Orange Street Loop

This made up for the interval failure last night, not that that was my intent going in. I just felt good and ran the first three of each five minutes to cover the Orange Street Loop in 32:03, with splits of 11:35, 10:29 and 9:59 (actually, 9:59.69, and I have heretofore rounded up, but fuck it. The idea of a sub-10 mile, with four minutes of it walked, impresses me enough to fudge). This was easy.

Burns Park/Levy Loop intervals

I was at 3-over par after 11 holes on the par-70 course at Burns Park (the more familiar one). I scored a 39 on the front, parred No. 10, then hit an 18-foot putt for birdie on No. 11, and thought, "Fuck. What if I break 80 playing by myself?" I guess I'd treat it like a hole-in-one and not tell anyone until I repeated it with witnesses. That concern doesn't apply to today; I played the final seven holes 11-over to finish with an 84. I had 1 birdie, 6 pars, 7 bogies and 4 doubles, and used 31 putts.

I didn't like the way I felt doing intervals tonight so I quit doing them after a mile. I completed the Levy Loop in 22:32, with a half mile up in 5:48, a mile of intervals in 10:37, and a half mile down in 6:07. Oh well, fuck it. I had a 39 for the front nine on the Burns Park Tournament Course (I hit the green on No. 1 with a pitching wedge but three-putted for bogey; hit the green on No. 2 and parred; putted from the fringe on No. 3 and saved par from two feet; drove over the water on No. 4 and stopped 47 yards from the pin, bladed my pitch over, pitched back and two putted for bogey; went driver, 7-iron, 9-iron to the front fringe on No. 5, chipped to six feet and putted in what I believe is my first par on that hole; kind of chunked a 9-wood to 120 yards out on No. 6, hit a 9-iron to eight feet and two putted for par; pulled an 8-iron, pitched on and two putted for bogey on No. 7; drove to 170 yards away on No. 8, hit a 7-wood to the fringe, chipped on and two putted for bogey; drove to 40 yards from the pin on No. 9, bladed my pitch over, pitched back from about 20 yards and sunk a six-foot putt to save par and break 40).

Go White Sox.

River Trail

Goddamn, man, the Miss River Trail competition was fantastic this evening. I ran the first two minutes of each five to cover four miles in 46:38. My legs felt a bit dead for the first half mile or so, but afterward downright springy. I was pleased to average 11:39 a mile walking 60 percent of the way. This gave me 30 miles for the week, not counting roughly 18 miles of walking on golf courses. I'm hungry.

Levy Loop

MAGNOLIA, Ark. — After a solid four-hours sleep, I jogged very slowly and walked the Levy Loop in 28:01.

I'm here for Southern Arkansas' game with Henderson State. They have wireless, which is fucking incredible. They didn't have electricity in Magnolia until 2005. Anyway, I"m already stuffed full of brownies, potato chips, and barbecued cocktail sausages. I shouldn't have any trouble at all getting to sleep on the drive home.

First Tee/Park Hill Loop

I had a good day of writing, running and golf.

Okay. Maybe I didn't write well. I'm too biased to gauge that (and, anyway, know I will consider it all illiterate at some point), but I played 36 holes of par golf and ran the Park Hill Loop twice in 1:49:02, with splits of 11:10, 11:43, 10:43, 11:30, 10:52, 11:03, 11:59, 9:58, 10:45 and 9:18. So I was 55:59 for the first loop, and 53:03 for the second, for an average of 10:54.2/mile, or a 4:45:52.3 marathon pace.

I felt like this would be a good night to run as I walked across the Cyclone Stadium parking in Russellville, and after I turned on the heater as I drove home (it was 59 degrees when I finished the run).

I scored a 55 (1-over) playing the back tees on the First Tee Honors Course (w/ an avg. length of 86 yds.), with 2 birdies, 13 pars and 3 bogies, and a 53 (1-under) playing the front tees (avg. 59 yds.), with 2 birdies, 15 pars and 1 bogie. I hit 32 greens; 15 from the back and 17 from the front. I haven't looked at the schedule, but, man, I can't tell you how much I hope the Champions Tour takes off the weekend of the Little Rock Marathon. Fat chance of that. Shit, maybe I'll miss the cut.

Levy Loop/Rebsamen Park Golf Course

I walked the Levy Loop in 29:06 this morning. Then Tim Cooper and I ate at a sort-of country version of Paul's near Prothro Junction, where I was served what at least tied for the best fried pork chops I have eaten, plus perfect great northern beans and squash, and nearly perfect mashed potatoes and corn bread. And, oh yeah, the iced tea was perfect, too. Coop ate a slice of chocolate pie and cried. I took my dad there in something like 1988, but wasn't much impressed by it. It has since expanded and was packed when we arrived. Jiminy Cricket, I can't fucking wait to take people (i.e. you).

