Running down to the riptide.

It's a birthday! So I got up early to make breakfast for our 19 year old and had a meeting at eleven so I wasn't planning to run. But it's so beautiful out! Then the meeting was pushed back to noon. Perfect!

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:27
Pace: 9:30

Normally, I ascribe any song to the year it was released. But as with all things, we make an exception for Taylor.

2014 Playlist  

Style (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

BoJack's Theme (Full Length)  - Patrick Carney & Ralph Carney

Avalanche - Walk the Moon

Riptide - Vance Joy

Under the Pressure - The War on Drugs

They Want My Soul - Spoon

Two Bodies - Flight Facilities ft. Emma Louise

I have decided I do not actually like The War On Drugs.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°

Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Regarding my feet. Up until the year 2006, I was wearing a size 9.5. They were tight then, but as I ran and I needed new shoes I was surprised to bump up to a ten. And then a ten and a half, where I have been for at least ten years.

The other day I got a pair of elevens. I was surprised even then, that my feet are even longer. But you know what? They're too small.

Upper body: 

Core Strength: 

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, ebelskivers w/whipped cream & syrup

Lunch: sunbutter & preserves sandwich, Cheetos

There's an open road that leads nowhere.

Shared this with the boy last night.
Holds up.

Surprise! The boy gets up early, and asks me to run. 

We had a two hour workshop yesterday, which hurt my knees and exhausted me. This morning I have been dizzy, woozy, unsteady. I had just been thinking I would exercise, to knock me out of my torpor. Then he asks for a run. One mile. Perfect! 

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 9:09

1975 Playlist

Evil Woman - Electric Light Orchestra

Mamma Mia! - ABBA

That's The Way (I Like It) - KC & the Sunshine Band

Also, new shoes!

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 60°
Climate: light rain
Mood: good!
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 60 rep

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Up: 40

   Bicycle: 50

   Plank: 60 sec.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 179 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, oatmeal, butter, brown sugar, cream w/dried & fresh fruit

Lunch: broccoli cheese casserole

Snack: Coke, Cheetos

Dinner: bean paste & toast, cocktail

Evening: Doritos (fuck you)

Running, running down the street.

I keep forgetting to do upper body work while watching the ballgame. Like, earlier I was think how I like to listen to podcasts (not music) while doing sit-ups, because that helps me focus, but I like to watch something on a screen when lifting weights.

We were winning, too. That should have been motivational. Anyway, busy day! They are all busy days! Big Boat Minus Seven Days! 

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 38:04
Pace: 9:31

Not feeling it Wednesday morning. Seriously, it's okay to miss a day. Jesus.

1985 Playlist

Look Mama - Howard Jones  
Call Me (163 BPM) - Go West
Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer
Around the World In a Day - Prince  The Revolution
Party All the Time - Eddie Murphy
Riot In My Mind (162 BPM) - Poison Girls
Left of the Dial - The Replacements
Money's Too Tight (To Mention) - Simply Red
All I Need is a Miracle - Mike + The Mechanics
Something About You - Level 42
Anxiety. Work worries me. I have a show opening this weekend. The world is ending. My body, my time, my writing, my life. At least I am sleeping well. That is something I cannot take for granted.

Route:
Temperature:
Climate:
Mood:
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 120 rep

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Ups: 40

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 179 lbs. (-1.0) 

Goal: 175 lbs.

Wednesday

Breakfast: yogurt, granola, fruit, coffee w/cream

Lunch: veggie chili over rice w/cheese, scallions & sour cream

Treat: watermelon gummi bears (yeah), Cheetos* & Coke

Dinner: martini, fries, beer

Thursday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, oatmeal w/cream, brown sugar, dried fruit, butter

Snack: Nutrigrain Bar

Lunch: Ramen w/fried egg

Snack: Cheetos*

Dinner: TBA

* These are controlled amounts of Cheetos. We have a bag of Cheetos in the house. Each time, I have put them in a ramekin, a small dish. One small dish.

Listen to your heartbeat pumping.

Big day yesterday, missed out on some of my workout. Keep going, young man! It's the only way you will fit into that tuxedo.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:43
Pace: 9:35

Feeling good. In the zone. Knees were fine. They will hurt this afternoon. But I have a mental clarity I did not have this morning when I woke up. The reading threw me for a loop. And yet, on the run I had ideas. Motherfucking ideas.

