Old school, like me

The Marques Carroll Quintet is like straight out of late '50s early '60s hard bop, which is actually when I was meant to be haunting jazz clubs anyway. Then again, I was age 0-6 in the late '50s and early '60s so they probably wouldn't have let me in jazz clubs...even with the beard.

It's the journey, not the destination

I passed the guy at the top of the hill, not working at it mind you, just moving along in rhythm, and I think he really really wanted to pass me back. I didn't have the heart to tell him I ran 8 before I even lined up at the start. End of the Boilermaker Half Saturday. (I ran 1 after, too. 22.1 mile day. And taper.)

The tribe

When I cross paths with some other wayward soul, light strapped on, running against the dark and the rain, I feel all tribal.

Way down hill

Coming down that damn near vertical hill looming over my shoulders at France Park Saturday.

Relentless forward progress

Looking at the daunting week ahead I am keeping in mind the sage words of the great Shalane Flanagan: Let's fuck shit up!

Trail eyes

Lesson learned on the hilly (we even had a couple kind of mountain goaty paths to traverse under cliff faces) rocky and rooty (and sneakily covered by leaves) trails at France Park: racing this stuff is like whitewater canoeing. You've got to keep your eyes aimed downstream to see the obstacles in time to react. Learn something everyday. And I didn't hit the dirt once today.

Nice work if I could get it

If somebody said to me, "Hey, we want to hire you to sit under a clear blue sky, with a nice breeze blowing over you, drink beer and listen to live music" I might have to take a femtosecond to think it over, but I probably would decide to do it. I'm adaptable that way.

I could have danced all night

I could have sat there drinking to that pulse St. Vincent was laying down all afternoon. But one of us would have passed out. I like to think it was her.

ACL me

It's on!

Tasty payoff

Lemon Custard Cup after the Wild Wild Wilderness trail race today (on top of the Knobstone Trail Mini yesterday). I think I can say I earned it.

Torture devices for runners

8:30 on Friday night, I'm in a cheap motel south of Indianapolis, I've rolled the nubby green ball under my feet and The Stick over my legs and I am about to go to bed. Somewhere, my life got seriously off track, or on it, not always sure which. Off the track tomorrow anyway; Knobstone Trail Mini.

Just call me crusty

If I had collapsed in the woods instead of finishing the 18 miles deer would now be coming up to me saying: "Cool, a salt lick."

Wild thing

Look, wildlife, and right outside my office door this morning. I think they count that as a benefit

Life's a bitch

Drinking Bitches Brew (thanks to the Big C) and listening to Bitches Brew. Some people have a personal relationship with Jesus, I have a personal relationship with Miles.

That was fast

About 10:30 I'll be 57 (and probably asleep). This morning I'm 1:57 (and change) ... or about 2 minutes faster in the half marathon.

It lives!

Maybe the best IOSF ever. We should cancel it every year. But this morning I feel so bad thinking about the people who couldn't attend the 33rd IOSF because they had to go to a Ball State-Colgate football ga... Oops, never mind!

That was a hot one

Trail racing tan, so to speak. Two-plus hours humping in 90ish heat and humidity really leaves you feeling like you've done something. Like taken a hot, salty shower. Even the inside of my shoes were swimming, without any creek crossings you couldn't hop over.

Divine Davina

I am having an orgasm with Davina (and with the Vagabonds, too), in a this-music-is-so-freaking-awesome sort of way, of course.

Little Ricky needs a spanking, or a nice nap in the slam

So I don't think they hang public officials who commit felonies in Texas anymore and I'm for that, but I think a public spanking, bare ass, of course, would be nice.

Hot tamales, so to speak

End of the Augosto 12K in San Antonio Saturday; 7.45 miles at about 90 degrees and 85 percent humidity and I'm cooking … literally.