I haven't posted in a while because life has been incredibly busy, well, mostly school has been taking up much of my time. It has been a flurry of reading, writing, and presentations for me, and it has cut in to my running time. I'm having doubts about being able to run a strong race next weekend because I've cut back on my running the last three weeks. I've done a couple of long runs (10 miles) on the weekends, but I'm lucky to get in another run during the week. I ran the wilderness trails in Claremont yesterday in a good time, but it wasn't fun. A lot of my doubts must be psychological, but I would love to be able to say that I'm heading into the race next weekend in top physical shape. Sadly, I'm not. I'm probably heavier than I was last year. I was hoping to shave off about ten pounds by marathon time, but I failed.
Regardless, I'll push for sub-4 hour time. I'm sure I've got it in me. It's just a matter of how much I want it. I did the math last night, and if I maintain a 9:00/mile pace, I'll be crossing the finish line at 3:55:48. That's good enough for me. This weekend is the last long run (8 miles). I'm doing the aid station, so if I want to run I'll need to get in early and do so. I have spring break next week, too, so perhaps I can get in one last good run on Tuesday and/or Wednesday. I'll book a massage on Thursday, and rest up for the marathon. As much as I'm nervous about it, I'm also quite excited.
Have fun!
Friday, March 10, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
6:16
I haven't ran much the last couple of weeks both because I've been burnt out physically and there's just too much work to do for school. I did get in a 10 miler (in the rain) this weekend, which I completed in 1:41 even though I had to slow down and check on runners who were experiencing weird aches and pains. The turn out was sort of pathetic this weekend. Partly the weather was to blame but also we've had some injuries the last few weeks. In any event, my run went well even if it took me a while to get warmed up.
Last night was supposed to be a speed workout, but when I got to the track I was feeling lazy and didn't feel like doing it. I did a two-mile warm up then stood around and talked to fellow teammates. By the time I decided to start running the others were already finishing up, so rather than do my Yassos, Jimmy persuaded me to run a fast mile with him. We did another mile warm-up since we had been standing around for too long. I was only planning to do a couple of easy 8 minute miles, but Jimmy asked me if I wanted to run one mile at a 5K pace, which would have been about 7:22 for me. Instead I said I wanted to try to beat my 5K pace. I was thinking more along the lines of 7 minutes, but instead Jimmy suggested I try to do a 6 minute mile with him. I've never tried to run as fast as I could. A few weeks ago I ran a mile with Coach Katie while she was doing repeats at a 6:52 pace. That's my fastest timed mile. 6 minutes just sounded preposterous. I imagined myself collapsing at the end, having to be carried out on a stretcher, IV's all over the place. Still, the challenge was there, so I accepted.
Right from the start, I knew I wouldn't be able to do 6 minutes. Jimmy was supposed to set the pace, but he was way off. By the first half lap we were off by five seconds. We tried to make it up along the way and actually maintained a six minute pace for the second lap. The first two laps were tolerable, and I actually surprised myself that I could hang with Jimmy.
By the start of the third lap, I could feel my breathing starting to labor. Halfway through the third lap I considered slowing down and letting Jimmy go on without me, but there was still some fight left in me. I dug in even though I felt like I was going to piss my pants. My legs were still moving really well and my form was holding up, but my footfalls were getting louder. I was stomping more than usual. I think the third lap was slower than the second. The fourth lap was just all desperation to finish. I told myself over and over again that it was just one more lap. I knew I had slowed down, but I didn't want to slow down even more. At the last turn, Jimmy announced, "Only 150 yards left!" I could have killed him. I hate hearing that in races no matter how close I am to the finish because regardless of how close it is, when you're feeling like someone has sucked the breath out of you, the distance seems insurmountable. 150 yards is a football field and a half! To be honest, I had enough energy in me to run faster but it was the mental block again of wanting to be comfortable. I was being worked and my body hated the feeling. I run to relax not to feel miserable. Running is supposed to be fun, right? So, more than anything, I had to overcome that mental block and force myself to put with the misery for another thirty seconds or so. I tried to speed up with fifty yards left, but I don't think I sped up all that much. When I crossed the trash cans (our finish line) Jimmy announced the time: 6:16! I seriously thought I had slowed down to a 6:30, so I was delighted with the time after I caught my breath. Jimmy, ever so positive, said that I only have to trim 4 seconds per lap to run a 6 minute mile. Some day, maybe, but for the night I was done.
So, that's another one for my record books. My fastest mile!
Last night was supposed to be a speed workout, but when I got to the track I was feeling lazy and didn't feel like doing it. I did a two-mile warm up then stood around and talked to fellow teammates. By the time I decided to start running the others were already finishing up, so rather than do my Yassos, Jimmy persuaded me to run a fast mile with him. We did another mile warm-up since we had been standing around for too long. I was only planning to do a couple of easy 8 minute miles, but Jimmy asked me if I wanted to run one mile at a 5K pace, which would have been about 7:22 for me. Instead I said I wanted to try to beat my 5K pace. I was thinking more along the lines of 7 minutes, but instead Jimmy suggested I try to do a 6 minute mile with him. I've never tried to run as fast as I could. A few weeks ago I ran a mile with Coach Katie while she was doing repeats at a 6:52 pace. That's my fastest timed mile. 6 minutes just sounded preposterous. I imagined myself collapsing at the end, having to be carried out on a stretcher, IV's all over the place. Still, the challenge was there, so I accepted.