Then Rob Wistrand and I played Rebsamen. I scored an 87. What made the day even cooler was that Rob hit a four-foot putt on No. 18 to break 100 for the first time. I had nines of 44 and 43, with 1 birdie, 7 pars, 5 bogies, 4 doubles and 1 triple. I was at 11-over-par after 13 holes, but tripled the 160-yard 14th. So, with four holes to go, I needed one par and three bogies to break 90. I bogied No. 15, then finished par, par, par (I parred No. 18 for the first time) to finish at 15-over. I used 32 putts. And, oh yeah, I parred No. 12, the par 5 on which I scored an 11 last week.

Hindman Park Golf Course/Gimblett Loop

I played Hindman in 3 hours, 42 minutes, and scored a 91, with nines of 45 and 46. I had 5 pars, 8 bogies, 4 doubles and 1 triple, and 34 putts.

My late-night tour of the Gimblett Loop was nice, particularly considering it came nine hours after walking Hindman at 80 degrees. I ran it in 52:36, with splits of 10:36, 11:08, 10:09, 10:20 and 10:23. I ate a bit too late, at 7 p.m., three hours before I started, so the concomitant insulin injection lingered enough to drain my blood sugar. It dropped from 138 to 39 (which might be its lowest measurement after a run). That helps explain why I ran the final, sharply downhill mile so slowly. Still, this result pleased and encouraged me.

John Kelly called as I wrote that last entry. He was drunk. He didn't say hello or anything of the sort. He shouted, "What's the difference between a mallard duck with a cold and your mother is a whore?" and hung up.

Levy Loop/Levy Loop

I walked the Levy Loop in 31:43 this morning, and walked and jogged it in 25:45 this evening.

Burns Park/47th Street intervals

I had the best driving day of my recent life today, averaging 227 yards, with a long of 279 (it rolled a lot, and left me 150 to the green on No. 18, a 429-yard par-five. I missed an eight-foot birdie putt). I had another that went 255. I played the longer, older, par-71 course at Burns Park with a retiree named Larry Glover and scored a 96. I pitched poorly and used 39 putts.

Then I went back and played the back nine again, except — to beat darkness — only hit drives and approach shots.

An hour and a half later, starting at about 8:45, I ran the 47th Street Loop in 29:10, with a 5:09 half-mile warmup, two miles of intervals in 9:27 and 9:52, and a half mile down in 4:41. I tried to go a little easier than last week.

Hash

mostly walked for 48 minutes.

Levy Loop

walked in 28:38, a brisk pace inspired by a photograph of the U.S. Ryder Cup team's wives. U.S. Olympic track team members (men, and women, too) have way Pete-prettier girlfriends and wives, so I've given up my pursuit of a spot on the PGA Tour and have re-geared for London.

First Tee/Ridge Road Loop

I played two balls through two loops of the par-three course at First Tee this morning. I finished the 36 holes at 122, or 14-over par. I had 3 birdies, 20 pars, 9 bogies and 4 doubles. I had nines (par 27) of 29, 30, 31 and 32. I scored 62 (+8) for the first 18, and then 60 (+6). I missed a 3 1/2 foot putt to become one of the few men in golf history to play in the 50s. According to Google Earth, I walked about 2.5 miles.

After watching Little Rock Parkview take a 33-0 lead and then barely hold on for a 33-28 victory over the Little Rock McClellan Lions at Lion Stadium (where I won the 1977 Lion Relays half-mile run in 2:01.9, edging out a sophomore McClellan whiz kid named Donald Barnett who later was an NAIA All-American at Arkansas-Monticello), I ran the Ridge Road Loop (going up 47th Street to start) in 43:22, with splits of 11:46, 10:23, 11:04 and 10:09. I felt a little better tonight, though I remain far from the lively-legged stretch that ended a couple of weeks ago.

Levy Loop/Ridge Road Loop

I jogged for the fifth minute of each five to cover the Levy Loop in 27:04 at about noon.

This evening, after a trip to Marvell to watch the Mustangs practice, I ran the Ridge Road Loop in 49:02, with splits of 13:26, 12:45, 11:45 and 11:06.

Levy Loop

walked in 30:42.

