Photo Finish

Finally got around to selecting and tweaking some of the photos I snapped the day of the Railroad Days 5K. No words to fill spaces between pix, so they'll appear here large. And as soon as my photographer/musician buddy Steve sends me the shots he took I'll add a few more.

Race participants sign up and receive their packets at the table for race-day
registration under the Optimists shelter in Optimist Park at Hawthorne Centre.

Volunteers don safety vests and prepare for the start of the race.

My buddy Kent Kriegshauser pays attention to every detail when he
shoots an assignment, this one a freelance gig for the RR Days Committee.

Runners cool down with water and stories after the race. These gals
finished about the same time I did.

My favorite part: A volunteer lays out the post-race snacks.

Jennifer Holmes of Trinity Lutheran Church delivered a
recycling bag. Very thoughtful. One of my pet peeves
is a public event without recycling receptacles.

No Spike For You! Had the Spike Nazi
been there last Saturday, those would
have been his words to me.

Beautiful Day

Photo op stop on the way to the lake.

Good glorious morning to you all. What a beautiful day for a run at the lake. Today was my second Wednesday morning fun run, organized by Go Outside and Play. Six runners turned out today, two more than last time I ran with them. Nick, Jason, Matt and two women whose names I didn't get hit the path at 6 for the 5-mile out-and-back.

Really, it doesn't get better for a morning run: friendly folks, beautiful weather, best scenery your gonna find in the area. The lake was active with a couple boats of fishermen and we saw a cyclist and a walking couple and a couple of other runners during our time on the trail. 

A cyclist passes on the berm at the west end of the lake.

As before, there was nothing on the trail to pick up. And again, that's actually pretty nice -- no trash is always nice. The ride home brought me a handful of cans and a condom (still sealed in its individual packet).

And now it is time for work.

Today's Stats
Temp:  61/70 degrees F (start/home)
Distance: 5 miles
Treasure: 1 Adam & Eve condom, still in sealed wrapper; 4 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
83 (live) - John Mayer
Mediate - INXS
Brown Skin Girl - Santana (Feat. Bo Bice)
Check It Out - John Mellencamp
Groaning The Blue - Eric Clapton
Touch of Grey - Grateful Dead
Love Over Gold (live) - Dire Straits
And Your Bird Can Sing - The Beatles
Apologies To Pearly - ZZ Top
Islay Reaper's Song - Broceliande
Breathe (2 AM) - Anna Nalick
Ship - Ryan Patrick
Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen (The classic video)

Mixed Results

Everybody knows the lyrics to that '70s heartbreak song: "I did my best, but I guess my best wasn't good enough..."

 Well, that's kind of how it was today for the annual Railroad Days 5K. I moved up a notch in the age divisions and it cost me. Some of those old guys are fast! Not this one. I am reminded of the quote I saw last week that went something like this: "I've heard people say to me, 'I'm not a runner.' We're all runners. Some are just fast runners and some are slow runners." I'm on the slow end.

Still, I outdid my previous best with a finish of 26:26 (and I think the manual time-keeper was a hair off -- the clock said 26:18 when I saw it just before crossing). Eight seconds wouldn't buy me hardware, though. First and second in the Men's 45-49 division were 19:something and third place clocked in at 21:something.

I felt kind of bummed at first, but I cajoled myself into better spirits by applauding the other runners, many of whom I knew, like Men's 10K overall winner Alex Moreno, Men's 23-39 10K winner Steven Hall and Women's 19-22? 5K winner Shannon Stacey. Congrats to all of them and everyone else, whether I know you or not (and forgive me if I do and didn't list you -- short memory).

For those of you curious about the scavenging, rest assured I picked up a couple of items, though only one during the race. I thought perhaps the black T-shirt was cast off by a heated runner. Nobody claimed it afterward so it joins the shop-rag pile at home. Further inspection cast doubt on my original theory. The size 3X T is pretty skanky; stained and sliced in at least one spot, I don't think it was anyone's race apparel.

More words and photos later. Now I have to work.


Stats
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles or so)
Time: 26:26 (personal best)

At right: I placed 43rd overall.