Right from the start, I knew I wouldn't be able to do 6 minutes. Jimmy was supposed to set the pace, but he was way off. By the first half lap we were off by five seconds. We tried to make it up along the way and actually maintained a six minute pace for the second lap. The first two laps were tolerable, and I actually surprised myself that I could hang with Jimmy.
By the start of the third lap, I could feel my breathing starting to labor. Halfway through the third lap I considered slowing down and letting Jimmy go on without me, but there was still some fight left in me. I dug in even though I felt like I was going to piss my pants. My legs were still moving really well and my form was holding up, but my footfalls were getting louder. I was stomping more than usual. I think the third lap was slower than the second. The fourth lap was just all desperation to finish. I told myself over and over again that it was just one more lap. I knew I had slowed down, but I didn't want to slow down even more. At the last turn, Jimmy announced, "Only 150 yards left!" I could have killed him. I hate hearing that in races no matter how close I am to the finish because regardless of how close it is, when you're feeling like someone has sucked the breath out of you, the distance seems insurmountable. 150 yards is a football field and a half! To be honest, I had enough energy in me to run faster but it was the mental block again of wanting to be comfortable. I was being worked and my body hated the feeling. I run to relax not to feel miserable. Running is supposed to be fun, right? So, more than anything, I had to overcome that mental block and force myself to put with the misery for another thirty seconds or so. I tried to speed up with fifty yards left, but I don't think I sped up all that much. When I crossed the trash cans (our finish line) Jimmy announced the time: 6:16! I seriously thought I had slowed down to a 6:30, so I was delighted with the time after I caught my breath. Jimmy, ever so positive, said that I only have to trim 4 seconds per lap to run a 6 minute mile. Some day, maybe, but for the night I was done.
So, that's another one for my record books. My fastest mile!
Monday, February 13, 2006
Half Marathon
Distance: 13.1 miles
Time: 1:49:10 ***PERSONAL RECORD***
Location: Ventura, CA (Westpark Community Center)
Notes: I PR-ed, but I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. In fact, I only beat my previous best by about 18 seconds. Still, a PR is a PR.
My excuse? Well, it was hot, but I think, more than anything, it just wasn't a good day of running for me. My legs remained tight the whole way through and I felt a couple of twitches near my ITB that I worried about. I didn't let it slow me down and didn't factor into the race, though. I could have pushed myself even more, but I fell victim to psychology again and didn't kick it up a notch at the end. When the race was over my legs felt strong enough, but the doubts crept up at the end.
Still, the good news is that I kept a steady pace the whole way through. I don't think I ran a mile faster than 8 minutes and nothing slower than 9 minutes. Like clockwork I was hitting the mile markers at 8:30 or so. I'll have to check my watch to see what the lap times were, but from what I remember I was very consistent. I also ran a slightly faster second half. I didn't beat Kiley again, though. He finished about a minute ahead of me, but I thought I could have caught him. Again it's the push at the end. I'm weak! One of my goals is to beat him in a head to head race. He passed me with about 100 yards left at the Turkey Trot this year. Today we traded leads throughout the race until he passed me for good at about mile 9. I narrowed the gap several times, but I also got passed by a couple of runners with two miles left. I hate getting passed.
I think not having a good run today will serve me well. I have to remember that with the warm winter we've had this year in LA, I should be ready for yet another warm day come marathon time. I also sweated a lot more salt than usual. My shirt was caked with white streaks and my forehead and arms were covered with salty powder. I tasted it. =) I also have to take care of my legs. I should probably take the next couple of days off. There is bowling on Valentine's Day, so that's at least a bit of exercise.
On non-running news. Even with the early call for the half marathon (I had to get up at 3:45 AM to carpool with Gina, Audrey, and Kiley to Ventura), I still went to the Avalon last night to see Stars. Terrific show, but I missed the warm, meticulous orchestrations of the recordings. A lot of energy, and the band seemed very thankful and happy to be there. I wish they played "The Woods," though. The show actually started and finished earlier than expected. The band came on by 9:30 and wrapped up by 10:45. As a result, I wound up missing practically all of the Elected's opening set. From what I saw they sounded great. Their album is quite good and deserving of some notice even if they are getting slightly overshadowed by Jenny Lewis's solo album.
Before the show, I stopped by Amoeba Records and picked up CD's by Final Fantasy and the Unicorns.
Time: 1:49:10 ***PERSONAL RECORD***
Location: Ventura, CA (Westpark Community Center)
Notes: I PR-ed, but I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. In fact, I only beat my previous best by about 18 seconds. Still, a PR is a PR.
