You should feel invincible.

Maybe next time,
I'll be lucky.

On Wednesday, I received the announcement from the NYC Marathon that I did not make the lottery. I will not be going to New York this fall, at least, not to run in the marathon. There will be no 20 year celebration of my first marathon, I will not be attempting a fifth race, not this year.

Distance: 4.5 miles

Duration: 40:45
Pace: 9:03

I also resisted the temptation to sign up for a fund raising team. I told myself, if I do not get in, I am not going. Fund raising for Chicago made me culpable. Days before the race I knew it would not go well, but I felt responsible to the people who had donated, I had to run the race. I never want that to happen again, if I don't feel up to the race, I won't race.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: beautiful, man. just beautiful
Mood: apprehensive

Because I have a show that weekend, Halloween weekend. When I signed up for New York, that was when I learned there would be a conflict. A November 1st race? Uh, okay. I'll put my foot in. We'll see what happens. It didn't happen. And that's fine.

2020 Playlist

On Division St - Nation of Language

Murphy's Law - Róisín Murphy

Compression - Monica LaPlante

It Might Be Time - Tame Impala

Heart of Glass (Live from the iHeart Festival) - Miley Cyrus

Dying to Believe - The Beths

Energy - Disclosure

Strange Times - Gorillaz ft. Robert Smith

Hollywood - Car Seat Headrest

Model Village - Idles

BandAid - Nur-D

Having said all that, I need to remember why I run. If I am not training, what am I running to? What am I running for? The running is its own reward. I remain fit. Noom helped me get to 160, and I have stayed there, it is the best weight for me to be. And since I quite the app (it does cost some money) I have maintained my eating habits, drinking water, and the exercise. And more exercise, the sit-ups, the push-ups -- not a lot, I'll never be muscular, and I don't need to be. But maintenance. Remaining fit.

And I enjoy the music.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 160 lbs. (-0-)

I wanted to run yesterday. It was a beautiful day, but I had to work later than usual, and by the time I got home it was sundown. I no longer run outdoors after dark, it's just not safe. And by that, I mean I could trip or at the very least, run tentatively, afraid of running into something, and that can cause strained muscles and sore knees. Better not to.

It is also beautiful today.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Yeah. I may run tomorrow, too.

Surprise, b*tch.

Hit my target weight first in late January, and remained there, consistently, since early February. No fluctuation, not up, not down. I indulge, I do not overindulge. Never hungry, just mindful. Aware. Woke, you might say. Weight woke.

So, when do I quit the weight loss app? It's not cheap.

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 34:21
Pace: 8:35

For our post-annual playlist stretch we will take on the pre-show music from Kimberly Belflower's Tony-nominated play, John Proctor is The Villain.

It was amazing attending that show with the family to begin our adventure. I've never seen so many young people, young women, at the public performance of a play before. Not a musical, a play. I hoped it would be a successful production, and it certainly is. The entire company is amazing.

Route: Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 59°
Climate: overcast & perfect
Mood: good, actually
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 160 lbs.

john proctor is the villain official pre-show playlist

Soy Yo - Bomba Estéreo

Blank Space (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

Teenage Dream - Katy Perry

Make Me Feel - Janelle Monáe

Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé

Dancing On My Own - Robyn

I Really Like You - Carly Rae Jepsen

Let 'Em Say - Lizzo & Your Smith

Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine

Bad Liar - Selena Gomez

My laws, yes. The weather makes a big, big difference.

Thanks to this pre-show music I had Katy Perry in my head the entire time I was in Spain. Thanks, Kimberly!

Better run — there's a God and He's coming for me.

Let's take it easy for a day. I have aches in both knees and I have also inflamed my varicose vein (do your own research) but, you know? I am still running.

Besides, what new music have we been listening to?

Spring 2023 Playlist

youth+ (165 BPM) - Jean Dawson

No Reason - The Chemical Brothers

Death Wish - Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

One That Got Away - MUNA

Leaving the Light (172 BPM) - Genesis Owusu

Lipstick Lover (170 BPM) - Janelle Monáe

Massive BPM on the new tracks. Man, that Genesis Owusu. I love him.