Rebsamen Golf Course/aborted Ridge Road Loop

I got about three steps, maybe four, into the Ridge Road Loop and realized too many things hurt and I was too hungry, so I decided to turn around at the one-mile mark. I covered the two miles in 25:34.

I started about 30 minutes after finishing a round with Randall Hunhoff at Rebsamen. I had 3 pars, 12 bogies, 1 double, 1 triple, and 1 hexagonal. I scored an 11 on the Par-5 12th. My new driver was beautiful. I hit it great, about 220 yards with a distinct draw, except on No. 12, when I hit a hook that would have had to go about 260 to clear the lake, and then a top that skipped a couple of times, looked like it might make it, but plunged in a foot from the edge. Teeing off with my fifth shot set me up perfectly for the 11, which might have been the highest, one-hole score ever recorded during a round of 95 or lower. I had nines of 45 and 50. That's correct. I scored a 50 with an 11. I rented a helicopter to bring Judy so she could reshaft my driver after I snapped it in two, and played the final six holes in four-over par.

Orange Street Loop/Hindman/Levy Loop intervals

I ran the first three minutes of each five and covered the Orange Street Loop in 34:33, with splits of 11:43, 11:18, and 11:32, and felt like I have most of the last several weeks. It was easy. I hope to feel as fine for intervals tonight, after golf (the UPS tracker says my new driver is in town and should be delivered between 8 a.m.-7 p.m.).

My 13-degree, mature-flex Burner Driver arrived while I was at Hindman, playing with a kid named Josh, so did not help today. I scored a 100, with nines of 53 and 47. I had to par No. 18 to break 100, but was lucky to sink a 10-foot putt to save bogey.

Two hours later, starting at about 8:30 p.m. Central, I ran two laps of the Levy Loop in 39:17. I jogged a warmup mile in 10:33, then did two miles of intervals — 60 seconds hard with a 60-second walk interval — in 18:47 (9:33, 9:14), followed by a 9:57 warm-down mile. My legs felt great, as good as they have lately.

"Mature" flex? I think I prefer "senior." Why not "champion" flex? It felt great knocking the shit out of hard plastic balls into my Crepe Myrtle.

Hash

I ran and walked for about 35 minutes from Alsopp Park and probably covered 2.5 miles. This felt a little better.

Aborted Park Hill Loop

I ran the first mile of the Park Hill Loop on legs so lifeless I chose to walk another mile and quit.

Levy Loop

NASHVILLE — I'm alone in the pressbox at Scrapper Stadium, 45 minutes after watching the Scrappers' 49-27 victory over the Prescott Curley Wolves. I ate two plates of catfish and French fries, and saw the 2008 version of the 2005 Vilonia drummer.

I walked the Levy Loop this morning in 33:07.

First Tee/Levy Loop

I jogged and walked the Levy Loop in 25:12 through air so humid it was almost dank. It didn't feel nearly so heavy 12 hours ago when I played 18 holes on the par-three course at First Tee. That course cost $7 and gives perfect, truly fun short-game practice. I scored a 12-over 66, with 1 birdie, 7 pars, 7 bogies, and 3 doubles. I had two bogies and two doubles through the first four holes, so was six-over for the last 14. I should play that course once a week; at least once a month. It was kind of cool to be out there alone, able to take all the fucking time in the world.

Levy Loop/Gimblett Loop

I walked and jogged (for 5:48) the Levy Loop in 25:48 this morning.

This evening I wanted to run the Gimblett-Park Hill Loop, but pussed out after five miles. I stopped after the Gimblett Loop run in 53:30, with splits of 10:59. 11:22, 10:15, 10:35 and 10:19. I felt kind of dead-legged through the first mile and a half, but after the uphill run into Park Hill, felt much better. I was confident of running 10 miles until I got back down into Levy, in the fifth mile, when I realized it would be more of a struggle than I was willing to endure.

My blood glucose responded well. It was at 139 when I started. I ate a package of Gu at four miles, and now, 45 minutes afterward (35 minutes after I walked in the door) it's at 104.

I might try again Saturday after a couple of easy days and lots of good food at my mother's in Nashville on Friday-Saturday afternoons.

Rebsamen Golf Course/Levy Loop

Shortly after I played the front nine at Rebsamen with Randall Hunhoff, I ran the Levy Loop in 21:41.

I'm crazy about the new shafts on my irons. They feel fantastic. I scored a 46, with one par, six bogies and two doubles (when I three putted No. 2 and hit my second shot into the water on No. 9). Of course, most clubs would've felt good this evening. It was overcast with a light breeze and about 70 degrees, maybe a bit cooler.