My excuse? Well, it was hot, but I think, more than anything, it just wasn't a good day of running for me. My legs remained tight the whole way through and I felt a couple of twitches near my ITB that I worried about. I didn't let it slow me down and didn't factor into the race, though. I could have pushed myself even more, but I fell victim to psychology again and didn't kick it up a notch at the end. When the race was over my legs felt strong enough, but the doubts crept up at the end.
Still, the good news is that I kept a steady pace the whole way through. I don't think I ran a mile faster than 8 minutes and nothing slower than 9 minutes. Like clockwork I was hitting the mile markers at 8:30 or so. I'll have to check my watch to see what the lap times were, but from what I remember I was very consistent. I also ran a slightly faster second half. I didn't beat Kiley again, though. He finished about a minute ahead of me, but I thought I could have caught him. Again it's the push at the end. I'm weak! One of my goals is to beat him in a head to head race. He passed me with about 100 yards left at the Turkey Trot this year. Today we traded leads throughout the race until he passed me for good at about mile 9. I narrowed the gap several times, but I also got passed by a couple of runners with two miles left. I hate getting passed.
I think not having a good run today will serve me well. I have to remember that with the warm winter we've had this year in LA, I should be ready for yet another warm day come marathon time. I also sweated a lot more salt than usual. My shirt was caked with white streaks and my forehead and arms were covered with salty powder. I tasted it. =) I also have to take care of my legs. I should probably take the next couple of days off. There is bowling on Valentine's Day, so that's at least a bit of exercise.
On non-running news. Even with the early call for the half marathon (I had to get up at 3:45 AM to carpool with Gina, Audrey, and Kiley to Ventura), I still went to the Avalon last night to see Stars. Terrific show, but I missed the warm, meticulous orchestrations of the recordings. A lot of energy, and the band seemed very thankful and happy to be there. I wish they played "The Woods," though. The show actually started and finished earlier than expected. The band came on by 9:30 and wrapped up by 10:45. As a result, I wound up missing practically all of the Elected's opening set. From what I saw they sounded great. Their album is quite good and deserving of some notice even if they are getting slightly overshadowed by Jenny Lewis's solo album.
Before the show, I stopped by Amoeba Records and picked up CD's by Final Fantasy and the Unicorns.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
The need for speed
I received my L.A. Marathon confirmation card over the weekend. I signed up so long ago, in October, that I couldn't remember if I did or not. Bib #3175. The marathon logo this year is also quite nice, if a bit feminine.
Last night I did 8 Yasso 800 repeats at a 7:04/mile pace. It felt easy last night. I was off at a couple of points because I lost concentration, but otherwise I was feeling great. Tonight I'll do an easy 3-4 miles at the gym, get some studying done, and probably watch the Grammys and "Project Runway." Tomorrow I'll do my first ever mile repeats. I'll ease into it and do 4 miles at a 7:52/mile pace (hopefully I'm not underestimating the difficulty). I think the speed workouts helped make for an easy 20 miles on Saturday. I'll take Friday and Saturday off, and I hope I don't oversleep for my early call for the Ventura Half Marathon. I have to get up at 3:45-4:00 AM to meet up with Gina so we can carpool and make it to Ventura by 6:30 AM. I have no plans on Friday night (as usual), so I should be able to get plenty of sleep that night. Kate and Katie ran the Pacific Shoreline Half on Sunday and finished in 1:37. I beat Coach Katie last time at the AFC Half Marathon, but she was jet-lagged and hadn't trained much, so I doubt that I can beat that 1:37. My immediate goal is under 1:45, perhaps closer to 1:40. I think that's within the realm of possibility, but as Jimmy and I discussed last night, I have a low tolerance for allowing my body to feel oxygen deprived. I really don't push myself enough in my races. I'll try to keep that in mind this weekend and push through the discomfort to see how well I can really do.
Last night I did 8 Yasso 800 repeats at a 7:04/mile pace. It felt easy last night. I was off at a couple of points because I lost concentration, but otherwise I was feeling great. Tonight I'll do an easy 3-4 miles at the gym, get some studying done, and probably watch the Grammys and "Project Runway." Tomorrow I'll do my first ever mile repeats. I'll ease into it and do 4 miles at a 7:52/mile pace (hopefully I'm not underestimating the difficulty). I think the speed workouts helped make for an easy 20 miles on Saturday. I'll take Friday and Saturday off, and I hope I don't oversleep for my early call for the Ventura Half Marathon. I have to get up at 3:45-4:00 AM to meet up with Gina so we can carpool and make it to Ventura by 6:30 AM. I have no plans on Friday night (as usual), so I should be able to get plenty of sleep that night. Kate and Katie ran the Pacific Shoreline Half on Sunday and finished in 1:37. I beat Coach Katie last time at the AFC Half Marathon, but she was jet-lagged and hadn't trained much, so I doubt that I can beat that 1:37. My immediate goal is under 1:45, perhaps closer to 1:40. I think that's within the realm of possibility, but as Jimmy and I discussed last night, I have a low tolerance for allowing my body to feel oxygen deprived. I really don't push myself enough in my races. I'll try to keep that in mind this weekend and push through the discomfort to see how well I can really do.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
02.04.2006: The Big 2-0!
