Of Late
Today marks 10 weeks since I've gone for a run. It turns out that if you set me down, my body will probably just intuitively stay put. There have been some sit-up fits, some push-up starts and some biking in place. But for the most part the stationary bike has been the Metaphor in the Corner of my living room.
So tonight, I just walked with me, disguised as a head-bobbin' nobody. Wearing running shoes, a wind brief, hind pants and hind shirts underneath some faux-carharts, a sweatshirt, jacket, hat, ipod and glasses, my eyes teared in the wind. The skyline was as crisp as the air. And I wore my pedestrian disguise to the base of the Metaphor in our Corner of the world: The PPHC.
As with many epic peaks, the trek to base camp is nearly as brutal as the climb itself. This is especially true if base camp sits one and a half miles below your residence. But man does not create bases and summits and the PPHC cares little if strong winds toss descending travelers from the Franklin Traverse into the Great Mississippi Crevasse. I leaned into the wind and prayed that my be-socked hands would be nimble enough to catch the Traverse rail should an icy blast catch me off balance.
Pete was singing when I reached base camp; "They buried William in the old church-yard..." The words made scarcely an imprint on my frozen brain as I raised my eyes to the slope. I lifted a stony foot and moved tentatively ahead. Again. Again. And then faster. Again. For about a minute, on the Frozen West River Pitch of the PPHC, I ran.
It was not bad.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Friday, November 09, 2007
Harp-Cee-Dar
So I've got this new run. Harp-Cee-Dar. It involves Cedar Lake if you can believe it. It's about 50 minutes and has done a good job of getting me out the door consistently. Running is so much easier when you have established routes. I don't think I do that enough here in the city. I tend to just sorta run here and there. As it says in the good book, familiar routes are way easier mentally. Makes ya miss Northfield and the huge library of runs there.
Or maybe it's just tougher to get out the door these days because I'm lazy. Anyway, the past couple weeks have been as consistent as I've been in in long time.
Or maybe it's just tougher to get out the door these days because I'm lazy. Anyway, the past couple weeks have been as consistent as I've been in in long time.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
New Subject For Variety
Went for a run with Biz and about six future lawyers yesterday. I feel like there's a joke to be made about that.
Friday, October 05, 2007
He'll have to come up with seven grand some other way
September 20 - October 5
Off. I got antsy one day and went out for a short bike ride on the river. That was pretty relaxed until someone driving a Ford Compensation pickup got angry with me and I discovered that on rare occasions my body responds to external stimuli. Caught him and the rest of rush hour on the Franklin Ave bridge where they were struggling to hit 5:20s. I suggested he take his truck over to the track for some 200s, declined his invitation for a more intimate encounter and took off.
Met with the surgeon two days ago. I was all like, "Should I have surgery? I'll give you ten bucks and my tennis shoes." But he told me, "You know, you gotta dance with who you came to the dance with." Which means we're not adding a mesh lining to my abdominal wall. Yet. First I'm taking 12 weeks off from "heavy training" to see if it heals itself. My rehab plan, basically, is to power up and proceed to jam, man.
Shortly after my surgical consultation I had a similar consultation with the last notch on my brown belt. We agreed that during the next few months it would be best for both of us if we took some time off to try and gain some perspective. I've been on a few dates since then, mostly with the second-to-last notch. I ran into the last notch a few times and we even ended up having a dinner together. Needless to say, that was pretty uncomfortable.
All of which makes me extremely glad I didn't decide to enter this weekend's US BMI Championships. Some fatties are scared of Abdi, with good reason. Based on my knowledge of each athlete's torso I predict it comes down to Abdi, HDLN, and an even darker horse. Sorry, Biz.
Off. I got antsy one day and went out for a short bike ride on the river. That was pretty relaxed until someone driving a Ford Compensation pickup got angry with me and I discovered that on rare occasions my body responds to external stimuli. Caught him and the rest of rush hour on the Franklin Ave bridge where they were struggling to hit 5:20s. I suggested he take his truck over to the track for some 200s, declined his invitation for a more intimate encounter and took off.
Met with the surgeon two days ago. I was all like, "Should I have surgery? I'll give you ten bucks and my tennis shoes." But he told me, "You know, you gotta dance with who you came to the dance with." Which means we're not adding a mesh lining to my abdominal wall. Yet. First I'm taking 12 weeks off from "heavy training" to see if it heals itself. My rehab plan, basically, is to power up and proceed to jam, man.
Shortly after my surgical consultation I had a similar consultation with the last notch on my brown belt. We agreed that during the next few months it would be best for both of us if we took some time off to try and gain some perspective. I've been on a few dates since then, mostly with the second-to-last notch. I ran into the last notch a few times and we even ended up having a dinner together. Needless to say, that was pretty uncomfortable.
All of which makes me extremely glad I didn't decide to enter this weekend's US BMI Championships. Some fatties are scared of Abdi, with good reason. Based on my knowledge of each athlete's torso I predict it comes down to Abdi, HDLN, and an even darker horse. Sorry, Biz.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
And I'm the boy that passes through these towns
September 17-20
Off (Yoga), Off (Doctor), 7.5mi w/ LSCC.
Saw Dr. Todd on Tuesday. His office is a block away from the streets that hold my course-record half-marathon. He said the pain I felt coughing after City of Lakes was likely a sports hernia. I reminded him that I hadn't had a sports hernia before, which meant it had to have started sometime and that's impossible based on everything I learned last week. He called me a poor-man's Pat Russell and told me to see a surgeon. So I called the surgeon. Consultation is 10/3.
It's my call whether to run the marathon. I've sought some advice. A sampling:
Hooley - "Hernias is not always good. Much the opposite."
Sherman - "Fuck, dude. That sucks"
Phil - "Maybe go easy on the doing it for a while..."
Schrades - "Do you just need some You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet?"
And,
Biz - "I mean, you're hurt anyway. Might as well schedule the surgery and go balls-to-the-wall."
Impermanence, Biz. Impermanence. Of course, his rebuttal is the same...that's the thing about impermanence...
September 10-16
2mi, Off, 7mi, 4mi, 7mi, 4mi, 16mi. Body was still declining to cool down on Monday. Body felt better on Wednesday and mind felt somewhat rested. On Thursday I ran a mile on the river in 5:25 to prove I couldn't hit 5:40 pace. Friday and Saturday were both easy, but congested, and Sunday was a somewhat baffling Legend of Minneapolis.
I limit the amount of bafflement to "somewhat" because earlier in the week I had been abruptly tutored in the Eastern philosophies that subtly control Minnesota's system of parkways, hospitals and justice. Experience is Samsara and how silly I must seem, deigning to pinpoint finality! It's something I understand innately - witness this week's training, which existed without beginning or end! - and only confuse when I approach intellectually. Fortunately, I've easily abandoned intellect before and anticipate few problems doing so, star...continuing to do so...
