Felt a wave, a rush of blood.

Here's the thing. 

I wanted to run every day, like I did last year. However, my knees can no longer support this. Running every day used to be all right, but these days, running without a day off means my knees hurt. And that's not good.

Also, it's been cold. And I just hate the cold now. And the wind. It's a drag, it's no fun. I'll do sit up, I'll do upper body work. But running in the cold is just out.

So, anyway. The March Mildness thing didn't go as smoothly as last year. It's been a difficult winter. But today has been a good day, how about that? Writing, cleaning, relaxing. And time for a run in the slightly less than cold weather.

I want to be good to myself.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 33:06
Pace: 10:40

Tiny steps, feels good. And then the sun came out. Lovely.

1998 Playlist

Push It - Garbage  

Let Me See - Morcheeba
St. Louise is Listening - Soul Coughing
Roygbiv - Boards of Canada
Right Here, Right Now - Fatboy Slim
Ghost of Stephen Foster - Squirrel Nut Zippers
Hesitating Beauty - Wilco
Baby Britain - Elliot Smith 
Cascades of Colour (Wamdue Black Mix) - Anada Project ft. Gaelle Adisson

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 47
Climate: partly cloudy & pleasant 
Mood: all right 

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Floating through the void.

You will know us by our head.

So, the March Mildness thing isn't as much of a "kick" as it was last year, but I'm still glad I'm in it. Probably because of the pain in my knees, which comes and goes. I have to remember to take pain reliever before bed or it can be uncomfortable.

I always scorned St. Patrick's Day when I was a teenager, the mixed messages irritated me. The Irish don't want to be categorized by drinking? Then what is up with this supposedly religious holiday where my classmates rip school to go downtown and drink cheap beer dyed green?

Freshman year at college, a number of us stayed behind once Spring Break had started for an industrial film (my first paying acting gig!) and I was lured into O'Hooley's Pub for the celebration, which included a delicious meal of corned beef and cabbage, traditional Irish music (live) and my first Guinness. It was a sincere celebration of Irish heritage and an education for me.

This weekend started with a birthday gathering at the Tav Co. and they had NA Guinness, which was not bad. It made me hanker for the real stuff, but even so, my first sip brought me right back to O'Hooley's, thirty-seven years ago. The senses are a remarkable thing.

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 9:25

Ugh, It's gonna be cool for the next week. I mean, that's proper for late winter/early spring. But it doesn't serve my knees, uh, needs.

2008 Playlist

Black & Gold (Marcussen Album Version) - Sam Sparro 

Echoes Round the Sun  - Paul Weller

Nine in the Afternoon - Panic! at the Disco

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 41°
Climate: big wet snow flakes
Pavement: damp
Mood: determined

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Breakfast: fettuccine frittata
Lunch: SB&J sandwich

Treat: fried plantains
Dinner: vegan Reuben, potato salad, bok choy, fizzy water

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 182 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Upper body: 

Core Strength: 

I'm a new superhero.

OATMEAL!!!!

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:47
Pace: 9:36

2018 Playlist  

Anpanman - BTS
The Spot - Your Smith
5 Out of 6 - Dessa
You Wouldn't Like Me - The Beths
Everybody's Coming to My House - David Byrne
I Like It - Cardi B ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
How Did This Happen? - Bodega
New Rules - Dua Lipa
Make Me Feel - Janelle Monáe
Every 1's a Winner - Ty Segall

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: clear skies  breezy
Pavement: dry
Mood: good

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Friday

Breakfast: fresh fruit, granola, seeds, almonds, Greek yogurt, dried fruit

Coffee Break: nonfat latte, cream pie (a gift!)
Lunch: sushi & salad

Snack: fries (sm)
Dinner: buffalo wings (celery, carrots), NA Guinness

Saturday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, oatmeal w/brown sugar, butter, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, species & cream 

Lunch: ramen

Dinner: fettucine w/mushroom pepper marinara, lettuce salad w/carrot, mineral water

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 183 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

I'm going to fly from side to side.

