I really don't think you're strong enough. No.

Did a two hour shift at the food bank on Monday. I can't complain, my life is good. We were packing boxes for seniors, boxes would come down a (slowly moving) conveyor belt, and we would put items into it as it passed. My job was picking up two, one gallon grape juice bottles and placing them up and into the box next to each other.

Yeah, my arms are still a little sore. But I also have a repetitive stress injury in my right index finger. Two hours, that's no time at all. What a difficult gig. We packed 360 boxes. Worth it.

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 35:49
Pace: 8:56

Some times, you just need to take an extra day. Parking buses, lots of time on my feet. And the weather has disagreed ... until today.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: all right

1998 Playlist

Blue Monday - Orgy

Believe - Cher

The Way - Fastball

Hoodoo Voodoo - Wilco

Torch - Sister Soleil

Let Me See - Morcheeba

Millennium - Robbie Williams

Dry the Rain - The Beta Band

Body Movin' (Fatboy Slim Remix) - Beastie Boys

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 160 lbs. (-1.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

I see you walk past the demonstration.

"In like a lion and out like a different lion."

We finish March strong. Didn't think I could say that a week ago. In like a lion, out like a lamb. Fifteen runs. High-five.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:21
Pace: 8:49 (fuck, yes)

The other night, when I had a migraine, I had a new experience. Not an entirely unfamiliar experience, but a very disconcerting one. I kept hallucinating. Waking dreams. 

I would try to drift off, I would try to clear my mind, which is difficult to do when your head aches, and I would suddenly, very suddenly, be in some place, with something troubling to do. Like, I had spilled things I needed to pick up, or that there was something to find.

But I wasn't asleep. Or I was, for that one moment, and then just awake enough to tell myself, "This isn't real, you are in a bed, forget this, rest and sleep." And then it would happen all over again. It was horrible 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 54°
Climate: clear & lovely
Mood: driven

2018 Playlist

Sunflower - Post Malone ft. Swae Lee

This Must Be the Place (Live) - David Byrne

Lash Out - Alice Merton

Do What You Want - The Presets

Actor Attractor - Johnny Marr

I'm Scum - Idles

Mother Maybe - Kadhja Bonet

How Did This Happen?! - Bodega

All bangers.

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

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

My favorite song of 2025. And, oh my God! The drummer sings!

The road that stretches out ahead.

A weekend journey to St. Paul to see my niece’s senior year spring play. As it happened, this was also the weekend of the largest civil protest in recent American history so I made plans to attend that, too.

And we brought our shoes. I wanted to run this morning, but managed to do absolutely everything possible to ensure I would have not only a headache, but a killer migraine.

I had two beers over a late, post-show dinner, and no water. I retired last night not only after midnight, but after midnight Central Time. To me it was 1:30 am.

The pillow was too thick, it was chilly so I wore my PJ bottoms to bed and had three blankets. I woke up maybe an hour later, practically baking and with terrible head pain.

I have also not brought any pain medication nor Dramamine. And I got sick to my stomach. It was bad. Fortunately, my sister-in-law gave me some extra strength OTC migraine medication and I was able to finally sleep. I felt bad, missing out on morning time with my brothers family, I finally got up around noon.

Distance: 3.3 miles

Duration: 29:54
Pace: 9:03

The No Kings event at the Minnesota State Capitol Building was epic. The last time I visited the capitol was in 2015, that’s where they put the finish line for the Twin Cities Marathon.

It was a rogues gallery of MN progressive pols, including Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her. Sen. Bernie Sanders also present, and Jane Fonda, too. Performers included Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers and … Tom Morello? I think?

After standing for four hours (including the bus ride there) I thought of taking a nap. I mean, I barely slept last night. But the weather was so nice. In fact, if I had taken a run this morning, it would have been thirty degrees. Tomorrow morning will also be thirty degrees.

Route: Fairview & Summit to the Mississippi and back 
Temperature: 54°
Climate: clear with light clouds
Mood: positive

1969 Playlist

Skylarking - Horace Andy

Do What You Wanna - Ramsey Lewis Trio

Two of Us (Naked Version) - The Beatles

Sex Machine - Sly & the Family Stone

Only the Strong Survive - Jerry Butler

We're Not Gonna Take It - The Who

Sugar, Sugar - Archies

Stretches: I need to do better with this.
Water: yes

Big river.

I suited up, and took a gorgeous pre-sunset run down Summit Avenue to the Mississippi. Many other runners were out, too.

Listening to the finale from Tommy … Andrew Hickey is currently covering the late-60s Who with an emphasis on the creation of that album. My brother turned me onto that when I was twelve or thirteen, and I am still a big fan. I think I will use that as an album for running when the year runs have concluded.

Tommy sings, “Here comes Uncle Ernie to show you to your very own machine.” Surely, Tommy realized it was him after his senses were restored (if they were even truly gone) and yet, gave him a job at his camp. The Uncle Ernies of the world always get a pass. Even those who play him on stage.

