Sun, June 16-Sat, June 22

Sun June 16: AM. On the track, did 3x1600m (5:47, 5:49, 5:41).  It was raining and around 70°.  PM. A 40 min run on residential streets and on the Capital City Trail.  It was partly sunny and 84° (dewpoint of 69°).  Oh no!  Can it be?  We’re heading for a heatwave.

Mon June 17: AM. A 78 min run on the Capital City Trail and on the SW Path.  It was sunny, humid and in the mid 70s.

Tues June 18: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was mostly sunny and 77°.  PM. In Deerfield, A 30 min on-shift run— ambulance stations loops.  It was partly cloudy and 87° (dew point of 71°).

Wed June 19: AM. Ran 3+ miles with the pastry club over residential and city streets.  It was in the mid 70s with light rain starting towards the end.  PM. Max Champion concert in Minneapolis— Great show!

Thurs June 20: AM. In Minneapolis, MN, A 20 min run with the old man on residential streets in Golden Valley.  It was cloudy and 63°. 

Fri June 21: AM. A 45 min run with the old man doing loops around Wirth Lake (~ 1.3 miles around).  It was raining and 64°.

Sat June 22: AM. Ran the Grandma’s Marathon (Two Harbors, MN to Duluth, MN) in 2:45:51.  I felt pretty good for the first several miles.  There was a nice 10+ mph tailwind pushing me along and I was thinking— I’m going to crush this!  I went through ten miles in 59:15 (~5:55/mi).  My legs were starting to feel a little fatigued by that point, so I backed off the pace a little.  I went through the half in 1:18:48 (~6:01/mi), still feeling OK.  A couple miles later, the wheels started to fall off.  The last eleven miles were a grind.  At the 26 mile marker I saw my time and realized I’d have to really push to better my first 42.195k outing (a 2:45:55 at WhistleStop last fall).  I ran the last 385 yards as fast as I could and managed to beat it by four seconds.  At least I got a PR. It wasn’t terrible but I’d really hoped to be a bit faster, especially given the favorable weather conditions.  The temp was in the mid 50s and there was a tailwind.  It was cloudy early, then it started raining lightly about an hour in.

Take it all off

There are a lot of things people have said to me while running.  I am always getting asked, “How far are you going?” to which I usually reply, “I’m going to keep on running till the wheels fall off and burn.”  Or another similar question, “How many miles have you run?”  If I’m half a mile in, or twenty-five miles in, my response is always the same: “Oh, I’m just gettin’ warmed up.”  Occasionally, I will get a Rocky or a Johnny Rambo shout-out, as some people seem to think I draw a resemblance to Sylvester Stallone.  I’ve never really thought so myself.  One of the most irritating things I, and I’m sure a lot of other runners hear quite frequently is, “Run Forrest, Run”  Fuck off.  I’ve always hated that.  It’s a shit quote and a shit movie.  To this, I give the bird.  

There have been a number of bizarre things people have said to me.  One time, I was running near a trailer park just a few blocks from where I live, when I saw an old pick-up truck driving towards me.  Upon passing me, the pick-up truck driver slammed on his brakes, leaned out the window, and shouted “STOP, YOU THIEF!”  I turned around and yelled back, “I didn’t steal anything.”  I was a little worried at first that he might turn around and drive after me.  Fortunately, I never saw him again.  This happened on a bright sunny day.  I was wearing my typical running garb, shorts and a t-shirt.  No backpack or suspicious looking briefcase in hand.  I don’t know what made him think I was a thief.  Crazy fucker.

Another incident happened when I was running on the Lakefront Trail in Chicago.  I was running south on the trail, with Lake Michigan to my left, and a traffic jam of cars on the road to my right.  A man I had never seen before in my life, shot his head out of the window of one of the stopped cars, and shouted, “HOLY FUCK, IT’S BRANDON!!  MY GOD, I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN AGES!!  SHIT!!  HOW THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, MY MAN?!  HOW’S JACKIE?!  HOW’RE THE KIDS?!  I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M ACTUALLY SEEING YOU AGAIN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!!  WHAT ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT?!  I’LL GIVE YOU A CALL!!”  And he continued screaming at me till I was out of sight and could no longer hear him.  Apparently, I have a twin named Brandon. 

