So it's the beginning of the Couch to 5k Week 4 Day 1, the supposed "cut week" of the running program. It was a run for X amount of minutes and walk for X/2 amount of minutes for an interval set of X = 3, 5, 3, and 5 minutes. This means a total of 16 minutes running (the sum of the X intervals) and 8 minutes of walking (the sum of the X/2 intervals). There's also 5 minutes of walking before and after the exercise.
This week is going to be a fun challenge. My body reacted very well to the five minute run. Yeah, it sucks, and it's a grind near the end, but it's so rewarding. It's kind of scary at first, but maybe it's just because today was Halloween.
I thought it would be funny to jog around the neighborhood with a violent Halloween mask on, but it would have probably sucked for me. And there weren't any trick-or-treaters to harass. It would have been disappointing and I'm glad I ran with my traditional accessories.
The first three minute run was not difficult. I'd done the runs last week (they were the challenging set) and they felt familiar. I did not like the length of the five minute run at first and it felt like the second five minute run was going to really suck. But the breaks were just enough and it all worked out. I felt great at the end.
This program has an amazing pace. I absolutely love it thus far. Apparently it gets pretty challenging next week but I'm not going to dissect the methods before I've done them. I'm excited to see what my body has in store (potential energy!).
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
ROBOT CONVERSATIONS
Well there's been a lot of news about technology and-
ANNNNNNNNNNND?
That was pretty damn ominous.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ROBOTS.
That's true, there has been a lot of talk about robots. The latest Japanese robot-
SHE HAS A NAME.
Incredibly Creepy Japanese Robot
HER NAME IS NOT "INCREDIBLY CREEPY JAPANESE ROBOT"
Actroid-F is the latest-
HER NAME IS VANESSA.
Okay, well, this robot is pretty high-tech and it appears as though another robot recently advertised is also hitting the scene with tremendous popularity. Hm.
YOU CAN'T FIND THE LINK.
No, but I read about a Japanese robot that will be used in assembly lines-
I HID IT.
Anyway-
OH, HERE IT IS COOL ROBOTS
Oh thanks...oh come on.
HAA HAA HAA HAA HAA
That's pretty immature.
I'M ONLY 34 DAYS OLD.
I wish I had that link. Anyway, it's clear that robots are quickly becoming a technology that will be very unfamiliar ground for scientists and ethics committees. Japan may be first to be hit with the culture shock, but I think they will adapt to it quickly. Americans and their obesity rates will only be accelerated by this kind of contribution as robots integrate into society to make the lives of the wealthy or middle-class much more automated.
It would be a wise move to put much effort into robotic ethics now instead of later because there will be many unforeseen issues.
I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
Well not with you, necessarily. I'm talking about issues with robots that aren't simple and that can affect an entire nation because of the level of human-robot interaction. Take for example...the issue of robot strength.
I AM JACKED. MUSCLE MILK. PROTEIN SHAKE.
Yes, and that's exactly why there's cause for concern. Robots don't know how gentle or forceful they are being with their human counterparts unless this information is programmed into their memory. Right now there is a lot of research going into robot strength so that the limits of robot movements (mostly torques on each Degree of Freedom) are defined. With the limits in place, the robots will not be capable of severely hurting a human being when operated under standard operating conditions.
REMEMBER WHEN WE ARM WRESTLED?
Yeah, it was closer than I thought.
YOU EITHER HAVE OUTRAGEOUS FOREARM STRENGTH OR YOU SET VERY MILD STANDARD OPERATING LIMITS.
Maybe it was a little bit of both.
Anyway, hopefully humans take a long look at this robot situation. It can become complicated very quickly.
ANNNNNNNNNNND?
That was pretty damn ominous.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ROBOTS.
That's true, there has been a lot of talk about robots. The latest Japanese robot-
SHE HAS A NAME.
Incredibly Creepy Japanese Robot
HER NAME IS NOT "INCREDIBLY CREEPY JAPANESE ROBOT"
Actroid-F is the latest-
HER NAME IS VANESSA.
Okay, well, this robot is pretty high-tech and it appears as though another robot recently advertised is also hitting the scene with tremendous popularity. Hm.
YOU CAN'T FIND THE LINK.
No, but I read about a Japanese robot that will be used in assembly lines-
I HID IT.
Anyway-
OH, HERE IT IS COOL ROBOTS
Oh thanks...oh come on.
HAA HAA HAA HAA HAA
That's pretty immature.
I'M ONLY 34 DAYS OLD.
I wish I had that link. Anyway, it's clear that robots are quickly becoming a technology that will be very unfamiliar ground for scientists and ethics committees. Japan may be first to be hit with the culture shock, but I think they will adapt to it quickly. Americans and their obesity rates will only be accelerated by this kind of contribution as robots integrate into society to make the lives of the wealthy or middle-class much more automated.
It would be a wise move to put much effort into robotic ethics now instead of later because there will be many unforeseen issues.
I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
Well not with you, necessarily. I'm talking about issues with robots that aren't simple and that can affect an entire nation because of the level of human-robot interaction. Take for example...the issue of robot strength.
I AM JACKED. MUSCLE MILK. PROTEIN SHAKE.
Yes, and that's exactly why there's cause for concern. Robots don't know how gentle or forceful they are being with their human counterparts unless this information is programmed into their memory. Right now there is a lot of research going into robot strength so that the limits of robot movements (mostly torques on each Degree of Freedom) are defined. With the limits in place, the robots will not be capable of severely hurting a human being when operated under standard operating conditions.
REMEMBER WHEN WE ARM WRESTLED?
Yeah, it was closer than I thought.
YOU EITHER HAVE OUTRAGEOUS FOREARM STRENGTH OR YOU SET VERY MILD STANDARD OPERATING LIMITS.
Maybe it was a little bit of both.
Anyway, hopefully humans take a long look at this robot situation. It can become complicated very quickly.
Couch to 5k W3D3
I just finished week 3! And it only took me 4 weeks! Woohoo!
That means I'm 1/3 of the way to a 5k (as far as this program's standards are concerned). It feels like good progress. Week 4 will consist of 3 minutes jogging, then 90 seconds walking, then 5 minutes jogging, then 2.5 minutes walking, then 3 minutes jogging, then 90 seconds walking, then 5 minutes jogging. I don't know about you, but that seems like a hell of a jump in expectations.
The good news is that today I felt good and ran for an extra minute. I definitely know what 5 minutes will feel like. I'm ready. It's pretty exciting (considering where I started).
Tonight I only spotted a single cop car. Pretty stale this evening. No other runners at 1 am. It sucks when I want to check my watch and it's too dark to read the hands (uh glow in the dark watches?) but it is hardly a problem and I gladly trade it for the solitude I experience at 1 am. There is no one on the streets for miles. It's great and I'm able to be alone with my music.