September 9
17mi, City of Lakes 25K (1:31:26): I was very happy with about 80% of this race. Splits were 6:03, 5:55, 5:53, 11:47, 5:45, 5:48, 5:42, 5:47, 5:50, 5:45, 5:48, 5:55, 6:01, 6:05, 3:11. Ran with Dan and Biz for the first seven miles, and those were seven of the most enjoyable racing miles since college. We deliberately picked it up after 5mi, and Dan took off at 10 to do that thang he do. I resolved to hold it between 5:45 and 5:50 to finish and was unsuccessful. Over the last 3mi my hips/core began to tighten in a fashion reminiscent of miles 7-8 at New Prague. I finished and stretched before things got too bad, but my body declined to cool down. Body did accept a post-race invitation to Zumbro.
Week: 36.5mi/5days. And something's up.
September 8
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. Standard pre-meet.
September 7
3mi, Arb 5K Loop. Headed down to Northfield with parents and brother to watch the women's XC meet and to confirm that sister had, in fact, returned from France. Had been excited about doing a nice Pig Farm or something, but must have tossed my shoes in the celebratory bonfire I usually build for myself when I'm excited about a run. They did not make it to Northfield, nor did they make it onto my feet. Dan's shoes did, but barely. Stopped after 3mi of awkwardness. Even Coach T agreed it was a bad idea to continue.
September 6
8.5mi, Modified Gawkah (biker pace or faster): Good run on a nice night. Crossed the 10th ST bridge and ran into Biz on his bike. Made him take the long way home. Discussed finality.
Off (Yoga), Off (Doctor), 7.5mi w/ LSCC.
Saw Dr. Todd on Tuesday. His office is a block away from the streets that hold my course-record half-marathon. He said the pain I felt coughing after City of Lakes was likely a sports hernia. I reminded him that I hadn't had a sports hernia before, which meant it had to have started sometime and that's impossible based on everything I learned last week. He called me a poor-man's Pat Russell and told me to see a surgeon. So I called the surgeon. Consultation is 10/3.
It's my call whether to run the marathon. I've sought some advice. A sampling:
Hooley - "Hernias is not always good. Much the opposite."
Sherman - "Fuck, dude. That sucks"
Phil - "Maybe go easy on the doing it for a while..."
Schrades - "Do you just need some You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet?"
And,
Biz - "I mean, you're hurt anyway. Might as well schedule the surgery and go balls-to-the-wall."
Impermanence, Biz. Impermanence. Of course, his rebuttal is the same...that's the thing about impermanence...
September 10-16
2mi, Off, 7mi, 4mi, 7mi, 4mi, 16mi. Body was still declining to cool down on Monday. Body felt better on Wednesday and mind felt somewhat rested. On Thursday I ran a mile on the river in 5:25 to prove I couldn't hit 5:40 pace. Friday and Saturday were both easy, but congested, and Sunday was a somewhat baffling Legend of Minneapolis.
I limit the amount of bafflement to "somewhat" because earlier in the week I had been abruptly tutored in the Eastern philosophies that subtly control Minnesota's system of parkways, hospitals and justice. Experience is Samsara and how silly I must seem, deigning to pinpoint finality! It's something I understand innately - witness this week's training, which existed without beginning or end! - and only confuse when I approach intellectually. Fortunately, I've easily abandoned intellect before and anticipate few problems doing so, star...continuing to do so...
September 9
17mi, City of Lakes 25K (1:31:26): I was very happy with about 80% of this race. Splits were 6:03, 5:55, 5:53, 11:47, 5:45, 5:48, 5:42, 5:47, 5:50, 5:45, 5:48, 5:55, 6:01, 6:05, 3:11. Ran with Dan and Biz for the first seven miles, and those were seven of the most enjoyable racing miles since college. We deliberately picked it up after 5mi, and Dan took off at 10 to do that thang he do. I resolved to hold it between 5:45 and 5:50 to finish and was unsuccessful. Over the last 3mi my hips/core began to tighten in a fashion reminiscent of miles 7-8 at New Prague. I finished and stretched before things got too bad, but my body declined to cool down. Body did accept a post-race invitation to Zumbro.
Week: 36.5mi/5days. And something's up.
September 8
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. Standard pre-meet.
September 7
3mi, Arb 5K Loop. Headed down to Northfield with parents and brother to watch the women's XC meet and to confirm that sister had, in fact, returned from France. Had been excited about doing a nice Pig Farm or something, but must have tossed my shoes in the celebratory bonfire I usually build for myself when I'm excited about a run. They did not make it to Northfield, nor did they make it onto my feet. Dan's shoes did, but barely. Stopped after 3mi of awkwardness. Even Coach T agreed it was a bad idea to continue.
September 6
8.5mi, Modified Gawkah (biker pace or faster): Good run on a nice night. Crossed the 10th ST bridge and ran into Biz on his bike. Made him take the long way home. Discussed finality.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Showered and Blue-Blazered
September 3-5
4mi, Off (yoga), Off.
People are always coming up to me on the street and saying, "Tom, we love your work on the blog. It's just, well, sometimes we want to read a heartrending description of the General Difficulties you face each day as an unassailably attractive 25 year old white male in the midwest blessed with social grace and the genius of soul-defining wisdom." It happens all the time.
September 2
Day Off. It's worth remembering that weeks are artificial units of trainaj and that one does not automatically recover because it is Monday.
Week: Weak. 48mi/5days.
September 1
21mi, 2:20ish. 12-13up, 5@MP, The Rest down. All on the TCM course w/Dan & Nick. Sherman made the more reasonable decision to sleep until 3 or 4pm. Picked it up with Dan when we hit the river: 6:11, 6:08, 6:03, 5:59, 5:58. It got hot and we packed it in. Dan was chipper enough to bound on the cool down. I was not.
August 31
10mi, easy. Run Rabbit w/Gehring. Felt decent.
August 30
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. My cup runneth over.
August 29
9mi, wkout. 4mi WU, 2x1600m @T, 3mi CD. The stands at the U's track were about 1/4 full for my planned 6x1600m effort. Such is the blessing of greatness. Alas, the blessing failed to extend to my physical prowess, and my fans turned on me. So fickle, the commoner. Quickly uninterested in my Human Struggle, they chose instead to watch the glittering marching band in the parking lot behind the track. I writhed to 5:37, 5:36, 83s and looked, gasping, to the vacant heavens. Faintly, masked by the horns and drums and stomping to my right, a child applauded. It was not hopeful, but it was a good thing. I think it is maybe the best of things.
August 28
Day Off. Litigating.
August 27
4mi, Shortcut Untimed.
4mi, Off (yoga), Off.
People are always coming up to me on the street and saying, "Tom, we love your work on the blog. It's just, well, sometimes we want to read a heartrending description of the General Difficulties you face each day as an unassailably attractive 25 year old white male in the midwest blessed with social grace and the genius of soul-defining wisdom." It happens all the time.
September 2
Day Off. It's worth remembering that weeks are artificial units of trainaj and that one does not automatically recover because it is Monday.
Week: Weak. 48mi/5days.
