M-1R

Yes, it's been a month. I have a job. I have been running, but not blogging.

I've had a recurring problem on my runs lately. If I were driving I'd call it highway hypnotism. Twice in the past three weeks, while out on my Saturday morning long run I've found myself so engrossed in thought that I missed my turn. Seriously, my mind was so consumed with important thoughts that I ran right past where I needed to turn (the same place twice).

Here's the thing. I have no idea what I was thinking about. Even as it dawned on my I wasn't where I needed to be, you could have offered me $1,000 and I couldn't tell you what had distracted me. Must have been interesting though.

So here's a question, when you're out running, away from people what do you think about? My mind tends to wander to strange things:
-Children's television theme songs
-Mental gymnastics
-Conjugating French verbs.

*Bonus points to anyone beside Kevin who can decipher the title.

Meanwhile...

...back at the blog's stated purpose...

Frequently needing a bit of motivation to get out and run I think I've sorted it for the first half of the year. I enjoy getting out and running, don't get me wrong. But sometimes I just need that little extra bit of motivation.

I found a local 5k to run the end of the month. But that's not a long term 'investment in motivation'. So, I've also launched a campaign to run something a bit grander (for me anyway). I've signed up for the local Half Marathon in June.

The motivational aspect is already bearing fruit. I didn't really want to get up Saturday and run. It was cold (2C) grey and mostly rainy/misty. But I needed to run. The only day I have to do long runs in Saturday. If I don't do it early in the morning, I won't get the chance either. Too many distractions: "Daddy, please don't go run I want to play." So I did it, and still managed to get back at a reasonable hour and have plenty of family time.

So, in the interest of full disclosure of half marathon preps:
Total miles this week: 19.0 (but the first run of 5.3miles on Sunday and not 'per plan')
Cross training: 1x on the bike
Strength work: 2x

Since the return from DC, the mileage has slowly returned to where it was in DC and England. Times aren't as fast, but hey, that's alright for now. I'll just need to keep it up. I'm using a generic Runner's World Smart Coach program to prep. We'll see how it works.

I'm keeping my goal time to myself for now. That way, no matter what time I finish in, I'll be able to proudly proclaim I beat it.

Screaming Meme-ys

So, I was having a lovely conversation with the LW. with regard to memes. I remarked that I had never been 'memed.' Well low-and-behold good 'ol Pongwife up and memes me the same day. So here it is:

THE RULES:

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.


My personal exemption: I'm breaking rule #4 and thereby #5, b/c I don't know enough bloggers who aren't already on the list. (By the way, Pongwife, you broke rule 5.)

Here they are:


1. When I was in junior high school I got detention for defacing school property.

2. My family is descended from marauding vikings that raped and pillaged their way through England. Stopping only when they got bored and had looted anything of value. (We tried to reprise this when we lived there, but found out that behavior is now frowned upon.)

3. I played the bass clarinet in the school band. But not the marching band. Don't get any ideas.

4. I had to stop taking ballet in the fourth grade after an unfortunate accident that involved my partner falling on her head.

5. My favorite movie is How to Make an American Quilt.

6. My prenuptial agreement with my wife's family included a clause requiring me to renounce all ties to PETA and Greenpeace.

7. Guess what. Not all 6 of the above are true! (You'll have to guess which are.)

Here's a hint. Upon reading Number 5, the LW said: "Why does it disturb me so much that you even know this movie exists?" My response, after which she needed the smelling salts: "Why are you surprised? I think Winona Ryder did a great job in that movie."

Revenge of the Wifey

I haven't been too good about running since coming back to the family in December. It's the old, "need to make time, but don't want to take time away from the family controversy." So I've had to try harder and harder to find the time to go. I managed to yesterday and went out for a little less than 4 miles. Nice and slow, trying to ease back into it.

Last night, after dinner, I nearly collapsed about three times. Yeah it was fun. Legs felt a little like al dente pasta.

Here's why. I am a creature of sea level. I've lived my whole life at or around sea level. To be more precise, I've lived pretty much near the water my whole life. Salt water. The big kind. To give you an idea, here are the distances from the water I've lived (only counting places I've lived for a year or more) along with their elevation:

• 1.5 miles/150 feet
  
• <0.3>
• <0.1>
• 18 miles (I had to compromise, and I worked <0.25>
• <0.1>
• <0.33 mile/sea level
  

I now live 280 miles from the sea (which involves a trip over the alps). But her revenge is even sweeter than this. We're at 1550 feet. Okay, so I'm not living in Denver, but for my scrawny little sea level lungs, this sucks. There's one more thing (and this really makes the LW giggle with glee). Take a look at the run profile below. This is a typical run of mine from a previous residence:Here are some things to note: a) elevation maxes at a a cool 24 feet above sea level, b) The total elevation change is on the order of 20 feet. This is pretty typical of a normal run (elevation and profile wise)

Now, take a look at the run I did yesterday:

a) elevation ~1550 feet, b) total elevation change about 270 feet. It was an out and back run, so at least it was uphill on the way out.

But the best part about it was the surface. Not a track, not asphalt, not a trail, it was cobblestone. Oh yipee. I think that's at the top of my list for 'favorite running surfaces.' Nothing screams 'good for the knees' like cobblestones.

So now I get the continual: 'aw, you're such a wimp,' ''city boy' and my favorite 'quit yer whining!' from the oh-so-concerned LW. (She grew up at about 1500 feet and she spent her summers at 7000 feet.)

Post script.
Today we took our son to the zoo. His favorite exhibit was the sea lions. As we finally leave them and head towards the kangaroos we rounded the pool and ended up downwind . So I made the family stop...and smell the lovely sea air in the middle of Europe. Take that wifey.

Post post script.
The LW read the 'advanced preview before posting.' Her comment "You suck. You owe me a back and neck rub." I'm off to get the massage oil.

The Oscars!

So I (like every other blogger in the world) am going to write about the oscar nominations. I told the LW this, and had to call the paramedics. You see, I'm not really an 'entertainment' guy. When playing Trivial Pursuit, I always fall afoul the pink category.

But the academy has released the list of oscar nominees. I can confidently say, that of the 5 movies nominated for best picture, I haven't seen one of them. Nor will I go and see them before the awards are handed out. I've never been a big fan of the oscars, or emmys or what have you. Ask the LW next time you see her. I don't do award shows. Sycophantic ego strokers if you ask me.

So there's my oscars post.