Goddamn right, it's a beautiful day.

You may notice my posts have gotten longwinded. Once upon a time, they were quite brief, now I go on about all manner of things relating to my personal life (ideally related to my personal health) and there is a good reason for this:

I write them in advance.

Distance: 3.1 miles 

Duration: 29:29

Pace: 9:30

I used to compose my posts after I took a run. Ostensibly, to write about the run I just had. Which can be tedious.

"Had a run. The run was good. Weather is nice. Ah, uh. Yeah."

Because right after I have had a run, I am sweaty and winded and my keyboard gets drippy and salty. Better to reflect on how I am feeling between runs, when I can think and I am dry.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 58°
Climate: clear & lovely
Mood: tender

As with the playlists, which I plan in advance because there is nothing worse than trying to decide what to listen to right when I am about to head out. The "year" playlists are the best because I don't need to think about those at all, they are just there.

2000 Playlist

Mr. E's Beautiful Blues - Eels

Saginou - Zulya

Renegades of Funk - Rage Against the Machine

The National Anthem - Radiohead

Ms. Jackson - Outkast

Oops! ... I Did It Again - Britney Spears

Bye Bye Bye - *Nsync

Playground Love - Air ft. Thomas Mars

I even jot down what the first song will be, in advance. Usually the newest track to add to the list.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 160 lbs.

Late night. Survival run this afternoon. So many plans laid to waste. But it was a wonderful party.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Yes! We did that. Back on track. See you Tuesday.

I hit the bottom.

It's like I have this lingering ugh. I have been exhausted, you know? That and I sobbed like a lost child on Friday, like I haven't cried in a very long time. It was brought on by Spit of You. It's always a song.

But yeah, strange. What does the anniversary of a death mean, anyway? A time for remembrance, but as I said, it is also a reminder of the decade just passed. I did a lot of thinking on Thursday. Friday was just emotionally draining.

Or I'm just tired.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 27:25

Then, this morning, as I was "detailing" the Element (the wife has gone out of town for the week) I struck my head on the rear open door. Had my head down, walked my full weight into it and now I have a half-inch wide gash across my forehead.

I have never minded being bald. I first noticed the pattern of hair loss when I was twenty-three and that was a surprise but I got over it pretty fast. I mean, I don't like insults or, as some people call them, "jokes" not because I am embarrassed for being bad but because, like most people, I care to be insulted. Body shaming comes in all forms, just like people, and excuse me for sounding like a wounded white man, but bald jokes do seem like the last acceptable form of body shaming.

No, the one thing that has always made me unhappy about not having hair is when I hit my head and there's a mark or a scab, I am very self-conscious about that. It is a visible sign of clumsiness, I feel it makes me look like a stupid guy. I have a scar at the top of my head from repeated abrasions and scrapes. And there's no hair to hide it.

Route: rec center
Temperature: 30°
Climate: snowy
Mood: depressed

Twenty years ago on this date, February 22, 2006, I had just had my first physical in six years. We ate dessert those days, and often. Probably came with having children. Sweet, little children. We rarely have a dessert any more, they are for occasional splurges.

It's also my first mention of Netflix, which was, at that time, solely a DVD rental-by-mail service. It was surprising to learn they were still doing that until three years ago. Last movie they ever shipped? True Grit (2010). Thank goodness it wasn't something embarrassing, huh?

2001 Playlist

Les Fleur - 4hero ft. Carina Andersson

Superheroes - Daft Punk 

Point of View Point - Cornelius

Exquisite Corpse from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” OMPS 

Breathe - Télépopmusik ft. Angela McCluskey

Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box - Radiohead

Face to Face - Daft Punk

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

Back to the gym. It was a good week, and I'm glad that I thought to write that. The running was good.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Time to get real.

Right here, right now.

Alas, no more runs in August than in July. This time, due to illness.

COVID-19, bout two.

Tuesday (August 26): Thought I had allergies: tickle in the the throat, watery eyes

Wednesday: Following a horrid night's sleep (woke dozens of times) tested positive. Headache all day, pain across the eyes, cough, woozy, slept on and off all day, watched a lot of TV.

