I'll bet your friends must hate my now I guess
I get the strangest looks from that bitchy crowd
And oh they must think they have every reason to

- airborne toxic event, does this mean you're moving on?

Friday afternoon is the best time to hit the gym, it seems. I counted only 6 people on the whole second floor while i was working out, and not a gym bunny in the bunch to give me weird looks. Today I had a good one. Did a sweaty 2 miles on incline dreadmill, then a mile on track broken up every 3 laps with strength training. It's a good workout and a nice way to break up the running. I ate like a hog after I did this the other day though, which is why I did it again today. Bf is taking me to my favorite restaurant tonight so I need a good appetite!

Rant of the Refugee

Warm yourself by the fire, son,
And the morning will come soon.
I’ll tell you stories of a better time,
In a place that we once knew.
-Rise Against
I didn't have a lot of time today, because I have to take my son to get some shots.  Wait - it feels like I've written that before.  I have a long rant on this subject, but I don't think I can deliver it coherently, so I'll just sum up.  This situation speaks to a system that is really broken and I, as a fake immigrant, can only resolve it one of two ways:  1) call in a favor from a friend who is a pediatrician (who is awesome and thank you) or 2) drive my ass (and my son's ass) up to Toronto and it get it done there.  I'm assuming a real immigrant wouldn't have the local network to use option 1 and so would be in a tough spot.  Oh yeah, option 3 is pull my son out of school for the next 3 weeks while I wait for an appointment.  I guess I'll just say that I respect everyone's right to have an opinion on any issue, especially one as complex as health care, but if you are going to use the "Obamacare sucks because it is just like Canada" argument, please don't say that shit anywhere near me.

Did I say that I wasn't going to rant?  Huh.  Oh well.  Onto other news.  I ran today.  Short and fast.  I ran the 2.1 mile loop in the neighborhood.  I had 15 minutes as a target, but am OK with just over 16.  I'm going to assume it was 15 minutes for the first 2 miles and then the .1 took the rest of the time.

And let's add "Prayer of the Refugee" by Rise Against to the official playlist.  I really like this band - I'm afraid they may have jumped the shark on their last album, but this earlier stuff is great.  Here's the link.  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-SQGOYOjxs

Today I don't feel like doing anything

I just wanna lay in my bed.
- Bruno Mars

I've felt that way all week pretty much. I drug my ass to the gym feeling like I was still half asleep. I did a sloggish (sure, that's a word) 2 miles on dreadmill and then rode a bike for 10 minutes. I hope I come out of this slump soon. Maybe when the weather cools.

Nice Shot

For the most part they're right
But look how they all got strong
That's why I say hey man, nice shot
-Filter

Back to the gym today.  I didn't have too much time, so I decided I would do some fast running.  My first thought was to try to do 3 miles in 21 minutes.  Then I did the division and realized that wasn't what we were doing today.  So I thought I would do some intervals and see what happened.  I ran fast for .75 mile and then walked for .25 mile and repeated 3 times.  And then I ran a little extra at the end.  Total ended up at 3.5 miles.

I was in a hurry because I have to take my son for shots this afternoon so he can continue to go to school.  One of the rules in Texas is that a certain shot has to be on or after the 4th birthday, and he got his a week before he turned 4.  Seems reasonable that this doesn't count and that he would be removed from school if we don't get this accomplished by Friday.  Sorry - should have put a sarcasm alert in front of that last sentence.

So at the end of my run on the treadmill I lifted a few weights.  I ended up cutting my leg on something in the gym while I was lifting.  Maybe I'll see if I can get a tetanus shot thrown in for free ...

Mixing it up

Today I did one mile at 2% incline on dreadmill, then I did the bf workout which entails running laps around the track and doing strength training every 3 laps. So I did a mile of this, interspersed with vertical crunches, dips, bosu planks and pushups, hip flexors, incline sit-ups, and hamstring pulls. It was a nice way to mix things up although I probably should have run more. It was tiring! Also the flouncy gym bunny was back and walking around the track with me. I'm starting to think she has a personal mission to harass me. This time she had a purple flouncy skirt with black bra. It's that Lululemon crap, which basically screams "I want you to think I'm rich and I think I'm hot." Good times.

