run run run

nike renew 083024

I’m running again. Not very fast admittedly, but longer distances than usual. I’m not sure what I’m running from; maybe I’m running towards something. Regularly enough for it to be a habit, not too regularly that I do myself an injury. I did that last year, when I overdid it training through the summer, and caused myself a leg injury not long after the Labor Day run, sidelining me for weeks. Rest days are important, kids. I am still running in my comfy Nike running shoes from a few years ago. They still give me a spring in my step, but maybe it’s time for a refresh. I ran the Labor Day Race 5k a few weeks ago; my participation medal is below. I came tenth in my age/gender category. Three minutes slower than last year, but I have not run as much this year; my last race was the 7k Lucky Run in March, and I’ve not run as much this summer. I’m a lot heavier too, carrying around all those extra thoughts I guess. Still, running is good for the head. I am preparing for my biggest challenge yet, which is the 10k at this November’s Davis Turkey Trot. All my practice runs lately have been longer than before, as I am edging towards that distance, though they are still slower pace. I can’t wait though, and would love to do it sooner, but I don’t want to sign up for a 10k in some other city on roads and paths I’m not as familiar with, the first one should be here. I know someone in England who did ten 10ks in one month earlier this year, for charity, so I’m inspired and hope this one coming up won’t be my last, unless I really hate it. Once I put my mind to something though, I can’t easily be dissuaded, I am well up for it.

I’m not going to run a Marathon, or even Half-Marathon, any time soon. In fact the only reason I would is so that I could say, “I ran a Marathon. I took so long, by the time I reached the finish line it was a Snickers.” (Another long-running gag there)

Labor Day Run Medal 2024 sm

floating in a most peculiar way

draw stuff
walk more
sketchbook project coverParts 4 and 5 of saving the world, with shoes and sketchbooks. The top one shows three beloved sketchbooks, the first a regular whsmith one used between june 06 and october 07, the second a lovely black material bound whsmith sketchbook, i used between december 06 and may 07, and the bottom is the first watercolour moleskine i used in the second half of last year. I won’t describe all of the shoes in the second drawing (two pairs of adidas though; funny, like most Brits I stress the first syllable of adidas, where Americans stress the second, ie, adeedas)

By the way: it was 105 degrees today in Davis. It has never ever been that hot in England, and believe you me, you don’t want it. I’ll be back in the UK soon to cool down a bit.