Two weeks dry. First bad night's sleep all month, but it was entirely circumstantial, work-related worrying. Nice night last night, hanging out with our son who is home for spring break.

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 9:34

1969 Playlist

I Want To Take You Higher - Sly & the Family Stone

What Goes On - The Velvet Underground

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 62°
Climate: overcast  breezy
Mood: all right

Not really feeling it today, so I chose a short run. I need to rest these pins a little more.  

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

I need to do knee bends, that may help. It's not enough to just stretch.

Breakfast: fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, granola, almonds, dried cranberries, coffee w/cream
Lunch: Reuben (half)
Happy Hour: Diet Pepsi

Dinner: brisket burger (half), fries w/aioli, buffalo cauliflower, strawberry lemonade

Show Bev: sparkling mineral water

Upper Body: 6 reps.

Core Strength: 20 sit-ups

Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs.

Four years ago, the world shut down. For a time. I think today would be a fine one for a morning run.

Nine days in a row. Keep pushing.

Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 19:34
Pace: 9:46

Not sure what to do about my knees, except for to stop running. But that's silly. A day off would be helpful, but the weather is so nice. Maybe another day soon.

1979 Playlist

Day Tripper (154 BPM) - Yellow Magic Orchestra ft. Norio Yoshizawa  

Keep On Marching - The Meters

They Don't Know - Kirsty MacColl

I Can't Help It - Michael Jackson

10:15 Saturday Night (174 BPM) - The Cure

Dangerous Type - The Cars

Ugh. Up since 5:30 AM, not my plan. Ah, well. There's a lot to be doing.

Route: Burlington Loop (clockwise)
Temperature: 54°
Climate: perfect
Mood: angsty

There are side streets with two-way stops that I was previously unaware of.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Breakfast: gingerbread blondie, coffee w/cream
Lunch: chicken with lemon orzo

Treat: ginger ale, almonds & dried fruit
Dinner: Reuben (half), chips & tempura broccoli

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 183 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Sit-Ups: 40

Planks: 60 sec.

Things are going to get easier.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 39:43
Pace: 9:56

"New" music from De La. Our reliance on streaming services means that we do not have ready access to all of our twelve inches, extended remixes and B-sides. I am grateful that De La Soul has continued to roll out non-LP tracks from the past

1989 Playlist

Freedom of Speak (We Got Three Minutes) (164 BPM) - De La Soul

Eye Know - De La Soul

Sin - Nine Inch Nails

Never Enough - Jesus Jones

This & That -Michael Penn

Ladies First - Queen Latifah ft. Monie Love

Veronica - Elvis Costello

The Feelings Begin - Peter Gabriel

Doin’ Our Own Dang - Jungle Brothers

Buddy (Native Tongue Decision) - De La Soul ft. Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Monie Love

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 59°
Climate: sunny & beautiful
Mood: good

I do have to say my knees really hurt right now.

Stretches: yes
Water: ope

Breakfast: vitamins

Lunch: lasagna, fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, granola

Happy Hour: Cherry Coke Zero
Dinner: French onion soup, salad

Dark Room: ginger ale

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 183 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Upper body: TBA

Sit-Ups: 20

Muscular, but thin like springs, but not steel.

And it's spring again. We're all going to die.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:13
Pace: 9:44

1999 Playlist  

Deceptacon (161 BPM) - Le Tigre

Bruce Lee - Underworld

A Tab for the Holiday - Lilys

Your Redneck Past - Ben Folds Five

Let Forever Be - The Chemical Brothers

Lullaby of Clubland - Everything But the Girl

Walk Like a Panther - The All Seeing I

Livin' La Vida Loca (178 BPM) - Ricky Martin

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 50°
Climate: cloudless & bright
Pavement: dry
Mood: good

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, gingerbread blondie
Lunch: buffalo chicken wrap, potato chips, Diet Coke

Treat: more gingerbread blondie, fizzy water
Dinner: popcorn, Sierra Mist

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 184 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Upper body: 

Sit-ups: 20

Bicycle: 20

Plank: 30 sec.