Saturday, April 04, 2009

Feb 20 - Apr 4 2009: I am Still Alive, Running, & Listening

I have let me self get so consumed with work and other commitments that I have just failed to blog at all. I have kept up with my data; I have just not been able to here. So, this is an attempt to catch up. I won't be too blabber mouth to start. I will just get the data in. In the middle of all of this time, I have taken a vacation and spent a week in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World with my wife and 6 year old son. I will be posting those pictures soon too.

Podcast Listening Update

April 4, 2009: Charleston, SC
Cooper River Bridge Run
`Distance: 6.2 Miles
Time: 48:23
Heart Rate: 167
Pace: 7:48
Weather: Clear
Temperature-57°
Humidity-67%
Route

April 2, 2009
Blythewood, SC
Running
Distance: 3.06 Miles
Time: 26:12
Heart Rate: 149
Pace: 8:33
Weather: Light rain
Temperature-63°
Humidity-94%
Route

April 1, 2009
Blythewood, SC
Running
Distance: 6.12 Miles
Time: 53:52
Heart Rate: 149
Pace: 8:48
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Temperature-60°
Humidity-80%
Route

March 31, 2009
Blythewood, SC
Running
Distance: 3.06 Miles
Time: 27:01
Heart Rate: 146
Pace: 8:49
Weather: Clear
Temperature-48°
Humidity-89%
Route

March 29, 2009
Blythewood, SC
Running
Distance: 11.22 Miles
Time: 1:42:45
Heart Rate: 152
Pace: 9:09
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-63°
Humidity-65%
Route

March 28, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Oak Mountain State Park
Cycling
Distance: 24 Miles
Time: 1:23:52
Heart Rate: 137
Speed: 17.17 mph
Weather: Scattered clouds
Temperature-64°
Humidity-78%
Route

March 27, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 29:23
Heart Rate: 147
Pace: 9:47
Weather: Rain
Temperature-60°
Humidity-93%

March 26, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 28:44
Heart Rate: 147
Pace: 9:34
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-58°
Humidity-93%

March 25, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.27 Miles
Time: 58:25
Heart Rate: 154
Pace: 9:19
Weather: Light rain
Temperature-61°
Humidity-81%

March 24, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 27:27
Heart Rate: 153
Pace: 9:09
Weather: Clear
Temperature-58°
Humidity-72%

March 17, 2009: Coronado Springs Resort WDW
Orlando, FL
Running
Distance: 3:03 Miles
Time: 27:27
Heart Rate: 136
Pace: 9:03
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-65°
Humidity-90%
Route

March 15, 2009: Coronado Springs Resort WDW
Orlando, FL
Running
Distance: 11:08 Miles
Time: 1:43:18
Heart Rate: 142
Pace: 9:19
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-65°
Humidity-87%
Route

March 13, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 27:25
Heart Rate: 150
Pace: 9:08
Weather: Light rain
Temperature-46°
Humidity-66%

March 15, 2009: Coronado Springs Resort WDW
Orlando, FL
Running
Distance: 11:08 Miles
Time: 1:43:18
Heart Rate: 142
Pace: 9:19
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-65°
Humidity-87%
Route

March 12, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 27:08
Heart Rate: 152
Pace: 9:02
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-60°
Humidity-35%

March 11, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.16 Miles
Time: 57:36
Heart Rate: 144
Pace: 9:21
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-60°
Humidity-35%

March 10, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 28:50
Heart Rate: 144
Pace: 9:36
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-62°
Humidity-75%

March 8, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 9.13 Miles
Time: 1:22:46
Heart Rate: 154
Pace: 9:03
Weather: Scattered clouds
Temperature-75°
Humidity-50%

March 7, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Oak Mountain State Park
Cycling
Distance: 23.95 Miles
Time: 1:22:07
Heart Rate: 140
Speed: 17.50 mph
Weather: Haze
Temperature-63°
Humidity-77%
Route

March 6, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.2 Miles
Time: 58:40
Heart Rate: 148
Pace: 9:27
Weather: Clear
Temperature-74°
Humidity-40%

March 5, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 27:24
Heart Rate: 150
Pace: 9:07
Weather: Clear
Temperature-66°
Humidity-24%

March 4, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.16 Miles
Time: 58:40
Heart Rate: 147
Pace: 9:31
Weather: Clear
Temperature-38°
Humidity-36%

