tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31035042086504839222024-03-05T04:30:03.467-05:00Turtle Head Attack!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-27437722006070738662012-04-01T16:35:00.000-04:002012-04-01T18:06:08.790-04:00Moved Domain registrar from Godaddy.com to Namecheap.comHello there! I just moved my domain from<a href="http://godaddy.com/" target="_blank"> Godaddy.com</a> to <a href="http://www.namecheap.com/?aff=31068" target="_blank">Namecheap.com</a>. This is a test post to make sure everything is working. I'm sorry that this isn't about running, like most of my posts. After I moved the domain, I had some difficulties getting it working again. Luckily, I am a computer professional. LOL.<br />
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I was a bit unhappy when Godaddy supported the SOPA legislation, but I was not so unhappy that I was motivated to move registrars, like many others did at that time.<br />
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What prompted my move was the cost of Domain privacy. Godaddy wants like $10 per year, per domain. If you have a number of domains, that cost can add up, quick! Namecheap has free "Whois Privacy" for one year with a new domain registration or transfer. After that, it is only $3 per year, per domain. And you can get it even cheaper if you buy it in 5-packs.<br />
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I had an issue when I transferred the domains, in that I did not begin by reading all the suggestions thoroughly. I just jumped right in. I forgot to turn off privacy on a couple of my domains. This resulted in my transfers being blocked by Godaddy. I then had to chat with Namecheap support. I spoke with Lana, and she was very helpful at 11:30pm on a Saturday Night. (Yes, I have no life!) She canceled the transfers, and refunded the money to my Namecheap funds account, I canceled my Godaddy Privacy, which is also called Domains By Proxy, and then I redid the transfer. Worked flawlessly that time.<br />
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One downside to moving domain registrars is that you lose your Privacy for a short time when the domains are being transferred. Also, if you don't properly document your settings, you might not be able to get your site(s) back up and running afterwards without a bunch of googling for help. I did several domain transfers at once. I don't really recommend this, especially if you depend on money that your websites or web properties generate. If you move all of them at once, and then you can't figure out how to get them back up, you aren't making any money! Which leads to very sad face... <br />
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The better solution is to move them one at a time. If there is a problem, you only have one site not making money. Also, once you get it working, the next ones should be easier. I recommend moving your least important domain first.<br />
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Another thing I wanted to mention, is that you need to keep on top of the process, monitor the email accounts, check your spam folders, etc. The entire process can be done in a matter of a few hours. It can take days if you are not paying attention. Some of my emails were incorrectly flagged as spam, and I only caught them because I was looking in my spam folder.<br />
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Don't forget to verify that the email address in your registrant info is accurate and still valid, and that you can still log into that account. Some of my domains were first registered in 2002! I used an old hotmail account that I almost deleted a couple times. I'm glad I didn't! <br />
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<h4>
<b>To Sum up:</b></h4>
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<ol>
<li>Read about the process BEFORE you do it.
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<li>Document, Document, Document your settings first. Some registrars like Godaddy can do data exports into .CSV or .XML files. Or just do old-fashioned screen captures. Or do both!</li>
<li>Verify that you can still access the email accounts that you used when you registered the domains. If not, change them to a current email account, FIRST. I suggest that if you use a third party email service like Gmail, Hotmail or perhaps Yahoo. I DON'T recommend using an email account that is pointed to a domain you are moving! You will lose access to that account while you are moving.</li>
<li>To maximize the speed of the domain transfer, Check your email accounts during the process, including your spam folders. If you have some kind of email feature that automatically deletes spam, you may want to turn that off during the process. If it goes to a spam folder, you can still get to it. If it is deleted, it is gone.</li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-56820232264906757232011-10-22T10:51:00.001-04:002011-10-22T10:51:56.242-04:00Welcoming myself backHi!<br />
It's probably been a year since I last posted to this blog. I took time off for the usual reasons: I got injured, I got busy with work and personal life, etc... I also thought the name of the blog was kind of gross and lame. But several people said they like the name, so I decided to keep using it. I like writing in general, and sharing my running experiences might be helpful to others.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-31563095510572176772010-03-23T00:37:00.001-04:002010-03-23T00:37:12.601-04:008 tips on starting to run in Vibram Five Fingers<p>I had another good run in the <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a> tonight.  5.21 miles on city streets in about 42 minutes.  This works out to 8:03 per mile.  Yeah, that sounds slow, but I am still getting used to the VFFs and I tried out a new strategy.  When my calves start to burn and get tight, I walk and or stretch.  I used to do this when training for 50K races, so I figured it would work for adapting to running in minimalist shoes, as well.  I also ran a course that had some grass near the sidewalk, so I could run on the grass when it was available.  This way, I was able to last more than my previous best with VFFs on city streets: 2.75 miles, in fact, I was able to double that.</p> <p>So here is my up to date, somewhat tested advice on starting out with <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a>:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Start conservatively, then work your way up.</strong> Everyone is different. If you are carrying around extra weight, or are new to running, I would advise being way more cautious than I have been. In the past I have tried out forefoot and midfoot strides when overweight, and i got injured. (which is why I didn't stick with it. Also, I was using the wrong shoes with a thick heel and way too much arch support.) </li> <li><strong>Do the Run/Walk.</strong> Rather than doing what some advise, and doing 1/4 mile every day or every other day, I would advise doing the run/walk. Run in the VFFs until your calves burn (or arches start giving you trouble), then walk for a while and stretch. When you feel better, try running again. If your calves still feel like hamburger, STOP. Take a day off. </li> <li><strong>Stretch.</strong> Some advise that stretching is useless, and "every runner who does yoga gets injured". That may be good advice for some, but it DEFINITELY is not good for me. I started to have hamstring pain, excruciating even, and it only went away if I stretched fully before the run. For me, this was an old injury I got when using the kickboard in the pool. But it only arises when I don't stretch. </li> <li><strong>Running on grass is easiest, followed by trails, and then asphalt and finally concrete.</strong> I would not advise doing much of your earliest VFF mileage on roads/sidewalks. Find a grassy field with a road or sidewalk next to it, so you can try both. Gradually work your way up, running less on the grass, and more on the hard surface. Your form will be best on the hardest surface, but it can take a lot out of you, without taxing your aerobic system. Your legs are trashed, but you didn't get much fitness from the run. Running part on the grass and trails lets you still get in a workout, and lets you heel strike a bit without hurting yourself. </li> <li><strong>Don't split time between VFFs and conventional heeled running shoes.</strong> You are trying to teach yourself a new way of running. If you try to do both, you won't lock in the muscle memory(or whatever the technical term is), and you will likely injure yourself, as your ankle has to deal with the arch, and a raised heel. Once you get injured, you will likely give up on the VFF's, and feel you just wasted $85 to $125. This was me on my first attempt. Luckily, I decided to give them a second chance. </li> <li><strong>Consider getting minimalist shoes for more than just running.</strong> I found that I was having pain when switching to wearing various shoes for work, and my old sandals, etc... I found that if I removed the inserts from my work shoes, that mostly eliminated the pain. I think if I got minimalist shoes for work, it would work even better. But since I don't have them, this is just theory at this point. </li> <li><strong>ICE is your friend!</strong> Most people who have run long distances know this one, but any time you have muscle soreness after a run, ice will help tremendously. Some people take ice baths, I would do this if I had an ice machine, but I just spray cold water on my legs in the shower, and it is almost as good. </li> <li><strong>Recovery drinks work for soreness also</strong>. This is another one that most long distance runners know about. You can google it or ask your friendly local running store for their advice, but I use PowerBar Recovery Carb/Protein Sports Drink Mix. Best results are when consumed directly after exercise. Not 30 min later when you get home from the park. Right then. </li> </ol> <p>This is my current state of knowledge, and it will change and be updated as I learn more about the <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a>. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-18580440707534346292010-03-22T12:00:00.001-04:002010-03-22T12:00:27.767-04:00Removing insole is key to wearing non-minimal shoes without painThis is just a quick update that I felt I needed to share. Since I have embraced the minimal shoe movement, I have been having ankle and arch pain when wearing regular shoes at work. After following the forums at http://birthdayshoes.com and Minimalist Runner (http://groups.google.com/group/huaraches), I tried removing the inserts or insoles that come with the shoes. This is the exact opposite of orthotics. It allows my arches to do what they need to do, instead of what the shoe maker wants them to do. It also gives me more room in the shoes for my feet to spread out. No pain so far. I still need to get some minimalist work shoes, but this workaround may be acceptable for now. I'm writing this from my iPhone, so I'm not sure how the links will turn out. I'll fix them later. <br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-36536010981888792182010-03-22T00:05:00.001-04:002010-03-22T00:05:55.849-04:00Hour loop now 56 minute loop with the VFFs<p>Today, I ran at Patapsco again with the <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a>.  I am definitely getting better at running with them.  My feet are getting toughened up so stepping on sharp rocks doesn’t hurt (as much).  I ran my normal hour loop in 56 minutes today.  I am still way out of shape, as i had to walk up all the major hills, but I was able to totally bomb down the hills at speeds that I could never match in conventional shoes.</p> <p>OK, maybe I was a wuss previously, but I had good reason to be.  I have had a few really gnarly ankle twists and sprains, so, at some point a few years ago, I decided to be really conservative in my downhill running.  I would actually spend lots of energy slowing myself going downhill so I wouldn’t risk crashing.</p> <p>When I first started with the VFFS, I did the same, even moreso, since I was really cautious about stepping on a sharp rock.  Now that I am more used to them, and have been working on my technique, I can run much faster downhill.  I feel more stable, since I am lower to the ground, without a thick cushioned heel preventing me from feeling the ground.</p> <p>I am pretty psyched to run the Mt. Penn Mudfest coming up.  It’s a 15K trail run in Reading, PA, put on by <a href="http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/" target="_blank">Pretzel City Sports</a>.   If I can just improve my hill running/conditioning in the next few/couple weeks, I think I might actually be able to achieve a performance that I am happy with.</p> <p>In other news, I have definitely confirmed that the more types of shoes I wear, the more problems I have.  Differing support, arches, heel widths, etc, all screw up my feet and ankles.  I can wear the VFFs, and flip flops.  Anything else hurts my feet.  I need to order some minimalist work shoes ASAP.  And my $3 flip flops are staring to fall apart with lots of use.  Yesterday, I went to the pool, and it was such a beautiful day, and I felt so good, that I ran to the pool with the flip flops.  Then I ran home.  Then, I ran an extra mile around the neighborhood!  I ran about 2 miles in the flip flops.  I learned that you need to spend extra effort to keep the flip flops from falling off when running, which might be a problem when running longer distances.  Also, my cheapo pair of flip flops started to chafe the skin on my feet, causing a raw spot.  I put some tape over the raw spot so I could keep wearing the flip flops.  Getting a good quality pair of flip flops is also a top priority.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-15198287236641684262010-03-18T23:00:00.001-04:002010-03-18T23:00:26.887-04:00My blog name doesn’t make much sense anymore…<p>I think the name of my blog no longer works for me.  I initially named it turtleheadattack.com because I was frustrated by the constant GI and digestive issues I was experiencing.  Since I logged what I was eating, and I figured out my “problem foods”, my issues mostly went away.  And recently, I started eating salads and vegetables and fruit, and cutting way back on meat.  This has pretty much eliminated (sorry for the pun) all of my elimination issues.  I know people have been telling me what to do for years, but I never could change until now.</p> <p>Now when I get hungry, I think of carrots, and fresh greens, and fruit, not meat and fried foods.</p> <p>The difference is truly amazing.  I credit Born to Run for finally encouraging me to make this change in my lifestyle.</p> <p>So I could find a new name, perhaps one that follows my new interest in minimalist footwear, natural stride, and good nutrition.  But I kinda like my name, and I really like the banner graphic.  So I will probably keep everything the way it is.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-18214461735379398792010-03-18T22:48:00.001-04:002010-03-18T22:48:57.010-04:00Vibram Five Fingers Update<p>I’ve now been wearing the <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a> for a couple weeks.  