90 minute run

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):

  1. All She Wants to do is Dance – Don Henley – Building the Perfect Beast
  2. Just What I Needed – The Cars – The Cars Greatest Hits
  3. Jimmy Olsen’s Blues – Spin Doctors – Pocket Full of Kryptonite
  4. Wheels – Cake – Pressure Chief
  5. Dance Like A Monkey – New York Dolls – One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
  6. Whole Wide World – Wreckless Eric – Greatest Stiffs
  7. Minnie The Moocher – The Blues Brothers – The Blues Brothers Soundtrack
  8. Jamming – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend
  9. Dead – They Might Be Giants – Flood
  10. The Infanta – The Decemberists – Picaresque
  11. Mrs. Rita – Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience
  12. I Want To Conquer The World – Bad Religion – All Ages
  13. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC – Back In Black
  14. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen – – A Night At The Opera
  15. Terminal Annex – Harvey Danger – – Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?
  16. I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man) – Kenny Loggins – – Footloose
  17. It ‘s My Life – Bon Jovi – Crush
  18. Dreaming – Blondie – The Best Of Blondie
  19. Come Dancing – The Kinks – Come Dancing with the Kinks
  20. They Don’t Know – Tracey Ullman – You Broke My Heart In 17 Places – The Best Of
  21. Fell In Love With A Girl – The White Stripes – White Blood Cells
  22. Sorrow – Bad Religion – The Process Of Belief
  23. New Girl – The Long Winters – When I Pretend to Fall
  24. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend
  25. Two Tickets to Paridise – Eddie Money – Eddie Money
  26. Green Hornet – Al Hirt – Various Artists – Kill Bill Vol.1
  27. 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!

Sing-along

When I don’t have time to write a long thoughtful post, I turn to lists.

Like this one! These are the top 10 songs that I’d like to someday sing in karaoke:

  1. “The Boys Are Back In Town” – Thin Lizzy
  2. “Only The Good Die Young” – Billy Joel
  3. “Secret Agent Man” – Johnny Rivers
  4. “Common People” – William Shatner (covering Pulp)
  5. “Mr. Blue Sky” – ELO
  6. “Santa Monica” – Everclear
  7. “She Caught the Katy” – The Blues Brothers
  8. “Somebody to Love” – Queen
  9. “Mrs. Rita” – Gin Blossoms
  10. “Blister In The Sun” – Violent Femmes

… presented in no particular order, just off the top of my head.

Add your own in the comments!

On the bright side

Look at me!

  • My weight is under control – I weighed in at 175 this morning, which is my lowest point since last year. And that’s after a huge pig-out last weekend after beating my previous time for 10K. I’m learning, not just how to eat sensibly, but how to not panic if I do have binge of weakness and gorge. It’s not just about starving myself, but learning not to feel guilty or evil if go a little crazy (especially if I deserve it).
  • My finances are under control – My bills are paid and my credit is under control. In fact, I’m well on my way to paying all my unsecured credit off this year. I’ve got a little money in savings, my job seems as secure as ever, and I’ve got plans to make a little recurring money on the side, even… And I’ve got a little money to “play” with.
  • My apartment is clean (except for “the everything room” but I’m tackling that this weekend).
  • I’ve been adding some actual color and style to my wardrobe – jeans and t-shirts are OK for kickin’ around, but I want to look good, even when I’m being casual.
  • I actually like my boss – that hasn’t happened in a long time. But even though I disagree with him sometimes, in general he’s been pretty open and supportive and helpful. It makes coming to work that much easier.
  • I love my neighborhood. I have decent neighbors, and they know me by face or by name at the coffee shop, the convenience store, the video store, the burger place, the grocery store, my favorite restaurant – and the strip club (heh). I’ve got slews of parks to sit and relax in, and trails to walk and run on, and I can get to everything I need to get to without too much effort.
  • It may seem a small thing, but I’ve got a coupon for a free movie and popcorn and soda at Regal Cinemas to use! I love earning free things!
  • I won $4 in the lottery today! Next up: winning Saturday’s $10.3 million

I think all I have to work on lately is keeping my friendships and family-ships up and maybe working a little harder to strengthen them… and maybe spend some time on finding, nurturing and building a closer relationship with someone special – that part is still lacking.

Anybody watch “My Name Is Earl” lately? He’s been working on becoming an adult. Got his GED, got a job, got an apartment… then he realized he wanted a lady to share it with. I kinda feel like that…

Oh, and my reading stack is outta control. Why do I keep buying more books when I haven’t finished reading the ones I had before? Note to self: no more trips to Powell’s for a while!

Oh, wait, gotta end on a positive note! Um… Oh, yeah, I’ve been actually cooking stuff! Sure, it’s stir-fry or spaghetti, but, still – cooking!

Look at me!

New work schedule

Because of a project going on at work, my schedule has shifted another hour in the “earlier” direction.

I hates it.

Sorry for the lack of posts.

Cinco de Mayo 10K – I win!

Cross-posted from Run, Moon, Run!, my running blog.

I ran the Cinco de Mayo 10K this morning. It was my first time doing their 10K route. I remember last year’s 5K being a fast course for me. In fact, it was a bittersweet race, since I came within 2 seconds of beating my previous best.

This year, I’m turning in a personal best in just about every race. I’m not sure what I’m doing that’s so rockin’, but I don’t plan to change a thing while my mojo is workin’. I last ran on Thursday, a short 3 mile run, took two days to taper, had a nice dinner last night, got plenty of sleep, a small breakfast this morning (a cup of yogurt), lots of water. The temperature was around 51° F, no rain, not too bad humidity – perfect for running!

And this race was no different – I ran 58:40 chip time which is 32 seconds faster than my last 10K, the Bridge 2 Bridge in late March. In fact, even my gun time is better this time than last!

The course today was pretty much an out-and-back one – south along Front Ave., then down onto Barbur Blvd., all the way out to the turnaround point, then back. Slight uphill then a slight downhill. I didn’t feel very strong today and spent the first half pacing just behind these twin girls dressed as Mexican cheerleaders (hey, gotta find inspiration somewhere), with a couple of short (15-30 seconds) walking breaks. When I passed the 1-mile marker I was first disappointed because my time was 10:12 – then I remembered that my chip time was 38 seconds less than that (I start my watch at the gun, not when I cross the starting line). And, mile by mile, I was amazed at my time, even though I felt slower and slower as the race wore on.

But when I got to the 6 mile mark, knowing that only 2/10s of a mile were left, I got my legs to just keep moving. And when I saw the race clock next to the finish line showing 59:something – I kicked it into high gear. I don’t call it a sprint, but it’s pretty damned fast for me. The clocked clicked over to 59:30 as I sped under the banner.

Next weekend I can either do a fun run down in Springfield with Tracy and her friend, or my usual Lake Run in Lake Oswego.

Sssslither

I so want to post about the snakes in my house and how I’m freaked out by them but slowly getting used to them and how it’s Smacky’s job to kill them and he’s not doing a very good job.

This may be that post.

Politics

The nice white-haired lady, a fellow customer at my favorite coffee shop just 10 minutes ago, laughed and laughed when I advanced the notion that perhaps the corporate world would be a little more up-front about the cut-throat and anti-employee decisions they made.

I thought I was being properly cynical.

She thought I was being hopelessly naive.

I smiled and sipped my coffee, while waiting for my bus.