Distance: 20 miles
Time: 3:27
Location: Rose Bowl
NOTES: This run had me anxious. Since I hadn't run 20 miles in practice before, I made it out to be a big deal. It was a make-or-break run in that it would either boost my confidence as the marathon nears or it will discourage me. Now that I've done it, I can honestly say that I'm pumped for the next six weeks of training.
The run couldn't have gone any better. There were some worries early on in the run when I developed some stomach issues. I normally don't eat cereal before a training run, settling instead for a banana and a cup of coffee, but I thought I needed something more substantial. Unfortunately we only had whole milk in the fridge that my niece and nephew drink, which I should not be drinking since I am now lactose intolerant. Still, I poured it in my cereal and tried to ingest as little of the milk as possible, but I probably still consumed too much because it went right through me. Rather than discuss my bowel movements any further, let's just say it made for some anxious moments early on.
Once that passed, the rest of the run went well. With the distance and the unseasonably warm weather, I would say it was my best run all season. The pace is slightly slower than the 10 minute pace I try to keep during the long training runs, but I think that had more to do with the detours and time spent waiting at the aid station for Gina. I would run ahead of Gina and wai for her at the aid station and she got cranky. Well, she always gets cranky during our runs, but yesterday was the first time she threatened me with bodily injury. I was surprised how fresh I felt all the way through. It wasn't until a half mile left in the run that my legs felt heavy.
So hooray for a good run. The miraculous thing is that I'm not at all sore. I got home, took a nap, and even went out for Preeti's birthday, no worse for the wear. In my first season my legs would burn after a long run. Now I have a runner'slegs, but I still don't have a runner's body. All in all, a very good day. I just hope it isn't the highlight of the season. With the marathon coming up, I have to work hard to finish under 4 hours.
Have fun!
Time: 3:27
Location: Rose Bowl
NOTES: This run had me anxious. Since I hadn't run 20 miles in practice before, I made it out to be a big deal. It was a make-or-break run in that it would either boost my confidence as the marathon nears or it will discourage me. Now that I've done it, I can honestly say that I'm pumped for the next six weeks of training.
The run couldn't have gone any better. There were some worries early on in the run when I developed some stomach issues. I normally don't eat cereal before a training run, settling instead for a banana and a cup of coffee, but I thought I needed something more substantial. Unfortunately we only had whole milk in the fridge that my niece and nephew drink, which I should not be drinking since I am now lactose intolerant. Still, I poured it in my cereal and tried to ingest as little of the milk as possible, but I probably still consumed too much because it went right through me. Rather than discuss my bowel movements any further, let's just say it made for some anxious moments early on.
Once that passed, the rest of the run went well. With the distance and the unseasonably warm weather, I would say it was my best run all season. The pace is slightly slower than the 10 minute pace I try to keep during the long training runs, but I think that had more to do with the detours and time spent waiting at the aid station for Gina. I would run ahead of Gina and wai for her at the aid station and she got cranky. Well, she always gets cranky during our runs, but yesterday was the first time she threatened me with bodily injury. I was surprised how fresh I felt all the way through. It wasn't until a half mile left in the run that my legs felt heavy.
So hooray for a good run. The miraculous thing is that I'm not at all sore. I got home, took a nap, and even went out for Preeti's birthday, no worse for the wear. In my first season my legs would burn after a long run. Now I have a runner'slegs, but I still don't have a runner's body. All in all, a very good day. I just hope it isn't the highlight of the season. With the marathon coming up, I have to work hard to finish under 4 hours.
Have fun!
Friday, February 03, 2006
20 Miles
Tomorrow will be my first 20 miler with TNT. This is my third season with the team, but every time we ran the 20 miler something came up, so tomorrow will be a momentous occasion. It really shouldn't be, I mean I've run 26.2 twice already, but those were different circumstances. Training runs can be tougher than the actual races because it requires a lot of motivation to keep going for miles and miles. At a race, the adrenaline is pumping and the will to finish is strong. I'm a competition-driven guy, so I do well under pressure. Perhaps I should look at tomorrow's run as a contest.
Leading up to tomorrow's run, we ran 10 miles last weekend and it turned out to be the best run I've had all season. I felt great. Maybe I'm getting into running again now that the marathon is nigh. I've also started doing an additional night of speed training. My Yasso 800 pace is at 3:36, and I'm going to do mile repeats at 7:52. That shouldn't be a problem...I hope.
Leading up to tomorrow's run, we ran 10 miles last weekend and it turned out to be the best run I've had all season. I felt great. Maybe I'm getting into running again now that the marathon is nigh. I've also started doing an additional night of speed training. My Yasso 800 pace is at 3:36, and I'm going to do mile repeats at 7:52. That shouldn't be a problem...I hope.
