Sunday, September 28, 2008

Recreation: Race Results

Well, the results are up. I didn't do as well as I would like, but I still did pretty good.

Place Div/Tot  No.      Name             Ag S City            St   Time   Pace
28 6/35 130 Gauch William 33 M Middletown RI 21:20 6:52

I have to come up with a better training plan. I need to build my fast stamina. I can run for 10 miles right now and I can run a three minute half mile, but I just can't do both at the same time. I really want to break the 20 minute barrier. As you can see, I didn't even break 21 minutes. I followed one online training plan and had no luck. Maybe it's time to find a different one.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Random Thoughts: Debate

I watched most of the debate last night. There were two things I noticed which I never noticed before. First, Obama stutters and hesitates A LOT. I always noticed his talking style where he sounds like he is calculating and planning his words like he is playing chess. That said, he was full-on stuttering last night. It was almost like he was about to say something and then forgot, for a second, what he was going to say. Oh yeah, and a sub-part that may have contributed to his public speaking difficulties, he seemed tired.

Second, I found that I just couldn't relate to Obama as a person. I make no consideration for status, standing, background, etc., when I assess someone's personality. I don't really care who or what you have been. All I care about is my perception of you. Of course, I am limited by staged television appearances for my assessment. That said, I will use the time-honored metric to say, I could see myself hanging out with Mcain having a beer. I could not say the same thing about Obama.

Now, politically, I would never support someone (Obama) who wants to federalize the health care system, wall street, banking, every aspect of life, etc. Although, come to think of it, it might be nice to have a federal employee to clean my house. It's a mess! I'm just interested in what kind of people the candidates are. That determination gives me a far greater insight into what kind of president each will be. When it comes right down to it, I don't know who will be president. In a highly democratic state like Rhode Island, my vote really doesn't even matter. Obama will win RI whether I vote or not. All I'm trying to figure out now is where to put my money on November 3rd.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Recreation: Tommorow begins a new season

I have been waiting/training all summer for a few races this fall. Tommorow is the first of these. It is the Salve Regina's Ninth Annual 5K Mansion Run/Walk. I hope to do well. There is one thing, however, that might hold me back.

My last training run (this past Wednesday) went terribly. I planned to do three half-mile intervals at 3:07, but I ended up doing one at 3:17 and a second one at 3:33 before I called it quits. At the finish of my cool down, I had an annoying heel pain. Later in the day, my arch cramped up severely. I was able to massage it out, but it still didn't feel right. This morning, I did a quick search and found my symptoms point, most likely, to plantar fasciitis. I am still planning on running tommorow, but after that, I think I will take it a bit easy for a week or two and see how things feel. From everything I read, though, I should stop running until there is no pain, then run easy with stretching and gradual build-up of miles. That sucks!

Anyway, assuming that my foot heals fast from my Wolverine-like mutant healing factor, I have a bunch more races I plan to run or am thinking about running. Here they are, ordered by date:


There is also a 10K in December that I am planning on running. Part of me wants to start running some slightly longer races than the 5Ks which I love so much. Mostly, it's because I know I can't keep setting PRs with every race. Eventually, I will have to fight for individual seconds. Depending on my foot, I may have trouble with a PR tomorrow, although I'm sure the rain will help. I know I don't want to be out any longer than I have to.

I really wish I could train like an elite athlete. I trained pretty hard decently this summer, but only three days a week. Between spending time with my wife and baby and working, I just don't have the time or energy to do much more. That said, I feel myself getting slower these days. I think a lot of that thinking has to do with my previously mentioned crappy speed workout. That said, I realized that 3-minute half-miles are still much slower than my 8th grade 1-mile run that I did at 5:13.

I was thinking about what I did to run that fast. What it comes down to, is I was a kid who could run fast. I didn't train, or exercise. I didn't even really participate in any organized sports where runnign was involved. I just used my blazing fast, fast-twitch muscles that I was born with. Had I been pushed in the direction of high school running, I probably would have done well, but I was certainly not interested in it.

