Burning River, the 2011 USATF (USA Track & Field) 100 Mile Trail Championship, was a rousing success this year, both for the race organizers and myself. For the first time ever, 300+ participants registered for the race, with just under 300 actually toeing the starting line at 5:00 AM on Saturday, July 30 (with 151 runners completing the course within the allotted 30 hours). Last year, I would complete the course in 56th place with a time of 23:36:26 (yes, that’s twenty-three and a half hours), primarily walking the final 30 miles due to moderately intense pain and/or swelling in/around the leg area. This year, having that experience under my belt, I took precautions and wore calf sleeves on both legs, as well as a Jumper’s Knee brace on my right leg, and was pain-free (chaffing and general aches notwithstanding) the entire 100.8 miles that comprised the course. In fact, I finished on quite a tear, not allowing a single runner to pass me the final 35+ miles (besides general tiredness, I felt far better 100.3 miles in than I did 33.3 miles in, at which point my electrolytes were severely unbalanced and I had to sit down and/or slowly walk for at least 30 minutes, at which point I was passed by a handful of people I would never again see). I crossed the finish line in 20:49:06, nearly three full hours ahead of last year’s tally, which was good enough for 16th place overall.
I’m not sure if it was during or just after the race, as I lay in the middle of an ice-cold kiddie fountain (the kind that randomly shoots out jets of water from various holes in the ground at differing intervals), but I decided that I’m actually a fan of ultramarathons. Perhaps I was too stubborn to admit it, even to myself, but there’s a very strong chance that I only participated in past ultras to prove to myself that I could do so (which is, in and of itself, not a wholly bad thing)—not necessarily because I liked doing so, but because my body allowed me to do what many other’s bodies wouldn’t. The 2011 iteration of Burning River was truly an enjoyable experience, from start to finish and from teeth gritted in pain to teeth shown amidst a giant smile. And yes, I’ve already signed up for Burning River 2012.
Next race on the agenda (currently): Saturday, November 5th’s Savannah Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, though I’ll be looking into other ultras in the interim.
Pictures (as soon as they’re made available to me) from Burning River 2011 will be posted ASAP.
P.S. A big thanks goes out to Julia and my mom, who were a gracious and ever-helpful crew even when all they likely wanted to do was ring my (unintentional) mean-spirited neck.
P.P.S. Monthly mileage totals for June and July: 202.5 and 268.71 miles, respectively.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Burning River 2011 - Pre-Race
Though many of you likely already know this, this upcoming Saturday (July 30th) at 5:00 AM will mark my second go-round with Burning River, a 101.1 mile, primarily trail oriented run/slog held in/around the Cleveland, OH area. Once again, the race will be hosting the USATF (USA Track & Field) 100 Mile Trail Championship, which I signed on for this year (hoping for a top-10 placement and any/all "notoriety" that comes with it--i.e. perhaps doing well will get me in to some other, top-flight races). FYI, testing the waters as a USATF runner precludes me from having a pacer, the use of music, a GPS watch, etc. (only the lack-of-pacer will really be bothersome, but I'll likely become delusional about 70 miles in, which is the only time I'd really need the pacer assistance anyways, so I'll probably just conjure some company at that time). Because I know what I'm getting myself into this year (I'm not as dismissive about it this time), I'm getting progressively more antsy about it; I'm still trying to put my finger on exactly what it is I'm feeling, which seems to fall somewhere smack-dab in the middle of "nervous" (in a somewhat-scared sort of way) and "amped" (in a I've-trained-harder-and-better-this-year-and-actually-know-how-to-'run'-the-event-now sort of way). If you care to track my progress, you can do so by visiting the webcast (the site will be updated to include contender photos, etc. Friday evening), which will be updated as I venture through each aid-station in what I hope will be my sub-19 hour run. I'll provide some updates sometime sans-race, assuming I don't fall and break my arms/wrists/hands. :)
Monday, July 18, 2011
Worth Every Second....
At approximately 10 past midnight on a Sunday, 2 hours and 41 minutes in to a 2 hours and 45 minutes run (or just short of 19 miles at the time), after a day spent doing what was likely an unexaggerated 8 hours of homework (therein prohibiting me from watching the USA vs. Japan soccer mash-up) and an hour and a half of mowing, I glanced up at the sky (probably because I was losing motor function in my neck) and saw a single shooting star. And it was all—-the lost hours and sore muscles—-suddenly worth every second.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Glass is Half-Empty, I'm Sad to Say
I’m generally a “glass is half-full” sort of guy. But, to borrow the likeness of a phrase my Grand Mills is sometimes fond of uttering, “life’s not very fun right now.”
I really like my new job, but at the wage I'm currently receiving, the bills are going to become exceedingly hard to pay; I hate to do it, but I’m either going to have to ask for more hours or a raise (or both) barely a month into my tenure. School is school. I’ve never been a big fan of college, and now I’m struggling (in relation to time and general mentality, not grades—I’m still doing quite well in the “good marks” department) through obtaining a degree that will certify me to pursue a career path I’m not sure I want to follow. Running, which used to be my release, has become more of an assignment than anything else, as what used to be time spent pondering whatever I wanted (as a sort of detoxifying measure) is now spent entirely on the listing of things I need to get done upon my arrival at home (including this blog entry, which was written in its entirety on a 6-mile run today); for the first time in a long time (perhaps ever), I’m starting to feel guilty when I take time out of my overly-busy day to get in a run. And my runs are suffering because of it, both in terms of quality and length (that’s what she said?).
And because of these time constraints, I’m not taking care of myself—I’ll look up at the clock and realize it’s 5:00 PM and all I’ve had to eat and drink all day was a bowl of cereal, an energy bar, a glass or orange juice, and perhaps two glasses of water (which is entirely too little for a person that is burning as much as I am, not even taking into consideration the unseemly amount of humidity we’re now experiencing). I’ve dropped 5-8 pounds (depending on the day and time) in the past couple of weeks, and though I’m not unhappy about losing the little bit of beer gut I had, I went about losing it in entirely the wrong way and worry I’m walking a very fine line between losing fat and losing muscle. And to add insult to injury (well, I’m setting myself up for injury, anyways), no matter what time I’ve gotten to bed within the last month—9:30 PM or 11:30 PM—I am still up at midnight (if not 2:00 AM), list-making mind aflutter. I’m starting to think that, because I’m taking so little time throughout the day to simply “breathe,” my body is trying to take that time then…which is, of course, compounding the issue.