I may even have a revised scene for Dark Room tonight.

1995 Playlist

Drop - The Pharcyde  
Jaded - Green Day
The Heart's Filthy Lesson (Trent Reznor Alternative Mix) - David Bowie
Les ailes - Khaled
Scream - The Jackson siblings
Nothing (Important) - Rosetta Stone
All Mixed Up - 311
Magic Carpet Ride - Mighty Dub Katz

Oh shit!

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: good!
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength:

   Sit-Ups: 60

   Bicycles: 60

   Plank: 60 sec. 

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 180 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

We maintain.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: smoothie bowl w/fresh fruit, chocolate PB granola & nutella

Dinner: chicken quesadilla, Irish ale

Everybody's lined up in my house.

Beautiful start to a beautiful day. Reading in the backyard tonight.

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 9:17

2005 Playlist  

All Night Disco Party - Brakes
Don't Look Back - Télépopmusik ft. Angela MCluskey
Daft Punk is Playing at My House - LCD Soundsystem

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 60°
Climate: sunny & nice
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Up: 20

   Bicycle: 20

   Plank: 30 sec.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 180 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit, granola  yogurt over cheesecake

Lunch: big ass salad, chocolate cake (modiste)

Reading Dinner: pizza, beer

Past the point of no return.

We continue. We maintain. We take ibuprofen like a champ.

Eating is, for me, a property of privilege. I will go grocery shopping and think, I can have that, I'll buy that thing, I can buy that thing, I have money for that, I am an adult, I have freedom and agency and I can have anything I want. Who can tell me no? I will have that thing.

This is all in a flash. And if I have the wherewithal I can also think what will that taste like? Will it taste very good? And the likelihood is that the answer is no, it will not taste very good. If they are Pringles or Doritos I can imagine they taste like dust, if it's a candy bar I know it will just taste like sugar. Not interesting, just a wad of chewy sugar.

That can put me right off. It only takes a moment. Other times, I will just get them, and try to remember to enjoy them, to take a little time, as I consume.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:09
Pace: 9:43

I am absolutely going to regret that later today. But the weather is perfect, and so were the tunes.

2015 Playlist

Magnets - Disclosure ft. Lorde  

Mission of Mercy (Live) - Martha Davis & The Motels

Bad Blood - Bryan Adams

I Didn't Just Come Here to Dance - Carly Rae Jepsen

Cream On Chrome - Ratatat

Lean On - Major Lazer ft. DJ Snake & MÖ

Restless - New Order

Head Over Heels - JD McPherson

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 58°
Climate: sunny & beautiful
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 60 reps.

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Ups: 30

   Bicycles: 20

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 180 lbs. (+1.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: veggie eggs benedict, asparagus w/hollandaise, mimosa, coffee w/cream

Lunch: French 75, fizzy water

Snack: nuts, fruit, cheese, chocolate peanut butter porter

Dinner: harissa roasted cauliflower, homemade gnocchi with chicken sausage in red pepper cream sauce, strawberry pineapple wheat beer, Sara Lee cheesecake

The boy made dinner for Mom's dad. Fucking delicious.

Running like a watercolor in the rain.

Tiger is also a Master of Disguise
(Loganberry Books)

Driving to Hudson and back first thing in the morning has messed with my weekend groove. I got back into bed and slept for another hour and a half. To be fair, I had a small orange cat under the covers with me, and he is a hypnotist. Also, I had a bit of a struggle getting out of bed yesterday, anyway.

Why? Too much exercise? Really? It's not that much exercise. But it is consistent. No idea. Just a Saturday morning. I should be grateful not to have any head pain. Like, really. Thanks the heavens for no head pain on a Saturday morning.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:38
Pace: 9:53

Also, it is a regressive morning, raining and cool. Not my favorite day for running, but not the worst, either. It's not my favorite day to do anything, really, but not the worst, either. Great day for sleeping in, though.

