Bubble fast. Slow down.

Little back pain after Wednesday’s workout. Pushed it to four miles because of the playlist. 1989 was the best year in the history of popular music.

The other day I listened to a podcast about the 90s Swing Revival, which was mostly spent by 1999. I remember it as being a good time, we dressed up to see Squirrel Nut Zippers in early 1998. But the host of this show emphasized how stupid it all was, which is not surprising coming from a Millennial.

This isn't the first time this particular host has looked into the recent past and failed to connect the subject to the time period. She got as far as the 1990s being a time for fun and affluence, and I suppose it was. But it was also the end of the century, and the so-called "swing" revival was just one part of a complete regurgitation of the previous one hundred years.

Every era had its own revival that decade. I guess this one appeared stupider than most. Believe me, it wasn't.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 26:34

Tingling in my right pinky. In bed last night, tingling in my right thigh, too. Knee pain, thigh pain. Because I ran an extra mile? It may have been how I ran it. James suggests I not go so hard. I think he's right.  

Route: Rec Center
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 164 lbs.

Ten runs in January. Well done.

1999 Playlist

Mixed Bizness - Beck

Lullaby of Clubland - Everything But the Girl

Blue (Da Bah Dee) - Eiffel 65

Livin’ La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

The Generator - Lilys

Cups - Underworld 

I hope it’s going to be all right.

"And all the words we said yesterday
That's a long time ago"

It has been several years since I ran this many times in January. I am very glad I have returned to the Rec Center, but I'm also looking forward to spring and running through the park.

Running at the Rec Center, I take a very short walking break after each mile, and take a healthy drink of water before continuing. That also makes a difference in my ability to keep going.

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 33:01

Man. Walkers in every lane today.

Route: Rec Center
Mood: "alright"
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 164 lbs.

The art-work continues. I need to practice being artistic ... even though that is not what I would call myself. Isn't that odd?

1989 Playlist

Mr. Cab Driver - Lenny Kravitz

We Didn’t Start the Fire - Billy Joel

Rock and a Hard Rock Place - Rolling Stones

See a Little Light - Bob Mould

Get Up (Before the Night is Over) - Technotronic

Asking Me Lies -The Replacements

Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers 

It’s Alright - Pet Shop Boys

Doin Our Own Dang - Jungle Brothers

It's all too much.

What a shitty weekend for Cleveland Heights.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:44

The goal is to hit the gym every other day. This is our fourth bidiurnal session in a row.

Today I learned the word "bidiurnal."

Route: Rec Center
Mood: managing
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 161 lbs.

1969 Playlist

Black Mountain Side - Led Zeppelin

On Her Majesty's Secret Service - John Barry

Grazing In the Grass - The Friends of Distinction

Hey Bulldog - The Beatles

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago

Ramble On - Led Zeppelin

Sugar, Sugar - The Archies

It's All Too Much - The Beatles

Go To the Mirror!  - The Who

I'm me. I'm cold.

Bouncing back and forth between 160 and 165 lbs. I make dinner earlier than my wife does (she works later) and making it to suppertime without snacking is a challenge. Anyway, it's a good place to be.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 26:11

Route: Rec Center
Mood: anxious
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 163 lbs.

Now to the nines.

1979 Playlist

Theme from "The Warriors" - Barry Vorzon

Goodbye Girl * - Squeeze

Cars - Gary Numan

I Feel For You - Prince

52 Girls - The B-52s

I’m Cold - The Cure

Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart

I’m The Man * - Joe Jackson

I Want You To Want Me (Live) - Cheap Trick

Whatever it is.

When you go to the gym in the morning, you don't spend the rest of the day obsessing over whether or not you will get to the gym.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 27:08

Route: Rec Center
Mood: good 
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 160 lbs.

Oh, hell yes.

1974 Playlist

How Long - Ace

Killer Queen - Queen

Chameleon - Maynard Ferguson

Bless the Lord - Joanne Jonas

Boogie Down - Eddie Kendricks

Takin' Care of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Lilywhite Lilith - Genesis

Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) - B.T. Express

I'll be there to watch you run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run.

You might assume I run less frequently during the month of January due to the cold weather, but I realize this is not the case. It's the residency rehearsal schedule and the test week. There's just little time for exercise. But at least I am active.

Very, very active. I get anxious when I am so active. We saw a movie last Monday, I went to Dark Room on Tuesday, and attended a high school playwriting event in Canton on Wednesday. A lot of driving in the snow and cold and little time at home last week. Then there was the science fiction marathon, and we saw another film last night.

I should be excited about this. Life is to be lived, you know?  

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 28:51

Also, man. The cold. Makes my knees hurt, even when I am not exerting myself. I’m just. Older.