Now, I find myself attempting to regain a shadow of what I had when I didn't care that I had it. In other words, I really hope plan on running a 17 minute 5K in my life. At this point, I may just have to accept sub-20 minutes as a realistic goal. Any faster than that will require a much greater commitment to running than I can give. I love running, but I'm just not "in love" with running.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Recreation: See, Avoid, Greet, Run

I went for a long run this morning and had plenty of time to encounter people and think. When out on the street as a pedestrian there is a funny thing that happens. You see another person headed towards you, still a moderate distance away. Now, you pretend like you didn't notice them, or you find the peeling siding of the houses you pass infinitely interesting. You don't want to stare, that would be rude. As you get closer, they are typically doing the same thing. Now, you have to time it just right becuase. If you do it wrong, akwardness and aprehension will follow for both parties. At the perfectly right moment, you "notice" them, smile, maybe even wave and say, 'Hi.' Then you quickly avert your eyes and move along.

It's strange how people greet each other in this manner in almost all situations. OK, sometimes you get a conversationalist. Other times you might get someone who is oblivious, rude, or inexperienced at the See-Avoid-Greet process. In most cases, though, people are the same. I just find it strange that looking at someone is rude if you look too long and rude if you don't look at all.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Random Thoughts: Still not mowing

OK, so why is it that I am motivated to mow the lawn now, and have the opportunity, but not the ability. The ultra-tall grass/weeds are still soaked from last night's rain. I think I may go out and try to mow the front anyway. It's just getting embarrasing how tall it is. The only problem is that the wetness combined with the height will make the front yard take an hour. Usually it's a 20 minute job. I guess it has to be done. Right now, I'm wishing I said yes to the kid down the street who offered to mow my lawn for money.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Random Thoughts: So much to say, so little time

I can't believe I haven't had a chance to post since the 2nd. Lots has been going on lately, but most of it is mundane. I have been working a completely different schedule than I have worked in the last decade. It has been a couple weeks and I am still not used to it. I started to get used to it, but then Laura started nursery school and added another complexity two days a week. Right now, I am having the most trouble finding time to run, work, eat, sleep and do a few minimal tasks around the house. I haven't mowed the lawn in quite a while. I sure will be glad when that task is done for the year.

As for Laura, she is still in the adjustment phase of nursery school. The first full day, I think we caught her off guard. On the second day, she really didn't want me to leave. I don't know what her next day will bring. She has become more clingy and dependant to Erin since her second day. It's strange that kids love their moms, huh?

Generally, the new job is going well. I have no real complaints. I just wish I could manage my time a little better. It's tough getting home from work as late as I do, considering I could, technically, get home several hours earlier if I worked entirely alone. Damn teamwork!

Well, I guess that's it. I didn't really have as much to say as I thought I would. I guess I should get back to not mowing the lawn now. Thank you, rain!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Random Thoughts: How weird

Erin and I have been looking around for a daycare/nursery school for Laura to go to two days a week. We want to get her some social skills to go along with her insane intellect. We had settled on one place, but found a different place that Erin said was better. I say, "Erin said..." becuase I was unable to attend the tour/orientation that they had, therefore I trusted her judgement. Laura had her first alone time there today and it was 50/50. Laura was overtired and, as it turns out, sick. I think she caught what her cousin had up in Vermont.

Anyway, I took an early lunch to go pick Laura up and see the facility. Walking in the door, I had one of those, "Where do I know her from..." moments. Turns out, she (the director) had the same thought. After a mental scan, I remebered her. She was a friend of a friend, in the category of 'bordering on a personal friend'. After all, I have eaten at her parent's house.

How strange is it to see someone you never thought you would ever see again for the rest of your life? She was one of those random people who make up little micro nano-story arcs of life. I knew her, and then I didn't know her anymore. Now, she is caring for my kid. How weird.