September 1
21mi, 2:20ish. 12-13up, 5@MP, The Rest down. All on the TCM course w/Dan & Nick. Sherman made the more reasonable decision to sleep until 3 or 4pm. Picked it up with Dan when we hit the river: 6:11, 6:08, 6:03, 5:59, 5:58. It got hot and we packed it in. Dan was chipper enough to bound on the cool down. I was not.
August 31
10mi, easy. Run Rabbit w/Gehring. Felt decent.
August 30
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. My cup runneth over.
August 29
9mi, wkout. 4mi WU, 2x1600m @T, 3mi CD. The stands at the U's track were about 1/4 full for my planned 6x1600m effort. Such is the blessing of greatness. Alas, the blessing failed to extend to my physical prowess, and my fans turned on me. So fickle, the commoner. Quickly uninterested in my Human Struggle, they chose instead to watch the glittering marching band in the parking lot behind the track. I writhed to 5:37, 5:36, 83s and looked, gasping, to the vacant heavens. Faintly, masked by the horns and drums and stomping to my right, a child applauded. It was not hopeful, but it was a good thing. I think it is maybe the best of things.
August 28
Day Off. Litigating.
August 27
4mi, Shortcut Untimed.
Monday, August 27, 2007
oooooo, oooooo, oooooo, la-la-laa
August 26
8.5mi, LS8+xtra. A beautiful evening, and I felt better than I expected after yesterday's effort. The sun was even with the tops of the buildings downtown, but beaming up and over them through the clouds. Lovely.
Week: 61/6days. Solid week with an encouraging long run/workout. Need to aim for another workout and some more core work in the weeks to come.
August 25
21.5mi, 2:20:15 (6:31/mi): The Miscalibrated 22, w/Biz. Ran up to Washington and down to Minnehaha for just over 8mi of warmup before running the "out" portion of Pat's course. 10mi in aprx 59:50; splits: 6:19, :04, :09, 5:55, 6:01, 5:57, 11:46, 5:52, 5:47. Had a good rythym going but felt a little fatigued by the final tempo mile. Would have been more encouraged if I hadn't been 18mi into a 22mi run and still almost 6mi from home. Fortunately, as we slogged along wondering if running parallell routes would make things shorter, Owen Hanley pulled up to save us what would have been three very painful miles.
August 24
5mi, West Side Five. Legs felt very stiff. Some pains in places I wish I didn't have pains.
August 23
5.5mi, Road to Nowhere. I was angry about something. Now I can't remember what it was. Whatever it was, my Committee on Anger Management decided the best way to handle it would be to run 10mi hard. Splits were something like 6:10, 6:01, stretching break, 7:15, nap. Excuse me.
August 22
12.5mi, Como Relays. 5.5mi WU, 4xMile (5:24, 5:41, 5:40, 5:45), 3mi CD. Teamed with Shaw and placed 9th, only two behind Hooley running 8mi continuous. Not exactly uplifting. Trees are down all over the place, and the new course has more twists, turns and short steep hills. Thought I was late during the warmup so ran it too hard. Then harbored thoughts of catching Hooley during the first mile. Over the final three intervals I just tried to stay relaxed and hold it steady. Felt moderately comfortable. Hard to hold it steady when half your friends are dead already...
August 21
8mi, 56:30. LS8 w/Biz. OK run. Very humid and didn't feel great, but had Biz to drag me through 8.
August 20
Day Off.
8.5mi, LS8+xtra. A beautiful evening, and I felt better than I expected after yesterday's effort. The sun was even with the tops of the buildings downtown, but beaming up and over them through the clouds. Lovely.
Week: 61/6days. Solid week with an encouraging long run/workout. Need to aim for another workout and some more core work in the weeks to come.
August 25
21.5mi, 2:20:15 (6:31/mi): The Miscalibrated 22, w/Biz. Ran up to Washington and down to Minnehaha for just over 8mi of warmup before running the "out" portion of Pat's course. 10mi in aprx 59:50; splits: 6:19, :04, :09, 5:55, 6:01, 5:57, 11:46, 5:52, 5:47. Had a good rythym going but felt a little fatigued by the final tempo mile. Would have been more encouraged if I hadn't been 18mi into a 22mi run and still almost 6mi from home. Fortunately, as we slogged along wondering if running parallell routes would make things shorter, Owen Hanley pulled up to save us what would have been three very painful miles.
August 24
5mi, West Side Five. Legs felt very stiff. Some pains in places I wish I didn't have pains.
August 23
5.5mi, Road to Nowhere. I was angry about something. Now I can't remember what it was. Whatever it was, my Committee on Anger Management decided the best way to handle it would be to run 10mi hard. Splits were something like 6:10, 6:01, stretching break, 7:15, nap. Excuse me.
August 22
12.5mi, Como Relays. 5.5mi WU, 4xMile (5:24, 5:41, 5:40, 5:45), 3mi CD. Teamed with Shaw and placed 9th, only two behind Hooley running 8mi continuous. Not exactly uplifting. Trees are down all over the place, and the new course has more twists, turns and short steep hills. Thought I was late during the warmup so ran it too hard. Then harbored thoughts of catching Hooley during the first mile. Over the final three intervals I just tried to stay relaxed and hold it steady. Felt moderately comfortable. Hard to hold it steady when half your friends are dead already...
August 21
8mi, 56:30. LS8 w/Biz. OK run. Very humid and didn't feel great, but had Biz to drag me through 8.
August 20
Day Off.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Obeying stop signs and curing diseases
August 19
9mi, 1:04ish. Iron Bridge+Upper Arb. Nice slow run with Sherman on a gray and quiet Northfield morning. Felt surprisingly good. Might have been pastoral if Sherman hadn't been there...
Week: 66.5/6days. 1hr of yoga. A little bit below what I'd planned, but I'm very happy with it.
August 18
24mi, 2:50:11. Pig Farm Extended into Ole 8 Reverse into Dundas, Baby, Dundas! Reverse into Ambroe Mile. Epic. Starring: Schrades, Shermanimal, Bizyah. Appearances By: Chapel, HDLN. Introducing: Health Care, The Constitution, Grey's Anatomy, Conservation. Picked it up with Schrades and Biz during the Ambroe Mile and was surprised by how much I had left. Fantastic run on a rainy August morning before the wedding.
The obvious slabbaj shout out: To Phil and Jill, tougher than the rest! Congratulations!
August 17
7mi, untimed. LS8. Quick run before driving out to the Boonies to watch Phil rehearse his dinner.
August 16
4mi, 30:00: Magical Mystery Tour for Phil's Bachelor Run. Tacked on about 7 or 8mi worth of cross-training in the form of a Stadium Shower Titanic Song. Enjoyed a Tremendous 12 with 12+ tremendous fellahs.
August 15
18.5mi, 2:06ish (workout): WU, 3x1600m (60s R), ~9mi in 60min, 2x1600m (60s R), CD. Good workout with Biz and Sherman. 5:36, :38, :36, :36, :33 for the 1600s, which felt like threshold. Slower than my 2004 efforts, but also had less rest and was probably not as honest about threshold pace. Best of all, I begain to feel stronger over the last 15-20min of the run and then during the final two 1600s. Accellerated easily over the last 200m on the last interval, but paused too long to chat with our adoring fans and stumbled on tight legs back to Prospect Park.
