Saturday, July 24, 2010

Run Log #11- Running Fits Me

I will gloss over Run Log #11 because I should have posted it on Thursday when I actually ran.....

No, wait.  Scratch that.  I will describe how I somehow put my iPhone into airplane mode which disabled the GPS which meant that Runkeeper didn't keep track of my route or my pace.  So I manually entered it using MapMyRun.com.  Sweet...

Which brings me to another point. I'm slightly neurotic.  I have semi-weird, occasionally OCD tendencies.  I always eat my burgers in a circle (outer crust first, then slowly whittle it down into ever smaller circles till one bite is left).  I listened to the same Helmet album every time I went to watch one of my high school's football games.  I have a thing for odd numbers and have seen a pattern in the important dates in my life (11-19-81: birthday, 7-5-09: re-Anniversary with Rachel, 11-11-09: my son Chase's birthday, 3-27-11: wedding date). 

All of this detail-oriented, anal-retentive behavior gives me a personality that it is well-accustomed to running.  When I found out that I had put my phone into airplane mode, I obsessed over not being able to track that run.  I needed to know what the specifics were... what were my splits?  Did I improve?  What does it mean...?

I'll admit I'm an addict when it comes to looking at my Runkeeper profile and seeing how far I've run, how quickly I ran, how many calories I burned, the routes I take, etc., etc., ad nauseum, ad infinitum...

Which is why running fits me.

There needs to be something a little bit off inside you if you actually enjoy putting your body through pain for long periods of time while listening to the lonely thoughts droning inside your head.

And I'm beginning to really enjoy it, to need it, to feel antsy if I don't get it, to dread rest days, and look forward to discomfort because I know I can push through it and better myself in the process.

Thanks, running.  For letting me find you.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Hipstamatic Set #1- Daily View

Hipstamatic rocks my socks...

And, so, I shall start another set of posts to go along with my album reviews and my YouTube vid posts...

Hipstamatic Photo Sets!!!

The theme of this Hipstamatic photo set is "Daily View".  As some of you may know, I am the Prescription Customer Service Manager for Kaenon Polarized.  It's a job that I love for a company I believe in.  And my desk is where I spend every day on the phone, on the computer, on the grind...


sustenance 



potpourri



reorder  



communication helix



yes, this is an exit
 



clearly sticky



purpose




Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Run Log#10- Silence is Golden

Soundtrack:

Nothing.  Literally nothing.  Except Runkeeper updating me every 2 minutes on time elapsed, distance traveled, and average pace.

I felt good today.  2.25 miles in 25 minutes.  11:14 per mile (which is under my average pace for the last 3 weeks).

I counted backwards from January 23rd to find out when my actual training will start.  September 27th.  Just under 11 weeks away.  11 more weeks of base fitness training before jumping head first into a more focused marathon training program.  I better get some mountain biking and weight lifting in before I need to cut those out of the routine.

But, oh yeah... Silence is golden.  I didn't set-up a playlist for this morning's run.  I figure I'm not going to listen to music during the marathon, so I should get used to the silence.  And it actually helped.  I was able to focus on my body more, feel how my arms swinging helped the perpetual motion of my legs and how changing my breathing affected the ease or difficulty of my pace.  I'm looking forward to being able to zone out while running, without being distracted by the music I love so much.  There are better times to listen to music.  Running should be about escaping for a bit, and being able to do that in silence will be comforting.

Rest day tomorrow, then another 25 minutes of running on Thursday morning.  I'm tempted to try for 2.5 miles, but I know that I need to take it slow.  There will be plenty of time for speed work later on...

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Run Log #9- Slow and Steady Wins the Race...

Slow and steady wins the race.

I've been running for the last three weeks.  Focusing on timed runs to build up my stamina.  Started with 10 minute runs and hope to build up to 40 minute runs by the end of next week. 

Over the course of my first 8 runs, I've been averaging about 11:30 a mile.  Not horrible, considering I've never been a runner and I'm in the worst shape of my life.

