I think I'm done with the sofa.

The peaceful days. We take the bus. We take the stairs. We watch the games.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:59
Pace: 9:20

I try to avoid eye contact, but this guy really wanted to use my phone to call his woman (that's what he calls her) and I let him, but then my bus arrived and I had to just take the phone out of his hands.

This is a true story.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 74°
Climate: after the rain, perfect
Mood: good!

Outside Playlist

Outside

Spinning the Wheel (Forthright Edit)

Soul Free (Special Radio Edit)

Monkey (Extra Beats)

Careless Whisper (Tonight The Music Seems So Loud) sped up

I Want Your Sex (Rhythm 1)

Too Funky

Happy birthday, Yog.

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

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

All I can see is the end of the week.

Been reading Andrew Ridgeley's memoir.

George Michael Playlist

Too Funky (Extended Mix)

Everything She Wants (Extended Remix)

Fastlove Pt. 1

Fantasy

As ft. Mary J. Blige

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:25
Pace: 9:10

Last night went on forever, and I went to bed too late. It was supposed to be relaxing. but unfortunately it also meant consuming too much. Just couldn't stop snacking.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: clear & humid
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 161 lbs.

Bit headachy this am, slept in a little, but not well. Thought I might put off the run, but why? Better to hit it.

Fifteen runs in thirty days. Well done.

I'll show you heaven, if you let me.

George Michael Bench
Waterlow Park, London

Full of anxiety this weekend. Had a project deadline, which I fulfilled, but there was that. Also? The world. The world is fucking with me and I don't like it. Don't like feeling helpless.

Camp starts tomorrow, too, and that is always a step into the unknown. More anxiety.

On the other hand, we did get Parade the Circle yesterday and that's always nice.

Let's just listen to George Michael on this run.

Distance: 3.75 miles
Duration: 35:29
Pace: 9:27

George Michael Playlist

Too Funky

Cowboys & Angels

Freedom '90

Secret Love

Fastlove

My Baby Just Cares For Me

Everything She Wants (Live)

Amazing

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: sunny & nice
Mood: anxious
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 177 lbs. (-+2.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

I ate all the kettle corn.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: IPA, notso fries, fr. artichoke, Caesar salad w/grilled chicken

Intermission: beer

Dinner: leftover Caesar salad

I will be your daddy.

Thank God for George Michael, and especially for the single "I Want Your Sex" which was first released on the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop II in May 1987.

It's not the best rack on his first, upcoming solo record, Faith. But is was a quirky, frenetic, deconstructed bop which enraged a lot of silly people. I got the "extended CD single" that summer and wore that fucker out.

Distance: 5 miles

Duration: 51:49
Pace: 10:21

Route: Forest Hill Loop +

Temperature: 73°
Climate: overcast & muggy

Mood: all right

Over my high school years I had developed a terrible case of acne on my chest, back and shoulders. At the end of 1986 I was single again and miserable, I thought I'd never date again. The year 1987 started with my first one-night stand, which was completely humiliating.

However, I was soon prescribed Accutane. My skin cleared up, and with it a degree of physical self-confidence that no man deserves, and for a short time, I became a player. George Michael wrote my songs. Well, George and Robert Smith.

Maybe I will try running to some Cure albums next. 

Faith - George Michael (1987)

Faith

Father Figure

I Want Your Sex Pts. 1 & 2

Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Remix)

Hand To Mouth

Look at Your Hands

Monkey (Jam & Lewis Remix)

Kissing a Fool

A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Pt. 3)

 

Difficult week, physically. Big run Tuesday, but that seemed to exacerbate the injury. Refraining from running was an emotional drain. The weather didn't help, the rain and damp. Still, been reading. Working. Watching movies. Summer time.

 
Stretches: yes

Water: yes

Not horrible, slow pace, felt the pull the entire time. Also, occasional new twitches in my left knee. What's that all about? Will pound ibuprofen, hope for the best.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh strawberry, blueberry, cherry, dried cranberry & raisin, yogurt, granola, honey & sunflower seeds

Zoom Time: iced coffee

Lunch: ramen w/roasted chicken

Dinner: popcorn

Alcohol? Boss Dog

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 170 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Reading: 30 min.