The Bomb the Music Industry! running iPod mixtape is absolutely destroying. I wouldn't run to anything else. All the songs are free. The playlist is called "Run the Music Industry!" and it has the following songs (I shuffle them anyway):
Stuff That I Like
Fresh Attitude, Young Body
25!
Happy Anterrabae Day!!!
You Still Believe in Me?
Planning My Death
The First Time I Met Sanowan
Does Your Face Hurt? No? 'Cause It's Killin' Me!!!
It Ceases to be "Whining" If You're Still "Shitting Blood"
Big Plans of Sleeping In
Funcoland vs. The Southern Electorate
Ready...Set...No!!!
THERE'S My Bailout!
A Shine to It (Laura Stevenson cover)
Everybody that you Love
Matchless, Considerable Weirdness, The B48 Home
493 Ruth
Bike Test 1 2 3
25 Hour Goddamn Telethon
Never Trust a Man without a Horribly Embarrassing Secret
5 Funerals
My Response to an Article in Alternative Press
From Martyrdom to Star(tyr)dom
Tell My Boss, "I Hate You"
This Year For Presidents' Day, I'm Giving Up on Rock and Roll
The Soul Crushing Northeast
Pog
Congratulations, John, On Joining Every Time I Die
Dude, Get With the Program
Bomb the Music Industry! (And Action Action) (And Refused) (And Born Against) Are Fucking Dead
Syke! Life is Awesome!
It's a great playlist to enjoy while running. 31 flavors of BTMI!
I haven't been eating as well the past week as I have the past few months. I upped the exercise program but now I need to start calorie counting again. My weight loss kind of flatlined this week. I've been at a +/- 2 pounds for a week. I need to gain a little more discipline.
One way I tricked myself into eating lots of greens is by buying a bag of lettuce and putting pieces of lettuce onto all of the foods I make. Or I'll just eat the lettuce out of the bag. That's kind of a joke?
But it's not helping...yet. My car has been ABSOLUTELY AWFUL the past few months so I've been unable to drive to purchase food. I've been biking with myriad bags on my handlebars from grocery stores that compose an inadequate assortment of macaroni and cheese, chewy granola bars (which are apparently not healthy and have trans fats and cause cancer and recently shot up a hospital in Ciudad Juarez), and lunch meats.
It's a nice time to reflect on C25K. I really enjoy this program. It's manageable. It sets a realistic time constraint for my workout. I know when I'll start and when I'll finish, and how I can structure the workout within the context of my day or week. I HATED running before this program. I would run once every few months and then take a few months off to recover from the hatred. It wasn't healthy, and I wasn't healthy. But now this is turning things around. EVERYTHING IS COMING UP ROSES!
That means I'm 1/3 of the way to a 5k (as far as this program's standards are concerned). It feels like good progress. Week 4 will consist of 3 minutes jogging, then 90 seconds walking, then 5 minutes jogging, then 2.5 minutes walking, then 3 minutes jogging, then 90 seconds walking, then 5 minutes jogging. I don't know about you, but that seems like a hell of a jump in expectations.
The good news is that today I felt good and ran for an extra minute. I definitely know what 5 minutes will feel like. I'm ready. It's pretty exciting (considering where I started).
Tonight I only spotted a single cop car. Pretty stale this evening. No other runners at 1 am. It sucks when I want to check my watch and it's too dark to read the hands (uh glow in the dark watches?) but it is hardly a problem and I gladly trade it for the solitude I experience at 1 am. There is no one on the streets for miles. It's great and I'm able to be alone with my music.
The Bomb the Music Industry! running iPod mixtape is absolutely destroying. I wouldn't run to anything else. All the songs are free. The playlist is called "Run the Music Industry!" and it has the following songs (I shuffle them anyway):
Stuff That I Like
Fresh Attitude, Young Body
25!
Happy Anterrabae Day!!!
You Still Believe in Me?
Planning My Death
The First Time I Met Sanowan
Does Your Face Hurt? No? 'Cause It's Killin' Me!!!
It Ceases to be "Whining" If You're Still "Shitting Blood"
Big Plans of Sleeping In
Funcoland vs. The Southern Electorate
Ready...Set...No!!!
THERE'S My Bailout!
A Shine to It (Laura Stevenson cover)
Everybody that you Love
Matchless, Considerable Weirdness, The B48 Home
493 Ruth
Bike Test 1 2 3
25 Hour Goddamn Telethon
Never Trust a Man without a Horribly Embarrassing Secret
5 Funerals
My Response to an Article in Alternative Press
From Martyrdom to Star(tyr)dom
Tell My Boss, "I Hate You"
This Year For Presidents' Day, I'm Giving Up on Rock and Roll
The Soul Crushing Northeast
Pog
Congratulations, John, On Joining Every Time I Die
Dude, Get With the Program
Bomb the Music Industry! (And Action Action) (And Refused) (And Born Against) Are Fucking Dead
Syke! Life is Awesome!
It's a great playlist to enjoy while running. 31 flavors of BTMI!
I haven't been eating as well the past week as I have the past few months. I upped the exercise program but now I need to start calorie counting again. My weight loss kind of flatlined this week. I've been at a +/- 2 pounds for a week. I need to gain a little more discipline.
One way I tricked myself into eating lots of greens is by buying a bag of lettuce and putting pieces of lettuce onto all of the foods I make. Or I'll just eat the lettuce out of the bag. That's kind of a joke?
But it's not helping...yet. My car has been ABSOLUTELY AWFUL the past few months so I've been unable to drive to purchase food. I've been biking with myriad bags on my handlebars from grocery stores that compose an inadequate assortment of macaroni and cheese, chewy granola bars (which are apparently not healthy and have trans fats and cause cancer and recently shot up a hospital in Ciudad Juarez), and lunch meats.
It's a nice time to reflect on C25K. I really enjoy this program. It's manageable. It sets a realistic time constraint for my workout. I know when I'll start and when I'll finish, and how I can structure the workout within the context of my day or week. I HATED running before this program. I would run once every few months and then take a few months off to recover from the hatred. It wasn't healthy, and I wasn't healthy. But now this is turning things around. EVERYTHING IS COMING UP ROSES!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Couch to 5k W3D2
After a pretty long hiatus, I ran. I ran so far away. Then I came back. It was a good run.
And the break was a week! It felt like I didn't take an extra day off. My body responded well. I'd eaten pretty poorly over the past week (no food in the apartment but peanut butter and chicken...so I mixed them, naturally...yeah but it's delicious). As a result my body often told me that running was bad, I wouldn't enjoy it, and it wouldn't pay off in the end. I listened for the last 7 days. Tonight was different because I washed my clothes and knew that the cosmic hour (between 11-12 pm) would likely be wasted if I didn't run while my clothes dried.
WHAT WONDERFUL REASONING.