Trial Run

Well, that wasn't quite what I had hoped for. The Railroad Days 5K is Saturday and tonight was intended to be a trial run. Unfortunately, I came up short; need to check the distance before I run or remember the distances of a couple specific routes. Of course I thought I had. I thought the route I had chosen was a 3-miler. Alas, it was only 2.5.

One of my favorite houses in town, corner of
Osage and Broad streets. Reminds me of an
English country cottage.

That's not bad, but I was hoping to get a sold gauge of my pace. I did the 2.5 miles in 22:06, which I think is a pretty good pace for me, but math is hard and I don't feel like trying to calculate that into a 5K time. It seems to be a little better than my time for the St. Paddy's Day Run back in March. It's certainly better than last year's RR Days time. This year should be better if for no other reason than it'll be cooler.

This year's RR Days 5K, sponsored by the Galesburg Road Runners Club, is at 9 a.m. rather than 7 p.m. Better yet, the forecast is for temps topping out in the 70s, so we're good all around. I am looking forward to it. Too bad I have to work afterward. It'd be nice to lounge the rest of the day away.

Because I was trying to test my time I didn't bother to stop for anything tonight. Didn't see anything anyway. I did pick up a baseball and a U.S. Polo Assn. polo shirt while biking this morning. Photos will come later (shirt's in the wash). Tonight I did see another fun car loaded with bumper stickers. It was an odd one for Galesburg -- all conservative bent. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just most bumper-sticker laden autos around here are of the ultra-liberal sort. I got as much of a kick out of this one as I do the greenies.

Earlier in the day I also passed another variation on the motorized bicycle. It's an intriguing idea but I'll stick to pedal power for now. I'm sure they kick butt on mileage compared to a car and give the legs great break, but they're still burning gas and stinking up the place and adding another component to present potential technical troubles. I have enough of those as it is.

Today's Stats
Temp: 69 degrees F
Distance: 2.5 miles
Weekly Total: 5.5
Treasure: Nada.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Wouldn't It Be Good - Nik Kershaw 4:32
Murder Incorporated - Bruce Springsteen 5:52
I Was Brought To My Senses - Sting 5:50
83 (live) - John Mayer (5:52)
TIME: 22:06

Rainy Days and Mondays

Absolutely unrelated to today's blog is this beautiful bike I
saw parked in front of Innkeeper's last Friday. Very smartly
outfitted and fashionable for a lovely lady commuter.

A day like today would have done in poor Karen Carpenter, God rest her soul. It is Monday. It is raining. It is grey and gloomy. It is dank, dark, damp and just damned crappy out there. Then again, Karen wasn't a runner. Had she been, she might have overcome at least some of the disappointment of a rainy Monday. I know a run in the rain helped me this morning.

And that's without much in the way of street treasures. I did jog my memory a bit, though. Heading south on Academy from Main Street I passed my childhood church, Bethany Baptist, which is a completely different building today from the one I attended briefly. My parents aren't particularly religious so I'm not sure why they sent me. Perhaps they thought the moral teachings of a Christian church would do me some good. Or maybe it just ensured an hour or two of mommy-daddy time without the kids around.

Whatever the reason, I didn't gain much of a foundation there. No fault of the kindly Sunday school teachers and the pastor, of course. I remember one lesson was intended to teach us the books of the New Testament. We were supposed to memorize them in order so as to be able to recite the lot. As an example the teacher got us started: "Matthew, Mark, Luke John..." she said. I must have stopped listening to her instruction at that point. Hmmm, I thought, sounds easy enough. There's even a little sing-song to it. "Matthew, Mark, Luke, John," I repeated to myself a few times. OK, got it.

The following week when it came time to show our stuff, my hand shot up to exhibit my newfound biblical knowledge. "Matthew, Mark, Luke, John," I declared and stopped, satisfied that I had mastered the lesson and the applause would follow shortly. "And..." she prodded. Oops. Shoulders sagged. Puppy dog eyes made clear my embarrassed innocence. I guess there's more to the New Testament than the four Gospels. At least we got a nice treat at the end of the bus ride each Sunday.