Then there was the religious nut in Appleton.  I lived in Appleton for a couple years, and I would often encounter this short, stubby little man in Tellulah Park, who I think was a little mentally challenged.  Every time I ran past him on the trail, he would say to me, “You can’t run from Jesus,” then he’d chuckle to himself, as if he’d cracked a really funny joke.   

Some of my favorite lines have come from little kids.  One day when I was just getting started on my run, slowly trotting along near the playground in Griese Park, I passed a little girl sitting on the swing.  She looked up at me and said to her father, “Wow, that guy should be in the Olympics.”

There was also a time when I was running on the Mendota Lakeshore Path, and I passed a mother and her son walking on the path.  The boy, who was maybe five or six years old, pointed at me and said, “I bet I could beat him.”  His mother replied, “I don’t know, he looks pretty fast.”

Today, I heard yet another great statement while running.  This time from a geriatric.  It was a toasty one today, in the mid-80s.  After a couple miles, I had worked up a good sweat so I took off my shirt, opting to run bare-chested, leaving me in just my shorts and shoes.  An elderly lady standing on her front porch saw this and shouted, “Take it all off!”  I couldn’t help but laugh.  It made me think of Ned Braden in the movie Slap Shot.  “Take it all off!”  Yes.  Had it been a pretty girl who’d said it, I might’ve actually done it.  Though given that she was an old grandma-type and the fact that I was in a residential neighborhood, I just smiled and waved.  Had it been yesterday, however, I would’ve fit right in wearing nothing but my birthday suit.

Dick Dale And His Del-Tones - Take it off:

Sun, June 9-Sat, June 15

Sun June 9: AM. A 90 min run with MSRC on various paths and streets around Lake Wingra.  The knee was acting up a little towards the end.  It was sunny and in the 60s.

Mon June 10: DNR.  A gorgeous day—sunny and 50°—but didn’t do any running.  Rested knee.

Tues June 11: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was sunny and in the low 50s.  PM. In Deerfield, A 45 min on-shift run— ambulance station loops.  It was cloudy at first, then it cleared up some.  Temp of 72°.

Wed June 12: AM. Ran ~3 miles with the pastry club over residential streets.  It was sunny and in the 60s.  AM2 On the track, ran 6400m in 24:20 (6:04, 6:05, 6:02, 6:07).  It was sunny and 80°.

Thurs June 13: AM. A 90 min run around Lake Monona.  It was rainy at first, then it cleared up and became sunny.  Temp around 70°.

Fri June 14: AM. A 45 min run on residential streets and on the Capital City Trail.  It was sunny and 60°.  PM. In Sunny P, A 30 min run in Sheehan Park.  It was sunny and in the 70s.

Sat June 15: AM. A 90 min run on the Capital City Trail, around Monona Bay, and over residential streets.  It was mostly cloudy and around 60°.

I took a day off on Monday because my right knee was bothering me again.  The knee has continued to be sore and achey the rest of the week.  I think it’s chondromalacia.  In 2016, my right knee was giving me some problems.  The knee problems lasted a few weeks, then it got better on its own.  I’m hoping it goes the same way now, as it did then.  The only difference this time around is that I have a marathon to race in a week.  The knee really doesn’t hinder my ability to run fast, it’s more of just a nuisance.  Other than the knee, I’m feeling really good.

Sun, June 2-Sat, June 8

Sun June 2: AM. In Appleton, A 60 min run on residential and city streets.  Was a little hungover at first, but felt much better after a few miles.  It was mostly sunny and in the 60s.

Mon June 3: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was mostly cloudy and 64°.  No second run— worked late.

Tues June 4: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  It was mostly cloudy and 65°.  No second run— worked late.  Again.  Didn’t get done till after 8:30.  Sheeit.

Wed June 5: AM. On the track, did an 800, 1600, 800, 1600 (2:42, 5:24, 2:46, 5:30).  It was cloudy, a little humid and 68° (dew point of 65°).  PM. A 45 min on-shift run doing loops around the Deerfield ambulance station.  It was mostly sunny and 76°.

Thurs June 6: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and on the Wingra Creek Path.  Right knee was feeling a wee bit achey towards the end.  It was sunny and 60°.