11:30 a mile turns out to be just north of 5 hours for a marathon.  (*sidenote: I'm planning on attempting my first marathon January 23, 2011.  That's why I'm doing all of this running.)

So, today I graduate to a 30 minute run after two 20 minute runs this week.  And I figure a solid pace would be 12:30 a mile, which would mean I would run 2.4 miles in 30 minutes.  Achievable, right?

Definitely achievable...

... if I had run at 6:30am, so I could avoid the heat...

... if I hadn't run at 1:21pm in close to mid-90 degree temperatures...

... and if I hadn't started my run at 9:30 a mile!!!!!

I went out too fast.  I played checkers, not chess.  I got ahead of myself, and shot myself in the foot.  I was that hare, sprinting past the tortoise, yelling back, "See ya at the finish line, you slow poke!", burning out at 25 minutes, and panting, gasping, dredging to the finish line as the tortoise lounged in triumph...

I was very disappointed today.  If I had just stuck to the plan, I would have run 2.4 miles in 30 minutes, and I probably would have felt fine...

Lessons learned:

- NEVER skip the morning run.
- If you skip the morning run, definitely don't run IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EFFING DAY...  Just wait for dusk.
- Stick to your pacing.
- Set-up Runkeeper to update every 3 minutes, so I can adjust my pace if it's off.

2 rest days, then 25 minutes on Tuesday.  GOAL: 2 miles.

Now off to watch Spirit of the Marathon on Netflix...

Soundtrack:
With a Heavy Heart (I Regret to Inform You)- Does It Offend You, Yeah?
An Autopsy- The Faceless
Whatever Happened to Pong?- Frank Black
Turned Out- Helmet
He Feels Bad- Helmet
Obnoxious- Immortal Technique
This Is F*****g Tragic- The Impossibles
The Boys Are Leaving Town- The Japandroids
Blood of the Scribe- Lamb of God

Friday, July 16, 2010

Oh Girl

Oh Girl played at Clancy's tonight.  And there were a couple songs that absolutely felt "spot on in the zone audience in the palm of your hand" good...

And this was after 3 weeks of not practicing. 

It's in our fingers and our brains and our hands and our toes and our brains.  We just need to let it out and be true and genuine and authentic.

Dynamics...

I love being in a band that is a true extension of myself...

August 5th in San Diego...

Run Log #8- Goal accomplished (kind of)

I wanted to run 1.8 miles in 20 minutes today.  And if you look at my Runkeeper Profile, it says I did. 

But I know the truth..

I ran 1.79 miles in 20 minutes, then walked .01 miles in an extra 22 seconds.

And, yes, it matters.  Because I want complete transparency throughout all of my training.  And because I need to stay focused and hungry and focused and willing to put in the work.

30 minutes of running awaits me on Saturday morning.  It would be nice to get in 2.4 miles.  12:30 a mile would be pretty stellar...

Since I started running two and a half weeks ago, I've run 10.32 miles in about 119 minutes.  That's about 11:30 a mile.  Which would be about a 5 hour marathon...

My goal is to run a 4:30 marathon, which is 10:20 a mile.

I have 2 more months of base training before starting a pretty intense 4 month training program, which is focused on getting me to a 4:30 marathon.  Depending on how I feel after the next 2 months, I might try to actually focus on a 4:15 marathon... or even a 4:00 marathon...

One thing I know for sure.  I never thought running would be so fulfilling...

Soundtrack:
Blood On Our Hands- Death from Above 1979
The Ghost of a Stranger- The Faceless
Freedom Rock- Frank Black
Do It Again (feat. Ali Love)- Chemical Brothers
Stockholm Syndrome- Muse
I-E-A-I-A-I-O- System of a Down
Cicatriz ESP- The Mars Volta

Random thought... I wonder how my runs would go if I didn't listen to music..... ?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Run Log #7- Routine

Up at 6:30.

Get dressed.

iPhone into armband.

Shoes laced.

Make sure GPS is working.

Start Activity...