I’ve learned a few things.</p> <p>They say you are supposed to start with small amount of running, some say as little at 1/4 mile per day!, and slowly build up no more than 10% of your mileage per week.  At that rate, I would be dead and/or fat by the time I got to an amount that was enough to burn the calories I need to burn and enjoy the running experience.</p> <p>Perhaps this is just for complete beginners, or people who don’t have much of a history of running.  I have been running for 25 years, I have a few mountainous 50K races under my belt, and have been at a somewhat competitive level at times.  So I am following my own training plan, listening to my body, and will work the transition at my own pace.</p> <p>My first day, I ran on city streets in Baltimore.  I didn’t do much more than a mile, and my feet hurt.  I put the shoes away for a few weeks, as I thought I might have just wasted a bunch of money.</p> <p>Then, pain from running in my conventional thick heeled shoes made me reconsider.  I decided to run on the trails at Patapsco State Park, which is on my way home from work, in between Baltimore and DC.  I can run much farther (or is it further?)  on trails.</p> <p>I ran 3 miles one day last week at Patapsco, then 5 miles 2 days later.  I then attempted to run on pavement earlier this week, did about 2.74 miles at a 7:10 pace.  I felt pretty good, but I could tell that my form was lagging at the end, and my feet were taking a beating.  They hurt quite a bit the next day, and I was worried that I screwed myself up again.</p> <p>The next day, I decided to take a chance, and see what I could do at Patterson Park near my neighborhood.  I ran carefully on the grass, and no pain!</p> <p>Today, I ran at Patapsco, did my normal 1 hour loop in 1 hour.  This is good, since I’m actually way out of shape, I had to walk all the hills, but I had so much control on the downhills, and improved speed on the flats, that I still pulled out a decent time.  Once I get my cardio capacity back, I should be able to kill it.  My calves seem to be improving, and I’m developing Cro-Magnon foot pads, from stepping on so many rocks.  Perhaps after I get good at trail running in VFFs, I will be able to run decent amounts on roads.</p> <p>I have noticed one issue so far with the info in Born to Run.  Some people suggest that stretching is not needed; stretching and yoga will just get you injured.  That may work for some people, but not for me.  When I tried not stretching, or minimal stretching, I got excruciating pain in my upper gluteous region.  So bad, I had to stop, and try again on grass.  I was able to tough through the pain, and eventually it didn’t hurt anymore.  Today, I stretched normally before the run, and I had absolutely no issues.  I will definitely be stretching fully before and after every run.</p> <p>I have been noticing now that I have made the transition to running with no cushioned heel, that wearing normal shoes at work tends to hurt.  Anything that has a formed arch, including my sandals, hurts my feet.  My flat flipflops feel great, though.  So I am now looking for minimalist shoes to wear to work and casually.  (I can’t wear flipflops to work)  Some people on the minimalist shoe forums and blogs suggest just wearing their VFFs to work.  Since they are enclosed toes, technically, they meet most workplace requirements, unless you work in construction or a machine shop.  Mine get so muddy from trail running, there is no way I could wear them to work.  I would have to get another pair for non-running activities.</p> <p>For now, I will just pull out the inserts of my boots or casual shoes, and hope that’s enough.  </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-49120387712925161052010-03-08T23:30:00.001-05:002010-03-08T23:43:18.609-05:00First Trail Run with Vibram Five Fingers shoes<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2EKPsChJ0OjZacuVKBlPwJkZ2SuQa8ccaMa5XaKrlv1HdNpthqGjI3bdkOM2riAh5XQ9bKV_lGpsAcNxY8alTKzclEHtR1tpnqk8j-05t11v7WrMlp-E2HysLpxqAwU_ZJg1uYFHa58/s800/VFF-first-trail-run2.jpg""> <p>Today I was able to enjoy the awesome weather (almost 60 degrees) and got in a run after work before it got dark.  Even better, I ran in my new VFFs.  VFF is short for <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a>.  They are a new (at least to me) type of minimal shoe.  They have been popularized by the Barefoot Running movement and a book entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/0307266303" target="_blank">Born to Run</a> by Christopher McDougall.  I just bought the book on Amazon Kindle for iPhone.  It looks really interesting.</p> <p>I have the KSO Treks, which are a bit pricey ($125).  They have others that are less expensive, but the store I got them from had a hard time keeping VFF’s in stock, and they had the KSO Treks in my size, so I got ‘em.  They say you are supposed to ease into using them, starting off with a mile or two, and working up from there.  The reason is that you use a lot more of your “stabilization muscles) (my non-technical term), and if the muscles aren’t used to it, you could hurt yourself.  This is similar to the difference between going to the gym and using free weights vs. machines.</p> <p>You also have to run with a different foot strike.  Most people in the US wear running shoes with a big clunky heel, and they are encouraged to strike the ground with the heel first.  Before modern running shoes, everyone ran with the mid or forefoot striking the ground first, using the natural shock-absorbing properties of the foot.  I have been working on this foot strike off and on for years, so i am somewhat used to it.  My first run was on streets around my house, and on frozen ground in a grassy park near my house.  My second run, weeks later, was today at Patapsco State Park.  Rather than just running a mile or two, I ran about 5ish miles.  It is fairly technical terrain over dirt single-track trails.  I couldn’t just run a mile.  I was rushing to get my run in before it got dark, so I decided to do the whole thing in the VFFs.</p> <p>I really enjoyed it.  I always enjoy running, but it was really cool trying out a new way to run.  With my old shoes, I would typically try to hop from rock to rock or log when crossing streams, because wet feet get heavy and slow me down.  With the VFF’s, I didn’t feel that need, as sloshing through streams didn’t weigh my feet down.  But then I tried hopping from rock to rock, and was amazed at how much control and traction I have.  I guess it’s like wearing climbing shoes.  So I would alternate, depending on how I felt.  My KSO Treks have trail nubbies on the soles to supposedly provide extra traction.  I’m not sure if they really do or not.  I’d have to try a model of VFFs with the standard sole to compare.  I found that my toes provided great traction in the mud, soft earth, snow, and gravel.  Well, pretty much everything.</p> <p>Now that I’m done the run, I can tell that my calves got a super workout.  They felt pretty much the same way after the <a href="http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/uglymudder.html" target="_blank">Ugly Mudder</a> 2 weekends ago, in the deep snow.  On that day, I wore my <a href="http://www.inov-8.com" target="_blank">Inov-8</a> Trail Shoes.  (I don’t know the model.)  The Inov-8s are known for having a low heel for increased handling on trails.  If you aren’t ready for the almost barefoot experience, I suggest you give them a try.  You can work on your midfoot technique and enjoy a mixture of the benefits of barefoot and shoe running.  It is difficult to adopt a midfoot foot strike with most conventional shoes.  