Thursday: Night sweats but an excellent night's sleep. Woke once or twice, sore throat, no head pain. Bit dizzy. Slight cough. And sputum, which is always rewarding.

Friday: Difficult night, coughs and pained throat. Active during the day, working remotely, taking calls. Sore throat much preferable to head or body aches, feeling grateful. 

Saturday: Still testing positive. Good night's sleep. Haven't had a fever since Wednesday. Minor sore throat, little cough. 

Sunday: Spouse in the throes, kept me awake most of the night. Otherwise, mildly stuffed up, high feeling in my chest.

Monday: Ears stuffed, throwing off my equilibrium. high feeling in chest.

The question is, should I run? Rehearsals resume tomorrow. Will exercise wipe me out ... or help clear my system? I have been resting for nearly a week and it's driving me to distraction. And it is specifically because my head is stuffed that I want to run, to clear my head.

I hope I do not regret this.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:39
Pace: 9:53

Dance/Electronic Mix

Block Rockin' Beats - The Chemical Brothers

Around the World - Daft Punk

Don't You Want Me (Purple Disco Machine Remix) - Human League

Star Guitar - The Chemical Brothers

Poor Leno - Röyksopp

Pacific 202 - 808 State

Right Here, Right Now - Pete Tong w/The Heritage Orchestra

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 77°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: woozy

Ringing in my ears, slight pain in the head now. Dehydrated. Lungs feel better. Will shower and rest, see where the day takes me.

Ha ha, no, that's not ringing in my ears. That's what it sounds like outdoors! Those are insects! 

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 160 lbs.

Looking for something I'll never find.

Powderpuff is canceled.

Second shingles vaccine yesterday. My shoulder is sore, but that is all, and that is good. I did not care to be feverish and unwell today (though I guess I still could be.)

Also, did a blood draw and apparently I am in the acceptable range for a person my age. This is an improvement over last August. I think.

What is troubling to me is how depressed I got last night. I was at an event where I suddenly felt entirely irrelevant thought that may simply be reality hitting me in the face. What have I done? Is any of it relevant? I feel like I have been loud and meaningless.

Probably a good thing few people read this blog. It's one of the few spaces where I choose to be honest.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 30:46
Pace: 9:55

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 68°
Climate: sunny & nice

Mood: down

 

Nearly healed. Feeling good.

 
Stretches: yes

Sit-Ups: 50

Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, cherry, banana w/granola. yogurt, honey & sunflower seeds 

Treat: Skittles

Lunch: smoothie bowl w/fresh strawberry, mango, cantaloupe w/chocolate/PB granola & Nutella, because fuck protein

Snack: Cheez-Its

Dinner: burrito w/chips & guac

Alcohol? no

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 170 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Reading: 30 min.

What's That Lyric?

Gold Rush - Death Cab for Cutie

My hair smells like chocolate.

Yes, indeed. I prefer to wake up refreshed, and not zonked. Last night was foolish. Fun, but foolish. You made too much progress to backslide so ridiculously. 

Morning detox run. Settle that stomach. Drink that water.

Distance: 3.25 miles 

Duration: 31:25
Pace: 9:40

Route: Boulevard Loop

Temperature: 66°
Climate: sunny & warm

Mood: good

 

On the 3's. We are in the homestretch. Big plans for the 2023 playlist.

2013 Playlist

Dangerous - Big Data

Lose Yourself to Dance - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams

Chocolate - The 1975

Some Nights - fun.

Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton

Y.A.L.A. - M.I.A.

1x1x1 - Cloud Cult

What was 2013? Double Heart, the tour and the Fringe. Also, These Are the Times and Adventures In Slumberland. It was all coming together! Right?

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 10 reps (2x)
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, orange juice

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk, banana bread

Lunch: fish fry w/fries & slaw

Snack: apple

Dinner: Sonic cheeseburger, jalapeño poppers

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 179.5 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

We are young. We run green.

Sunday (September 11): Began feeling symptoms, difficult night's sleep.

Monday: Took a Covid test. It was positive.

Tuesday: Another bad night's sleep, the day was better.

Wednesday: My wife's birthday, she tested positive. Happy birthday.

