Preparation

2010 Cleveland Marathon Course

I have been complaining for years about the race not touching many neighborhoods, just the stately mansions of West Cleveland, the boarded up storefronts of Detroit. That's half the race. The other half, if I ran it, included MLK which would be nice ... but also too much Chester and the Shoreway - love the Lake, but there are no spectators at all. And that's the last five miles!

This year - TREMONT! And we hit that first and then get all the football players' houses by the lake.

Anyway, it's past 9.30 and I should be asleep. You can' track me apparently, but I will report as soon as I get back. No, I will not "tweet" during the race, sorry. I will just run. Two years ago I did this and blew out my knee, I just fear this may be my last race ever.

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.

We should never be afraid to die

OK, here is the difference between my seven year-old daughter and I in a nutshell. This week I received a rejection slip for a play and sat in maudlin self-criticism for about 30 minutes. I thought, "What is wrong with me?"

The girl received word that her play was rejected - her first play, her first rejection. She thought for a moment and with pride and not a trace of recrimination said, "That was a good play, I worked hard on it."

And that was it.

2010 Playlist
New In Town - Little Boots
Uprising - Muse
Tigerlily - La Roux
Cousins - Vampire Weekend
TiK ToK - Ke$Ha
1901 - Phoenix
I Feel It All - Feist
Animal (Punks Jump Up Remix) - Miike Snow
Rude Boy - Rihanna
Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Giving Up The Gun - Vampire Weekend
In For The Kill - La Roux

Ladies and gentlemen ... 43 Playlists for 43 Years.

Thank you.

Distance: 6 miles
Temperature: 43º
Weather: cool but sunny
Weight: 157 lbs.

You're on the road but you've got no destination

Cool morning run, nice. After last night's hailstorm (when did those become normal?) it was enjoyable to see the world so calm.

I have begun taking omega-3 supplements, as per Brian's advice. See? I can learn something from anyone. Hopefully those will ... you know, I have no idea what those do. Except give me little fish-tasting burps.

2000 Playlist
Beautiful Day - U2
The Perfect Drug (166 bpm) - Dkay.com/Die Krupps
It's My Turn To Fly - The urge
Da Funk DJ - Daft Punk vs. Madonna
Everybody's Going to the Moon - Jamiroquai
The Real Slim Shady - Eminem
The National Anthem - Radiohead

43 Playlists for 43 Years concludes ... tomorrow. Welcome to a new decade.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Temperature: 53º
Weather: cool and breezy
Weight: 158.5 lbs.

No, you can't take that away from me.

Since Sunday's run ... that night, my right knee was unbearable, hobbling everywhere. My left knee felt marvelous.

I have been ravenously hungry, and eating non-stop. Real junk, too - I think in the last three days I have eaten at least a dozen cookies, a piece of cake, two candy bars, some small bags of chips - it's sick.

I began weeping uncontrollably while chatting with my wife in the kitchen because I was overwhelming with the realization that I really love running.

1990 Playlist
Hard to Handle - The Black Crowes
Serious - Duran Duran
Burning the Ground - Duran Duran
Vogue - Madonna
Let's Go - Ernie Isley
Let's Talk About Sex - Salt-N-Pepa
Head Like a Hole [copper] - Nine Inch Nails

Distance: 3.25 miles
Temperature: 62º
Weather: dark
Weight: 159.5 lbs.

We're headed for disaster

As I was approaching Mayfield Road, it began to rain. I hadn't thought of that. It never rained very hard, just a light, pleasing rain.

Except it got my clothes wet. One word: nipples. Did I think to wear band-aids? Yes. Did I actually do that? No. And I am bleeding.

My knee felt good today, my left knee. But I wore my brace to make sure. And it felt good and strong all through the run. But my right knee was sore by the time I made it to my turnaround, and made the return journey less than pleasing.

But I made it. I walked around the Indian Cultural Garden. I read all the plinths. And I looked admiringly into the face of the old man. What powerful, thin legs. I need new flip-flops. And I was inspired to start practicing yoga.

I ran ten miles. God willing, I will be there with you in two weeks.

Distance: 10 miles
Temperature: 66º
Weather: light rain
Weight: 158.5 lbs.

Now for a soak in a Dead Sea salt bath and a handful of naproxen.

1980 Playlist
Kit Mambo - Graham Gouldman
The Other Way of Stopping (165 bpm) - The Police
Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
Let My Love Open The Door (To Your Heart) (164 bpm) - Pete Townshend
Girl U Want (173 bpm) - Devo
Coming Up (Live) - Paul McCartney
Same Old Scene - Roxy Music
Ten Feet Tall - XTC
Can You Feel It - The Jacksons
Let's Do Rock Steady - Bodysnatchers
Whip It (158 bpm) - Devo
Physical (You're So) - Adam Ant
With You I Can Run Forever - Graham Gouldman
Go For It - Graham Gouldman
Call Me - Blondie
Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police
Bionic Boar - Graham Gouldman
Turning Japanese (179 bpm) - The Vapors
Antmusic (162 bpm) - Adam and the Ants
He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band
Magic - Olivia Newton John
Enola Gay - Orchestral Manuevers in the Dark
Ah! Leah! - Donnie Iris
High Fidelity - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Any Way You Want It - Journey
Love's Not For Me - Graham Gouldman
You Make My Dreams Come True (166 bpm) - Hall & Oates
You May Be Right - Billy Joel

Reckoning

Two weeks ago, Rachelle pointed some kind of light gun at my knee. I try not to pass judgement on things I don't actually know anything about, but the idea of an "energy light" to heal damaged cells ranks up there with magnets and low electrical current. These things may work, but so does the placebo effect.

Well what can I say. My left knee, which has been troubling me for months, stopped hurting. Until this morning. I ran 3.25 yesterday, but I have run a few times since April 17. This morning I was stiff and sore. A trip to Rachelle's may have helped my back (I understand massotherapy) but I am not sure another light treatment did much to help. It aches beneath the patella, in front of and below my knee. She gave me tape to use, which does provide a surprising amount of support. I have extra for tomorrow.

Tomorrow. In two weeks is the Cleveland, and I have yet to do anything close to a long run. Tomorrow I will attempt to rise at 5 am, and make the ten-mile round trip to Gandhi and back. The playlist will be music from the year 1980 - that means tunes from Animalympics. If I can accomplish this without doing permanent damage, I will attempt to run 13.1 miles on the 16th. If not, well, you have your answer right there.