March 1, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Brownell
Running
Distance: 11:1 Miles
Time: 1:44:43
Heart Rate: 151
Pace: 9:26
Weather: Snow
Temperature-32°
Humidity-93%
Route
It was an interesting experience running in a continuous snow. Very fun. I did have some digestive trouble near the end. :(

February 28, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Oak Mountain State Park
Cycling
Distance: 23.82 Miles
Time: 1:24:05
Heart Rate: 136
Speed: 17.00 mph
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-55°
Humidity-89%
Route

February 27, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 29:09
Heart Rate: 142
Pace: 9:43
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-59°
Humidity-72%

February 26, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 28:33
Heart Rate: 143
Pace: 9:31
Weather: Scattered clouds
Temperature-67°
Humidity-54%

February 25, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.29 Miles
Time: 58:04
Heart Rate: 149
Pace: 9:13
Weather: Haze
Temperature-50°
Humidity-54%

February 24, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 26:51
Heart Rate: 153
Pace: 8:57
Weather: Clear
Temperature-38°
Humidity-43%

February 22, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 9.11 Miles
Time: 1:23:02
Heart Rate: 154
Pace: 9:06
Weather: Clear
Temperature-42°
Humidity-37%

February 21, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Oak Mountain State Park
Cycling
Distance: 23.82 Miles
Time: 1:28:15
Heart Rate: 136
Speed: 16.19 mph
Weather: Clear
Temperature-39°
Humidity-49%
Route


February 21, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 25:59
Heart Rate: 158
Pace: 8:39
Weather: Clear
Temperature-23°
Humidity-68%

Monday, February 16, 2009

Feb 8-15: 2009 Mercedes Marathon

The Marathon weekend started with the Mercedes Kids Marathon and my son ran in it. He did very well. His school's PE teacher made it happen. I ran with him and was very proud of how well he did. He ran the entire mile and I wished I had taken a watch, because I believe he did an 8:00 minute mile. He definitely did better than he did in November when he and I ran a mile together for the Montclair run.



I ran the next day. I am pleased with the results overall. I was hoping for a 3:59:59 to break 4 hours. I ran a 4:01:08 which is way close. I really was beat for the last couple of miles and had a hard time just running. John Gordon who led the 4:00 hour pace group did his best to get there in the last mile and he did help me get a little more out of myself. As the chart below shows, I think I ran just a little too fast in the middle. I should have stayed closer to the 9:09 pace in a more consistent manner. But, hey 10 minutes better than last year.

DistanceTimePaceLeg DistanceLeg TimeLeg Pace
6.254:348:486.254:348:48
9.31:25:009:083.129:269:30
15.52:14:488:426.249:488:02
18.62:42:088:433.127:208:49
26.24:01:089:137.61:19:0010:23

I was spent at the end. Maybe as my wife said, at least you didn't fail to meet your goal time and you had something left in the tank. Although, I believe better consistency would have likely done the trick. That 8:02 per mile 6.2 run between 9.3 and 15.5 miles may have done me in. After the race, I could barely stand or walk for awhile. I laid down and took a nap right in front of the medical room in Boutwell. One of the medical folks came out to check on me after I napped for a spell. I was fine. He offered me some peanut butter crackers which did help revive me. I managed to get in for a massage and some barbeque thanks to Jim 'n Nicks. A woman in my neighborhood was aiming to the same goal, 3:59:59, as I. She did it! I saw her running so many times while I was training. I should have stayed beside her during the race. She did pass me near the end and tried to encourage me along.

Podcast Listening Log
Data

February 15, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Mercedes Marathon
Distance: 26.2 Miles
Time: 4:01:08
Heart Rate: 160
Pace: 9:13
Weather: Haze - Clear
Temperature-38-57°
Humidity-79-40%
Route

February 13, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 28:24
Heart Rate: 142
Pace: 9:28
Weather: Clear
Temperature-39°
Humidity-73%

February 11, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.18 Miles
Time: 55:44
Heart Rate: 145
Pace: 9:01
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-60°
Humidity-78%

February 10, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 4 Miles
Time: 37:34
Heart Rate: 147
Pace: 9:23
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-55°
Humidity-67%