The heel is so thick and raised, it makes it difficult to do it properly.</p> <p>I should probably include more information on foot strike techniques, but this post is already long enough.  I’ve been reading about it for years, and I have a couple books to recommend and even a DVD.  I’m sure there is stuff on Youtube also.</p> <p>One additional observation:  running in the snow and cold winter streams can be a bit cold for your feet if the toes are separated.  This is especially true if you are doing a long run and going to be in the elements for hours.  Vibram makes a Five Fingers model with a neoprene upper, called the Flow.  It’s like a wetsuit for your foot.   I don’t know how it would be, but if I was going to do a lot of snow running, I would strongly consider getting them.  Actually, that’s the kind I was going to get, but the store did not have them in my size.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-61864899400211431112010-02-15T17:02:00.001-05:002010-02-15T17:02:54.526-05:00Trail Running in snowy downtown Baltimore City<p>In the past week, we have had 2 major snowstorms, dumping like 40-50 inches of snow on poor Baltimore.  I confess, I’ve been a wus about not running, because I saw how horrible the streets were (and still are) in my neighborhood.  What I have been doing is digging out my alley (twice), digging in front of the house, lots of walking with a shovel full of snow to find a place to put the snow, and walking around the neighborhood to obtain beer and victuals.</p> <p>Today, I have off because of the Presidents Day holiday, so I figured I’d run down by the promenade.  There was a path of compacted snow that was easy to run on.  In fact, it felt like trail running in the heart of Baltimore!  I felt so good, instead of doing my goal of 30 min to loosen up after 2ish weeks of not running, I ran 1 hour 21 min around the Harbor from Canton, through Fells Point, through Innerharbor area, and around to Federal Hill, and then back again.  I actually remembered to bring my Garmin Forerunner, so I know I did 9.43 miles in 1:22, at 8:46 per mile, spending 1132 calories, at an average heart rate of 163bpm.  Yeah, I know that’s more than 3/4 of a minute slower per mile than the last time I did that run, but navigating the snow slowed me down quite a bit.  Plus, of course, I was a bit out of shape from not running.  But I did much better than I expected.</p> <p>It was cool to see the rest of the city; I had been hibernating for a while.  It was interesting to see the area where the long line of dumptrucks filled with snow were waiting to dump their load in the harbor.  I’ve been hearing about this, but hadn’t seen it til this morning.  Some people are complaining because of all the environmental damage it is allegedly doing to the harbor because of salt and oil runoff.  Well, to those people, I ask them, if it was left on the street to melt, where do you think the storm drains take the water runoff?  Yep, you guessed it, they run right into the harbor.  Anyone who has done any amount of running on the promenade will have noticed all the garbage floating in the water at certain points.  That is where the storm drains go.  The only negative I see is that the huge mound of snow in the water could theoretically break off into a Baltimore Iceberg, causing small boats some trouble.  But I don’t think it will be a big deal. </p> <p>I purchased a set of <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a> shoes a couple weeks ago.  I won’t get much into that here, as it is a subject big enough for a post or series of posts.  But one of the key skills in using them without hurting yourself, is forefoot or midfoot running.  (ie, not heel running that most running shoes are built for).  I didn’t wear them today, but I did about 90-95% of today’s run on the forefoot and midfoot.  It felt good, and my knees and ankles aren’t screaming.  I guess we’ll see tomorrow morning!</p> <p>I signed up for the <a href="http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/uglymudder.html" target="_blank">Ugly Mudder</a> yesterday.  I’m psyched, because it is a really cool course in Reading, PA, and it ends at a German Beer Hall.  And I’m meeting my old roomie and her boyfriend, haven’t seen them in months.  There should be plenty of snow on course, plus two beer stops!  Serving Pennsylvania’s finest, Yuengling.  Also, it is put on by <a href="http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/" target="_blank">Pretzel City Sports</a>, the finest race management organization in all of Reading, PA.</p> <p><strong>Step Counting.</strong>  My work has this new plan where if you wear a pedometer that counts your steps, you get bonuses that pay down the health insurance deductible.  My guess is that they did not gear this program towards ultrarunners.  On an average day that does not include any specific exercise, I’ve been doing about 7000 steps.  On the day I really attacked the snow mounds in my alley, I did 14,000.  I wore my pedometer today on my run, and I got about 14,000 steps just for the 9.5 mile run.  It is now reading 16,000 for the day.  I’m wondering what will happen when I do long runs of 20-30 miles? 30,000 to 45,000 steps in a few hours?  The examples on the website (<a href="http://www.virginhealthmiles.com/" target="_blank">virginhealthmiles.com</a>) show that kind of activity as a MONTHLY goal.  HA!  They say you should upload every few days, because the device runs out of memory.  I’m expecting that it will give up the ghost in the middle of a run.  “Halp, I wasn’t designed for this!  Stop!”.  It also isn’t water proof.  What good is that?  What about water crossings?  They are often waist deep.  Maybe I can rig some kind of waterproof bag around it.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-7815171727430391342010-01-15T00:38:00.005-05:002010-01-15T00:53:41.583-05:00Thanxmas is over!Ok, I haven't posted in a while because school and work was getting a bit crazy, plus the holidays were distracting. I didn't do much over Thanxmas. Thanxmas is the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.<div><br /></div><div>I've been swimming a bit, and tonight I swam 1 mile. It felt great. Yesterday, I ran from Canton, through Fells Point, the Inner Harbor, and into Federal Hill, and then back. I took what I call the "business route" on the way out. The "business route" is the straightest, fastest way. I normally take this on the way back, when I get hungry, thirsty, tired, or all three. Yesterday, I reversed things, and took the business route on the way out, and then took the scenic route on the way back. The scenic route follows the promenade around the water, and zigzags a lot more. As you might guess, the scenic route is a bit longer than the business route. The weird thing is that I hit the same time for each. 33 minutes. Yeah, I know it's slow, but considering I'm restarting from scratch, 1:07 isn't so bad. I'll probably do 1:30 or 1:45 on the trails on Saturday.</div><div><br /></div><div>BTW, I had an awesome 50 min trail run last Saturday, and rediscovered what I loved so much about trail running.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been slacking on the race signups, so I need to sign up for some trail races and triathlons ASAP. I will post here when I figure out what I'm doing.</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-31704871324813077152009-11-18T08:49:00.001-05:002009-11-18T08:49:06.109-05:00Starting from scratch in the pool<p>Quick update.  My swim progression is going nicely.  When starting to swim after a very long break, I begin on the first day with 12 laps, then next day I do 18 laps, 18 laps again, then 24, 24 again, then 30, 30 again, then do 33 or 36.  