Fri June 7: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  The knee felt okay during the run, but a little sore afterwards.  It was sunny and around 60°.

Sat June 8: AM. In Green Bay for the Bellin Run 10k.  Ran the 10k in 35:34.  I felt flat.  Wasn’t able to fully commit myself.  With the marathon two weeks out, I think my subconscious mind was holding a little something back.  Still a solid tune-up run.  The knee was OK, so that’s a relief.  It was rainy which made the pavement a bit slippery in spots.  Temp around 60°. 

Sun, May 26-Sat, June 1

Sun May 26: AM. Ran the Madtown Half Marathon in 1:18:50.  Felt strong— I think I had a good number of six minute miles left in me. The course was rather hilly and there were a lot of turns.  It was cloudy early, with light rain coming down about half way through.  Temp around 60°.

Mon May 27: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  It was cloudy and 55°.

Tues May 28: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was sunny and in the 50s.  PM. In Deerfield, A 30 min on-shift run— ambulance stations loops.  It was lightly raining and 59°.

Wed May 29: AM. A 65 min run on the Capital City Trail and on trails in Olin Park.  It was sunny and around 50°.  PM. In Deerfield, A 50 min run on the Glacial-Drumlin Trail.  It was sunny and around 60°.

Thurs May 30: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was sunny and 50°.  PM. In Middleton, A 45 min run on trails in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.  It was mostly sunny and in the 60s.

Fri May 31: AM. A 2 hour 35 min run on the Badger State Trail.  It was sunny and in the 60s.

Sat June 1: AM. A 60 min run on the Capital City Trail and Starkweather Creek Trail.  It was cloudy and 65°.

Madtown Half Marathon Recap

This past Sunday I ran the Madtown Half Marathon.  It was a tune-up run, in preparation for Grandma’s Marathon, now four weeks out.  The run went pretty well.  I finished in 1:18:50.  The course was rather hilly and there were a lot of turns.  I ran the first few miles with fellow pastry clubber Alex.  My favorite part of the run came about two miles in.  While Alex and I were running, we passed by a group of quiet onlookers.  In an attempt to create some energy, Alex threw up his arms and shouted, “Come on!  What is this, a fuckin’ Sunday school outing?!”  That really got the crowd fired up and I got a good chuckle out of Alex’s animated exuberance.  Alex was doing the 10k, so he diverted off early.  From three miles to the finish, I was in no-man’s land— I couldn’t hear anybody behind me and the four runners ahead of me were out of sight.  The 10k course followed the same route as the half marathon for the last couple miles so I did, however, have to do a little weaving around the 10k joggers near the end.  The race was not very well organized and at every other intersection, I had to ask bystanders which way to go.  At one of the intersections, the road went only left or right.  After asking which way to turn, the guy at the intersection responded, “You can go either way.”  “This guy’s full of shit,” I thought to myself.  I decided to turn right.  “No!” The guy hollered after me, “You were supposed to turn around at the cone!  I thought you meant which way to go around the cone!”  There were no arrows or signs at the cone that would indicate to turn around and head back the other way.  Eventually, I found my way through the maze to the finish line, still feeling very strong— I think I had a good number of six minute miles left in me.  The weather was beautiful.  Cloudy early, with light rain starting about half way through and a temp around 60°.

Here are some pictures.  Because a picture is worth a thousand words.

Sun, May 19-Sat, May 26

Sun May 19: AM. A 78 min run with MSRC on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt and over various streets and paths.  It was sunny and in the 60s.

Mon May 20: AM. A 30 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was cloudy and 60°.

Tues May 21: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was cloudy and 60°.  PM. In Deerfield, A 30 min on-shift run— ambulance stations loops.  It was partly cloudy, windy and 81°.

Wed May 22: AM. Ran ~6 miles with the pastry club over city and residential streets.  It was partly cloudy and around 60°.  PM. On the track, did 5x400m (74, 72, 73, 72, 73).  It was partly sunny and in the 60s.

Thurs May 23: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  It was sunny and in the 50s.  PM. In Deerfield, a 30 min on-shift run— ambulance stations loops.  Ate too much junk food from the EMS lounge before run.  It was sunny and 75°.

Fri May 24: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was mostly cloudy and 57°.

Sat May 25: AM. A 33 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was sunny and 33°.

