It's 7:00 AM! Move yourself to go again.

Pathetic Geek Stories

Oh! The pain! I was doing a lot of bending and kneeling in the kitchen last night, and I just didn't want to stand up. Also, sometime the muscles in my abdomen hurt, like where I had my hernia operation. This has been the case for years, I comes, to goes. When I am in shape, when I have been working my muscels, these pains do not happen (much).  When they go slack, they do.

I'm becoming an old man. Not yet. Getting there. How many more years of running?

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 30:01
Pace: 10:00
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 60°
Climate: after the rain, sunny & perfect
Mood: good
Weight: 189.5 lbs. (+3.0)

All right.

Intake

Breakfast: coffee (2x)

Lunch: Galley Boy, potato teesers, fried mushrooms, milkshake

Dinner: toasted macaroni & cheese with bacon sandwich, beer

Cocktail: old fashioned, chocolate

Late night snack: Bowl of cereal

Also, Fizzy water (2x)

Good call, running early. The clouds blew in, the temperature dropped, the rain resumed. Might snow in the next day or so? Warm again next week. It was beautiful, though I changed up the route a little to avoid dogs and their walkers.

1980 Playlist

Too Many Creeps - Bush Tetras

Rapture - Blondie

Echo Beach - Martha & the Muffins

Coming Up - Paul McCartney

Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie

Same Old Scene - Roxy Music

The Magnificent Seven - The Clash

You're moving way too fast.

Ok, whatever.

Still not where I want to be. I need to run consistently, for maybe two weeks. I'll jog out, and start to lose my breath after a tenth of a mile. Eventually my breathing is no longer tight, and the rest of the run is good. But if I can stay with it. that initial anxiety and shortness of breath doesn't happen.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:55
Pace: 9:58
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: overcast & perfect
Mood: good

Intake

Breakfast: cereal w/milk, coffee (2x)

Treat at the physical therapist's office: Twix Bar

Lunch: ramen w/egg

Snack: almonds

Dinner: BBQ squash, cole slaw, rice pilaf, beer

Dessert: boba tea

Candy bar? Before lunch? Man, you're not even trying.

2000 Playlist

Bohemian Like You - The Dandy Warhols

Do It Now - Dubtribe Sound System

Uninvited - The Bostonians 

Renegade of Funk - Rage Against the Machine

It's Gonna Be Me - *NSYNC

Oops! ... I Did It Again - Britney Spears

Never, never ever stopping.

Nice doggie.

Regular running, in the morning I feel a kink in my left ankle, low pain in my right thigh, and lower back. What if I ate better, ran on a semi-daily basis, maybe did some core exercises? Would I breathe more easily? Move through space more easily? 

Also, my knee. My right knee.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 39:48
Pace: 9:57
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 42°
Climate: overcast, just before the rain
Mood: good
Weight: 186.5 lbs. (-2.5)

This is old guy, he walks a massive black, blind pitbull. He nipped me a couple years ago when I surprised him. I wasn’t paying attention. Guy yelled at me for surprising him. Still, I hadn’t committed a crime that was worthy of getting mauled. Seriously, I appreciate there are nice pitbulls, this isn’t one of them. Head like a bear trap and ready to use it.

Why don’t you like dogs, David? I don’t know, some people know how to take care of guns, too. But I don’t trust guns or their owners, either.

Anyway, I step out this morning. They are both at the end of my drive. The dog is off his leash. I wait for them to walk down the street, and run in the other direction. Blind, unleashed pitbull.

Anyway, that’s why the longer run. Also? It may be cold in the next couple of days. Also? Great playlist. If I wasn’t a runner, I question whether I would maintain this healthy diet of new music. Having children helps, also that I am unspeakably hip.

Intake

Breakfast: cereal, milk, banana, coffee (3x)

Lunch: ramen w/egg

Snack: cheese & crackers

Dinner: pizza

Also, fizzy water (1x)

I need to drink more water.

The wife says that's not a pitbull. It's bigger than a fucking pitbull.

2020 Playlist

Take a Chance - Naked Giants

Trouble's Coming - Royal Blood

We Go On - The Avalanches ft. Cola Boyy, Mick Jones & Karen Carpenter 

Levitating - Dua Lipa

Your Love (Déjà Vu) - Glass Animals

I Just Want to Dance - Sault

lucy - Soccer Mommy

This Is What You Did - This is The Kit

The Adults Are Talking * - The Strokes

Straight to the Morning - Hot Chip ft. Jarvis Cocker

Ordunun Dereleri * - Altin Gün

No, seriously. If you come at me saying you don't know any of these, it's not me, it's you.

I'm calling you to dinner.

Last run, I began to feel pain in my back, the lower right side. It hurt before bed, too. I hope this does not bode poorly for the summer.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 33:22
Pace: 10:10
Route: Rec Center (treadmill)
Mood: good

So yeah, back on the treadmill. When they reopened the rec center, they put machines onto the track to maintain distance. Not bad, though. One of the new machines has a fan, which is nice. The last time I used a treadmill I noticed how overheated I get when I'm not moving through air. Wish the fan had been stronger, but I could tell a difference.