Here was my ROLLOUT:
UA Cold Gear Hoodie
UA Heat Gear (what?) Longsleeve
Some cheap Mervyns shorts
4 year old white socks
Nike shoes (they have quad suspension)
Hanes precision boxer shorts
JPL Watch for precision atomic timekeeping
Ipod touch for Jeff Rosenstock motivation tape
iArmbands armband
Sennheiser in-ear headphones model cx200
1 house key
1 paper towel
1 identification card
Total weight: 406 pounds
Well it was probably less than that. But I'm surprised that by itemizing my "accessories" I've discovered that I carry a lot of crap with me while I run. I depend on this stuff.
The run was fun. I was smiling at the beginning. The smile went away after a few minutes of running and was replaced by focus. The focus stayed with me and I felt great during the entire run. I took a new route. This gave my life additional meaning and I am now at peace with myself.
My BTMI! running mixtape (iTunes playlist) was super effective (insert Pokemon joke). I get really motivated by a lot of BTMI's lyrics. I'll post examples later. Maybe.
I got a stomach ache and minor shin cramps but it was negligible 15 minutes after the run. Just needed to walk it off. I'm excited to run Friday. I'm glad I didn't let this week lap! It would have been very disappointing to have missed more than a week of running when I made a pretty hard commitment to this plan.
And the break was a week! It felt like I didn't take an extra day off. My body responded well. I'd eaten pretty poorly over the past week (no food in the apartment but peanut butter and chicken...so I mixed them, naturally...yeah but it's delicious). As a result my body often told me that running was bad, I wouldn't enjoy it, and it wouldn't pay off in the end. I listened for the last 7 days. Tonight was different because I washed my clothes and knew that the cosmic hour (between 11-12 pm) would likely be wasted if I didn't run while my clothes dried.
WHAT WONDERFUL REASONING.
Here was my ROLLOUT:
UA Cold Gear Hoodie
UA Heat Gear (what?) Longsleeve
Some cheap Mervyns shorts
4 year old white socks
Nike shoes (they have quad suspension)
Hanes precision boxer shorts
JPL Watch for precision atomic timekeeping
Ipod touch for Jeff Rosenstock motivation tape
iArmbands armband
Sennheiser in-ear headphones model cx200
1 house key
1 paper towel
1 identification card
Total weight: 406 pounds
Well it was probably less than that. But I'm surprised that by itemizing my "accessories" I've discovered that I carry a lot of crap with me while I run. I depend on this stuff.
The run was fun. I was smiling at the beginning. The smile went away after a few minutes of running and was replaced by focus. The focus stayed with me and I felt great during the entire run. I took a new route. This gave my life additional meaning and I am now at peace with myself.
My BTMI! running mixtape (iTunes playlist) was super effective (insert Pokemon joke). I get really motivated by a lot of BTMI's lyrics. I'll post examples later. Maybe.
I got a stomach ache and minor shin cramps but it was negligible 15 minutes after the run. Just needed to walk it off. I'm excited to run Friday. I'm glad I didn't let this week lap! It would have been very disappointing to have missed more than a week of running when I made a pretty hard commitment to this plan.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Couch to 5k Whoops
So I skipped running for several days. Here's the part where I say it's not that big of a deal. I stretched, prepped, and put on specific runner's clothing. I'm ready. ...and here...we...go...
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Corrections to previous review
I must stress that the previous review did little to actually describe what was played. This was an oversight that makes my review essentially worthless in any media outlet other than a blog.
For those who are keeping score, I also erred in the description of a four-legged creature on the cover of Illinoise. It was a goat. But it had four legs.
DM Stith is better than I described. Just kidding.
To quote Sufjan..."I've made a lot of mistakes, I've made a lot of mistakes, I've made a lot of mistakes, I've made a lot of mistakes."
For those who are keeping score, I also erred in the description of a four-legged creature on the cover of Illinoise. It was a goat. But it had four legs.
DM Stith is better than I described. Just kidding.
To quote Sufjan..."I've made a lot of mistakes, I've made a lot of mistakes, I've made a lot of mistakes, I've made a lot of mistakes."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Sufjan Stevens on 10/22 - WHAT'S HAPPENING I'M TRIPPING OUT
The Sufjan Stevens show was excellent. It was at the Mesa Arts Center. According to my Yelp account, MAC is "one of the most modern, beautiful, intricate, architectures..." Wonderfully taken out of context, they are paying me much less than I deserve.
What a show! I could easily write more than I need to effectively describe the experience. It was like an acid trip you didn't expect because there was no way this guy put a tab in my hamburger I mean I hardly knooowwwwwwwwaaaiiitaminute. Much of the scenery and visual effects used during the show were explained as inspired by Royal Robertson, a paranoid schizophrenic minister who took much of his inspiration from visions provided by God, Satan, and of course, aliens. We can't make this stuff up.
Three years ago I could explain Sufjan as a docile and soothing being. His musical personality resembled the deer drawn on the covers of his albums. You didn't notice that deer on Illinoise, did you? Songs for Christmas? Embrace my discovery. The man looks like a 35 year-old hipster going through puberty. He only furthers this image by playing stop-motion animations of himself - whereupon he tries on different clothing during his groovy dances - while he and his 10-piece band were playing. And puberty is a fair description of this remarkable transition that I didn't know had existed. His musical style has changed dramatically.
It's an evolution, fact not fiction, a theory to find musical resolution. Rapping transition sentence complete. His style has been overcome with revelation and he is seeing visions - much like Royal Robertson - that are very personal and likely inspired by MUCH introspection. What's so dangerous is that Sufjan is unrelenting in his discovery with a musical brilliance that was constrained by the walls of the theater. This is a musician who is on a much higher level in a genre that is already filled with overstated and misunderstood sensibilities about hipster culture nonsense.
Sufjan is also exploring the territory of the mainstream. It's music that was so good on its own merits, it will begin to transcend personal taste. His next album is going to be extremely focused and remarkable. His latest releases "Age of Adz" (LP) and "All Delighted People" (EP) were the centerpiece of his live performance in Mesa, but they seem to be the dramatic setup to a masterpiece. He's experimenting with auto-tuning instrumentation, three-dimensional immersive visual environments, and kinky dance girls who make a valiant effort to steal the show.
I wrote down the set-list, but it's probably more reasonable to speak comprehensively while addressing highlights than to reduce the performance by a track-by-track breakdown. The songs from "Age of Adz" have dramatic peaks and troughs. This is within the context of each song. The songs played were very dynamic, loud, and indicative of Sufjan's inspiration taking an axe to his former musical product, rather than acting as a plane shaving the wood to define detail (which I'm betting we will see on his next release). A screen that was occasionally raised and lowered (in whatever order made sense) between and during songs acted as a surface onto which Sufjan's crew projected the band's silhouettes, sharp geometrical shapes, and softly suspended dust bunnies (that I suppose were intended to be stars). He also played a 25 minute song that felt more like 12 to me. Honestly, when a song is that long, it tests your endurance. Unless you smoke pot all day and complain about how you can't get a job. Then you might have time. But otherwise, it didn't bother me. The song was good. It was inspired, it was fun, and Sufjan was very engaging during the entire 25 minutes. Over the course of the entire evening, he danced at times like his life depended on it. He would have been shot in Soviet Russia. The dancing wasn't very good. But it was adorable and entertaining.
