Incidental highs.

Gabriel & Dresden's eponymous debut album was released twenty years ago, on June 1, 2006. My first record of having run to any of its tracks was Tracking Treasure Down, in February 2007.

The first time I ran to the entire album was on April 28 of that year. 

"I have been waiting some time to attempt a run listening to the entire Gabriel and Dresden album. That's my record of the year. I picked up a track on iTunes a few weeks back and really liked it, and then they started the "complete your album" promotion and so I got the whole thing — which includes the entire album mixed as one, uninterrupted track. Except for this Pink Floyd-esque thing right in the middle, the entire record makes for a dynamite run."

Distance: 5.9 miles

Duration: 55:35
Pace: 9:25

A few downbeat tracks are a bit of a drag, and the whole thing is one hour thirteen. Today, I have chosen a mix which suits my recent summer weekend loop. It's one of the only albums I have returned to (and more than twice) as part of Albums For Running.

Gabriel & Dresden - Gabriel & Dresden (2006)

Let Go

Enemy

Dust In the Wind

Mass Repeat

Closer

Sydney

Dangerous Power

Tracking Treasure Down

 

Route: Forest Hill-Cain Park Loop 
Temperature: 69°
Climate: nice
Mood: mostly good

So, no. It was not something I listened to while training for New York in 2006. But it was a major inspiration while I was writing And Then You Die. It is my mid-life crisis soundtrack. Regret, yearning, aspiration, doubt, determination, guilt, and on and on. 

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 163 lbs. (-3.0)

Heading out I had pain in two points in the back of my right knee. Unpleasant, not debilitating, and it subsided soon enough.

Around mile five, I got a sharp pain on the inside of my left knee cap, and that was debilitating. I stretched, I hobbled, I endured. It, too, subsided. Oof.

Anyway, here's Father's Day.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: tba

Sit-Ups: yes

Slow up and stop all my running around.

I have to force myself not to leave the house too early when catching the bus. I am always there with plenty of time to spare. But it is a ten minute walk to the stop, and when I am prepared in advance, I will go and regret it, just standing for an additional five minutes.

That is what I am doing right now. Not preparing to run, but creating busy work, sitting down, so I do not leave.

Okay. Now.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:09
Pace: 9:05

Am I living my best life? By that I mean, am I doing this right? Am I getting all I can and also giving all I can?

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: sunny & cool(er)
Mood: all right

So, I did a lot of stretches. Different stretches. Sitting, doing circles with my ankle, others. And it made a difference, it really did. I didn't start out feeling as though I was running on a broken heel. I need to take more time before each run. I can do this.

Stretches: yes!
Water: yes 
Weight: 160 lbs. (-2.0)

Maintain. Relax. Breathe. Think. It took two weeks to bring it back down to 160, and now I must maintain. Just stay here. My consumption yesterday was good. Good food, portioned, thought out. I could drink less. I did, actually, drink less. It was still a lot. Maintain. Focus on what is right in front of you, work, play, relaxation, dining.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

This Is Gabriel & Dresden

Sydney

Sequoia

Twelve (Darude Remix)

I'm Not Like Everybody Else (ft. Sub Teal)

Tomorrow Comes (ft. Neil Ormandy)

White Walls  (ft. Sub Teal)

I had a mood.

Too much time has slipped away.

Welcome home. Back to work. BorderLight Fringe begins today!

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:55
Pace: 9:19

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 67°
Climate: overcast & humid

Mood: good

Brisk and sweaty. Just like I like it.

Gabriel & Dresden (Extended Mixes)

Mass Repeat

Eleven

Dangerous Power

Tracking Treasure Down

 
Stretches: yes

Water: yes

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 171 lbs.

Goal: 165 lbs.

I gained only one pound on vacation. Well done.

Until this breath is over.

Hiya, Harvey.

First long run in a long time. Glorious sunrise trek down through Lakeview Cemetery and up through Little Italy. Dust In The Wind played as I passed Garfield Monument. Good morning, sir.

Temperature: 42° → 52°
Distance: 8.16 miles
Avg Pace: 8.21*

*Remember - that includes running up Mayfield Road through Little Italy. I am a machine.

Baseline: 178.5 lbs.
Today: 165.5 lbs. (-2.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.

Eight more runs before the 2015 Playlist. Now fielding suggestions. Songs must be released in 2015 or they may have been released earlier if they only entered heavy rotation after January 1st.

Yes, there will be the Uptown Funk.

2006 Playlist - or -
Gabriel & Dresden (Continuous Mix) - Gabriel & Dresden

1. Let Go
2. Eleven
3. Enemy
4. Dust In The Wind
5. Mass Repeat
6. Closer
7. Not Enough/Amsterdam Interlude
8. New Path
9. Sydney
10. Dangerous Power
11. Tracking Treasure Down 

Following my first marathon, I found it challenging to resume running. This album was a major motivating factor. I had picked up Tracking Treasure Down during the 2006 training period, and was encouraged to "complete my album".