Thursday: Feeling more human. Minor sore throat, slight ear ache.

Friday: Finally a good night's sleep, still tested positive.

However, a weekend of special plans was off the table, had a complete emotional breakdown. I have had eye surgery, now Covid, I miss my family, I miss life, I miss my mother, my world is getting smaller and smaller instead of bigger and bigger and I am falling into despair.

Saturday: Went without Benadryl for bed, I still slept well but woke feeling worse than the day before.

Sunday (September 18): On the mend. Still weak, disoriented. 

Monday: Still weak with minor congestion. Worried I will never feel normal again.

Tuesday: Another down day, achy head and listless body.

Wednesday: Took a short walk, felt good.

Thursday: Still muddled, pain in the head. Just want to sleep.

Took a walk, instead. A three mile walk on Thursday afternoon, like I did after my surgery, to keep up.  To get me through. Now it's cool, now it's breezy. Perfect running weather, and yet I am not running. But I am also not standing still.

Friday: Back to work. What do you know about that.

Saturday. Fell asleep the night before at eight. Woke at nine. Trimming one hedge in the yard rendered me exhausted and unmotivated for the rest of the afternoon.

Sunday (September 25): Easily wearied. Also, occasionally queasy.

Monday: Visiting actor-teachers in schools. Feeling next to normal.

Tuesday: Conducted a writing workshop for middle school students. I am on my feet. 

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:33
Pace: 9:51
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: overcast & cool
Mood: all right.
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Okay, mother fuckers. We're back.

What's That Lyric?

Alright - Supergrass

My heart is that much harder now.

Residency rehearsal period. In the past, it has been a time of marathon training. Or a time when I do not run at all. These days, it is a time of good, of feeling good, and free. For I rise earlier every other day, to write and then run, and that is good. Every other day I rise later, to write and then to read my homework. So responsible! So pleasurable!

Coming soon. (get it?)

Distance: 3.25 miles
Duration: 32:11
Pace: 9:54
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 59°
Climate: cool
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 181.5 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Yes, stretches. Much cooler today, so it is that much more important. I feel much stiffer than I did when weather was in the 70s and 80s. 

But fifty-nine degrees is the perfect weather in which to run! So, stretch, drink ... I would like to resume abdominals (and upper body work) as I no longer worry it will add pressure to my eye.

What's That Lyric?

Before Today - Everything But the Girl

Last night I got nearly eight hours, what what a night! I felt like I slept for years, natural sleep, natural dreams. Lots of dreams, great adventures, alligators and and stairs and hallways. And I think my entire family was there!

Let me show you the world in my eyes.

End of summer fun at Cedar Point. We took the boy and his friend for an overnight at Hotel Breakers which I have never even seen before. I had no idea. I had no plans to get onto any roller coasters, but the temptation was too strong. It wasn't speed I was concerned about, but centrifugal force.

Oh, also? Yes to corndogs, cola, ribs and fries, thank you. And beer. Okay, back to work.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 31:19
Pace: 10:06
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 76°
Climate: daybreak, humid
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 183.5 lbs. (+3.0)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Erotic80s Playlist

Curated by "You Must Remember This" podcast

One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head

Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Life In the Fast Lane - The Eagles

I Didn't Mean to Turn You On - Robert Palmer

You Can Leave Your Hat On - Joe Cocker

All She Wants to Do is Dance - Don Henley

So Alive - Love & Rockets

Now we gotta run.

First morning after the first run my legs were weak and sore, but I felt grateful and glad. For the present it would be best to only run every other day. I will attempt to be mindful in my diet, no more slices from Guy's in the middle of the afternoon as a "treat" for conducting an errand. No more ice cream, at all. Not without celebration.

These shoes, though. The new shoe feeling, like bouncing on springs. It made running slower easier, I just took more air in each stride. Bouncy bouncy bouncy.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:49
Pace: 9:56
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 74°
Climate: nice and sweaty
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 180.5 lbs. (-2.0)

Goal: 180 lbs.

What's That Lyric?

Catch Us If You Can - The Challengers

I'm a cool dude in a loose mood.

On top of the world, looking over the edge.