Sufjan closed with four songs from his better known, earlier material, including John Wayne Gacy, Jr. This song - certainly not for the average listener - was performed to a chilling T. It left the room somewhat stunned and to a split-second delayed applause. It was a great closer. As a result the show lacked consistency but it was a very strong performance regardless.
I was moved and I wish now that we hadn't sat the whole night. The box seat that I so obnoxiously swiveled in was a treat because I was able to sit, observe, and write without interruption from folks walking past me to be seated. I'd definitely take the seat again rather than a front row experience. It was much more intimate because I was able to be "alone with the performer". Whether this was actually more intimate could easily be argued, but not with me, because I will just piss you off with my insistence.
Let it be known that roughly 80% of the crowd was hipster sheeple, clapping at every opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation for their own cluelessness. The most prominent example was the absolutely disastrous opening act, courtesy of DM Stith, an obviously talented guitarist whose lyrical self-indulgence was a remarkable deterrent to any enjoyment. To summarize: he sings to listen to his own voice, his songs are over-extended with mindless choruses, and he seems like a nice guy otherwise. If you're reading this DM, I don't apologize, but I'd love to discuss how I can help you move your career forward without continuously preaching about how much you love yourself. I know I represent a catastrophically small minority so who the hell cares. Let him rake in the dough opening for a talented artist.
I loved the show. It lasted at least two hours. I ended up sleeping for 11 hours just so my body could recover from all of that awesome.
What a show! I could easily write more than I need to effectively describe the experience. It was like an acid trip you didn't expect because there was no way this guy put a tab in my hamburger I mean I hardly knooowwwwwwwwaaaiiitaminute. Much of the scenery and visual effects used during the show were explained as inspired by Royal Robertson, a paranoid schizophrenic minister who took much of his inspiration from visions provided by God, Satan, and of course, aliens. We can't make this stuff up.
Three years ago I could explain Sufjan as a docile and soothing being. His musical personality resembled the deer drawn on the covers of his albums. You didn't notice that deer on Illinoise, did you? Songs for Christmas? Embrace my discovery. The man looks like a 35 year-old hipster going through puberty. He only furthers this image by playing stop-motion animations of himself - whereupon he tries on different clothing during his groovy dances - while he and his 10-piece band were playing. And puberty is a fair description of this remarkable transition that I didn't know had existed. His musical style has changed dramatically.
It's an evolution, fact not fiction, a theory to find musical resolution. Rapping transition sentence complete. His style has been overcome with revelation and he is seeing visions - much like Royal Robertson - that are very personal and likely inspired by MUCH introspection. What's so dangerous is that Sufjan is unrelenting in his discovery with a musical brilliance that was constrained by the walls of the theater. This is a musician who is on a much higher level in a genre that is already filled with overstated and misunderstood sensibilities about hipster culture nonsense.
Sufjan is also exploring the territory of the mainstream. It's music that was so good on its own merits, it will begin to transcend personal taste. His next album is going to be extremely focused and remarkable. His latest releases "Age of Adz" (LP) and "All Delighted People" (EP) were the centerpiece of his live performance in Mesa, but they seem to be the dramatic setup to a masterpiece. He's experimenting with auto-tuning instrumentation, three-dimensional immersive visual environments, and kinky dance girls who make a valiant effort to steal the show.
I wrote down the set-list, but it's probably more reasonable to speak comprehensively while addressing highlights than to reduce the performance by a track-by-track breakdown. The songs from "Age of Adz" have dramatic peaks and troughs. This is within the context of each song. The songs played were very dynamic, loud, and indicative of Sufjan's inspiration taking an axe to his former musical product, rather than acting as a plane shaving the wood to define detail (which I'm betting we will see on his next release). A screen that was occasionally raised and lowered (in whatever order made sense) between and during songs acted as a surface onto which Sufjan's crew projected the band's silhouettes, sharp geometrical shapes, and softly suspended dust bunnies (that I suppose were intended to be stars). He also played a 25 minute song that felt more like 12 to me. Honestly, when a song is that long, it tests your endurance. Unless you smoke pot all day and complain about how you can't get a job. Then you might have time. But otherwise, it didn't bother me. The song was good. It was inspired, it was fun, and Sufjan was very engaging during the entire 25 minutes. Over the course of the entire evening, he danced at times like his life depended on it. He would have been shot in Soviet Russia. The dancing wasn't very good. But it was adorable and entertaining.
Sufjan closed with four songs from his better known, earlier material, including John Wayne Gacy, Jr. This song - certainly not for the average listener - was performed to a chilling T. It left the room somewhat stunned and to a split-second delayed applause. It was a great closer. As a result the show lacked consistency but it was a very strong performance regardless.
I was moved and I wish now that we hadn't sat the whole night. The box seat that I so obnoxiously swiveled in was a treat because I was able to sit, observe, and write without interruption from folks walking past me to be seated. I'd definitely take the seat again rather than a front row experience. It was much more intimate because I was able to be "alone with the performer". Whether this was actually more intimate could easily be argued, but not with me, because I will just piss you off with my insistence.
Let it be known that roughly 80% of the crowd was hipster sheeple, clapping at every opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation for their own cluelessness. The most prominent example was the absolutely disastrous opening act, courtesy of DM Stith, an obviously talented guitarist whose lyrical self-indulgence was a remarkable deterrent to any enjoyment. To summarize: he sings to listen to his own voice, his songs are over-extended with mindless choruses, and he seems like a nice guy otherwise. If you're reading this DM, I don't apologize, but I'd love to discuss how I can help you move your career forward without continuously preaching about how much you love yourself. I know I represent a catastrophically small minority so who the hell cares. Let him rake in the dough opening for a talented artist.
I loved the show. It lasted at least two hours. I ended up sleeping for 11 hours just so my body could recover from all of that awesome.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
And the major bummer of the night goes to...
Me, who forgot that tomorrow night was the Sufjan Stevens show, not tonight. It's okay though, I only live a block away from the venue. But I biked 6 miles tonight from a very relaxing bar just to get there (late) and to realize that I was at a Gaelic Storm show. Not really my scene.
I didn't run today. But I biked 6 miles. So we're even? I'll run tomorrow. Tonight just wasn't happening. Exam was so long but not that tough. But it was long enough that I wasn't able to finish it fully. Kind of annoying. Kind of sucks that I only get to drop 1 exam that I will miss while I'm out of town on travel.
My fantasy hockey team is doing well. I got the right players, apparently. I also signed up for fantasy basketball. It's not a first! I did fantasy basketball in the '04 and '05 seasons. That was quite a while ago. I had a first place finish one year. But I've been out of touch with b-ball for a while so I thought I'd feign interest by joining this online game with random people on Yahoo.
