Half Marathon Training Week Nine

Sunset run with Chris. Perfect weather, much more pleasant than running cold in the rain. Since I was not cold, however, I was much more aware of the discomfort. But also, I was hungry, so that was also inconvenient.

Still and all, our pace had improved. So that's a good thing. I think it's going to be warm from here on out.

Distance: 10 miles
Duration: 1:33:48
Pace: 9:11
Route: MLK to Dead Man's Curve & Back
Temperature: 63•
Climate: cool and nice
Pavement: dry
Mood: all right

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 163 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Things'll get brighter.

"The Courtyard if the Doge’s Palace
with the Papal Nuncio Stoppani
and Senators in Procession”
by Antonio Joli (detail)

Chris and I planned a ten mile today. But it's in the thirties and forties today, and I am sick of it. Just sick of it. I have had two, cold, long runs in the past two weeks and I am not having another one. The forecast says sixties and seventies for the next week, after today. That I can deal with.

1969 Playlist
Ooh Child - The Five Stairsteps
A Boy Named Sue (Live) - Johnny Cash
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show - Neil Diamond
White Light White Heat - Velvet Underground
Everybody's Talkin' - Harry Nilsson

Seeing Infinity War tonight. No spoilers.

Distance: 2:35 miles
Pace: 8:08
Route: Horizon Loop
Temperature: 40•
Climate: breezy, cold
Pavement: dry
Mood: not good

Hard run. Unenthusiastic. I charged though, into the wind, in the cold. Sick of it. Two miles, I'm just not into anymore.

But nothing feels better than an eight-oh-eight.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 164 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Entering a dietary danger zone. Some days too much, some days too little. Yesterday it was bagels and poutine. Eating makes me happy. But other things make me happy, too. I just need to find out what they are.

Gonna leave this world for awhile.

Matthew Campbell (right) and Tom Peters,
Sunday morning. "Let's do this!"

Wasn't sure if I would run this morning, until Nina pointed out this piece in Runner's World. A young man, Matt Campbell (29) and contestant on the program Master Chef collapsed during the Virgin Money London Marathon last weekend, and died. He was 3.7 miles short of the finish line.

Campbell was not a casual runner. Earlier this month he broke three hours in the Manchester Marathon. However, last Sunday's race in London was the hottest on record.

His father passed away a year and a half ago, and with this run he was raising money for the Brathay Trust, a charity for youth programs. He hoped to raise £2,500 but donations have now exceeded £175,000.

People are also running his final 3.7 miles for him. Today would be a good day for me to do that. You can support his campaign for the Brathay Trust here.

1989 Playlist
Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
King For a Day - XTC
Poor Skeleton Steps Out - XTC
They'll Need a Crane - They Might Be Giants
The Beat(en) Generation * - The The

My Brave Face - Paul McCartney
Biting My Nails - Renegade Soundwave
Next Episode - Tone-Loc
Buddy - De La Soul

Thank you, Mr. Petty.

Distance: 3.7 miles
Pace: 8:05
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 37•
Climate: bright & cool
Pavement: dry
Mood: good

Beautiful day, sun shining and cool. You can run in your shorts in the thirties when the sky is like this and the air is still. Grateful to be alive, missing those who cannot be with us.

Stretches: yes

There is something about weighing in at 163.5 lbs. that makes a guy get a big breakfast sandwich in the morning, Chinese buffet in the afternoon and breakfast again for dinner with bacon, eggs and pancakes. Or maybe it's that running ten miles makes you soul hungry.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 164 lbs. (+0.5)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Half Marathon Training Week Eight

Just kidding.

Chris and I made up for Sunday with an evening run down to the lake. It was cool and rainy, but much more pleasant than last week's endeavor. And we made ten miles!

I am cold now, and wet, and need to take a shower.

Distance: 10 miles
Duration: 1:38:04
Pace: 9:32
Route: MLK to Dead Man's Curve & Back
Temperature: 52°
Climate: rain
Pavement: wet
Mood: good

Running so far, so long in the wet is murderous on your feet. Hate to be graphic, but there's something Brundlefly going on with my toenails. My big toes never really recovered from the Twin Cities, the left one in particular looks all kinds of gnarly. I wish they'd just fall off so we can start again.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 163.5 lbs. (-3.0)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Yeah?

Run fast for your father.

Blew off a ten-mile yesterday, chose instead to relax in bed. That's a euphemism, but not the one that you're thinking of.