For a long time, my math-challenged brain thought 36 laps was a mile, but then my friend Ryan pointed out that 33 laps is a mile!  Oops!  Since I don’t count the laps very well, who knows how far I really am going?  Now, I can count to 33, yeah, I’m not dumb.  But when swimming, if I start to daydream a bit and strategizing about work or relationship challenges, I can totally loose track of what lap I’m on.  I do the same thing on the track.</p> <p>Anyhow, last night I did 24 laps in 28 minutes.  I was pushing it the whole way, because I started at 9pm and the pool closes at 9:30pm.  I think I may have done 1 or 2 laps extra due to that daydreaming thing I was mentioning earlier.  I need to focus and get an accurate lap count so I can get an accurate gauge of my speed.  Anyhow, it was slow, but not too bad for my 4th swim.</p> <p>Two nights ago, I got on my bike on the trainer for 30 minutes while watching the underwhelming Ravens play Cleveland for Monday Night Football.  I wore my running shoes, and a lot of the foot pain and knee pain didn’t happen, like when I wear my biking shoes.  So I guess I need new biking shoes.  :-(</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-58383219036245504832009-11-11T17:49:00.001-05:002009-11-11T17:49:01.210-05:00Break-time is over!<p>Sorry I haven’t been doing much with this blog recently.  I’ve been swamped with schoolwork and I have been trying to figure out what I want to do next.</p> <p>I was a bit unhappy with my progress, and I needed some time to regroup and rethink some things.</p> <p>Today, I went to the pool for the first time in a very long time.  It was quite enjoyable, perfect for a rainy day.  As the seasons change, it is getting dark earlier and earlier.  It is very difficult to get in trail runs.  Last year, I was able to scoot out for an hour or two in the afternoons, but I’m not sure I will be able to do that this year, since I’m in a different job that is more support than development.  If you are providing support, you have to be available to your customers, not out running in the woods!</p> <p>Ok, here is the big news:  I think it is about time to try a triathlon!  I like swimming, biking and running, and 2 out of three can easily be done indoors without need to worry about environmental concerns.</p> <p>At this point, I am just information gathering.  I need to figure out what distance, what race, and sign up.  I also need to investigate training programs, to make sure I have enough time to train.</p> <p>I have a bike, but I will probably need to acquire a few things.  Wetsuit, bike shoes that don’t make my feet scream in pain after 30 minutes of riding, would be a good start.</p> <p>Anyone out there have good suggestions on first triathlons for people in the Baltimore, MD area?  And don’t suggest the Irongirl.  I don’t think I qualify.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-71810433986119216792009-09-21T15:43:00.001-04:002009-09-21T15:43:37.717-04:002009 Gunpowder Keg 50KThe power is out at work, so I thought I'd make a short blog post from my iPhone to kill some time. I tried to take a nap, but that wasn't working for me...<br /><br />On Saturday, I ran the Gunpowder Keg 50K. It is a roughly 10 mile loop, and there are 2 aid stations. One is at the start/finish, and another is maybe at 3-4 miles into the loop. You pass this one twice, so you are never more than 3-4 miles from an aid station. <br /><br />The terrain is not too technical, with an elevation gain/loss of 1000 feet per loop, 3000ft total, and about 100ft per mile. This is not bad, I've done a 16 mile run with 6000ft of vertical in another section of the same park. There are very few rocks or roots to trip on or worry about. There are a couple wooden mini-bridges that can get quite slippery. My hip and ribs had a very intimate encounter with one of them. Nice bruises!<br /><br />There was only one water crossing. Supposedly, you could avoid this if you skipped across some wet mossy rocks, but it looked too dangerous to me. I just plowed through the water. <br /><br />This was a "Fat Ass" event. Before anyone starts complaining, Fat Ass is a term that has been used for years to describe a low-cost or free, no-frills, largely self-supported run. <br /><br />This run fits that description perfectly. There is a $5 suggested donation, and you are supposed to bring 1 gallon of water for the aid stations. <br /><br />I only have one complaint about this race. Some douche(or perhaps douches) filled his (their) water jug(s) with the nastiest water imaginable. It tasted like pool water siphoned through a decrepit garden hose. When I topped off my water and Gatorade at 20 miles, I didn't try them right away. One mile down trail, I took a sip, and nearly barfed. I tried both, and they were undrinkable. Maybe I am just a sissy, used to drinking some of the best quality tap water in the nation, but this was disgusting. So for the next 4ish miles, I didn't drink anything. I started to get dehydrated and delerius. <br /><br />The water at the next aid station was much better. After that, I learned to sample the water before filling up my bottles.<br /><br />Personally, I didn't have the best run ever, but it wasn't that bad, either. I finished in 5:52. I met my "easy" goal of breaking 6 hours. But was far from my tough goal of going under 5 hours. 5:52 was the second fastest I've ever run a 50K, the best in 3 years. I have no idea what place I was. It will probably be a good while before the results are up, but thats ok with me. Before the water mishap, I was running even with 2 very fit competitive ladies, so place-wise, I was probably where I normally am. <br /><br />Ah, the power is back on, so I need to wrap this up. I have some more thoughts about training I want to write about, so I'll have to get to that later. <br /><br />Also, if you are going to a race where they ask you to bring a gallon of water, avoid douchebaggery and just buy a jug at the store. If you can't, at least fill up the jug the night before, and LEAVE THE CAP OFF. This lets the chlorine "outgas", removing the funky taste.<br /><br /> <br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-60764125421560415772009-09-15T23:07:00.005-04:002009-09-15T23:19:08.152-04:00More bad food choices<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">At 6:35pm, I was sitting in my car in the parking lot at Gilman, wondering if I REALLY wanted to do TNT. I have been sampling the menu of the brand new, glorious Wawa for my lunches at work, and today I had the Chicken Parm Hoagie. Ugh. I like most of the stuff at Wawa, but this was absolutely horrible, soggy, messy, tasteless, and the marinara sauce was very acidic. My stomach was rolling all afternoon. But I remembered that I had felt bad before other track sessions, and I ran anyway, and ended up with a great workout.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This was the case today, as well. There was a bit of confusion. No one <sup>1</sup> wanted to do Ryan's workout; it seemed like the consensus was to do 5x1600m.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On the first one, I fell in behind Dr. J, and she set a pretty good pace, around 6:08. That's pretty good for me, if I had been running by myself, I probably would have done a 6:30. (which is what I was doing a few weeks ago when we did 1600's. On the second 1600, I think she was setting a bit faster pace, and I ended up with a 6:01. This is the fastest I've ran a mile in a long long time. If I had known how close I was, I would have pushed it a little more, and gone under 6. But I should really have stayed in the 6:08 range, because I was not fully recovered in mile number 3, and I struggled to end with a 6:20 with Dr. J quite a few yards in front of me. For number four, I had no energy, and on the backside of the track at 600m I was having difficulty breathing, just couldn't get enough air in. Not sure what that was about. I think my body is just not used to being pushed like that. Rather than keep pushing into the danger zone, I coasted in and stopped at 800. I recovered, and I think I did either 2 more 800s or an 800 and a 400.