Route: Rec Center
Mood: I mean
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 163 lbs.

Cooling down, there’s a dude in the running lane who is literally slower than I am walking in the walking lane.

I’ll be that guy someday, but I’ll stay in the walking lane.

1984 Playlist

New Way of Life - The Sound

Beat City - The Flowerpot Men

Cue Fanfare - Prefab Sprout

Black Diamond - The Replacements

Talking In Your Sleep - The Romantics

Hold Me Now (12" Extended Mix) - Thompson Twins

I Love You, Suzanne - Lou Reed

A solar superman.

Last month, I developed a rash down both arms which I can only attribute (at that time) to the costume I was wearing. However, while the irritation has calmed down since then, it has not entirely gone away and I continue to have daily bouts of scratching, in spite of whatever medicine, lotion, or treatment I provide -- or even if I leave it alone entirely for a time.

My mother also had s skin condition which affected her forearms, and I assume this is also that. I need to check in with a dermatologist.

Am I disgusting? I think I might be.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 26:52
Route: Rec Center
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 165 lbs.

Yes, thanks to Noom I have lost ten pounds. The question is whether I can keep that weight off. My compulsions can be great. This is a good weight. If I could lose (and keep off) another five pounds, that would be perfect. But it is good to be here. I feel so much better. And I feel no pain.

1994 Playlist

Doctor Worm (173 BPM) - They Might Be Giants

Get the Message - Electronic

You Gotta Be - Des'ree

The Becoming - Nine Inch Nails

Supernova - Liz Phair

Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago - Soul Coughing

Cornflake Girl - Tori Amos

The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now.

More illness, saddled by neck pain and fatigue. Is this winter? Is this ageing?

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 27:24

Another go round the track. Noonish on a Friday, the place is full of walkers. Some of them were even using walkers. I felt a little pain in my neck and shoulders, perhaps that is how it happened in the first place. Holding my phone, to better manage the stopwatch, and counting on my fingers so I don't forget how many laps I've taken, that could certainly cause tension in my shoulders.  

Route: Rec Center
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 165 lbs.

2004 Playlist

Jesus Walks - Kanye West

TKO - Le Tigre

Holiday - Green Day

Musicology - Prince

Me Plus One - Annie

Toxic - Britney Spears

Air - Owls

Ch-Check It Out - Beastie Boys

Decent Days and Nights - The Futureheads

As long as I am with you my heart continues to beat.

Sometimes I wonder why my tummy is queasy. Then I remember I have grown accustomed to having yogurt every morning. I have yogurt with granola and fresh fruit every day. Like some health nut, or old person. When we're out I will have a small amount of oatmeal with fresh fruit, which is a fun change of pace, but then I wonder why I feel a little ill. Got to have those good bacterium.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:46

Watched Magnolia with the boy last night. Hits different when you've already watched your parents die. Man, Tom Cruise used to make interesting project choices.  

Route: Rec Center
Mood: good
Stretches: no
Water: yes

Weight: 162 lbs.

Man. First week of January. Time to make plans. And to avoid eating a lot of sweets in rehearsal.

2014 Playlist

Rather Be - Clean Bandit ft. Jesse Glynne

Home (Leave the Lights On) - Field Report

Easy Money - Johnny Marr

I'm Not the Only One - Sam Smith

Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo ft. 2Chainz

Happy Idiot - TV On the Radio

Happy - Pharrell Williams

Here Lies Love (Curtain Call) - David Byrne & Fatboy Slim

What if I actually ran every other day?

I'm moving so fast, no time to process.

Thank you for your service.

It didn't feel as though I took a break from running, because I was in a show, one which involved a great many trips up and down four flights of stairs. And the dressing room participated in group push ups before every show. 

But then there was the illness, some kind of virus which first struck my wife, and then me, rendering me weak and woozy the last few days of the year.

Running has been patiently waiting for me. It always does.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 26:06

Did I really run that fast, or did I miscount a lap? Regardless, good to get back on my feet. Happy new year.

How President Jimmy Carter Brought Running to the White House

He caught the bug during the 1970s running boom, and he often ran up to 7 miles at a time.

by Roger Robinson, Runner's World 12/29/2024

Route: Rec Center
Mood: good
Stretches: a little
Water: yes

Weight: 162.5 lbs.

Friends and family, it's that time ... 59 Playlists for 59 Years.

2024 Playlist

Death Valley High - Orville Peck ft. Beck

APT. - Rose ft. Bruno Mars

A Fragile Thing- The Cure

Denial Is a River - Doechii

Starburster - Fontaines D.C.

Survive the Night (from The Warriors) - Company

Oh No! - The Decemberists

Cinderella - Remi Wolf