Geriatric Gym

He likes the warm feeling but he's tired of all the dehydration
-The Hold Steady

We're talking about running, right?  As much as I enjoy the warm feeling of running outside, it's just too damn warm.  And so I joined a gym.  But I don't really want to go to the gym, I really want to run outside.  So instead of joining the nameless fitness center (that is open all day, all 24 hours in the day - by the way) that I visited last week, I decided to go a different route.  I joined a city rec center.  One year costs as much as a month at the other place.  They have treadmills - I'll be fine.

So I go today.  One of the things I don't like about going to the "real" gym in the middle of the day is that there are so many people there who prioritizie the gym over work (and not in the good way, like "I have a job, but they are pissing me off so I'm going to the gym" more in the "me lift weights, me no work" type of way).  Anyway - that wasn't the crowd I encountered at the rec center.  I walk in and there is a woman wearing jeans on the treadmill and she is holding court - asking everyone in the room if they watch some show.  I realize my trusty, fully-charged iPod is going to be my best friend today.  Except it isn't fully charged.  And it lasts about 10 minutes.  And so I heard lots of what she had to say - including how one of her friends really likes the man she is dating because he has a disabled placard and can park close to things.  Luckily, she eventually put on her sweater and left.  Which makes sense, since it was only 95 degrees out.  (Did I mention the crowd was a bit on the older side?)

Oh yeah, I ran on the treadmill.  I did incline intervals.  I ran at the same speed, but for 1/2 of each mile I ran at incline.  It was pretty good and fairly difficult.  4 miles.  Then I left - no sweater needed.

It's a beautiful day

I went to the gym first thing and did my normal 3 miles while watching the show on the track. There was a veritable cornucopia of people going after it today: the boxing crowd alternating laps with boxing drills, an old lady walking around the track in her long cotton t-shirt and denim shorts, a skinny gal who is always there walking laps with a sweater over her shoulders and talking on a cell phone the whole time, and a couple others. On the treadmill I was next to one of those skinny buff chicks who run at 6.5 with no shirt on, and an older lady strolling while reading a book. Right in the middle where I'm most comfortable. Then I showered and went to sign the closing paperwork on my old house, which has been a financial pain in the ass for six years. Yay!!!!

Misplaced trust in old friends
Never counting the regrets
By the grace of God, I do not rest at all
- Ron Pope, a drop in the ocean

It was a relatively uneventful day at the gym today. Two miles on treadmill at incline and one on track. I thought perhaps I should be ramping up for something, a half marathon perhaps. Nah.

Home For A Rest

You"ll have to excusee me, I'm not at my best

I've been gone for a month, I've been drunk since I left
These so-called vacations will soon be my death
I'm so sick from the drink I need home for a rest.
-Spirit of the West

 

One thing I've been thinking about is treating the half marathon as a series of smaller runs in between water stations.  I might do better if I run to the water station, walk while I enjoy my refreshment, and then run to the next station.  This does mean that I lose one of my favorite parts of the half marathon - grabbing a cup and drinking while running and then tossing the cup down wherever.  It makes me feel like an Olympic athlete.  And it reminds me of that Seinfeld episode with the coffee.  So much that I like.  But anyway, I thought today I would run a 2.1 mile loop around my neighborhood, stop at my house for water, and repeat, and then repeat again.  It would be a little bit like a hockey game - 3 periods with intermissions.

First loop was uneventful.  Water break was nice.  Second loop was a little painful.  Water break was extended a little and I changed my drenched shirt for one that would soon be drenched.  Third loop was difficult.  But all in all successful.  6.3 miles.  No heat stroke or dehydration.

Raindrops bead again
They make a tide pool on your summer skin
Rollin, Better Than Ezra

It rained again last night and this morning. I can't emphasize enough how weird this August weather is, or how much I love it. I ran outside at 1030 and it was only 80 degrees, but muggy. I got a lot of cloud cover and mostly sun the last mile. I did 3.5 and walked the last one. Fat dog really struggled. At one point she just laid her fat ass down on the sidewalk under a tree. We got home and she crashed just inside the door, and hasn't moved since.

Swimming with Turtles

You've gotta swim
Swim for your life
Swim for the music that save you
When you're not so sure you'll survive
- Jacks Mannequin, Swim

It may have been a mistake, but I hiked the mountain this morning.  It rained last night, and while my car told me it was only 80 degrees, the air was so thick it was like swimming against the current trying to get up that mountain.  I ran a little but it was clear pretty quickly that that wasn't happening. I passed a lady coming down the mountain with a little white dog in a carrier like this: 


What a way to walk the dog, eh?  Now I've seen it all.  I hiked to the top of the mountain and I was such a sweaty mess, I found about 8 gnats drowned in the sweat on my arms.  4 miles. 