August 14
Day Off
9mi, 1:04ish. Iron Bridge+Upper Arb. Nice slow run with Sherman on a gray and quiet Northfield morning. Felt surprisingly good. Might have been pastoral if Sherman hadn't been there...
Week: 66.5/6days. 1hr of yoga. A little bit below what I'd planned, but I'm very happy with it.
August 18
24mi, 2:50:11. Pig Farm Extended into Ole 8 Reverse into Dundas, Baby, Dundas! Reverse into Ambroe Mile. Epic. Starring: Schrades, Shermanimal, Bizyah. Appearances By: Chapel, HDLN. Introducing: Health Care, The Constitution, Grey's Anatomy, Conservation. Picked it up with Schrades and Biz during the Ambroe Mile and was surprised by how much I had left. Fantastic run on a rainy August morning before the wedding.
The obvious slabbaj shout out: To Phil and Jill, tougher than the rest! Congratulations!
August 17
7mi, untimed. LS8. Quick run before driving out to the Boonies to watch Phil rehearse his dinner.
August 16
4mi, 30:00: Magical Mystery Tour for Phil's Bachelor Run. Tacked on about 7 or 8mi worth of cross-training in the form of a Stadium Shower Titanic Song. Enjoyed a Tremendous 12 with 12+ tremendous fellahs.
August 15
18.5mi, 2:06ish (workout): WU, 3x1600m (60s R), ~9mi in 60min, 2x1600m (60s R), CD. Good workout with Biz and Sherman. 5:36, :38, :36, :36, :33 for the 1600s, which felt like threshold. Slower than my 2004 efforts, but also had less rest and was probably not as honest about threshold pace. Best of all, I begain to feel stronger over the last 15-20min of the run and then during the final two 1600s. Accellerated easily over the last 200m on the last interval, but paused too long to chat with our adoring fans and stumbled on tight legs back to Prospect Park.
August 14
Day Off
Friday, August 10, 2007
Sail away ladies, sail away!
August 13
4mi, Shortcut untimed. Very sore. You'll never believe this, but Lundstrom passed me. That's how sore I was.
August 12
21.5mi, MDRA 15K. Short warmup, 15K in 53:19, 11mi CD. First race since the New Prague disaster and I'm encouraged. Only a few seconds slower than last year's effort, and I felt comfortable and in control the whole way. Pace splits for the three loops: 5:46/mi, 5:45/mi, 5:41/mi. Has me excited for City of Lakes. Huge Slabbaj Shout-Out to Dan and to Merchant for two outstanding races!
Week: 61.5mi/6days. Good week, especially considering the travel.
August 11
4mi, Shortcut untimed. Very humid pre-meet.
August 10
9.5mi, Ford-Franklin. It would have been 10mi but for some pressing intestinal obligations. We'd gone to the Angry Trout for lunch. I'd ordered the Lake Trout of Unspecified Mood. In hindsight, "Unspecified" should not have created ambiguity.
August 9
10mi, Hwy 61 Revisited. Ran to and through Grand Marais (Downtown GM split: sub-2:00) before exploring the Gunflint trail a little bit on the way back. Exploration was uphill, so it did not last very long.
August 8
10mi, workout. 1mi WU out where I get my killing done. 2xBirch St. in 11:52 and 11:56. 1mi CD where we just put some bleachers out in the sun. Birch St. is a 2mi hill that begins by destroying your soul and finishes by destroying your legs. Dan and I discovered it in 2004 and did this same workout (11:59, 11:52) though possibly with a different end point. Crushing workout, but encouraging to see that times were comprable to the higher volume marathon training from summer '04.
August 7
Day Off. Performing emergency shuttle service to dentist in Duluth.
August 6
6.5mi. Superior Hiking Trail. Similar, but I was more prepared for the vagaries of space/time. More hiking, too.
August 5
10mi, Superior Hiking Trail. Actually ran on the ski/snowshoe trails that weave their ways in and around the SHT and evidently comprise their own dimension. There are lots of signs to direct you properly; so many, in fact, that I started ignoring them and just ran what felt like "out" for about 40min. The "back" route, then, took 5min. Take that, Einstein. Added on over the hard basalt shores of Lake Superior. Also did some hiking up the Gooseberry River, where we discovered gooseberries.
Week: 60mi/6days. Respectable, but only because I crammed in two long runs. Will work on some better distribution next week.
August 4
4mi, untimed. Midwest Mountaineering & other errands. Quck run before heading up to the north shore.
August 3
20.5mi, workout. Did a short morning shakeout to wake up, then went long after work. Ran what Biz accurately called Gawkah for just over 10mi of warming up before meeting Sherman and Nick at the UMN track. Ran continuously at 5:50 pace while Sherman and Nick ran intervals. Felt very smooth and comfortable for just under 5mi and then it felt like the heat smacked into my head all at once. Hung on for about a half mile of that, but cut the workout short when I started seeing a slideshow of Sherman's back.
August 2
Day Off. Don't recall why.
4mi, Shortcut untimed. Very sore. You'll never believe this, but Lundstrom passed me. That's how sore I was.
August 12
21.5mi, MDRA 15K. Short warmup, 15K in 53:19, 11mi CD. First race since the New Prague disaster and I'm encouraged. Only a few seconds slower than last year's effort, and I felt comfortable and in control the whole way. Pace splits for the three loops: 5:46/mi, 5:45/mi, 5:41/mi. Has me excited for City of Lakes. Huge Slabbaj Shout-Out to Dan and to Merchant for two outstanding races!
Week: 61.5mi/6days. Good week, especially considering the travel.
August 11
4mi, Shortcut untimed. Very humid pre-meet.
August 10
9.5mi, Ford-Franklin. It would have been 10mi but for some pressing intestinal obligations. We'd gone to the Angry Trout for lunch. I'd ordered the Lake Trout of Unspecified Mood. In hindsight, "Unspecified" should not have created ambiguity.
August 9
10mi, Hwy 61 Revisited. Ran to and through Grand Marais (Downtown GM split: sub-2:00) before exploring the Gunflint trail a little bit on the way back. Exploration was uphill, so it did not last very long.
August 8
10mi, workout. 1mi WU out where I get my killing done. 2xBirch St. in 11:52 and 11:56. 1mi CD where we just put some bleachers out in the sun. Birch St. is a 2mi hill that begins by destroying your soul and finishes by destroying your legs. Dan and I discovered it in 2004 and did this same workout (11:59, 11:52) though possibly with a different end point. Crushing workout, but encouraging to see that times were comprable to the higher volume marathon training from summer '04.
August 7
Day Off. Performing emergency shuttle service to dentist in Duluth.
August 6
6.5mi. Superior Hiking Trail. Similar, but I was more prepared for the vagaries of space/time. More hiking, too.
