This cowboy's running from himself.

Pengo judges you.

Last day of school, regular school, with classes, for all of us. The boy's last day was yesterday, graduating eighth graders get the last day off. The girl had a test. The wife, commencement, and I visited actor-teachers at a high school.

Big fights broke out at our high school. Nice work, assholes, we're all over the news. Twitter is on fire with talk of gangs. It was a fist fight between five young women, that shit happens everywhere.

Distance: 3.7 miles
Duration: 32:36
Pace: 8:48
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 72°
Climate: sunny & hot!
Mood: could be better
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

Okay, so I'm running the park today and there's these guys marking out paths for a big, scheduled trail run tomorrow. It's called The Forgotten, to raise money for the Easy Cleveland Parks Association The guys say I can just show up, and maybe I will.

2014 Playlist
Batches & Cookies - Lizzo ft. Sophia Eris
Riptide - Vance Joy
BoJack's Theme - Patrick & Ralph Carney
Light Will Keep Your Heart Beating In the Future - Mike Doughty
Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon
#Selfie - The Chainsmokers
After the Disco - Broken Bells
Daffodils - Mark Ronson ft. Kevin Parker
My Type - Saint Motel
I'm Not the Only One - Sam Smith

Not a great year for me, but there was a lot of great music.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-2.5)
Goal: 170 lbs. Achievement Unlocked

King Lear opens at Beck Center tonight.

Run instead of walking.

Decadent nights. A late birthday party. The end-of-year affair for the residency program. I have consumed more calories in the past two nights than the past two weeks. I exaggerate. But not by much.

I spent five hours cleaning the house today. And it remains clean! God, I remember back in the day, when we would clean the house ... and then after the party there would be beer all over the floor, and cigarette smoke in the air and all of the fabric of the house. Today was so nice, most of the party took place outdoors.

Even the outdoors is nice. Things work out well. We are good.

Distance: 3.20 miles
Duration: 29:30
Pace: 9:12
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 71°
Climate: sunny & HUMID
Mood: weary
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

Farewell, Nike Flight headphones, we shall never meet again. This discontinued headphone got me through the NYC Marathon and so much training since, but seriously. I got these secondhand online and they worked fine, until today. Always the wires next to the input. The shortest lived phones I have ever owned. So, suck it.

Can anyone recommend decently priced Bluetooth phones? It's time.

1970 Playlist
Your Song - Elton John
I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel

I was unaware of Your Song, until a girl wrote the lyrics to give to me. To me. It is my song.

Anyway, the phones went out and I tried running to the sound of my own breathing but it was a little difficult to take. Very humid today, very bright. Then I remembered I was holding an actual phone.

The Current
Tumult Around the World - Titus Andronicus
Ophelia - The Lumineers
Boozophilia - Low Cut Connie

That's right. Turn on the radio, and I get two Shakespeare references.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 172.5 lbs. (+0.5)
Goal: 170 lbs.

The phones are tight and the music's playing loud.

Home much housework can I get done before two pm? I was going to sleep until seven, but a cat started to vomit on my wife's desk around six-thirty so I had to spring into action and get him off of there before he launched. So I have been picking up a little while I wake. Simple breakfast, crossword, watched an episode of The Umbrella Academy while I folded laundry, only got halfway through.

This is what I do when the family i out of town. I do housework, and then I write about it.

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 27:00
Pace: 9:00
Route: Neighborhood Loop

Can't figure out why my left toe is hurting. Does this have anything to do with the bend in the joints? I have (more or less) successfully kept from developing a bunion for thirteen years. Keeping my toe straight, running with intention. But this is a pain which make me feel like I have been putting too much stress inward, landing on the inside of my foot.

Or maybe it's just irritation from a callous building up from all the running. I will continue to monitor.

Temperature: 70°
Climate: rain!
Mood: all right
Stretches: a little
Bandage: forgot

Decided to stay close to home, as it was threatening to rain. And then it did - a little. A pleasant rain. Makes a difference when I am wearing a cap with a bill rather than being caught in a downpour in a bandanna. Hardly noticed it. Hardly brought the temperature down, I am a sweaty boy.

I think it's just the shoes, and the way I run in it. I don't really like these shoes, I should get a new pair.

1980 Playlist
The Wanderer - Donna Summer
Over You - Roxy Music
Ceremony (demo) - New Order
Go For It - Graham Gouldman
Skateaway - Dire Straits
Transmission - Joy Division
Another Nail In My Heart - Squeeze

It's so cute listening to Bernard Sumner pretend like he can sing.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 172 lbs. (+1.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Gonna make you sweat.

First full run-through.

Last night, in rehearsal (where I spent a lot of time standing and in flat shoes) I thought I was feeling pain in my calf. I believe I should wear the bandage for more time.

Also, diet. Rehearsal keeps me from additional calories, like alcohol (drank last night, tho) and things Like popcorn, sweets, dinner.

Two months ago, I maxed out at 183 pounds. The fact that I lost that much weight in this short amount of time is a testament to how I gained the weight and what it consisted of -- shit in my system. Junk, trash, not food.