Soundtrack:
There's No Home for You Here- The White Stripes
Great DJ- The Ting Tings
Bounce- System of a Down
Killing in the Name- Rage Against the Machine
The Stalker- Piebald
For Sunday- Name Taken
Helena- My Chemical Romance
Blood of the Scribe- Lamb of God

Stop Activity.

Walk to cool down.

Shoes off.

Socks off.

Onto yoga mat.

3 sets of 10 sit-ups alternated with 3 sets of 10 push-ups.

Calf stretch.

Quad stretch.

Hamstring stretch.

Groin stretch.

Showerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

I like my running routine.  But I need to push harder.  Stress and recover...  Rest day tomorrow.

Lyrics:
(instrumental)

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Saturday Song #9- Crunk on Fools

It's been far too long since the last Saturday Song. I'm going to make it a point to try to at least post something every Saturday, even if it's a cover... or just a snippet of a song that I'm working on. I should set up a Soundcloud account so I can post mp3s on here...

This is another rambly stream of consciousness free form folky acoustic song about Chase.  Enjoy!!

Run Log #6- It's a mental workout...

I wanted to stop.

Multiple times.

At 4 minutes when my iPod told me I'd only run .32 miles and was on a 12:30/mile pace (I was hoping for around 10:00/mile)

At 8 minutes when I realized I still had 12 minutes left instead of 7.

At 13 minutes when my stomach began to cramp...

Luckily, I didn't.

Today, I realized that training for a marathon is going to be about much more than just getting my body into shape.  In fact, it's probably more about getting my mind into shape.  Learning how to rely on keeping my form to push through the cramps.  Pushing my body farther than I thought I could and realizing that it's not that bad.  Focusing on how much it would suck to pull up and walk only to find out that I'm still tired, only now I'm tired and a quitter and depressed...

I have a long way to go.  But I took an important step today.  I began training my mind to will my body to its best.  And it felt really, really good... 

Soundtrack:
Betrayal is a Symptom- Thrice
Misteryo- Slapshock
Bro Hymn- Pennywise
Linoleum- NOFX
School- Nirvana
Break Stuff- Limp Bizkit
Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine- The White Stripes

Thursday, July 8, 2010

LeBron

I'd be remiss if I didn't join the millions of people that will be writing a LeBron James blog post tonight...

The Decision brought to you by Bing... (awesome)

There's a part of me that:

- hates LeBron for stabbing Cleveland in the back
- knows that LeBron didn't owe Cleveland anything
- wants to wholeheartedly jump on the Miami bandwagon
- knows that the Lakers are still the favorite for the NBA Championship in 2011
- admits that if Miami makes 3 more good moves, they have the potential to win A LOT
- marvels at the media hurricane that was stirred up by a guy that puts a ball in a hoop for a living
- remembers that a similar media hurricane was very recently stirred up by a guy that rolls a ball into a cup for a living
- realizes that in America, the amount of excitement surrounding LeBron tonight will never surround the World Cup, at least not in my lifetime
- can't help but think that David Stern orchestrated this whole thing, knowing full well how huge it would be for the league
- can't wait for Christmas, so I can sit back and watch the Lakers play the Heat...

Run Log #5- One step at a time...

I feel a little better every time I run...?

Question because I can't really tell.  I think I feel better, but I could be trying to delude myself.  I'm up to the 15 minute stage of my base fitness training, and I can't help but think that running eighteen 15 minute stretches in a row (a 4:30 marathon) is going to be next to impossible.  Which is complete bullshit because I know that if I stick to the program, I'll be golden...

"It was your 5th running session, Glynn.  Take it easy and give yourself a break..."