August 5
10mi, Superior Hiking Trail. Actually ran on the ski/snowshoe trails that weave their ways in and around the SHT and evidently comprise their own dimension. There are lots of signs to direct you properly; so many, in fact, that I started ignoring them and just ran what felt like "out" for about 40min. The "back" route, then, took 5min. Take that, Einstein. Added on over the hard basalt shores of Lake Superior. Also did some hiking up the Gooseberry River, where we discovered gooseberries.
Week: 60mi/6days. Respectable, but only because I crammed in two long runs. Will work on some better distribution next week.
August 4
4mi, untimed. Midwest Mountaineering & other errands. Quck run before heading up to the north shore.
August 3
20.5mi, workout. Did a short morning shakeout to wake up, then went long after work. Ran what Biz accurately called Gawkah for just over 10mi of warming up before meeting Sherman and Nick at the UMN track. Ran continuously at 5:50 pace while Sherman and Nick ran intervals. Felt very smooth and comfortable for just under 5mi and then it felt like the heat smacked into my head all at once. Hung on for about a half mile of that, but cut the workout short when I started seeing a slideshow of Sherman's back.
August 2
Day Off. Don't recall why.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
And I wanna go home...
August 1
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. One of the many fortuitous routes fellahs ran today.
July 31
4mi, Historic Philly. Quick run, with cheese steak in stomach, with trash in legs, with excitement for another rendezvous with Philly's friendliest friends and Philly's gelatoist gelato.
July 30
17.5mi, Schuylkill River, 1:56ish. Route courtesy of PDA. Tough run. Felt good, almost cleansing on the way out. Turned around after a 5min stretch on rocky trails a la the West Hartford Resevoir, climbing a gigantic hill that spilled out of the woods on to a secluded softball field. Stretched, turned around, and tried to pick it up. Hit the wall after about 4mi (26ish minutes). Had been very dehydrated, and stopped at a fountain. There was little starting after the stopping, and two walking breaks knocked this down from 18mi. Cathartic to run myself into the ground, but somewhat discouraging. Joel and Taylor erased negative thoughts soon thereafter with trendy Mexican food and gelato.
July 29
Day Off. Not happy about it.
Week: 42mi/5days. One decent workout, one bagged workout, no long run. Roar.
July 28
4mi, Old Town, Independence Park. Planned to go anywhere from 4-18mi exploring the Old Town/Delaware River river but only made it 3mi before getting distracted at the National Constitution Center. Bolted back to the hotel, grabbed wallet, bolted back in time to towel off in the bathroom and see The Devil Came on Horseback advanced screening. There are no words. Posting about it opens me up to the same critique leveled at Richardson and Biden. I'll do it anyway.
July 27
6mi, Schuylkill River. Out 'n' back on Philadelphia's version of the river road. Ran past but did not summit the art museum steps. Also ran past the Train To Garbage Town and tons of friendly friends, of which Philly seems to be Phull.
July 26
Day Off. Happy Birthday (and run) to Dan.
July 25
13mi, non-consecutive. 2mi in the morning with Boulder. 11mi after work, attempting an 8mi tempo. That got cut to ~3mi when the heat caught me.
July 24
4mi, Untimed. Dragging Boulder through the July.
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. One of the many fortuitous routes fellahs ran today.
July 31
4mi, Historic Philly. Quick run, with cheese steak in stomach, with trash in legs, with excitement for another rendezvous with Philly's friendliest friends and Philly's gelatoist gelato.
July 30
17.5mi, Schuylkill River, 1:56ish. Route courtesy of PDA. Tough run. Felt good, almost cleansing on the way out. Turned around after a 5min stretch on rocky trails a la the West Hartford Resevoir, climbing a gigantic hill that spilled out of the woods on to a secluded softball field. Stretched, turned around, and tried to pick it up. Hit the wall after about 4mi (26ish minutes). Had been very dehydrated, and stopped at a fountain. There was little starting after the stopping, and two walking breaks knocked this down from 18mi. Cathartic to run myself into the ground, but somewhat discouraging. Joel and Taylor erased negative thoughts soon thereafter with trendy Mexican food and gelato.
July 29
Day Off. Not happy about it.
Week: 42mi/5days. One decent workout, one bagged workout, no long run. Roar.
July 28
4mi, Old Town, Independence Park. Planned to go anywhere from 4-18mi exploring the Old Town/Delaware River river but only made it 3mi before getting distracted at the National Constitution Center. Bolted back to the hotel, grabbed wallet, bolted back in time to towel off in the bathroom and see The Devil Came on Horseback advanced screening. There are no words. Posting about it opens me up to the same critique leveled at Richardson and Biden. I'll do it anyway.
July 27
6mi, Schuylkill River. Out 'n' back on Philadelphia's version of the river road. Ran past but did not summit the art museum steps. Also ran past the Train To Garbage Town and tons of friendly friends, of which Philly seems to be Phull.
July 26
Day Off. Happy Birthday (and run) to Dan.
July 25
13mi, non-consecutive. 2mi in the morning with Boulder. 11mi after work, attempting an 8mi tempo. That got cut to ~3mi when the heat caught me.
July 24
4mi, Untimed. Dragging Boulder through the July.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Step out like a blond steps out of a car
July 23
14mi, Untimed. Did a 2mi jog with Boulder in the morning. After work did 8xHill on the WRR under Franklin. Ran with Sherm and Reub and made it my goal to keep my face and shoulders relaxed for the whole thing. Also wanted to stay well within myself for most of the workout and did. Timed the first one (2:49) and then ditched the watch and went by effort. Sherman reported times for 2-8 as 2:51, :52, :48, :43, :43, :36, :28. Finished feeling strong, relaxed and focused. Need to do more workouts like this.
July 22
4mi, Untimed. Still easy with Boulder. 1hr of yoga.
Week: 53.5mi/6days, 2hrs of yoga. Missed a few miles over the first few days of the week, but got one good workout, one so-so workout and a good long run. So I'm happy.
July 21
16mi, 1:47+. Doughnut Run (Past Melo Glaze, around Nokomis & back). Felt pretty terrible and probably only would have made it 6-8mi without Schrader/Dan/Biz. Instead got a solid long run and picked it up for 2.5-3mi at 6:00-pace towards the end.
July 20
10mi, Como Etc, Untimed. Easy Run with Sherman. More difficult with the addition of Boulder late in the run. I was towed along as Sherman and Boulder settled -or aggravated- a score I hadn't known existed.
July 19
4mi, Untimed. Easy with Boulder.
14mi, Untimed. Did a 2mi jog with Boulder in the morning. After work did 8xHill on the WRR under Franklin. Ran with Sherm and Reub and made it my goal to keep my face and shoulders relaxed for the whole thing. Also wanted to stay well within myself for most of the workout and did. Timed the first one (2:49) and then ditched the watch and went by effort. Sherman reported times for 2-8 as 2:51, :52, :48, :43, :43, :36, :28. Finished feeling strong, relaxed and focused. Need to do more workouts like this.
July 22
4mi, Untimed. Still easy with Boulder. 1hr of yoga.