February 8, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Brownell-Pineview
Running
Distance: 11.26 Miles
Time: 1:40:22
Heart Rate: 149
Pace: 8:54
Weather: Clear
Temperature-50°
Humidity-74%
Route

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Jan 18-Feb 7, 2009: Running, Listening, & Working


79 Hours this week! Yes, it seems life these days is mostly working. Add my congestion and and yucky head to that and this week has not been the best. We did capture 4 flying squirrels in our attic though. At least, they weren't in out bath like the one to the right. One of my chores this weekend is to inspect the whole attic. I hope we don't have any more and that they haven't done any significant damage.
The Mercedes Marathon, I am running it, is next week and the weather is predicting partly cloudy skies and temperature from 42°-54° for the day. That should make for a perfect running morning.

Podcast Listening
Data

February 7, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Still battling a cold with congestion
Distance: 4 Miles
Time: 36:46
Heart Rate: 153
Pace: 9:11
Weather: Clear
Temperature-50°
Humidity-74%

February 6, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Still battling a cold with congestion
Distance: 6.17 Miles
Time: 58:10
Heart Rate: 155
Pace: 9:25
Weather: Clear
Temperature-37°
Humidity-50%

February 3, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Battling a cold with congestion
Distance: 4 Miles
Time: 35:32
Heart Rate: 155
Pace: 8:52
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-39°
Humidity-27%

February 1, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Brownell-Shades Creek-Crestline
Running
Distance: 13 Miles
Time: 2:02:36
Heart Rate: 140
Pace: 9:25
Weather: Clear
Temperature-40°
Humidity-63%
Route

January 30, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 5 Miles
Time: 44:43
Heart Rate: 146
Pace: 8:56
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature-46°
Humidity-35%

January 29, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.18 Miles
Time: 56:13
Heart Rate: 147
Pace: 9:05
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-33°
Humidity-75%

January 27, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 27:48
Heart Rate: 146
Pace: 9:16
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-56°
Humidity-80%

January 25, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Brownell-Shades Creek-Crestline
Running
Distance: 16.26 Miles
Time: 2:35:17
Heart Rate: 145
Pace: 9:33
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-35°
Humidity-72%
Route

January 23, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 5 Miles
Time: 46:31
Heart Rate: 147
Pace: 9:15
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Temperature-64°
Humidity-48%

January 21, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 8 Miles
Time: 1:12:11
Heart Rate: 146
Pace: 9:00
Weather: Clear
Temperature-30°
Humidity-59%

January 20, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 5 Miles
Time: 47:02
Heart Rate: 140
Pace: 9:24
Weather: Scattered clouds
Temperature-24°
Humidity-62%

January 18, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Mercedes Marathon course downtown
Running
Distance: 20.31 Miles
Time: 3:05:40
Heart Rate: 146
Pace: 9:08
Weather: Light rain
Temperature-46°
Humidity-89%
Route

Thinking of Playa Del Carmen & Tequila

Not work or kid safe, but funny!
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Man Can Fly!

This video says it all. Wow!


wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Following Tim O'Reilly on Twitter brings this kind of juicy bits. Thanks Tim!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Jan 2-16, 2009: Running, Listening, & Working

The new year is off an running and so am I. Tomorrow is the 20 miler, the longest training run for the Mercedes Marathon I running on February 15th. I think I'm ready, but I have never run a 20 miler without some difficulty at the end. It is a very long way. But, I am running with a group and that always helps. It is going to be cold, that doesn't help.

What an eventful week with the fighting in Gaza, the commercial jet ditching in the Hudson, and Bush delivering his last press conference. Dare I say, good riddance. Cheney offered his opinion that Obama was making a mistake closing Gitmo. Dick, we don't care what you think anymore and some of us never did. Just leave. OK, sorry for going political for a sec. I do hope Obama does better. I think he can.

I am holding back on cycling a little right now for 2 reasons. First, I have like to get in 2 strength training workouts each week. I have been distracted by work and other engagements that have made it hard to get 2 strength workouts unless one is on Saturday. I don't like to do 2 workouts on Saturday before the long run on Sunday. Second, I am focused on making sure I can get my long runs done well on Sunday given the nearness to the Mercedes Marathon.