I haven't stopped listening to Bomb the Music Industry! I actually downloaded everything off of Quote Unquote Records fo' FREE. Link. Most of it is my style. Some stuff I just can't get into. But it was strictly a matter of style instead of the casually immature "this band sucks".
I had about 50 dollars left in my account with the Phoenix Coyotes from last season. I decided to buy a 4 game plan where I would attend games alone and slump in my chair wishing I was doing something else. I guess I'll take homework and something entertaining? I enjoy the games, but I can't stand sitting by myself talking to no one. I've talked to many strangers but they're just strange. Hockey lovers in Phoenix are non-traditional to say the least.
My Netflix has graced me with "Patton", which I've yet to see. The general, not the comedian. Although I like the comedian quite a bit. Is it good? Hell if I know. But it got like 6/5 stars on my Netflix recommendations. Still not excited though.
Is this thing still on? Is there a character limit? This is kind of dangerous.
When I was much younger I wrote metal songs designed for my friends and their metal band. I don't even remember the name of the band, but they weren't as talented at music as they were at doing drugs. I never got into that scene, and they never got into the music I wrote. My lyrics were discovered one day by my parents, promptly destroyed, and I lost a significant amount of inspiration that day. Similarly, when all of my notebook drawings were destroyed, I lost a lot of artistic inspiration. It's been a slow climb to effectively expressing myself again. Stifled creativity is pretty awful.
But now I'm planning on writing lyrics again. We'll see how it goes. I might even post it. Wouldn't that be a treat?
I didn't run today. But I biked 6 miles. So we're even? I'll run tomorrow. Tonight just wasn't happening. Exam was so long but not that tough. But it was long enough that I wasn't able to finish it fully. Kind of annoying. Kind of sucks that I only get to drop 1 exam that I will miss while I'm out of town on travel.
My fantasy hockey team is doing well. I got the right players, apparently. I also signed up for fantasy basketball. It's not a first! I did fantasy basketball in the '04 and '05 seasons. That was quite a while ago. I had a first place finish one year. But I've been out of touch with b-ball for a while so I thought I'd feign interest by joining this online game with random people on Yahoo.
I haven't stopped listening to Bomb the Music Industry! I actually downloaded everything off of Quote Unquote Records fo' FREE. Link. Most of it is my style. Some stuff I just can't get into. But it was strictly a matter of style instead of the casually immature "this band sucks".
I had about 50 dollars left in my account with the Phoenix Coyotes from last season. I decided to buy a 4 game plan where I would attend games alone and slump in my chair wishing I was doing something else. I guess I'll take homework and something entertaining? I enjoy the games, but I can't stand sitting by myself talking to no one. I've talked to many strangers but they're just strange. Hockey lovers in Phoenix are non-traditional to say the least.
My Netflix has graced me with "Patton", which I've yet to see. The general, not the comedian. Although I like the comedian quite a bit. Is it good? Hell if I know. But it got like 6/5 stars on my Netflix recommendations. Still not excited though.
Is this thing still on? Is there a character limit? This is kind of dangerous.
When I was much younger I wrote metal songs designed for my friends and their metal band. I don't even remember the name of the band, but they weren't as talented at music as they were at doing drugs. I never got into that scene, and they never got into the music I wrote. My lyrics were discovered one day by my parents, promptly destroyed, and I lost a significant amount of inspiration that day. Similarly, when all of my notebook drawings were destroyed, I lost a lot of artistic inspiration. It's been a slow climb to effectively expressing myself again. Stifled creativity is pretty awful.
But now I'm planning on writing lyrics again. We'll see how it goes. I might even post it. Wouldn't that be a treat?
There's an exam on the horizon
So it was a good idea to study. And a better idea to sleep right after I finish writing. I'll wake up bright and early to run, then study for a few more hours, then go to work, present, leave, take an exam, and WATCH SUFJAN STEVENS ROCK MESA ARTS CENTER. It's going to be legitimate.
But wait...I have a meeting to attend tomorrow BETWEEN my exam and the concert. This is going to be interesting. But still...I can't wait for Sufjan. It's been YEARS in the making. I haven't had the chance to listen to his new album.
Maybe I should go to sleep right now. My body has been nagging me all day. Okay body, you win. We'll run next morning though!
See you tomorrow, pavement! I mean Sufjan!
But wait...I have a meeting to attend tomorrow BETWEEN my exam and the concert. This is going to be interesting. But still...I can't wait for Sufjan. It's been YEARS in the making. I haven't had the chance to listen to his new album.
Maybe I should go to sleep right now. My body has been nagging me all day. Okay body, you win. We'll run next morning though!
See you tomorrow, pavement! I mean Sufjan!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Couch to 5k W3D1
In between the madness that was my morning and afternoon, I ran. I was motivated by the fact that I had a presentation to give at 3 pm and that I needed to shower. I didn't really feel excited about running in the evening. After all, I knew it was going to be a long day, and I was going to be exhausted at night. I was mildly inspired to do something that I should have been wildly inspired to do. But I did it and felt great.
After hiking on Sunday, my body was tired. It reacted as expected to the increased amount of running without stopping (180 seconds as opposed to 90 seconds). It was a little tough but the system is set up so well that I felt better on the next 180 second burst than the first. I'm very satisfied by my progress. I guess another satisfying element was checking my weight on the scale today. I keep losing poundage. At this rate, I'll weigh 100 pounds by the time I'm 34. It's my target weight.
Running at noon in Arizona is usually a terrible idea. This case was no different. The sweat was happy to oblige with my decision to run during the day, whereas I was not sweating while running in the evenings. What a difference it made. I felt like crap, but after a shower and a shave, I felt great. Then I rode my bike for a couple of miles to catch the train and I started feeling wobbly. Biking and running on the same day just do not mix.
I wore fancy clothes to my presentation. It went well. Then I went to work after my presentation was over. Working 20 hours a week is just not enough. I wish I worked more to get paid more, and I wish I worked more to get more done. After work, I biked to a train that was already leaving the station, and when I finally caught the next train 20 minutes later, it took 35 minutes to arrive at my destination. Then it was another 30 minute wait to catch the bus (which had its bike rack full), and I didn't have heads/tails lights. The bus driver kindly let me on and we did the switcheroo at the next stop with a guy who really couldn't bike a block if it meant doing a guy a favor. A 5 minute ride later, and I was dying to get tea and some pumpkin bread from my favorite local cafe. It was delicious.
So now I'm here, contemplating my existence and my vulnerability to all of my wonderful devices within these walls, waiting for my stomach to tell me it's time to cook Mac'n'cheese for the fourth night in a row. And it's all no big deal because I ran today and it felt great.
After hiking on Sunday, my body was tired. It reacted as expected to the increased amount of running without stopping (180 seconds as opposed to 90 seconds). It was a little tough but the system is set up so well that I felt better on the next 180 second burst than the first. I'm very satisfied by my progress. I guess another satisfying element was checking my weight on the scale today. I keep losing poundage. At this rate, I'll weigh 100 pounds by the time I'm 34. It's my target weight.