High

I was gonna go to work
But then I got high
My boss was a effing jerk
So I got high
Now I'm unemployed
And I know why, yeah yeah
Because I'm high, because I'm high, because I'm high
- Afroman

A little take on an old favorite today. Not a good day at the gym. I waited until this afternoon because I did have some work to get done this morning. And maybe it's cause I didn't eat much today or cause I had two beers last night, but I just felt pretty weak. I did a mile on tread and then 10 min on bike while watching K run on the track. It turns out her idea of working out is running about six laps and taking a rest break after every two, then lounging on the massage table while waiting for me to get done. So from that perspective, I didn't do too bad today.

Yesterday I got up early and went outside at about 7 when we were still in our "cool" streak. It was tough and I took ample walk breaks in the last mile, but I did 3.5.

Isn't It Ironic?

Rely a bit too heavily
On alcohol and irony
-The Weakerthans

It rained last night and was threatening again this morning and I didn't have a lot of time, so I decided on a quick run.  I did 5 longer intervals (about 90 seconds) and with the recovery jogging, walking, and panting, I covered about 2 miles. 

Time for another song for the official playlist.  Aside by The Weakerthans.  It's hard to believe the band didn't know me when the above lyrics were written.  Unlike their fellow Canadian, Alanis Morissette, I'm confident these guys do know the definition of irony.  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcVDon1F-IQ

How old is your soul?

The gods were smiling on me this morning. It rained in the desert last night, and it was a remarkable 80 degrees this morning as I started up the trail.  As I climbed a rocky hill near the 1.5 mile mark, I ran into this old soul on the trail. He was so beautiful and I couldn't believe my luck. I probably wouldn't have seen him at all except this girl pointed him out to me. I sat with him for about 20 minutes just watching him amble his way up the trail and pointing him out to the few other folks on the mountain this morning. I watched him until he found his way back into the brush. After that, I knew I had to go all the way to the top and I did. There was a remarkably cool wind blowing at the top and I wanted to weep with joy. It felt like fall. As I made my way down the back of the mountain the sun did make an appearance, to my dismay. I feared I would melt, and thought about the lone black girl on my high school basketball team, when she was complaining one day about having to run in the heat. Coach said "don't worry, you won't melt" and she put her hands on her hips and said "why you think they call me brown sugar?". I don't know why I remember that, but it makes me laugh sometimes when I'm exercising in the sun. And then, if you thought this run couldn't get any more strange, I passed a guy on a unicycle making his way up the trail. I. Kid. You. Not.  

Blessed weather

Today was another incredible August day. It was 87 degrees this morning and overcast, so I went to the mountain. I did 3 miles this time and ran about half of it both up and down. I have definitely lost the fitness level I had when I was doing the whole 4.5 in just over an hour, but it is so much nicer than the gym even though the air wasn't really moving today so it was a little sticky. The trail is a lot rockier than it used to be too, maybe from the monsoons and lack of traffic. I did see a few people out this morning but not many. It's supposed to stay this unseasonably cool through Saturday, so I'm planning to do it again tomorrow!

Dr. Feelgood

I don't need no doctor
-Peter Frampton

Here's a conversation I had with my favorite doctor of philosophy.

Me:  My foot hurts
Her:  Sounds like a stress fracture
Me:  Why do you say that?
Her:  I don't know.  You run.  Your foot huts.  Sounds bad

OK.  So despite this fictional diagnosis I decided to go to the gym today.  Inspired by sightings of Brett Michaels and weird treadmill people, I signed up for a FREE 3 day pass to a gym.  So I go to the gym and meet Eric who reads the price sheet to me to join and starts his textbook high pressure pitch.

Me:  I think I'll work out first and then decide
Eric:  Oh - well then it's $15
Me:  It says free
Eric:  No - it's $15

Then I look at Eric as if I'm trying to figure out which orafice I'm going to reach in to pull his liver out of his body

Eric: Don't worry about it dog - I'll take care of you.  Just come see me when you're done to sign up.