Also unrelated, except to the photo
above, is this guy unlocking his Trek
Soho S, another bike I happen to like.

A couple blocks farther south I passed the home of my one-time stepgrandparents. The Upsons were a homey, folksy couple. He was a retired railroader, she was a housewife as far as I recall. He was a woodworker with a knack for creating amazing chains and ball-in-a-box carvings and other neat things. She collected dolls and a variety of knickknacks that filled the house in curio cabinets, on the stairs, on shelves and in every corner. I recall lots of crosses and pictures of Jesus, too.

From there I continued down to Third Street and over the Fourth Street bridge, which spans the Galesburg BNSF rail yards. (The headline for that story link, which came up second in my Google search for BNSF railyards Galesburg, was among my entries in the Illinois AP Editors Contest that one first place.) Oddly it's always been known as the Fourth Street bridge, but was renamed for a longtime alderman years ago as the W.C. Jackson Bridge. The oddity is that it could as accurately be called the Third Street bridge, as it begins on Third Street on the western side and comes out on Fourth Street on the eastern side.

On the eastern side I stuck to Seminary Street, foregoing my intended detour to the Carl Sandburg Birthplace State Historic Site in favor of a speedier return home. And that was pretty much it for the history tour.

Today's Stats
Temp: 67 degrees F
Distance: 3 miles
Treasure: 23 cans; 1 rubber band.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Bombs Away - The Police
Freedom Rider - Traffic
Radar Love - Golden Earring
Expecting - The Call
Lucky (Rap) - Joni Mitchell
Hold On - Lou Reed
The Overdraft - Warren Zevon
In France They Kiss On The Main Street - Joni Mitchell
That's The Way Love Is - The Commitments

A Day Early, A Day Late (And Then Some)

Yes, well, it's been a while. I got a little off schedule at the end of last week. Chalk it all up to lack of sleep. Of course, part of that is attributable to this very blog entry. Let me explain.

The collage I created for Amanda's open house. That's
a whole other (long) story. That's one of the frames I
salvaged from the curb a few weeks back.

Having risen early Monday to run I stayed up late that night after work to finish a project for daughter No. 2's high school graduation open house. That was followed with an early morning and day shift at work. Wednesday morning brought an even earlier awakening for the Lake Storey Fun Run with the Go Outside and Play gang. Thursday was a long day and I decided to get in my run that night to allow for a little sleeping in Friday morn.

So it was that I hit the streets at 11 p.m. Thursday, hauling my rear to Walmart for a late-night shopping trip. That trip proved fruitless on the shopping front but delivered an oddity (which I alluded to Wednesday) for the collection, even if it ends up in the Dumpster. You see, a few days earlier I had noticed what appeared to be the small white wheel of a child's scooter or bike lying between the two sets of tracks about 20 yards east of the North Seminary Street crossing near North Street. I was determined to return and check it out (harboring just a wee bit of trepidation at the thought of trespassing on railroad property). I figured I was doing BNSF a favor, though, by a.) removing a potential hazard and 2.) eliminating a possible attractive nuisance that could lure some child into harm's way. You're welcome, Mr. Buffet.

Well, it turned out to be the front half of a Barbie tricycle; the step platform, rear wheels and seat are missing. I haven't torn into it yet, but I am hopeful there is some salvage value (bearings or something). As it turns out, my internal clock woke me at 5 a.m. Friday, so that part of the plan went awry, too.

But the story takes an interesting turn in that whole scenario. You see, I had run some errands Thursday evening after work while I had Mom's car (yes, I can and do occasionally drive). While checking out at Hy-Vee I requested $20 cash back. Apparently the cashier, distracted by the rigmarole of having to manually approve my alcohol purchase because the scan spot on the back of my driver's license won't scan, forgot to give me my cash. I, too, was equally put off my game by the situation and didn't notice until I was getting read to run to Walmart late that night.