Running at noon in Arizona is usually a terrible idea. This case was no different. The sweat was happy to oblige with my decision to run during the day, whereas I was not sweating while running in the evenings. What a difference it made. I felt like crap, but after a shower and a shave, I felt great. Then I rode my bike for a couple of miles to catch the train and I started feeling wobbly. Biking and running on the same day just do not mix.
I wore fancy clothes to my presentation. It went well. Then I went to work after my presentation was over. Working 20 hours a week is just not enough. I wish I worked more to get paid more, and I wish I worked more to get more done. After work, I biked to a train that was already leaving the station, and when I finally caught the next train 20 minutes later, it took 35 minutes to arrive at my destination. Then it was another 30 minute wait to catch the bus (which had its bike rack full), and I didn't have heads/tails lights. The bus driver kindly let me on and we did the switcheroo at the next stop with a guy who really couldn't bike a block if it meant doing a guy a favor. A 5 minute ride later, and I was dying to get tea and some pumpkin bread from my favorite local cafe. It was delicious.
So now I'm here, contemplating my existence and my vulnerability to all of my wonderful devices within these walls, waiting for my stomach to tell me it's time to cook Mac'n'cheese for the fourth night in a row. And it's all no big deal because I ran today and it felt great.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
My Politik
My Political Views
I am a centrist moderate social libertarian
Right: 0.18, Libertarian: 1.32
Political Spectrum Quiz
From now on, I'm just going to tell people I'm a centrist moderate social liberterian. Thank goodness I didn't have to figure it out myself. I'll leave that up to ~50 question quizzes.
I am a centrist moderate social libertarian
Right: 0.18, Libertarian: 1.32
Political Spectrum Quiz
From now on, I'm just going to tell people I'm a centrist moderate social liberterian. Thank goodness I didn't have to figure it out myself. I'll leave that up to ~50 question quizzes.
Hiking Camelback Mountain
The Camelback Mountain hike was a fun challenge for a Sunday morning. I will probably rest until Tuesday or Wednesday before running again because my entire body is pretty beat.
Camelback was a fun hike! We went up the Cholla trail. The first half mile or so was very easy. Then it gradually became difficult, until it was very conscious scrambling near the top. It was very enjoyable.
On the way up, I was stung by a bee. This was frustrating but also monumental. I'd never been stung by a bee in my life and the experience was uneventful but so relaxing. Luckily, I had a friend to take out the stinger almost immediately. I always wondered what getting stung would be like - it was something that I actually wanted to happen because it was this great mystery. I was living in fear whenever bees were around me. This bee was very willing to let me have the experience as it dashed toward my forehead and stung me at full speed, popped off, and went to die somewhere. I was consciously waiting for the worst to happen. But nothing came of it and I continued without issue.
The top of Camelback was a great view. All I brought to eat was a small bag with like 8 gummy bears. I ran out of water shortly after beginning the descent. It was only high 80s (probably) in mid-October. I did the hike on 2-3 hours of sleep. Stupid, I know. But the night before I just couldn't will myself to stop downloading music mixing programs that I didn't need. So I took a nap once I got home and I haven't eaten much all day. But now I'm thinking of treating myself to a box of Mac'n'cheese AND a can of tuna.
Can't wait to get back to the running this week! I am confident that I'm going to handle the 3-minute run intervals well. Can't wait to get my body back into a respectable shape (instead of several disrespectful shapes). Tune in next time!
Camelback was a fun hike! We went up the Cholla trail. The first half mile or so was very easy. Then it gradually became difficult, until it was very conscious scrambling near the top. It was very enjoyable.
On the way up, I was stung by a bee. This was frustrating but also monumental. I'd never been stung by a bee in my life and the experience was uneventful but so relaxing. Luckily, I had a friend to take out the stinger almost immediately. I always wondered what getting stung would be like - it was something that I actually wanted to happen because it was this great mystery. I was living in fear whenever bees were around me. This bee was very willing to let me have the experience as it dashed toward my forehead and stung me at full speed, popped off, and went to die somewhere. I was consciously waiting for the worst to happen. But nothing came of it and I continued without issue.
The top of Camelback was a great view. All I brought to eat was a small bag with like 8 gummy bears. I ran out of water shortly after beginning the descent. It was only high 80s (probably) in mid-October. I did the hike on 2-3 hours of sleep. Stupid, I know. But the night before I just couldn't will myself to stop downloading music mixing programs that I didn't need. So I took a nap once I got home and I haven't eaten much all day. But now I'm thinking of treating myself to a box of Mac'n'cheese AND a can of tuna.
Can't wait to get back to the running this week! I am confident that I'm going to handle the 3-minute run intervals well. Can't wait to get my body back into a respectable shape (instead of several disrespectful shapes). Tune in next time!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Couch to 5k - W2D3 Not bad...not bad
Considering I had an uncomfortable experience last time I ran, I felt a little unexcited about this run. Today I ate lunch at Costco, a nice pepperoni pizza and hot dog and raspberry iced tea. That had to be at least 1200 calories. But then I didn't eat again until crackers and wafers from the vending machine at work. And that's it. Oh yeah, Costco also had some worthy cheese samples today. I particularly enjoyed the Gouda and Tillamook. I had some blue cheese variant that was AWFUL. Not my taste.
So I get home after an eventful ride on the train and went out to run in the dark. It was great. I got tired during a couple breaks, but when my run was over, I still felt energized and I ran another rep in a sprint. The sprint only lasted 45 seconds because I got winded. But it was great knowing that I'm sprinting into week 3.
Aw what a cute transition. Anyway, I'm very excited for the next week. I might go hiking in a couple days. Usually that destroys my legs so I'm interested to see how it will affect my run schedule.
The 2nd week was great overall. I'm confident that this progression is configured well and that anyone could handle it.
So I get home after an eventful ride on the train and went out to run in the dark. It was great. I got tired during a couple breaks, but when my run was over, I still felt energized and I ran another rep in a sprint. The sprint only lasted 45 seconds because I got winded. But it was great knowing that I'm sprinting into week 3.
Aw what a cute transition. Anyway, I'm very excited for the next week. I might go hiking in a couple days. Usually that destroys my legs so I'm interested to see how it will affect my run schedule.
The 2nd week was great overall. I'm confident that this progression is configured well and that anyone could handle it.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Taking a day off by working - AND ROBOT CONVERSATIONS
So I was supposed to rest. How did I do, life tracker?
WELL BEN, YOU DID FAIRLY OKAY.
That's good to know life tracker. How many miles did I bi-
BIKE. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY RIGHT?
Well yeah. Anyway how many
YOU BIKED 3 MILES. A BIT MUCH IF YOU ASK ME.
Because I was resting?
AFFIRMATIVE.
And what did I eat today?
LIKE 7 PIECES OF TOAST. MOST OF THEM BUTTERED LIGHTLY. FEW HEAVILY.
