5.06mi, 45:55, 30 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
Bob Mould, "MM 17"

WX at 05:58 E 1 10.00 Fair CLR 64 63 94% NA NA 30.17 1021.9

Odometer 12B: 405.5mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 153/170

Slow start on tired legs that I didn't expect. As a result, I don't think I really felt warmed up until mile 4, a late runup by any standard.

Early day at work. Back to the salt mines.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:48 08:48 08:48 08:48 1.00
1.00 17:52 09:04 09:04 08:56 2.00
1.00 27:33 09:41 09:41 09:11 3.00
1.00 36:39 09:06 09:06 09:10 4.00
1.06 45:55 09:16 08:45 09:04 5.06

4.47mi, 43:25, 29 May 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
The Go-Go's, "Unforgiven"
mewithoutYou, "January 1979"

WX at 05:58 S 3 10.00 Fair CLR 69 64 85% NA NA 30.11 1019.9

Odometer 12C: 282.9mi

Z2-Z3 low. Average/max heart rate = 149/167

Easy recovery run. Period. Nothing hard in the prospects of going hard tomorrow morning, although I have to go in early, so I have to wake up earlier. That'll be tough, but keeping up the momentum is worth it.

"January 1979" is a pretty angry-sounding song, but I have a lot of rage in my heart lately.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:28 09:28 09:28 09:28 1.00
1.00 19:46 10:18 10:18 09:53 2.00
1.00 29:30 09:44 09:44 09:50 3.00
1.00 38:59 09:29 09:29 09:45 4.00
0.47 43:25 04:26 09:26 09:43 4.47

5.10mi, 43:36, 28 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
The Go-Go's, "Unforgiven"

WX at 05:58 Calm 10.00 Partly Cloudy FEW080 SCT180 54 52 92% NA NA 30.16 1021.6

Odometer 12B: 400.4mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 157/174

Today felt fast, maybe because I hadn't run in a few days. I also walked most of yesterday, between going to Arlington National Cemetery and then taking the kids to the International Spy Museum.

I always have to take such museums with a big fat salt lick because they have to package something that is intriguing on the surface but incredibly mundane most of the time into something people will want to see. The kids enjoyed it, but it's hard for me not to wave the BS flag from time to time when I go to places like that. Oh well.

At least today's run was effort relatively well spent.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:31 08:31 08:31 08:31 1.00
1.00 17:14 08:43 08:43 08:37 2.00
1.00 26:16 09:02 09:02 08:45 3.00
1.00 34:29 08:13 08:13 08:37 4.00
1.10 43:36 09:07 08:17 08:33 5.10

11.44mi, 1:39:31, 25 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
U2, "I Will Follow"
The Sisters of Mercy, "Temple of Love" (1992)

WX at 08:58 NW 16 G 23 10.00 Fair CLR 52 37 56% NA NA 30.21 1023.3

Odometer 12B: 395.3mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 161/177

It would've been criminal not to run on a day like this. It doesn't get much better than this. I needed to start early since I'm flying solo with the kids, so I decided to get get at it early.

I'm sure that has a lot to do with the faster time today, as well as the amount of non-running I've done lately. I wouldn't call it rest since I hadn't gotten the sleep I probably really need.

Splits

SGMT AGGRGTE SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 0:08:26 08:26 08:26 08:26 1.00
1.00 0:17:32 09:06 09:06 08:46 2.00
1.00 0:26:07 08:35 08:35 08:42 3.00
1.00 0:34:59 08:52 08:52 08:45 4.00
1.00 0:43:43 08:44 08:44 08:45 5.00
1.00 0:52:08 08:25 08:25 08:41 6.00
1.00 1:00:47 08:39 08:39 08:41 7.00
1.00 1:09:22 08:35 08:35 08:40 8.00
1.00 1:17:50 08:28 08:28 08:39 9.00
1.00 1:27:11 09:21 09:21 08:43 10.00
1.00 1:35:52 08:41 08:41 08:43 11.00
0.44 1:39:31 03:39 08:18 08:42 11.44

4.08mi, 36:40, 23 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
U2, "I Will Follow"

WX at 05:58 SE 1 10.00 Mostly Cloudy BKN020 BKN100 70 68 95% NA NA 29.90 1012.8

Odometer 12B: 383.9mi

Z3 high. Average/max heart rate = 154/176

I am playing single parent as the OPFOR Cdr is out of town, so this morning almost turned into a Do Nothing But Eat Day. I realized I hadn't run more than twice in the last week so I jammed in a short run of about 4. Not great but better than nothing. Because I've done so little running, my legs didn't feel that bad, but that's because I've been getting more rest than I need. I'm not getting enough sleep, but that's self-inflicted.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:37 08:37 08:37 08:37 1.00
1.00 17:58 09:21 09:21 08:59 2.00
1.00 27:13 09:15 09:15 09:04 3.00
1.08 36:40 09:27 08:45 08:59 4.08

5.06mi, 45:26, 21 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
The Grapes of Wrath, "O Lucky Man"

WX at 05:58 S 3 10.00 Overcast OVC007 69 67 92% NA NA 30.00 1016.2

Odometer 12B: 379.8mi

Z3 high-Z4. Average/max heart rate = 155/174

Today's iThink is most definitely incongruous as it was humid. While not hot, today was not going to be a good run, especially after five days of Doing Nothing But Eating and Drinking.

