Life," which is horrible. Interesting; John writes "Norwegian Wood" about cheating on his wife, and "Run For Your Life," the most jaunty song of aggressively homicidal jealousy ever written.

I have chased so many dreams.

Tried to get three in at the rec center, then got a call from the girl that rehearsal broke a little early. Still, wasn't sure there would be exercise today. I am surprised that there was. Yippee!

1985 Playlist
Lay Your Hands On Me (12" Version) - Thompson Twins
Some People - Belouis Some
Stay Up Late - Talking Heads
Listen Like Thieves - INXS
America - Prince & The Revolution

Like the 80s? Join me next weekend for performances of my new script, The Way I Danced With You at Blank Canvas Theatre.

Distance: 2 miles
Route: Rec Center
Mood: okay
Stretches: yes

The girl is performing in her first two act play, Noises Off, at the high school. That's pretty exciting! It's driving her nuts.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (+1.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Too many White Russians.

Half Marathon Week Training Two

Yesterday was a bit of a celebration, wasn't it? Swenson's and mac & cheese for dinner. Still, trying to control that intake. Was using a different notch in my belt yesterday, that was fun for a few hours.

Distance: 6.79
Duration: 1:09:38
Route: Shaker Lakes/Square
Temperature: 33°
Climate: cold
Pavement: crusty with snow & ice
Mood: chatty

Chris's watch says we went a little over six miles, but my phone says we did six and three-quarters. It was a fun run, we started at his house and ran around Shaker Lakes, and then around Shaker Square. I like talking to Chris, but dammit I am sick and tired of cold and snow. I wouldn't even mind the cold but the ice and snow is just irritating, literally irritating.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 168.5 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Was gonna have ramen for lunch, but the wife suggest granola and yogurt, because I had a bagel with cream cheese and jam for breakfast. And I love that idea! Except I'm going to add banana and raisins. Cool! Crazy! Wild man!

No need to run, no need to hide.

Short run, tomorrow another conditioning run with Chris. The plan is to make six miles. I can do six miles.

2004 Playlist
Just a Ride - Jem
TKO - Le Tigre
All Night - Sam Phillips
L-L-Love - Astaire
Black Horse & The Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall
Breathe Me - Sia

All female vocalists for National Women's Month!

Distance: 2.35 miles
Route: Newbury Loop
Temperature: 32°
Climate: cold & bright
Pavement: snow drifts
Mood: all right

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 169 lbs. (-1.0)
New Goal: 165 lbs.

Yes, we are in the 160s and have achieved a new goal. To celebrate, we're getting carryout from Swenson's.

Moving in circles.

Another trip to Heights Recreation Center with the kids. The girl, she is fierce, determined to make it through the winter prepared for soccer season. The boy uses the machines for a few minutes and then watches his screen, alas.

1984 Playlist
You Take Me Up (12" Version) - Thompson Twins
I Feel For You (Remix)  - Chaka Khan
Let's Go Crazy - Prince & The Revolution
Living On Video - Tans-X

For the twentieth anniversary of The Big Lewbowski, I have been enjoying White Russians the past few nights. Fact is, I saw it once in 1998, and never since. Weird, right?

Distance: 3 miles
Route: Rec Center
Mood: Good

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Outrun my gun.

Good luck, Charlie.
No, really. Be safe.

There have been many sweet moments in our little life here as a four-piece family. It is not embarrassing at all to say there are certain pieces of Disney Channel created event tunes which make me want to cry because they remind me of when my daughter was a "tweener" and enjoying the harmless, pretend teenage lifestyle represented in the programs on that channel.

That time before today.

2011 Playlist
Breakthrough - Lemonade Mouth
Not Fade Away - Florence & The Machine
Feel So Close - Calvin Harris
Paradise - Coldplay
Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People
Lotus Flower (Jacques Greene Remix) - Radiohead
Guns & Horses - Ellie Goulding

Pain in my hip, but man I ran well. Keep going. Just keep moving.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 33°
Climate: very light precipitation
Pavement: damp
Mood: conflicted

Over the cold. Just over it. This is when that happens, it's March and you look at the forecast and it's low-thirties for the next ten days.

