Above the enameled plain

 I am 39th on the Long Haul 100 wait list.  Just enough motivation to get me to train a little.  I am tired.  The one power that drains my enthusiasm to get out the door.  Do not fear I watched Underdog as a kid.

 I have identified these fast little birds eating insects and occasionally dipping for a taste of water as swifts.  I'm thinking Chimney Swift.  Look them up, an interesting read.

 Going to aim for 3 hours today.   Regular temps at 94-95 all week.  I've noticed when trudging along birds have not entered my mind.  Today I will try and identify 10 if possible and report back.  I am not good with small birds not around feeders.  Currently we do not operate a bird feeder because of the varmints.   

 If the Pirates could get in the habit of not letting up 2-4 runs in the first inning every other game I might occasionally stay up past 8pm.

 When my kids ask me what I want this year for Christmas it will be Pirate shirts.  Mine are ratty from constantly running in them and blowing down chili dogs and wings.

 

Size of a trampoline

 I went out today (Saturday) uninspired.  No running for 2 days and the left leg still battered. The decision was made to at least go out and make an attempt to move around.  A jog/walk strategy was employed as such, for every quarter it was jog .15 and walk .10.

 There was no harmony,  but the checkpoints were flying by at 13:50 miles.  Unhinged, I continued to soldier on past my 3.8 goal to 4.3, to 5.5, to 6.3, to 7.2, to 8.8, to 9.2, to a final 10.5 spot.  If your gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.

 To all the others out there that question the significance, just know this helps the cause.  Not a lot of people even consider doing 10 miles on a bike let alone on foot.  Speaking of bikes, there always seem to be 1-2 members of the fabulous four out there with their sprint to the finish mindset weaving in and out without a care in the world.   Lots in the 40's range.  Any bikers care to comment on the need for brilliant racing uniform type outfits?  Marshall on beautiful people.  We adore you ❤️. 

 The majority of the bikes are nice and courteous people.  They warn you, applaud you, and acknowledge you.  There are always a handful though.  You want to race the paved rec trail?  Get out on the road numb skulls. 

 Every year or so we would get into it with a couple of these folks.  My buddy said why are they so cocky?  Because you can't get your hands on them.  That's why.  Everyone's a hero when they blow by at 20-25 mph.

 

Crashing off the haul of the ship

 I'm banged up a bit.  Ignoring all the signs I soldiered on just in case I could come out the other side.  Remember the days when you ran far enough the stiffness, blood sugar, tiredness and even acute muscle fatigue could be rendered inconsequential?  We got the game on here Bro, stand aside.  And I'm not joking.

 Then one day it's gone.  Not in my mind though.  Sometimes I don't listen to my mind.  I'm twisted steel.  Big guys in two's, little guys in bunches.  So it looks like a couple days off.

 So I kayaked 4.1 miles today.  

 Blue Heron, Great Egret, Limpkin, Green Heron, Moorehen, White Ibis, Inhinga, Grackle, Whistling Duck, Sandhill Crane, and Crow.

 I also saw deer and about a 4 foot gator.  I am seeing about 1 gator per voyage.   

 Took the day off.  It's Friday and we are going to boat into town and have lunch.  This makes the wife happy.  Not sure I'm a boat guy.  I make fun of everyone whose boat stays docked pretty consistently.  Now I drive the school bus, meaning...well what it sounds like I mean.

 I spoke with my Aunt yesterday from PA.  I said I'll be 62 next month and then there was silence.  We both had to ponder this factoid in a perfectly legal and binding sense.  Suddenly that song by The Chambers Brothers was relevant.

#2 Mepps

 A husk of my former self.  Today I was pounding miles at 13 minute + pace w/o any walking.   One day the dream becomes a task and then an effort, quickly followed by who stole my cheese.  50 mile weeks literally are like 90 mile weeks without any benefits. 

 Yes I could jumble it all around and run fewer miles.  I could have better workouts and see improvements.  I could use kayaking, biking, and a bit of swimming to fill the gaps, but all that seems cowardly.

 Running, or getting in miles is better for me.  It keeps me humble.   I burn mucho calories, and if gives you grisle.  Hold my beer.

 Tired.  Getting worked.  In less than 2 weeks I'll be making calls from Alabama to Minnesota.  Did I mention I am in Florida?  I'm not that bright evidently.  

 Can't wait for the week in the Boundary Waters.  Walleye as big as your leg.  Sleeping on the ground again and surviving without Captain Crunch and Hamburgers.   What are we doing?  Nothing.  

Duck Duck

 Lately I have been drawn to the kayak in the morning to go see birds.  This means shorter runs, or no run at all.  Surprising I'm okay with this.   Today I cashed in the long run for a little 5.3 mile stroll and the 2.5 on the kayak. 

 The goal is to see 10 types of birds and in my mind they are captured by memory in groups of 5.  Today the goal was 15, but it was not achieved.

 The first group was a White Ibis flying overhead,  Limpkin, Blue Heron, Double Crested Cormorant, and the mighty Green Heron.  The Green Heron is a bird I have to get closer to for the solid read.

 The second group was the Common Gullinale (Moorehen), Sandhill Crane standing afar in someone's yard, Anhinga, Grackle, and a lone Whistling Duck.  The Whistling Duck is becoming a favorite.  Alone or in pairs they do not seem to call as much, but do in larger groups.  You cannot miss their sound.

 The final group was only two more common birds, but they were farther away so I had to paddle over a ways into the lilly pads to add the Great Egret and finally the Little Blue Heron.

 I'm going to have to up my knowledge of song and yard birds to increase the identifications per trip.  One can take some detours on the kayak into neighborhoods off the main water and see the smaller birds.  Plenty of areas with reeds, marsh, and scrub trees to search.  But they are fast and small so not a lot of time to just stare and figure it out.  Sure, Cardinals, Crows, Vultures, and even some Hawks stand out, but the little Warblers, Chickadees, Sparrows, and such are harder.

 This interests me.  It is another activity that draws and keeps me outside.  This and the fact one does not think about the time passing, but being a part of nothingness. 

I don't even have a garage

 55.1 miles achieved this week.  Brother it has been hot these past few mornings.  

 Already moved to 41st on the Long Haul 100 wait list. 

 Crawford signed up for the wait list and is in the 54th spot.  Now if it works out I have someone to try and one up on long runs.  Whatever it takes.

 Someone with the exact same name and age as me is already in.  The race director sent me a note asking why I registered twice.

 It's good to have something in front of me.  

12:15 pace

 The horror.   11.2 mile pace on random surfaces.  Only walked about 0.2 miles.

 47th on the Long Haul 100 wait list.

 My wife has a nice recumbent bike.  It is fun to ride.

 Don't sweat the mickey mouse is a line uttered to me about 36 years ago by my boss.  I'm just now beginning to apply the concept rather liberally. 

 A cup of black coffee has been serving as the place where I then say it all starts from here.

 I can't eat 50 eggs.

 I can eat 50 wings.

 The argument could be made for me to take social security at 62 solely on the knowledge that pound for pound I have eaten the most hamburgers and hot dogs.

 The blue heron spears the blue gill immediately and then moves away from me.  Then it goes down head first and you can watch the trajectory.   I'm not certain if they are ever full.