Why don't you run from me?

Merrily We Roll Along was pitch-perfect and you have to ask yourself how it failed in the first place. Blame must be offered to Hal Prince and his abstract concept because Sondheim’s music and lyrics are outstanding. 

The book isn’t bad, either, though it is true (the wife and I talked about this on the subway home) that Mary is a seriously underdeveloped character. Last night, though, understudy Jamila Sabares-Klemm stepped into the role and she was excellent. A tremendous ensemble. So delighted to have this chance to see it.

Distance: 4.9 miles

Duration: 44:20
Pace: 9:03

O laws, Duran Duran just dropped a Halloween album full of covers, of their own songs and those of others. Perfect choice for a dreary morning — and an incredible run.

Danse Macabre - Duran Duran (2023)

Night Boat

Black Moonlight

Love Voudou

Bury a Friend

Supernature 

Danse Macabre

Secret Oktober 31st

Ghost Town

Paint It Black

Súper Lonely Freak

Spellbound

Psycho Killer ft. Victoria De Angelis 

Route: Reservoir Loop

Temperature: 55
Climate: overcast & damp

Mood: very good

 
Stretches: yes

Sit-Ups: 40

Water: yes

I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of life.

Manhattan weekend, Upper West Side. The weather has been warm this week, but I had no time to get out. So glad to get to do this run today.

We traveled in style, relaxed. Got to our apt after ten so we didn’t go out, I’d had enough to drink in Airportland regardless. Anxious dreams, I think the owner of this place got into them, or her daughter? There are photos tucked into corners.

Distance: 4 miles?

Pace: 8:47

Glorious run. Last time I ran in Central Park was two years ago, last weekend. With the boy. It was about 50° then, a little too cool for my blood that I had and brought a jacket. While they were plenty of other runners, it was hardly crowded.

Today, a sunshiny day. The path around the reservoir was full of walkers and runners. Couples holding hands, kissing, people taking selfies.

The timer has started, but I stopped to take a picture, and somehow it defaulted. So I’m not sure exactly how far I ran. Don’t know, don’t care.

If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, and it’s not too cool, I may go out again.

Route: West 105 to the Jaqueline Onassis Kennedy Reservoir and back

Temperature: 67
Climate: sunny & warm

Mood: very good

  

Reading the book on Sound of Silver from the 33 1/3 series, by Ryan Leas. It’s fun, though for the first few chapters he does say the same thing over and over, to wit; LCD Soundsystem is derivative and dorky and yet makes the most relevant music of the 21st century.

He spends like, three chapters on “Losing My Edge” alone, and that’s not even on the album.

But laws, it makes me want to listen. I chose an EP of remixes to run to I had never heard before. My god, it was beautiful.

A Bunch of Stuff EP - LCD Soundsystem (2007)

All My Friends - Franz Ferdinand Version

Get Innocuous! - Soulwax Remix

Sound of Silver - C2 Rmx Rev.3

Us V Them - Any Color U Like Remix by Windsurf

Time To Get Away - Gucci Soundsystem Mix

Stretches: yes

Water: yes

"For the boys on MTV."

Home, again. Keeping my run on. This morning I am unmotivated specifically because I do not know what to listen to. I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Memories of Fall 2021, when the boy and I visited NYC. Photos pop up in the social media feed, and there are those photo books on the table, of the shed they used for outdoor pandemic dining. It was a time of great transition. It remains so.

Distance: 3.25 miles

Duration: 31:20
Pace: 9:38

So, my streaming service is like, "Wouldn't you like to listen to something we've called 80s pop retro tuesday early playlist?" And I'm like, sigh, yes, nailed it, I'm so obvious, woo-hoo.

Route: Boulevard Loop

Temperature: 50°
Climate: cool

Mood: all right

 

Ugh, Running before daylight. Anticipating a bad foot fall with every step is not good for my back. We just need to run in the early evening, it's not worth the injury. 

 
Stretches: yes

Water: yes

Ouch, yeah, fuck. Hurt my back.

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 175 lbs. (+2.0)

Revised Goal: 170 lbs.

I’ve placed faith in geography.

Hot mane.

Awake at 2:30 AM in an Airbnb in Over the Rhine, fretting existential questions, deciding to sit up for an hour to write out my thoughts.

Getting our money’s worth out of this bougie hipster flop.

Distance: 2.5 miles

Duration: 22:39
Pace: 9:03

We are in Cincy to see the boy over  UC’s “family weekend.” So far we’ve had some good together time, got to existence a new neighborhood, even saw a play on campus. Shame about the football game though we couldn’t even get tickets, anyway.

