Photo Update

The photo problems are old news now. I bucked up and paid them.

Lights Out

Last night, G and Austin pitched a combined no hitter. Probably more common in the Little's than in the Big's, but still quite awesome to see. Here is some flavor....

+ They had lost to this same team earlier in the year 6-2.
+ Both G and Austin played for the other team last Fall.
+ G doubled in the only run that mattered in the bottom of the first.
+ Final 4-0.

There sure was a lot of hard work to get to this point. But, last night, it looked easy and very very fun.



...


====> 6 miles running + lifting

It was the best of weeks, it was the worst of weeks

Thanks all for being patient. The week flew by as I was traveling and didn't make time for a posting. Also, I didn't always have an internet connection available. Okay, I DO hear at least a few people rumbling, "enough with the excuses already!"

A mix of the great and the not so great for the week....

Best
> G-Money pitched three shut out innings, "lights out" in his words.
> I roller bladed in Central Park, beautiful day, great views.
> Actually, I roller bladed four times this week.
> C1 found out he also has been graced with the long ball.
> I swam a couple thousand meters.
> I stayed in an interesting Norwegian style hotel, really nice duvet. It reminded me of Aschaffenburg.
> My little sister gave me an impressive copralite for my birthday.
> In total, I received four pounds of M&M's for my birthday.


Worst
> Jags lost the pivotal championship game
> I only ran three times (but it did seem like an active week)
> I ate most of the M&M's. Some may have escaped in between the couch cushions, but not many survivors to be certain.
> My photo hosting service came knocking for cash (hence the plethora of dropped photos on the old posts). I am being stubborn.


=======================
Ran 6 miles
Ran 7 miles with 3 mile tempo in the middle
Ran 12 miles in 1:50:10 (95 degrees)

Jack and the Boys, Toad Hunt (Cannery Row or Sweet Thursday?)

Not a whole lot to complain about today. I spent the majority of the day in my hiking boots with the balance spent in my running shoes. This tiny toad was one of dozens pulling itself out of the organic soup puddles left over in a drying stream bed. Some free words of wisdom from me: If you come back in your next life as a toad, avoid little boys with buckets. (Which book did Mack and the boys go on the frog hunt?)

Solid run today, nice sunset. Something a touch over 40 miles for the week.

===> Ran 10 miles, 155 bpm, 1:31:39
===> Hiked

===> Ran the hilly 4.2 in the hood. 35:48
===>lifted and bladed.

Down South

This week, I spent some time down below the Mason-Dixon Line. It is hotter there and it is a bit slower in general, which is a nice thing really. And besides, one must capitalize on every chance to wear one's seersucker suit and spats, right? (No, that is not me, and no, I don't actually own a seersucker suit)

I was in Birmingham and saw the mighty Vulcan for the first time. When it comes to cities and their odd monuments, far be it from me to cast the first stone. They are indeed proud of him and his recent restoration.

=>Today, 6 miles, 54:51, 153 bpm, north of the Mason-Dixon Line
=>Yesterday, 10-ish, south of the Mason-Dixon Line
=>Day before yesterday, 5-6, again south of the line.

editor's note: I just checked the latitude for StL, 38 degrees and 35 minutes. Apparently, I actually live BELOW the Mason-Dixon Line. Hmmmm. As my southern friends say, "I may talk slow but that don't mean I think slow".

Happy Flag Day

===> 6 miles, 153 bpm, 55:26

Better Lightning

I was able to catch a better lightning shot during tonight's storm. I still have a lot of practice to do to get it right. But one thing is for sure, digital is the way to go. You set the Drive to high and take 100 frames destined for the trash bin for every one that is a keeper. You can't do that with 35 mm, at least not economically.

I guess I will go run now that the weather has cleared. If for no other reason, it will keep the post somehow loosely related to running.