I went searching for some insurance related videos based on some facebook postings and bumped into a couple of funny ones that were not what I was looking for. This one made me laugh really hard:

And, this one made me laugh even more

Podcast Listening

Data

January 16, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 6.17Miles
Time: 57:58
Heart Rate: 144
Pace: 9:23
Weather: Clear
Temperature-13°
Humidity-49%

January 15, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 26:46
Heart Rate: 146
Pace: 8:55
Weather: Clear
Temperature-28°
Humidity-58%

January 14, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 10 Miles
Time: 1:31:01
Heart Rate: 139
Pace: 9:06
Weather: Clear
Temperature-24°
Humidity-77%

January 13, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Blythewood, SC
Running
Distance: 6.09 Miles
Time: 53:54
Heart Rate: 143
Pace: 8:51
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-42°
Humidity-67%
Route

January 11, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Brownell-Crestline
Running
Distance: 13 Miles
Time: 2:03:24
Heart Rate: 135
Pace: 9:29
Weather: Haze
Temperature-38°
Humidity-83%
Route

January 9, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 5 Miles
Time: 47:57
Heart Rate: 139
Pace: 9:35
Weather: Clear
Temperature-38°
Humidity-41%

January 8, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 27:25
Heart Rate: 136
Pace: 9:08
Weather: Clear
Temperature-52°
Humidity-31%

January 7, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 10.02 Miles
Time: 1:31:36
Heart Rate: 143
Pace: 9:08
Weather: Clear
Temperature-49°
Humidity-46%

January 6, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 7.02 Miles
Time: 1:05:39
Heart Rate: 149
Pace: 9:21
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-64°
Humidity-93%

January 4, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Brownell-Crestline
Running
Distance: 15.17 Miles
Time: 2:26:44
Heart Rate: 137
Pace: 9:40
Weather: Clear
Temperature-52°
Humidity-93%
Route

January 2, 2009: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 8.13 Miles
Planned for 3 yesterday and 5 today, but had too much champagne on News Years Eve lol
Time: 1:14:19
Heart Rate: 142
Pace: 9:08
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-54°
Humidity-83%

Friday, January 02, 2009

Dec 23-31: Another Trip Completed

Yep, we have gone around the sun one more time. A year that included mixed blessings and curses. A good year for running, learning, and doing personally, but a bad year for the world economy and for many places on the planet. People are still way too cruel to each other and it is hard to see an end to hatred and violence coming anytime soon. But, for many on the planet, we have managed to insulate ourselves and share kindness. Let's hope this grows and spreads. I have been off of work officially for 2 weeks and had hoped to accomplish more with my time than I did. I have gotten some sorely needed relaxation. Let's see how long its benefits last.

We had a good Christmas at our house. It was the first time we hosted it (we usually go to Demopolis, AL and celebrate with my in-laws). My daughter was able to come as well which made it particularly special. Here are some pictures:




Podcast Listening

2008 Final Running and Cycling Stats

MonthRunningCycling
December18149
November16872
October13795
September11071
August12897
July92113
June1170
May1080
April1110
March1160
February920
January1620
Totals1522497
New Personal Records (PRs)
10K46:39
Marathon
4:11:07

Data

December 31, 2008: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 10 Miles
Time: 1:32:55
Heart Rate: 140
Pace: 9:17
Weather: Clear
Temperature-44°
Humidity-35%

December 30, 2008: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 7 Miles
Time: 1:03:10
Heart Rate: 148
Pace: 9:01
Weather: Clear
Temperature-59°
Humidity-31%

December 28, 2008: Birmingham, AL
Brownell-Shades Creek
Running
Distance: 13.56 Miles
Time: 2:06:13
Heart Rate: 142
Pace: 9:27
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-47°
Humidity-83%
Route

December 26, 2008: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 7.01 Miles
Time: 1:01:53
Heart Rate: 143
Pace: 8:49
Weather: Fog
Temperature-57°
Humidity-59%

December 25, 2008: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 4.07 Miles
Time: 36:23
Heart Rate: 139
Pace: 8:56
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-61°
Humidity-45%

December 24, 2008: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 9.07 Miles
Time: 1:22:27
Heart Rate: 140
Pace: 9:05
Weather: Overcast
Temperature-63°
Humidity-75%

December 23, 2008: Birmingham, AL
Neighborhood
Running
Distance: 5 Miles
Time: 46:59
Heart Rate: 142
Pace: 9:23
Weather: Scattered clouds
Temperature-39°
Humidity-36%