A bad night

I ran and walked 4 1/2 miles with the Hash today. My left heel hurts.

I woke up at about 4:45 a.m., seated upright in jeans and a sweater, with my lap soaked in Fresca. Among the universal components of hypoglycemia is an impairment of cognitive skills, so I did not at first recognize my trouble. Instinct takes command and usually compels me to walk or crawl to my refrigerator, but not this time. I knew I had to urinate, and as I sat on the commode, decided to eat Girl Scout cookies from a box in my back bedroom. I fell at least once getting to the cookies, ate four, and climbed into bed. I was very cold, shivering, but my bedding failed to warm me. I headed for a hot tub of water, fell a time or two more, knelt beside the bathtub and tried to put the stopper over the drain. Reason trickled through me with the cookies, and I thought, "Okay, be careful. You could kill yourself trying to take this fucking bath." Comfort returned as I lay in the warmth. I drained the water, used a towel to dry as I sat, and with one hand on the wall, used the other to wrap the towel around me. I couldn't tie it, instead held it as I walked against the walls and doors and bookcases to a bottle of milk. I slept until 9:30, when I gauged the damage. I have slight abrasions on my left shoulder, a bruise and abrasion on my right forearm, and my left heel and elbow are bruised.

Good things are that my house was undamaged, and I did not lose my glasses.

I let the cats out. I washed a load of clothes, and went to Fort Roots to hit a bucket of golf balls. Then I watched some football, showered, and drove to Hash. I felt fine running, except for my heel. But I'm sure the bruise is not deep, and think it will be fine in a few days.

Tomorrow

Okay, fuck, I will start a streak tomorrow.

All I did today was walk 18 holes at First Tee, which does not apply to "doing something," drive to Pine Bluff for a basketball game, and listen to Tom Brady and the Patriots beat the New York Giants as I drove home.

Again, for the fourth consecutive year, I have not trained well in December. The difference is, I have run at least a bit, and played a lot of golf. I think I will soon be fit. I feel good. I weigh 162. We'll see.

Today I scored 91, with nines of 48 and 43, and did not lose a ball. Someone mowed the rough at First Tee.

New run

I will count the days at some point, of course. To maintain whatever my new run of consecutive days of doing something (something defined as at least walking 2 miles), I walked for 30 minutes tonight after I sent a story about Helena-West Helena's overtime victory over McGehee in the Zebra Classic.

The game was played at Pine Bluff High's McFadden Gymnasium. I sent the story on the wireless provided by the hotel at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, 10 blocks from Pine Bluff High.

I wrote most of the story at the game, but finished it in the hotel lobby, as I heard music from a nightclub at the other end of the hotel, and sat on a soft couch in dim light in otherwise perfect comfort. Afterward, I locked my laptop in my car, and walked for 30 minutes around downtown Pine Bluff.

The weather was perfect for a walk. I was tickled to take it.

A cold walk

It remains cold here.

It was 37, only 15 degrees warmer than in Anchorage, an hour ago when I walked the Levy Loop in 29:12.

Jo, Pam, Sam, and I are glad my heater works. I'm glad I made a pot of chicken soup. It is the first pot I have ever cooked for myself, so I left in the water chestnuts.

Burrrrrr

I know my subscribers in Alaska will not sympathize, but it's miserable in North Little Rock, dark and 40 degrees and raining.

I ran, walked, and swam the Levy Loop in 21:32.

The weather is, however, beautiful to watch through my living room windows, as I sit on my couch with Jo and write.

Christmas

All I did Sunday was drive a 5K course and pour Kroger-brand flour on the streets of Levy and Park Hill, then host 30 Little Rock Hashers to a party of presents, hot dogs, and several gallons of beer at my house on Orange Street.

Yesterday I walked nine holes at Fort Roots and teamed with John Kelley to win the Levy Christmas Classic.

Today, after driving from Nashville and watching three cats sprint from my house, I hit a dozen golf balls at the Fort Roots driving range, then ran and walked 6 miles on the River Trail in 59:40, with mile splits of 10:48, 10:30, 10:12, 9:48, 9:18, and 9:04. I walked a little less each mile, until the last 2 when I ran non-stop. Those miles delighted me. I felt light and fast.

Now I feel old to think I let 2 miles run in 18:22 make me feel light and fast.