This time last year I weighed almost ten pounds less than I do today. And that is where I want to be. That part will be much, much harder.

The rewards, however, are evident. Less weary, less winded, and able to run further and feel better.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 34:29
Pace: 8:37
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 72°
Climate: sunny, humid and PERFECT
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes!

Less weight, more heat, faster run. Hate the cold now, it's so bad for my muscles. Now I am warm, more pores are open, and I am flying. Good news!

1990 Playlist
I'm Your Baby Tonight - Whitney Houston
Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
It's All Right With Me - Tom Waits
Heal the Pain - George Michael
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C+C Music Factory
Suck - Pigface
Let's Talk About Sex - Salt-N-Pepa
Soul Free - George Michael
Take Me - Everything But the Girl

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 171 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

So now. What is up with my right foot?

Run around, around, around, around, around.

Opening next week!

Three-day weekend. Going into tech, the family is headed to Athens tomorrow. I will be on my own, alone. I have already made mad-crazy plans to clean house, do yard work, and run every day.

Can't be too crazy. Tech is seven hours. Seven hours tomorrow, Seven hours Sunday. So I won't actually be home that much. But, oh! Those mornings.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Duration: 29:25
Pace: 9:03
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: overcast and humid
Mood: angsty ... but good, you know?
Stretches: yes
Bandage: no!

Ran through the woods with my earphones out, as if I could outrun a coyote if I heard one. Brisk, hot, just as I have been looking forward to. And no bandage! I believe I am healed, though I will take extra care from this out.

2000 Playlist
Idioteque - Radiohead
Payback (The Final Mixdown) - Fatboy Slim
I Feel the Air (Of Another Planet) - Stereolab
Barock - Plastik  Stereolab
Sem Contenção - Bebel Gilberto
Uninvited - The Bostonians
Morning Bell - Radiohead

Someone recommend music for the year 2000. It's like I wasn't listening anything but the new Radiohead and Stereolab albums

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 172 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.

The perfect road.

Spotted a young coyote in the park today, yapping at us ... which is cute and all, but where are the parents? I chose not to go through the woods. Curious, though. Am I to avoid the woods entirely now? I know they are more like to be spooked when humans come through, but not if they are protecting young, right? I will look into this. The last thing I want to do is suggest their removal from the park.

Distance: 3.15 miles
Duration: 28:38
Pace: 9:05
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: overcast & breezy
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

I believe my injury has healed, but I am not taking chances.

2010 Playlist
Dance Yrself Clean - LCD Soundsystem
Waka Wka (This Time For Africa) - Shakira ft. Freshlyground
Infinity Guitars - Sleigh Bells
Change of Time - Josh Ritter
Come With Me - ceo
Sleepyhead - Passion Pit
Derezzed - Daft Punk
Firework - Katy Perry

The first will be the last, we exit the '10s a decade of profound civil strife. Taking months to conclude this year's annual playlists have afforded me time to leisurely ruminate over what has passed. This playlist is a crazy amalgam of what I was listening to and what my my tweener daughter listened to. Much of it was the same, I have to admit.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 172 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 170 lbs.

When your head tells you to run.

Hot run! Summer has officially started. Now, if I could only stay one step ahead of the lawn.

Distance: 2.62 miles
Duration: 22:00
Pace: 8:23
Route: Newbury Loop
Temperature: 84°
Climate: sunny & HOT
Mood: good, you know?
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

2.62 miles for my brothers and sisters and others running the local MARATHON today!

1965 Playlist
The Night Before - The Beatles
Love Is Like an Itching In My Heart - The Supremes
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - The Beatles
The One On The Right Is On The Left - Johnny Cash
Five O'clock World - The Vogues
Shake and Fingerpop - Jr. Walker at the All Stars
You've Been In Love Too Long - Martha & the Vandellas
Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
I Spy - Earle Hagen
Route 66 (Live) * - The Rolling Stones

Goodness, what a summer playlist! Man, we didn't listen to any one that when I was a kid, except the Beatles. Just ignorant of America.

Scale is not functioning.

Gonna run till my feet are raw.

S.O.S.!

Sill wrapping the leg, even though I have not had an issue with it for about a week. It was a brisk solo run, and it felt good. Thinking about the script. We don't have the reading until June, which is good, because I don't feel pressured to begin revision. But I have ideas. Interactive ideas. More fluids and food.

Distance: 3.2 miles
Duration: 28:51
Pace: 9:01
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 54°
Climate: sunny & beautiful
Mood: good
Stretches: almost forgot!
Bandage: yes

1975 Playlist
Slip Kid - The Who
The Hustle  - Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
Ease On Down the Road - Stephanie Mills & Company
The Time Warp - Richard O'Brien & Company
'39 - Queen
Slow Ride - Foghat
S.O.S. - ABBA
Black Country Woman - Led Zeppelin
Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire

Cooldown:
That's The Way I Like It - KC and the Sunshine Band

Black Country Woman, not good for running. Walked a bit during that one. Otherwise, disco! Yeah!