I want to run. She’s pulling me apart.

I would ask, "What have I done to deserve this?" But I am well aware of all the things I have done, good and bad, and I have to assume this all balances out. The question is, can I learn from this experience. I think it means a lot that I have been able to accomplish as much as I have this year under this duress.

Jesus. Every gluten-free cookie, turned to ground glass.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:04
Pace: 9:03

Depression is deadening. And it is a challenge to keep moving forward. You know, there are times when I have said the wrong thing, done the wrong thing, and I just suffer through, aware of the damage I myself have caused, to others, and by extension to myself, hoping for that day that the ache has passed, and that life, for me, anyway, has resumed some kind of normalcy.

Then there are times like this, when I am just the unfortunate receptor of several unfortunate attacks, in quick succession, often unrelated, but so personal. And I don't know what to do about that. I have no one to talk to about it, no one to trust with this.

Like the man said, it's a drag isn't it?

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 54°
Climate: light fluffy clouds
Mood: trying

I've have spent years, my entire adult life, learning to be careful with my speech, with what I say. Even more recently, what not to put into an email. God, I'm angry. Calm, and sad, and very angry. And no one knows. No one but you.

1989 Playlist

Gucci Again - Schoolly D

She's a Mystery To Me - Roy Orbison

Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry

Chewing Gum - Elvis Costello

Steppin' to the A.M. - 3rd Bass

Big House - Michael Penn

She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals

The Garden of Earthly Delights - XTC

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

I can't explain this.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

These are the days. Sunrise over the park, perfectly cool -- but not too cool. Comfortable, free and easy. I need more of this.

See you Saturday.

Run and hide.

We watched the premiere episode of SNL UK on Sunday evening. Wet Leg was the musical act. 

Man, I love music. I'm a middle aged Gen Xer and I love all music. Like, all music. Except, you know. Midwest Emo.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:22

Jesus Christ. My wife told me something last night that really cut to my already fragile sense of self-esteem like it was something amusing. I'm still kind of in shock. Not good.

Oh, well. Eat less, exercise more. Lose more weight. That's what I usually do.

Route: rec center
Temperature: 24°
Climate: cold
Mood: very sad

2009 Playlist

Gold Guns Girls - Metric

In For the Kill - La Roux

Hell (166 bpm) - Tegan and Sara 

Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Sea of Heartbreak - Rosanne Cash ft. Bruce Springsteen 

You’re Not Alone - Olive

Animal - Miike Snow

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 161 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

It is at moments like this that I either 1) lose the impetus to move or 2) run on automatic and accomplish things through sheer force of will. I will attempt the latter. Eventually, I will incorporate this ugly moment into my psyche and it will become something I simply harbor and never mention again.

When I'm breathless I'll run 'til I drop. Hey.

Sitting by the fire, or in warmer weather, on one of our porches, to write uninterrupted or, more recently, to read, is a morning ritual that provides me peace and clarity of mind.

This is where I take my first cup of coffee and, more recently, a tall glass of water. This is how I choose to begin my day, and those are generally the best mornings.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 27:44
Pace: 8:57

The working week began with a Macbeth workshop at JCU, and concluded with a Macbeth workshop at Ideastream. And last night the wife and I decided, hey! Why not go see the show?

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 60°
Climate: overcast, mercury falling
Mood: okay

Man. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

1979 Playlist

Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl - The Spinners

Dance This Mess Around (Party Mix) - The B-52's

Too Hot - Kool & The Gang

They Don't Know - Kirsty MacColl

Down in the Park  - Tubeway Army ft. Gary Numan

Hold On - Ian Gomm

London's Burning - The Clash

Fool In the Rain - Led Zeppelin

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 161 lbs. (-0-)

Yesterday we celebrated Calvin, visited Riverside, made every thing look nice and festive. The brick, which we planed by the front step some time ago, has been neglected. I couldn't find it for a moment, it was under a half-inch of soil. But I cleared, cleaned, and colored it up.

Between those celebrations and our Saturday evening date, there was no time for a run, but hey. I guess I banked that last weekend. Good for me!

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: TBA

See you Tuesday.

I hit the ground running.

Oh, great. Another cold. What the actual. I have to say, parking the buses in sub-freezing temps does take a physical toll, but seriously? Anyway, runny nose, high feeling in my chest -- though that's actually the Sudafed. Been taking a lot of Sudafed this season

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:54
Pace: 8:59

Brisk run, enjoyable. I didn't wat to do it, I feel now like I might regret it. But I enjoyed the run itself very much.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 46°
Climate: partly cloudy & cool
Mood: illing

1999 Playlist

Lullaby of Clubland (Jay 'Sinister' Sealee Remix) - Everything But the Girl

All Star - Smashmouth

Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

Steal My Sunshine - Len

And One (on One) - Lilys

Push Upstairs - Underworld

Fast As You Can - Fiona Apple

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 161 lbs. (-1.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

See you Saturday?