Soundtrack:
American Hearts- Piebald
You Know the Story- Ozma
Landing of Yuri Gagarin- Ozma
No Support- It's Casual
Going Steady- Death From Above 1979
Dead End Friends- Them Crooked Vultures
Right Hand on My Heart- Whigs
Joker & the Thief- Wolfmother

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Things I Love

Rachel

Chase

My family (Moo, Daddy, Ricker, Julie, Sha, AD)

Guitars (especially my Ibanez acoustic-electric and my Gibson Les Paul Jr. Lite)

Drums

Songs that make my head nod

Golf

My job (sometimes)

This blog

Interestingly enough, each of the things I've listed, at various times, can elicit a much more negative emotion, bordering on hate (but "hate" has such a strong connotation...).  It's in their abilities to bring out the worst in me that makes me most sure that I love them.

Except for "Songs that make my head nod"...  I don't ever really hate them.  Which is why I've stricken them from the list...

don't make me feel pain
unless you want me to want to forget
don't give me too much
unless you need me to never need you

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Run Log #4

Soundtrack:
Treat Me Like Your Mother- The Dead Weather
Saturate- Chemical Brothers
When the Sun Goes Down- Arctic Monkeys
Daft Punk is Playing at My House- LCD Soundsystem
Know Your Enemy- Rage Against the Machine
Streamline- System of a Down

Morning runs might not be the devil after all...  I bought some Clif Bars today, which will forever remind me of when I was in the best shape of my life: spring of 2003.  I cut class almost every day to go mountain biking, and I'd always have a Clif Bar before riding.

Looking forward to Thursday.  One more 15 minute run before graduating to 20 on Saturday.  Maybe I can go for 1.66 miles, i.e. 9 min/mile...

Monday, July 5, 2010

Rest Days in Life

Sooooooo...

I'm thinking about signing up for the Carlsbad Marathon. It's on Sunday, January 23rd, which gives me just over 6 months to train. I've got 2 months of base fitness training (a necessity considering I'm in the worst shape of my life), then 4 months of marathon specific training.

In reading up on training for a marathon, rest days often arise as an important topic. "You want to make sure you reach the starting line healthy...", "Skip a run workout, but don't EVER skip a rest day..." It makes you wonder about the importance of rest days not just during marathon training, but during everyday normal life.

How often do we feel burned out? As if we've just hit a dead end? Overwhelmed by everything? In this day and age, I'm guessing these feelings arise more often than not.  Deadlines, kids, wives, husbands, traffic, co-workers, bosses... plenty of sources of stress.

Sure there are the weekends; those are rest days, right? Well, there are chores like cleaning, laundry, yard work...

What's the age old Monday morning exchange?

"How was your weekend?"

"Too short..."

What's the point of all this you ask? Maybe there is no point. Maybe I'm just trying to find out why we spend so much time trying to get ahead, fill the bank account, buy the car, watch the TV show, keep up with the Joneses and less time trying to actually improve our lives.

Funny, really...

The days I spend training for the Carlsbad Marathon...

Those are my "life rest days"...

Sunday, July 4, 2010

This is how I pass the time on a Sunday morning

Watching this rad vid by the talented S. Huberts.

Contemplating signing up for the Carlsbad Marathon.

Listening to Last Five Years from Rachel's iTunes.

Eating pancakes.

Watching Chase fuss on the nursery monitor.

Oh yeah.  Happy 4th of July!  Happy Birthday, Dana Pull!  Happy Birthday, Dad!!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Run Log #2 and Run Log #3

7/1- Soundtrack: Can't remember because I already switched my on the go playlist... pretty sure Dead Weath- Cut Like a Buffalo was on there and Japandroids- Heart Sweats...

7/3- Soundtrack:
Charmer- Kings of Leon
Leviathan- Mastodon
Paris- MSTRKRFT
Deadbolt- Thrice
Song for the Dead (Live)- QOTSA
With a Heavy Heart (I Regret to Inform You)- Does It Offend You, Yeah?
We Are Rockstars- Does It Offend You, Yeah?

Now 2 more rest days... then 20 minutes of running on Tuesday...

Lyrics:
So close yet so far
Eyes on the prize, feet on the ground
Grass, concrete, and tar
Earful of buds, escape in the sound

It hurts and that's okay
I'm the only thing in my way