Friday, January 27, 2006
VH1 Classics
Usually the TV's at work are tuned in to Fuse or MTV2, but on Fridays they put on VH1 Classics. They just played a block of videos that included Madonna's "Burning Up," Queen Latifah's "Ladies First," and now it's Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam's "Head to Toe." I love the 80's!
Monday, January 23, 2006
01.21.2006: 18 Miles
Distance: 18 miles
Time: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: It was a relatively good run. I was sore afterwards, that goes without saying, but compared to the last three long runs I've done this season, this was less trying. I never felt like quitting at all. In fact, if I hadn't taken that (necessary) bathroom break after mile 10 the run would have felt even better. My legs stiffened up during that respite and it took a while to get back into it. All in all, though, it was a terrific run.
Afterwards a few of us chipped in for a huge 28-inch pizza. That hit the spot. I may have burned a couple thousand calories during the run, but I'm sure I replenished all of that and then some throughout the day and at Liza's party. At this rate, I doubt I'll lose any weight before the marathon.
I ought to be reading right now, but again I'm struck by laziness. I got straight A's last semester, so I didn't learn my lesson about procrastinating. I decided to audit two classes this semester on top of the two classes I'm taking for a grade. The audit classes won't require written work from me, but I'm expected to do the reading, which is still substantial. It's the last semester, so I might as well put up with it.
I watched "Brokeback Mountain" today. I'm tired.
Time: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: It was a relatively good run. I was sore afterwards, that goes without saying, but compared to the last three long runs I've done this season, this was less trying. I never felt like quitting at all. In fact, if I hadn't taken that (necessary) bathroom break after mile 10 the run would have felt even better. My legs stiffened up during that respite and it took a while to get back into it. All in all, though, it was a terrific run.
Afterwards a few of us chipped in for a huge 28-inch pizza. That hit the spot. I may have burned a couple thousand calories during the run, but I'm sure I replenished all of that and then some throughout the day and at Liza's party. At this rate, I doubt I'll lose any weight before the marathon.
I ought to be reading right now, but again I'm struck by laziness. I got straight A's last semester, so I didn't learn my lesson about procrastinating. I decided to audit two classes this semester on top of the two classes I'm taking for a grade. The audit classes won't require written work from me, but I'm expected to do the reading, which is still substantial. It's the last semester, so I might as well put up with it.
I watched "Brokeback Mountain" today. I'm tired.
Monday, January 09, 2006
01.07.2006: 16 Miles
Distance: 16 miles
Time: 3 hours
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: I've been sick the last few days, so the last time I ran was a five miler on Monday. I was still feeling a little under the weather on Saturday morning but decided to give it a try and call it short if I didn't feel well. I felt fine for the first two miles, then one of the participants fell and I helped walk her to the aid station, which took about 15 minutes. When I started running again after we dropped her off, I felt stiff but thought that would go away soon enough. It didn't. I felt stiff the rest of the way and added exhaustion soon after. Gina joined me about four miles in to the run and she was the reason I kept on going. I was kidding around with her by whining most of the way, but after a while I wasn't kidding around very much any more. I really was whining. I felt horrible pretty much the entire 16 miles, and I probably should have called it a short day, but Gina didn't want me to. So I ran and ran. Even on days where I have a bad run, I usually feel good at the finish. Not yesterday. I felt sick for a while after I finished running. All I wanted to do was sit and go to sleep. At least I got my 16 miles in, as painful and miserable as it was. This weekend is a step-back week, just an 8 miler, then we go back up to 18 miles in two weeks.
This whole season has felt like two steps forward, two steps back. When I was working on my papers in December, I took two weeks off running and it took two weeks to get back into feeling like my old self. Even at that, though, I have had three tough long runs (12, 14, and now 16 miles). I usually have one bad long run followed by a great one. Being sick this week robbed me of a few days of quality running just when I felt like I was getting back in the groove. I have two more months until L.A., and right now I doubt I can accomplish my goal of finishing under four hours. I'll have to work hard the next few weeks and stick to a regimen. I also need to get serious about nutrition and hopefully lose some weight.
Time: 3 hours
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: I've been sick the last few days, so the last time I ran was a five miler on Monday. I was still feeling a little under the weather on Saturday morning but decided to give it a try and call it short if I didn't feel well. I felt fine for the first two miles, then one of the participants fell and I helped walk her to the aid station, which took about 15 minutes. When I started running again after we dropped her off, I felt stiff but thought that would go away soon enough. It didn't. I felt stiff the rest of the way and added exhaustion soon after. Gina joined me about four miles in to the run and she was the reason I kept on going. I was kidding around with her by whining most of the way, but after a while I wasn't kidding around very much any more. I really was whining. I felt horrible pretty much the entire 16 miles, and I probably should have called it a short day, but Gina didn't want me to. So I ran and ran. Even on days where I have a bad run, I usually feel good at the finish. Not yesterday. I felt sick for a while after I finished running. All I wanted to do was sit and go to sleep. At least I got my 16 miles in, as painful and miserable as it was. This weekend is a step-back week, just an 8 miler, then we go back up to 18 miles in two weeks.