Within the last month, I’ve seen one set of friends once (for a mid-week dinner, approximately four weeks ago) and another a single time as well (approximately two weeks ago, also for a mid-week dinner). Otherwise, I’ve been a recluse, as has been mandated by my schedule (last weekend, I worked 13.5 hours, wrote three separate papers, responses to two other people’s papers, created a time-consuming Venn Diagram, and ran 28.5 miles in right around 4 hours; I only left the house to go to work or run, except when sternly requested to do so for a Sunday afternoon lunch). I expect this weekend to be more of the same, with approximately 14.5 hours spent at work, a 5-10 page paper (on a topic I have yet to establish) and a handful of questions tallying what will likely be another 2-3 pages of writing due, and another 5 hours of running on the horizon (33 miles sound about right?). Weekdays aren't nearly as bad: I only work 4 or 5 hours each day and generally only have a discussion posting (ranging from 1-2 paragraphs to 2 pages) and response (only a single paragraph) due a few times each week, with class itself taking place for 2.5 hours the other two nights (presentation tonight--wish me luck!). Running slots in when and where I can find the time.
I’m sure, once I can get a little bit ahead of the game and can put this all into perspective I’ll be back to my happy-go-lucky self, but I’m thinking I won’t have that kind of perspective-basking time until the culmination of the Summer Semester in late July.
Oh, and here’s a handful of pictures from the 2011 Boston Marathon, as promised (click on the photos to enlarge):
A "real shave" two days before the race should make me more aerodynamic, right? Well, that was my thinking. Hey, the hot towel felt good, at least.
In Boston Common.
Man, marathon mornings come entirely too early in the AM. I've found that dunking a bagel into a jar of peanut butter helps to remedy that:
Artsy shot of the trip: Mom on the over-filled Metro:
Ryan Hall, still not winning but still coming darn close:
Me running #1:
Me running #2:
Tired...:
...but happy (two down, more to go?):
P.S. I just realized that, in spending the time to write this post, I’ve missed my window to stretch. Guess I’ll be running with tight legs tomorrow….
Oh, and last month's mileage total: 207.76 miles
I really like my new job, but at the wage I'm currently receiving, the bills are going to become exceedingly hard to pay; I hate to do it, but I’m either going to have to ask for more hours or a raise (or both) barely a month into my tenure. School is school. I’ve never been a big fan of college, and now I’m struggling (in relation to time and general mentality, not grades—I’m still doing quite well in the “good marks” department) through obtaining a degree that will certify me to pursue a career path I’m not sure I want to follow. Running, which used to be my release, has become more of an assignment than anything else, as what used to be time spent pondering whatever I wanted (as a sort of detoxifying measure) is now spent entirely on the listing of things I need to get done upon my arrival at home (including this blog entry, which was written in its entirety on a 6-mile run today); for the first time in a long time (perhaps ever), I’m starting to feel guilty when I take time out of my overly-busy day to get in a run. And my runs are suffering because of it, both in terms of quality and length (that’s what she said?).
And because of these time constraints, I’m not taking care of myself—I’ll look up at the clock and realize it’s 5:00 PM and all I’ve had to eat and drink all day was a bowl of cereal, an energy bar, a glass or orange juice, and perhaps two glasses of water (which is entirely too little for a person that is burning as much as I am, not even taking into consideration the unseemly amount of humidity we’re now experiencing). I’ve dropped 5-8 pounds (depending on the day and time) in the past couple of weeks, and though I’m not unhappy about losing the little bit of beer gut I had, I went about losing it in entirely the wrong way and worry I’m walking a very fine line between losing fat and losing muscle. And to add insult to injury (well, I’m setting myself up for injury, anyways), no matter what time I’ve gotten to bed within the last month—9:30 PM or 11:30 PM—I am still up at midnight (if not 2:00 AM), list-making mind aflutter. I’m starting to think that, because I’m taking so little time throughout the day to simply “breathe,” my body is trying to take that time then…which is, of course, compounding the issue.
Within the last month, I’ve seen one set of friends once (for a mid-week dinner, approximately four weeks ago) and another a single time as well (approximately two weeks ago, also for a mid-week dinner). Otherwise, I’ve been a recluse, as has been mandated by my schedule (last weekend, I worked 13.5 hours, wrote three separate papers, responses to two other people’s papers, created a time-consuming Venn Diagram, and ran 28.5 miles in right around 4 hours; I only left the house to go to work or run, except when sternly requested to do so for a Sunday afternoon lunch). I expect this weekend to be more of the same, with approximately 14.5 hours spent at work, a 5-10 page paper (on a topic I have yet to establish) and a handful of questions tallying what will likely be another 2-3 pages of writing due, and another 5 hours of running on the horizon (33 miles sound about right?). Weekdays aren't nearly as bad: I only work 4 or 5 hours each day and generally only have a discussion posting (ranging from 1-2 paragraphs to 2 pages) and response (only a single paragraph) due a few times each week, with class itself taking place for 2.5 hours the other two nights (presentation tonight--wish me luck!). Running slots in when and where I can find the time.
I’m sure, once I can get a little bit ahead of the game and can put this all into perspective I’ll be back to my happy-go-lucky self, but I’m thinking I won’t have that kind of perspective-basking time until the culmination of the Summer Semester in late July.
Oh, and here’s a handful of pictures from the 2011 Boston Marathon, as promised (click on the photos to enlarge):
A "real shave" two days before the race should make me more aerodynamic, right? Well, that was my thinking. Hey, the hot towel felt good, at least.
In Boston Common.
Man, marathon mornings come entirely too early in the AM. I've found that dunking a bagel into a jar of peanut butter helps to remedy that:
Artsy shot of the trip: Mom on the over-filled Metro:
Ryan Hall, still not winning but still coming darn close:
Me running #1:
Me running #2:
Tired...:
...but happy (two down, more to go?):
P.S. I just realized that, in spending the time to write this post, I’ve missed my window to stretch. Guess I’ll be running with tight legs tomorrow….
Oh, and last month's mileage total: 207.76 miles
Friday, May 20, 2011
2011 Boston Marathon Recap and Various Other Observations
I’ll get to my Boston recap in mere moments (finally!), but first: apparently, I’m more of an idiot than I’d originally thought. I’d signed up for the 2011 New York City Marathon the very first day allowed (many moons ago), not realizing that the inaugural Rock ‘n Roll Savannah Marathon would be taking place the same weekend (the first in November), though I don’t believe Savannah had yet been picked as a host city for the run (therein this is not the idiotic part). The New York City Marathon—one of the world’s largest, with something like 45-50,000 runners per year—uses a lottery system to fill much of its ranks, with a small percentage of the field being comprised of automatic qualifiers (those people that have failed to win a spot in three consecutive years, members of the New York Road Runners, and those that meet certain demanding time requirements). Though I desperately wanted to run both races (and still do), I recognized that I could only run one this year, and would have to wait and see what the fates (and a few thousand tiny, colorless balls adorned with numbers--at least, that's how the lottery process plays out in my mind) determined before signing up for the Rock ‘n Roll run. Lottery day came and went, and alas, I received no “congratulations!” email. Funny enough, I was pretty relieved--New York City was going to be an expensive trip, especially considering my going to school and pittance earned by working a part-time job (not to mention the costs incurred by two other major races in the same calendar year: Boston and Burning River). So I happily signed up for the hometown race. And then I received an email the following day, from the New York Road Runners (who put on the NYC Marathon every year), congratulating me on my accepted entry into the marathon. As one might expect, I was addled by this development. I jumped on to the NYC Marathon website and perused the admission rules/regulations, and found that I am evidently a very poor reader for someone professing to hold an undergraduate degree in English; my previous marathon times guaranteed my acceptance, therefore I had been waiting on something for nearly half a year for which I should have had the answer from day 1…and had also paid for two races, only one of which I could complete. I ended up deciding that, though NYC is quite high on my bucket list, it will have to wait—despite my inability to recoup the $170 I spent on it—as I’d gotten myself pretty psyched about the Rock ‘n Roll and will still end up saving buku dollars staying in town.
Boston recap (I’ll try and get some pictures uploaded soon, I promise!): As expected, it was a blast. I met/exceeded all my goals (finished in 557th place, in a time of 2:49:41—or 6:29 per-mile pace, a full 4 minutes faster than my next best marathon time), despite my need to walk a 1-minute portion of Heartbreak Hill (I swear I didn’t even know I was on the hill, and simply assumed I was too gassed to keep going). Heck, I even beat my half-marathon PR in accomplishing the feat (which would explain why I slowly started to break down shortly after that point), and despite/because of my walking fiasco, I was somehow rejuvenated and laid down some solid, fast-paced miles towards the very end of my racing endeavor. I am obviously getting faster and stronger (perhaps more so than I’ve ever been before), which makes me happy because it means I’m still on-pace to reach my over-arching goal for the year: making it my fastest year of running to date. Burning River, here I come!
Ok, on to other stuff—observations and the like:
1.) You might have seen the commercial: in a current Verizon Wireless ad, a young girl named Susie (who is perhaps 10 years old) is given her father’s smartphone in order to use its calculator function. Within a single afternoon, Susie’s use of said smartphone allows her to become a mogul within the lemonade industry; Susie, dressed in a power suit, turns the world of lemonade on its head. It’s a smart, clever commercial. Whatever. My question: do they already make these tiny, business-oriented suits for adolescents, or did they have to make it specifically for the commercial? Yes, that’s what I got out of the commercial—not a wish to own the phone they are peddling, rather a need to know if tiny power suits are readily available on today’s market.
2.) I’m saddened to report that horsefly attacks are in full effect.
3.) On a run last weekend, I was stunned (and made to stifle an uproarious laugh) by what appeared to be a normal-heighted, middle-aged woman who had the upper half of her body entirely inside a paper lawn bag, which included her outstretched arms being held above her head. I shudder to think how much of her body would have still been visible if not for her outstretched arms, and question what part of her decision making process has been omitted to have allowed her to believe that this was the best option available to her in order that she might fully open the bag.
4.) April monthly mileage total: 166.24 miles. I’m already over 130 this month, so it’s looking like May will be another 200+ miles month (3-hour run tomorrow, 2-hour run on Sunday—should tally around 35 miles). C’mon legs, you can do it!
5.) Three classes down, three As in the book. Gotta like that. Let’s just hope it continues.
6.) My previously mentioned, newly acquired part-time job: Fleet Feet Sports lackey.
7.) I am now a member of USA Track & Field (USATF), for which Burning River is the 100 Mile Trail Ultra Championship. I will be aiming for a top-10 finish (and trying my darndest to finish in the top 5, and therein “in the money”), which will open up other racing opportunities to me and put me in the “big dog” category, as my coach puts it.
8.) I’m churning through 500-1,000 page books with a quickness. How’s come I can find the time to wrap-up a behemoth of a book like that within a week, but make my bated-breath audience wait a full month between blog entries? Pure selfishness, I’d wager.
Boston recap (I’ll try and get some pictures uploaded soon, I promise!): As expected, it was a blast. I met/exceeded all my goals (finished in 557th place, in a time of 2:49:41—or 6:29 per-mile pace, a full 4 minutes faster than my next best marathon time), despite my need to walk a 1-minute portion of Heartbreak Hill (I swear I didn’t even know I was on the hill, and simply assumed I was too gassed to keep going). Heck, I even beat my half-marathon PR in accomplishing the feat (which would explain why I slowly started to break down shortly after that point), and despite/because of my walking fiasco, I was somehow rejuvenated and laid down some solid, fast-paced miles towards the very end of my racing endeavor. I am obviously getting faster and stronger (perhaps more so than I’ve ever been before), which makes me happy because it means I’m still on-pace to reach my over-arching goal for the year: making it my fastest year of running to date. Burning River, here I come!
Ok, on to other stuff—observations and the like:
1.) You might have seen the commercial: in a current Verizon Wireless ad, a young girl named Susie (who is perhaps 10 years old) is given her father’s smartphone in order to use its calculator function. Within a single afternoon, Susie’s use of said smartphone allows her to become a mogul within the lemonade industry; Susie, dressed in a power suit, turns the world of lemonade on its head. It’s a smart, clever commercial. Whatever. My question: do they already make these tiny, business-oriented suits for adolescents, or did they have to make it specifically for the commercial? Yes, that’s what I got out of the commercial—not a wish to own the phone they are peddling, rather a need to know if tiny power suits are readily available on today’s market.
2.) I’m saddened to report that horsefly attacks are in full effect.
3.) On a run last weekend, I was stunned (and made to stifle an uproarious laugh) by what appeared to be a normal-heighted, middle-aged woman who had the upper half of her body entirely inside a paper lawn bag, which included her outstretched arms being held above her head. I shudder to think how much of her body would have still been visible if not for her outstretched arms, and question what part of her decision making process has been omitted to have allowed her to believe that this was the best option available to her in order that she might fully open the bag.
4.) April monthly mileage total: 166.24 miles. I’m already over 130 this month, so it’s looking like May will be another 200+ miles month (3-hour run tomorrow, 2-hour run on Sunday—should tally around 35 miles). C’mon legs, you can do it!
5.) Three classes down, three As in the book. Gotta like that. Let’s just hope it continues.
6.) My previously mentioned, newly acquired part-time job: Fleet Feet Sports lackey.
7.) I am now a member of USA Track & Field (USATF), for which Burning River is the 100 Mile Trail Ultra Championship. I will be aiming for a top-10 finish (and trying my darndest to finish in the top 5, and therein “in the money”), which will open up other racing opportunities to me and put me in the “big dog” category, as my coach puts it.
8.) I’m churning through 500-1,000 page books with a quickness. How’s come I can find the time to wrap-up a behemoth of a book like that within a week, but make my bated-breath audience wait a full month between blog entries? Pure selfishness, I’d wager.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Pre-Boston 2011, Etc.
This post has been a long time coming, what with recently-passed project deadlines at school. In fact, it seems it's been so long coming that I’ve been making a list of things to incorporate into it for the better part of two weeks.
Boston is next Monday. As in 4 days from now. I.e. I fly out tomorrow at 6:00 AM EST. And yes, I’m increasingly exuberant and a bit nervous. My number this year: 1173 (for further information on how to track me, via AT&T-provided texts and/or emails, simply visit the following link to sign up: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/att-athlete-alert.aspx). My number last year: 1890 (meaning I’m slotted a full 700 positions ahead of my placement last year, as the lower your number means the faster you are…at least in regards to the time you submitted). I’ll be in Wave 1 (of 3), corral 2 (right up near the Ryan Halls of the world, whom I’ll be sure to reach out and touch as they jog past on their way to the starting line, in the hope of some sort of osmosis-type process taking shape within me). Be sure to visit www.baa.org the day of the race for further tracking capabilities.
Goals (in order of “want” and not necessarily feasibility):
1.) Finish under 2:50:00 (my current best is 2:53:40). To do so, it would require me to run consistent 6:29 miles. My best half marathon was completed with 6:19 miles. Should be interesting.
2.) Finish under 2:53:40, thus setting a new PR. This would require consistent 6:38 miles. Yes, that’s only 9 seconds per mile different than my 2:50:00 goal. Yes, a marathon is long enough for that to make a big difference.
3.) Finish inside the top 500 (I finished 786th out of over 23,000 participants last year).
4.) Have fun and high-five at least as many people as I did last year (including any elderly, wheelchair-bound women).
5.) Give serious consideration to not using up a great deal of energy by bellowing at the top of my lungs whilst racing through the so-called Wellesley (an all-girls college) Scream Tunnel (located 13 miles into the race).
And now, because it’s late and I have things yet to do this evening, followed by an early-morning wake-up, I’ll venture further into list mode:
1.) A few weeks back, I attempted a 21-mile training run. It was going splendidly, until this happened without a hint of warning:
Because I was out running, I had to continue on in order to find shelter. By the time I was able to do so (within 10 minutes), the hailstorm (and the accompanying rain) had stopped, thus I continued on. Approximately 20 minutes later, the skies opened up and down came a torrential downpour, which is in no way an exaggeration. While I was, 18 miles in, sprinting (ankle-deep in water) across a golf course on my way to my Grandpa’s house (the closest place on my route to take shelter), every car on the road was pulled over, as it was near impossible to see. And here was some cooky, shirtless 30-year-old out running in the stuff. Oh, and it hailed a bit more then, too. Fun times.
2.) Enjoyed the making of this 2nd Grade-oriented project, for which I used a program called PhotoStory:
3.) My monthly mileage for March: 226.31 miles. This is what happens when you only take one day off all month. FYI, I’d never before hit 200 miles in a single month.
4.) Went in halfsies on a treadmill with my mom a week or two ago, therein allowing me to cancel my never-used membership to the YMCA. Actually, the total cost of the ‘mill was an odd number, so I paid the extra penny in order to be able to say that I was the majority owner. Of course, it resides at her house, so I don’t think I’ll ever make much headway with that assertion.
5.) Went to see Gogol Bordello last Wednesday (April 6) in Atlanta. Didn’t know much about the band, other than to describe their music as “Russian circus music” (though I now believe “Gypsie circus music” is a better descriptor). Very nice (and small) venue. Even better show.
6.) Hope you did your taxes—due tomorrow, after all.
Boston is next Monday. As in 4 days from now. I.e. I fly out tomorrow at 6:00 AM EST. And yes, I’m increasingly exuberant and a bit nervous. My number this year: 1173 (for further information on how to track me, via AT&T-provided texts and/or emails, simply visit the following link to sign up: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/att-athlete-alert.aspx). My number last year: 1890 (meaning I’m slotted a full 700 positions ahead of my placement last year, as the lower your number means the faster you are…at least in regards to the time you submitted). I’ll be in Wave 1 (of 3), corral 2 (right up near the Ryan Halls of the world, whom I’ll be sure to reach out and touch as they jog past on their way to the starting line, in the hope of some sort of osmosis-type process taking shape within me). Be sure to visit www.baa.org the day of the race for further tracking capabilities.
Goals (in order of “want” and not necessarily feasibility):
1.) Finish under 2:50:00 (my current best is 2:53:40). To do so, it would require me to run consistent 6:29 miles. My best half marathon was completed with 6:19 miles. Should be interesting.
2.) Finish under 2:53:40, thus setting a new PR. This would require consistent 6:38 miles. Yes, that’s only 9 seconds per mile different than my 2:50:00 goal. Yes, a marathon is long enough for that to make a big difference.
3.) Finish inside the top 500 (I finished 786th out of over 23,000 participants last year).
4.) Have fun and high-five at least as many people as I did last year (including any elderly, wheelchair-bound women).
5.) Give serious consideration to not using up a great deal of energy by bellowing at the top of my lungs whilst racing through the so-called Wellesley (an all-girls college) Scream Tunnel (located 13 miles into the race).
And now, because it’s late and I have things yet to do this evening, followed by an early-morning wake-up, I’ll venture further into list mode:
1.) A few weeks back, I attempted a 21-mile training run. It was going splendidly, until this happened without a hint of warning:
Because I was out running, I had to continue on in order to find shelter. By the time I was able to do so (within 10 minutes), the hailstorm (and the accompanying rain) had stopped, thus I continued on. Approximately 20 minutes later, the skies opened up and down came a torrential downpour, which is in no way an exaggeration. While I was, 18 miles in, sprinting (ankle-deep in water) across a golf course on my way to my Grandpa’s house (the closest place on my route to take shelter), every car on the road was pulled over, as it was near impossible to see. And here was some cooky, shirtless 30-year-old out running in the stuff. Oh, and it hailed a bit more then, too. Fun times.
2.) Enjoyed the making of this 2nd Grade-oriented project, for which I used a program called PhotoStory:
3.) My monthly mileage for March: 226.31 miles. This is what happens when you only take one day off all month. FYI, I’d never before hit 200 miles in a single month.
4.) Went in halfsies on a treadmill with my mom a week or two ago, therein allowing me to cancel my never-used membership to the YMCA. Actually, the total cost of the ‘mill was an odd number, so I paid the extra penny in order to be able to say that I was the majority owner. Of course, it resides at her house, so I don’t think I’ll ever make much headway with that assertion.
5.) Went to see Gogol Bordello last Wednesday (April 6) in Atlanta. Didn’t know much about the band, other than to describe their music as “Russian circus music” (though I now believe “Gypsie circus music” is a better descriptor). Very nice (and small) venue. Even better show.
6.) Hope you did your taxes—due tomorrow, after all.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Shamrock Race Recap and Other Musings
I don’t have much time (as I get off of work at 2:00 PM and need to go to the groceria directly after, so as to have time to sandwich a run in between readying some tuna casserole and attending school), so this will need to be short and sweet:
1.) I placed third overall in the March of Dimes Shamrock 5k, with a time of 16:19. It is becoming increasingly clear to me that this run is becoming a sort of destination race, and that it will take a gargantuan effort indeed for me to pull off the win I so covet. FYI, I once again bettered my time from the year prior, lowering it by 4 seconds.
My legs felt ok—not great (not super lively or springy), and somewhat lethargic, but not the worst. My breathing was pretty ragged, as I was parched from the get-go to about 1.5 miles in (despite my best pre-race hydration efforts). If I keep training like I am, and proclaim a need for more speedwork leading up to next year’s race, it should be interesting to see what I can accomplish.
Pledging allegiance to the flag, pots chock-full of gold, and Guiness (I'm the tall guy in the middle, in red).
Finishing strong. Mostly.
2.) My legs are decently tired and heavy, but not enough to cause me concern or stop me from running every day. I did have to cut a workout short late last week, to insure I still had the use of my legs for the week’s remaining workouts, but that is not altogether odd…or unforgivable (I hope). I’ve already got over 150 miles under my belt for the month, with another week and a half to go (reaching 200 miles, for the very first time, in the process).
3.) I’m currently working on a lengthy, numbers-based school project (which is due by the end of the week) wherein I have to make countless graphs and charts to help highlight the ethnic, social, and demographical diversity of two separate Georgia (I chose South Effingham and Treutlen) Elementary schools. I think I almost resorted to stabbing myself in the face with one of my old Pinewood Derby cars to bypass moving any further ahead with the process today.
4.) As I previously mentioned, Calli is currently being featured within the Best Looking category in South Magazine’s inaugural South Greatest Pets Contest. Please click on the link to see and vote for her (only one vote per IP address, so if you want to tally multiple votes, I shan’t stand in your way if you decide to vote from both your home and place of employment).
1.) I placed third overall in the March of Dimes Shamrock 5k, with a time of 16:19. It is becoming increasingly clear to me that this run is becoming a sort of destination race, and that it will take a gargantuan effort indeed for me to pull off the win I so covet. FYI, I once again bettered my time from the year prior, lowering it by 4 seconds.
My legs felt ok—not great (not super lively or springy), and somewhat lethargic, but not the worst. My breathing was pretty ragged, as I was parched from the get-go to about 1.5 miles in (despite my best pre-race hydration efforts). If I keep training like I am, and proclaim a need for more speedwork leading up to next year’s race, it should be interesting to see what I can accomplish.
Pledging allegiance to the flag, pots chock-full of gold, and Guiness (I'm the tall guy in the middle, in red).
Finishing strong. Mostly.
2.) My legs are decently tired and heavy, but not enough to cause me concern or stop me from running every day. I did have to cut a workout short late last week, to insure I still had the use of my legs for the week’s remaining workouts, but that is not altogether odd…or unforgivable (I hope). I’ve already got over 150 miles under my belt for the month, with another week and a half to go (reaching 200 miles, for the very first time, in the process).
3.) I’m currently working on a lengthy, numbers-based school project (which is due by the end of the week) wherein I have to make countless graphs and charts to help highlight the ethnic, social, and demographical diversity of two separate Georgia (I chose South Effingham and Treutlen) Elementary schools. I think I almost resorted to stabbing myself in the face with one of my old Pinewood Derby cars to bypass moving any further ahead with the process today.
4.) As I previously mentioned, Calli is currently being featured within the Best Looking category in South Magazine’s inaugural South Greatest Pets Contest. Please click on the link to see and vote for her (only one vote per IP address, so if you want to tally multiple votes, I shan’t stand in your way if you decide to vote from both your home and place of employment).
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
More Miles and Modeling Calli
My mileage total for February came in at 142.68 (click on the screenshot below to expand), while I’m slated for significantly more—as per my coach’s instructions—in March (through March 8, I’ve already tallied 52.78 miles—I’ve provided a screenshot for this as well).
In fact, Friday, March 4 is/was the only day I was slated to refrain from running all month (and if that doesn’t get your mileage up, nothing will). Because I’m registering faster and faster times while putting forth the same amount of effort, I know my legs are getting stronger, so I should be able to handle the extra mileage and lack of rest days (days wherein I’m actually taking the day off, as opposed to running just a few miles, slowly). And though I’m not used to running so often, including running the days directly prior to a race (this Friday’s March of Dimes Shamrock Run 5k), I’m buying into my coach’s philosophy (“a day off is usually followed by an off day”); as the old adage says, I’m in for a penny, in for a pound.
As for Friday’s race, I’ve finished in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, the last two years—in a time of 16:28 in 2009 and 16:23 in 2010. And though I’ve not been doing much speedwork in preparation for the race, I’m going to stay on the shoulder of the race’s leader and just ride him into the ground, even if it means I have nothing left in the tank for the final straightaway; I’m sick and tired of getting gaped during mile two, only to find that I can rally in mile three (yet still fall short because of my lack of heart earlier). Let the chips fall where they may.
And now, a couple of non-running related things:
1.) I recently enjoyed a white chocolate encrusted Twinkie (below, pre-mastication). Let it be known that, whether it was the sweet shop’s tampering with the Twinkie’s natural chemistry or simply the natural chemistry itself, Twinkies do indeed go stale. So there goes that myth.
2.) A local magazine—South Magazine—is hosting the first annual “South Greatest Pets Contest,” into which I have entered Calli. Her headshots (which are likely repeats of those you've seen on this very blog before) are below.
In fact, Friday, March 4 is/was the only day I was slated to refrain from running all month (and if that doesn’t get your mileage up, nothing will). Because I’m registering faster and faster times while putting forth the same amount of effort, I know my legs are getting stronger, so I should be able to handle the extra mileage and lack of rest days (days wherein I’m actually taking the day off, as opposed to running just a few miles, slowly). And though I’m not used to running so often, including running the days directly prior to a race (this Friday’s March of Dimes Shamrock Run 5k), I’m buying into my coach’s philosophy (“a day off is usually followed by an off day”); as the old adage says, I’m in for a penny, in for a pound.
As for Friday’s race, I’ve finished in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, the last two years—in a time of 16:28 in 2009 and 16:23 in 2010. And though I’ve not been doing much speedwork in preparation for the race, I’m going to stay on the shoulder of the race’s leader and just ride him into the ground, even if it means I have nothing left in the tank for the final straightaway; I’m sick and tired of getting gaped during mile two, only to find that I can rally in mile three (yet still fall short because of my lack of heart earlier). Let the chips fall where they may.
And now, a couple of non-running related things:
1.) I recently enjoyed a white chocolate encrusted Twinkie (below, pre-mastication). Let it be known that, whether it was the sweet shop’s tampering with the Twinkie’s natural chemistry or simply the natural chemistry itself, Twinkies do indeed go stale. So there goes that myth.
2.) A local magazine—South Magazine—is hosting the first annual “South Greatest Pets Contest,” into which I have entered Calli. Her headshots (which are likely repeats of those you've seen on this very blog before) are below.
Monday, February 28, 2011
EDUC 6100 Web 2.0 Assignment: Diigo Review
Directly below you'll find my most recent submission for my EDUC 6100 (Technology Applications for Teachers) course. Because this was a Web 2.0 (which Wikipedia defines as "web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web") assignment, I thought it pertinent to include it on my blog (which is, in and of itself, a Web 2.0 application). We'll return to our regularly scheduled programming with my next post.
As soon as the topic of “social bookmarking” was broached in class, I knew that was the Web 2.0 assignment I was going to investigate and (hopefully) apply. Because I oftentimes work off of 2-3 computers within a week’s span, there are countless occasions when I look to access a saved bookmark, only to find that I’ve saved it on another computer. Thus the idea that I could save all of my bookmarks in one easily accessible place was of great interest to me; I was optimistic that I could venture into the social bookmarking world as part of this school assignment, then continue that walk in my every day, mostly outside-of-school life.
Unfortunately, within my first day of using Diigo (http://www.Diigo.com), I found that the idea of social bookmarking far exceed the actual implementation of it; the website was clumsy and lacked basic features I believed would make it far more user friendly. Until updates are made (or another, more accessible site comes along), my experimentation with this site required by this assignment will likely be my last usage of it. In fact, I liked Diigo so little I followed a recommendation (found on a Diigo message board) to another social bookmarking website, called Chipmark (http://www.chipmark.com). And though Chipmark remedied at least one accessibility issue I’d previously had, it was chock-full of its own bevy of digital demons (visually worthless, awkward accessibility in other aspects, etc.) and is not widely used.
For my first point, I’ll readily admit that I’m fairly impatient and am probably lazy. That having been said, I was surprised by how “put out” I felt when having to log into a website each and every time I wanted to access a bookmark; toggling between a new tab or window, in addition to my already-existent window(s), can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Then there’s the issue of a semi-required taskbar. Semi-required in that it is not mandatory, but is nearly essential if you want to get the most out of your Diigo experience (i.e. establishing sorting and sharing parameters, etc.). Which brings me to what I believe to be the show-stopping issue at the crux of what I believe will inevitably be Diigo’s downfall (assuming they don’t correct it in the interim): the inability to sort your bookmarks in any sort of logical way. Sure, the site allows you the ability to ‘tag’ the bookmarks you add, and you can even place them under different list headings, but it does not have the drag-and-drop (folder) functionality that is the bread and butter of almost any other list-based program/site.
When you first log in to Diigo, you are immediately taken to something called “My Library”, which is nothing more than a comprehensive listing of all the bookmarks you’ve added to your account. These bookmarks are not separated by tags or the lists to which you’ve assigned them, so your eyes are assaulted by one, big list of bookmarks. You can then use your filters (“My Lists” or “My Tags”) and weed some of the unwanted sites out, but without the ability to drill down into ever-increasing specificity within a topic (divvy the bookmarks up into smaller and smaller groupings), there is still the very real possibility that a list you’ve created for a certain subject (we’ll use “School” as an example) will have fifty separate bookmarks in it…all of which you’ll have to wade through until you’ve found the one for which you’re looking.
Sure, the site has its advantages, especially in a school-related setting (allowing a Group—in this case, all of your students—access to the same catalog of bookmarks to use in research for reports, etc.), but due to the aforementioned disadvantages, I feel it would be foolhardy to use it for anything further; the likelihood of students getting confused by the lack of user-friendly functionality (and then mucking things up), especially were you to ask them to upload their own bookmarks and images to a Group, far outweighs the positives gleaned from their doing so. And I would be remiss in not mentioning the security issues the use of Diigo in a classroom setting might invite—the assured ease in which a single student’s account might be hacked, therein allowing for heinous bookmarks and images to be uploaded to all other students in an otherwise school-friendly Group.
Diigo, which has been around since 2006 and stands for “Digest of Internet Information, Groups and Other stuff,” is currently on its fifth version (5.0), and despite its lack of accessibility, looks like it will be sticking around for a good while longer; because it offers a service that people crave and lacks a real opponent in the social bookmarking arena, it can continue to be subpar without having to deal with any real consequences. I sincerely hope that, whenever Diigo Version 6.0 rolls out, it includes a more user-friendly interface and is something worthy of a teacher’s praise, because I feel that the current iteration of Diigo gets more wrong that it does right.
As soon as the topic of “social bookmarking” was broached in class, I knew that was the Web 2.0 assignment I was going to investigate and (hopefully) apply. Because I oftentimes work off of 2-3 computers within a week’s span, there are countless occasions when I look to access a saved bookmark, only to find that I’ve saved it on another computer. Thus the idea that I could save all of my bookmarks in one easily accessible place was of great interest to me; I was optimistic that I could venture into the social bookmarking world as part of this school assignment, then continue that walk in my every day, mostly outside-of-school life.
Unfortunately, within my first day of using Diigo (http://www.Diigo.com), I found that the idea of social bookmarking far exceed the actual implementation of it; the website was clumsy and lacked basic features I believed would make it far more user friendly. Until updates are made (or another, more accessible site comes along), my experimentation with this site required by this assignment will likely be my last usage of it. In fact, I liked Diigo so little I followed a recommendation (found on a Diigo message board) to another social bookmarking website, called Chipmark (http://www.chipmark.com). And though Chipmark remedied at least one accessibility issue I’d previously had, it was chock-full of its own bevy of digital demons (visually worthless, awkward accessibility in other aspects, etc.) and is not widely used.
For my first point, I’ll readily admit that I’m fairly impatient and am probably lazy. That having been said, I was surprised by how “put out” I felt when having to log into a website each and every time I wanted to access a bookmark; toggling between a new tab or window, in addition to my already-existent window(s), can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Then there’s the issue of a semi-required taskbar. Semi-required in that it is not mandatory, but is nearly essential if you want to get the most out of your Diigo experience (i.e. establishing sorting and sharing parameters, etc.). Which brings me to what I believe to be the show-stopping issue at the crux of what I believe will inevitably be Diigo’s downfall (assuming they don’t correct it in the interim): the inability to sort your bookmarks in any sort of logical way. Sure, the site allows you the ability to ‘tag’ the bookmarks you add, and you can even place them under different list headings, but it does not have the drag-and-drop (folder) functionality that is the bread and butter of almost any other list-based program/site.
When you first log in to Diigo, you are immediately taken to something called “My Library”, which is nothing more than a comprehensive listing of all the bookmarks you’ve added to your account. These bookmarks are not separated by tags or the lists to which you’ve assigned them, so your eyes are assaulted by one, big list of bookmarks. You can then use your filters (“My Lists” or “My Tags”) and weed some of the unwanted sites out, but without the ability to drill down into ever-increasing specificity within a topic (divvy the bookmarks up into smaller and smaller groupings), there is still the very real possibility that a list you’ve created for a certain subject (we’ll use “School” as an example) will have fifty separate bookmarks in it…all of which you’ll have to wade through until you’ve found the one for which you’re looking.
Sure, the site has its advantages, especially in a school-related setting (allowing a Group—in this case, all of your students—access to the same catalog of bookmarks to use in research for reports, etc.), but due to the aforementioned disadvantages, I feel it would be foolhardy to use it for anything further; the likelihood of students getting confused by the lack of user-friendly functionality (and then mucking things up), especially were you to ask them to upload their own bookmarks and images to a Group, far outweighs the positives gleaned from their doing so. And I would be remiss in not mentioning the security issues the use of Diigo in a classroom setting might invite—the assured ease in which a single student’s account might be hacked, therein allowing for heinous bookmarks and images to be uploaded to all other students in an otherwise school-friendly Group.
Diigo, which has been around since 2006 and stands for “Digest of Internet Information, Groups and Other stuff,” is currently on its fifth version (5.0), and despite its lack of accessibility, looks like it will be sticking around for a good while longer; because it offers a service that people crave and lacks a real opponent in the social bookmarking arena, it can continue to be subpar without having to deal with any real consequences. I sincerely hope that, whenever Diigo Version 6.0 rolls out, it includes a more user-friendly interface and is something worthy of a teacher’s praise, because I feel that the current iteration of Diigo gets more wrong that it does right.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tybee Race Recap
This post is long overdue. I have plenty of excuses (I could reuse “homework” or “I don’t have much in the way of running-related news to share”), and though they may be somewhat accurate (especially the homework one—I’m happy to report that I’m a week or more ahead in most of my classes at this juncture), I definitely could/should have found time to post (and at least provide an update about the Critz Tybee Half Marathon). So, for my slackness, I apologize…though to whom, I’m not sure—I don’t think anyone reads this anymore, after all.
The Tybee half went swimmingly…for reasons numbering more than one:
1.) I wanted to run a new PR (1:23:28 was my standard) and stay injury-free. I did both, finishing with a comfortable time of 1:22:44, under less-than-ideal conditions.
2.) It was steadily raining throughout (minus the last mile or two, perhaps), with the occasional deluge interspersed. Gusts of wind, which are pretty much a typical Tybee Island occurrence, were also offered up by the running gods. But at least the temperatures were agreeable enough.
3.) Julia, competing in her very first half marathon, finished well under her proposed 2:00:00 time limit, breaking the tape in 1:57:21. I’m setting the over/under for when she runs her inaugural marathon at 11 months.
I missed a lesser goal (running the half in less than 1:20:00), but feel it is definitely in reach, especially were I to train for such an endeavor (rather than using the race itself as training).
Training is going well—10 miles tonight—and I should get into some more intensive (speedwork, hills, repeats, etc.) training next month, as I ramp up for Boston (next month also features a Savannah institution: the March of Dimes 5k Shamrock Run).
Everyone stands at attention during the National Anthem (I'm at the far left, in the second row)...including what appears to be a ninja:
Me, nearly 12 miles in:
Me, pacing Julia down the final straightaway:
The Tybee half went swimmingly…for reasons numbering more than one:
1.) I wanted to run a new PR (1:23:28 was my standard) and stay injury-free. I did both, finishing with a comfortable time of 1:22:44, under less-than-ideal conditions.
2.) It was steadily raining throughout (minus the last mile or two, perhaps), with the occasional deluge interspersed. Gusts of wind, which are pretty much a typical Tybee Island occurrence, were also offered up by the running gods. But at least the temperatures were agreeable enough.
3.) Julia, competing in her very first half marathon, finished well under her proposed 2:00:00 time limit, breaking the tape in 1:57:21. I’m setting the over/under for when she runs her inaugural marathon at 11 months.
I missed a lesser goal (running the half in less than 1:20:00), but feel it is definitely in reach, especially were I to train for such an endeavor (rather than using the race itself as training).
Training is going well—10 miles tonight—and I should get into some more intensive (speedwork, hills, repeats, etc.) training next month, as I ramp up for Boston (next month also features a Savannah institution: the March of Dimes 5k Shamrock Run).
Everyone stands at attention during the National Anthem (I'm at the far left, in the second row)...including what appears to be a ninja:
Me, nearly 12 miles in:
Me, pacing Julia down the final straightaway:
Monday, January 31, 2011
Being Lighter in the Wallet Makes Me Faster
As of today, I’m officially being coached (or so says the check in the mail). I’m very excited to see where my new coach, Howard Nippert (whom has coached many other notable names in the world of distance running), can take me; I know I’m faster than the level at which I’ve been training and competing, and will look for him to maximize my abilities (through proper training for each race, a good diet and general running knowhow). The races we’ll be focusing on improving upon are the Boston Marathon and Burning River, but I’ve already informed him that I’d like to try and better myself in each discipline (race distance), which I think altogether feasible as a natural byproduct of my retooled preparation. I also let him know that it was my hope to come upon a sponsorship or two along the way…which I also hope will be a natural byproduct of my being faster and getting noticed.
Training continues to go well, though like last year I’m using this weekend’s Critz Tybee Half Marathon as little more than a good, fast distance run to assist in readying me for Boston (though, that having been said, I’d still like to go under my previous best—1:23:28--and give 1:20:00 a shot). So I’ll taper a bit this week, and give it the old college try on Saturday, knowing full well I could have trained more/better for it, but without regret all the same; I’ll live with my preparation decisions and make the most of where I’m currently at.
Training continues to go well, though like last year I’m using this weekend’s Critz Tybee Half Marathon as little more than a good, fast distance run to assist in readying me for Boston (though, that having been said, I’d still like to go under my previous best—1:23:28--and give 1:20:00 a shot). So I’ll taper a bit this week, and give it the old college try on Saturday, knowing full well I could have trained more/better for it, but without regret all the same; I’ll live with my preparation decisions and make the most of where I’m currently at.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Not Yet Race Ready, But Hopeful All The Same
As most reading this likely already know, I didn’t participate in the Harbison 50k due to last-minute time constraints. But I was able to push my registration fee to next year’s race and recouped my hotel fees, so I’m not out a single cent. And not knowing if I was truly in good enough shape to actually be racing the course, my no-show is probably a very wise decision indeed.
School began last week, therein lying the reason this posting has been so long coming, as the time I’ve spent on it in the past (during the slow moments at work) is now occupied by schooling (and wanting to keep all “free time” at home actual “free time”). School is going fine/well thus far. And with that I'll end the talk of school.
My legs are still feeling good, though I’m starting to wonder about my ability to put fast miles on them (which will be necessary for the impending—February 5—Critz Tybee Half Marathon); I’ve been focusing so much on long, slow distance that I’ve not spent the necessary prep time on speed training. Having been able to run 6:15 miles for 13.1 miles is a very different thing than being able to run 6:15 miles for 13.1 miles, especially when you’ve been targeting 7:00+-minute miles in your training (that’s my long way of saying that my legs haven’t been responding as well as I’d hoped in the last week or so of speed work). Unbeknownst to many of you (because I still haven’t tallied all my 2011 goals on here), one of my running-related goals for this year was to better my times for each of the distances in which I participate. With 1:23:28 being my fastest half marathon to date (which averages out to 6:22 per-mile), I just don’t know if my legs are ready for that kind of terrorizing. But, I’ll give it the old college try and see (but not at the risk of a setback to my Boston preparation)—despite not training for the 2010 Trick or Trot 10k, I still put down my fastest time, after all. I’ve still got a couple of weeks in between now and then to “get my fast on,” anyways. Not optimal, but perhaps still time enough to ready my legs for a sub-1:20 result.
School began last week, therein lying the reason this posting has been so long coming, as the time I’ve spent on it in the past (during the slow moments at work) is now occupied by schooling (and wanting to keep all “free time” at home actual “free time”). School is going fine/well thus far. And with that I'll end the talk of school.
My legs are still feeling good, though I’m starting to wonder about my ability to put fast miles on them (which will be necessary for the impending—February 5—Critz Tybee Half Marathon); I’ve been focusing so much on long, slow distance that I’ve not spent the necessary prep time on speed training. Having been able to run 6:15 miles for 13.1 miles is a very different thing than being able to run 6:15 miles for 13.1 miles, especially when you’ve been targeting 7:00+-minute miles in your training (that’s my long way of saying that my legs haven’t been responding as well as I’d hoped in the last week or so of speed work). Unbeknownst to many of you (because I still haven’t tallied all my 2011 goals on here), one of my running-related goals for this year was to better my times for each of the distances in which I participate. With 1:23:28 being my fastest half marathon to date (which averages out to 6:22 per-mile), I just don’t know if my legs are ready for that kind of terrorizing. But, I’ll give it the old college try and see (but not at the risk of a setback to my Boston preparation)—despite not training for the 2010 Trick or Trot 10k, I still put down my fastest time, after all. I’ve still got a couple of weeks in between now and then to “get my fast on,” anyways. Not optimal, but perhaps still time enough to ready my legs for a sub-1:20 result.
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