Had a nice 3 mile run last night on a nice track and field facility that Robert Kraft was nice enought to have supported here in Brookline. I am told that he grew up in town and attended the local high school. I normally run past the track on my usual 5k run to and around Jamaica Pond but the wife and I thought we would give the actual track itself a test run and it was a great experience. I have never run or walked an actual track before, I mainly stick to the streets or trails and this was a pleasant surprise. It felt to be made of densely packed rubber on top of asphalt so it was easy on the feet and legs. The only thing I didn't care for is that your looking at the same scene, lap in and lap out. I do like the variety of a run through the town with different sights to see. Anyway, it was a nice change and the community is very lucky to have the Kraft family support.

What a great weekend of weather that was. I love the heat and it was in the low 90's all weekend with bright sunshine and no rain whatsoever here in Boston. I got out early on Sunday morning and put in a quick 3 miles at a nice average mile around 9:30 thanks to the last 3/4 of a mile being all down hill. I will take any help that I can get. Anyway, on Sunday afternoon we went on the motorcycle out to Shirley Mass. to see Hot Tuna and take in some great food as well at the Bull Run Restaraunt in Shirley. The building has been there since the 1700's and is outfitted with a small concert hall in the back that looks like it holds maybe 200-250 people max so all the seats are up close and personal. We sat against the side wall and were maybe 25 feet from the band at the most. We were there for the first set and the show was great. I was particularly happy to hear Good Shepherd, Come Back Baby and Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning. I could almost hear Jorma's voice and guitar screeching from the Good Shepherd version on Volunteers which has to be one of the greatest collections of songs ever put together. Aside from that, I pulled the set list from Cracks in the Finish, which is Jorma's blog and website. It was special to be able to see a couple of guys who have really been there and done that and survived to tell the tale.

First Show:
1. Been So Long
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Second Chances
6. Let Us Get Together Right Down Time
7. Barbeque King
8. Children Of Zion
9. Come Back Baby
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Bread Line Blues
12. Good Shepherd
13. Parchman Farm
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
15. Encore: Embryonic Journey
Second Show:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation blues
3. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
4. How Long Blues
5. The Terrible Operation
6. Living In The Moment
7. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
8. I See The Light
9. Red River Blues
10. Uncle Sam Blues
11. Vicksburg Stomp
12. I Am The Light Of This World
13. True Religion
14. Re-Enlistment Blues
15. I Know You Rider
16. Encore: Water Song

http://jormakaukonen.com/cracksinthefinish/

A wee bit late in posting this but I managed to finish the BAA 10k yesterday in 1:02. 5 minutes slower than last year, which is a bit disapointing, but I shouldn't complain given the issues that I have had with my feet. The weather was quite nice but it was very hot going up and coming down Comm ave by B.U. Today I have a bit of discomfort in my right Plantar so I will need to baby it for a bit I guess. All in all a succesful race.

So last week was a very succesful week for running, I managed to get in another 6 miles on Saturday which brings my total for the week to right around 15 miles. No pain or discomfort other than the occasional ache from the right foot so I think it's full speed ahead now. I am running in the BAA 10k next weekend which I am looking forward to given that I had to skip the BAA 5k in April. Weather is looking good, sun with temps forecasted in the 70's right now.

This has been a very good week for running. The weather has been great other than some rain on Wednesday. I got almost 6 miles in on Tuesday and then a 5k last night. The feet are no better or worse, not much pain at all and just a little discomfort in the right foot. Most likely the lingering tendonitis in the achilles the doctor speculated about. Anyway, I have been listening to way to much Bob Dylan this week but I just can't stop for some reason. I don't think I fully appreciated his music or lyrics at all growing up. I started with his first releases and am now up to Blood on the Tracks but I think that Desire has to be one of the best albums of all time. The first 4 songs are absolute killlers, Hurricane, the Rubin Carter story, Isis, Mozambique and One More Cup of Coffee. I have a playlist now of the following:
As I Went Out One Morning-John Wesley Harding
All Along the Watchtower-John Wesley Harding
Knockin on Heavens Door-Pat Garret
House of the Rising Sun-Bob Dylan
Hurricane-Desire
Isis-Desire
Masters of War-The Freewheelin Bob Dylan
Like a Rolling Stone-Greatest Hits
Shelter from the Storm-Blood on the Tracks

So the Basel III NPR was issued yesterday so my weekend is now sealed. 600 pages of regulatory Sominex for the next week or so.

Managed to slog out 5.5 miles yesterday afternoon in the mist and rain. It wasn't so bad as it was a bit warm and the foot held out just fine. I am struggling to keep my wind though, I used to be 9:30-10:00 miler but I am now up to 10:30-10:00 if I am lucky. Not sure what it's going to take to get that back. Anyway, my wife and I went on a great walk this morning, about 4.5 miles round trip from our place down the Riverway to the Fens. Stopped at the James Kelleher Rose Garden. We have probably biked past this place a dozen times and never took a peak inside. I is quite beautiful and well maintained. If your ever in the Back Bay/Fens area I would highly suggest a visit.

The following pictures are from our walk last Sunday in the Arnold Arboretum. Weather was fantastic and the trees were really showing off thier Spring colors.