1976 Playlist

Magic Fly - Space  
Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney & Wings
Year of the Cat - Al Stewart
Come Together - Tina Turner
Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue - The Ramones
Detroit Rock City - Kiss
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy

Literally discovered Space this morning, on Instagram, a French synthesizer band that appeared onstage dressed as astronauts, complete with face-obscuring helmets. Huh. Good idea. 

Also, "Magic Fly" must have been the inspiration for the theme to "Buckaroo Banzai." Space is the place!

Contemporary Youth Orchestra
(Loganberry Books)

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 55°
Climate: partly cloudy & nice
Mood: good

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

The clouds broke, the sun even came out!

Knees getting sore. Wore the braces on the run. Will take pain reliever. I need days off, to be sure. 

Upper body: 60 reps.

Core Strength:

   Sit-Ups: 40

   Bicycles: 40 

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 179 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: fresh fruit, granola, yogurt

Lunch: veggie chili over rice, iced coffee

Dinner: pizza (1), salad, Dort

You take my breath away.

Body by Perrier

Exercise is mental. I mean, it's physical, but it's also mental. And requires planning. But not as much time as I think it does. Last night I thought oh, I didn't do abdominals. Do I need to do abdominals? That's how it starts. But I got up and did them. It didn't take very long. And then they were done.

Keep it going.

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 9:03

1986 Playlist

Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) - Glass Tiger ft. Ryan Adams  

Seven Day Weekend - Elvis Costello & the Attractions ft. Jimmy Cliff

Don't Leave Me Behind - Everything But the Girl

It's funny my graduation cohort has two songs pleading for you not to forget about us. Three if you want to count that EBG track.

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 51°
Climate: sunny & cool
Mood: good!
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Motivating a one mile is tough. Like, is it worth it? And then I'm like, don't be a dick, some folks can't even run one mile, what's your excuse? 

The day begins with energy.

Upper body: 60 rep

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Ups: 40

   Bicycles: 40

   Planks: 60 sec.

Jesus. I just remembered that it was on this date in 1986 that I first got laid. Why does my brain work like this?

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 179 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit, granola  yogurt

Lunch: roast beef sandwich, chips, ginger ale

Happy Hour: Bumble Berry

Rehearsal Treat: Twizzlers

Dinner: ramen w/scallion & veggie sausage

Cocktail Hour: Midwest IPA

See? Record your meals.

We landed on the good foot.

Butcher Billy

Moderation. Time. Thinking. Planning. Also being. Moving forward. The running is its own reward. So is mindful consumption. Last night I was going to have a drink simply because it was night. I thought about it. I did not wish to consume a heavy beverage. So I didn't.

Also, it helps to watch X-Men '97 while doing upper body work.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 39:19
Pace: 9:49

1996 Playlist  
Brakes - De La Soul

Flipside - Everything But the Girl

Trainspotting- Primal Scream

Broken English - Queue Up

Sleep to Dream - Fiona Apple

Super Bon Bon (Propellerheads Radio Edit Version) - Soul Coughing

Down Rodeo (170 BPM)  - Rage Against the Machine

Born Slippy (Nuxx) - Underworld 

Can we get more 90s? I do not believe that we could.

Man. My twenties went fast.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 55
Climate: overcast & cool
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 60 rep 

Core Strength: 

   Sit-up: 40

   Bicycle: 40

   Plank: 90 sec.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 180 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh berries, yogurt, granola 

Lunch: chili over rice

Happy Hour: old fashioned

Dinner: popcorn, beer

The clock starts ticking now.

Good morning. Headachy, but. Take some discipline to run one mile when you know the music will be hot. But. I don't want to tax my knees. So far, so good. Four runs this week. Tomorrow we will visit the park ... or the city! I hope.

Distance: 1 miles
Duration: 9:12

Note: Jagged flashing.

2006 Playlist

Whoo! Alright - Yeah ... Uh Huh. - The Rapture

Overtime - Girl Talk

Push The Button - Sugababes

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: sunny & nice
Mood: all right

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 40 reps

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Ups: 20

   Bicycle 20

Can I keep this up? Maintain. I hope to push myself further.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 182 lbs. (+2.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Come on, man.

Breakfast: fresh fruit, granola, yogurt

Coffee Break: coffee w/cream

Lunch: Clif Bar, fizzy water

Snack: almonds, dried fruit, fizzy water

Dinner: vegetarian chili over rice

You've got my heart working ovetime.

