Levy Trail

I walked three miles on the Levy Trail this morning in 44:58. My legs feel fine. Late this afternoon I walked the Levy Loop in 30:28 through a light drizzle.

Burns Park Loop

My legs might be as dead as the Arab Spring tomorrow. This morning I ran every downhill and flat step of the Burns Park Loop, and a lot of the uphill, to complete it in 1:09:55. I had the thought of breaking 1:10 after about twenty minutes, and was pleased, and surprised to have done it. I ran the last 11:41 non-stop, not counting when I fell (my right knee and shin are bloody). After I finished, I had to do the ol' bend-over deal, and then walk around with my head back and my hands on my waist. Consequently, I jogged about a quarter of a mile of Whole Come's Big Green House Spring Fling 5K yesterday afternoon, and then decided to walk. I went about two miles in 33:32 with Ron and Elaine, and B.J.

38th Street Loop/Levy Trail

Let's see; I jogged for a total of eight and a half minutes, and otherwise walked the 38th Street Loop this morning in 26:49. It's three days before April, and it's cold and windy as Two Possums here in Levy, but not now, at 6:24 p.m. My windows are open. I walked two miles on the Levy Trail late this afternoon in 31:53, and wore khakis and a cheap, yellow polo shirt.

OVERHEARD
"Honey, I love you to the moon and back, but you're about to drive me crazy."
—woman to her 10-year-old daughter at Hobby Lobby

"They say his last words were, 'One more drink, please.' I don't know if that's true or not, but it wouldn't surprise me."
—18-year-old boy to his father at Edward's Food Giant (which recently opened in the old Levy Walmart building)

Two Rivers Park/Levy Trail

I walked exactly six miles through Two Rivers Park this morning, with five other Geezers, in 1:39:41. Ron Gimblett, Bob McKinney, Ann Moore, Yvette Thompson, and Rosemary joined me. Leah Thorvilson and I talked for ten minutes before the walk, and she stood out as a perfect example of someone who looks twenty-seven and a half times better in running clothes and without makeup than when they're decorated. Early this evening, after a vicious thunderstorm, I walked two miles on the Levy Trail in a blazing 28:52.

Maumelle/Levy Trail

This morning's walk, from Rosemary's house in Maumelle, made me feel better about my pace yesterday. About 25 people, including most of the Geezers, met at Rosemary's for her annual big breakfast. I primarily walked with Bill Brass, Bob McKinney, and Ann Moore. According to Brass' watch, we went 3.03 miles in 58:05. I'm only a little sore, but imagine I'll get sorer as the the day goes on, but, you know what, I didn't. At 6:28 p.m., I remain just a little sore, after walking two miles on the Levy Trail in 30:17. Well, OK, I jogged for about 140 yards (it's about 35 yards between the trail's light poles, if measured using the technique some technologically averse people use to measure golf shots), to test some new shoes. It looks as if Asics has turned the DS Trainer back into to the firm, light shoe I fell for back in, I think, 2008. I'm having a rare, good shoe year.

Ouachita Trail

I walked and jogged 17.6 miles on the Ouachita Trail this morning and afternoon in 4:56:22, from the Pinnacle Mountain Visitors Center to the Scenic Overlook and back, with an out-and-back spur from Pinnacle's east parking lot to its west. I felt fine all the way, except for the final climb back to the Visitors Center. Breaking five hours became a goal maybe two hours in. Going out I jogged an average of one minute for every five, and also ran all the downhills.  Coming back, I did the same, but ran a lot of the flats as well. It's hard to explain how I only averaged 16:50/mile. That would be about an 8:42 50K pace. Obviously I won't be able complete 50 miles in time, four weeks from this Saturday. I kept splits on the segments measured for the Ouachita Trail 50 Website. I got the first 1.2 miles (to east parking lot) in 19:47; the next 1.4 (to west lot) in 25:03; 1.4 (to east lot) in 23:20; 1.3 (to where OT turns off Ark. 300) in 21:15; 4.9 (to Scenic Overlook) in 1:26:50; 4.9 (to Ark. 300) in 1:18:04; 1.3 (to east lot) in 21:57; 1.2 (to Visitors Center) in 20:06. My fastest segment was the downhill, 4.9-mile stretch from the Scenic Overlook to Ark. 300, when I averaged just under 15:56 a mile. Man, I'm slow.

Cooks Landing/Ghetto Cat Loop

The Geezers were out in force this windy, cold morning. I walked almost exactly six miles from Cooks Landing, all over Burns Park, with Rosemary Boggs, Bill Brass, Jack Evans, Ron and Elaine Gimblet, Bob McKinney, and Ann Moore, in 1:45:27. Late this afternoon I walked the Ghetto Cat Loop in 32:08.

Levy Trail/Levy Trail

I walked three miles on the Levy Trail this morning, starting at about 9, in 45:37, with approximate splits of 15:10, 15:07, and 15:20. My legs look as if they were published by Rand McNally, with the help of Section 13. Late this afternoon I walked two miles on the Levy Trail in 31:21.

