Don't forget me when I'm gone.

Last day of camp for the week. Isn't that great? The week ends Thursday. I'll be in the office tomorrow, it will feel like a day off. The kids have been super, so far. The high school team is working on splash scenes from The Importance of Being Earnest. 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:49
Pace: 9:18
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: overcast & hot
Mood: all right!

Yes, morning run. Well done. I got eight hours last night, the first in some time (honestly, two nights in a row is too long) but I woke at 1 AM to jack up the a/c. I had a headache. I no longer do.

Forget About Me (The Breakfast Club Play) Playlist

Oh Yeah - Yello

Jerk - Olive Tree

Dream Montage - Gary Chang

Are You Ready for the Sex Girls - Gleaming Spires

Left of Center - Suzanne Vega ft. Joe Jackson

Garden Song - Phoebe Bridgers

If You Were Here - Thompson Twins

Sunflower - Post Malone ft. Swae Lee

Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) - Glass Tiger

We have been properly abstemious. I had a beer last night. One drink. Because I was writing and relaxing. I have told myself never to drink when I am making dinner, I'll just want another one.

Clear head. A little weary. Ready to face the day. 

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

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Stay on the streets of this town.

Theater camp! So many moving pieces, and yet. It’s cool, you know? And it’s a great team. And great campers. I know it’s only the second day, but things feel healthy.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:35
Pace: 9:13

Last night we went to the game, we lost in the tenth. You know, they keep doing these things to pick up the pace, but they can’t speed up the time it takes to put in a pitcher.

And yet, I feel good. And the camp week is now half over. Funny how the time goes by.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 85°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: good!

Forget About Me (The Breakfast Club Play) Playlist

Don't You (Forget About Me) 12" Version - Simple Minds

March of the Swivel Heads - The Beat

Dancing in the Dark - Lucy Dacus

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths

She Plays Bass - beabadoobe

The Middle - Zedd ft. Maren Morris & Grey

Weird Science - Oingo Boingo

See You at Your Funeral - PUP

Got a Zoom rehearsal tonight for a public reading of a new play script this weekend. Made what the kids call an "inspo" playlist.

Stretches: does camp count?
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-2.0)

Hot run!

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

I sense. I feel.

Pride weekend in the CLE. I thought of dropping in, but I have many things to do, many beautiful, creative things, right here at home. That, and the cat always wants to be outside these days. He used to rummage around in the tall grass, now he just wants to laze in the sun. Who can blame him.

Distance: 4.4 miles

Duration: 41:00
Pace: 9:20

Metropolis - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1984)

Love Kills - Freddie Mercury

Here's My Heart - Pat Benatar

Cage of Freedom - Jon Anderson

Blood From a Stone - Cycle V

The Legend of Babel - Giorgio Moroder

Here She Comes - Bonnie Tyler

Destruction - Loverboy

On Your Own - Billy Squier

What's Going On - Adam Ant

Machines - Giorgio Moroder

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 68°
Climate: light fluffy clouds & breezy
Mood: determined

Georgio Moroder's experiment in reviving this classic silent film has dated somewhat, the film is timeless but the songs aren't -- with the exception of his own instrumental themes. Machines is a very important track to me. 

Machines is 1984. It is the future. It is Metropolis. It's iconic. Timeless. 

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167 lbs. (+4.0)

It's not just that we returned to drinking, those those calories are real. It's the junk food that comes with it and I ate a lot yesterday, a Saturday. I even had a stress dream about driving into a McDonald's (not like, crashing into it, I was driving my car down an aisle) that had a build it yourself burger bar that was utterly disgusting.

It gets worse, after building my burger I accidentally dropped it into a wastebasket and fished it out. That is how bad my subconscious feels about the dinner I had last night.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

It's great to see you but I'm running late.

Took a dip yesterday, I was so thrilled to wake up all alert and positive on Wednesday only to be totally exhausted by the end of that day and dragging my ass Thursday morning. But hey, you're not twenty-one anymore. I mean, in maturity, sure. But just because you have briefly stopped intoxicating yourself, you're not just going to reset.

Speaking of being twenty-one again, I choose College Music.

"Fields suck."

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:04 (no lights!)
Pace: 9:03

Four dry days. All right, then.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 78°
Climate: sunny & hot 
Mood: apprehensive

Time to make the calls.

College Playlist (1986-1990)

Monkey (Extra Beats) - George Michael

I Don't Want to Be a Hero - Johnny Hates Jazz

Kiss - Prince & the Revoilution

Begin the Begin - R.E.M.

Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix) - Depeche Mode

Guns in the Sky (Kookaburra Mix) - INXS

The Beaten(en) Generation - The The

Was It Worth It? (12" Mix) - Pet Shop Boys

Stretches: sorta
Water: yes
Weight: 163 lbs. (-1.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

He running the game.

Twenty years ago, on June 11, 2006, I received confirmation that I had been accepted into that year's New York City Marathon.