I enjoyed my trip back to Kansas for my doctoral hooding, but there was a sense of loneliness and dislocation that I only associate with going to places where I used to live and realize that it is not home anymore. It was also a function of seeing old friends again and thinking about possibilities that I elected not to pursue or could not for various reasons.

Nonetheless, I needed this run, badly. So I got at it, no matter how tired I felt. Tomorrow promises tired legs, which I guess I just need to accept.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:40 08:40 08:40 08:40 1.00
1.00 17:57 09:17 09:17 08:58 2.00
1.00 26:41 08:44 08:44 08:54 3.00
1.00 35:39 08:58 08:58 08:55 4.00
1.06 45:26 09:47 09:14 08:59 5.06

5.04mi, 45:05, 15 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
Chris Stamey, "From the Word Go"

WX at 05:58 Calm 10.00 Partly Cloudy SCT120 50 48 93% NA NA 29.96 1014.9

Odometer 12B: 374.7mi

Z3 high. Average/max heart rate = 153/166

Dead legs continue. I'm also dealing with a nagging case of plantar fascitis in my right foot. But I need to run. I guess I should make some choices about what I need to do, for a variety of things. It probably won't go away by itself, unfortunately.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:47 08:47 08:47 08:47 1.00
1.00 17:51 09:04 09:04 08:56 2.00
1.00 27:22 09:31 09:31 09:07 3.00
1.00 35:57 08:35 08:35 08:59 4.00
1.04 45:05 09:08 08:47 08:57 5.04

5.09mi, 46:17, 14 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
Chris Stamey, "The Company of Light"
Chris Stamey, "Something Came Over Me"

WX at 05:58 Calm 10.00 Fair CLR 35 33 95% NA NA 30.21 1023.4

Odometer 12B: 369.7mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 152/169

Dead legs, dead legs, dead legs. This run was characterized by lack of energy. I had the endurance but no strength going uphill. Fuck it.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:06 09:06 09:06 09:06 1.00
1.00 18:18 09:12 09:12 09:09 2.00
1.00 27:52 09:34 09:34 09:17 3.00
1.00 36:34 08:42 08:42 09:09 4.00
1.09 46:17 09:43 08:55 09:06 5.09

4.04mi, 37:34, 13 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
Above and Beyond pres. Oceanlab, "On A Good Day"

WX at 05:58 N 2 10.00 Fair CLR 37 36 96% NA NA 30.09 1019.3

Odometer 12C: 278.4mi

Z3 high. Average/max heart rate = 149/162

Late night = late start = abridged run.

Also, dead legs. Grr.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:10 09:10 09:10 09:10 1.00
1.00 18:48 09:38 09:38 09:24 2.00
1.00 28:16 09:28 09:28 09:25 3.00
1.04 37:34 09:18 08:57 09:18 4.04

9.02mi, 84:11, 11 MAY 12, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
The Psychedelic Furs, "Love My Way"
MaX, "Aim"
M83, "Midnight City"

WX at 11:58 S 3 10.00 Mostly Cloudy FEW080 BKN110 71 66 83% NA NA 29.80 1009.4

Odometer 12C: 274.3mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 160/176

First day of the real retraining season. Not hot, but humid, and the usual effects of it sucking energy away from me became apparent plenty quick enough. I was determined to get in a 9-miler, at least, although I didn't think I was going to have time for the usual weekend 11.5. My legs were also too beat to really do a long run like 11.5, I think.

I should be really concerned about Mother's Day weekend, but right now, I really have to admit I kind of don't really care right now.  Any more than I care about any of the other artificial "holidays" that are generated to keep greeting card companies in business. In general, I don't want to observe any of it anymore because it's bullshit.  There are lots of things I think about as I'm on the run, but there are some topics that are recurrent.

There is more scenery on Sundays. That is all.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:44 08:44 08:44 08:44 1.00
1.00 17:52 09:08 09:08 08:56 2.00
1.00 26:35 08:43 08:43 08:52 3.00
1.00 35:57 09:22 09:22 08:59 4.00
1.00 44:55 08:58 08:58 08:59 5.00
1.00 54:04 09:09 09:09 09:01 6.00
1.00 64:02 09:58 09:58 09:09 7.00
1.00 74:07 10:05 10:05 09:16 8.00
1.02 84:11 10:04 09:52 09:20 9.02

5.75mi, 50:06, 9 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
The Innocence Mission, "Mercy"
The Psychedelic Furs, "Love My Way"

WX at 05:58 Calm 4.00 Fog/Mist CLR 53 51 95% NA NA 30.01 1016.5

Odometer 12B: 364.6mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 155/175

My knees have hurt most of this week. I'm not sure if it's solely that I'm running on old shoes that I'm determined to get 400 miles out of, or if there's something else at work that's causing the nagging generalized pain.