Distance: 2 miles

Duration: 18:13
Pace: 9:06

Route: Boulevard Loop

Temperature: 57°
Climate: overcast & cool

Mood: all right

Cool weather is important, too, I guess. Nice cool run, after a few steps it's not even cool to me anymore. I don't prefer it, though.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: tbd

Upper body: 10 reps. (3x)
Water: oops

Drink the water, man. Never forget the water, I don't care how short the run is.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh apple, banana, strawberry, blue berry, raspberry, blackberry w/granola & yogurt

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk, cinnamon cake doughnut (worth it)

Lunch: leftover Paprikash

Snack: apple, flavored almonds (28)

Dinner: TBA

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 175 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Those gangster presidents.

Okay, so we're doing this.

Today has been a mental mess, I am absolutely unable to accomplish a single thing.

But wait! It's fucking gorgeous out! I should run!

So that's what I did.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:19
Pace: 9:27
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 52°
Climate: sunny! nice!
Mood: desperately anxious!
Weight: 179 lbs. (-0-)

Yeah, so. It's sugar season. Bought way too much candy for Halloween (actually, bought a lot - and then more showed up) so there's a lot of candy around and I am trying very hard not to eat it.

But seriously, it's Election Night 2020. There are literally no calories tonight.

Sweeping Up at Grebe's Playlist

Legal Tender - The B-52's

I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow

Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) - Haircut 100

Oblivious - Aztec Camera

Come On, Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners

Black Coffee In Bed - Squeeze

She's a Beauty - The Tubes

I Melt With You - Modern English

Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes

I swear, as that long song started to play, I thought I could smell discarded industrial cooking grease. I feared I was having a stroke.

My heart must just be slowing down.

Wasn't planning on running two days back to back ... I am feeling pain in my abdomen, and other places that usually comes with resuming a regimen. But the weather has been absurdly lovely, and it won't last. It is supposed to thunderstorm in an hour or so and then drop back down to fall weather.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 38:25
Pace: 9:36
Route: Forest Hill Loop 
Temperature: 72°
Climate: partly cloudy & humid
Mood: good
Weight: 179 lbs. (+1.0)

Ooh! Hot, humid and wearying. And yet! What a run. Feeling good. Let's keep that up. Even when the rains come.

Sweeping Up at Grebe's Playlist

Fascination (Extended Mix) - Human League

Der Kommissar - Falco

It's a Mistake - Men at Work

The Electric Co. (Live) - U2

Tell Her About It - Billy Joel

I'm Still Standing - Elton John

Come Dancing - The Kinks

Lawyers In Love - Jackson Browne

Modern Love - David Bowie

Whenever You're On My Mind - Marshall Crenshaw

Europa & The Pirate Twins - Thomas Dolby

Follow down the path of least resistance.

"I don't eat."

- George L. Tirebiter

Backslider, last night we went to a pub where I had a basket of fries with batter fried fish. It was Friday! Anyway, when I eat in moderation, I lose a little weight. But there's that word, moderation.

Side note; now in rehearsal, I do not drink, five nights a week. To think that is weird. Last night I had one beer, which in a bar setting I might consider strange. That I can moderate. I have become enamored of water.

But there's the fried fish. I wouldn't eat a salad at a pub, anyway. Who would?

Distance: 4.85 miles
Duration: 44:51
Pace: 9:15
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 50°
Climate: shiny & cool
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Bandage: yes

Stepped outside, wearing shorts but also a windbreaker. It was in the upper 40s. But the sun! I went without the jacket, and so glad I did, it's so sunny it doesn't feel like the lower 50s.

Met Chris and we did our usual path. Good talk, Engame, being old and/or overweight, theater shit. All the usual things.

1995 Playlist
Roll With Me * - Del Amitri
Stupid Girl - Garbage
The Brooklynites - Soul Coughing
Vaseline - Elastica
Car Song - Elastica
We Prick You  - David Bowie
Hold Me Now - Elastica
I'll Keep Coming Back - Chanelle

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 174.5 lbs. (+1.0)
New Goal: 170 lbs.