Christmas Eve Morning

It was good to get out again after another week off. Need to be more regular about this to really benefit. I’d say that goes for the writing, too, but I am writing regularly, just not for public consumption. I suppose I need to do more on the blog to build my following and monetize and retire on the riches I acquire from online ads. 

Until then, I’ll have to sell my glove collection to pay off the Christmas bills. Found one more (glove that is) yesterday, but I don’t suppose unmatched gloves will be big sellers.

Today's Stats (Dec. 24, 2013)

Temp: -5 degrees F (-2 at the finish)

Distance: 3.06 miles

Weekly Total: 3.06 miles

Treasure: One brown fleece glove, left hand.

iPod Playlist (Shuffle):

After Some Time – The Usual

Walk Between theRaindrops – James McMurtry

A Last Request (I Want Your Sex: Part III) – George Michael

Vital Signs – Rush

Come Back to Bed – John Mayer

Just Like a Pill – Pink

She’s So Mean – Matchbox Twenty

Neon (Live) – John Mayer

Out of Touch

It’s been a while. More than two weeks since my last run. Lazy. Cold. Slick. Snowy. Slushy. Loads of excuses. None of ’em worth a whit. In this season of cookies, candy, overindulgence, not running is a surefire recipe for feeling blah. 

So today I got out there again. And it felt great. Mother Nature helped by boosting the thermometer to the thirties – so thanks for that, Ma.

The run paid dividends. Besides feeling great and leaving me with that delightful runner’s high, I finally found something I’ve long hoped to run across. Just a couple blocks into my trot I saw it, lying in the snow in the gutter – an iPod Touch! It was beat-up. Chips of plastic were missing around the camera lens and at the bottom right corner. But I gave it a go and pushed the button. To my surprise the Pod came to life.

The screen fluttered a little and I’m not sure if it was really functional – my touch gloves don’t always work and I didn’t feel like peeling one off to swipe the arrow at the bottom of the screen to activate the menu. It was a tempting find. It would have been fun to bring it home and pore over the songs in its memory Good material for a blog, no doubt. But seeing as it was lying right in front of a house, in the gutter where it seemed likely to have fallen out of someone’s pocket entering or exiting a car, I thought better of that idea. Instead I walked up to the porch of the house and laid the Pod on the wooden railing.

Good deed done just in time to fool Santa!

Today's Stats

Temp: 33 degrees F

Distance: 3.6 miles

Weekly Total: 3.6 miles

Treasure: One iPod Touch. I left it on the porch of the house in front of which I found it.

iPod Playlist (Tik Tok Genius mix):

Tik Tok – Ke$ha

Push – Matchbox Twenty

Belief – John Mayer

Nobody’s Home – Avril Lavigne

For You I Will (Confidence) – Teddy Geiger

Absolute – The Fray

My Stupid Mouth – John Mayer

Don’t Panic – Coldplay

Monster – Lady Gaga

Clocks - Coldplay

On Love and Running

Long-distance running, which for me is anything over a few miles, requires stamina, determination, dedication, drive, commitment … and pacing. You don’t want to start with a burst and not be able to finish. You have to save something for that final burst as you approach home. Love is like that, too. When you’re in it for the long haul, you need to pace yourself.

When it comes to running, pacing is no problem for me. I plod along like the proverbial tortoise, or like Clint Eastwood, as I’ve said before. My shortcomings are in my physical capabilities. My aching left knee is a liability. And yet, today, I found my rhythm and I just kept going. I dream of doing that and hitting a new PR for distance. I’d like to do 15 miles. There, I’ve stated a goal in public. That’s a rarity.

The analogy isn’t perfect. And I’ll skew it because I can’t keep anything straight. For example, I’ll jump from running to diving. As in, when it comes to love, I tend to dive in. The ripples on the pond tend to frighten away the native wildlife. Do you see how I’ve twisted that?

My point is, relationships take time. Like distance running, they require stamina, determination, dedication, drive and commitment. And pacing. I’m finally learning that. And finally putting it into practice.

Anyway, that’s just what was running through my head this morning as I ran all over town. No doubt it was because the first three songs to come up on the shuffle were about love. Maybe next time I’ll hit double digits. Wish me well.

Today's Stats (Dec. 3, 2013)

Temp: 38 degrees F

Distance: 8.4 miles

Weekly Total: 8.4 miles

Treasure: No treasure today

iPod Playlist (Shuffle):

If I Fall – Matchbox Twenty

The Fool – Trampled Under Foot

Love Rescue Me (live) – U2

In The Waiting Line – Zero 7

Oooh Baby – C+C Music Factory

Photograph – Def Leppard

No Better Place – Fountains of Wayne

Animal – Neon Trees

Sister Golden Hair – America

Light Up My Room – Barenaked Ladies

I Try – Macy Gray

New Day – Robbie Seay Band

Gulf Road – James McMurtry

The Wanton Song – Led Zeppelin

83 – John Mayer

Grace Like Rain – Todd Agnew

Rain King – Counting Crows

Boom Boom Mancini – Warren Zevon

Fireflies – Owl City

Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles

Where Are My Words?

I’m not sure this is a case of a missing muse again, or if I am just too distracted to think of anything to write. Maybe a little of both. Maybe I need to get back to looking for stuff on the road.

Today I wanted simply to run. And run I did. Set a PR (that’s personal record) for fastest mile since I’ve been using Nike+ with a 9.17; my pace over the 4 miles was 9.37. I think my fastest 5K pace was about a minute quicker, but I’m older, colder and more sore than before, so I’m happy with that. Besides which, I don’t really care a whole lot about the numbers. But today I did.

It helps that I didn’t stop for anything and that I didn’t hit the bridge until the end and that it was 31 degrees out, which is pretty balmy.

Today's Stats (Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013)

Temp: 31 degrees F

Distance: 4.17 miles

Weekly Total: 12.35 miles

Treasure: Zip.

iPod Playlist (1/2 of the Kent Don’t Know mix):

In The River – The Call

Biko – Peter Gabriel

Streetcorner Symphony – Rob Thomas

Lebanese Blonde – Thievery Corporation

Little Wing – Sting

Bears – Lyle Lovett (Fabulous song)

Anything But Ordinary – Avril Lavigne

Reality – Newsboys

18 Wheeler - Pink (Warning: F-bomb)

Stickshifts And Safetybelts - Cake