Today felt pretty good, actually, with sizeable stretches of running under 8:30/mi, which I didn't expect.

This week has been very weird. I have also not really figure out what I want to do for Mother's Day. I guess I should do something. I guess.

The iThink is from dusting off something I'd bought on tape over two decades ago when I was a sophomore at Hopkins.  I don't go in much for Xtian bands, and the Innocence Mission is definitely a Catholic-influenced band, but musically, I liked their first two albums. Meh.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:10 09:10 09:10 09:10 1.00
1.00 18:06 08:56 08:56 09:03 2.00
1.00 26:47 08:41 08:41 08:56 3.00
1.00 34:57 08:10 08:10 08:44 4.00
1.00 43:28 08:31 08:31 08:42 5.00
0.75 50:06 06:38 08:51 08:43 5.75

4.50mi, 39:41, 7 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
The Northern Pikes, "Wait For Me"

WX at 05:58 Vrbl 1 10.00 Overcast OVC006 59 57 94% NA NA 30.00 1016.2

Odometer 12B: 358.8mi

Z3 high. Average/max heart rate = 152/171

Didn't feel great, but didn't feel bad either. My legs were doing a little better going uphill. I guess I'll see what happens tomorrow.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:45 08:45 08:45 08:45 1.00
1.00 17:53 09:08 09:08 08:56 2.00
1.00 26:44 08:51 08:51 08:55 3.00
1.00 35:21 08:37 08:37 08:50 4.00
0.50 39:41 04:20 08:40 08:49 4.50

5.05mi, 44:03, 6 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
Rush, "Vapor Trails"
Rush, "Limelight"
The Connells, "Fun & Games"

WX at 05:55 Vrbl 3 10.00 Overcast OVC014 52 45 78% NA NA 30.15 1021.1

Odometer 12B: 354.3mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 151/168

Slow start, even in spite of no weekend running. My legs are very tired for some reason. Meh. This morning was a good example of an earwig that won't let ago (Rush's "Limelight").

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:40 08:40 08:40 08:40 1.00
1.00 17:33 08:53 08:53 08:47 2.00
1.00 26:43 09:10 09:10 08:54 3.00
1.00 34:57 08:14 08:14 08:44 4.00
1.05 44:03 09:06 08:40 08:43 5.05

die a little every day

I was at the Elder's performance of the musical Annie Jr., an abridged version of the Broadway musical.  I was taken back to my childhood, when I had seen Annie, an outgrowth of my school having done it as part of a musical when I was in the Lower School.

Hearing the lead actress singing "Maybe" put tears in my eyes, for two reasons - one was because of what the song stands for - the hope that life is better somewhere else, and more bitterly, the memory of a point in my life when a couple of things inside me had not yet died.

4.06mi, 37:29, 2 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, "Maybe"

WX at 05:55 Calm 10.00 Fair CLR 42 41 97% NA NA 30.41 1030.1

Odometer 12B: 349.3mi

Z3 low. Average/max heart rate = 142/163

Late start but easy run. I was trimming off mileage to try to get close to 4 miles, and was generally successful. In an attempt to address my dead legs, I went easy. I felt okay, but the proof will be in tomorrow's run.

I have no idea why a song from the musical Annie stuck in my head this morning.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:28 09:28 09:28 09:28 1.00
1.00 19:00 09:32 09:32 09:30 2.00
1.00 28:16 09:16 09:16 09:25 3.00
1.06 37:29 09:13 08:42 09:14 4.06

4.30mi, 36:37, 1 MAY 13, Springfield, Virginia

iThink:
The Grapes of Wrath, "O Lucky Man"
that dog., "annie" (early mix)

WX at 05:55 Calm 10.00 Fair CLR 47 43 85% NA NA 30.32 1026.9

Odometer 12B: 345.2mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 151/169

Late start mandated a harder run. I didn't think I was going to be able to cut it closer to 4, but closer than I normally go - albeit not by much.

I was revisiting a song from my teenage years, and then one from my twenties. Not sure why these memories of my past are cropping up, but I will live with them for now.

Legs still feel generally dead going uphill...hrm.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:22 08:22 08:22 08:22 1.00
1.00 17:10 08:48 08:48 08:35 2.00
1.00 25:58 08:48 08:48 08:39 3.00
1.00 34:28 08:30 08:30 08:37 4.00
0.30 36:37 02:09 07:10 08:31 4.30