But what can I do to stem the apocalypse? Of course, the world isn't going to end, the world will be fine. It's all the animals that are going to do, and not nearly all of them. When you look at it that way

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:44
Pace: 9:34

So, a day with mindful exercise. Can we do it again today? And then again tomorrow? And am I just going to hurt my knees again? These are good questions. 

2016 Playlist

Cheap Thrills - Sia  

Dear World, - Nine Inch Nails

Overtime - Knower

Breathe Life - Jack Garratt

OneHundred - Sims

TCR - Sleaford Mods

That's What I Like - Bruno Mars

Satisfied - Sia ft. Miguel  Queen Latifah

The Hamilton Mixtape is ... problematic.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: overcast & cool
Mood: good

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 40 reps

Core Strength: 

   Sit-ups: 40

   Bicycle: 40

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 180 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, smoothie bowl w/fresh fruit, PB granola, Nutella 

Lunch: baba w/pita

Happy Hour: old fashioned

Dinner: chicken Caesar, beer

Who's tripping down the streets of the city?

And here we are, in 1967. Short run, after all. Stand tall, take it easy, run slow. Yesterday felt really good. I'd like to keep it that ay.

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 9:23

1967 Playlist

Windy - The Association  
96 Tears - ? & The Mysterians
Bring Down the Birds - Herbie Hancock
Mary, Mary - The Monkees

Pretty boss set, actually.

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: overcast  cool
Mood: good

The wife tipped me off to the podcast A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs by Andrew Hickey. He said it was a ten year project but it started in 2018 and he isn't halfway there yet, but that's fine with me. We are listening and so should you.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 40 reps.

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Up: 40

   Bicycle: 40

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 180 lbs.

Goal: 175 lbs.

Can I lose five pounds by May 22? I have a particular reason for this, and it is to fit more comfortably into the tuxedo I will be wearing on the big boat.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit, dried fruit, yogurt, granola & seeds

Lunch: garlic bread, spaghetti & meatball

Dinner: popcorn, beer

Her little white boys.

Thank you, Zendaya, for this big horny bi tennis movie (that's not really about tennis). Seriously, though. When do we get unapologetically non-phobic bisexual men in mainstream film? It was a hoot, the last five minutes made me so happy.

Distance: 3.2 miles
Duration: 29:36
Pace:  9:17

 

But it's not just all the sloppy tongue kissing, Reznor and Ross have been making incredible film scores, and this one had me so thrilled. Listening to it on its own I was reminded of all the new music I discovered as I trained for my first marathon.

And then I remembered my first marathon was in 2006. And the events of this film begin in 2006. Jesus Christ! They made a period-accurate techno album!  

Challengers (Original Score) - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (2024)

Challengers

"I Know"

Yeah x10

The Signal

Brutalizer

Stopper

Brutalizer 2

The Points That Matter

Pull Over

Challengers: Match Point

Compress/Repress

Route: Hocking River Bike Path
Temperature: 68°
Climate: overcast & glorious
Mood: good

Here's the thing, music is the motivation. I didn't begin running in earnest until the invention of the iPod. It's just a fact. I can run because I want or need to run, but sometimes just knowing what I will be listening to on the run drives me to get that kit on and go.

The "year" runs began as a way to get me back on the street after my first marathon. What if I create playlists from every year of my life, that could be fun. I have been doing that, more or less, since 2007.

But the fact is, the earlier we go the less interested I am. Music from the late 60s isn't my bag. I mean, it moves me but it doesn't move me. So, in spite of good weather, knowing I need to listen to the 1967 playlist has actually been a deterrent. And ain't that a shame.

Anyway, we are in Athens. And the weather is perfect, I can listen to whatever I want, if it gets me on the bike path. Today that's some retro techno. 

Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Perfect day by the Hocking. And I felt good. You can see, my time was faster. Last week I was trudging, it wasn't enjoyable. Today? Very enjoyable. It's about weather. It's about rest. So much to do with rest.

I was hoping to run yesterday, but I started the day with a headache and that kind of threw everything off. Can I run at least three times a week for the next three weeks? It is a goal. And we will begin with music from 1967.

Upper Body: 20 reps.