Ha ha. See you on the cove. Sure. I would like one summer when I can and do run for the entire season.

My retina detached (more on that here) and was repaired. But impact-based exercise was off the table for an extended period. And I was unable to join my family in our annual retreat. Things could be worse.

Things could always be worse.

For the time being, I have been walking. Three miles, every other day or so, when I have the time. And that's really been nice. And it's kept me sane. And it's good for me. I follow the same path to the park, through the park and back. 

When I started it took twenty minutes to walk a mile. Then it was more like eighteen.

But I have been eating whatever. Back to square one. Time to get my act together. Again. 

One month ago.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 33:25
Pace: 10:47
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 77°
Climate: lovely (but humid)
Mood: good, you know?
Stretches: yes
Water: not enough

Weight: 182.5 lbs. 

Goal: 180 lbs.

Today I had my one month visit and was told that my retina looked "gorgeous" -- that was the word he used. I no longer must sleep only on my right side, and I may resume normal exercise, like running.

The celebrate, I bought a new pair of New Balance shoes at Second Sole. Support your local business!

What's That Lyric?

Cloudbusting - Kate Bush

I got a habit I just can't quit.

When its sixty degrees in early March, you take a run to the greatest year in popular music, I don't care how your leg is.

But it does pinch, a little. I took a solo run, slowly. Now I will stretch, take pain reliever, ice and wrap.

Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 20:39
Pace: 10:20
Route: Two times around the block.
Temperature: 63°
Climate: sunny!

Mood: good, you know?
Weight: 190 lbs. (-0-)

1989 Playlist

Express Yourself - Madonna

Waiting Room - Fugazi

Fascination Street - The Cure

Biting My Nails - Renegade Soundwave

Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode

Shake Your Rump  - Beastie Boys

I'll never be the same.

#goals

Morning meet-up. Must think I am made of something special, running twice in twelve hours. We had family movie night, the wife chose Bonnie & Clyde. Never seen it. The whole family stayed up to watch, it was incredible.

Distance: 5 miles
Duration: 45:28
Pace: 9:04
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: cool but humid
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Chris has been off for three weeks, it's his hip. I hope today was not too much effort.

What's that lyric? From Spotify "Yacht Rock" playlist. You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates. It's a bop.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 164 lbs. (-5.5)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Another side effect of the medication? Weight gain. Gained five pounds, just as soon lost five pounds. Surprised to be 164, though. I have been eating with impunity to quell the nausea. I hope everything is good from here on out.

Been running so long.

Champions.

The rest of the day yesterday was rough. Sore, and in pain. Ten miles did this to me, and I am wondering how much of a challenge the rest of training, let alone the race, is going to be.

My left hip (sciatica) and the string going all the way down to both big toes. Shocking. Need to massage my own feet.

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 28:08
Pace: 9:22
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: cool & humid
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: not enough

Oof. Using the bpm this morning to keep my pace slow. Heading out, it felt as though my chest would burst, not pain, just this feeling that I couldn't get enough breath out. Running at this pace was difficult, I kept wanting to speed up, but I did not. And that was good.

155 - 159 BPM Playlist
Head Over Heels - The Go-Go's
Vacation - The Go-Go's
The Generator - The Lilys
Michael - Franz Ferdinand
Dead Man's Party - Oingo Boingo
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
I'm So Free - Lou Reed
Boombastic - Shaggy
Good Times - INXS ft. Jimmy Barnes

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 166 lbs. (+3.0)
Goal: 160 lbs.

I ate a lot yesterday. It was the World Cup Finals, and I downed a fat cheeseburger, Guinness, buffalo fried cauliflower, chips, everything. Just ravenous. But I ate way past any point of comfort or enjoyment. That was gross.

Dinner was much lighter, we had three kinds of salad.

Run around, around, around, around, around.

Opening next week!

Three-day weekend. Going into tech, the family is headed to Athens tomorrow. I will be on my own, alone. I have already made mad-crazy plans to clean house, do yard work, and run every day.

Can't be too crazy. Tech is seven hours. Seven hours tomorrow, Seven hours Sunday. So I won't actually be home that much. But, oh! Those mornings.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Duration: 29:25
Pace: 9:03
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: overcast and humid
Mood: angsty ... but good, you know?
Stretches: yes
Bandage: no!

Ran through the woods with my earphones out, as if I could outrun a coyote if I heard one. Brisk, hot, just as I have been looking forward to. And no bandage! I believe I am healed, though I will take extra care from this out.

2000 Playlist
Idioteque - Radiohead
Payback (The Final Mixdown) - Fatboy Slim
I Feel the Air (Of Another Planet) - Stereolab
Barock - Plastik  Stereolab
Sem Contenção - Bebel Gilberto
Uninvited - The Bostonians
Morning Bell - Radiohead

Someone recommend music for the year 2000. It's like I wasn't listening anything but the new Radiohead and Stereolab albums

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 172 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Got your chin held high and you feel just fine.

Rehearsals make running impossible. Caught a short one this morning, I need to get the eighteen week training schedule on the calendar.

Ran the whole thing, no pain -- until just before I stopped. Pushed it out to 3.25. But so far things are going well, I need to rest and recuperate, in equal amounts

Distance: 3.25 miles
Duration: 28:55
Pace: 8:54
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: bright and shiny
Mood: determined
Stretches: yes
Wrapped: yes

Beautiful day in the park. It's gosling season! Last night I dreamed I was attacked by a dog. Love goslings, hate dogs.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 173.5 lbs. (-4.0)
Goal: 175 lbs. Achievement Unlocked

I have been eating less. I have been eating when I am hungry, and that's it. You know, that's not it. I had a piece of carrot cake yesterday. I slim slice of Corbo's carrot cake (my favorite cake) and it was sweet and creamy and delicious and just enough and not too much.

2005 Playlist
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Don't Look Back - Telepopmusik
I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic! at the Disco
I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
Winners - 7 Seconds of Love
Modern Times - The Tramp & J-Five
Dirty Harry - Gorillaz
The Hands That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails
Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge

Okay. Now I'm feeling it.

So good to me.

Good Lord, what a mess. It's been a busy week, with many appointments, commitments, social gatherings, productions, responsibilities, and on and on. Waking every morning early to read an entire play (that's a thing I do in April) then onto work -- which should lighten up a bit, as our spring production just closed.

Still. The girl had a cast party for her high school production at our house, which was fine. Even the scaffolding and odd piles of masonry placed about the yard (as we have our chimney and other point work redone) did not prevent us from having a fire in the backyard ... but it left us with bottles of soda, bags of snacks and a lot of leftover pizza.

I'd like to say that yesterday was the only day I consumed three or more time my daily allotment of calories. I neglect to pack my lunch and end up buying something highly caloric, then there are the social meetings in bars and restaurants, two of those this weekend. Also, more than my normal share of drinking. And ice cream. Ice cream? Yes, somehow I feel justified in just stopping somewhere to get an ice cream cone.

So, what's it going to be? Four years ago I had a pre-diabetic scare and brought my weight to a reasonable 155. Now I am wearing stretchy jeans and even bought a new, huge belt. This is not good for my frame. It doesn't work. I cannot maintain this. I have got to deal with being a little hungry and choosing better food to eat.

Distance: 2 miles
Route: Rec Center
Mood: all right
Exercises: yes

So, its been a week and my calf is fine. Kinks here and there, in my ankle, my knee, these came and went. I think I'm okay. That was a pain. Also, the weather can't decide what it wants to be -- which sucks because guys started working on the house on Saturday and I don't know when the fuck they'll be back. This afternoon, cross my fingers.

Anyway, here's the scoop. More reporting on my diet -- which only works if I run often enough that this blog doesn't become just a menu.

Breakfast: coffee with cream, rice with soy sauce.
Mid-morning: More coffee with cream.
Lunch: Meatless lasagna (modest portion), salad, satsuma.
Snack: Small dish of almonds & dried cranberries. And one beer.
Dinner: Fried pierogies with sauerkraut, applesauce & sauteed onions, roasted broccoli and cauliflower with Parmesan. Also, one chocolate chip cookie (which I made.) 

1966 Playlist
I'm a Believer - The Monkees
Pushin' Too Hard - The Seeds
Monday, Monday - The Mamas & The Papas
And Your Bird Can Sing- The Beatles
The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine - Simon & Garfunkel
Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White - The Standells
You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes
Wack Wack - Young-Holt Trio
She Said She Said - The Beatles
Function at the Junction - Shorty Long

Cooldown:
Bus Stop - The Hollies

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 184 lbs. (+3.0)
New Goal: 180 lbs.

That's right. Now I just want to be below 180. Jesus.

Visit my Team Challenge Crohn's & Colitis page and support my bid for the Chicago Marathon!

You can run down the waveband.

Still with the kink in my ankle. Only when I wake up. Doesn't trouble me when I run. Not yet, anyway. Today we tech for the show. It is fascinating to enter a production in this way, jumping in at the last minute.

At the same time, my new script About a Ghoul is in rehearsal at Talespinner and I have been receiving notes from rehearsals with suggestions here and there for changing lines -- even the name of one character for whom I had received a poor translation.

I had read that the word "Samira" is Arabic for friend or companion, when (in Morocco, at least) it means "one who stays up late like an owl." While I love knowing that, it is an inappropriate name for the character!

And rehearsals for The Way I Danced With You begin Monday night at Ensemble. What a busy, busy month!

Distance: 2 miles
Route: Rec Center
Mood: good
Exercises: no

The 'Strange Science' Behind The Big Business Of Exercise Recovery, Fresh Air (2/11/2019)

Today Fresh Air told me that marathon runners refer to Ibuprofen as "Vitamin I." Thanks, Terry!

Seriously, though. On yesterday's episode, author Christie Aschwanden (Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery) teaches us that everything we know about recovery is wrong.

For example:

1. Ibuprofen is actually harmful as a prophylactic pain reliever or for regular use as an inflammatory.
2. Proactive drinking is bad for you.
3. Relief from a foam roller is psychosomatic.

Well, we knew that last one was true. Anyway, a worthwhile listen.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 179.5 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 175 lbs.

Two miles, straight through, no stopping, no machines. Big day. Gotta move.

1977 Playlist
Every 1's a Winner - Hot Chocolate
Mr. Blue Sky - ELO
Blame It On Cain (demo) - Elvis Costello
We're A Happy Family - The Ramones
The Things We Do For Love - 10cc

Cooldown:
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll - Ian Dury & The Blockheads

Visit my Team Challenge Crohn's & Colitis page and support my bid for the Chicago Marathon!

Recovery Run

Crystal Pond.

First need for a "recovery" run. Yesterday's sixteen mile trek took a lot out of me, I spent most of the morning in my pjs, napping and reading ... which is kinda what I have done this morning. No alarm to wake me, then sitting by the fire, reading, writing, checking the online media.

My calves were very sore all day. They are sore now. So many hills yesterday, especially at the end. But my back feels good, and I have been concerned as to how longer and longer runs would affect my recent injury. At present, not at all.

I have been eating pretty much whatever I choose. I made a decision a few days back not to pick up a case of Coca-Cola. Traditionally, I would be drinking one rum and Coke a day, but I can't ... there's no Coke. Also, still enjoying sensible portions for dinner ... but also dessert pretty much every night. Then there are the Doritos, which are gone, but at least I wasn't alone in consuming them.

But they were good. I ate them, and I was glad.

However, though we have no scale in the house, my belt has provided a certain indication of my intake. In March I was at the last notch in my belt. Last month I was on the fourth notch in my belt. Yesterday I realized I would be much more comfortable at the third notch in my belt.

Not an emergency. But it has been noted.

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 25:40
Avg Pace: 8:34
Route: Martin Point Run

Felt downright cool went I headed out, but then the sun came out and the temperature rose three degrees. Doesn't take much. Started at the top of the hill instead of running it. Did myself that favor.

Just another perfect day in the cove. I do have plenty of writing to accomplish, but also promised the boy we would hunt down a mackerel jig. We must head out in the motorboat today.

Temperature: 70° - 73°
Climate: bright and humid
Intake: banana
Hydration: yes

Stretches: yes