I began to question whether I actually had requested cash back at any of my stops. I let it slide until morning. When I awoke I reviewed my receipts and noted that indeed Hy-Vee owed me $20 change that I couldn't locate. Acknowledging that I may have lost the bill from my wallet or pocket or the grocery sack, I decided to at least check the cashier's accountability. A call to the store put me in touch with the accounting department. I explained the matter and provided the register number and cashier name and soon the helpful woman on the other end said there was, in fact, a discrepancy with that drawer at shift's end.I heard her say $19.38 or something close (indicating the cashier in question made more than one error). It was close enough that I was promised my cash on return to the store.

I'm sorry, am I boring you? Trust me, it gets better. Skip ahead here. ... Riding back from the story I came across a nice lanyard from Lincoln College of Technology, the kind on which kids carry their keys and discount cards and such. I continued south on Henderson Street to check out what appeared to be a T-shirt I had seen near the Fremont Street intersection the evening before. It turned out to be a white "beater" shirt but clearly stained with a red juice. I left it behind.

Pedaling east on Losey Street I spied something odd in the gutter near Crossroads Counseling. A U-turn brought me a small bag of candy chews, fruit-flavored bits similar to Tootsie Rolls. They're in the freezer because I can't decide whether to try one or just pitch 'em.

Yum?

But the best came last: a woman's sweatshirt in wearable condition for some XL gal looking for a fall warmer for the Scenic Drive. The dark blue shirt, a Jerzees brand if I recall, has a leafy branch, bird and butterfly on the front. It will be washed soon and delivered to one of the charities in town. Somewhere along the line I picked up yet another bandana, this one in black, which washed up nicely. I think I'll use it to cover the top of my bike basket to keep lightweight items from fluttering out of it.

So, there you have it. I may be a couple days late, but tomorrow will be here soon. Oh, huh, just noticed the clock and it is here. Late again.

Today's Stats
Temp: 72 degrees F
Distance: 4.8 miles
Weekly Total: 13.3 miles
Treasure: 1/2 of a tricycle; 8 cans. Friday morning, 6/17: 1 Lincoln College of Technology lanyard; 1 blue sweatshirt, size XL, leaf and bird motif; 1 bag of candy; 5 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Lately - Greg Brown
Boomtown - Greg Brown
Key - Devics
Wait For Me - Les Fleur De Lys
Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks
What's Simple Is True - Jewel
Palm of Your Hand - Cake
Clocks - Coldplay
Devil In Her Heart - The Beatles
All Together Now - The Beatles
Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison (I love this song)
Carry That Weight - The Beatles
One Slip - Pink Floyd
When I'm Sixty-Four - The Beatles
Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg (Love this one, too)

Rollin' Run at Leapfrog Flats

The inspiration for today's title
was found in front of the
Lake Storey Pavilion.

 The invitation was there on Facebook, open to any and all who might stumble across it: Fun run tomorrow (wednesday) morning at the Lake Storey Trail. Meet at 6 am at the parking lot by the boat ramp on 150. Hope to see everyone there!

The fine folks at Go Outside and Play have been organizing a variety of runs for their FB friends (or anyone who hears about them through the grapevine or just wanders by at the right place and time). There's a Burgers and Beer Fun Run, the Sole Sisters (women only) run/walk -- both monthly -- and the weekly Lake Storey Fun Run.

I thought I'd be able to enjoy my first B&B run Monday, but I didn't pay attention to my work schedule and discovered when I arrived at 9 a.m. that I was working the 2-11 p.m. shift. D'Oh! No burgers, no beer, no run, no fun. :(

But last night as I sat watching "The Outlaw Josey Wales" with one eye and perusing FB posts with the other, I noticed the reminder/invite for this morning's run. Especially of interest to me was a comment by one Ted Bevenour who guaranteed his attendance. I guess he qualified that commitment in the next sentence when he asked whether the group runs in the rain. I've never met Ted, but he's a good friend with my good friend Kent Kriegshauser, former Register-Mail photographer now going solo. Check out the website those two guys crafted to showcase Kent's new business.

Well, it wasn't raining at 6 when I arrived at the east boat ramp at the lake, just behind Nick and Jason (didn't get his last name). They ran to the starting point; I biked. We chatted a bit and waited a few minutes to see if anyone else would show. Pretty soon Carmen (another runner with no last name) rode up. Yea! Another bicyclist! Alas, no Ted. Maybe next time.