Week: 53.5mi/6days, 2hrs of yoga. Missed a few miles over the first few days of the week, but got one good workout, one so-so workout and a good long run. So I'm happy.
July 21
16mi, 1:47+. Doughnut Run (Past Melo Glaze, around Nokomis & back). Felt pretty terrible and probably only would have made it 6-8mi without Schrader/Dan/Biz. Instead got a solid long run and picked it up for 2.5-3mi at 6:00-pace towards the end.
July 20
10mi, Como Etc, Untimed. Easy Run with Sherman. More difficult with the addition of Boulder late in the run. I was towed along as Sherman and Boulder settled -or aggravated- a score I hadn't known existed.
July 19
4mi, Untimed. Easy with Boulder.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Life is like a song
July 18
11.5mi, 1:11:42 (Wkout): WU, 6mi "RR", CD+. Plan was to try a 6mi progression run with splits at 6:20, :10, :00, :55, :50, :40-45. Instead hit 5:55, :54, :52, :52, :42, :42 out and back on PR's miles 6-9. After the first two miles were fast I decided just to hold pace and try to negative split over the last two miles, and that worked. The first 4mi felt very relaxed and controlled and only the last half-mile was difficult. I'm encouraged by the fact that I can run 5:50s with relative ease but now that I have a better sense of pacing I want to do this workout again and focus on hitting the correct splits. Watched Boulder stoically fend off an attack on the cool down.
July 17
8mi, Untimed Wkout (4xWeissman K). Not sure what I was thinking. Taking Monday off complicated my plans for the week, so I thought I'd cram in an easy workout. Then I thought it would be easy to run 6xK on the river road over by the Weissman. Not the case. These start downhill for 400-600m depending on which way you're running, then finish uphill for the balance like the cemetary hills in Northfield. Sometime when I'm fit and it's less humid this will be a great workout. Today I was taking full walking recovery between each one and packed it in after 4. Did the last 2mi of my cool down with Boulder. Also 1hr of very sweaty yoga.
July 16
Day Off. Exhausted.
July 15
4mi, Untimed. Legs sore from trying to keep up with Turner and Shankman's son on the dance floor. Ran down Forsyth in St. Louis hoping to find something recognizable. Found one of the high school kids who kept sprinting past us on our run the day before. Sprinted past him and hoped the hotel was close. It was.
Week: 44mi/6days. Not what I'd hoped for, but decent considering the busy week.
July 14
Tremendous 12, Untimed. 2xForest Park Loop in St. Louis with the Fellahs: Tim McMurry, Mark Schroeder, Turner, Schutz, Hinckley, Painer, Sherm, Paul, Hools, the Brodeo, and of course Dan Schofer on his last run as a bachelor. There was baitaj and switchaj, credit cardaj and wrestlah/sprintahs, and from the groom-to-be, pace concernaj. Abslabloutely fantastic. Congratulations yet again to Schof and Marie!
July 13
4mi, Untimed. Beautiful early morning loop past the Star Tribune, over Boom and Nicollet Islands and back to Sherman's. No Sherman on the run.
July 12
Day Off.
11.5mi, 1:11:42 (Wkout): WU, 6mi "RR", CD+. Plan was to try a 6mi progression run with splits at 6:20, :10, :00, :55, :50, :40-45. Instead hit 5:55, :54, :52, :52, :42, :42 out and back on PR's miles 6-9. After the first two miles were fast I decided just to hold pace and try to negative split over the last two miles, and that worked. The first 4mi felt very relaxed and controlled and only the last half-mile was difficult. I'm encouraged by the fact that I can run 5:50s with relative ease but now that I have a better sense of pacing I want to do this workout again and focus on hitting the correct splits. Watched Boulder stoically fend off an attack on the cool down.
July 17
8mi, Untimed Wkout (4xWeissman K). Not sure what I was thinking. Taking Monday off complicated my plans for the week, so I thought I'd cram in an easy workout. Then I thought it would be easy to run 6xK on the river road over by the Weissman. Not the case. These start downhill for 400-600m depending on which way you're running, then finish uphill for the balance like the cemetary hills in Northfield. Sometime when I'm fit and it's less humid this will be a great workout. Today I was taking full walking recovery between each one and packed it in after 4. Did the last 2mi of my cool down with Boulder. Also 1hr of very sweaty yoga.
July 16
Day Off. Exhausted.
July 15
4mi, Untimed. Legs sore from trying to keep up with Turner and Shankman's son on the dance floor. Ran down Forsyth in St. Louis hoping to find something recognizable. Found one of the high school kids who kept sprinting past us on our run the day before. Sprinted past him and hoped the hotel was close. It was.
Week: 44mi/6days. Not what I'd hoped for, but decent considering the busy week.
July 14
Tremendous 12, Untimed. 2xForest Park Loop in St. Louis with the Fellahs: Tim McMurry, Mark Schroeder, Turner, Schutz, Hinckley, Painer, Sherm, Paul, Hools, the Brodeo, and of course Dan Schofer on his last run as a bachelor. There was baitaj and switchaj, credit cardaj and wrestlah/sprintahs, and from the groom-to-be, pace concernaj. Abslabloutely fantastic. Congratulations yet again to Schof and Marie!
July 13
4mi, Untimed. Beautiful early morning loop past the Star Tribune, over Boom and Nicollet Islands and back to Sherman's. No Sherman on the run.
July 12
Day Off.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tryin' to hold on to the quarter notes...
July 11
~11mi, 1:17:04 (Mystery Fartlek): 15min WU, 40+min Mystery Fartlek, CD. Thanks to Dan for planning the workout. I love the mystery fartlek and today was no exception, despite/because of some human error and some Ruben. Legs felt very stiff and unresponsive, and I had trouble relaxing and focusing. Looking forward to more group workouts to work on that.
July 10
4mi, Untimed. Unremarkable. 1hr of yoga. Pullups on the bridge.
July 9
9mi, Untimed. ~1.5mi WU, ~7mi with 1mi On, 1mi Off, ~1mi CD. Ran down to Ford St. and basically did 4xmi with 1mi rest using Pat's mile markers starting at 6.0. Mile 8 continues past Ford and I crossed, so I had to approximate that one. Rest was short before I started up again on the West Bank at mile 1.0. Goal was to keep the shoulders relaxed and to stay focused running close to threshold, and that went very well. 1hr of yoga after.
~11mi, 1:17:04 (Mystery Fartlek): 15min WU, 40+min Mystery Fartlek, CD. Thanks to Dan for planning the workout. I love the mystery fartlek and today was no exception, despite/because of some human error and some Ruben. Legs felt very stiff and unresponsive, and I had trouble relaxing and focusing. Looking forward to more group workouts to work on that.
July 10
4mi, Untimed. Unremarkable. 1hr of yoga. Pullups on the bridge.