Thanks Eric.  Awesome.  So I lift a little and then hit the treadmill.  And then try another treadmill when that one can't go faster than 5.  And then try another one when that one won't start.  Treadmill #4 worked like a champ and I did some intervals and ran a total of 6 miles.  I then hit the showers and only had to try two of them before finding one that worked.  Somehow I forgot to go see Eric on my way out.  I'm not even sure I want my other 2 days. 

Just a Girl

I'm just a girl in the world...
That's all that you'll let me be
I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some
- No Doubt

Today is this really odd weather in the valley.  It's overcast and fog-like, which is incredibly unusual for August.  It's been over 110 every day for over a week now.  But this morning it was a crisp and cool 88 degrees when I dropped my boy off, so I headed for the mountain instead of the gym.  Yes it's hotter outside, but the air moves.  I think I did about 2.5, and when I got down it was still only 88 degrees.  I could have gone further I guess, but I was really worried the sun would come out from behind the clouds when I was out there, and then they'd find my body fried and burned under the rocks with the rattlesnakes.  Also, I did turn my ankle, but I didn't fall.  They are paving the road to the mountain, which is a little sad.  The dirt road makes it seem so much more rugged.  One of the construction workers warned me to be careful because he'd seen two snakes this morning. 

Also, I can't believe I forgot to blog yesterday.  I did three on the indoor track at the gym.  Relatively uneventful. 

Pithy or Pissy?

For today I hate everyone.
Today I hate everyone.
-The Killjoys

Ran 4.75 today.  That is all I have to say.

I'm in the club and I'm gonna do do do do
Just what the f*ck I came here to do do do do
But
I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
- taio cruz, dynamite

So I'm on the treadmill this morning minding my own bidness when here comes this gym bunny and there's a dozen treadmills open but she gets on the one next to me. She's wearing this spaghetti strap sports bra with these giant fake boobies hanging out the top, and a short running skirt with layers of flounce that bounce when she runs. No shirt. So I am immediately uncomfortable and think about switching treadmills because I feel like I'm caught in the glare of the spotlight she's aiming for, but I continue my sweaty slog jog. Then, she turns the incline way up and starts walking backwards so we are kind of facing each other. Ugh. I keep my eyes trained on the TVs though they are constantly distracted by the bouncing of boobies and flouncing of skirt. Somebody just shoot me please. THEN she starts doing this side facing walk where she crosses leg over leg with her arm draped over the front of the treadmill, and then sashays into a samba-type movement and she's facing me directly. Seriously, am I being punk'd?? I look around for the cameras. Sadly no. I escape to the track to finish my run. 3 miles.

Haboob!

Batten down the hatches
Here comes the cold
I can feel it creepin
It's makin me old
You give me so much love that it blows my brains out
- Pain Killer, by Turin Brakes

Well it wasn't at all cold, but we did have a might dust storm tonight. I don't know if Haboob is the technically correct terminology, but I sure like saying it. I went to NYPD pizza to stalk my daughter at her first real job and came home crazy full. So since the sun was down I decided I'd go for a short run. It was probably still 105 out but there was a small blessed breeze blowing. Fat dog had a tough time of it. She doesn't get much exercise when I'm a gym rat. So we jogged about 1.5 and walked 1 back and got home with a fine coat of dust sticking to my sweat. Total of 2.5 tonight, which is a bonus because weekends are my days off from not working and running.

One house, two house, old house, new house

I do not like green eggs and ham
I do not like them, Sam-I-am
-Dr. Seuss

I was going to write this blog in the style of Dr. Seuss, but that is really hard.  Just pretend it rhymes.

Today I ran my first long run in a while.  I was hoping for 6, but it was about 5.5.  My plan was to run from my house, past my old house (not the one in Toronto), to the University and then head back home.

As I started running I was thinking about these terrible concrete paths they have in Houston.  They look a lot like sidewalks, but since no one walks anywhere they must have some other hidden purpose.  (Incidentally - I find myself searching to make sure I don't run over pedestrians when I drive and being surprised every time when I never see any).  Anyway, the ground shifts a lot and so there are surprising drops that can be unpleasant - especially when you think your foot is going to land somewhere but it doesn't actually land until a few inches lower.  So I was watching the sidewalk to make sure that I saw where my feet were going when I saw "Jesus!" written (handprints at Mann's Chinese Theater style).  I wondered if this is devotion, blashpemy, or just some guy named Jesus (that's Hey Zeus for my Northern readers) writing his name.  I'm laying odds at 2:1 devotion and I'm wondering if Jesus really supports graffiti.  Or gambling on the reason behind the graffiti.

