Say a prayer for the ones we love.

For those who happily follow the Greedy Peasant, you know it's CEMTEMBER! Took a run through Lakeview Cemetery, my first in four years.

I searched for the John Hay memorial, my personal favorite, but it was not easy to spot because it is currently hidden by a large, untended hedge. What is up with that?

Distance: 5 miles

Duration: 46:22
Pace: 9:16

Route: Lakeview Loop

Temperature: 75°→78°
Climate: sunny & warm

Mood: good!

 
Stretches: yes

Water: yes

Ibuprofen: yes

Runners, yes! Cyclists, no.

There has been some controvery recently, about whether or not it is appropriate to run through a cemetery. And I think it comes down to the individual park. If they do not want you to run (or bicycle, or walk your pet) through the graveuard, then by all means don't.

I am grateful that Lakeview has made it clear that runners (though not bikes) are welcome. It is a challenging route, with all the hills, but the views are worth it. 

But please, trim that bush.

Pre-Run: coffee w/cream, banana 

Lunch: fresh fruit w/granola & yogurt

Happy Hour: iced coffee, watermelon

Snack: almonds & dried cranberries 

Dinner: popcorn

Alcohol? GLBC Oktoberfest

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 170 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Writing: part of one scene

Blog: How To Make Toothpaste

What's That Lyric?

Say Goodbye - Green Day

There's a message to your movements.

Photo image by Michael Weil

Wow, I totally did not feel like running this morning. Certainly not fourteen (scheduled) miles. We had a nice day yesterday; with in-laws in town, our daughter had a soccer match, my son played a gig at McCarthy's Downtown and then we had birthday dinner for my wife at Toast.

Lots of food, lots of alcohol, lots of talk, beautiful weather on the "patio" and not a bad bedtime hour. It was a fine family day.

This morning I just wanted to lie about and read and write and chat before my MIL, SIL and nephew returned to Athens. But running must continue so I just headed out, not knowing where I was going.

Distance: 9 miles
Duration: 1:19:00
Pace: 8:45
Route: Forest Hill to Lakeview Cemetery and back.
Temperature: 68°
Climate: overcast w/brief, light rain
Mood: improving
Stretches: not really
Water: can't remember, so I'll say no

Photo image by Michael Weil

Before I knew it, I was keeping a nice pace through the woods, enjoying the "classic punk" playlist I had chosen, and headed to the cemetery.

Across from Wade Lagoon they have posted images from photographer Michael Weil's recent project, Moonlight in the Gates: 150 Years of Lake View Cemetery in a New Reflective Light for which he spent a year of full moons skulking the cemetery and taking unique images of the park after dark.

For anyone paying attention, this is a book I would like to own.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 165 lbs. (-2.5)
Goal: 160 lbs.

What's That Lyric?
Gut Feeling - Devo

Week Fourteen Total: 21.25 miles
Total To Date: 325.5 miles

The Diamond Lane

Stop snitching.

During the school year I rise at five, to write and the prepare everyone for their day. A few years ago we began feeding the acts on a regular basis. One was becoming obese, the other has always been slender, regular feeding meant I could keep an eye on them and make sure the smaller one was actually eating his food.

Week Two Total: 19 miles
Training To Date: 37.75 miles

And so, on weekends, and when the schedule is different for everyone, like now, during the summer, the cats are patient until about six, when they will start pawing at things in our room. The widow, the door, sometimes the floor, all in an effort to wake us up to feed them.

It works.

Distance: 7 miles
Duration: 58:14
Pace: 8:19
Route: Uptown Loop
Temperature: 61°→65°
Climate: sunny & bright
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Snack: banana

Dynamite run. Running, thinking, never dropping below 163. Not even up Murray Hill.

Took the Lakeview route, if I visit Pekar, Ness, and Freed it is an even seven miles from door to door. 

If you are visiting the grave of Harvey Pekar, be sure to bring a pen or pencil in lieu of stones. Ness had a toy police cruiser perched on top of his family plinth.

Chris has been in Boston, gets back today but he took advantage of the unique surroundings to take his seven mile yesterday, and good for him. I have a plan to run ten miles in Central Park next month.

I think I abraded my elbow. No idea how that happened.

Podrunner: The Diamond Lane (163 bpm)

We are only $250 shy of the goal in my TEAM CHALLENGE campaign to find a cure for Crohn's and colitis! Will you join the team, and get us to the finish line? Hit the TEAM CHALLENGE button at top right (or this link!) Many thanks!

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 165.5 lbs. (-1.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Also, thoughts while driving. Jokes for the Victorian era, also a new scene for the running play.

Half Marathon Training Week Five

(Photo: Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

A week ago, Saturday, my daughter participated in the March For Our Lives in downtown Cleveland. The guy from cleveland.com caught this photo to the left, it's featured in an online slideshow.

Full-voiced, unafraid. I could not be more proud.

Distance: 6 miles
Duration: 59:29
Route: Lakeview Cemetery Loop
Temperature: 50°
Climate: cool, breezy & overcats
Pavement: dry
Mood: all right

My wife returned Thursday night. Parenting alone, getting out this past week has been impossible. But also, the hunger. Trying to eat at regular intervals, and in appropriate amounts. I've hit a consumption wall. Hungry and tired, and therefore unhappy and listless.

Of course, I am also going through post-show depression, so that's a thing. And the weather. And the wife out of town, and uuuhhhh ...

Stretches: yes

We were going to run four, but we ran six. Chris led me through the route he likes to take through the cemetery, which was pretty cool. The military plot (I did not know there is a military plot) is far down at the end of a cul-de-sac. We walked through the stones.

Also, got to show him the final resting place of Plain Dealer theater critic William F. McDermott.

Tomorrow we may run another six. I have catching up to do.

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 167 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Still. Fifteen runs in March. How did that happen?

Maybe I just want to fly.

Yesterday at work, Chris asks if we are running tomorrow (meaning today.) This is in front of the ladies. I'm like, uh, yeah.

"Eight miles?" he asks. In front of the ladies.

All right, I agree. smh

Distance: 7 miles
Avg. Pace: 9:17
Duration: 1:05:00
Route: Lakeview/Uptown Loop

Anyway, I held him to it, or almost. I led him through the cemetery. He went this way before, last weekend, just ran around the cemetery with no particular course. He racked up eleven miles that day. I took him through my usual course (Good morning, Harvey. Good morning, Mr. Ness.) and out the Euclid gate through Uptown.

Temperature: 64°
Climate: bright & cool
Mood: good

Coming through Little Italy was kind of gross, they haven't cleaned up since the Feast this past weekend. Tents blocking the sidewalks, place reeks of beer. But we made it up the hill in a steady jog. Good for us.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 173 lbs. (-2.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.

Seven miles. Let's keep going.

What's That Lyric?
Live Forever - Oasis

I took a different path.

James A. Garfield Monument

Q: Where is President James A. Garfield buried?

If you answered Lakeview Cemetery, you would be wrong.

When I want a scenic if somewhat challenging five-to-six mile run, then I head for Lakeview. It does take two miles to get there and two miles back, but the mile or more I spend within its ancient stone walls are more than worth the effort.

Founded almost one hundred and fifty years ago, this most awesome Cleveland attraction is the final resting place of such legendary Cleveland personages as artist Victor Schreckengost, Mayor Carl Stokes, inventor Garrett Morgan and yes, President Garfield.

Only Garfield isn't technically buried. He and his wife Lucretia lie in state in the crypt of the Garfield Monument. The Monument, open April through November, the highest point the cemetery and the observation plaza provides a wonderful view.

Personally, when running though I often take a moment to visit the stones for former Safety Director Eliot Ness and comic book author and jazz critic Harvey Pekar, who was and is a quintessential Heights persona. These two grave sites are actually about ten paces from each other, across the road from Wade Pond.

Here is the thing though, if you enter the park from Mayfield in Cleveland Heights with plans to exit onto Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland, that's fine. It's downhill all the way. For this five miler, however, I take a lap around the monument, downhill and back up again. The "up" part can be pretty steep.

If I chose to run eight miles, I would head out the Euclid Avenue gate and turn left into the Uptown neighborhood, swing around MOCA and head up through Little Italy and back home.

Distance: 5.42 miles
Avg Pace: 7:47
Duration: 42:15
Route: Lakeview Cemetery

The wind and spitting rain just trying to cross Euclid Avenue after rehearsal last night was insane! Today the rain has subsided and it's like a windy spring day, but apparently winter is blowing in. I'm glad I got to take this morning run. Feeling strong, feeling good, feeling grateful.

Temperature: 55°
Climate: overcast and a bit blustery
Pavement: wet
Weight: 162.5 lbs. (+0.5)
Mood: positive

2004 Playlist
Whatshername - Green Day
Breathe Me - Sia
Laura - Scissor Sisters
Mike Mills * - AIR
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
As The Rush Comes - Motorcycle
Ohh La La  - The Ditty Bops
Fit But You Know It * - The Streets
Golden Touch - Razorlight
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Short Skirts - Felix da Housecat

Sources:
Lakeview Cemetery
Wikipedia

The fear is falling away.

Many years ago I asked for something, a solo trip to Chicago. The wife was pursing her Masters at Goddard College, and I had had a few solo weeks with the children (aged 4 and 2) and wanted some time on my own in the summer, before residency rehearsals began.

The Lakeview Cemetery
Photographs from Cleveland's Historic Landmark
By Barney Taxel

I took one bag and caught a bus to the rapid to work, and then the rapid to the airport. I took a plane to my destination, and another train to the neighborhood where I would be staying. Never drove, never took a taxi. I was proud of that. It's not like me to be out there without a car, not alone.

Today I walked my son to the bus, and walked from there to the Little Italy RTA stop. Perhaps more of a walk than I was prepared for, it really did take about an hour, which surprised me. Then the train downtown.

Throughout the day my right thigh, which had been a little pained that morning, started feeling more and more uncomfortable. That has since died down. The only thing I can compare it to is the meralgia parasthetica I occasionally suffer from, though it feels quite different.

