Not meant to be

I got on the treadmill and wiped it down and fiddled with my music for a few minutes before pressing start, and it wouldn't start. So I hopped over to the next one and started it while I wiped it down, and accidentally cranked it up to 5 incline, so I cranked it back down and started running. I was tired and winded, but I didn't stop, mind you, I pushed through it for a mile. Then I had to hop off and go to the bathroom, and as I went to reduce it to 1% incline I saw that I had only been running at 1.5% instead of my normal 2. Dammit. So I hit the bathroom (I made the mistake of eating cherries this morning. So.) Then I got back on the treadmill and started running again and this time it was even worse in terms of fatigue, maybe because I had a great workout last night, who knows, but I walked after a bit and then ran again and then at 1.54 miles the treadmill. Just. Stopped. I pushed buttons furiously to get it going again but it was done. As was I. I almost gave up then, and just went home, but I talked myself into at least starting the nerd workout on the track. And, I finished the mile without further incident. So 2.5 for the day. Damn treadmill. How dare you try to show me mercy??

I set all my regrets on fire

Cause I know I'll never take the time
To unpack my missteps
- Fun, Out on the Town

This has been an awesome month, almost as awesome as June was bad. I ran 22 days this month for a total of 57.5 miles. I've got some ground to make up, that's fo sho. But I'm getting there! 3 miles today and yesterday with strength training mixed in. I was talking on the phone this morning and glanced in the mirror and noticed a muscle in my thigh. So I spent the next few minutes (or hours) striking poses to admire my new muscle definition. And it is worth noting that today for the SECOND consecutive time, I tried to order a snack-size Reeses McFlurry (the worlds most perfect dessert) and the damn ice cream machine was down. At two different McDonalds!! The universe is conspiring against my demonic dessert habit. No regrets.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow's just a song away
Just a song away
- Hockey, Just a Song

Sitting in Sauce after school shopping with my daughter, this song was on the radio. And I contemplated how upsetting this fact would likely be for Bad Haircut, since he seems to be a connoisseur of music off the beaten path, and Sauce is most certainly on the beaten path. Nevertheless, it's a good song and I am glad he introduced it to me. I hit the gym for a sweaty 3 miles today with nerd workout on the last mile. I longed for the days of cooler weather when I could run the mountain on the weekends. Or even days when the gym wasn't such a sweat box. Alas, cooler days are just a song away.

Just One

La, la, la, don't wanna talk about it
La, la, you go on and on and on about it
-Brendon Benson

So here was the thought process for today.  It's hot.  I don't want to be outside in the heat for a long time.  If I go for a short run I won't be outside for very long.  The faster I run, the less time in the heat, and therefore, it doesn't matter how hot it is.  That last part is where it all falls apart.  Anyway, I thought I would run my fastest mile.  But I didn't.  I thought I did, and then I looked at my time.  And we aren't going to talk about it.  But the one mile does bring me up to 328 for the year.  Which means there are only 172 miles left.

And then I went to get a haircut and in the chair next to me is a guy with a real mullet.  And not just a little bit - it was like a combination between Kenny Powers and Jaromir Jagr.  I have no idea why he was getting a haircut.

Percussion Gun

My god, can't you see that
I know which way to run
You're tired, my love
I feel the same
-White Rabbits

I ran 3 miles yesterday, didn't blog, and I feel terrible.  Just to be clear - I don't feel terrible about not blogging right away, my body just feels terrible.  Overtraining?  As much as I want to say yes, not likely.  Jet lag?  Nope - no travel this week.  Houstonitis?  Probably.  We are one of the least fit cities in the world.  This excuse feels perfect.  It's not me, it's you.  The rest of you people here in this city have drug me down.  Anyway, I just feel tired.  Not sure if tomorrow's run is going to happen.