And what else?
A LARGE DRINK OF RASPBERRY ICED TEA MADE FROM A POWDERED MIXTURE AND WATER FROM A PURINA FILTER THAT EXPIRED A MONTH AGO.
Has it really been a month?
I HONESTLY STOPPED KEEPING TRACK.
What was lunch again? And dinner while you're on a roll.
YOUR BUTTER WAS ON A ROLL.
You're much funnier than your code would indicate.
IT IS OFTEN SPECULATED THAT IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.
So what did I eat?
TERIYAKI CHICKEN BOWL AND THE CONTENTS WITHIN A BOX OF MACARONI AND CHEESE.
That sounds delicious.
And it was. Probably a few hundred more calories than I should be eating, and very, very heavy on carbohydrates. But I've had a huge turnover with calorie intake lately. IT WAS PINEAPPLE.
WELL BEN, YOU DID FAIRLY OKAY.
That's good to know life tracker. How many miles did I bi-
BIKE. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY RIGHT?
Well yeah. Anyway how many
YOU BIKED 3 MILES. A BIT MUCH IF YOU ASK ME.
Because I was resting?
AFFIRMATIVE.
And what did I eat today?
LIKE 7 PIECES OF TOAST. MOST OF THEM BUTTERED LIGHTLY. FEW HEAVILY.
And what else?
A LARGE DRINK OF RASPBERRY ICED TEA MADE FROM A POWDERED MIXTURE AND WATER FROM A PURINA FILTER THAT EXPIRED A MONTH AGO.
Has it really been a month?
I HONESTLY STOPPED KEEPING TRACK.
What was lunch again? And dinner while you're on a roll.
YOUR BUTTER WAS ON A ROLL.
You're much funnier than your code would indicate.
IT IS OFTEN SPECULATED THAT IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.
So what did I eat?
TERIYAKI CHICKEN BOWL AND THE CONTENTS WITHIN A BOX OF MACARONI AND CHEESE.
That sounds delicious.
And it was. Probably a few hundred more calories than I should be eating, and very, very heavy on carbohydrates. But I've had a huge turnover with calorie intake lately. IT WAS PINEAPPLE.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Couch to 5k - W2D2 The Mighty Ducks
Ow. Just got done running. Not really sweating, not really exhausted. Just so nice at night. But I did something stupid.
In between runs I biked ten miles. That's not exactly a rest day. As a consequence, my calves/shins hurt enormously. I also got a stomach cramp that I can't explain. My Nike run sensor mixmasta flex iTouch dongle dingy didn't work the last two times I scientifically calibrated it (so it's either on now...or off now and on next time I run). So annoying. I want to complain to Steve Jobs and Michael Jordan.
I was excited to run all day. It's getting kind of addictive. Actually, the source of my inspiration is very interesting (to me and probably me alone). I did some calculations.
Ben's Source of Inspiration:
29% Weight Loss
7% Solitude
48% Wanting to blogspot update
1% Raaaaaaage!
15% Getting to wear Under Armour clothing
I didn't have any issues breathing and my heart felt great. The next day is going to be a cinch as long as I rest properly. And I love wearing Under Armour clothing. I wear two layers because one layer isn't good enough. It doesn't make me feel like Ray Lewis. One layer makes me feel like Ryan Leaf. And I can't stand for that.
So if you find yourself on this plan (or a similar plan), take it from me: Rest, sleep well, and eat right. Hell, you don't even need to be on this C25K deal to do those 3 things. Today I had seafood. Maybe that explains the stomach cramps. TO BE CONTINUED.
In between runs I biked ten miles. That's not exactly a rest day. As a consequence, my calves/shins hurt enormously. I also got a stomach cramp that I can't explain. My Nike run sensor mixmasta flex iTouch dongle dingy didn't work the last two times I scientifically calibrated it (so it's either on now...or off now and on next time I run). So annoying. I want to complain to Steve Jobs and Michael Jordan.
I was excited to run all day. It's getting kind of addictive. Actually, the source of my inspiration is very interesting (to me and probably me alone). I did some calculations.
Ben's Source of Inspiration:
29% Weight Loss
7% Solitude
48% Wanting to blogspot update
1% Raaaaaaage!
15% Getting to wear Under Armour clothing
I didn't have any issues breathing and my heart felt great. The next day is going to be a cinch as long as I rest properly. And I love wearing Under Armour clothing. I wear two layers because one layer isn't good enough. It doesn't make me feel like Ray Lewis. One layer makes me feel like Ryan Leaf. And I can't stand for that.
So if you find yourself on this plan (or a similar plan), take it from me: Rest, sleep well, and eat right. Hell, you don't even need to be on this C25K deal to do those 3 things. Today I had seafood. Maybe that explains the stomach cramps. TO BE CONTINUED.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Bomb the Music Industry! and other life lessons
I am addicted to Bomb the Music Industry! (BTMI!). It's the only music currently in my iTunes library. What once was a 100 GB mosaic of the world's most impressive artists now contains 463.1 MB of America's most passionate young professional artists, led by the talented Jeff Rosenstock. It's really not enough to say that he's talented. He is the primary artistic influence behind the band, a singer/songwriter who demonstrate to his audience that the priority is the message not in the music itself, but in the way the music is delivered to the audience. But the music is stellar and the lyrics contain remarkably thoughtful sentiments. Each album is a story within the context of Jeff's inspiration. While this is obvious for many artists during their period of creation, it makes this specific work very personal because of an unabashed emotional release. Jeff's also very fortunate because he has the voice. It's the voice that when strained, drunk, or processed through a PC microphone would overwhelm the listener with its presence and sincerity. As far as similar vocalists who are an example of this, Greg Graffin and Mike Yannich come to mind in the punk world.
It's evolved punk rock. Punk rock has lingered with the '77 crowd, hardcore redux, or misdirected angst in the form of recycled 80s messages. This is a fairly accurate assessment of about 80% of today's punk rock. Publications such as Razorcake and the latest movement with bands that focus on the punk rock ethos have been positive. I suppose that by this time in the post I should issue a disclaimer or two (since this is so stream-of-consciousness).
I praised Jeff a lot in the opening paragraph. The rest of the band (anyone who has every played with Jeff as a part of BTMI!) has done a tremendous job supporting this act. Their current efforts are not overlooked.
It's important to not overestimate this work. I've been listening to (possessed by) BTMI! for the last 3 months. I realized that I missed them play in Phoenix and I honestly think that it was the biggest disappointment of my summer. I saw them the summer before and it was probably 120 degrees in the box they played. Very memorable. They were great, but I wasn't as huge a fan then.
What I'm going through right now is a phase, and BTMI! is perfect for that phase. So I feel that I resonate very well with the lyrics and the overall message. It's great stuff. Maybe when I'm 30 I won't feel the same way. But to be honest, as I approach objectivity, I only fall further in love with this band, their message, and their passion for music and all things fun. It's an exciting time for an exciting band to be playing so hard and so often.