Levy Loop/Rebsamen Park Golf Course/intervals

I jogged and walked the Levy Loop in 22:48 at about 9 a.m. Central

At about 9:45 p.m. Central, after playing Rebsamen with Rob Wistrand in 100, with nines of 48 and 52 (all I'm going to fucking say is I needed a triple bogey on the par-four 18th to break 100 and got a motherfucking eight), I ran the 47th Street Loop in 29:43, with a 5:25 jog for the first half mile, the two miles in the middle alternating 60-second hard runs with 60-second walks in 19:24, and a 4:41, half-mile jog in. That's clearly the best I've done those, made better by the fact I started about two and a half hours after completing my disappointing round of golf. I was pleased to have listened to the real Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings just before I started, and to have heard a message on my answering machine from Judy at the golf shop telling me my Nickent irons now have new Royal Precision Rifle Project X High Launch shafts installed (I played with my old and quite lovely, drug-dealer scammed Callaways).

Levy Loop/Hash

I walked the Levy Loop at about 8:30 a.m. Central in 29:49. This evening I ran Hash from the Arkansas River near downtown North Little Rock with White Trash. We covered about two miles.

Levy Loop/Park Hill Loop

I walked the Levy Loop, and jogged the fifth minute of each five, in 25:46. Fuck it. I feel good and will likely try the Park Hill-Gimblett Loop tonight when I return from Searcy. I will not take insulin past 5 p.m.

Alas: I was tired, a little hungry and sleepy driving home from Harding, thus not as psychologically equipped for a 10-mile run as I had hoped. I got about a mile into it and questioned whether I am fit enough to run 10 miles the day after running five. Disarmed, I decided to push the Park Hill Loop a little and let that be enough. Somewhere during the fifth mile I had a brief thought of slowing and going ahead and tagging the Gimblett Loop on. But, no, that would've been crazy; it would have offended my patience. I finished the Park Hill Loop in 51:07, with mile splits of 10:47, 11:22, 10:02, 10:28, and 8:28.

I took my last insulin shot at 5 p.m., ate two peanut-butter sandwiches and yogurt with blackberries. I had to supplement two oatmeal-raisin cookies at about 8 p.m. My blood sugar was at 140 10 minutes before I started. I ate a package of Gu, drank some water, let Samantha in and ran away. Now, 30 minutes afterward, it's at...I'll give it an over-under of 75...113. I believe I will eat a bowl of cereal and go to bed. But that's it. That's all I believe.

Park Hill Loop

No, I guess I'm not ready for a 10-mile run this week, or wasn't tonight. Clearly I wasn't tonight, certainly not from a blood-glucose standpoint. I measured it a moment ago, not more than two minutes after finishing the Park Hill Loop in 57:32, and it was at 32. I ate a package of Gu after four miles. I guess I needed more. My splits were 11:06, 11:50, 11:14, 11:54 and 11:28. I felt like a million bucks through roughly three and a half miles. A shot I had to take much later than I wanted to, at about 10:30 in a mini-mart parking lot in Pine Bluff, apparently crippled me. Oh well. I might try the Gimblett Street Loop tomorrow night, call it a series, maybe Two Days of Levy.

Levy Loop

I jogged the fifth of every five minutes to complete the Levy Loop in 26:39, trying to gauge how I might feel at about 11 p.m. when I return from Watson Chapel (near Pine Bluff). I originally planned to run the Park Hill-Gimblett (10-mile) Loop tomorrow night, but might knock it out tonight. We'll see.

Levy Loop

walked in 31:10.

Gimblett Loop

This was nearly a time trail. I ran the five-mile Gimblett Loop in 48:41, with splits of 10:19, 10:44, 9:27, 9:33 and 8:38. It's a tough loop; not as hard as the Park Hill Loop, but it does have the identical high point. The main difference is that the Park Hill Loop has two long, steep climbs (in Miles 2 and 4), and Gimblett one (in Mile 2). I averaged 9:44 a mile and am pleased.

Hurricane Gustav has degenerated to a breezy sprinkle in Park Hill and Levy and was pleasant to run through.

Levy Loop

I ran the Levy Loop, through Hurricane Gustav, in 18:07, with incongruous splits of 9:41 and 8:26.

You know, they must not build things very sturdily on the Gulf Coast, because Gustav isn't doing shit for damage here in Levy.

47th Street Loop intervals

I ran the 47th Street Loop in 32:18. Following a six-minute half mile of walking and jogging, I alternated 60-second hard runs with 60-second walks for two miles, then jogged the final half mile home. I covered the two miles of intervals in 20:15.