Need a break, this year's been crazy.

In ten days I will not be here, I will be elsewhere, and perhaps I will be able to run there. I hope I do. Sorry to be vague. The new years starts all too soon, the year runs will commence, sixty of them.

So the goal will be to complete the circuit by the last day of April. What do you think?

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 24:36

Route: rec center
Temperature: 38°
Climate: cloudy
Mood: merry?

The Santaland Diaries (1999)

Introduction (Titles) - Danny Elfman

Sleigh Ride - Squirrel Nut Zippers

Christmas Wrapping - The Waitress

Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Jingle Bells - The Singing Dogs

Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra

Last Christmas - Wham!

Winter Wonderland - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

Today I forgave a man who backed into my car in the parking lot. Or I was just too tired to go through it all.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Stuck at 165. Hoping to ride out the holidays here.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

This is the life.

It has been a long week. I have chosen to rest rather than run ... but how have I been resting? Not well at all. Sleep broken by ether cats or snoring. Waking before the alarm, lying awake then giving up. 

Time is short, anxieties are mounting. The holidays are a time of joy and activity, but also stress. I am behind. We are, all of us, behind.

Then there is work. We can talk about that later. For now, I have roused myself to take a run. And that is all that matters (at the moment).

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:25

Punch the Clock - Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1983)

Let Them All Talk

Everyday I Write the Book

The Greatest Thing

Love Went Mad

TKO (Boxing Day)

Charm School

The Invisible Man

The World and His Wife

Route: rec center
Temperature: 38°
Climate: not freezing!
Mood: exhausted

I've had the edit of Punch the Clock on my list for some time, and this morning I needed some serious motivation. I almost went back to bed, because I was tired, but also because I was feeling lost and aimless.

I was not a huge fan of Elvis as a high school student, I knew his songs from MTV, but I did like him. In college my best friend was a serious fan and taught me so much about his catalog. This one has retroactively entered my teenage imagination, even though I didn't own it, because it is so of it's time, thanks largely to producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley who also worked with Madness, Dexy's Midnight Runners, and other 1983 one-hit wonders.

Stretches: yes 
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Run, run. run. How we run!

Oh my God, that week finally ended. It was full to bursting with work, and good work, but exhausting and mind-consuming. Not a lazy week, no. And we ran! And that is good. This weekend is more of the same, only on my own, shopping for the holidays, attending creative meetings, visiting my loved one for dinner (she is having a personal retreat), doing chores, reading, writing, etc.

And more running! 

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:31

Saturday was a big day for creative endeavors, holiday shopping, and a lovely romantic dinner with my partner. It also snowed a lot. No time for running! And that's okay!

Route: rec center
Temperature: 15°
Climate: cold & snowy
Mood: driven

Pudding Mix 2025

Christmas Wrapping (Live) - The Waitresses

Santa Hugged Me - Morel

Viva la Vida/Domino Dancing (Christmas EP Mix) - Pet Shop Boys

Wintergardens (Chris Kimsey Mix) - Killing Joke

Winter Sky - Big Country

Happy Holidays - Hermine

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

We’re all God’s children running.

Work. Managing a fleet of school buses through the sleet and rain. Yesterday, I thought I would drop but I kept my bearings and made it to five o'clock and felt much better. These are long, full, productive days.

Also, I have a stye. I am far too vain for this to be okay.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 27:42

Sower run today, just whipped. But it was good, and I am glad I went. There were younger runners, too. That's always a surprise.

Route: rec center
Temperature: 24°
Climate: icy
Mood: tired but determined

Pudding Mix 2025

Things Fall Apart - Cristina

Wintergardens (Chris Kimsey Mix) - Killing Joke

Winter Sky - Big Country

They're All Out of Liquor - The Waitresses

Candy Carol - Book of Love

Fear Not (While Shepherds Watched Their Flock By Night) - Before the Flood

Joy - Bogan Via

Everyone Should Light a Candle For Christmas - The Gold Needles

Give Me Back My Heart - Jona Lewie

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Feel the floor.

David Finch

And now, as many runs as I made in all of 2016. And that was a big running year. No marathon, but there was a lot going on. It has been an above-average year, thanks to the rec center, for sure. I would not have gone for a run on Saturday without it. Also, my consistency. There are times when I push myself to run every day. and I have decided that's not good. Not anymore. Maybe it never was.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:28

And yet. Consistency. Work, writing, reading, sleeping. Days missed. Days hit.

Route: rec center
Temperature: 18
Climate: frozen
Mood: very busy, but maintaining 

Totally 80s

The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix) - Kate Bush

Favourite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl) 12" Version - Haircut 100 

Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?) - Wham!

Optimo - Liquid Liquid

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Speaking of consistency ... 

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Time to deliver.

Running retreats to the rear of my imagination. This happens, it's not unusual. There are a weight of obligations at the front of my imagination, which makes me unhappy. It shouldn't, being un-occupied is much worse. But I hate being responsible for anything.

Anyway, I have made a little list. Let's see how much I can accomplish today ... and tomorrow!

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 24:43
Route: rec center
Temperature: 30
Climate: cloudy
Mood: stressed

It's the 90s!

Mama Told Me Not to Come - Wolfgang Press

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C+C Music Factory ft. Martha Wash

Give It Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers 

Season of the Witch - Luna

Nothing ‘Bout Me (Remix) - Sting

The Last of the Famous International Playboys - Morrissey

Guitarist Breeze (6000km to Amsterdam) - John Beltran

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Timing. What I eat and when I eat. 

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

There's a coldness in the air, but I don't care.

Ohio is bisexual now.

Beautiful Christmas jazz in Cincinnati, then home. Now with snow! Had to skip Wednesday, the night before was miserable. Young cats like to keep me awake, old cats do, too. It is difficult, at 1:30 pm, to manage the chaos. I slept two, maybe three hours uninterrupted -- not consecutive hours, mind you. Just an hour or two that were uninterrupted in and of themselves.

Last night was not much better. And I have another stye.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:27
Route: rec center
Temperature: 27°
Climate: cold
Mood: tired

The Aughts

Get Innocuous! - LCD Soundsystem

Dilemma - Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland

Just Dance - Lady Gaga ft. Colby O'Donis

As the Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping Strings Remix) - Motorcycle

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs.

Goal: 155 lbs.

Membership renewed! One year as a rec center member, and it has paid off. But I need a revised goal. I don't need to be 155, I need to lean toward 155. Because of now, I am leaning in the wrong direction.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

¡Que no pare la fiesta!

The holidays begin. Last Wednesday I was inspired, and picked up a tree. Did not consult a soul, just did it. The tree is trimmed -- for the month -- the nutcrackers and other decorations are out, and we have started feeling festive. 

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 24:57

Track running for the time being. And me trying not to scarf the snacks. Yeah, I made a pie on Saturday night. You have a pumpkin, you make pie. 

Short trip to Cincy to hear some live, holiday jazz. Can you blame us?

Route: rec center
Temperature: 29°
Climate: cloudy & cold
Mood: determined

On the 10s Playlist

Running Up That Hill - Meg Myers

Don't Stop the Party - Pitbull ft. TJR

Harvest Moon - Poolside

Only Girl (In the World) - Rihanna

Surrender Under Protest - Drive-By Truckers

Blackout - Frank Turner

Doncamatic - Gorillaz ft. Daley

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 163 lbs.

Tweaked my ankle after the race, I have found ankle rolls to be very effective at alleviating the pain. Run today was good and swift.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Good Lord, is it me? Am I the jerk? I'm just trying to run here, people, read the signs.