Their music is free. Their message is honest. What more do you want from a band?
Download their FREE music here for FREE:
http://www.quoteunquoterecords.com/btmi.php
And donate while you're at it.
I haven't donated yet because my debt has a nice wide shadow over everything else in my life. Great excuse, right? I'll give money once I can support myself. So I thought I'd write a short blurb of support. They are letting their message get to the folks who couldn't afford their message otherwise.
It's evolved punk rock. Punk rock has lingered with the '77 crowd, hardcore redux, or misdirected angst in the form of recycled 80s messages. This is a fairly accurate assessment of about 80% of today's punk rock. Publications such as Razorcake and the latest movement with bands that focus on the punk rock ethos have been positive. I suppose that by this time in the post I should issue a disclaimer or two (since this is so stream-of-consciousness).
I praised Jeff a lot in the opening paragraph. The rest of the band (anyone who has every played with Jeff as a part of BTMI!) has done a tremendous job supporting this act. Their current efforts are not overlooked.
It's important to not overestimate this work. I've been listening to (possessed by) BTMI! for the last 3 months. I realized that I missed them play in Phoenix and I honestly think that it was the biggest disappointment of my summer. I saw them the summer before and it was probably 120 degrees in the box they played. Very memorable. They were great, but I wasn't as huge a fan then.
What I'm going through right now is a phase, and BTMI! is perfect for that phase. So I feel that I resonate very well with the lyrics and the overall message. It's great stuff. Maybe when I'm 30 I won't feel the same way. But to be honest, as I approach objectivity, I only fall further in love with this band, their message, and their passion for music and all things fun. It's an exciting time for an exciting band to be playing so hard and so often.
Their music is free. Their message is honest. What more do you want from a band?
Download their FREE music here for FREE:
http://www.quoteunquoterecords.com/btmi.php
And donate while you're at it.
I haven't donated yet because my debt has a nice wide shadow over everything else in my life. Great excuse, right? I'll give money once I can support myself. So I thought I'd write a short blurb of support. They are letting their message get to the folks who couldn't afford their message otherwise.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Couch to 5k - Start of 2nd Week
Well, the second week is different. I have really bad breathing problems because of my sinuses. I've been taking Flonase to mitigate the issue but it still sucks. During my walk breaks I'll have to blow my nose. Ev-er-y time. But aside from that, running was fun. It was cool, dry, low 80s, but the sun was out with strength. 8 30 am run. Running in the longer intervals was a fun challenge. It certainly felt like more of a "run". I really like this system and I'm looking forward to my next run.
This run was 90 seconds run 120 seconds walk, alternated for 20 minutes. I'll do my next two runs Wednesday and Friday to complete week 2. My legs felt good. My left calf started to feel funny about 3/4 into the run but it went away. I stretch well before every run so lack of preparation wasn't the explanation. I hypothesize that the more endurance I demand from my body, it will adapt and I will be well aware while I am physically adapting. At several points I found myself short of breath, but it was never a problem.
Cop car count was 4 today. It's nice to know that I can run around in a safe neighborhood. Old lady count was 3.
I'm not even looking into pronation right now. I just want to get moving with this program. Then I'll dissect my method. I'm very interested in how I run, but that understanding will have to wait.
This run was 90 seconds run 120 seconds walk, alternated for 20 minutes. I'll do my next two runs Wednesday and Friday to complete week 2. My legs felt good. My left calf started to feel funny about 3/4 into the run but it went away. I stretch well before every run so lack of preparation wasn't the explanation. I hypothesize that the more endurance I demand from my body, it will adapt and I will be well aware while I am physically adapting. At several points I found myself short of breath, but it was never a problem.
Cop car count was 4 today. It's nice to know that I can run around in a safe neighborhood. Old lady count was 3.
I'm not even looking into pronation right now. I just want to get moving with this program. Then I'll dissect my method. I'm very interested in how I run, but that understanding will have to wait.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Couch to 5k
I'm on week two of the Couch to 5K running experience marathon fantastico.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
Let this blog sequence be a lesson, a warning, or an educational experience (a teaching moment?) for those who desire to undergo a similar running schedule.
At first I was cycling to work a few times a week to get my exercise routine going. Coupled with my passable but still not-fully-committed eating habits, I've lost 18 pounds over the last 5 months. It's certainly an accomplishment but I've lacked the satisfaction I desire. So I started running. Running is much different than cycling, I realized, about 10 strides into my new routine. "I'm dramatically out of shape", I thought, as I popped, hissed, and collapsed into my apartment door after my first run. Even cycling 24 miles a day wasn't a physical challenge...apparently!
But I enjoy the running. I run around Downtown Mesa. It's very nice there. Hardly any distractions. The police station is very close and it's a beautiful area as a result.
The first week consisted of a run in the late evening as I was carefully watched by suspicious folks unloading their cars at 1 in the morning. It was tough but I made it. I have a tendency to exaggerate (understatement). It wasn't as bad as originally described. The second run was at 6 am, on schedule, and was very easily done. I was ecstatic. The third run was at 9 am, it was about 75 degrees outside, and it was not as enjoyable. Though it felt longer, I still managed.
I'm excited about the second week, starting tomorrow. I've found that I very much benefit from running in the mornings as early as I can. I also enjoy listening to music. It's obviously very fast-paced and energetic to set my tempo and mood throughout the run. And it's motivational music.
I'll keep this fairly updated. And maybe I'll actually use this blog while I'm at it.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
Let this blog sequence be a lesson, a warning, or an educational experience (a teaching moment?) for those who desire to undergo a similar running schedule.
At first I was cycling to work a few times a week to get my exercise routine going. Coupled with my passable but still not-fully-committed eating habits, I've lost 18 pounds over the last 5 months. It's certainly an accomplishment but I've lacked the satisfaction I desire. So I started running. Running is much different than cycling, I realized, about 10 strides into my new routine. "I'm dramatically out of shape", I thought, as I popped, hissed, and collapsed into my apartment door after my first run. Even cycling 24 miles a day wasn't a physical challenge...apparently!
But I enjoy the running. I run around Downtown Mesa. It's very nice there. Hardly any distractions. The police station is very close and it's a beautiful area as a result.
The first week consisted of a run in the late evening as I was carefully watched by suspicious folks unloading their cars at 1 in the morning. It was tough but I made it. I have a tendency to exaggerate (understatement). It wasn't as bad as originally described. The second run was at 6 am, on schedule, and was very easily done. I was ecstatic. The third run was at 9 am, it was about 75 degrees outside, and it was not as enjoyable. Though it felt longer, I still managed.
I'm excited about the second week, starting tomorrow. I've found that I very much benefit from running in the mornings as early as I can. I also enjoy listening to music. It's obviously very fast-paced and energetic to set my tempo and mood throughout the run. And it's motivational music.
I'll keep this fairly updated. And maybe I'll actually use this blog while I'm at it.
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