Carmen, hidden left, Jason and Nick round a bend near the
west end of the Lake Storey trail.

Off we trotted along the Lake Storey walking/jogging/biking path, which connects the east boat ramp to the west and beyond (it ends at South Lake Storey Road, across from Carl Sandburg College). The path is 5 miles round-trip, That's 5 miles of up and down through woods and along the edges of grassy fields with beautiful views of the lake along the way. As Nick put it, "It's about as hilly as you're gonna get around here." It ain't the mountains, but it's a workout (at least for a 45-year-old who's only been at it for a year).

Jason and Carmen took the lead and Nick and I lagged a little. But Nick was just getting warmed up and soon the trio pulled away from me. I think by the turnaround they were about 3/4 mile or a mile ahead of me and stayed there to the end. You could call me the tortoise locomotive: slow and steady and chugging loudly. I stopped three times to snap photos with my phone but there was nothing to pick up along the path. I think that's a good thing, though there's still plenty of trash strewn about Lake Storey.

My puny cellphone wasn't up to this task, but I tried. Dead center at the lip of the spillway stands a blue heron.
At right, just below the lip of the spillway, a family of ducks was making its way across the flowing water.

I did, however, find some things on the trip home. The list, as always, is below. In addition to that stuff, I added a decent crescent wrench found in the street last night and a spring-clip with a red cloth that was lying in the middle of Main Street as I rode to work (stopping to pick it up in the middle of the intersection almost got me run over, though). The clip and cloth I think must have been someone's flag for a long load sticking out of a truck or trunk. Well, it's mine now. Speaking of finders keepers, I spotted something interested yesterday and a follow-up visit to the same locale showed the object still in place today. If it is there on my next run, you'll read about it and its new owner here.

Today's Stats
Temp: 63 degrees F
Distance: 5 miles (plus 7.2 miles by bike)
Weekly Total: 8.5
Treasure: 1 child's sippy cup, pink (with a wee bit of milk still in it); 1 home-burned CD, Wiz Khalifa; 18 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Sheila - Morphine
Tin Man - America
Cool Blue Reason - Cake
That's The Way (live) - Led Zeppelin
Vision Reflection - Wrigleyville Band
Streetcorner Symphony - Rob Thomas
Poles Apart - Pink Floyd
Sinner's Prayer - Eric Clapton
Come Running - Van Morrison
Buena - Morphine
Peace On Earth - U2
I Live For You - George Harrison
If I Fell (Beatles cover) - Evan Rachel Wood (Across the Universe soundtrack)

Head East

She passed me at Custer Park as I
picked up some trash. Not often I
see another runner.

A new week, a new route. I've gone north often and it usually includes  a westerly start. Last week I turned south for a different look at my town. Today it seemed right to head east. That included a few blocks to the north to hit a stride and find a long street that would reach Farnham Street. Many of the east-west streets are cut off by tracks before they get there and I wanted to cross the Farnham Street bridge.

The old bridge, of course, was way cooler. It was a steeply arched wooden structure that rumbled when you drove over it, not unlike the old Fourth Street bridge over the hump yards on the south side. I believe one of my grandpas had a hand in building the latter. Both have been replaced by modern concrete spans that lack character but gain serviceability. 

This lonesome bike has been locked
to the fence across from Cottage
Hospital for an eternity.

I stopped atop the Farnham bridge when I saw a westbound BNSF train approaching, hoping to get a photo from the high angle over the tracks. I waited for the right moment, but alas, I pushed the up arrow to adjust the exposure instead of the OK button to take the photo. Stupid phone cam. OK, no the phone's fault, obviously; stupid operator. I got a second chance later on Main Street, though, when I was cut off by another train. I looped around along Pearl, Ella and Lincoln streets to bide my time and keep moving until I could cross the tracks.

The time-killer was perfectly timed. And I gained 6 cents and a lighter on Ella. I was pleasantly surprised by the lighter. I've come across many a Bic on my travels, either smashed to bits by a car tire or empty and rusted. This one lighted on the first roll of the wheel and a shake proved it to be nearly full. Come on, baby, light my fire!