July 9
9mi, Untimed. ~1.5mi WU, ~7mi with 1mi On, 1mi Off, ~1mi CD. Ran down to Ford St. and basically did 4xmi with 1mi rest using Pat's mile markers starting at 6.0. Mile 8 continues past Ford and I crossed, so I had to approximate that one. Rest was short before I started up again on the West Bank at mile 1.0. Goal was to keep the shoulders relaxed and to stay focused running close to threshold, and that went very well. 1hr of yoga after.
Monday, July 09, 2007
I like cold beverages
July 8
Day Off. It's unsurprising, but on July 3rd plaintiffs in Lynn, Massachusetts filed what is likely the first of several challenges to school assignment programs in light of the Supreme Court's decision on June 28th in Parents Involved. There's been a lot of chatter about whether that decision flips Brown on its head. Some of it is academically intersting; most of it is practically irrelevant. The closing paragraph in the Lynn plaintiff's brief shows why:
The rights established in the Court’s Parents Involved decision should be given effect “with all deliberate speed” and without the kinds of delays and obfuscations that accompanied the implementation of the right protecting children from de jure segregation in public schools that was announced in Brown v. Brd. of Ed., 349 U.S. 294, 300 (1955) (Brown II) (requiring the defendant school systems “to admit to public schools on a racially nondiscriminatory basis with all deliberate speed”). See, Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward, 377 U.S. 218, 234 (1964) (“The time for mere ‘deliberate speed’ has run out”).
So should we call in the National Guard for this effort, too?
Week: 42mi, 1 wkout. Only 1hr of yoga bc of some sickness on Friday and a closed studio on Sunday.
July 7
12mi, Fishouse Untimed. Good run with HDLN a couple hours after Sherman's bedtime, longest in about 6 weeks. We discussed some of the things that provoke our anger. Then we slowed down.
July 6
3mi, Untimed. The game's name is Recovery.
July 5
9mi, Untimed. ~2mi WU, ~5+ too fast through Kenwood and around Isles, ~2mi CD. At once humbling and encouraging for the first workout since May. Ran about the first half of the uptempo portion at a pretty steady pace and felt relatively comfortable. Picked it up to catch Dan, finished Isles with him and dropped off a lot going back up the hill through Kenwood to finish. Dan's pace estimates suggest that 6/mile was comfortable and that 5:35-45/mile was very uncomfortable. Fair enough. Very glad to have Dan's and Sherm's company.
Day Off. It's unsurprising, but on July 3rd plaintiffs in Lynn, Massachusetts filed what is likely the first of several challenges to school assignment programs in light of the Supreme Court's decision on June 28th in Parents Involved. There's been a lot of chatter about whether that decision flips Brown on its head. Some of it is academically intersting; most of it is practically irrelevant. The closing paragraph in the Lynn plaintiff's brief shows why:
The rights established in the Court’s Parents Involved decision should be given effect “with all deliberate speed” and without the kinds of delays and obfuscations that accompanied the implementation of the right protecting children from de jure segregation in public schools that was announced in Brown v. Brd. of Ed., 349 U.S. 294, 300 (1955) (Brown II) (requiring the defendant school systems “to admit to public schools on a racially nondiscriminatory basis with all deliberate speed”). See, Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward, 377 U.S. 218, 234 (1964) (“The time for mere ‘deliberate speed’ has run out”).
So should we call in the National Guard for this effort, too?
Week: 42mi, 1 wkout. Only 1hr of yoga bc of some sickness on Friday and a closed studio on Sunday.
July 7
12mi, Fishouse Untimed. Good run with HDLN a couple hours after Sherman's bedtime, longest in about 6 weeks. We discussed some of the things that provoke our anger. Then we slowed down.
July 6
3mi, Untimed. The game's name is Recovery.
July 5
9mi, Untimed. ~2mi WU, ~5+ too fast through Kenwood and around Isles, ~2mi CD. At once humbling and encouraging for the first workout since May. Ran about the first half of the uptempo portion at a pretty steady pace and felt relatively comfortable. Picked it up to catch Dan, finished Isles with him and dropped off a lot going back up the hill through Kenwood to finish. Dan's pace estimates suggest that 6/mile was comfortable and that 5:35-45/mile was very uncomfortable. Fair enough. Very glad to have Dan's and Sherm's company.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Forcin' a light into all those stony faces left stranded on this warm July
July 4
6mi, Untimed. Coincidental Six, which will be the new name for West Side Five + xtra. Ran into another Church, and we soon met a fellow runner wrapped in the stars and stripes. He introduced himself as State. We did not run together. Also, pullups.
July 3
4mi, Untimed. Very slow. Possible causes: humidity, slowness. Also 1hr of yoga.
July 2
8mi, LSCC. Untimed. Too rambunxious for Betsy.
July 1
6mi, West Side Five + xtra. Untimed but very slow after yoga.
Week: 30mi/6days. 6hrs of yoga. Didn't really have a long run or a workout, but it's early yet. Will try to keep up with the yoga aprx 3x a week.
June 30
6mi. Como & Back w/BD. Good, easy run.
June 29
Day Off. Shocking, I know.
6mi, Untimed. Coincidental Six, which will be the new name for West Side Five + xtra. Ran into another Church, and we soon met a fellow runner wrapped in the stars and stripes. He introduced himself as State. We did not run together. Also, pullups.
July 3
4mi, Untimed. Very slow. Possible causes: humidity, slowness. Also 1hr of yoga.
July 2
8mi, LSCC. Untimed. Too rambunxious for Betsy.
July 1
6mi, West Side Five + xtra. Untimed but very slow after yoga.
Week: 30mi/6days. 6hrs of yoga. Didn't really have a long run or a workout, but it's early yet. Will try to keep up with the yoga aprx 3x a week.
June 30
6mi. Como & Back w/BD. Good, easy run.
June 29
Day Off. Shocking, I know.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The distant future. The year 2000.
June 27 - 28
6mi and 4mi, some yoga, some pullups, and some sore shoulders. This morning especially felt faster than I've been running lately, a sensation confirmed when I arrived back at my apartment in 1896. Like usual, I had to wade through four squeamish old white dudes and an indignant black man to get to my coffee. One hundred and eleven years of time travel gave me a few spare minutes before I had to leave for work, and I listened to their deliberations:
Elaine: Well, what do you think?
Jerry: What? About you datin' a black guy? What's the big deal?
Elaine: What black guy?
Jerry: Darryl. He's black, isn't he?
Elaine: He is?
George: No, he isn't.
Jerry: Isn't he, Elaine?
Elaine: You think?
George: I thought he looked Irish.
Jerry: What's his last name?
Elaine: Nelson.
George: That's not Irish.
Jerry: I think he's black.
George: Should we be talkin' about this?
Elaine: I think it's OK.
George: No, it isn't.
Jerry: Why not?
George: Well, it would be OK if Darryl was here.
Jerry: If he's black.
Elaine: Is he black?
Jerry: Does it matter?
Elaine: No, course not. I mean, I'd just like to know.
Jerry: Oh, so you need to know?
Elaine: No, I don't need to know. I just think it would be nice if I knew.