Also. Running in a mask? Not great. But I did it. "Mask optional - but recommended," the sign read.

Intake

Breakfast: red velvet cake & ice cream, coffee (3x)

Lunch: big ass salad

Cocktail Hour: Sweet Old-Fashioned

Dinner: quinoa salad

Okay? Okay. Finished the cake. Now this has to stop. So far my pants still fit, but it's a struggle. Now that Calvin's Day is past, I think we can say good night to Sugar Season ... until October.

2010 Playlist

Shutterbug - Big Boi ft. Cutty

Fuck You - CeeLo Green

Tightrope - Janelle Monáe ft. Big Boi

Dance Yrself Clean - LCD Soundsystem

Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz ft. Ludacris

Dynamite - Taio Cruz

Firework - Katy Perry

Blow - Ke$ha

I know I'm the poop.

Thank you, Shock G.

Big weekend. Big weekend for eating. It’s that time of the year when I am anxious to run but unsatisfied with the temperature. Best to keep going, though.

Yesterday, I said (out loud) that I run to keep my heart healthy. The wife said that’s not why I run, and it’s true— I have had other reasons in the past for why I do run. But that one has taken precedence. 

I used to run to alleviate anxiety, but today I take drugs for that. Now I run to live and breathe.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:11
Pace: 9:44
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 58°
Climate: sunny & perfect
Mood: good
Weight: 189 lbs. (+2.0)

Intake

Breakfast: cake & ice cream, coffee (2x)

Lunch: broccoli quiche

Dinner: TBA

Also: Fizzy water (1x)

1990 Playlist

Metropolis - The Church

Do Me! - Bell Biv DeVoe

Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) - Concrete Blonde

Rhymin' on the Funk - Digital Underground

Driving - Everything But the Girl

I Am Stretched On Your Grave (Apple Brightness Mix) - Sinead O'Connor

1990 music is so weird. Still in school, with one foot out the door.

I'm flying 'cross the land.

Naw, man.
If her daddy's POOR take her out for a meal.

The good weather coniues. I think it will rain next week. My knee has continued to be sore. Running on it is good, sleeping on it, not so much.

Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 19:04
Pace: 9:32
Route: Burlington Loop
Temperature: 52°
Climate: a little cool, just perfect
Mood: good
Weight: 187 lbs. (-0-)

Today my body said, oh. Three days in a row? But I'm tired. So I headed for a two mile. But that route is a steady incline until the last half mile. Also? Three tunes with massive BPM. I ran fast. Now my calves and shins are sore. Oops.

Intake

Breakfast: broccoli quiche, coffee (2x)

Lunch: pizza, tea

Happy hour: nuts, cheese & apple

Dinner: MR4, fries

Also: fizzy water (1x)

That quiche I made is freaking delicious.

1970 Playlist

Found a Child - Ballin' Jack *

Travelin' Band - Creedence Clearwater Revival

ABC - The Jackson 5

Paranoid - Black Sabbath

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again) - Sly & the Family Stone

In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry

Come and Get It - Badfinger

* This song was sampled for Young MC's classic "Bust a Move".

Head. Shoulders. Knees. Toes.

"Burn the Witch"

It's the breathing. That's the part most affected by time off the road, and weight gain. It takes a while for the lungs to acclimate to the change in heart rate and the aeorbic action. This will not always be the case, if I continue like this.

Missed the gym this winter. If the track we're clear I would have joined the rest of the family on the few trips they have taken there, and I would not be in the situation I am in now.

I said my knee hurt? In my sleep the other night? Yeah. This morning it hurt a lot. I need my knee braces. 

Distance: 3.75 miles
Duration: 36:36
Pace: 9:45
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 68°
Climate: fucking gorgeous
Mood: awesome, yeah?
Weight: 187 lbs. (-2.0)

Intake

Breakfast: coffee (2x)

Lunch: broccoli quiche, clementine (2x)

Happy Hour: Guinness, Shamrock Shake (same energy)

Dinner: TBA

Also: fizzy water (2x)

2016 Playlist

Cheap Thrills - Sia ft. Sean Paul

Lime Habit - Poliça

2AM - Bear Hands

Surf's Up - Psychedelic Pron Crumpets

Move - Saint Motel

You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen

Burn the Witch - Radiohead

Run Sister Run - Cass McCombs

Good As Hell - Lizzo

Closer - Chainsmokers ft. Halsey

This was our eldest's eighth grade year. What happened?

They're coming home for the weekend. They asked to run with me. That makes me so happy.

Easy places to get away to.

Spring continues! Last night I was awake because my knee hurt. That was a drag, my knee hurting. It was a surprise. And someone has made off with my knee braces. Anyway, I did get back to sleep.

Speaking of sleep, the boy was concerned about the almost daily dose of melatonin I had been consuming through the fall and winter, and so I backed off. I haven't had a sleep aid in a week.