OVERHEARD
"A lot of people didn't make it this morning."
—gnarled old man cutting across the Levy Trail, as steam rose from his styrofoam cup of mini-mart coffee. He said he was happy to have made it out of bed

"Them kids gotta a good idea. They gonna get rich if they can keep selling pinecones for twenty-five cents a piece."
—man commenting on the half-dozen grade-school kids who live in the house immediately south of the Taylor's, as he walked his dog on Orange Street. They had tied ribbons to the tops of ten or so pine cones, and were selling them from a small table next to the street, lemonade-stand style

DID YOU KNOW?
Every hot pepper known to man, except for black pepper, is native to the New World. These peppers are from the genus capsicum, and include, but are not limited to, chiles, jalapenos, hapaneros, serranos, and poblanos. Most were introduced to Portugal and Spain by Columbus in the spring of 1493, and were within twenty years consumed from England to China. Unlike black pepper, they flourished in gardens across Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia. India was to that point the world's sole source of black pepper, which was then so expensive that most rarely tasted it in their lifetimes. In time, competition from the peppers introduced by Columbus cut the cost of black pepper, and of all spices across Old World trade routes.* European explorers later returned from the New World to introduce—among other fruits, vegetables, and nuts—tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts, sweet bell peppers, avocados, and corn. It makes you wonder what the fuck they ate.

*rewritten and condensed from Chiles' Global Warming, Deana Sidney, Saudi Aramco World, March/April 2014

Pinnacle Mountain Base Trail/Hash

I walked and jogged two laps of the Pinnacle Mountain Base Trail this morning in 1:46:40, with splits of 53:49, and 52:52. I started from the west parking lot, and think I went a little under seven and a half miles. It was a pretty easy effort, on a nice, bright, cool morning. Finally, the Miss Base Trail Pageant was won by a boxer named Sissy.

This afternoon at Hash, four others and I had a classic Section 13 experience, during which we took 1:57:10 to travel 4.5 miles. I was out there all confused with Bill Brass, Susan Russell, Katy Grubbs, Christine Maroney, as well as dog named Astro.

Levy Trail

I walked on the Levy Trail from here to Camp Robinson and back this afternoon in 1:17:40. The weather has been fantastic here since Wednesday, perfect for watching basketball on television the whole goddamned day.

Levy Trail

I walked with Ron and Elaine for 50:40 on the Levy Trail this morning.

OVERHEARD
"The problem with that is, first thing happens is we trying to sell people shit they don't want."
—Kroger employee, speaking to a soft-drink vendor

Burns Park Loop

The Geezers, including the Gimblets, Bill Brass, Sandy Venable, Bob McKinney, Ann, and me, walked the Burns Park Loop this morning in 1:43:27. I felt as if I could've walked forever at that pace, which was 19:08/mile. That would work out to a nine-hour, 53-minute 50K.

Orange Street Loop

I don't think I have been for a walk this late in several years, at least for two or three or so. I walked the Orange Street Loop, starting at about 11 p.m., in 46:23. Three cars passed me. I guess the thugs were asleep. Before I left, I entered an NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament bracket in an Internet game that promises a billion dollars to anyone who enters a perfect one. Earlier today, I mailed Pam's and Jo's brackets to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Park Hill Loop

I felt good all day today, as if a good run might lie ahead, and, indeed, one did. I jogged the Park Hill Loop tonight in 56:09, with splits of 10:58, 11:27, 11:04, 11:55, and 10:45. The weather was perfect—cool, dry, and as calm as two motherfuckers.

Levy Trail

I walked and jogged on the Levy Trail from here to Camp Robinson and back in 1:08:33. At 12:55 p.m., it's 39°F. There were patches of snow on the ground when I got up.

Orange Street Loop

I walked and jogged the Orange Street Loop tonight in 39:19. It's turned cold, again—it's 36°goddamnF on a Sunday night in mid-March, in Arkansas. They say we'll get some snow tonight. I'm thinking about moving to Mexico.

Chandler Street Loop

The Chandler Street Loop is by far the most demanding of my three-mile courses. This morning I alternated two-minute jogs with three-minute walks to complete it in 37:31, with splits of 12:09, 13:27, and 11:55. I hope to use the effort as a good warmup for watching the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park this afternoon. I'm all for Tapiture, though I give reasonable chances to Strong Mandate, Ride On Curlin, and Kobe's Back, and I'll be damned, a California colt named Hoppurtunity won, by a head over Tapiture. Ride on Curlin was third, and Strong Mandate fourth. I had a nice day, but blew most of it on the Rebel. I came out ahead by $8.20. After four trips, I'm down $92.20. Kane Webb went with me, and we had an absolute hoot. I handicapped very well today. I picked five winners, and had a handful of near hits.

Levy Trail

I walked on the Levy Trail from 4305 Orange Street to Camp Robinson and back late this afternoon in 1:13:36. It was very windy. I felt great.

