Gil Can Run!A blog on Running and all the crap that runs through my head while doing it

May 22nd Getting out of my own way

Didn’t work too well today. But I got a few slow miles in.  I came home, showered, had lunch and then went to sleep for the whole afternoon.
I had a great football weekend though. Forget all the other stuff. Manchester United won the FA Cup, which I think was Van Gaal’s philosophy. “Make the team perform so poorly, the fans are excited about winning the FA Cup.”  Then the Red Bulls destroyed NYCFC 7-0, in Yankee Stadium! Now, reports are that Van Gaal is done and, as much as I want Giggs at the helm, Jose Mourinho will be the next manager at United. So a good weekend, in that respect. (Keep in mind all the reports about LVG and the special one are just guesses)
So yeah, all and all not terrible. Even if I’m having some other troubles. The rest can work itself out in its due course. I’m not too concerned, even if it is weighing me down right now.

Feelin’ it today.
Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 21st Being awake early has advantages

So I ran at the usual 5:45am. Anyone that knows me well knows I actually hate getting up early. Even on race day, I just hate being up early, always have, always will. That being said, there is an upside to it. Usually, when I do these early morning runs I come back to my apartment, have a decent breakfast, and then go back to sleep, but for whatever reason that wasn’t happening today. After an unsuccessful fight with sleep this morning; I got my narrow ass out of bed, washed my sheets, practiced my Italian, made a beautiful fruit salad that I will enjoy with lunch, made coffee, washed dishes, showered, shaved, listened to lots of loud music that undoubtedly annoyed the piss out of my neighbors. Basically, I got a lot of shit done.
That being said, and all these things being done before lunch, I’d still prefer to sleep. I also really don’t want to go to work now today. But that’s alright, I’ll get by it’s just 2 1/2 hours, and it’s adults, so at least they are behaved, motivated, and they pay attention. Ok, and on the way home I can drink on the train. I love how they’ll look at you if you’re drinking on the train, but it’s not illegal, they are just judgmental.
Meanwhile, I’m torn, I want to go home and see my family, well most of my family. At the same time, I want to just save money. Oh well, it will work out and things will be fine. Sometimes I have to stop worrying so much, I’m very bad with that though. Alright, time to make lunch and get ready for work!

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 20th Decisions

So it looks like I will be returning to the United States at the end of June. Spend a few weeks tooling around before I come back and visit England and Denmark. My return to Italy will not happen until mid-September. Assuming nothing changes in the next couple days, this is the plan as it exists. With this timetable I will be able to participate in some races I was hoping to enjoy.
Of course I have work to do in there, like finding an apartment for September, brushing up on my teaching skills, learning some new tricks, tips and hints. But I also have to relax. It’s been a stressful 6 months. I’ve had good times and bad times, you know I’ve had my share (yes, I just quoted Zep, don’t judge me! No I don’t really like them all that much, but that song sticks with you). My real problem is deciding if I should find a part-time job for a couple weeks while I’m back in the US. I don’t want to, but I feel like I need to. It will be nice to have a long vacation though. Too much to sort out now.
Part of me doesn’t want to go to the US yet, but it’s the most cost-effective thing to do if I’m not working. Plus, running a little with my friends will be nice. Alright, time to get back to work, my student will be here shortly. Just having some fun today with the musics:

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 19th Trying to get back into a rythm

Yeah, it’s harder than it seems, and I feel so fatigued. But I ran today. I’m exceedingly concerned that I won’t be able to hold together a long run when I finally get out to do one. Oh dear god, I don’t want to taper again!
Meanwhile, I’ve decided that from here on out, unless a friend needs a place to crash, no more roommates. As much as sometimes living on my own has sucked, I’ve rather enjoyed it. I feel more free, I can listen to music, watch stupid shows. When I want to talk to someone I can find someone to talk to, when I don’t I get to go into my fortress of solitude and just chill. There is so much that is better about living alone. No offense to any roommates who may be reading this! If you are, you are great, just I’ve really been enjoying my time by myself. It’s silly that I have a giant empty room, but hey, that’s how things worked out with this apartment being vacated by previous roommates. It’s cool.
So I’ll finally know my fate with Summer School here tonight, and then I can start planning my trip home, and my Summer vacation! Nice part about living overseas, it’s never a “stay-cation” because my family would be upset if I didn’t come home, and then I still have time to bum around Europe or wherever. So this year, looks like just Engerland and Denmark. Next year I will get some marathons in. As I’ve said hopefully I can do Africa and Asia in one go, leaving me with only Antarctica and Oceania. So if I am doing Summer School, it’ll be mid-late August for England and start of September for Denmark. Cool right?
Off of “How I spent my Summer Vacation” (totes approps) the Bouncing Souls:

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 18th Technical difficulties!

