An update on my herniated disc/leg issues, a recap of my performance in the inaugural Crest Best Run Fest 10-Miler, and some other odds and ends. Read on for the details…
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Crest Best 10-Miler Recap & Photos
Despite my recent health issues, I completed the inaugural Crest Best Run Fest 10-Miler on Sunday, October 7. It wasn’t ideal, but I made it through without any additional back or leg pain. So that was good.
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Medical Update
- So…I received a “transforminal lumbar epidural” injection in my spine today (October 18) to hopefully resolve the nerve issues that resulted from the herniated disc I initially suffered in mid-August and then aggravated/worsened during Labor Day weekend. It’s still going to take a week or two to see if the injection did the trick or not. But, hopefully, this gets me at least closer to normal.
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Jury Duty
I may have jury duty in Trenton, N.J., next week (10/22-26). I’ve never had to serve on a jury. In fact, I’ve only ever had to report to the courthouse once before. I have a feeling my luck may run out this time, because why shouldn’t something else take me away from training for next month’s Philadelphia Marathon.
Disney Cruise Approaches
In a couple of weeks, we’ll be on our way to Florida for a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas. I plan on keeping up my training by running on the ship’s 0.4-mile jogging/walking path when I can. Also, I’ve recently learned there may be a 5K held on the day we visit Disney’s private Castaway Cay, so I have to see about signing up for that upon boarding the ship. I’m kind of excited about being able to continue training to some extent while out at sea.
Back In The Podcast Game?
I’m hoping to bring back my Tandem With The Random podcast for the first time since 2014, but it’s understandably been a little tough convincing prospective guests to do an interview for a podcast that’s been on hiatus for over four years. I would really love to get some new episodes online before the end of the year.
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Back to my “new age” days
Below is my latest work-in-progress. Just before my friend Christian Beach and were introduced to a rapper from Asbury Park in the late 1980s, we had actually started an electronic “new age” project and had come up with quite a few songs for it. This song kind of harkens back to those days.
“Time Takes Over” turns 30
I wrote about this in my first newsletter in August, but this month – actually right around this time of month — marks the 30th anniversary of the first complete song I ever wrote, “Time Takes Over.” Once again, here is a slightly edited and augmented version of the original cassette demo recording from October 1988 with vocals recorded this past summer (this version had only existed as an instrumental). Since most of the music is from a 30-year-old cassette, you’ll hear some glitches, but it serves its purpose for sentimental purposes.
Christian Beach and Michael Scotto on Banding Together 2018 this weekend!
My friends – and super-talented singer-songwriters – Christian Beach andMichael Scotto will be featured on this weekend’s BlowUpRadio.com Banding Together webathon benefit for the Spondylitis Association of America. Hear a live performance by Christian on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 12:45 p.m. ET. And then tune in Sunday, Oct. 21, at 12:45 p.m. ET to hear one by Michael.
Click here for more info and to listen online.
Kudos to you, Dan Gregory!
My friend Dan Gregory competed in another IRONMAN triathlon this past weekend. Dan completed the IRONMAN Louisville on October 13 in 10:34:34 (the swim was shortened to about 0.9 miles from the planned 2.4 miles because of strong currents), which included a personal-best 3:51:37 marathon time.
Also, that headline is a callback to when I needed to fill space in The Rider News after a columnist failed to produce a column on production night…so I wrote a stream-of-consciousness piece that was literally about whatever popped into my head as I typed. One of those items was about Dan consuming, I think, three grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches at lunch that day, for which I wrote, “Kudos to you, Dan!”
By the way, it has been reported that Dan said upon completing the bike leg of the IRONMAN that he never wants to do one of these again. To that, I say…
Simple Minds at Count Basie Center for the Arts (9/26/2018)
Well, hearing “Up On The Catwalk” and “She’s a River” live were my personal highlights of Simple Minds’ performance at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, N.J., on September 26. However, I haven’t seen video of either song from the Basie show. Below is “Alive and Kicking,” another of my favorite Simple Minds songs.
Devon Gilfillian: “High”
One of my favorite musical discoveries of 2018, Devon Gilfillian, recently released the official video for “High,” the latest single from his upcoming debut album. I love this song.
Best of 2018 (So Far)
Just thought I’d share this playlist of videos of songs I’ve enjoyed over the past year (including a few that were released in late 2017). The video in the thumbnail — “Girlfriend” by Christine & The Queens — has been getting a ton of airplay on WXPN and is pure pop-funk joy. Also, I make both a vocal and visual appearance at around the 3:50 mark of the video of Lo Moon’s performance of “Wonderful Life” at this year’s XPoNential Music Festival…you can hear and see me yell “YEAHHHH!” at bottom right in the teal shirt and red hat.
Upcoming Events
Philadelphia Marathon
Sunday, November 18, 2018
For the second year in a row, I’ll be running in the Philadelphia Marathon, which takes place this year on Sunday, November 18. Honestly, it’s going to take a miracle at this point to finish under 5 hours, but I’m still going to try. Maybe I’ll shock myself. If you’re in or near Philly around 12:30/1:00 p.m. on November 18, feel free to say hello after I finish.
Brian Kelley 