This whole season has felt like two steps forward, two steps back. When I was working on my papers in December, I took two weeks off running and it took two weeks to get back into feeling like my old self. Even at that, though, I have had three tough long runs (12, 14, and now 16 miles). I usually have one bad long run followed by a great one. Being sick this week robbed me of a few days of quality running just when I felt like I was getting back in the groove. I have two more months until L.A., and right now I doubt I can accomplish my goal of finishing under four hours. I'll have to work hard the next few weeks and stick to a regimen. I also need to get serious about nutrition and hopefully lose some weight.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Top 10 Albums of 2005
The top 10! In compiling my list, I only included albums that were released in the U.S. during the 2005 calendar year. This really only affected The Boy Least Likely To's album, which would have made the top 15 were it released domestically. I think it comes out officially in the U.S. early this year, so look for it in the 2006 list a year from now. Jenny Lewis's Rabbit Fur Coat probably would have made the list, too, but it's also a 2006 release that I heard late in 2005.
10. The National: Alligator
I can’t blame those who dislike the National because at times lead singer Matt Berninger does come off as a prick. There are a couple of songs on this album that play up Berninger’s pretentiousness, but more often than not, he and the band hit the mark, crafting some of the most gripping rock songs of the year. Think U2 without the grandiose social proselytizing. I can do without “Val Jester,” but there are songs in Alligator that are urgent and utilize Berninger’s distinct vocals to great effect. I’m thinking of “All the Wine” which seems to cheekily reference Berninger’s ego. They also showed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah what a couple of years experience can do when they outperformed them live and proved that they deserved the top billing. When Berninger screamed out “Mr. November” at the Troubadour, he turned an OK song into a brilliant rock and roll moment. Rock on!
Hear Ye: “Karen,” “Lit Up,” “All the Wine,” “Abel,” “City Middle”
09. Jens Lekman: Oh, You're So Silent Jens
Still no proper album from Jens Lekman, and the one he was working on looks to have been scrapped. At least we got this collection of songs from the past couple of years, a veritable greatest-hits from Jens even if he has yet to have a hit here in the states. It’s not as effervescent as last year’s similar collection, “When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog,” but this collection contains two of Lekman’s best songs in “Black Cab” and “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill.” Like Lekman himself, the album is never less than charming. It possesses a wry pop sensibility that makes up for some of the undernourished songs in the album.
Hear Ye: “Maple Leaves,” “Black Cab,” “Rocky Dennis’ Farewell Song,” “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill,” “The Wrong Hands”
08. Spoon: Gimme Fiction
My complaint about Spoon is that some of their songs sound underdeveloped, but when the product is so hypnotic and absorbing, then you can overlook that. Case in point: “I Turn My Camera On” is my favorite track from the album, but it is essentially the same from start to finish. I was hooked from the beginning and the chants that come in early in the song only solidified its greatness, but once you’ve heard the first minute, you’ve heard the whole song. It doesn’t seem to even end properly. It just ends. So why can’t I stop listening to it and the other songs on this album? Because Britt Daniel is the devil? Who knows. Even Stephen King was hooked by the band, naming “I Summon You” as his favorite song of the year.
Hear Ye: “The Beast and Dragon, Adored,” “I Turn My Camera On,” “My Mathematical Mind,” “Sister Jack,” “I Summon You”
07. Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary
I had heard the name Wolf Parade thrown around, but I had no idea what the fuss was all about. Then I found an advanced copy of this album in the cafeteria at work and gave it a listen. I was hooked from the opening stomp of “You Are A Runner and I Am My Father’s Son,” and when I got to “I’ll Believe in Anything,” I had to repeat the song several times. A few months later, some of the other songs, namely “Modern World” and “We Built Another World,” have lost their luster, but the rest of the album still sounds fresh and vibrant. “I’ll Believe in Anything” is as great a song I’ve heard all year.
Hear Ye: “You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son,” “Same Ghost Every Night,” “I’ll Believe in Anything,” “Dinner Bells,” “This Heart’s On Fire”
06. Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene
THE live show of the year for me. How could it not be when there were upwards of 16 musicians on stage at one time? I can’t quite understand why praise for this album is so muted. What BSS aims for is the ecstasy of noise and they reach this several times in the album, beginning with “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day).” The album gets a little muddled at the end, but most of it is terrific, and its brilliant moments alone warrant its top 10 ranking.
Hear Ye: “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day),” “7/4 (Shoreline),” “Fire Eye’d Boy,” “Swimmers,” “It’s All Gonna Break”
05. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
The New Pornographers complete this string of Canadian bands. While not as deliriously joyful as their previous two albums, Twin Cinema proves that the New Pornographers hold the key to writing a great pop song. Just check out “Sing Me Spanish Techno” for proof. The album suffers from the lack of Neko Case-belted choruses, but all in all, it’s a damn terrific album. Carl (A.C.) Newman is hella hot, too, I think. Something about redheads.