My house smells like a spoiled hot dog and beer. Sam is in my lap, and says she doesn't care about the odor.

Ridge Road

It's muggy, 59, overcast, with a hard wind blowing from the southeast, kind of weird three days before Christmas.

I ran and walked the Ridge Road Loop in reverse, with the 47th Street hill in the first mile instead of the fourth. Consequently, I covered the first in 11:41, followed by miles of 10:38, 10:56, and 10:32, to finish in 43:47. It was a relaxed effort, but an effort nonetheless, particularly the last 500 meters from the intersection of Maple and 47th to my driveway. I decided I wanted to break 44 minutes.

Forty-three, forty-seven for 4 miles is a 4:46:59 marathon pace, so I guess this would qualify as a tempo run for the skinny geeks at Runner's World.

Okay, now I have to clean my house so Little Rock Hashers can fuck it up from scratch tomorrow evening.

Confidence booster

It's odd to me how easily I am encouraged.

Take my run/walk of the Levy Loop, just completed. It seemed like I walked quite a bit, and jogged very slowly, but I finished in 21:24, or a 10:42-mile pace. Tack on 24.21875 more miles at that pace, and it would add to a 4:40:32 marathon.

My goal is to finish the Little Rock Marathon under five hours. Somehow I have let a 2-mile run suggest I can.

Discouragement comes with the same sort of ease, so all I need is a bad day on my temperamental legs to tell me my goal is ludicrous, and to say I am an idiot to let a 2-mile run/walk of the Levy Loop represent anything more than a couple of hundred calories burned.

Samantha made it home from the thunderstorm two nights ago, and is currently sleeping on boxes piled near my water heater.

Walking in Levy

Today I walked the 47th Street Loop in 44:58.

It was an easy walk. Later I played nine holes at Burns Park.

Late

I ran after midnight tonight, for the first time, I think, since Erin Vratil and I ran 10 miles in early December, 2005, after watching Mitch Mustain and Springdale beat West Memphis in a state-championship game at War Memorial Stadium.

Tonight I ran the 4-mile Ridge Road Loop, a hilly motherfucker from Levy through Park Hill and back, in 39:23, with splits of 9:50, 10:10, 10:14, and 9:09. Each step was taken through 50 degrees and soft rain, with light flashing and thunder mumbling way off, and I was delighted by their ease.

I won't sleep until very late, but will buzz here with Jo and Pam taking turns in my lap as I read shorts stories written by Peter Taylor, daydream of a soggy round of perfect golf, and wonder about Sam. She is out there somewhere in what has become a regular thunderstorm.

A record?

I have run and walked the Levy Loop since 1996, and don't know if I had broken 27 minutes for a walk before today.

This afternoon under a gray sky, wearing blue jeans and a hooded sweatshirt against a stiff wind and 52 degrees, I walked it in 26:33. I wanted to run, but resisted. Maybe tomorrow.

My vacation is over. I feel good, fresh and ready for one last long push to the Little Rock Marathon.

Letting go

It's a good thing for my marathon training that my vacation has ended.

I overslept Friday and did not have time to run or walk before driving to St. Louis, and was out until nearly midnight judging the Miss Blackthorn Bar Pageant with my brother and sister-inlaw, John and Lindsey.

Eight inches of snow fell late Friday night and Saturday. That, plus Christmas shopping and massive eating with brother Jim and sister-inlaw Karen kept me from running Saturday. Sunday I watched the Packers pound the Rams, then drove home, and consequently missed another day of running.

Today I walked the Levy Loop in 30 minutes, and then Hindman Park Golf Course, where I shot 87. I had 1 birdie, 1 par, 16 bogies, and used 31 putts.

Two servings

I ran the Levy Loop twice this morning in 35:54, with splits of 9:12, 9:04, 9:10, and 8:28. It hurt, particularly the last half mile. I knew I would have to push it to break 36, did, and suffered.

But not so much that I couldn't walk 18 holes and shoot a 92 at Hindman Park.

This was a good day. I feel great, eager for a trip to St. Louis in the morning to see my brothers, John and Jim, and, on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers beat the holy living brains out of the St. Louis Rams.

A run before golf

This morning was ideal for a fast run: quiet, dark gray, and cold.

I ran the Levy Loop in 17:14, with splits of 8:54 and 8:20, and it did not exhaust me.

It was too cold for golf, but I walked nine holes at Fort Roots and scored a 40. I birdied No. 9 (with a driver, 3-wood, 60-degree Cleveland wedge, and an 8-foot putt), and also had two pars and six bogies. It took me one hour, 18 minutes, and began to rain as I sat in my car and filled out my scorecard.

A walk before golf

This morning I walked and ran the 47th Street Loop in 33:46, with mile splits of 11:23, 11:16, and 11:07. It felt easy.

I played Hindman Park in 90 this afternoon, with nines of 46 and 44. It was my first time under 100 at Hindman.

Streak stopper

My streak of consecutive days covering at least 2 miles ended today at 78.

I walked 18 holes at the original Burns Park course, shot a 94 through cold, intermittent mist, got home, sat for 30 minutes, stood to change my wet shoes and socks, and decided I had done enough. My feet hurt. My back was tired. I remain sleepy, and hungry, so fuck it.

There is a 10-ounce ribeye sitting next to a fat potato in my kitchen, ready to sizzle on cast iron. I smell butter cooking.

Another week

SAN ANTONIO —I walked dogs named Soccoro and Scout through Erin Vratil's neighborhood on a route I will declare 2 miles long.

Later I won $76 on two thoroughbred races at Retama Park, then flew home. Rain is pouring here in North Little Rock, Jo, Pam, and Sam are fighting for their turn to dance on me, so I will not run.

Today's dog walk gave me 20 miles for the week. I'm healthy and happy, well fed, and ready for some productive runs.

Lost, sort of

SAN ANTONIO — Packed full of Mexican food, and delighted by a round of 95 at La Loma (the site of the PGA Tour's Texas Open in 1950-51, 1956, and 1960*), I ran and walked about 2.5 miles tonight. It took 32 minutes.

I missed a turn late, and went five minutes more than planned, but felt fine, dressed in the plaid shorts and Polo shirt I wore for golf.

*Arnold Palmer won the 1960 Texas Open with a four-round total of 276, or, on average, 26 strokes better than I shot today. Fuck Palmer. I'd like to see him play La Loma with my swing.

Buttermilk

SAN ANTONIO — My health has returned intact, and I felt fine running a 2-mile loop with Erin tonight. We ran it in 19:40, then made buttermilk fried chicken.

San Antone

SAN ANTONIO — My throat remains sore, but my fever has subsided, I think. I felt good enough to run and walk 4.5 miles in 57 minutes with my host, Erin Vratil, tonight. Erin was kind to run effortlessly and let me dictate the pace.

The temperature was 65, and light breeze blew as we ran late in the evening. It was joy for me, truly.

We walked about 2 miles this afternoon, investigating a golf course we might play tomorrow.

Slow walk

SAN ANTONIO — I have a sore throat, and maybe a fever. Somehow I struggled through a round of golf, a pleasant dinner, and a 2-mile dog walk.

Raw speed

It was perfect weather for running this morning, on a day that should turn perfect for golf.

I ran the 47th Street Loop through 40 degrees and abundant sunshine and no wind in 27:20, with mile splits of 9:31, 9:14, and 8:55. I wanted to run each mile faster, but the first closer to 10 minutes. The 9:31 meant work, which I hoped to avoid. Discomfort while running no longer fits me.

Working vacation

I rested yesterday and today, because of all the work I will have to do in San Antonio from Wednesday-Sunday.

I'm sure my hosts will make me run, golf, walk their dogs, and eat far too much.

Yesterday I ran about 1 mile with the Hash. It was nearly 70 when we started, but rain began to pour five minutes later, and the temperature plummetted. So I turned back, dripping wet and freezing in a T-shirt and short pants.

I walked the Levy Loop in the evening in 30:57, which gave me 32 miles for the week.

I walked it again this morning in 28:30, and then 18 holes at Burns Park (where I scored 94).

Hunger

There is no comfort in a 10-mile run, not for me.

My legs were lifeless from the start this morning, so I walked and ran and stretched hamstrings along the River Trail for 2:07:51. I might have felt better if the waitress at the Mount Ida Cafe had not told me they were out of fried chicken last night.

I'm very hungry.