Well. Not if you cound last night's diphenhydramine (Benadryl) which I took because Monday night my face just started draining, and yesterday I was sneezing. It's a blooming festival of life out there! And I have allergies.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:59
Pace: 9:40
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 46°
Climate: sunny & nice
Mood: good
Weight: scale is broken (not kidding)

Intake

Breakfast: coffee (2x)

Lunch: spaghetti & meatless sauce

Treat: latte, Pop Tarts

Happy Hour: Guinness (2x)

Snack: cheese & bread

Dinner: broccoli quiche

Dessert: Oreos (4x), milk

Also: fizzy water (1x)

More water. Also, I was on a run of drive through meals and snacks, and that will stop now, for the duration. Only homecoocked meals, leftovers, snacks, etc.

1996 Playlist

F.N.T. - Semisonic

Soundtrack To Mary - Soul Coughing

Coconut - Fred Schneider

The Idiot Kings - Soul Coughing

Naked Eye - Luscious Jackson

Where It's At - Beck Hansen

How Bizarre - OMC

Whoever You Are - Geggy Tah

Semisonic deserved more hits.

The rhythm. The rhyme.

Holding out for nice weather. It's been cold, and I hate it. At the same time, you know. Global warming. Anyway, here were are again. It will snow in April. It always snows in April.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:36
Pace: 9:52
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 56°
Climate: gorgeous
Mood: good
Weight: 189 lbs. (+4.5)

I can't.

Intake

Breakfast: flapper pie, coffee (3x)

Lunch: squash casserole

Snack: Takis (1 serving, don't judge), clementine, almonds

Dinner: popcorn & beer

Also: fizzy water (2x)

Spring Break! Not really, I still have to work. But no class tonight! Gonna see a movie. Eat popcorn. Drink beer. Relax.

So, why do I feel so fucking tense right now?  

1976 Playlist

Taj Mahal - Jorge Ben Jor

The Rubberband Man - The Spinners

(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty - KC & the Sunshine Band

Boogie Nights - Heatwave

Get Up and Boogie (That's Right) - Silver Convention

Pastime Paradise - Stevie Wonder

You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls

Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry

Rip Her To Shreds - Blondie

This mix was wow. Like, seriously. Pretty fucking incredible.

The joy of repetition really is in you.

It is very breezy out, I fear for my life. But it's so warm out! Sacrifices must be made.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 31:24
Pace: 10:08
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 71°
Climate: very windy!
Mood: good!
Weight: 184.5 lbs. (lies?)

Wind holding me back as I ran out -- wind to my back on the way in.  I can deal with that.

I cannot run very fast when it's so windy, I also cannot run fast yet, because I haven't kept up, and because I am carrying a little weight. But I'll get there.

I may regret not having run further today, the temperature is due to settle back to normal, whatever that may be.

Intake

Breakfast: coffee (2x)

Lunch: chickpea soup, small SBJ on pita

Cocktail Hour: chips, beer (1x)

Poetry reading: cocktail

Dinner: pizza

2006 Playlist

Over and Over - Hot Chip

Life Is a Highway - Racsal Flatts

Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John

SOS - Rihanna

Cobrastyle - Teddybears ft. Mad Cobra

Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis

Stupid Girls - Pink

Technologic - Daft Punk

Doing all right. Getting good grades.

The clouds part. 

The sun shines again. 

We hit the pavement. 

Head held high.

One more day.

Distance: 3.5 miles
Duration: 34:46
Pace: 9:56
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: gorgeous
Mood: all right
Weight: 188 lbs. (+4.0)

Intake

Breakfast: corn beef sandwich half, chips, pickle, coffee (2x)

Lunch: latte, big-ass chocolate chip cookie

Dinner: TBA

Also: fizzy water (1x)

1986 Playlist

Behind the Wall of Sleep [12" Version] - The Smithereens

Shellshock - New Order

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths

Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

Lessons In Love - Level 42

Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung

The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades - Timbuk 3

Left of Center - Suzanne Vega ft. Joe Jackson

Life's What You Make It - Talk Talk

Proving to the world it was wrong.

There be witches.

Great gosh amighty, I am laden with angst.

But tell me. When was the last time you ... party rocked?

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 31:09
Pace: 10:03
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 44°
Climate: cool, man.
Mood: all right
Weight: 184 lbs. (-1.0)

Spring cannot come soon enough for me. It took all my nerve to get dressed and get out there, and know what? It was lovely. Just got to be careful around the patchy snow and ice which remains. No snow or below freezing temps forecast for the next. So?

Intake

Breakfast: cold cereal w/milk and bananas, coffee (2x) 

Lunch: SBJ & milk

Dinner: TBA

This week my new play script THE WITCHES gets a workshop at Cleveland Public Theatre. Join us!

2011 Playlist

You Make Me Feel - Cobra Starship ft. Sabi

Breakthrough - Brigit Mendler ft. Adam Hicks, Naomi Scott & Heyley Kiyoko

Midnight City - M83

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock

Money - The Drums

Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye ft. Kimbra

Ok - Beastie Boys

Ritual Union - Little Dragon

Rolling In the Deep - Adele

Took two months to run six times. I hope we can improve upon that.