Everybody, let's move.

So that happened.

Twenty years ago, I was in pre-training preparation for my first marathon. Scheduled training would begin in July. By April I was already running much more than I ever had in the past (and keeping a log of every run right here) and had developed shin splints.

It felt like running on broken legs. I found shin bandages -- which I wore upside-down the first couple times -- iced my legs after every run, and eventually found exercises which helped strengthen the front of my shins.

At the time, a friend said, "Oh no, shin splints. Those never go away." She was wrong. Lots of people were wrong about all sorts of things as I continued my training.

I also mused about how I would have water to drink as my runs got longer. So many things to learn!

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:09
Pace: 9:04

A Saturday entirely to myself. No work related responsibilities. No evening plans. The elder is in Cincy, the wife at the store, and it's Independent Bookstore Day. And I am home, doing laundry, cleaning house, listening to podcasts, and enjoying myself. And now I will run, on this cool, damp day in April.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 49°
Climate: overcast, cool & damp
Mood: driven

2006 Playlist

Another Sunny Day - Belle & Sebastian

Tracking Treasure Down - Gabriel & Dresden

Punkrocker - Teddybears ft. Iggy Pop

Say It Right - Nelly Furtado

Everybody Ona Move - Michael Franti & Spearhead

Bad Ass (Rogue Element Mix) - Crystal Method

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 161 lbs. (-4.0)

Keep going.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Light a fire, hit and run.

Actual work conversation yesterday.

What a decade it has been. The kids are quick to point out it wasn't a great world when Obama was president, but at least there was a certain degree of accountability and considerably less bullshit.

Or not. I don't know. I suppose this was inevitable. It's going to be quite the Semiquincentennial this summer.

Distance: 4.2 miles

Duration: 37:29
Pace: 8:55

Here is some good news. I did not believe I would have much going on this calendar year, as far as my writing was concerned. But I have produced a commission (which will be performed tomorrow), there will be a first public reading in June, a remount of a fringe show at the end of October, and this week's big surprise, the publication of one of my very favorite scripts!

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: beautiful
Mood: angsty

On Tuesday, The Current was commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of Prince Rogers Nelson. I mentioned this fact to our elder child and they said, "It been only ten years?"

Indeed.

2016 Playlist

Classic - The Knocks ft. Powers

Thank God For Girls - Weezer

Subways - Avalanches

New Song - Warpaint

Rebel Heart * - The Shelters

We The People ... - Tribe Called Quest

Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd

Troublemaker Doppelgänger * - Lucy Dacus

Cards - Company from "American Psycho"

Have Some Love * - Childish Gambino

You Don't Get Me High Anymore - Phantogram

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (+4.0)

Okay, you know what. Geez.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: TBA

We have not been doing the upper body work. This is not just laziness, I can't remember one day to the next and staying focused is an issue. I'm doing my job, and that's without much passion or interest, because I'm so disappointed. It's temporary.

Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain.

Never celebrate early.
Joshua Jackson passes Carson Mello
to win the Delaware Marathon
4/19/2026

Twenty-seven years ago yesterday two students committed an act of terror at one Colorado high school, and since then nothing has changed. In fact, it's gotten worse. This is not a good country. And it was never a great one.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:12
Pace: 9:06

DOGBERRY:
But, masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass.

- Much Ado IV.ii

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: overcast & warm
Mood: all right

1967 Playlist

The Beat Goes On - Sonny & Cher

All Tomorrow's Parties - The Velvet Underground & Nico

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher - Jackie Wilson

(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone - The Monkees

Here Comes My Baby - The Tremeloes

Somebody to Love - Jefferson Airplane

I Think We're Alone Now - Tommy James & the Shondells

Windy - The Association

Up, Up and Away (160 BPM) - The 5th Dimension

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 161 lbs. (-4.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

We are in the homestretch. Six runs to complete the list.

How can someone so young say words so sad?

Drive like your kids.

Take the note, guy.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:33
Pace: 8:50

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 47°
Climate: sunny & cool
Mood: I mean

1987 Playlist

Ahead - Wire

The Perfect Girl - The Cure

The Badger Song - The Dead Milkmen

The Dead Heart - Midnight Oil

I Don't Know - The Replacements

Heartbreak Beat - The Psychedelic Furs

Sheila Take a Bow - The Smiths

Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (+5.0)

Hold up, wait.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Hers is a tonic while mine is a gin.

Connections, 4/17/2026
I got this immediately. Is that bad?

Seriously, though. This school year has to end. And I need to stop eating fast food, I need to plan ahead. 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:20
Pace: 9:07

Also? I need to stop doing the NY Times daily puzzles. I am committed to a year-long streak of Connections, and have a month to go. And I got into Wordle, though that one isn't as important to me (though I have a 100+ day streak in that, too).

This means the first thing I do every morning is look at my phone for five to ten minutes. And then I am without any kind of motivation. I used to write first thing, now I puzzle. And I haven't written anything new since I completed the Marbury play a couple months ago. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: overcast & coolish
Mood: not great

Beat the rain by minutes.

2007 Playlist

Ice Cream - New Pony Club

Get Innocuous! (Soulwax Remix) - LCD Soundsystem

Flathead - The Fratellis

Apologize - Timbaland ft. OneRepublic

Don't You Evah - Spoon

Love Will Tear Us Apart (158 BPM) - José González

1973 - James Blunt

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 160 lbs. (-6.0)

Saw Barns Courtney last night at the Grog Shop. And between four in the afternoon and midnight I had far too much to drink. Spent the morning in bed. I have systems. I can be in control. But this week has been a mess. That's not an excuse, merely an explanation.

Great run. My head ached before I went out, it aches now, But while I was outside and running, I felt great. Maybe I should just run fr the rest of the day.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

I feel so strong now.

Home again. Rainy day. Funny how a 64° morning, after a spring rain, can feel cooler than a dry 56°. Maybe it's the moisture in the air? 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:57
Pace: 9:20

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: damp. nice.
Mood: all right

Last night, depression. This morning, better. I was awake for about an hour in the middle of the night, just when I would distract myself from one concern, another would take its place.

1977 Playlist

New Rose - The Damned

Love → Building on Fire  Talking Heads

Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment - The Ramones

Point of Know Return - Kansas

Pulled Up - Talking Heads

Deacon Blues - Steely Dan

Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

Dust in the Wind - Kansas

Good run, though. Lovely, après le déluge.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (+3.0)

This is not a surprise. Lot of fast food, restaurant food, Maria's delicious, calorie-dense breakfasts. I need to eat at home, be mindful of portions, choose the salad, etc.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Have a nice life.

We have been aching lately. Check the exercise roster, that may have something to do with it. Hips, ankles, feet, knees. All a bit sore. Unpleasant.

Distance: 4.15 miles

Duration: 37:25
Pace: 9:01

But anyway, I did bring my kit to Cincinnati. I have a day all to myself, and that should include exercise. The forecast is wonderful and I would have seriously regretted not taking the opportunity for a run.

How were we last year? Not bad.

Route: Gaslight Loop (2x)
Temperature: 71°
Climate: dark clouds w/thunder in the distance
Mood: good?

1997 Playlist

Drinking In L.A. - Bran Van 3000

Candyman - Cornershop

Selfless, Cold & Composed - Ben Folds Five

Everything * - Mary J. Blige

Dark & Long - Underworld

MMMBop - Hanson

The Impression That I Get - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Atom Bomb (Atomix 1) - Fluke

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Decent rest. Good breakfast, Maria always makes something nice. Now, what am I going to do with the rest of the day? The last time I was in this room, I was writing and doing research for the play that goes up later this month. Today, I may just read.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes