You're insecure.

First night after the first run was brutal. Pain in both shoulders. Sleeping on my side has become an issue in my life, ever since I had to sleep exclusively on my right for weeks due to my eye surgery. My legs, my ankles. But not my heart, not my breathing. I should have had more water after that run, that is a fact, I woke in the middle of the night in pain and parched. At least I could get up and drink a glass of water.

But here we are, two weeks later, thinking about running, but not doing it. You know what's really frustrating (and one reason why I procrastinate) is not being able to cobble together complete running kit, once I have decided to actually run.

Today, the elastic band in not one but two pair of long underwear came apart in my hands. Fifteen year old long underwear. Time for new long underwear.

Distance: 2.35 miles

Duration: 26:01
Pace: 11:04

Route: Horizon Loop

Temperature: 41°
Climate: sunny, cool
Mood: enduring

What was 2012? My first Agatha Christie play and also my first publication. I wrote Double Heart in three weeks. The kids were both in elementary school, the wife, I think, at Preterm. It was very important for Obama to win reelection, and he did.

2012 Playlist

Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch

Locked Out of Heaven - Bruno Mars

Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen

Feel So Close - Calvin Harris

Sex - The 1975

Bubblegum Bitch - Marina

What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift

Wide Awake - Katy Perry

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 60 sec. (1x)
Water: yes

Man. Didn't even need long pants. Jesus.

All these years I've been running from my fears.

So this is the New Year. And I don't feel any different? Actually, I do feel very, very different. My health has been affected during the past twelve months. Is that a reason I have not been running? Or an excuse? Who cares?

Yes, I have been a little winded recently, but then we spent an extended weekend in NYC, walking for miles a day, and I felt great. So, can I keep up some kind of exercise regime -- any exercise regime -- through the winter months? So many questions.

Here we go ... 57 Playlists for 57 Years.

2022 Playlist

Here To Forever * - Death Cab For Cutie

Cracker Island - Gorillaz ft. Thundercat

So Typically Now - U.S. Girls

Tonight - Phoenix ft. Ezra Koenig

Shatter * - Maggie Rogers

Down - Hot Chip

2am - Foals

Get Inspired * - Genesis Owusu

Edge of the Edge - Panda Bear, Sonic Boom

Break My Soul - Beyoncé

What was 2022? My last year of grad school. When we started ignoring the pandemic, oh and I got Covid. My retina detached. My wife was loving her work, my son chose jazz and our eldest exploded as an artist. 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 32:12
Pace: 10:23

Route: Boulevard Loop

Temperature: 59°
Climate: damp, you know?
Mood: surprisingly decent

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 30 sec. (6x)
Water: yes

She ran away in her sleep.

1. The wife said, you should take a run today. So I did.

2. Done with the zombies.

Distance: 3,1 miles 

Duration: 32:56
Pace: 10:37

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 39°
Climate: overcast & cool
Mood: all right

 

I am also not recording my intake anymore, or my weight. I will run. If I run, I win.

The Dreaming Playlist

Ship To Wreck - Florence + The Machine

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics

Stay Awake - Julie Andrews

Dream On - Aerosmith

Dream Lover - Bobby Darin

Paradise - Coldplay

Enter Sandman - Metallica

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Morrissey - The Smiths 

Dreams  - The Cranberries

 

Stretches: yes
Abdominals:
Water: yes

The nicest parts of Hell.

Vertigo, day four. Time to make an appointment. Guess I should have done that before. 

First, however, a run. It's seventy freaking degrees out. Time to escape some zombies!

Paul Revere: 0105

Distance: 3.75 miles
Duration: 38:35
Pace: 10:17

Steps: 5570

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 70°
Climate: sunny & warm!
Mood: all right

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

Weight: 186 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Breakfast: pot of yogurt

Lunch: cheeseburger, fries & soda (hey, it was free)

Treat: Oreos (3), milk
Dinner: Galley Boy, potato teezers & ranch, shake (hey, it's Thursday)

What's That Lyric?

Justified - Nine Inch Nails

There's no point in escaping.

Yeah, we'll try another zombie run. I want the story to pick up a little.

A Lost Child: 0104

Distance: 3.15 miles
Duration: 31:09
Pace: 9:53

Steps: 4860

In the film Last Night the local DJ is playing what he calls "The Greatest 500 Songs of All Time" but really, they are his favorite songs of all time, because the world is literally about the be destroyed.

So, I am listening to the "Sings For My Funeral" playlist, while I navigate the zombie apocalypse, because those are my favorite songs of all time.

  
Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 46°
Climate: bright & cool
Mood: all right

Yesterday, first thing in the morning, I suffered a sudden bout of vertigo. Just sitting in a chair, talking to Toni, my head started spinning, and wouldn't stop. I began to feel nauseated and it didn't stop until I lay down on the couch. It took most of the morning to feel close to normal.

I still don't feel normal, I'm a little disoriented, but I was able to run. It felt good to run. 

But what was that? Is it related to Covid? Advance warning of a stroke? No idea. I did let my doctor know.

 
Stretches: not really
Water: yes

Weight: 186 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

What's That Lyric?

Take Me Home - Phil Collins

It ain't easy living above.

There are few acts that I am hopelessly dedicated to. Like, "Oh, man! The Stones has a new album coming out!" I've never said. No one says that. But you know what I mean? 

There are acts that once had a great run of singles, but few that consistently generate work that I like -- me -- over an extended period of time.

Except Ben Gibbard. And I'm not, like, I wouldn't call myself a Death Cab fan. But he keeps creating songs I really enjoy, year after year. He's the Dad Whisperer.

Oh! And Everything But the Girl is releasing their first album since 1999 next year!!!

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:29
Pace: 9:31

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 60°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: good

 

Man. Most of these tunes have excellent bpm, too! Boss run, no zombies. Just sunshine and dead leaves.

 
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 186 lbs. 

Goal: 180 lbs.

I have a reading tonight. I will not record what I ate today.

Ben Gibbard Playlist

Here to Forever

The District Seeps Alone Tonight

The Ghosts of Beverly Drive

Transatlantisicsm

I Will Possess Your Heart (Radio Edit)

Gold Rush

Baby, I'm a walking dead.

Compulsion can be a force for good, and a force for not so good. I have run compulsively in the past, but there are several reasons that is not possible today. My ageing body, and also my schedule.

Then there is the compulsion to eat, which is what I am currently suffering. It's a boredom thing. It's an unhappiness thing. Recording my diet here helps, but only if I am running more often. Otherwise I backslide. And there's leftover candy. And there are chips. There are always nuts and cheese. Fats and carbs and sugar.

It's rainy fall weather, cool and damp. Time to elude some zombies.

Lay of the Land: 0103

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:59
Pace: 9:39

Steps:  4736

  

Good run! Beautiful fall day, listening to spooky music and running and a carpet of golden leaves. I felt stronger than I might, good breathing.

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 48°
Climate: sunny & cool
Mood: all right

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 30 sec. (3x)
Water: yes

Breakfast: Honey Nut Cheerios (1C.) w/milk, banana, coffee (2x)

Lunch: cheeseburger, fries, Coke

Treat: "fun size" Twizzlers (1x)

Happy hour: Almonds, dried fruit, beer
Dinner: pasta & sauce w/greens, salad

Treat: “fun size” KitKat

What's That Lyric?

Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) - Concrete Blonde