Ran past my old house - looks like crap as they are doing some renovations.  They tore up the front yard, but only seem to working on the garage on the side.  I'm sure there is a plan.  Then I went to the jogging track.  I broke my rule against talking to people when I run to ask  "gasp, pant, is the water fountain this way?".  Got the affirmative answer and then started cursing her for lying when it kept not being there.  Of course - I too would have said anything to get away from me.  When it finally showed up I mentally apologized.

I realized on the way home that I also need to issue a public apology to my Las Vegas 1/2 marathon t-shirt.  It did, in fact, provide some cooling the other day.  I just didn't realize it until I ran today.  

We are calling this a successful long run - 5.5 counts as a short long run - not as a long short run.  Have your own Dr. Seuss fun with that.

I nearly fell.

Twice. While running on the indoor track today. This has happened before, a number of times. The track is made of this rubberized material, and when I'm tired I tend to drag my feet a little. Which can be disastrous when there are nearly imperceptible ridges in the track, because the shoe doesn't drag, it sticks. And I stumble. Once today was in front of the damn treadmills. I am waiting for the day when I will wipe out entirely in front of all of the beautiful people. I wonder if someone will come to my aid, or if they will all just stare I'm horror and then snicker in their smug confidence that THEY would never be so clumsy. I, on the other hand, am famously clumsy when running. Last summer I went sprawling full-out in front of bf on a trail in Pinetop. A couple years ago I again went full on face plant when running with a group training for a half marathon. Gashed my knee up pretty good on that one, but I popped up off the ground so fast it was just like it never happened (or so I convinced myself). Because if you don't look at people in those situations they can't see you. I lost it once on Broadway road in Tempe, a busy road. Fell in the dirt that time, headphones and my sporty yellow Walkman went flying, cars buzzing by with huge eyeballs in the windows. I limped back home with dirt all over me but no real other injury. Just my pride. Wounded pride aside, I did a fairly decent 3 today.

Today I went in for my annual physical and learned my body fat is about 28 percent lower than it was 2 years ago, which is pretty cool. My BMI was down a couple points too. So that was a good way to start my day. Then I went to the gym and I really struggled on dreadmill again. It's almost like I was fatigued from yesterday. Pathetic, I know. I got two miles done but there was a class going on on the track with about 15 people doing lunges and jumping over shit, and they were taking up both lanes. I'm not sure if this is allowed, or if they are supposed to keep one lane open for runners. But I didn't have the energy to figure it out, I just left. I spent several hours yesterday trying to fix my leaky toilet with thread tape and super glue, but remarkably it didn't work. So I had to get home and call someone. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Structure and Compromise

But the fist I've made for years won't hold or feel
No I'm not all me
So please excuse me while I tend to how I feel
-Metallica

So I had some designs on a long run today, but I was on a call that took longer than I expected and so I modified my plans.  I decided to do a structured run - 10 minutes of a slow jog, 10 minutes of a fairly fast run, and then 10 minutes of a slow jog.  As you know, I'm not so big on watches or timing things, and so I decided that 3 songs roughly equals 10 minutes and so I would alternate in sets of 3 songs. 

I think I started out all wrong.  I jog at the most comfortable pace I can.  And so if I'm now supposed to jog at a slower pace to conserve energy for the running portion then I'm already uncomfortable and it's the easy part.  Anyway, I made it to the part where we run and took off.  And immediately started making compromises in my mind.  I decided I would run hard for one song and then walk for one and then run hard for another.  A little bit disappointing, but not unexpected.  Not like the sour-faced vaulter, more like Lolo.

I think it was a good run overall.  I think I really need to add more structured runs (or intervals) into the mix.  Total distance was about 3 miles.

Also - Structure and Compromise will be the title of these blogs when I release them as an album.  Just having some trouble with Morgan Freeman's people for the voice overs.

Mr. Humidity

But we’ve been sweating while you slept so calm,
In the safety of your home.
-Rise Against

Woke up this morning a little later than planned, immediately rescheduled my 8:00 call to 8:30 and went for a run.  I ran just under 4 this morning before it got unbearably hot.  It was unbearably humid - I wasn't sure there was any air left in the air, it just felt like low density water.  So I not only had to carry myself on this run, but the roughly 10 pounds of sweat that was trapped in my shirt - my mesh Las Vegas run shirt, which did not provide any cooling whatsoever. 

I did figure out a general route for a run that takes me by a friend's house which opens up the possibility for a halftime.  But no luck today.

I got back, showered, and then got on the call.  And then started sweating again.  And then I took the kids to play miniature golf and started sweating again.  Blending nicely. 

It's the most wonderful time

Of the year!!!
- traditional Christmas carol and back to school ditty

This has been the song in my head for the last few days. Kids are back to school today!!! Woot!!! Back to routines and bedtimes and family dinners!!

So after I dropped J at the bus, I went to the gym and struggled through two on the dreadmill. They are resurfacing the bball court and had these industrial sized fans on the other side of the gym away from the treadmills. I don't know why they can't put a couple of those damn things by the treadmills to cool the place off. As I was running, two of the gym beauties in tight yoga clothes started walking around the track side by side doing lunges, and I was annoyed thinking that I would have to excuse myself to get by them when I did my last mile on the track. And lo and behold, here comes this hippie looking guy with a ponytail out the back of his baseball hat running around the track and he had to stop and tap one on the shoulder and excuse himself to get by and I was really annoyed on his behalf. Walkers are supposed to stay in the outside lanes!! But after that they started paying attention and they moved for me. So hippie guy was then doing medicine ball and bosu stuff and I looked at him on my laps by because he was a rather odd figure at the gym. He had a baseball cap on with ponytail, and these giant earmuff style headphones. Then I notice he's pretty tatted up. Then I saw he had this thick gold chain around his neck, and suddenly it clicked. This has to be Brett Michaels. He lives near me and his daughters go to school with my kids. He always has a hat or bandana on. Then I remembered someone pointing out his girlfriend to me a couple years ago at a social event at the club. Then I remembered reading that he recently broke up with his on and off girlfriend of 20 years and mother of his kids, which would explain why he's at the gym. I still wasn't sure but was definitely planning to blog that it was him. And on my next lap by he looked at me and smiled, and it was definitely him. So then I figured those idiot girls did that on purpose and I felt a little bad for him. And then he got on the track behind me and I was terrified I would fall down. But I didn't. And then this db dude comes to the track with a giant grin on his face and stopped Michaels to say hi. Then he went to another area of the gym and I left and texted bf and my sis about my unexpected brush with fame!!! At least B-list fame. And I did an extra .3 miles while I enjoyed the spectacle, so 3.33 in total today.

My whole heart shook when I read in that book “you can never go home again”
But the man was wrong
‘Cause the light’s still on
-Ron Hawkins

I ran 3 miles in Houston today.  Early in my run I wanted to cross a major street so that I could run along the bayou and, as a law-abiding citizen, I pressed the crosswalk button.  Immediately it starts speaking "wait ... wait ... wait ... wait ...wait" so loud that I could hear it over my iPod.  I was about to start playing real life Frogger just to get away from it, when the light turned and it had some other instruction that I didn't wait around to hear.

I really really sweated a lot on this run.  This climate change (I mean for me personally, not the Al Gore stuff) is a pretty difficult adjustment.  But not the only one I face.  It was one thing to be a confused immigrant in a foreign country, it is way more disconcerting when it is your own.  On my run tonight I had to dodge the giant garbage bins that were put out for pickup tomorrow morning.  My garbage bin is twice the size of the one I had in Toronto and it is picked up twice as often.  My recycle bin is minuscule, but the list of excluded items is long.  I saw someone throw a beer bottle in the trash can this weekend and it felt more wrong than seeing someone smoke pot in the middle of the street.  Or maybe the same wrong. 

You can never go home again.  Ron is full of wisdom, but I may have to fight him on this one.

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
- Adele

Yeah I know that's a remake but Adele does it beautifully. I inadvertently took a week off so it was back to the gym today. I was greeted by the kitchen employees taking turns scooping ice out of a garbage can into the ice machine. Hmmm. Wasn't that the root problem of the gastrointestinal problems experienced by Las Vegas runners last year? Excuse number one for me this week. I begrudgingly got on the treadmill and after I started running I noticed how gross it was, covered in sweat drips from whatever nastyass person was on it before me. Treadmill running really is a special form of torture for me. So I stepped off and got a wet wipe to antibacterialize it whilst jogging. I only had 2 miles in me today. I'm sure it was because of the contaminated ice.