Today's Stats
Temp: 59 degrees F
Distance: 3.5 miles
Treasure: 1 Bee Drug-Free pencil; 1 nickel; 1 penny; 1 Bic lighter, yellow, full; 14 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Haitian Divorce - Steely Dan
Rock The Boat - Hues Corporation
Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions
T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (Fly Away) - George Clinton & The P-F All-Stars
You're My Home - Billy Joel
Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
Mary's Place - Bruce Springsteen
100 Years - Five For Fighting
Hoodoo Man Blues - Buddy Guy
The Bed's Too Big Without You - The Police

To Scavenge is to Salvage

Running for me began as an exercise in self-discipline and, well, exercise. I have flirted with fitness in the past, or at least with the notion of fitness, exercise, weightlifting, "working out." But I've never stuck with it like I have the past year. I have been committed. Or perhaps I should be committed.

Now, though, besides the enjoyment of the run, the exercise, the runner's high, I find pleasure in the hunt. The randomness of it (with the exception of those rare occasions when I have chosen a route to return to the location of a previous discovery) is as exciting as the bizarre items I find.

Then, of course, there is the challenge of finding a use for some oddity or repairing some broken discard. Consider today's cast-off: a pink collapsible fishing rod bearing the Disney Princess logo. The mini-rod, produced by Shakespeare, was broken near the base of the shaft that meets the handle. I knew it was broken and figured to do nothing more than photograph it and pitch it upon my return home. Then it occurred to me that I would be perpetuating the throw-away philosophy I so abhor. 

I considered for a moment the busted equipment. You know, self, I said to myeslf (sorry, couldn't resist), this thing isn't a total loss. The built-in reel contains a spool of fishing line that could be saved for some unknown future purpose. The crank is held on by a nut and the inner workings contain gears and other small parts that have potential as fix-it bits. Then I saw how it was broken and realized it could be repaired. A couple of wraps of some handy electrician's tape (another street find) and it's as good as new -- which really isn't very good, but the point is, it isn't exactly any worse for the wear.

Maybe daughter No. 3 will use it sometime when we visit the lake. Perhaps next year's fishing derby. Or maybe not. It could find its way into the hands of some other kid who doesn't have a fishing pole and wants to try his or her hand at angling without investing much in the trial. Either way, it was a freebie and a good salvage.

Today's Stats
Temp: 59 degrees F
Distance: 3.25 miles
Weekly Total: 10.5 miles
Treasure: 1 Crayola marker (red but with a yellow cap); 1 Disney Princess fishing pole (broken); 19 cans.

This Bud Light bonanza at Losey and Kellogg
streets provided 14 of today's cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Helter Skelter (cover) - Dana Fuchs
Havana Daydreamin' - Jimmy Buffett
Don't Let Him Go - REO Speedwagon
Hello Seattle - Owl City
Stay (Wasting Time) - Dave Matthews Band
China Girl - David Bowie
Midnight in Paris (live) - Wynton Marsalis Septet
Near the End - David Gilmour
Any Time At All - The Beatles
Caught Up In You - .38 Special

Headin' South

For just the second time since I began this journey, I turned my shoes south, past Main Street and down toward my ancestral home at 1232 S. Seminary St. It was the home of my grandparents. I had a lot of good times there: overnights when the folks were away on vacation, mowing the lawn with Grandpa, learning some cooking skills from Grandma (she was my cooking merit badge instructor), eating lunch there with my dad and grandparents (everything from leftover meatloaf to pancakes to corned beef hash and eggs -- and always plenty of cookies), ogling the rifles and shotguns in the handmade gun cabinet in their bedroom, Christmases, Thanksgiving dinners with the whole extended family, spending the first four months of my married there.

But the memory lode was not my destination, nor my desire today. I was simply looking for another route, something different, something that might bring inspiration -- inspiration for anything. I'm not sure I found it, but I enjoyed the change of scenery and saw some new sights. The first of note was a city crew and a private firm truck preparing to take down a tall, bare tree on East Fifth Street. I had to laugh when I first passed and the whole bunch were lounging on the backs of their trucks. It wasn't even 8 yet and they were taking a break. Maybe they were waiting for someone or some other piece of equipment. They still hadn't started cutting when I made my return pass, but at least they were moving about.