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The “warmdown” (ha) was an out and back that I was a bit unfamiliar with, and the guys were running way faster than I should have been. So basically, instead of a warmdown, I got in 2 or 3 miles of fast tempo running to finish off the night.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I don't know why I go into details like this on my workouts, I guess just to remember key times where I did something good or bad.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In other news, my long runs have been doing pretty well, progressing up to 21 miles at 8:30ish pace. This weekend, I'm doing the Gunpowder Keg Ultra 50K. It's up at the Bunker Hill section of Gunpowder State Park. I haven't run the exact course, but I scouted the area last year. It is not too technical, but it certainly isn't NCR-flat, either. So I think my goal will be to run a 9 min mile, and see how long I can keep it up. If I end up averaging 9:30ish mile that would about break 5 hours, and I would be really happy if I break 5. I think I'm in as good shape or better than 3 years ago when I did a 4:56 at HAT Run 50K at Susquehanna State Park. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We will see. This is not a goal run, I'm actually using it as a training run for a 50 miler in November.</p> <hr /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><sup>1</sup> well, I would much rather have done shorter intervals like Ryan's workout, but I am an agreeable chap, so I just did what everyone else was doing.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-86657154564493581032009-08-31T01:45:00.002-04:002009-08-31T01:47:57.054-04:00Not slacking on the training pays benefits!I went running on the NCR trail on Saturday, and I felt pretty good. We ran 9 miles, and I could have gone a lot further. But this was an off week, so 9 miles is just fine. We ran at 8:40 pace for the first 8 miles, then on the last mile, I burned off some excess energy and turned in a 6:40. That works out to 8:27 per mile for the nine.<br /><br />Last week, we did 19, and struggled to keep up with a 9:00 pace. Not sure what the difference was. Maybe I carb-loaded too late before last week's long run. That's usually reason enough for a miserable run!<br /><br />One difference was that I did TNT this week. I had to miss Tuesday Night Track for the last few weeks because of work schedule, both at the real job, and the self-inflicted torture that is rehabbing my kitchen! At TNT, I did the abbreviated workout, one, because I can't handle the full workout, and two, because I got there a bit late. I did 1600, 800, 800, 1600, 600. I think. So almost 3.5 miles of speedwork on the track, plus about 3 miles of warm up and warm down on the trails around Gillman. I'll guess at the times. 6:13, 3:05, 3:08, 6:30, and I really don't know about the last 600. Everyone else did a 1000, I jumped in on the last lap and a half, and finished not too far off the back. The second mile really sucked, I think I lost focus and started to jog for a bit, then I remembered I was supposed to be running fast, and I picked it up in the last 300.<br /><br />I also got a decent run or two at Patapsco, so I think I benefitted from extra running volume this week. Oh, and I did a tempo run of about 5 miles on Thursday night through Canton, Fells, IHE. It felt fairly fast for me, probably in the low 7:something per mile.<br /><br />The week I did 19, my training was total crap. Being focused and getting the work done helps!<br /><br />I also really need to start going back to the gym and or pool. Thinking back to when I was faster, I definitely remember putting time in with the leg weights. Leg press, leg flexion, leg extension machines. We also did this thing where we lean up against a wall, and then drop down so we are in a seated position against the wall, but without sitting on anything. You just keep doing that until your legs burn, then keep doing it until you can't stand the burn anymore. With my old creaky knees, getting back up again might be a challenge! Anyhow, it's gotta be easier than the version my buddy E learned. He had to do that, plus hold a rifle with both hands, arms extended out from the chest. Since I don't have a rifle handy, I could hold a 2x3 piece of lumber...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-25765588738426288322009-08-14T15:43:00.001-04:002009-08-14T15:43:48.820-04:00Leadville is tomorrow!Leadville is tomorrow. It's a high-altitude 100 mile race, your choice between foot or mountain bike (MTB).<br /><br />There is a webcast available at <br />http://www.leadvilletrail100.com/<br />. I won't be around a computer, or I'd watch. Just thought I'd put that out there if anyone is interested. Maybe I'll order the DVD.<br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-2968720353026710952009-08-12T23:03:00.005-04:002009-08-13T00:09:37.598-04:00Fall Ultra Season is fast approachingI haven't posted in a while, or gone to TNT. Been busy at work and my training hasn't fit in with speedwork on Tuesdays. But I'm bummed that I missed 16x400 on Tuesday! Well, at least not the first 12. That was my favorite workout in the day....<br /><br />I realized Fall Ultra season is fast approaching, so I have been focusing on ramping up my distance. 3 weeks ago, my buddy E and I ran 9 miles on NCR at 8:42 per mile. Then 2 weeks ago, we did 13 at 8:40 per mile. Last week, we didn't run together. He did 17 at 8:40, and I did 12 at 8:40. I didn't feel comfortable increasing 4 miles every week, plus it was getting extremely dark, my hammies were acting up, and it was murderously hot and humid. Shortly after I got in the car, it started raining and thundering fiercely.<br /><br />Running in the dark in a full on gusty drenching thunderstorm would not have been fun.<br /><br />I think only doing 12 this week was a wise choice for me. Next week, I'll do 17. I think I'll be ready to run the BRRC Gunpowder 50K on September 19th. My goal is to break 5 hours. As long as it isn't any more technical than the HAT Run, this goal is doable. There is no page for this year's race, but <a href="http://www.baltimorerunning.com/events/gunpowder_kegfatass_50k.htm">here</a> is the info sheet from a couple years ago. Last year's results are <a href="http://brrc.com/brrc2008/2008GunpowderKegResults.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I could always do the <a href="http://www.thebigschloss.com/">Big Schloss 50K</a>, which is Sept 26. This is a lot of fun, and has a party at the end. It is crazy-technical, like the Bel Monte, probably because both of them are in the George Washington National Forest. You can forget about goal times for this one.<br /><br />And I didn't make it into the JFK 50 miler. I am going to do the <a href="http://www.gaconline.net/scmain.html">Stone Cat 50 miler</a> in Ipswich Mass instead. They say it ends at a brewery. If there is no party at the end, I am going to be sorely disappointed. I have no idea if I can keep the 9:00 mile going for 50. So my goal is to average between 9 and 10 min per mile. I think that may be reasonable. I don't recall any mountains being in Mass.