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 172.5 lbs. (-2.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Your mind won't wiggle and your knees will bend.

Today at noon!

Another night of reckless, decadent abandon. Sarah has returned to us following her West Coast adventure, and so the boy determined to create a fried feast of chicken wings and (for the vegetarians among us) buffalo cauliflower.

Whether due to the absinthe or the weather I woke with a slight pain in my head, but rose dutifully to consider and memorize lines. Lear opens in three weeks.

Distance: 4.65 miles
Duration:47:29
Pace: 10:12
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 46°
Climate: cool, after the rains
Mood: weary
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

Oof. Not as delightful as yesterday. A cool, overcast day, not unpleasant. But two out-of-shape guys, each of whom skipped breakfast, who did four miles yesterday, chugging a long, also walking.

My calf has gone two days, back to back, without pain or issue. Will continue to monitor and take care to wrap, and to stretch.

1985 Playlist
How Will I Know - Whitney Houston
Smooth Operator - Sade
Like Wow Wipeout - Hoodoo Gurus
Shadows In The Rain - Sting
King of Rock - Run-D.M.C.
Stay Up Late - Talking Heads
Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 174.5 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Follow down the path of least resistance.

"I don't eat."

- George L. Tirebiter

Backslider, last night we went to a pub where I had a basket of fries with batter fried fish. It was Friday! Anyway, when I eat in moderation, I lose a little weight. But there's that word, moderation.

Side note; now in rehearsal, I do not drink, five nights a week. To think that is weird. Last night I had one beer, which in a bar setting I might consider strange. That I can moderate. I have become enamored of water.

But there's the fried fish. I wouldn't eat a salad at a pub, anyway. Who would?

Distance: 4.85 miles
Duration: 44:51
Pace: 9:15
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 50°
Climate: shiny & cool
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

Stepped outside, wearing shorts but also a windbreaker. It was in the upper 40s. But the sun! I went without the jacket, and so glad I did, it's so sunny it doesn't feel like the lower 50s.

Met Chris and we did our usual path. Good talk, Engame, being old and/or overweight, theater shit. All the usual things.

1995 Playlist
Roll With Me * - Del Amitri
Stupid Girl - Garbage
The Brooklynites - Soul Coughing
Vaseline - Elastica
Car Song - Elastica
We Prick You  - David Bowie
Hold Me Now - Elastica
I'll Keep Coming Back - Chanelle

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 174.5 lbs. (+1.0)
New Goal: 170 lbs.

Got your chin held high and you feel just fine.

Rehearsals make running impossible. Caught a short one this morning, I need to get the eighteen week training schedule on the calendar.

Ran the whole thing, no pain -- until just before I stopped. Pushed it out to 3.25. But so far things are going well, I need to rest and recuperate, in equal amounts

Distance: 3.25 miles
Duration: 28:55
Pace: 8:54
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: bright and shiny
Mood: determined
Stretches: yes
Wrapped: yes

Beautiful day in the park. It's gosling season! Last night I dreamed I was attacked by a dog. Love goslings, hate dogs.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 173.5 lbs. (-4.0)
Goal: 175 lbs. Achievement Unlocked

I have been eating less. I have been eating when I am hungry, and that's it. You know, that's not it. I had a piece of carrot cake yesterday. I slim slice of Corbo's carrot cake (my favorite cake) and it was sweet and creamy and delicious and just enough and not too much.

2005 Playlist
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Don't Look Back - Telepopmusik
I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic! at the Disco
I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
Winners - 7 Seconds of Love
Modern Times - The Tramp & J-Five
Dirty Harry - Gorillaz
The Hands That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails
Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge

Okay. Now I'm feeling it.

My socks and underwear I like to keep them clean.

This is my leg.

And we're back.

Distance: 4.38 miles
Duration: 42:21
Pace: 9:39
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 44°
Climate: misty, foggy & cool
Mood: not bad, considering
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

Met up with Chris at the park. Chose to run out, no idea what would happen if my leg seized upon my way out. Short story, it didn't. First made sure to do gentle stretches, and to wrap. Stopped after a block to re-wrap, as it was far too tight. It didn't hurt, it was uncomfortable and felt like it would lead to a poor stride.

Took it easy, Chris was (unintentionally) compelling me to go faster than I otherwise would have. I did my best to notice and communicate this. Two blocks from home I began to feel something and chose to walk the rest of the way.

Now, I will elevate and ice and rest before cleaning up. It's been a long week.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 177.5 lbs. (-1.5)
Goal: 175 lbs.

As I have not been exercising, not even to do upper body work (no time! no time!) I have been very careful about not overeating ... until last night. The wife and I got to spend one-on-one time for the first time in a week. Rehearsals for King Lear started on Sunday, and have taken up my evenings since.

It was also the first time I have had alcohol since last Saturday, which doesn't feel odd, but it's odd to think.

2015 Playlist
The Shade - Metric
Water * - Ra Ra Riot
Disappointing - John Grant ft. Tracey Thorn
Restless - New Order
The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box - Modest Mouse

Cooldown:
Complexity - Eagles of Death Metal