We are officially postponing Calvin's Day until the wife returns from France (yes, she's going to France!) which means there is a greater possibility - though by no means a certainty - that it will be a nice day. Who knows? Sometimes it snows in April.

Stretches: yes

I had a good thing going, and I still do -- I exercise every day. At least ten minutes, every day. Not much, but also far from nothing. But the writing has stopped. Sleep habits have gone to the wayside and waking has become an issue. I can do something about that. I'm an adult.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 171 lbs. (+1.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

wtf

Half Marathon Week Training One

First week of half marathon training. Chris, his girlfriend Allie and I will meet for long runs on Sundays.

Distance: 5.32 miles
Duration: 53:59
Route: Lee/Taylor/Monticello Loop
Temperature: 33°
Climate: cool and sunny
Pavement: clumpy with snow clumps
Mood: detemined

They let me lead this week, and I brought them around a lot of my usual places, including by the high school and down Taylor Road.  I even showed them my house ... but had left my key at the rec center where we met.

Stretches: yes

Hey, I wrote a blog post about watching Pretty In Pink for the first time. Check it out.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Call me a hero, I might just agree.

There comes a point in any diet where my craving for fatty or sugary foods becomes supplanted with my addict's reflex. When I finally quit smoking (seventeen years this June, thank you) my success was achieved when I finally moved past that tipping point from "I really want to smoke" to "if I smoke it will taste horrible, last for a brief period of time, it won't feel good and then I will have smoked a cigarette and I don't actually want to do that."

And then I don't. So I am in that place where, when I am hungry I think very hard about what I will have, long enough to choose something good, not something bad. Should I get a small bag of Doritos? No, because it will taste like processed grain, last two minutes, and then I will still be hungry.

Ditto and especially sugar. I know there are communal Thin Mints in a drawer in the conference room. So, what, I'm going to dig into that box, pull out a couple, put them in my mouth and munch on them? It only taste a moment to realize that won't actually make me happy at all.

This is not always the case. It is the case now. There was a birthday at work this week, there was cake and ice cream. I had a small slice and a single scoop. I ate it slowly Now that tasted good!

1991 Playlist
Gett Off (Purple Pump Mix) - Prince & The NPG
Until the End of the World - U2
Tall Trees - Crowded House
Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) - Rozalla

Distance: 2.25 miles
Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 30•
Climate: sunny
Pavement: patchy with icy snow
Mood: decent

Short run, because Chris and I are supposed to put in five tomorrow. That means I will not be employing a playlist. You know what? Who cares! This is my life.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 170 lbs. Achievement Unlocked

Last year on March 6, I weighed 162.5 lbs. That was as light as I got before I started gaining weigh again. By mid-April, I stopped recording my weight. I was aware something was wrong in my leg, I was slowing down my running, I gave up, and I was ashamed and disheartened to be gaining weight back so soon.

I want to do better. I want to be better. I want to eat well, and stay healthy. I want to be 160 pounds, and to stay there.

All through the morning rain I gaze.

So? I applied for the New York Marathon, but I did not make the lottery. I will take this as a blessing in disguise. And perhaps I am not meant to run the same marathon twice. A good omen. I will take that as a good omen for the first day of March.

1971 Playlist
Strawberry Letter 23 - Shuggie Otis
Jeepster - T.Rex

Distance: .85 miles
Route: One time around the block.
Temperature: 44°
Climate: rain
Pavement: wet
Mood: driven

Nighttime gym trip afforded no time to properly stretch the other night. Is that why I ache a little? Perhaps it is. A lesson.

Stretches: yes!

Brisk run, just to warm up and take care of those stretches. Too much to do! Too much to see!

Also, shorts in the cold morning rain. Brr.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 170.5 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 170 lbs.