No matter what the weather

Friday is heaven… Friday is HEAVEN!!

A few days ago, the weather channel on my television stopped coming thru.  Of the fifty or so channels my antenna TV picks up, the weather channel is probably the one I’d watch the most.  I’ll admit I am somewhat of a weather channel addict.  Every morning before heading out for a run, I would check the weather channel to see what the temperature is.  During this time of year, the weather is usually pretty nice.  This past week however, there has been everything from sun, to clouds, to rain, and even a tornado in the area on Tuesday evening.  All of this crazy weather has taken me by surprise, as I haven’t been able to tune into the weather channel.  And I don’t have internet access at my home, so I can’t look up the forecast online.  

Thankfully, I have found a solution.  If I dial the number “262-965-2074” into my Punkt MP02 dumbphone, a friendly robot weatherman will tell me the current weather conditions in Madison, including the wind speed and direction, relative humidity, dew point, and pressure.  It’s quite nifty.

I’m not sure if it’s the weather, or the fact that I will be running a half marathon this Sunday and my mind is telling me to “fuel up”, but my appetite has been in the clouds.  This week is National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week.  Each of the hospitals that I drop patients off at have loaded up their EMS lounges with all sorts of wonderful healthy foods- cakes, cookies, doughnuts, etc…  And I have been taking full advantage.  Every day this week, I have had two doughnuts.  Even on Wednesday, my day off, I had two doughnuts during the pastry club run.  Fortunately, I am a runner and can afford to pig out like this every now and then.

I have also been on a major XTC binge lately.  This is something that I can recommend to anyone—you can get as high as a kite without getting a hangover or gaining a pound.  Of all the XTC songs about “weather”—and there are several great ones—(Deliver Us From The Elements, Heatwave, Ballet For A Rainy Day, 1000 Umbrellas, Season Cycle, Blame The Weather, Snowman)—I think this might be my favorite:

You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful:

And every morning before I’m awake

I walk around the world

To make sure she’s alright

And every evening, ‘fore I bolt the door

I give the stars a stir

To make sure they will spin all night

For I see people who will scratch

And spit and kick and fight

And I see nations war about whether

Right is left and whether wrong is right

And I know storms inside your head

Can amplify the plight

But no matter what the weather

You and the clouds will still be beautiful

No matter what the weather

You and the clouds will still be beautiful

Sun, May 12-Sat, May 18

Sun May 12: AM. A 2 hour run with MSRC on city and residential streets and various paths.  It was mostly sunny and in the 60s.

Mon May 13: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  It was partly cloudy and 64.°

Tues May 14: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was cloudy and 50.°  PM. A 30 min run on the Glacial-Drumlin Trail.  It was partly cloudy and around 60.°

Wed May 15: AM. Ran ~6 miles with the pastry club over city and residential streets.  It was mostly sunny and in the upper 40s.  AM2 On the track, ran 10,000m in 38:54 (6:13, 6:14, 6:17, 6:10, 6:13, 6:12, 94), ran a loop around Lake Wingra in 45 mins, then ran another 10,000m on the track in 38:02 (6:14, 6:03, 5:59, 6:12, 6:03, 6:02, 87).  Running total ~30k in ~2 hours 2 mins.  It was sunny and in the 50s-60s.

Thurs May 16: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was mostly cloudy and 53.°  PM. In Middleton, A 30 min on-shift run up and down Market St and the South Fork Trail.  It was sunny and 73.°

Fri May 17: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  It was sunny and in the 50s.

Sat May 18: AM. Ran the Kent Kretchmar Klassic 5k course twice, the first time in 20:52 (7:23, 7:05, 5:47, 0:35), the second time in 19:52 (6:58, 6:50, 5:32, 0:32).  It was sunny and around 60°.  PM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was mostly sunny and 82.°

I'm feeling terrific. Things are really starting to click.  I'm lucky.  I'm winning.  I'm soaring with confidence.  Right now, I've got everything in the world going for me.  I don't think anyone can beat me.  Just by thinking that, I might be right.

I’ve had this stuck in my head for the past week— 

XTC - Burning with Optimism’s Flames:

☺

I can’t stop this grinning

So assume I’m winning

Sun, May 5-Sat, May 11

Sun May 5: AM. At Dawson’s Cabin (somewhere between Phillips and Manitowish Waters), A 2 hour 30 min run on country roads and trails around the Pike Lake Chain— same route as yesterday.  It was sunny and in the 30s-40s.