<br /><br />On the nutrition front, a Powerbar Long Lasting Energy Bar before running prevents me whining about not feeling swell during the runs. Today, I discovered that Kung Po Chicken with white rice consumed 5-6 hours before running has a similar benefit.<br /><br />On the shoutout front, I think I saw Ryan and Barf shout out "Steve-O!" while I was running through Inner Harbor East tonight. And then I think I almost trampled Melissa after crossing the street.<br /><br />And on the Shoe front, I saw a podiatrist. He told me to get Brooks Dyad shoes, since he said I have flat feet and am not a big pronator. In fact, he looked dubiously at the custom orthotics I showed him, and said that they could have seriously hurt me if I kept using them. They didn't push my feet down enough in the mold. $450 wasted.<br /><br />The shoes have really helped me, my ankles feel pretty good.<br /><br />Edit: I just read the post below this one, and I realized I said pretty much the same thing two weeks in a row! I gotta stop making posts after I get a couple beers in me. I forget what I wrote...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-50520665451881899052009-08-02T01:53:00.000-04:002009-08-02T01:54:05.242-04:002000 calories on the NCRHad a great run today. We did 13 miles in 8:42 per mile. Most of it was at 9:00 per mile, and we picked it up to 8:15ish in the last few miles.<br /><br />The plan is to train to keep at this pace for at least 50K. I think this is doable. Maybe i will change my mind when we get beyond 20 miles in a few weeks. 9:00 per mile is pretty good for a 50K, about 4:30. As long as there are no mountains or crazy technical stuff...<br />Meaning, HAT run, yes, Bel Monte, no!<br /><br />Keeping this up for 50 miles would be great, but I have no idea if this is possible (for me).<br /><br />My current plan is to get in shape to run the Gunpowder 50k, then build from there to 50 miles.<br /><br />I did TNT on Tuesday, and I was able to stick to the back of the pack. Which made me happy. That was totally attributable to eating a PowerBar before running.<br /><br />I still wish they would do 12 x 400, my fave workout from the old days. <br /><br />Of course, a miler workout like that wouldn't be very helpful for someone training for an Ultra.<br /><br />Perhaps an intelligent training plan would be helpful. Considering what I have been doing over the last few years, improving should be easy! I'm 15 lbs less, I'm running more miles each week, and, most importantly, I'm running smarter.<br /> <br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-29283157083676656302009-07-24T22:39:00.002-04:002009-07-25T00:04:06.804-04:00The best run of the year tonight!I feel absolutely awesome! I've been doing a lot of experimenting recently, trying to figure out why I don't have energy when I run. I kept track of everything I ate and drank, and my runs, looking for patterns.<br /><br />As some of the guys at TNT suggested, it was a food issue.<br />On the two days I had a Powerbar Harvest Whole Grain Long Lasting Energy Toffee Chocolate Chip bar, I had awesome runs. Plenty of energy for surges, demolishing the hills, and just general feeling like I'm 16 again (without the acne).<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/24/558.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/24/s_558.jpg" border="0" width="280" height="281" style="margin:5px" /></a><br /><br />The one day I didn't have anything to eat, I felt like total shit. No energy, just like all those nights at TNT. Now, true, the weather tonight was incredible, and I am sure that was part of it.<br /><br />But, anyhow, I am excited to experiment further!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-65864872355266664992009-07-21T22:13:00.004-04:002009-07-23T21:00:37.928-04:00Tour De Blur<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5U_9IRp4hAEJOLylwlvnQQxDFZc3_USJNVniHforT9ePKQ8k-DuvAVqWgJMFEmrZXjqmocSaUR7Kz9uThWoINyx2_eRLGwOvvkB9fIOdBysNWsAKR8wkR3hRLx3pfvcOm1hU-lXQ0Fw/s800/TourDeBlur2.jpg" /><br /><br /><div>This is my view of the Tour De France on VsHD. Wonderful picture, eh? Not so much. All my other HD channels work fine. Even Vs HD usually works when displaying stuff like Rodeos and Hunting. Just the Tour. So I have been relegated (that's a TdF pun, btw) to watching the Tour in regular Def.<div><br /></div><div>Oh, well.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of my running buddies insists that "any HD is good HD", but he hasn't seen this picture!</div><div><br /><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-78652117151673792962009-07-11T12:05:00.002-04:002009-07-11T12:40:11.976-04:00TurtleHeadAck on TwitterI am now on Twitter!<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/TurtleHeadAck">http://twitter.com/TurtleHeadAck</a><br /><br />This has been a pretty good week:<br />I finally contacted a podiatrist to address some of my concerns. I'm looking forward to pain-free running.<br /><br />I set up an account on Twitter. Yeah, I know, I'm behind the times. It's fascinating, though. I have it set up on my iPhone, and when I get bored, I monitor the tweet stream for various search terms. Already, I am learning useful info. For instance, two dams will be removed in Patapsco State Park, Union Dam and Simkins Dam, and they may even remove Daniels Dam and Bloede Dam. I think this may cause some trail changes, as the water level changes. Should be good for the fishies, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/restoring-rivers/dams/projects/patapsco-river-restoration.html">Here</a> is a link that describes the project in more detail.<br /><br />I had several runs this week longer than 1 hour, all on trails. It feels great! I decided to do a time trial last night on the Promenade. Sorry to all of the people I almost ran over! You should really pay attention to where you are going, though. When I finished, I thought I had done 5 miles, and my time of 26 minutes would have been freaking awesome! But then reality intruded into my fantasy, and I figured 4 miles. Then 3.8. When I got home, I went to Google Maps Pedometer (awesome site, btw) and I mapped my run. 3.68 miles! Not so great! That means I was actually running at 7.06 minutes per mile, which is 7:04? per mile. Not awesome. But not too bad, considering all the lights and peds I had to stop for. Peds is short for pedestrians, of course. I'm pretty happy with the other runs I have put in this week, and the direction of my training and fitness.<br /><br />For the run mapping, initially went to <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com">http://www.mapmyrun.com</a>, but was turned off by the blizzard of ads. Yuck. Then I remembered Gmaps Pedometer. <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/">http://www.gmap-pedometer.com</a>. I used to use this site a lot. No ads, and it works great!<br />Here is the run I did Friday evening:<br /><a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2993279">http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2993279</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-60689093141364020152009-07-08T08:23:00.001-04:002009-07-08T08:23:21.903-04:00Where NOT to put your keys at TNT!At TNT last night, I left my keys next to the outside rail of the track, so I wouldn't have to carry them while running. This is new for me, as I am paranoid about losing them.<br /><br />When I finished, they were still there, but retrieval was an issue. Some dude who totally kicked ass during the workout was puking right over my keys! The keys were ok. The conversation went something like this:<br /><br />ME: "Um, those are my keys. Excuse me. I'll just grab 'em". <br />GUY: "Sorry, dude. I didn't even see them there."