Sorry all, I did run yesterday, but my watch didn’t sync. I’ve fixed the issue and ran today as well. The sun sucked the life right out of me today though. I’m still sweating and stupidly sitting here typing without having any water!
I have a fairly easy day today which I like. But tomorrow will be difficult. My Teen class at night wants me to talk about why I’m a vegetarian, I feel they’re going to end up with a song, and then after all that there’s a kind of school get-together in Nola. Karaoke, oh no! Everyone’s in trouble now.
Everything else is running along smoothly, which means it’s almost time to tear it all down and start again! Haha, life should always be a work in progress though seriously. Never be complete.
But the hamstring is getting better I think. It still is bothersome but I’ve been stretching more and running less and that seems to be helping. I may not even hit 100 miles this month, which is causing me a slight amount of worry. But oh well, I need to heal. I need to try and get a long run in before I find myself having to taper again though, I think even a crappy, slow, walky long run is better than none at all. So maybe this Saturday or Sunday morning, or maybe even Monday morning before work.
Alright, since the kids asked, and so the song is stuck in my head:

Lyrics for the Hardcore impaired:
Man’s best friend is beautiful affectionate an ideal pet
Cats are the same, we make up their names and our love for them is real
Listen up, I gotta ask it, how can we be so cruel?
You say you care, that’s a lie
My true compassion is for all living things
and not just the ones who are cute so I do what I can
I wanna save lives and I’ve got a plan
Under the table he’ll eat your dinner like the veggies we can’t stand
What kind meal would he make? We don’t want to ask it
Tradition is all that keeps him alive
Listen up, I gotta ask it, how can we be so cruel?
You say you care, that’s a lie
My true compassion is for all living things
and not just the ones who are cute so I do what I can
I wanna save lives and I’ve got a plan
Why am I so upset. Don’t even own a pet
I am not trying to press my will
I am not the first to say…THOU SHALT NOT KILL
Full is all we want to feel.
We eat to stay alive, but it’s their lives we steal.
I think we’d like to change, but most of us are stuck,
that’s why cats and dogs have ALL THE LUCK.

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 13th Observations on a sunny Friday

Given the mess, weather-wise, this week has been I ran today. I took it easy, as my hamstring is still not healed!
So firstly, it’s beautiful out today. Sunny, warm, a few big fluffy clouds. Bob Ross could have painted the hell out of this day! Well except for all the garbage on the side of the road and everywhere else around here. Maybe one day, when I have time to relax, I’ll try and paint like Bob Ross. Man was a genius! Also, wish I could have his afro.
So on the way to work I look out the window of the train and I see so many sets of workout/warm-up clothes drying. Nobody around here is that active. Some guys play some football (soccer), a few people run and bike, but mostly people just like wearing tracksuits. I never got that. I just don’t understand and I guess I probably never will.
Meanwhile, I did some bookkeeping things today and I’m waiting for word from my employer, then by Monday I should have my schedule for the Summer all worked out. The target date to return to Italy is around September 18, it’s all a matter of when I’ll be leaving, June or July? This Summer, I’m definitely going home, then visiting friends across Europe, but next Summer, I think I may have to get at least one, maybe two, continent(s) under my belt for marathons. Asia and Africa should be pretty easy from here. The more I think about it, the more I don’t want to run a marathon in the Middle East. It just seems like it would be mostly flat and boring, except maybe Petra, and I don’t really think I should be going to Jordan. So then I looked into it, flights to Phuket from here aren’t that much. I could do Thailand, marathon, cobra whiskey, maybe too much cobra whiskey, just have to watch out for the lady-boys. Thanks Archer for letting everyone know to be careful with that!
I think I like planning travel almost as much as taking the trips! It’s fun to figure out the logistics to fit the most into a trip as possible. Balancing cost and travel time and figuring out the optimal deal. Now that I’m living in a country with an affordable, rapid transit system, this endeavor has gained even more complexity. Can I find a better deal from a nearby airport, and will taking the Frecciarossa, Frecciaargento, or Frecciabianco make it worth it?
So much to think about. Another problem I’m having is Nairobi and Auckland (that would be 2018) are in October and I work in October. For Auckland I definitely need 2 weeks. Time it get there, settle, vacation, run, vacation a little more, return. If I’m trekking all the way to New Zealand, I should take some time. We’ll see if I can find a minor marathon there at a more convenient time, if not, I’ll figure something out, but I don’t even have to think about that until next year. At some point I need to get myself on a list for an Antarctica marathon…I want to do the one that sets off from Buenos Aires, then I can visit my friends and vacation there again. Maybe 2019? Maybe I should look for a way to make money off all this and then I can do this faster and more often.
Alright, I’m out of here for today, gotta get to work. This one is just because I’m in a good mood:

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 11th Thunderstorm Interruptus

Yeah, so I got derailed by a thunderstorm today. I was about to go out and run and the lightning started, so I said screw it. Then I had to get ready for work by the time the rain subsided. No biggie, back at it tomorrow is all.
I believe snapcase’s Covered is literally appropriate for today:

That’s all I got, the storm sucked and it’s massively humid here now.
Oh lyrics:
as the dark clouds move in
it’s stealing the sunshine
warm rain falls down
soothing the earth’s mind
the thunder crashes down
the power, relentless sound
the sun burns holes
the surface, covered souls
covered the dirt, the rain
corruption bleeds the veins
all I can see is mist through the trees
the clouded sky, asks who’s going to die
her windy spirit, we’re all trapped
within it
lightning, pierces through
electrifies heaven’s veiw
God’s children, sanctify
looking into nature’s eye

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 10th Back on it

I’m taking it easy still this week. But I will get back on schedule.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks and it will continue to be busy. Losing two more teachers left us in a bad spot at work. Extra money means a more awesome summer vacation.

That’s the prize, that’s what I’m staying focused on. I need to keep myself focused, it’s getting hot and uncomfortable and so it’s easy to get distracted and worry about things we don’t need to worry about. Also, I’ve been having some major anxiety issues the last few days. Need to chill out.

So let’s chill with some Shelter:

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 8th Happy Mother’s Day

Yes, they celebrate it here in Italy today too. I did not run today, but I ran yesterday. Instead, a few friends and I went to Ischia. Totally cool place. If you want, skip Capri, too expensive, and do Ischia instead.
I’ve been very lazy with this recently and I apologize. It’s been difficult recently here. Generally, things are fine, I’m keeping the PMA, but it just seems like I’m constantly working. Trying to settle things down and quiet my life a little. It can be difficult. Anyway, I am going to leave it at that tonight.
And now for some ST:

I had to.
Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!

May 5th It’s Cinco De Mayo

Yes, it is, and I ran. Took it very slow. Still the same pain in the leg though. I’m just tired of it at this point. Clearly I can run on it, clearly it’s not critical, but it’s massively annoying.
Anyway, I made lots of food, took some into work, along with some maragaritas. It was fun. I explained there’s no real reason for Americans to celebrate, and it’s only a regional holiday in Mexico, but what’s more American than rampant commercialism? So it’s perfect!
Then I saw that Drumpf posed with a taco salad and said “I love Hispanics.” Seriously. I’m not going to link to his post, he deserves NO publicity, he’s a bigot and a bag of crap opportunist. So here’s a screenshot so no one can claim I’m making it up.

Seriously, what an asshat. Somewhere a village is missing their idiot, and all the other idiots seem to be voting for him. I just can’t even imagine. Does he even have any real policy positions? I know he has exactly no foreign policy positions except for imperial isolationism. Seriously, does anyone listen to what he says? Or do they just like him because he’s a dickbag? I don’t know. I’m not stressing over it. What an embarrassment. I think we’ve gone from the Information Age, to the Age of Willful Ignorance. I’m in shock from this. I suppose a taco salad won’t attack him like wildlife.
Alright, I’m going for the night, I need sleep, fuck this shit. Ha. In honor of my light run today here’s some Beastie Boys, also because yesterday was the anniversary of MCA’s death:

Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!