It was ironic, then, that as a crew of men prepared to cut down the towering terror, presumably before it tottered onto some poor soul's abode, I should come upon a line of tiny trees planted on the east side of H.T. Custer Park with a sign identifying the "power line friendly tree plot." I immediately wondered why we don't make a greater effort to plant tree-friendly power lines. I am sure there are grand expenses and plenty of potential pitfalls in that strategy, but even so...

I jogged along Davis Street at the south edge of town, between fallow fields and residences, before circling back to Fifth Street and Seminary and on toward home. As I approached the tree crew I looked north and spotted the coolest little playhouse. It sits back behind an unimposing little home in the 500 block of East Fifth. It's facade is fancier than the adult home before it. The playhouse dates back at least three decades but it has been well-kept. Children of the neighborhood surely have many fond memories of the playhouse, whether they actually enjoyed adventures inside its walls or they simply saw it as they passed by on family walks. It would make a nice newspaper feature if the owner will talk.

 Fortunately our heat wave is supposed to break Thursday. The temperature had risen nearly 10 degrees in the 40 minutes I was on the streets. Wednesday was on its way to becoming another one for the record books.

Today's Stats
Temp: 75 degrees F
Distance: 3.9 miles
Weekly Total: 7.25 miles
Treasure: 19 cans; 1 cigarette box.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Union of the Snake - Duran Duran
Join Together - The Who
Choctaw Bingo (live) - James McMurtry
Truth Hits Everybody - The Police
That Thing You Do (live) - The Wonders
Pause - Duke Ellington
In The Dark - Billy Squier
I Am The Walrus (from Love) - The Beatles
Hotel California - The Eagles
The Long Riders - Ry Cooder
Seven Bridges Road - The Eagles

All Blown Up and No Place to Go

It really is better to run in the morning when the temperature hits summer highs, especially when the highs come before summer officially begins. We logged 93 degrees this afternoon -- another local record for the weather books. But at 6:30 in the morning it was a much more comfortable 77 degrees.

While the comfy air allowed me to complete my run without lapsing into a walk at any point, it didn' prevent me from being tuckered out at the end. Of course it wasn't only the run that left me drained. It was a long week with plenty of outdoor chores capped by a day at the ballpark (94 degrees in St. Louis on Saturday). All good fun, but it takes it out of you. Still, the run refreshes, inspires and intrigues.

Consider today's lousy haul. I took in nothing more than cans, but the stuff left behind was curious. First, from Jefferson Street, an empty box for an "Anal Balloon Pump." Wha!? I never cease to be amazed at the bizarre trash left floating through the streets. I had to share this freaky find right off, so I told a co-worker. He chuckled and raised his eyebrows, innocently asking, "What do you do with that, or don't I want to know?"

"You don't want to know," I assured him.

Not nearly so exciting -- certainly not at all titillating -- was the single child's sandal in the grass on the terrace on Prairie Street. Kids are always running out of shoes and socks and sandals and just about any other garment you force on them. But does no one go looking for the lost? When Timmy toddles home minus one of his new sandals, does Mom just shake her head and head to Walmart for another pair?

I suppose it is just another example of our throwaway society. Why expend effort into finding the lost when new is cheap and easy?

Today's Stats
Temp: 77 degrees F
Distance: 3.35 miles
Treasure: 9 cans; 1 empty box for an "Anal Balloon Pump"; and 1 child's sandal.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Fancy Man Blues - The Rolling Stones
Beauty Killed the Beast - James Newton Howard ("King Kong" soundtrack)
O My God - The Police
Alejandro - Lady Gaga
Numb - Pink
Catch My Disease - Ben Lee
Summertime - John Coltrane
I Hardly Know How To Be Myself - Rodney Crowell

I really dig all the crazy stickers people personalize their vehicles with.