Hear Ye: “Twin Cinema,” “The Bleeding Heart Show,” “These Are the Fables,” “Sing Me Spanish Techno,” “Streets of Fire”
04. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Yes, I bought the hype and I think they live up to it. They are not quite there as a live act, but the songs are remarkably well-crafted and make me giddy. I dare say there was no better block of tracks this year than the back-to-back-to-back sequence of “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” and “Is This Love?” That the other tracks are also awesome places them in my top 5. Here’s hoping they get even better and develop better stage presence. I’ll cop to it that I think Alec Ounsworth is hella hot, but I did not know that until I saw them live.
Hear Ye: “Over and Over Again (Lost & Found),” “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” “Is This Love?,” “Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood”
03. Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Conor Oberst’s simplest album was his best. This was compared by critics to Dylan’s best, and while I think Oberst can still be too precocious and too affected in his singing, the album is his most consistent. "Lifted" had its moments of transcendent greatness, but it was too long and self-absorbed. Harmonizing with the great Emmylou Harris seems to have put Oberst in his place and allowed the songs to shine. I doubted whether I should rank Bright Eyes this high, but this was an album I could listen to over and over again from start to finish, so I suppose it meant I liked it a lot Heck, even the annoying intro to “At the Bottom of Everything” grew on me.
Hear Ye: “At the Bottom of Everything,” “We Are Nowhere And It’s Now,” “First Day of My Life,” “Another Travelin’ Song,” “Land-Locked Blues”
02. Andrew Bird: The Mysterious Production of Eggs
This album grew and grew with every listen. Bird's album is a marvelous, meticulously-crafted work that makes a symphony out of simple musical cues like whistling. Whistling! I have no idea what some of the songs mean, but what does it matter when these intricately-arranged songs have, to paraphrase “Fake Palindromes,” drilled a hole into my head. I credit this album, too, with improving my whistling skills. Bird is such an amazing whistler that I would probably buy an album of him just whistling. Listen to this album and try not to whistle along.
Hear Ye: “Sovay,” “Fake Palindromes,” “Masterfade,” “The Naming of Things,” “Tables and Chairs”
01. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
This was an easy choice since it was the album that I could not stop listening to all year. I kept returning to it and rediscovering musical cues and ideas that I didn’t hear the last time. I guess the hallmark of any great album is that it takes its time to grow on you, and while my first reaction to the album was positive, it wasn’t with the same awe and appreciation I have for it now. Songs I didn’t like before, after listening to them a few more times, have since revealed their beauty, and the ones I liked from the get-go I love even more now. Compared to Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State, Stevens’s previous “50 States” album, Stevens has grown as a songwriter. That album had some terrific songs, like the gorgeous “Romulus,” but the album mostly blends together for me. “Illinois,” though, is a work of grandeur that I’ll be listening to for years to come. So what if everyone else chose it as their number one album?
Hear Ye: “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” “Jacksonville,” “Casimir Pulaski Day,” “The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts,” “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!”
10. The National: Alligator
I can’t blame those who dislike the National because at times lead singer Matt Berninger does come off as a prick. There are a couple of songs on this album that play up Berninger’s pretentiousness, but more often than not, he and the band hit the mark, crafting some of the most gripping rock songs of the year. Think U2 without the grandiose social proselytizing. I can do without “Val Jester,” but there are songs in Alligator that are urgent and utilize Berninger’s distinct vocals to great effect. I’m thinking of “All the Wine” which seems to cheekily reference Berninger’s ego. They also showed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah what a couple of years experience can do when they outperformed them live and proved that they deserved the top billing. When Berninger screamed out “Mr. November” at the Troubadour, he turned an OK song into a brilliant rock and roll moment. Rock on!
Hear Ye: “Karen,” “Lit Up,” “All the Wine,” “Abel,” “City Middle”
09. Jens Lekman: Oh, You're So Silent Jens
Still no proper album from Jens Lekman, and the one he was working on looks to have been scrapped. At least we got this collection of songs from the past couple of years, a veritable greatest-hits from Jens even if he has yet to have a hit here in the states. It’s not as effervescent as last year’s similar collection, “When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog,” but this collection contains two of Lekman’s best songs in “Black Cab” and “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill.” Like Lekman himself, the album is never less than charming. It possesses a wry pop sensibility that makes up for some of the undernourished songs in the album.
Hear Ye: “Maple Leaves,” “Black Cab,” “Rocky Dennis’ Farewell Song,” “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill,” “The Wrong Hands”
08. Spoon: Gimme Fiction
My complaint about Spoon is that some of their songs sound underdeveloped, but when the product is so hypnotic and absorbing, then you can overlook that. Case in point: “I Turn My Camera On” is my favorite track from the album, but it is essentially the same from start to finish. I was hooked from the beginning and the chants that come in early in the song only solidified its greatness, but once you’ve heard the first minute, you’ve heard the whole song. It doesn’t seem to even end properly. It just ends. So why can’t I stop listening to it and the other songs on this album? Because Britt Daniel is the devil? Who knows. Even Stephen King was hooked by the band, naming “I Summon You” as his favorite song of the year.