Man, but that last track is problematic.

I want to hit that high.

My summertime love.

Big Cedar Point weekend. A little on the decadent side, but I think it's the only time we go this summer. We've become huge summer fun people!

But also, on Monday, I developed a crushing headache which separated me from humanity for the entire morning and most of the afternoon. As I recuperated, I ate what seemed best to eat, which included a lot of fat and salt and stranger cravings.

This morning I feel like I am starting from the beginning again.

Distance: 4.55 miles

Duration: 43:47
Pace: 9:37

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 68°
Climate: sunny  nice

Mood: good

The truth is, Make It Big is a mediocre follow-up. Fantastic knows what it is, a party record, and it is perfect. This is a Frankenstein's monster of an album, half of it is outstanding. I don't even need to point out which songs those are.

But "Heartbeat", "Like a Baby", "If You Were There" and "Credit Card Baby" are so light and poppy just fill in your own metaphor about a soap bubble here.

Actually, I love "Like a Baby." That is a good song, pure Sophisti-pop. I wish for an EBTG cover version. But still, those four are not my favorite songs for running. 

Make It Big - Wham! (1985)

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Everything She Wants (Remix)

Heartbeat

Like a Baby

Freedom (Long Mix)

If You Were There

Credit Card Baby

Careless Whisper "Wham! ft. George Michael"

 

Bonus Track: I'm Your Man

Yeah, "Credit Card Baby" is ... not good. They know it, too. The song just stops.

I mean, another song about a materialistic lady-person? You already nailed that on the second track.

 
Stretches: yes

Sit-Ups: 50
Planks: 90 sec. (2x) 

Water: yes

We will not be running to the complete Music From the Edge of Heaven. A contractual obligation record, it includes four original tracks, two previously released and horribly remixed singles, one live track and the Christmas song. A must-have to be sure, but a disjointed collection. 

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh banana, strawberry, blueberry, cherry, grape w/granola & yogurt

Lunch: chicken Caesar salad, Coke

Snack: Cheez-Its, iced coffee

Dinner: pizza (1 slice), Caesar salad, watermelon

Alcohol? IPA (1)

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 170.5 lbs. (+1.0)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Reading: 20 min.

First, we run.

This is a cartoon I drew in college.

A beautiful weekend. Yesterday was sunshiny and we went out and communed with animals and made a lovely dinner. I even had cake and ice cream last night, and that was nice. 

The non-alcoholic beer was to make me feel festive without breaking my resolve, but it's not like that stuff is low-calorie or anything. I've gotten into the habit of drinking water, in lieu of other things.

I have been through St. Pat's and Calvin's Day without feeling the need to imbibe. It's been three weeks into March Mildness now, and the wife asks how I feel. Good, I guess. Certainly no worse.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 31:15
Pace: 10:04

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 53°
Climate: partly cloudy & nice

Pavement: dry
Mood: good

 

1998 Playlist

As - George Michael ft. Mary J. Blige

Body Movin' (Fatboy Slim Remix)  - Beastie Boys

Rock Is Dead - Marilyn Manson

Misinformed - Soul Coughing

The Rockafeller Skank - Fatboy Slim

La femme d'argent - Air

You Get What You Give - New Radicals

 

So '98.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec. (2x)
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/oatmilk

Lunch: latte w/oatmilk, smoothie bowl w/mango, strawberry, blueberry, vanilla granola & honey

Snack: apple, banana

Dinner: baked potato with cheese, vegetarian chili & sour cream, broccoli ww/lemon & butter

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 186 lbs. (-0.5)

Goal: 185 lbs.

Told you.

Through all your joy and pain.

Another Hocking River run, on my own this time. We'll be heading home this afternoon, far too short a stay but so worth it.

The girl has turned me onto Plant Nanny. It's all about hydration, right? I'm not into app games, not at all. But any kind of timer/reminder is a good thing. Sitting at my desk all day, or in the rehearsal room, I just don't drink water. Doesn't happen.

Distance: 3 miles
Pace: 8:34
Route: Hocking River Run
Temperature: 84
Climate: hot & sunny
Mood: good, you know?

Mood matters. The Eminem album was a bit aggressive. I was running to the rhythm but trying to ignore a lot of the words. What can I say? I much prefer George Michael.

George Michael Playlist
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) ft. Aretha Franklin
Bad Boys w/Wham!
I Want Your Sex
As ft. Mary J. Blige
Too Funky
Star People 97

Exercises: I did. I will.

Brunch with Dr. Condee left much to reflect upon. He had sciatica decades ago -- and it went away. So it's possible. He has had medical issues, as have I. We talk about them. We acknowledge them. We take care of them. We push through them.

It was a very pleasant run today. Bit too warm, bit too sunny, and yet just right. Time to head home, to cut my hair, and get back to work.

You got yourself some action.

So I started by writing about George Michael, and it turned into a much longer piece, better suited for my writing blog, so here that is.

The wife and I went out, she to walk and I to run to the smooth stylings of the late twentieth century's greatest crooner.

George Michael Playlist
Freeek!
I Want Your Sex - Part 2
Last Christmas
Shoot the Dog
Star People '97

Thank you, Spotify, for providing me an impromptu playlist.

Distance: 3 miles
Avg. Pace: 7:50
Duration: 23:32
Route: Hocking River Bike Path
Temperature: 61°
Climate: fantastic

Three days in a row. I feel it in my shins, hobbling down the hallway in the middle of the night. But I feel much less sluggish and sloppy. And the day has only begun, it's time for movies and friends and more forced merriment.

When everything that dies shall rise.

Staying at the in-laws, I woke in the middle of the night, my left instep in pain. Perhaps it was the way the covers were too tight, I had given myself some kind of strain ... but that part of my foot has been aching the past several days. Now I can barely walk.

So. Why? The shoes are relatively new, but not that new. I have been running in them for over a month. I was wearing a new pair of flip-flops last night ... for less than an hour. Then there are the chukka boots I wear for Velocity. I was encouraged to wear them around, to make them appear less new. So I wear them all the time. But they provide little support.

I stretch, I wonder, I worry. Karl proposed that running a 20 so early in training I am going to blow out my knees. But this is really a game of "surprise," isn't it? This morning I convinced myself it would be all right to stick to my plan to run three or four today, and thirteen tomorrow.

Distance: 13 miles 14.25 miles
Route: Hocking River Half Marathon

... then again, when presented with a day like this, with no responsibilities, someone else to look after your children (teaching them each how to ride a dirtbike, no less) your wife has sequestered herself to write, the sun is up, the clouds are gone, the weather is pleasant, and you have already put in a solid morning doing nothing but writing, how on earth can one possibly justify not running for two hours?

By the way, I got the map wrong, and ran an additional mile and a quarter by accident. What a shame.

Temperature: 61º
Climate: effucking gloriourifous
Snack: two bananas
Hydration? all along the route!
Stretches? oops. kinda.

Do You Believe In Shame Genius Playlist
Praying For Time - George Michael
Promises, Promises - Naked Eyes
If You Were Here - The Thompson Twins
When Love Breaks Down - Prefab Sprout
Face To Face - Siouxsie & the Banshees
Lay Your Hands On Me - The Thompson Twins
Shoot The Dog - George Michael
Over You - Roxy Music
Three Imaginary Boys (170 bpm) - The Cure
Edge of America - Duran Duran
The Strangest Thing - George Michael
Loving The Alien - David Bowie
Dazzle - Siouxsie & the Banshees
Come Undone (Come Undub) (177 bpm) - Duran Duran
The Swing - INXS
The Perfect Girl - The Cure
Now We're Getting Somewhere (157 bpm) - Crowded House
Dominion/Mother Russia - The Sisters of Mercy
Kiss Them For Me - Siouxsie & the Banshee
Slow Emotion Replay - The The
Bad Boys - Wham!
Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting
Hard Day - George Michael
It Doesn't Really Matter - George Michael
Something To Save - George Michael
Head Over Heels - Tears For Fears
Love Is Stronger Than Death - The The
Message To My Girl - Split Enz
Too Late Marlene - Duran Duran
Late Bar - Duran Duran

I really like George Michael.