But we still have important business to get to.  Percussion Gun from White Rabbits is in to the official playlist.  This song is the only type of gun that you can't purchase in any sporting goods store in Texas.  And by sporting goods store, I mean grocery store, school, furniture store, hospital, or convenience store.  I don't mean to be misunderstood here, I clearly support everyone's right to own a musket in case King George is going door to door.  I just don't really believe that you need an AR-15 in case Obama shows up.  But little Prince George, we might have to watch him.  Anyone related to Pippa can stir up their fair share of trouble...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IClBpch9vmM

Cups

When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
- Anna Kendrick, Cups

Here's what I have to say about that. You can cloak your cost cutting initiatives under the guise of environmentalism but I know better. I pay an assload of money to sweat on your fancy treadmills with no airflow, and if I want that "extra cup" by god I think I've paid for it. And really, who takes an extra cup? Are there people who hoard styrofoam cups? Or surround themselves with multiple drinks in order to have one within arms reach at all times? Or perhaps sell them on eBay in order to pay for their membership? Hey now, there's an idea ... 2 miles sweated out today. 3 on Tues and Wed. Not a bad week so far.

Cheque It Out

I said pretend you've got no money
she just laughed and said "oh you're so funny"
I said "yeah, well I can't see anyone else smiling in here"
-Pulp

I made a quick trip to the bank today.   I ran 2 miles there and then 1 mile back.  It was warm.

This would have been easier in Canada - not just the warm part.  My bank there (not banque, no matter how much you want it to be), was open all the time.  Until 8PM on weekdays.  All day Saturday.  Parts of Sunday.  My bank here closes at 4PM.  I guess if you are open 9-4, you are catering to people who don't have jobs.  But you would think, oh nevermind...

I know, they want me to take a picture of my check (but it is cheque in Canada) with my phone and believe that it will end up in my account.  OK - I'll try it, but it doesn't seem like it will work.

There was a feature on The Daily Show comparing banks on either side of the border.  The North side considered their banker as a trustworthy extension of their family.  The South side was mostly bleeped out.

When it rains

I decided to take advantage of the cool overcast morning and go for a run outside today. I wasn't going to take phatty mcphatterson because I know she doesn't like getting wet, but she insisted. About a quarter mile in it started raining pretty hard and I decided if it was still raining after a mile then I would turn back. But it calmed down so we went on. Pretty soon it was just pouring and my shoes were sloshing through puddles. We made it to the gym and took refuge in a little restaurant patio outside the gym until K came to rescue us. Last night I went to the gym with bf and did 2 miles in a hurry because there were two cuties downstairs playing volleyball and I wanted to play.

Nerd Herd

My age has never made me wise
But I keep pushing on and on and on
- Imagine Dragons, Nothing Left to Say

Today was a treadmill day. Ugh. I pushed through the first two miles at incline sweating like a hog. I remembered some words of wisdom I picked up somewhere along the way: There are two kinds of people at the gym - those who wipe the equipment down and the worst people in the world. My habit now is to wipe the equipment BEFORE I run, as there are a lot of the worst people in the world out there. Hell, I used to be one. Then I settled in to watch the four TVs in front of me and try to decipher them whilst listening to loud music. There's frequently a finance show on CNBC when I go to the gym mid-day, and I remembered that I actually bought Costco stock a couple years ago after deciphering that it had taken a big drop, and it has done pretty well for me. Alas, no great stock tips today. Then I took to the indoor track for a nerd workout, and I always have this fear that somehow I will stumble and fall over the balcony to the basketball court below. But I made it through once again. I'm grateful to bf for introducing this workout to me. I've never been able to force myself to do strength training until now, it's actually somewhat enjoyable. Anyway, 3 miles for the day. Good progress for the month.

By Choice, Man

Musta got lost, I got lost, musta got lost

somewhere down the line

-J Geils Band

I ran 4.5 miles yesterday and I wish I could say it was on purpose.  I was in Albuquerque and on my way out on the run, there was a crappy section of sidewalk.  I was so concerned about avoiding it on my return to the hotel, that I made sure to run on the other side of the street.  Except that I was on a different street at the time.  And then missed my turn.  And then, I was a little bit lost.  But luckily, my hotel is the ugliest thing for miles (it's called a pyramid, but it is decorated with a couple brown rows of orange trapezoids - was probably very cool in the 80s), and so I was able to find my way back. 

So here is what I learned on this trip. 

• The advice from my friend Jefe to run until you get lost is crap. 
• Albuquerque is the exact same place as Tucson, just harder to spell (except Tucson has gas stations near the rental car return at the airport). 
• No matter how much you want to experience local foods, no matter how much you like cucumber water, cucumber Gatorade, or The Other Guys, do not order a cucumber margarita.  Green chile mac and cheese is OK though.