Orange Street Loop/Hot Springs

I alternated 90-second jogs with 3:30 walks to complete the Orange Street Loop this morning in 36:13, with splits of 11:59, 12:19, and 11:55. The weather was ideal for golf shorts and a long-sleeve undershirt. Late this afternoon, I walked an out-and-back course from the Summit Arena in Hot Springs, up Palm Street, and then north on Central to a couple of blocks past downtown, in 35:11. I was there to watch two state championship basketball games, but most particularly the North Little Rock boy's 89-81 victory over Springdale.

OVERHEARD
"That's just great. I have to work with that stupid bitch."
—stupid bitch on Central Ave. in Hot Springs, responding to something at least one of three stupid teenage boys said as they walked south, away from the Arlington on bathhouse row, in the direction of Oaklawn Park

Old Centerpoint Road/Levy Trail

I was in Nashville yesterday and last night, where I jogged and walked four miles on Old Centerpoint Road in 50:05, with splits of 12:18, 12:33, 12:00, and 13:14. This afternoon I walked from here to Camp Robinson and back on the Levy Trail in 1:21:27.

Pinnacle Mountain

Elaine Gimblet, Bill Brass, and I walked up the east side of Mount Pinnacle this morning, walked and jogged down the west side, then took the base trail around the north side of the mountain. We were out for 1:27:56. My rainbow shoes' lack of serious traction limited me going up the steep, rock face of the east side. It took me 28:31 (I believe my 11-year-old PR is 15 something). What's good is that I have never felt better upon reaching the top of Pinnacle Mountain. We had perfect weather this morning.

Ridge Road Loop/Hash

I walked the first three miles of the Ridge Road Loop this morning in 45:35. This afternoon I walked with Basil Julian and Josh's redheaded girlfriend Maggie for 41:35 at the tail end of Fanny Packer's Hash run. We were way, way out in west Little Rock, about where the buildings end.

Ouachita Trail

As soon as I complete this entry, I'm going to order at least one more pair of these rainbow shoes. For me, they're nearly perfect. I jogged and walked about 11.075 miles—out and back from the spillway—on the Ouachita Trail this morning in 2:57:12 (that's if I averaged 16-minute miles, which I believe is pretty close to accurate). I went out in 1:30, and came back in 1:27:12. The return included two minutes and 10 seconds of removing several boulders from my right shoe, and maybe two or three minutes spent talking to Ronnie Daniels. My legs are a little tired, but otherwise I feel great.

OVERHEARD
"No. They have eyes like cats. They can hear a leaf fall from a mile away."
—Ben Cartwright, speaking in general of Apaches, after his son, Little Joe, asked permission to sneak from their camp to get water at night

Levy Trail

It's 59°F in Levy, and it feels very warm, and nice. Kane Webb and I drove to Oaklawn Park at daybreak, where I ate a huge breakfast at the track kitchen. It fueled my four-mile walk on the Levy Trail, completed at about noon in 58:47.

Park Hill Loop

I walked the Park Hill Loop late this afternoon in 1:18:02. At 5:13 p.m., it's 47°F, sunny, and calm, and feels wonderful.

Orange Street Loop

I walked and jogged the Orange Street Loop tonight in 42:28.

Levy Trail

Man, the Levy Trail is now about the only option for walking, particularly this late at night. I guess the next ice age is here. I walked two miles, very late, in 33:19, and felt fine. They say it'll get to 40°F tomorrow, which sounds warm.

Levy Trail

I walked two miles on the Levy Trail this morning in 34:22. That was as fast as I could go. There is ice and snow everywhere. They say the high today will be 23°F, and that it's never not gotten to at least 30 on a day in March in North Little Rock.

Orange Street Loop

OVERHEARD
"Yeah, give me a fucking beer. I'm sick of this shit."
— woman as she walked past the Hash aid station, at Mile 25 of the Little Rock Marathon. She came through in about five hours. It was 35°F, with heavy rainfall

I jogged the Orange Street Loop morning in 33:48, with splits of 11:28, 11:30, and 10:50, and felt remarkably well, considering my relatively long outing yesterday. It was then 50°F. It was 35 by the end of the race, with rain, and thunder and lightning. Officials directed many off the course. Three busses crowded with entrants passed our aid station en route to the start-finish area. It sucked dicks.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Has there ever before been a mass murder in which the killers used knives? Also, are the Chinese particularly slow runners?

I PLAN TO STAB...
...the next script writer who writes a line of dialog that sounds anything like: "When you make mistakes like that, people die."

Ouachita Trail

I walked and jogged maybe eleven or twelve miles on the Oucahita Trail this morning, with an out-and-back from the spillway. I went out in 1:30, and came back in 1:24:14, or a total of 2:54:14. Going out, I maintained a fairly consistent 4-1, walk-jog ratio. Coming back, I ran or walked according to feel, and felt pretty good. It was a nice morning. The rainbow shoes were perfect.