Route: Over the Rhine

Temperature: 48°
Climate: partly cloudy & cool

Mood: anxious

  

This is in an Urban Outfitters

Ah, Sunday morning in Gentrification Land, where last night’s cold IPA is this morning’s warm piss.

“Watch out for uneven pavement,” she said, and it was a warning well-heeded. For the most part, though, and easy course, and safe, and one I would be happy to elaborate upon.

Stretches: yes

Water: yes

What’s That Lyric?

Gold Rush - Death Cab for Cutie

All my senses rise.

Crazy. The wife has been out of town since Tuesday, barely two days. And yet, it's so strange. It's strange being alone. I do not care for it. It's okay. It gives me no joy, not for a moment. It never has.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 26:36
Pace: 8:35

Man. I wrote a sad little scene this morning. But is it trite? Is it maudlin? Can't know until I read it in context ... whenever I figure out what that is.

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 49°
Climate: overcast & cool

Mood: good

Got to stop thinking, "It takes five minutes to get my kit on and step out the door." It takes fifteen minutes, sometimes twenty. Okay? Fifteen to twenty. Budget that time.

 
Stretches: yes

Sit-Ups: tbd
Planks: tbd 

Upper body: tbd
Water: yes

Diet: No greasy food today. You've eaten a lot of that shit this week, and you'll probably have more this weekend. It affects your mouth, only vigilant oral hygiene has kept you from sores.  Fruits and vegetables, that's it.

160-169 BPM Playlist

Moving On - BTS

Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio ft. L.V.

Everywhere I Go - The Call

Foundations - Kate Nash

The Adults Are Talking - The Strokes

You Better You Bet - The Who

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/granola  yogurt

Lunch: chili cheese burritos, Pepsi

Dinner: pasta & roasted vegetables

Alcohol? yes, I think.

Haw haw haw.

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 173 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Writing: yes

What's gone wrong in your system?

After all ... why not?

Here's the thing. I begin the day determined to follow my agenda, and by lunch there's a little voice in my head saying "Why not?" and thinking of greasy slices of pizza nd fast food fries and burgers.

I got a cheeseburger fries and a shake from MacDonald's for lunch yesterday. I ate them while driving, chewing without tasting, swallowing without chewing. Last night I thought, "Why not?" and had a glass of wine with dinner, just as my wife did. I'd already had a strong ale, it was drink two, and it was wine. I don't drink wine, normally, it gives me a headache.

By the time we went to bed, I had a headache. I minor one. I'm fine now, but, stupid, you know?

The weather turns. Shorts with a jacket. Time to put up storm windows, mornings now before the fire. Can I maintain? Will I, once more, gain back all the weight I lost? Why not? 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:41
Pace: 9:15

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 49°
Climate: overcast & cool

Mood: good

 
Stretches: yes

Sit-Ups: 20 

Upper body: 10
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/yogurt & granola

Lunch: fish & chips & slaw

Coffee Break: decaf pumpkin roll latte

Dinner: chicken salad, fizzy water

Alcohol? GLBC Oktoberfest

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 174 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Writing: yes

What's That Lyric?

Gratitude - Beastie Boys

¿Y como vas progresando?

Yesterday was mostly successful, as writing goes. There were an awful lot of breaks for straightening up and doing basic exercises, but that's what kept me going.

Today I need to be online most of the day to attend a workshop, so any business must be attended to before ten AM. And that's why we get up at seven on a Sunday (also to avoid the headaches).

Tess: 0110

Distance: 3.15 miles

Duration: 29:14
Pace: 9:16

Brisk, upbeat tunes from the late 1970s and early 80s. Didn't get particularly invested in the episode. I need a reason to be interested in Runner 8 but I'm not there yet. Missed Steve.

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 51°
Climate: overcast, damp & breezy

Mood: good

Gear: jacket, shorts

Hour break in our theater intimacy workshop, so I took the run then. Sometimes I push too hard when I need to get back for something, but that's not why I was going so fast. Just felt good!  

 
Stretches: yes 

Sit-Ups: 70
Planks: 30 sec. (4x)

Upper body: 10 rep. (4x)
Water: yes

Man. What if I did that every day.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/granola & yogurt

Workshop Snack: pudding, fizzy water (2x)

Lunch: pizza (2x)

Afternoon: cheesecake, Mini Swedish Fish, more pudding

Dinner: bean soup, ice cream

Alcohol? no

Reading: tbd

Writing: tbd

Blog: tbd

What's That Lyric?

El Rayo-X - David Lindley