Had been trying to improve at running despite only doing 10 or so miles per week. Was doing all my running on the treadmill at 2% incline. Finally went outside and found out that 2% incline was not enough and that I had gotten slower from 2% plus so few miles. So started trying to run just about everyday (that I have time). All "easy" runs on treadmill while watching TV. Two harder runs each week outside. Want to get back up to near 40 or so. At first was thinking to keep my easy runs very easy, (5mph) but thinking to do them around 6mph for now. In the short term my fast runs won't be as good. But in the long term I should improve more.

Decided I need to drink like 3/4th's a gallon of water a day. Did so and immediately felt better. Had gotten a little lazy with my water drinking before. Had insomnia for the first time in a while and wondering if slight dehydration can lead to insomnia. (Unable to flush out toxins as well.... )

Have 6 weeks till half marathon. So got 4 long runs left. Yesterday did 9 miles at pretty easy 9:15 pace. Want to hit 13 miles 2 weeks before race. Yesterday did last mile in 7:10. Could have done quite a few more miles but trying to keep things gradual... Felt really good afterwards.

Really neglected the cello here recently. And quit writing. When I had insomnia I felt miserable and decided I had to start again. But now the insomnia is gone. Also it's springtime. And expanding the garden.

Read The Fell Knight and The Red Knight by Miles Cameron. Really enjoyed them. Very long. Partially why stopped writing. The Captain AKA Gabriel or The Duke is a magician and fighter. Leads a band of mercenaries. Including Bad Tom and Sauce. Jehan and so on. In Red Knight they are defending some place from an attack of the Wild led by the sorceror Thorn. Dameons and Wyvert(sp) and boglins and irks and trolls and golden bears, etc. In the Fell Knight they are fighting for an empress against a traitorous duke. Lots of characters, constantly jumping around. High level of detail concerning the middle ages. Lots of words I've never heard before. As if Miles figured most people are on a kindle/nook now and can look them up in a second. The Captain hates christianity. He has a place in his head where a person lives. Later on it's Harmodius, the great mage.

Really got to quit reading and start writing though.

At IVF in MD downloaded The Blade of Tyrelle(sp) by Matthew Stover. Book two of Heroes Die. I liked book one. It's about Caine/Hari. The dialogue is a bit cheesy in places but when he goes from futuristic earth over to the middle ages fantasy fiction world, it gets better. But again, I need to stop reading and start writing.

Since getting Larson A and D strings and Helicore C and G. Along with raising fingerboard/lowering strings have been playing cello. Often 2 plus hour sessions on weekends. Haven't been bothering with viola. Have first two pages of back Cello Suite no 1 memorizes.

Cello practice
1. Vibrato in time with fast beat
2. Scales with beat as fast as possible, focus in particular on second position, extended position, etc.
3. dotzauer book with and without fast beat
4. some time spent without a beat just enjoying playing
5. various pieces with beat as can manage
6. Memorize Bach Cello Suite No. 1 at least.
7. Practice going back and forth between strings. Thinking about how higher pitch strings need lighter touch. Especially if they are open and lower pitch is a 4 or 4th position, etc.
Viola practice
vibrato exercises with beat, especially c string

then if I have anything left to continue to hold proper position, a bit of time just playing whatever

In fact was wondering if memorization might be good in general, it's something I've avoided for the most part. So thought to memorize some poems. Did the first 4 stanzas of The Raven last night.