Hear Ye: “The Beast and Dragon, Adored,” “I Turn My Camera On,” “My Mathematical Mind,” “Sister Jack,” “I Summon You”
07. Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary
I had heard the name Wolf Parade thrown around, but I had no idea what the fuss was all about. Then I found an advanced copy of this album in the cafeteria at work and gave it a listen. I was hooked from the opening stomp of “You Are A Runner and I Am My Father’s Son,” and when I got to “I’ll Believe in Anything,” I had to repeat the song several times. A few months later, some of the other songs, namely “Modern World” and “We Built Another World,” have lost their luster, but the rest of the album still sounds fresh and vibrant. “I’ll Believe in Anything” is as great a song I’ve heard all year.
Hear Ye: “You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son,” “Same Ghost Every Night,” “I’ll Believe in Anything,” “Dinner Bells,” “This Heart’s On Fire”
06. Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene
THE live show of the year for me. How could it not be when there were upwards of 16 musicians on stage at one time? I can’t quite understand why praise for this album is so muted. What BSS aims for is the ecstasy of noise and they reach this several times in the album, beginning with “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day).” The album gets a little muddled at the end, but most of it is terrific, and its brilliant moments alone warrant its top 10 ranking.
Hear Ye: “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day),” “7/4 (Shoreline),” “Fire Eye’d Boy,” “Swimmers,” “It’s All Gonna Break”
05. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
The New Pornographers complete this string of Canadian bands. While not as deliriously joyful as their previous two albums, Twin Cinema proves that the New Pornographers hold the key to writing a great pop song. Just check out “Sing Me Spanish Techno” for proof. The album suffers from the lack of Neko Case-belted choruses, but all in all, it’s a damn terrific album. Carl (A.C.) Newman is hella hot, too, I think. Something about redheads.
Hear Ye: “Twin Cinema,” “The Bleeding Heart Show,” “These Are the Fables,” “Sing Me Spanish Techno,” “Streets of Fire”
04. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Yes, I bought the hype and I think they live up to it. They are not quite there as a live act, but the songs are remarkably well-crafted and make me giddy. I dare say there was no better block of tracks this year than the back-to-back-to-back sequence of “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” and “Is This Love?” That the other tracks are also awesome places them in my top 5. Here’s hoping they get even better and develop better stage presence. I’ll cop to it that I think Alec Ounsworth is hella hot, but I did not know that until I saw them live.
Hear Ye: “Over and Over Again (Lost & Found),” “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” “Is This Love?,” “Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood”
03. Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Conor Oberst’s simplest album was his best. This was compared by critics to Dylan’s best, and while I think Oberst can still be too precocious and too affected in his singing, the album is his most consistent. "Lifted" had its moments of transcendent greatness, but it was too long and self-absorbed. Harmonizing with the great Emmylou Harris seems to have put Oberst in his place and allowed the songs to shine. I doubted whether I should rank Bright Eyes this high, but this was an album I could listen to over and over again from start to finish, so I suppose it meant I liked it a lot Heck, even the annoying intro to “At the Bottom of Everything” grew on me.
Hear Ye: “At the Bottom of Everything,” “We Are Nowhere And It’s Now,” “First Day of My Life,” “Another Travelin’ Song,” “Land-Locked Blues”
02. Andrew Bird: The Mysterious Production of Eggs
This album grew and grew with every listen. Bird's album is a marvelous, meticulously-crafted work that makes a symphony out of simple musical cues like whistling. Whistling! I have no idea what some of the songs mean, but what does it matter when these intricately-arranged songs have, to paraphrase “Fake Palindromes,” drilled a hole into my head. I credit this album, too, with improving my whistling skills. Bird is such an amazing whistler that I would probably buy an album of him just whistling. Listen to this album and try not to whistle along.
Hear Ye: “Sovay,” “Fake Palindromes,” “Masterfade,” “The Naming of Things,” “Tables and Chairs”
01. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
This was an easy choice since it was the album that I could not stop listening to all year. I kept returning to it and rediscovering musical cues and ideas that I didn’t hear the last time. I guess the hallmark of any great album is that it takes its time to grow on you, and while my first reaction to the album was positive, it wasn’t with the same awe and appreciation I have for it now. Songs I didn’t like before, after listening to them a few more times, have since revealed their beauty, and the ones I liked from the get-go I love even more now. Compared to Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State, Stevens’s previous “50 States” album, Stevens has grown as a songwriter. That album had some terrific songs, like the gorgeous “Romulus,” but the album mostly blends together for me. “Illinois,” though, is a work of grandeur that I’ll be listening to for years to come. So what if everyone else chose it as their number one album?
Hear Ye: “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” “Jacksonville,” “Casimir Pulaski Day,” “The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts,” “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!”
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