The coffee wasn't that good, either. Kind of weak, and it was hard to tell if the dull ache in my brain was because I hadn't bothered to use the french press or from squinting at what my guests ultimately concluded:
Close your eyes. Picture a convict. What's he wearing? Nothing special. Baseball cap on backward, baggy pants. He says something ordinary like, "Yo, that's shizzle". Now slowly open your eyes again. Who are you picturing? A black man? Wrong. That was a white woman. Surprised? Well shame on you.
6mi and 4mi, some yoga, some pullups, and some sore shoulders. This morning especially felt faster than I've been running lately, a sensation confirmed when I arrived back at my apartment in 1896. Like usual, I had to wade through four squeamish old white dudes and an indignant black man to get to my coffee. One hundred and eleven years of time travel gave me a few spare minutes before I had to leave for work, and I listened to their deliberations:
Elaine: Well, what do you think?
Jerry: What? About you datin' a black guy? What's the big deal?
Elaine: What black guy?
Jerry: Darryl. He's black, isn't he?
Elaine: He is?
George: No, he isn't.
Jerry: Isn't he, Elaine?
Elaine: You think?
George: I thought he looked Irish.
Jerry: What's his last name?
Elaine: Nelson.
George: That's not Irish.
Jerry: I think he's black.
George: Should we be talkin' about this?
Elaine: I think it's OK.
George: No, it isn't.
Jerry: Why not?
George: Well, it would be OK if Darryl was here.
Jerry: If he's black.
Elaine: Is he black?
Jerry: Does it matter?
Elaine: No, course not. I mean, I'd just like to know.
Jerry: Oh, so you need to know?
Elaine: No, I don't need to know. I just think it would be nice if I knew.
The coffee wasn't that good, either. Kind of weak, and it was hard to tell if the dull ache in my brain was because I hadn't bothered to use the french press or from squinting at what my guests ultimately concluded:
Close your eyes. Picture a convict. What's he wearing? Nothing special. Baseball cap on backward, baggy pants. He says something ordinary like, "Yo, that's shizzle". Now slowly open your eyes again. Who are you picturing? A black man? Wrong. That was a white woman. Surprised? Well shame on you.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
No drum machine can make a beat like that
June 26
4mi. Same. Morning again. Today's run followed last night's inaugural yoga class and I felt much better than I expected to after contorting myself - good enough that I'll go back for the rest of my free week. Spent much of last night's session very confused. Spent the rest of it sweating.
June 25
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. Yeah, my watch is in Duluth. And that's fine. I'm thinking about a no-watch-til-August experiment. Also starting to run in the morning (finally) this week.
June 24
4mi, Shortcut Untimed.
Week: 24mi/5days. Will add a day and maybe a workout next week.
June 23
8mi, Untimed. Ran around Isles with the Fellahs. Legs stiff but not dangerously so.
June 21-22
Days Off
June 20
4mi, Shortcut Untimed.
4mi. Same. Morning again. Today's run followed last night's inaugural yoga class and I felt much better than I expected to after contorting myself - good enough that I'll go back for the rest of my free week. Spent much of last night's session very confused. Spent the rest of it sweating.
June 25
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. Yeah, my watch is in Duluth. And that's fine. I'm thinking about a no-watch-til-August experiment. Also starting to run in the morning (finally) this week.
June 24
4mi, Shortcut Untimed.
Week: 24mi/5days. Will add a day and maybe a workout next week.
June 23
8mi, Untimed. Ran around Isles with the Fellahs. Legs stiff but not dangerously so.
June 21-22
Days Off
June 20
4mi, Shortcut Untimed.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Pumping someone else's blood
June 19
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. Felt great. Since I started running again I've been finishing this loop by crossing the pedestrian bridge over 94 and doing 5 pullups. So I did that today, too.
June 18
4mi, 27:50 (6:57/mi): Shortcut. Legs felt good, upper body did not, likely because of a large late lunch. Ran Pat's third mile in 5:39 mostly out of curiosity.
June 11 - 17
Ran 14mi in 4 runs (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday). Shin pain ranges from zero to a dull ache that does not affect my stride. I need to prioritize stretching and core work and take the recovery slowly, but running started to feel normal by the end of the week. Congrats to all Grandma's and GB racers for running tough on a hot day. Slabbaj Shout Outs to Dan (Chapel, not Digger)(1:12:32, PR by 4+ minutes) and the Shermanimal (3:05:50, PR by ~25 minutes).
June 5 - 10
Ran for 15min on 6/7 to test the legs and so I could say I started training for TCM 4 months out. Felt out of shape, but no pain in the shin. Ran for just over 30min on both 6/9 and 6/10 with similar results.
4mi, Shortcut Untimed. Felt great. Since I started running again I've been finishing this loop by crossing the pedestrian bridge over 94 and doing 5 pullups. So I did that today, too.
June 18
4mi, 27:50 (6:57/mi): Shortcut. Legs felt good, upper body did not, likely because of a large late lunch. Ran Pat's third mile in 5:39 mostly out of curiosity.
June 11 - 17
Ran 14mi in 4 runs (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday). Shin pain ranges from zero to a dull ache that does not affect my stride. I need to prioritize stretching and core work and take the recovery slowly, but running started to feel normal by the end of the week. Congrats to all Grandma's and GB racers for running tough on a hot day. Slabbaj Shout Outs to Dan (Chapel, not Digger)(1:12:32, PR by 4+ minutes) and the Shermanimal (3:05:50, PR by ~25 minutes).
June 5 - 10
Ran for 15min on 6/7 to test the legs and so I could say I started training for TCM 4 months out. Felt out of shape, but no pain in the shin. Ran for just over 30min on both 6/9 and 6/10 with similar results.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
And I still go...
May 25 - June 5
Some biking, including an impromptu race around Lake Harriet against a much faster individual. Some hiking up north. Some occasional sprinting across streets in downtown Minneapolis. Starting to think it's getting better all the time. But I don't expect to be racing at GB.
Taking the time for a number of things that weren't important yesterday:
1) Some front page congratulations to SCRC for their second consecutive Woods to Water victory. Congratulations also to the SCRC members who ensured that we had a team at Lake Nokomis on Memorial Day - one outright PR (Merchant), 3 post-collegiate PRs (BD, Sherm, Giggles), one season best (Mad Dog).
2) Sgt. Pepper was released three years after Congress passed Title VII. Forty years later, if you used to be cruel to your woman, it turns out she can't complain.
Some biking, including an impromptu race around Lake Harriet against a much faster individual. Some hiking up north. Some occasional sprinting across streets in downtown Minneapolis. Starting to think it's getting better all the time. But I don't expect to be racing at GB.
Taking the time for a number of things that weren't important yesterday:
1) Some front page congratulations to SCRC for their second consecutive Woods to Water victory. Congratulations also to the SCRC members who ensured that we had a team at Lake Nokomis on Memorial Day - one outright PR (Merchant), 3 post-collegiate PRs (BD, Sherm, Giggles), one season best (Mad Dog).
2) Sgt. Pepper was released three years after Congress passed Title VII. Forty years later, if you used to be cruel to your woman, it turns out she can't complain.
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