No ghosties

When you're born to run
It's so hard to just slow down
So don't be surprised to see me
Back in the bright part of town
- Steve Winwood

Got this little gem via shuffle on the iPhone this evening. I had a fantabulous run around the hood, racing to be home before the ghosties knocked on my door. Alas, it was dark by the time I got home, but still I didn't see a single goblin or spook. My neighborhood sucks for Halloween, and I know this, yet I bought a ginormous bag of candy at Costco so I can sit and think about it on the counter whilst doing my best not to devour it. So October wasn't so good - only 11 days of running and 39 miles and no yogas. Ouch. But tomorrow is another month my friends!! I shall get back up, brush October from my shoulders and run on.

No I didn't run today

Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?
Oh simple thing, where have you been?
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
- Keane

You drink too much

Guess we drink just the same
- The Stokes

It took until 7pm but I did in fact get off the couch today and run. 3.5. So suck on that.

Sweaty

No musical inspiration this morning. I did an ugly sweat 2.5 on the treadmill looking out over rainy Portland. But the point is I went to the gym before my meetings.

The end is beautiful

I was taped up to fight, I had my speech ready
Then like only you can, you stole the air out from me
You said, however you go, I'll be cheering you on
In the end what's the difference how it all went wrong?
Hey, that's something
The truth is what you believe it is
And it doesn't have to hurt
- Jimmy Eat World
I was blessed to have some free time in Seattle this afternoon to take a run in the cool rain. Unprepared as I was, it was a gorgeous run. The kind of run that reminded me why I do this. I felt strong. I put this song on repeat and it spoke to me. The end is beautiful. The fall colors are amazing. 3 miles.

Yesterday I did a 5k with my sweet girl and it was hot and I was breathless and it just didn't feel good. So I'm ever more grateful for today.

#4 #4?

This much I can say:
I would've waited till the oceans fell away
And all the sunken cities
Would reveal themselves to you
But you won't, will you?
Because you never do
- Decemberists

I ran four tonight in Georgia. Not sure why, except that I felt like keeping on. It was a beautiful evening.

Smile fades in the summer

Look to the past and remember a smile 

Maybe tonight I can breathe for awhile 

 - Blink 182 

So the running thing isn't going so well. I did 3.5 on Sunday and 3.5 today but they were rather sluggish miles around the neighborhood with lots of walking. Last week I was in CA most of the week and didn't get a run in. And Saturday I just slept most of the day away. I'm still looking forward to Bisbee though. I'm excited to see the town and participate in this cool and unique event, the Bisbee 1000. I'm forcing myself to remember I signed up for the fun and not to compete or be critical of my performance. This election has me a little depressed. It makes me profoundly sad to see all the hateful vitriol and defense of a mysogynist. And blaming a woman for the actions of her husband. And all the talk of assault. I remember the first time I was "assaulted". Not even sure why I feel the need to put that in quotes. I was in second grade I think, on the school bus. This group of boys was grabbing the crotches of some girls who passed by. They were on both sides of the aisle so I found it difficult to get by. It got progressively worse over a period of days as I recall and I remember how angry I was. It was picture day and I complained to a teacher in the gym that this group of boys was grabbing me. So yes I think they had taken it off the bus too. And this female teacher told me to stop asking for the attention. It was my fault because I had asked for it somehow. And didn't do a damn thing to those boys. And I was so mad because I thought one of them was my friend. And in that class picture I think I'm staring angrily at the camera. I think I had been crying. I haven't even thought about that since until the question was posed this week. And every single girl has a story like this. Every one. I wonder how it might have impacted me if the teacher had affirmed that my body was my own and those boys were wrong. And if they had been punished. Maybe not much. Maybe something. 

The curse of the costco raisins

Come on let me hold you, touch you, feel you, always

Kiss you, taste you, all night, always 

 - Blink 182

I had a fairly decent 3.5 mile run in the hood tonight after falling prey to the dastardly raisins. I knew I shouldn't get them. I knew I couldn't control myself. But I guess if you're gonna have a vice, chocolate raisins aren't so bad. I can feel my inner fit person returning bit by bit after the Summer of Sloth. It's good. 

A good one

You still look like a Friday night 

You're still caught between the plans and the dreams 

So that neither end up working out right 

 - Dawes 

So yeah I took some time off last week. On accident. I did run two miles at the gym on Weds but otherwise I was tired and or hungover and I just didn't feel like it. But today I had a good mountain run, best this year for sure.  So I had 46 miles for September which isn't great but better than the summer of awfulness. 

Because The Booty Don't Lie

Hey sister am I good enough for your heaven?
Say will your God accept me in my black and white?
Will he approve the way I'm made?
Or should I reprogram the program and get down?

                       - Janelle Monae

September can just suck it. I only got 32 miles in and many of them were terrible. The only good thing about it was discovering this rather old song by Janelle Monae that I've been playing non-stop. 

Anyway, October is going well so far. I mean, sure it's only two days in, but I'm feeling good and already have six miles in, three of them being five stair climbs for 1000 stairs. I did that today, and I'm pretty sure I could have done six. Dammit, I should have done six. I will try for six next week.