Mon May 6: AM. A 32 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was sunny and in the mid 40s.  PM. A 30 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was sunny and in the 60s.

Tues May 7: AM. A 52 min run on the Capital City Trail and on trails in Olin Park.  It was cloudy and 58.°

Wed May 8: AM. A 45ish min pastry club run on residential streets and paths.  It was sunny and in the 50s.  AM2 On the track, did 2x2000m (7:20, 7:18).  It was sunny and in the 60s.  PM. A 40ish min run with the Beers for Miles group on the Capital City Trail and residential streets.  It was mostly sunny and in the 70s.

Thurs May 9: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was lightly raining and 54.°  PM. In Deerfield, A 33 min run on the Glacial-Drumlin Trail.  It was cloudy and 58.°

Fri May 10: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and on residential streets.  It was mostly sunny and 47.°  PM. In Middleton, A 20 min on-shift run up and down Market St and the South Fork Trail.  It was mostly sunny and 67.°

Sat May 11: AM. Ran the Kent Kretchmar Klassic 5k course in 17:59.  It was sunny, a little windy and around 50.°

Night Thoughts

The night is black.  So black that I can’t even see my hand when I put it directly in front of my face.  I hope I'm not going blind.  

I went for a run earlier this evening with some friends while it was still light out.  The sky was blue with only a few wispy clouds.  The temperature was in the mid 70s.  It has been a gorgeous day.  After running, my friends and I sat outside and drank some beers.  

That was about four hours ago.  Now I am relaxing in my comfy eames chair, staring out the window into the darkness.  My old friend, Mr. Jack Daniels, is here to keep me company.  He is a good companion on dark, lonely nights like tonight.  

I feel like doing something but I’m not sure what.  It is late, though I’m not tired enough to go to bed.  What shall I do?  

Let me think…

I got all my running in for today.  

I spent a few hours this morning banging on the piano keys and I’m all pianoed out.  

I have already read all the books on my shelf.  

The Brewers played earlier today (they blew it).

Maybe I’ll watch some television.  I turn on the idiot box.  

Bob Ross is painting a picture— Nah.  *Change the channel*  

A documentary about planets— No.  *Change the channel*  

The Giants are beating the Rockies 8-4.  Nope.  *Change the channel* 

A commercial about life insurance.  I’d rather die than watch that shit.  *Change the channel*  

Green Acres *Change the channel* 

The X-Files *Change the channel* 

“Gruber Law Offices— One Call, that’s…*Change the channel*

The weather man is talking about how lovely it is in Southern California.  The weather is always lovely in Southern California.  *Change the channel*

*Change the channel*

*Change the channel*

*Change the channel*

... I get about 50 channels and every one of them is garbage.  Junk.  Filth.  Nothing’s any good.  I turn off the TV.                      

Suddenly it hits me.  I know what to do!  I’ll do some writing.  I like to write.  I feel like I write best when I use a pencil and paper.  Call me old fashioned, I don’t mind.  That’s how I want to be.

Okay, I have my Dixon No. 2 and a clean white sheet of paper, college ruled.  Now all I need is the soft tone of musik.  And a candle, so I can see what I'm writing.  Here I go…

"Words are pouring from my pencil like cold beer going down my dry throat on a hot summer's day.  I am thirsty and it tastes good.  The thirst to write is keeping me up.  The clock just struck ten, Sonny Rollins & the Contemporary Leaders are gently swinging, and the candle on my desk is burning dimly.  The atmosphere couldn't be more perfect. My mind is as sharp as the point of my Dixon No. 2..."

*crumbles up paper, throws it into wastebasket.  (A three-pointer)*

It sucks.  I'm no good.  It was all a lie.  I am not thirsty and my mind is not sharp.  In fact, it is duller than ( ).  So dull that I cannot even think of a metaphor for a dull object.  That dull.

At least my shots are falling for me.  I think I'll just spend the rest of the night hanging with Sonny and Jack and shooting paper balls into the wastebasket.

Good night.

Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders - I've Told Ev'ry Little Star: