Color me gold and black

I like big gold and black better than big blue.

Lay off the layoff

I'm crossing the line (both of them, I hope) at the Monumental 5K in the morning, first time in 27 days since the Glacial Trail 50K (plus 2), so I got a new shirt to celebrate.

The stuff dreams are (not) made of

I've dreamed of this moment.😉

Up my Blues Alley

Adding another notch to the iconic jazz club belt. Rudresh Mahanthappa is in the house tonight.

I salute them

Mile 19 in the Marine Corps Marathon. I feel their pain. (Even so, I'd like to be out there.)

She's back

She's back! Guy at the hotel: You should take a cab, it's about a mile and a half. Me: Oh I can probably walk that (and thinking: a mile and a half, heh, heh, heh).

Not a bad run

12 half marathons, 2 marathons and 1 50K (plus those extra 2 miles I added running down the wrong trail). Like 'em all, but the little tan clay number is my fav. Says it's not about the finish (and what they hang around your neck when you get there). It's what you get on the way to getting there that matters.

Step by step

I'm not moving too fast this morning, but I have to say, all things considered, I feel pretty darn good.

Thoughts on the run

What do I think about when I am spending most of the day running 33 miles (I goofed and took a wrong side trail then had to back track, which added a couple unplanned miles)? Today, I thought about my grandfather's three-legged collie Queenie...and how that damn dog could run faster than me. As race medals go, it's kind of homely, but I'm rather fond of it. The dog was quick. She couldn't go long though.

It waits

Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail waits, and plots my suffering on the morrow.

Priceless

50K on the docket Sunday morning so early to bed tomorrow night, but tonight in downtown Plymouth, WI, Wisconsin Brewing Co. Yankee Buzzard IPA in a chilly mug. Priceless. No, $2. Now that's priceless.

Just kick me Robbie

If my life was on the line, I'd want Robbie Gould kicking the ball.

Gonna make a move to a town that's right for me…taper town

10. Last long(ish) run before making a run at 50K on the Ice Age Trail next Sunday. I'd like a little less wet and windy, but can't say I didn't train in it.

13 is my lucky number

I had a hard week, but nothing running 13.1 miles in the woods couldn't cure. Knobstone Trail Mini was its usual satisfyingly brutal self. That's 12. The goal for the year was a dozen half marathons, one a month (plus some other stuff). I'm three months early so, what the hell, I might just make it a baker's dozen.

Anything is possible with the proper incentive

Today I eradicated the (kind-of) word "incentivize" from a piece of copy and I feel like I earned a beer. As good an excuse as many.

Peace out

Some kid on the trails: "You look like a man who knows what he's doing." Me: "If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn't be doing this." The surf-board toting Bug is for not being the slowest slow old(er) guy to finish today.

Light on the limbering

Yoga class at Run Woodstock. I did not participate because I'm running the Mellow (yeah, right) Marathon in the morning and didn't want to pull anything vital.

To the victors...

Bowling trophy!

You're going down "Man of Steel"

Making my move on superman last night. Boom Shakalaka!

Boom Shakalaka!

I ran No. 11 because it had a funny name and started, as well as ended, on a velodrome. Plus 8 this morning makes 21 for the day, the last big day before Run Woodstock weekend and the Mellow Marathon two weeks hence. "Mellow" Marathon, who are they kidding? Boom Shakalaka!

Riding the bull

Well first you gotta wanna get off bad enough to get on in the first place. A thought that comes at mile 20 of a 21 miler courtesy of Rodney Crowell and Norah Jones and Bull Rider.

Slow mo

Nasty hill just before the finish line was plain mean. Beaver Chase half marathon on some surprisingly good trails in downtown Indy. I didn't see any dam-building rodents to chase. I think I could have taken them. That's 10 halfs for 2015.

It's a Stevie kind of morning

Smokin' cigarettes (not really) Writin' something nasty on the wall (maybe) You nasty boy (Yes!!!)

Spiderman ain't got nothin' over on me

If you're doing the trails behind the Tippecanoe County Amphitheater today, I've cleared out the spider webs for you.

Planning ahead (just a little)

Well, I know what I'll be doing the morning of April 30, 2016 (and hopefully only the morning of). I'm pretty sure of my plans for the evening, too, assuming the Esquire Lounge stays in business. Illinois Marathon registration day.

What's that big yellow ball in the sky?

Perfect day for No. 9; third half on the trails at Eagle Creek this year, but only the first in the daylight (and the second without it snowing on us).

The day after 19

Got your Sunday morning church right hear buddy.

Accidental bird

Amusing myself at the end. I'm such a bad kid (at heart, anyway). Then again, if I wasn't such a kid I wouldn't have been out there running (and finishing) 13.1 miles in that heat and humidity Saturday in the first place.

Spend a couple hours in the sauna

Half marathon No. 8 for 2015, Rock 'n' Roll Chicago, was a blistering (air temperature not land speed) sweat fest. But it is in the can. I need a shower, stat.

Shop 'til you drop

The Rock 'n' Roll Chicago half marathon expo is like a giant mall for runners, he said 4 pairs of socks, a pair of shorts, a new hat, a can of sunscreen, some Body Glide and a packet of Root Beer-flavored Gu later. At least I didn't buy any shoes.

Fast Fourth

I like getting a receipt, especially when it says I ran a minute faster on the back half, which always makes me giddy. I'm damn strange.

She plays the guitar, too, and rather well

If I'm going to stay up late two nights in a row, it's going to be for Ana Popovich!

So good, and so (not) good for you

Deep fried Oreos are wrong, just wrong ... and so good. I'll be eating nothing but kale next week to pay for my sins.

If you're going to dig ditches, be the best ditch digger

Stuff happens, you've got to adapt, improvise, overcome and by the gods I can do it (defined as drink this cold beer).

She's a Wonder(land)

If I'm going to stay up late, and I'm rarely going to stay up late anymore, it's going to be for Carolyn Wonderland,

Membership has its privileges

As far as can tell, it's the only valid reason to be a VIP.

Yo, get that stick out you ass, Tony

The good news is Scalia has health insurance (although willing to make others lose theirs), because the man really is badly in need of a stick-ectomy.

Jogged again

Working myself up to a free pork burger this morning after the Hog Jog 10K, which has become an annual rite of summer.

Enjoy a refreshing swim, complete with clouds of mosquitos

Mr. Bad Ass Trail Runner should have been wearing a swimming suit and fins not running shorts and shoes on the Wabash Heritage Trail this morning, but if I have to "wade" a race later this year, at least I can say I trained for it.

Before...

Coming in bloody…but not broken.

After...

I was all like "man, I really feel like running tonight" before the Eagle Creek Summer Night Trail half and I felt great all the way, even when I tripped on a root and ate dirt. No. 7 was a keeper.

A day like any other day

I commemorated National Running Day by running, as opposed to all the other days I run with no rational explanation for doing so.

I'll finish a lot faster than it took getting to the start

After 8 hours in the car yesterday getting here from Wisconsin, 10 miles on trails sounds really good this morning.

Cheesy

Cheese curds, because when in Rome...

Union strong

One thing I have to say about Bucky, he has a well-equipped campus union building.

Sweet dreams are made of these

I'm going to drool on it when I'm sleeping tonight, which I shouldn't have any trouble doing after what I'm sure will be a scintillating university IT communicators confab.

Blue socks, nothing but blue socks (OK, and a blue shirt, too)

Perfect morning for the Noblesville Mini half marathon (and best time this year, so far). That's six, and one ahead of schedule. I see beer in my future.

Not cool

What kind of idiot buys a car, nay, orders a car, without AC anyway? Then drives it for 15 years? Oops. Never mind. (We learn from our errors.)

Beard envy

I should have a beard as good as Avishai's, although mine would be white.

Long live(d) the King

The King is never going to be dead at my house, not as long as I'm spinning the platters.

Indoor thunder and lightning

The family that plays together ... and with two drummers and a brother on tenor. You think they don't make some noise!

Beauty brought the beast

I don't know who Susan and Derek have playing this beast tonight, but I'm going to keep an eye on them.

Danced out

I did, however, get a beer (a hoppy Quaff On Brewing Co. wheat) after the Dances with Dirt trail half at Gnaw Bone. No. 5 was a brutally satisfying run. I might have to drink another beer when I get home, heh, heh, heh.

The new abnormal

Covered a breaking story (new Purdue supercomputer built and running in a day) and filed on deadline, which floods my synapses with (mostly) good memories. Now, instead of heading for a bar, I'm heading south to run a half marathon on trails at Gnawbone in the morning. Some things never change, and some things do. Damnit.

At least it's not a clown

Disconcerting can, but a damn tasty IPA.

Lemony

Prune hand from very wet gloves. Race called for lightning, which I still haven't seen. I'm tallying it as a moist 20-mile long run. That's how we make lemonade from lemons. I need a drink. Not lemonade.

But lightening would be nice

Breakfast of champions all laid out. I'm OK having that with a side of incessant rain, but hold the lightning, please.

Close enough

I think I'll be able to see Chick and Herbie playing, and sweating.

Some ivories will be tickled and then some

On tap tomorrow night and I'm giddy. This is going to be so-o-o good.

And free mud, too

Some people pay extra to run in mud, we got it inclus. Lounging after the Allerton trail half marathon this morning. That's four.

Bye, bye old friend, we sure put in some miles together

Good old Echo (L), hopefully as good new Fit (R). And a dude who drives (still) small red cars.

Déjà vu all over again

If Mingus were alive today the song would be called "Palavers of Pence" instead of "Fables of Faubus." "Name me someone who's ridiculous Dannie." Gov. Pence. "Why is he so sick and ridiculous?" He's not ashamed that he signed off on codified discrimination, he's just mad he got called on it. Even the governor of Arkansas (circa 2015) isn't that stupid.

Evidently you skipped the parts where your guy Jesus talks about tolerance

Outstanding! "What happened in Indiana can be described in a tight dozen words: A few Christians made a prejudiced law and their governor pretended they didn't. The good news for my daughter is that the outcry, from within the state and without, from other religious people to politicians and beyond to employers and athletes and celebrities, has been loud and clear. It will follow everyone involved for years. For this much your kids already know: Nobody likes a bully or a liar."

The view is better ahead of the pack

Advice for sportswriters in the AP Stylebook update that arrived in my inbox today, with applicability for writers of all kinds. A team losing a game is not a "disaster." Home runs are homers, not "dingers," "jacks" or "bombs." A player scored 10 straight points, not 10 "unanswered" points. If a football team scores two touchdowns and the opponent doesn't come back, say it "never trailed" rather than "never looked back." In short, avoid hackneyed words and phrases, redundancies and exaggerations. Or put another way, to thine own self be true, will ya?

Spring has sprung, a leak

I never sign up for winter marathons because I don't like running in the cold for hours. After the Circular Logic 26.2 miler today. Oops. Never mind. (It's technically spring anyway.)

All thumbs

I was able to carry all this stuff in one hand and unlock my office with the other because I have opposable thumbs, unlike some cats...Larry.

I must be in the front row

I'm going to see Wayne Shorter in about 15 minutes, and I mean really see him.

Sippin' a brew

DC Brau in a sippy cup to go with Cristina Pato playing the (Galician) bagpipes. I'm pretty damn excited, or lit, or both.

No matter how cold and wet you are...

Soggy but satisfying Rock 'n' Roll DC half marathon this morning. I think it was the socks. That's three.

Golf fast

Heh, heh, heh, new IOSF event. Golf for time as well as score, with a run between holes.

The more things change...

Always treasured the cold cherry soup, smoked goose and red cabbage, not to mention the left-wing politics and this important fact: "One of the things about the Gay Hussar is you can drink and you don’t get chased out."

My winter half in a "warm" place

Fort Yargo, Ga., built in 1793, after the Thrill in the Hills trail half marathon this morning, which started at the fort. That's two. I'd whine about the 30 degree temps and the brief sleet, but it was 2 degrees when I left home yesterday. You get what you get, it's all how you use it.

Chill wind makes you a little loopy

Who's the man who won't cop out when the cold wind ices his snout? He's a bad mo... Shut your mouth! (Helps get you through a frigid long run if you're a little twisted.)

Going long, then talking about it

I had a marvelous run this morning and then spent a wonderful afternoon listening to the great Traci Falbo, and some other people who can run a whole lot farther a whole lot faster than me, offer good advice on ultra running, and now I am going to listen to Count Basie's Big Band at the Jazz Kitchen. Mr. William Basie has actually been playing a date in heaven for some time, but I am sure he and Lester Young are here in spirit. Yeah, I'm weird, that's just the way it is.

Kind of a whiteout, not wipeout, there at the end

The woods were lovely, dark and deep (also muddy and then snowy) but I had miles (13.1 of them) to go before this weird little medal (and, more importantly, bottle opener) was mine for keeps. Eagle Creek Night Winter Trail Half Marathon in the bag. That's one.

Force of habit

Illinois Marathon training always begins the same way, by putting one (cold) foot out the door.

New Year's resolution for 2015

Ask not for victory, ask only for courage. In your pursuit, you bring honor to yourself. But more important, you bring honor to us all. Let's kick some ass in 2015!

Relentless, or at least pretty consistent, forward progress

6 miles at 9 degrees makes an even 1,200 for the year, including 5 half marathons, 2 marathons, a 30-mile ultra and personal best times in the half, 10K and 6-mile. Not a bad year's work.

Krampus Eve

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of Krampus.