While the download features 11 individual tracks, it also includes a twelfth, the entire album as one complete mix. With the exception of the bogged-down, Pink Floyd-inspired,, slow, trippy and dull-as-shit Not Enough/Amsterdam Interlude, the entire album kicks ass from start to finish. The last three tracks are particularly awe-inducing.

Make me beautiful

I wore the wrong shoes. Just didn't notice, these are the last pair. And right now I am feeling it. Race in four days. Bad news.

But what a day ... three hours driving in a car in the rain, and I can't believe I ate that entire Hartzler's Cow Pie sundae. Time for a run. Big time for a run.

Gabriel & Dresden Remix Playlist
As The Rush Comes [Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping String Remix] - Motorcycle "Ultra 10"
Dust In the Wind - Gabriel & Dresden "Gabriel & Dresden"
A Perfect Lie (Theme Song) [Gabriel & Dresden Remix] - The Engine Room "Nip/Tuck Original TV Soundtrack"
Dangerous Power [Gabriel & Dresden Extended Mix] - Gabriel & Dresden "Dangerous Power (Club Mixes)"

Cleveland Marathon Update:

My bib number is # 5787

Unlike races in real cities, however, you will not be able to receive my splits via email this year because the system crashed. It's Wednesday, but they know now that the system will not be fixed by Sunday. Because in this town, we cannot fix things.

Met with fellow racers Steven, Nathan and Annie today! Steven is worried about his left knee. Hey, join the club! SHowed off some stretches, weight bearing exercises, and pressed the old-fashioned joys of ice, warm baths and megadoses of pain reliever.

From Brian: Fish Oil Benefits

Did I mention how emotional I got during my run in Sunday? I was actually weeping running through Cain Park. And I was listening to Ke$Ha. There was a reason for that, but it wasn't Ke$Ha. I am thinking of a show. I am thinking of changes, to this show, and to another show. Thinking of time. Of pictures. Of words.

No, I can't say more than that.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Temperature: 49º
Weather: brisk
Weight: 159.5 lbs.

Afraid to fall, I'll fly instead

It would appear to be my annual Athens South Green Bike Path run with this album, the last taken April 28 of last year.

Playlist:
Gabriel & Dresden (Continuous Mix) - Gabriel & Dresden

Last time I went out too far before heading back, forgetting the first and second songs after the halfway point are kind of downers. This time I thought I was making great time ... without realizing the way out I had the wind at my back - a lot of wind. Still, I got in before the album ended, putting in nine miles in an hour and six.

My bunion has been acting up (I hate writing that, I sound like grandpa) and was making my feet tingle on the drive here last night, that was unpleasant. My foot has been looking pretty straight, I have been using a toe-separator regularly but something about the last few days has made it irritated.

Maybe it was the photo shoot - I have to wear these Chuck Taylor's for the photo shoot, my Chuck's from back when I used to buy them. I used to get my shoes in ten, but since I started running on a regular basis I am officially 10 and a half and all my old shoes do not fit right. Standing on a scaffold, trying not to fall over for two hours while assuming a Superman pose ... in hose ... does a lot of work on your calves, back and feet.

Really. I'm not kidding.

Run Stats:
Distance: 9 miles
Weather: overcast and warmish - beautiful

All your money won't another minute buy

Making up for lost weeks, weeks spent acting and being very, very ill. That, and the weather hasn't been very happy. Today we are in Athens, a perfect day for running. Threatening to rain - but not. As I was finishing, the sun broke through.

A languorous jog from Union along the bike path. Past O'Bleness (where my wife was born, my brother had a major operation, and Calvin G. died) South Green (bad sex in Wray House ... well, bad sex all over South Green, actually) and out to all the new sh*t; the skate park, the Wall-Mart and everything, and back.

Distance: 9 miles
Time: 12.30 pm
Stretches: yes
Weather: 62º overcast, breezy and beautiful

Gabriel & Dresden (Continuous Mix)
1 hour, ten minutes.

I have been waiting some time to attempt a run listening to the entire Gabriel and Dresden album. That's my record of the year. I picked up a track on iTunes a few weeks back and really liked it, and then they started the "complete your album" promotion and so I got the whole thing - which include the entire album mixed as one, uninterrupted track. Except for this Pink Floyd-esque thing right in the middle, the entire record makes for a dynamite run.

UPDATE:

lan·guor (lāng'gər, lāng'ər) n.
1. Lack of physical or mental energy; listlessness. See Synonyms at lethargy.
2. A dreamy, lazy mood or quality: "It was hot, yet with a sweet languor about it" (Theodore Dreiser).
3. Oppressive quiet or stillness.

I meant the second one. Dream-like.

Spending two hours in a movie theater after taking a nine mile-run is kind of dumb. My left knee and hip are very, very unhappy.