<br />ME: "No problem!"<br />GUY'S GIRLFRIEND: "I thought he was coming over to congratulate you on a good workout ."<br /><br />Later, I realized that's exactly what I SHOULD have said...right before I snagged my keys. <br />I really need to be more considerate.<br /> <br />This got me to thinking, maybe I'm not trying hard enough. Maybe I should be hurling after or during the workouts. I might try that next time. The last time I hurled from running was the 2002 DC Area Beer Mile. Warm beer + running = not so good. <br /> <br />I guess the takeaways from this lesson are:<br />1) never put your keys next to the outside rail of the track. The inside near the bottles is a much better choice!<br />2) be more considerate<br />3) run harder<br /><br />On a more technical note, this is my first post using Blogpress, which is an app for the iPhone. I am hoping it will enable me to do more frequent posts. <br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-30592307723838062522009-07-07T23:20:00.004-04:002009-07-08T00:23:01.663-04:00Confessions of a MasochistJust finished watching today's stage of the Tour de France. When you think about what these guys are doing, it is just amazing. Tomorrow they are doing 120 miles! That is just 1 of 21 stages. Incredible. I just want to take this moment to say how much VsHD sucks. Vs is the network covering the Tour. Since I am a gadget geek, I have HD, so I've been watching the Tour on HD. Unfortunately, their signal is highly compressed, and the pixilation is so bad it makes me want to puke. I think I will be watching the rest of the Tour in Regular Def. Oh, well.<div><br /></div><div>I have a confession to make. I almost quit today. But you don't get anywhere by quitting, and, as a masochist, I would be depriving myself of some great suffering! So I am NOT quitting! Whew! I have run 6 50K's, and completed each one. No DNF's. 2 or 3 involved ankle sprains that I kept running on to finish. I don't quit anything easily.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I am not quitting, maybe it will make me feel good to list some things that I am NOT doing:</div><div><ol><li>Badwater Ultramarathon: 135 miles run in the summer in Death Valley, with temperatures up to 130 degrees F, so hot that you have to run on the painted lines on the road, if you don't, your shoes will melt. I hate, HATE running in hot weather. This is most definitely NOT on my list of races that I want to do some day. I have the movie. It is SICK!</li><li>Hardrock Ultramarathon: 100 miles, with the lowest point at 9,000ft! As a low-lander, something like this would be suicide. If I ever move to Colorado, I may change my mind.</li><li>Barkley Marathon: this has various distances. Most years, NO ONE FINISHES! Only 8 people have ever finished. I think the average pace is 30 minutes per mile. This is not running.</li></ol><div>When I say "quitting", I mean I was about to give up trying to be a competitive runner. Just because I have to put a lot more effort in, now that I am an old guy. In my 20's, I could half-ass my training, and still do somewhat respectably. Now, I have to pay attention to my diet, fueling before the run, hydration during the run, recovery after the run, ice on the joints, take vitamins daily, and most importantly, quality training. Skipping workouts just doesn't work anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div>A rude awakening, but it is ok.</div><div><br /></div></div><div>The cool thing about running is that I am learning new things about myself. Isn't that what life is all about? Learning about yourself? I'd much rather put myself through tough track workouts and learn about myself than sit on the couch vegging out with the TV.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-9314679890033526202009-07-01T13:19:00.005-04:002009-07-01T13:45:20.526-04:00JFK 50 Miler- Good news and bad newsI went to sign up for the <a href="http://www.jfk50mile.org">JFK 50 Miler</a>. There is good news and bad news.<div><br /></div><div>The bad news is that for the first few days, JFK is only open to current military, military vets, and JFK veterans with at least 5 finishes. This run fills up quickly, so there is a chance I won't get in (which is maybe good news?)</div><div><br /></div><div>The good news is that E is a vet, so he can sign up today. Also, I was just talking to my high school coach, who helps run the race. He said if I have trouble getting in, he might be able to help me.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the real thing to consider is: WTF am I thinking? 50 miles? Am I crazy?</div><div><br /></div><div>I am getting better with my training, so I doubt that my body will fall apart in training THIS time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I definitely need to see a running doctor about my ankles. If I string too many days of running together, especially if they are on roads, they start to hurt. If I "play it smart" and rest, I don't get into the fitness level I need to be in.</div><div><br /></div><div>I went to a shoe store in Annapolis where they sold me orthotics, and they hurt my ankles tremendously, even after getting them redone two or three times. I need to see someone who knows what they are doing.</div><div><br /></div><div>One fear is that if I wear orthotics when running trails, I won't have the control I need and will have a catastrophic ankle sprain/twist.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103504208650483922.post-57594444256009836672009-07-01T00:16:00.003-04:002009-07-01T00:22:04.427-04:00Why I am not getting faster...revealed!I missed TNT again tonight, because I had to stay late again at work. Oh, well. By the time I got back in the hood, it was after 9pm, and thunder storming, so I decided to run on the treadmill. My plan was to run 45 minutes, with two separate sections doing negative splits.<br /><br />I started off at 8 minutes for half a mile, then went down to 7:30 for 1.5 miles, then 7:00 for a mile, then 6:40 for a mile, then I jogged at 8:30 for a half mile, and I was about to start increasing again, and some dude came on the intercom, and said "the club is now closed. Please get the f___ out." Ok, I am paraphrasing, but you could tell they wanted us OUT so they could get their drink on or whatever they do when they get off of work. So I only got 30ish minutes in. Not too bad, though.<br /><br />As all of my loyal readers (lol) know, I've been whining about why I'm not getting any faster. So I have been thinking hard about what was different when I was faster.<br /><ol><li>I was younger. This can't be overlooked, but I see people my age and over that are still fast, so I am not about to just give up because I am having troubles.</li><li>I was running every day. I think I keep forgetting about this. At some point in the last 5-8 years, I started to run 4 or less days per week. I now think this is normal. I even ran some 50K races on 1-2 days of training per week. (And those races were the ones I totally sucked at) The only 50K I am happy with (4:55), was in 2006 when I was running every day (a temporary abberation).</li><li>My hairstyle had more aerodynamic lift. Like wings. I think I'll just have to make do on that one. No going back!</li></ol>I definitely remember that i would freak out if I missed a day. So I am resolved that is what I have to do. Even if I have to run on a crappy treadmill that shocks me when I accidentally touch the heart rate measurement handles. Better than getting struck by lightning!<br /><br />Signup for JFK 50 Mile Run is tomorrow! Yikes!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0