Getting that scrawny old man look back in my face.

2009 Playlist
Dance Wiv Me - Dizzee Rascal ft. Calvin Harris & Chrome
Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
One Day - The Juan MacLean
Good Life - OneRepublic
Not Fair - Lily Allen
Dog Days Are Over * - Florence + The Machine
Fascination - La Roux

This time last year, I was through with running. My hip hurt too much, and I had started physical therapy. This did not work out as I had hoped, so I abandoned the sessions.

They cost too much and my therapist had stopped checking in on me, leaving his assistant to just watch me while I went through the exercises. This went on for weeks, so I just stopped going.

What I found is that I can live with the pain, if I do the exercises my self -- and run. I must run. Without running, I get depressed. I go a little crazy.

I missed the spring last year. It is my intention not to let that happen again.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Pace: 8:12
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 55°
Climate: bright and cool
Mood: good. right? good.

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 166.5 lbs. (+2.5)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Ok. Is it the scale ..?

The sun is up. The sky is blue.

1968 Playlist - or - "The Beatles"
Back In The U.S.S.R.
Dear Prudence
Martha My Dear
Savoy Truffle
Revolution 1
Mother Nature's Son
Glass Onion
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Blackbird
I'm So Tired
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
I Will
Julia
Helter Skelter *
Good Night

Ultimate Classic Rock has a feature called the 45-Minute Album Police. It is not a unique opinion that there is not a single double album in the history of popular music that needs to be that long, that could not have been improved upon through some common sense editing.

Blood, Sugar,Sex, Magik comes to mind. Sign O' The Times. Even George Harrison himself knew he was being a dick when he released his first solo record as a three-album set and named it All Things Must Pass.

The White Album (which any prig will tell you is really titled simply, The Beatles) is certainly too long, a disjointed mess which includes numerous beautiful tracks lumped in with novelty songs, Paul's old-timey music hall bullshit and "Revolution 9" which no one has ever listened to in the presence of another human being.

I chose the edit by Nick DeRiso, because I liked it well enough, and because it was the first list on the page.

I chose to listen to this album for this run because in July I turn fifty, and a few months later, so will the The White Album.

Distance: 5.5 miles
Duration: 46:19
Pace: 8:25
Route: Forest Hill/Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 48°
Climate: just gorgeous
Pavement: dry
Mood: apprehensive, but forward-looking

What I most remember about this album is that I first listened to it when I was nine or ten, when I was first introduced to the Paul is Dead legend. I have no doubt that John put in one or two, but at the time, I was hearing clues everywhere, and this record -- according to legend -- is full of them.

As a result, it wasn't until I was an adult that I could listen to "Revolution 9" at all. Even today, whatever John and Yoko were intending it to sound like, it plays for me like a long, creepy seance.

Stretches: yes

Just a perfect day for a run. Welcome, spring. Clear, blue sky, light breeze, smiling faces in the park, on the street. And I run, I am running. No, it's not perfect. I am not without pain. But still, I run. The running is happening.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 164 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Put a wiggle in your stride.

shame (SHām)
n. 1. a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.
synonyms: humiliation, mortification, chagrin, ignominy, embarrassment, indignity, discomfort
v. 1. (of a person, action, or situation) make (someone) feel ashamed. 

1988 Playlist
Do You Believe in Shame - Duran Duran
Not Alone Any More - Traveling Wilburys
Mr. Jones - Talking Heads
Touch Me I'm Sick - Mudhoney
All She Wants Is (U.S. Master Mix) - Duran Duran
Baladi We Hetta Hossam Ramzy

Big Thing is the most underrated of Duran Duran albums.

However, it is a terrible album for someone depressed, alone, and between girlfriends. Or its the perfect album. Not sure.

Also, Naked is not Talking Heads' last studio album. True Stories is Talking Heads' last studio album, Naked is most obviously David Byrne's first solo album. I can't be the first person to say this.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Pace: 8:15
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 35°
Climate: sunny, beautiful & above freezing!
Pavement: dry
Mood: troubled

Brisk run, good one. I feel pain down both legs, there's a new string that hurts in my right calf. But heading out was totally fine, took what felt like forever, though. Probably because I have had little sleep this week, rising at five every morning to read. Thank God it's Friday.

Stretches: yes

Very painful stretches this morning, which means I have probably been doing them wrong.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 164.5 lbs. (-2.0)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Ok.