Get Outta The Kitchen

As in, "If you can't stand the heat..." And the heat is on. The mercury hit 91 today but it didn't seem so bad until I went for a run. I mean, it was hot while I painted railing and wrestled with dilapidated porch steps, but it wasn't unbearable. Guess I really wasn't exerting myself too much.

Tried the new kicks today: Saucony Pro Grid Guide 3s. Nice.

But running is more of an effort than painting and pounding busted screws flat. I must admit I'm a little out of shape after my extended recuperation time. I had to walk a few blocks (never more than one at a time) during the course of this evening's route. I was just beat; the heat forced me out of the kitchen all right. Actually it forced me indoors into the air conditioning.

Besides the sweat I found only eight cans on this jaunt. Not exactly a treasure trove. The real treasure came after the run and a shower. As I walked down to check out First Fridays on Seminary Street, sitting outside my building was my favorite car, in my favorite color. Check it out.

Today's Stats
Temp: 91 degrees F
Distance: 3.1 miles
Weekly Total: 5.8 miles
Treasure: 8 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
A Taste of Honey - The Beatles
Miss Judy's Farm (live) - The Faces
Blue Jean Blues - ZZ Top
Say Goodbye to Hollywood - Billy Joel
If Not for You - George Harrison

The Stealer (live) - The Faces
Future Shock - Curtis Mayfield
Contact - The Police
A Sort of Homecoming - U2
Big Yellow Taxi (Radio Mix) - Joni Mitchell

Return of the Scavenger

Finally. June 1, a lovely summer day before summer really begins. What better way to start running again? I kept it short and manageable tonight (hit the pavement at 8:20 p.m.) Aside from some soreness every time I bent/squatted to pick up a can, it felt pretty good.

Now, as promised, the secret to my recovery from butt-ache and numb-leg. Chalk it up to The Stick. What is the stick, you ask? Well, check it out here. I first saw it on the Go Outside and Play Facebook page. Thanks, Nick and Tracy, for posting that one! I admit I was a little skeptical at first. There are so many workout aides and devices to build muscle without pain and many seem pretty silly. But this isn't a muscle builder. The Stick is "a toothbrush for muscles," according to the slogan on the package insert.

First I clicked on the link on Go Outside and Play's FB page and watched a promo video by some wild man (Tim Borland) who's run 26 marathons in 26 days or something insane like that (much more insane -- 63 in 63 days!). The dude sounded knowledgeable so I checked out the company website further. I was a little put off by the price and variety at first. There are several models of different lengths and flexibility, ranging from $27 to more than $50.

But as my aches and occasional numbness (something must have been pinched) continued, I found myself walking through door at 57 S. Seminary Street and asking Nick Pigg about The Stick. He showed me a couple models and let me test each one. Nick swears by it and says he uses it after every run as part of his regimen. So I bought the little travel model for $27.50 and started in as soon as I got home.

The Stick roll knots out of muscle, providing myofascial release & trigger point therapy. 

This therapeutic procedure inactivates trigger points (muscle knots/kinks), warms muscle, increases circulation and encourages nutrient-rich blood flow. 

The Stick relieves pain, increases range of motion, promotes flexibility and accelerates recover.

Indeed it does. I'll continue to use it. A morning of yard work (hedge trimming, weeding, mowing and chopping unwanted volunteer trees) took its toll and undid some of my progress. But not so much that I was willing to put off that long-awaited run.

Tonight's route took me past the Mobil Mart on West Main
Street. The pumps are gone! I think that car may be there
a while if it really needed gas.

Today's Stats
Temp: 77 degrees F
Distance: 2.7 miles  (3.1 after cool-down walk)
Treasure: 1 yellow plastic bangle; 1 Disney Old Maid card (Cinderella); 2 empty cigarette packs; 19 cans. .

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
White, Clean and Neat - Robert Plant
We Work the Black Seam - Sting
Hold On Loosely - .38 Special
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Roadhouse Blues (live) - The Doors
I Can Play That Rock 'n Roll - Joe Walsh

Cool-Down Walk
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her (live) - Simon & Garfunkel
Soul Doctor - Foreigner
Jealousy - The Call