Cross-posted from Run, Moon, Run!, my running blog.
I wanted to do a long run today. I thought about running downtown and back again along the west bank of the Willamette River, but that would be about 10 miles, and lately my longest run has only been 6 or so – that might have been too much of an increase.
I didn’t just want to do my “normal” 6 mile loop. I’m kinda bored of that loop. I wanted something a little bit different.
The weather was awesome for running – mid 50s, no rain, a little wind but not bad. When I headed out around noon I was wearing shorts and a short sleeved singlet, hat, sunglasses, my new Brooks (with MOGO!) and my iPod nano loaded with songs. Had a small 400 calorie breakfast several hours earlier, and a liter of water. Oh, and two Claritin (or the generic equivalent) – my allergies have been awful lately. I had my keys in my pocket, along with 3 Cliff Bloks for sustenance.
I chose to run to, then along, the Springwater Corridor Trail by the river for about 30 minutes’ worth, then turn around and head back, taking a different route home from the bottom of SE Spokane Street, back through upper Sellwood Park, along Sellwood Avenue on the top of the bluff over Oaks Bottom, and back through Moreland to Westmoreland Park and then back home.
A problem I’ve had on past long runs is a bit delicate – my nipples get chafed. I decided on protecting them this time. I didn’t have anything fancy, though. I covered each one with a square of duct tape, loosely applied over my chest hairs to make removal easier. Has anyone seen “The 40-Year Old Virgin”? I didn’t want to experience that scene (you know the one I’m talking about) in person.
Lots of runners, walkers, and cyclists out today, which is to be expected. I took many walking breaks, knowing that I needed go easy on myself for such a long run. It was going to be between 8 and 9 miles.
I ran past the osprey nest twice, and past a wedding at a church. I ran through some kind of environmental fair in Sellwood Park, and past a funeral, and many softball and baseball games. I ran past my old apartment. I smiled at other runners, every one I saw, and I stopped for water (and Bloks) twice. And I finished, though not as strong as I prefer…
And I listened to the following songs along the way (Song – Artist – Album):
- All She Wants to do is Dance – Don Henley – Building the Perfect Beast
- Just What I Needed – The Cars – The Cars Greatest Hits
- Jimmy Olsen’s Blues – Spin Doctors – Pocket Full of Kryptonite
- Wheels – Cake – Pressure Chief
- Dance Like A Monkey – New York Dolls – One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
- Whole Wide World – Wreckless Eric – Greatest Stiffs
- Minnie The Moocher – The Blues Brothers – The Blues Brothers Soundtrack
- Jamming – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend
- Dead – They Might Be Giants – Flood
- The Infanta – The Decemberists – Picaresque
- Mrs. Rita – Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience
- I Want To Conquer The World – Bad Religion – All Ages
- You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC – Back In Black
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen – – A Night At The Opera
- Terminal Annex – Harvey Danger – – Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?
- I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man) – Kenny Loggins – – Footloose
- It ‘s My Life – Bon Jovi – Crush
- Dreaming – Blondie – The Best Of Blondie
- Come Dancing – The Kinks – Come Dancing with the Kinks
- They Don’t Know – Tracey Ullman – You Broke My Heart In 17 Places – The Best Of
- Fell In Love With A Girl – The White Stripes – White Blood Cells
- Sorrow – Bad Religion – The Process Of Belief
- New Girl – The Long Winters – When I Pretend to Fall
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend
- Two Tickets to Paridise – Eddie Money – Eddie Money
- Green Hornet – Al Hirt – Various Artists – Kill Bill Vol.1
- The Legionnaire’s Lament – The Decemberists – Castaways And Cutouts
…kinda heavy on the 80s, isn’t it? I can’t help it; the 80s had some great music!