Shasta

A bigger hill would've been preferable, but I have to work with what I've been given here at the northern terminus of the flattest place on planet Earth.

A bearded white man wearing glasses, a green baseball cap, and a yellow hydration vest is grinning to the left of a worn wooden sign that says "CAUTION STEEP GRADE"

A heart rate graph

A pace graph

An elevation graph

My gym was closed for a random event, and I had 90 minutes of uphill treadmill scheduled. So I went to a big hill and ran up and down it with a fully loaded 14 lb pack. I ran much more than I expected, and my new pack and belt were surprisingly runnable while carrying that much weight. #running

I describe it as Memphis at its best. I'm never more proud to live here than on marathon day

That's awesome! It will always be a special race for me too. The first weekend of December is truly Memphis at its best. The fundraising, the kids and staff cheering on the hospital sidewalks, the crazies offering drinks on Stonewall Street, all of it. Glad you enjoyed it

An absolute clusterfuck of inflatable Christmas decorations in someone's yard

With the St Jude Marathon happening downtown this morning, I was the loneliest runner in Memphis this afternoon. 12 miles still feel harder than they did before the race, but I'm getting there.

I didn't get into Western States, but it was fun following the lottery this morning! #running

Totally get that

Bummer. Maybe you can plan some kind of big solo adventure tomorrow instead? It sucks being out all that money, but with some creativity maybe you could salvage your Saturday

A small tree with red leaves is thoroughly lit by small bulb white Christmas lights. It is near dusk and looks cold.

40°F is still shorts and t-shirt weather - just add gloves.

Nothing stokes my gratitude for running quite like 90 minutes of cross training the day before. Loved getting out there tonight! #running

Future Friends In Real Life plans? Stoked!

Huge! Congrats on the stable work and peace of mind

It's all fancy Matrix equipment with built-in touch screens, which run apps and video. Next time I'm in, I'll explore more than the bog-standard stats screens! Variety fellas like the way to go for me too. Keeps it from being too samey

Elliptical workout stats. 30 minutes, 123 avg heat rate

Indoor cycling workout stats. 8.81 miles in 30 minutes

Stair stepper stats. 15 minutes, 1137 steps climbed

I couldn't stand 2 hours on the elliptical alone, so I explored my cross training options today. I found the stationary bike boring and uncomfortable, but maybe there are gains in that discomfort? Meanwhile I loved the stair stepper. I need to work on my climbing legs anyway.

I would wholeheartedly recommend! The first half features quite a bit of single track, but a lot of it is motorcycle trail and is pretty established. I didn't find it rooty at all. The last 30 miles are all on road shoulder, crushed limestone bike trail, and grass roads. Very runnable terrain

I should probably specify that this was an uphill treadmill workout lol

6.3 liters of water spread across one 3 liter bladder and 6 flasks. On a marble counter top.

15% grade, 6.3 liters (13.8 lb) of water carried.

I walked into the gym with all this water in my pack. At first I felt like a doofus, but once I got moving I felt good. 3.1 mph was all I could do to stay within Zone 2, but I successfully confronted a small taste of what's waiting for me in May.

Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Records' Booker T and the M.G.'s, has died at age 84 Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classic songs, including “(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died.

RIP Steve Cropper. A true Memphis legend. I'll be spinning Green Onions tonight and admiring those guitar licks all over again.

SWAP's Power Builder plan feels like the best thing for me right now. I can literally run for days, but hills and speed work have been my weakness for a few years now and will continue to be as 40 creeps closer. The time to work on them is now. It'll be hard work sometimes, but I'm excited for it.

A workout summary. 1:23:26, 8.81 miles, 898 calories. 9:28 average pace

Heart rate and pace graphs. 142 BPM avg, 178 max

3 mi up, 1% incline.
10x 1:00 @ 5K pace, 6% incline. Recover 2:00.
3 mi down, 1% incline.

Speed Work Wednesdays are back! I'm feeling rusty, and the incline was mentally tough. The new gym is great: the treadmill connected to my watch, charged my phone, and even has a built-in fan. Fancy. #running

An overcast suburban American street in the winter

The first day of this new training plan is rather inconspicuous. That'll change starting tomorrow morning. But for tonight? Boy did it feel good to send some hill strides without worrying about random leg pain. Cold, too! #running

It was so good, and the miso soup warmed me right up after the walk there. I can officially say I'd walk (almost) half a mile in the cold and rain for that sushi!

I have those dreams! Sometimes I'm holding a drink and I get confused as to why it's there, or disappointed that I've apparently broken my streak. I haven't quite closed the book on drinking yet, but I do plan on carrying on into the new year. Probably longer. Congrats yourself on 35 months!

Thank you! A year ago today, a random Monday, I had 4.28 standard drinks worth of bourbon. Even a month before I started this sober journey, an entire year would've been unimaginable. Now it feels like I'm living an entirely different life. For the better, of course.

December goals:
* One year of sobriety.
* embrace cross training. Hit the gym. Get out of this post-hundo funk.
* More detailed daily journals.
* Finish two books.

What a terrible truth: That I'm most productive in the morning, but I love staying up late.

Thanks Gigi!

Books in a Little Free Library

A variety of colorful sushi in a Styrofoam box

My partner and I braved the cold, rain, and darkness to get my scheduled 45 minute walk done today. Then realized when we got back that we had locked ourselves out of the house. The local sushi spot hooked us up while we waited for a neighbor with a key. A little Monday adventure!

Maybe this will be the training plan that allows me to watch videos while cross training. I have a lifetime of movies to catch up on 😆

A week's running plan. Totals: * Running: 32 mi * Uphill Treadmill: 2 hrs * Elliptical: 2 hrs * Walking: 45 min

The first week of the Power Builder plan is upon me! Less running and more cross-training as I focus on hills and strength for the first time in my life. It's going to be an adjustment. Looking forward to learning and growing along the way. Have a good week! #running

Hazy grey skies are reflected on a still pond. Bare winter trees surround it.

Two week mini-build complete. I'm ready to try the SWAP Power Builder plan and see where it gets me. #running

Top 2 show I've ever attended. It was like church for awkward shy kids with big feelings. I had tickets for a second show in Mississippi, but work called me up to Illinois the day before. I was pisssssed.