It's you and me. Forever.

A respite, of sorts. I do not know how long. Mornings spent talking, loving. We drink our coffee black now. I used to drink coffee black, until I met her. She taught me cream and sugar. And then only cream. We change. Coffee is a blessing. I mean, it is the result of conquest, so I probably shouldn't call it a blessing. But I am grateful for the drink.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:45
Pace: 9:35

Still a band of pain around my right calf, and when I sit or stand it can be a minor ordeal. Some days. Other days no problem. The wife thinks I should see a doctor, and she is correct.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: (Spirit of) 76°
Climate: sunny & clear
Mood: grateful

Bicentennial Top 10

Silly Love Songs - Wings

Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band

Kiss and Say Goodbye - The Manhattans

Get Up and Boogie - Silver Connection

I'll Be Good to You - Brothers Johnson

Sara Smile - Hall & Oates

More, More, More Pt. 1 - Andrea True Connection

Misty Blue - Dorothy Moore

I made this playlist last month, expecting to use it on Independence Day, but forgot about it. I probably wouldn't have played it then, anyway. These are songs from Casey Kasem's Weekly Top 40 on July 4, 1976.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-2.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.

Homecoming. For now.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 31:26
Pace: 9:40

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)

For Your Lover Give Some Time - Original company of "Standing at the Sky's Edge"

How Far I'll Go - Auli'l Cravalho

Crosseyed and Painless - Angelique Kidjo

Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show

Missing (Little Joey Remix) - Everything But the Girl 

The Luckiest - Ben Fold Five

Tightrope - Janelle Monae

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: partly cloudy
Mood: hopeful

• London (2024)
• Cleveland (2023)
• Cleveland (1996)
• Cleveland Heights (2022)

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167 lbs. (+2.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Update: 3:00 PM, flashing in my eye, not sure which, started as small arc before expanding into a large "c" shape and then disappearing without my noticing it had gone.

Nobody said it was easy. Nobody ever said it would be so hard.

It has been nearly a week. I want this to end.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:21
Pace: 9:28
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: cloudy, clearing
Mood: sad

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)

The Scientist - Coldplay

Calling All the Monsters - China Anne McClain

Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand

Make Me Feel - Janelle Monae

Fantastic Mr. Fox AKA Petey's Song - Jarvis Cocker

Shenandoah - Rufus Wainwright

All Night Long - Peter Murphy

A Tale - Cirque du Soleil

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

• Cleveland Heights (2023)
• Cleveland (2000)
• Orlando (2000)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

I don't want to feel like we're apart a thousand miles.

I love to make her laugh. I love to hear it.

Distance: 5.9 miles

Duration: 55:01
Pace: 9:19

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)

Before Today (Adam F Remix) * - Everything But the Girl

No Tomorrow - Orson

Fare Thee Well (Dunk's Song) * - Oscar Isaac & Marcus Mumford

My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark - Fall Out Boy

Hell You Talmbout - David Byrne

Life in Quarantine - Benjamin Gibbard

Rehbab  - "Glee" cast

Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae

Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash

Chaise Longue * - Wet Leg

Wait for It - Leslie Odom Jr.

Flathead - The Fratellis

Run On - Elvis Presley

Honeymoon Suite - Suzanne Vega

Magical Trevor - Mr Weebl

Winnie the Parakeet - Sherry Crane

What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction

Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus

Route: Forest Hill-Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 81°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: not great

• Cleveland (1996)
• Cleveland (2018)
• New York City (2016)
• Memphis (2000)

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Remember me to one who lives there.

July 2, 2006: Four our seventh anniversary (wool) my wife got me five albums that had the word "wool" in them, either the artist or album title. She got me the "TOCA Race Driver 3: Official Soundtrack" It's the soundtrack to a video game, composed by Plastic Man & the Wool One. Pretty sweet.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:58
Pace: 9:39

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)

Bandits (Live) - Josh Ritter

Doctor Who Theme (2005) - Murray Gold

Old Town Road - Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus

Wise Up - Aimee Mann

Girl From the North Country - Rachel Stern & Company 

Devil Doll - Roy Orbison

Hips Don't Lie - Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean

Dead Sea - Lumineers

This Land is Your Land - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Brimful of Asha - Cornershop

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 81°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: coping

• Tucson (2023)
• Clearwater (2000)
• Memphis (2000)
• Chicago (2017)

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Pain on the top of my right foot, around my right calf, in my right glute. All down my right leg.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Run and hide.

Old friends.

Brother in town, he loves the side porch. So di I. Later the two of us are going to the game.

Taking part of the day off to escort my beloved to a medical consultation.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:30
Pace: 9:11

Fifteen runs in June. Consistency.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: clear & sunny
Mood: working on it

Sophisti-pop 80s Workout Playlist

It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) - Eurythmics

Blow the House Down - Living in a Box

Mothers Talk - Tears for Fears

Above the Clouds - Paul Weller

Cars & Girls - Prefab Sprout

Tinseltown in the Rain - Blue Nile

Get Back Together - Everything But the Girl

This is my happy place. And I need a happy place right now.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

No, seriously.

Showing out, showing out, hit and run.

Cleveland!

Twenty years ago today, June 27, 2006, marathon training officially began. I happened to be in Vermont, looking after the kids while the wife took classes, pursuant to her MFA.

"Out on RT 2, lush trees and mountains ... and the occasional semi. I'd try to find a path through the woods, but it rained for a day solid yesterday, I can't imagine any of them are at all dry."

A three mile run at 5:00 am in Vermont. Nice.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:37
Pace: 9:13

Brother comes into town this weekend. Time to clean up the house a little. Or at least the spare room.

Sophisti-pop 80s Workout Playlist

Cue Fanfare - Prefab Sprout

Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You - Robert Palmer

What Have I Done to Deserve This? - Pet Shop Boys ft. Dusty Springfield

Love Changes (Everything) - Climie Fisher

Home Town (Live at the Roundabout Theatre) * - Joe Jackson

Robert DeNiro's Waiting - Bananarama

Love Is the Drug - Roxy Music

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 68°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: good

Beautiful day, beautiful run. No pain. So much to do, I didn't want to tax myself with a six miler. Maybe next week. Maybe Monday.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Keep up with the exercises, man.