"How the hell does one train for a marathon? I have books, and have consulted websites, and yet I am still trying to figure out how to work it into the schedule. Not the race, the training."

This language, or something very close to it, was used in And Then You Die. I was very aware that I would be directing, which is to say directing a production of HAMLET, directing a production of Hamlet ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN at the same time I would be deep into training.

"I am going to have to spend the month of September going to bed at midnight and waking up at 4."

And indeed, I was.

June 11, 2006 Playlist

All That She Wants - Ace of Base

Push It - Salt N Pepa

Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson

8 Mile - Eminem

The Way - Fastball

Crystal Wrists - Peter Murphy

Someday, Someway - Marshall Crenshaw

Let Go - Frou Frou

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:38
Pace: 8:54

These are the beautiful days. So often, we go straight from too cold and rainy directly to hot and torrid. These days are cool in the morning, but not too cool. Wrapped up on the deck, writing or reading, then parading about town in a light jacket. It's lovely.

And the runs are swell!

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 56°
Climate: perfect
Mood: very good

Two days dry. I think I woke for a moment in the night, and went right back to sleep. Slept until my alarm and woke refreshed, head clear, free of pain. It's a decision, the pleasant torpor of drink and drugs, or energy and awareness. I haven't wanted to be aware, for months. 

90s Pride Playlist

Finally - CeCe Peniston

Fireball - Pitbull ft. John Ryan

Red Alert - Basement Jaxx

Can't Get Blue Monday out of My Head - Kylie Minogue

It's My Life - Dr. Alban

Show Me Love - Robin S

Love Me Right (Oh Sheila) - Angel City ft. Lara McAllen

Okay, so? Not all from the 90s, I'm not mad.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 164 lbs. (-1.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Make you feel like a queen on a throne.

Got to choose the playlist the night before, just got to. And what better way to celebrate the first day of June?

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:38
Pace: 8:54

And speaking of new beginnings, I need a detox. This last week -- no, let's be honest, for weeks, months, even, I have been drinking consistently, every night. At least one drink, but usually two. And since the wife has been out of town, there has been a nightly use of additional toxicants.

It is June, The school year is complete. You can rest now. And you need to prepare for camp. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 60°
Climate: perfect 
Mood: strong!

Straight back, full chest, tight stomach, head high, feels good.

80s Gay Club Party

Relax (Come Fighting) - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys

Express Yourself - Madonna

Love With Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

Stop! - Erasure

Boy - Book of Love

Groove Is In The Heart - Deee-Lite

Enola Gay - OMD

But seriously, I spent twenty minutes looking absolutely everywhere I went yesterday (inside the house -- I never left the house yesterday) from attic to basement and everywhere in-between, searching for my earbuds.

I gave up, resigned to eventually run without them, and returned to the book I had set on the deck ... and there were my earbuds, next to the book. No reason. Just took them outside this morning. Give them some air.

I really need to lay off the brownies. 

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

What if no alcohol?

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Life is short.

A chore-free Saturday. How far will we run?

Distance: 5.75 miles

Duration: 53:45
Pace: 9:20

The wife is having a tremendous west coast adventure (see photo) and I am celebrating the completion of the school year.

When she goes out of town, I have these fantasies of organizing and de-cluttering and that often lasts six hours on the first day.

As she is out over two weekends, not just one, I am hoping to accomplish more than usual. The weather has lifted my spirits.

Route: Forest Hill-Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 60°
Climate: ideal
Mood: good

Yesterday and today, I have felt pain across my chest. Not like "chest pain" but more like muscle pain, perhaps from overexertion, I do not know. After this run, I do not feel it any longer. 

High School Run (1982-1985)

Fantastic Day (12" Version) (152 bpm) - Haircut One Hundred

Since Yesterday - Strawberry Switchblade

Doctor! Doctor! (Phil Thornalley Remix) - Thompson Twins

New Religion (Carnival Remix) - Duran Duran

Don't Box Me In (160 bpm) - Stewart Copeland ft. Stanard Ridgway

Two Minute Warning - Depeche Mode

New Kind of Kick - The Cramps

Hello Again - The Cars

Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life - Indeep

What Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?) (Unsocial Mix) - Wham!

Black Diamond - The Replacements

Baby I'm a Star - Prince & the Revolution

(You Can Still) Rock In America (165 bpm) - Night Ranger

I Confess - The Beat

Remarkable, a longer run, a slower run, a casual run, a beautiful run. The result? My mind went places it does not normally go on a shorter run. I started thinking about the future, not the past, making plans for camp, for the writing workshop, and also the Wilde scene work.

Exercise is good. Thinking is better.

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

If you watch a David Lynch movie before bed, don't be surprised if you have odd dreams.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

We did it again! Fifteen runs in a month. Consistency. Three months running, a streak I have not maintained since 2023, the last period when I would try to run every day. It is a conscious choice not to run every day (unless making up for a missed day) and it has kept me, for the time being, from injury.