End of the day I took the rapid to the airport, It is at times like these that I notice the solitude, even in crowded settings. How long I go without speaking to anyone, or communicating in any fashion. It can feel calming, not to have anyone to speak to. It can be melancholy.

Trying to find a place to be, or at least a satisfying place to wander before my flight, I came across an exhibit of beautiful photographs of Lakeview Cemetery, taken by Barney Taxel. You can find them between concourse A & B at Cleveland Hokpins. I have spent many runs this year, since the summer, training for this race by taking turns through the cemetery. It felt auspicious to linger over these images on my way to the starting line.

My loving wife with a great deal of forethought had gotten us rewards credit cards, and so I was able to make the trip with frequent flyer miles. And as long as these are imaginary dollars we don't really have that we are playing with, why not go first class? This was new to me. Having so much leg room will be particularly helpful on the way home, when who knows what shape I will be in.

However, what truly got me was the convenience of not having to pay for drinks, of receiving drinks on the ground before we took off - and another in the air - and that these drinks were served in glass.

Not just the alcohol. Water ... in a glass. I felt like a person.

Brothers at O'Gara's

The book I have brought with me is Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. Within the first few pages I feared I had made a terrible mistake, due to the subject matter. Adolescence has swept through on our home, sweeping personal items clear of every surface and crashing furniture through walls and I could go on with Hulk Smash devastation metaphor point being this tale of tragedy that befalls a suburban family might not be a good fit for someone in my mental state at the moment.

By the time I had finally arrived in Saint Paul, I'd read half of it. It's really good.

Distance: 5 miles
Duration: 40:43
Avg Pace: 8:11
Route: Summit Avenue to the Mississippi

Temperature: 63°
Climate: idyllic
Hydration: yes
Water Stop: yes

Beautiful fall day in St. Paul, clear and cool and bright. Took a run down the wide, grassy median of Summit Avenue, because people do that. It's a path, and an uneven one, but it's more fun than the sidewalks. Also more dangerous, wen it comes time to cross side streets and not at the crosswalk. But people do. I did.

Today we went to the Expo. More on today tomorrow.

What's That Lyric?
Jump In The Pool - Friendly Fires

Remain human.

This Father's Day I am on my own with the boy. I did not get to sleep until after midnight, but slept peacefully until around 8 am, free of any head pain. I had gotten up around six to have a glass of water and two ibuprofen, which no doubt helped.

The wife had suggested to the boy that he make pancakes, which would have been nice but it wasn't what I actually wanted and besides I was hungry right then. Instead we went to the Inn on Coventry for Eggs Mando (Eggs Benedict with avocado) which I probably haven't had in five years.

Then we watched Revenge of the Sith, not for father but because I am a father and sometimes you have to put yourself through these things. Boy, what a piece of shit.

Finally, the run. A few days ago he and the wife went to the local police auction and picked up a sweet new bike for fifty bucks. This afternoon he biked, I ran and we both walked down Mayfield to Lakeview Cemetery, and down Euclid to MOCA and back up through Little Italy towards home.

Distance: 8 miles
Route: Lakeview Cemetery Loop

He also got an XBOX 360 for ten bucks at the auction, and we're headed out now to get controllers and a game.

Week One Total: 24 miles
Training To Date: 24 miles

Temperature: 79°
Climate: overcast and humid
Weight:157 lbs. (-3.0)
Intake: Eggs Mando
Hydration: yes
Stretches:yes

Cleveland Public Theatre Announces 10-11 Season

I Hate This and And Then You Die in repertory by David Hansen
Directed by Alison Garrigan
Storefront Studio
April 7 - 23

David Hansen performs his two award winning solo shows in rep. One is an exploration of personal loss and recovery, while the other is about obsession and victory. Both shows were developed in CPT's Big [Box] and have gone on to successful runs at the New York Fringe.

CPT's Entire 2010-11 Season

Very excited about this. The script needs some work, there are revisions which are obvious and have already been made. The character is less sympathetic - less apologetic, I have tried to just let him be, and the let him off the hook fewer times.

It was 80 minutes, and I need to get it down to 60. Costume changes are out, I will be wearing a black running suit for the entire show. That cuts five minutes out of the show right there, seriously.

I wonder how it will come off, paired with I Hate This. Worried that may piss some people off. It's a risk.

Good morning, Mr. President. Happy Independence Day. Took a run through the Lakeview Cemetery this morning. "The Chauffer" came on as I headed for Rockefeller's monument, and I found myself sprinting up the hill, and dashing through tombstones. Very odd.

Stopped to gaze at the John Hay monument. Now that is a guardian angel. It is my favorite statue in the park, bar none. Beautiful, majestic, forceful, peaceful. Ancient, too, stone cracking at its base.

Rio Remix Run
New Religion (Carnival Version)
Hold Back The Rain (Remix)
Rio (Carnival Version)
Last Chance On The Stairway
The Chauffeur (165 bpm)
My Own Way (Night Version)
Lonely In Your Nightmare
Hungry Like The Wolf (Night Version)
Save A Prayer

Distance: 5.5 miles
Temperature: 65º
Weather: sweaty
Weight: 157 lbs.