====> Roller bladed and a lift

Limbo Weather

This was a camping weekend. Weatherwise, Mother Nature was a total tease. It didn't rain long enough during any single stretch for us to call it quits, and the sun didn't shine long enough for us to seriously consider busting out the badminton net. Limbo weather.

Several times, a promising sky was quickly replaced by dark clouds and rain, only to be as quickly followed by more sun. The process repeated every few hours. While on a hike, at the point where we were furthest from cover, the sky darkened and opened up in a big way. It was that cold type of rain, the type that makes me dread being out there. But the young hikers were anything but bummed out. They didn't know that it sucked to be cold and wet.

It highlighted to me that we get conditioned by experience. But sometimes that conditioning should just be ignored. It WAS fun hiking in the rain.



=====> 7 miles, early AM, trail run.

Giambi goes 0 for 3 - Leaves 4 on Base

Steroids.
Not a pretty story, look at big Jason G. Tsk, tsk.

I say this because I took a steroid delivery myself yesterday. It is with some trepidation that I start using the stuff. But you really need them in today's world to be in top form. My steroids are for a clogged nasal passage. I will likely be banned from the 2006 Olfactory Games, if they test me that is. It is one of the risks I am willing accept.

(Of course this is all embelished. It is just nasal spray!)

===> Trainer 45 minutes, lifted.

Ten Four Good Buddy

Just a morning run at the Lab.

Today, one oncoming dump truck made a big effort to give me room. He actually completely went into the other lane. So I acknowledged the kindness with a wave. To my surprise, he was already waving when I looked up. It surprised me.

I made a point to give some kind of acknowledgement to the other trucks that I passed by the rest of the run. Similar results. Have I really been running there for months, passing hundreds of dump trucks without looking at the drivers.

Sometimes you get wrapped up in your own little world.



===> 6 miles, 153 bpm, 59:26

Weird Weather

Today was a little bit of everything; a little lifting, a little time on the trainer, and a little running with the young-guns. A storm rolled in at the end of the day. If you are into weather, you would have enjoyed the show. There was big lightning, bright rainbows, weird sky colors. The camera guy needs to learn how to use his equipment and pay attention better, but other than that, it was fun. I will catch lightning in the lens eventually.

Apparently the pot-o-gold was in my neighbor's backyard. How convenient for them.

WARNING! This is a C+ post at best

There IS a lot of progress going on along my run route. This morning, I passed by two survey teams and many many new numbers are now freshly painted on miles of road. (Folks, it isn't going to get any more interesting than this on this blog today! It is okay to hit "Next Blog".)

For the record, regarding yesterday's post, remove "Trucker's" and insert "Custer's". I thought it worked, but it may have been a stretch.


===> 6 miles, 150 bpm, 60 minutes

Progress?

My run this morning reminded me of this print. It still gets showtime after all these years when the topic is Progress or Ingenuity. The part I focus on is the smoke right in the face of the poor
Native Americans. Of course, that part is often cropped out in the spirit of Progress. Aren't we full of Ingenuity? Anyway, my run was on a long flat road. There was a lot of construction to the south and water to the north (sort of, oh alright, not). There were mountains in the distance (in my case about 800 miles of distance). I was the smoke and dust recipient but from a caravan of dump trucks rather than a train. All kinds of crap flew up off the road in their wake. No big deal really, I had sunglasses on and I did turn away in time. But it was a stinging gravel shower nonetheless. Me and the trucks, the saga will continue..... "Truckers Last Stand" or "Trail of Tires", something like that. As long as there is no wounded knee in the offing.

Basically, it was a good run. I felt balanced and comfortable. It has gotten hotter the last few weeks, but I like that just fine. It is a humid heat here after all. Sixes from here out.

===Ran 4 at 150 bpm===

Dragon myself out of bed

Okay, so the picture turned out HUGE. I am working on getting it right in a trial and error type of way. YOUR job as the reader is to appreciate the intricate play on words and the subliminal imagery!



I used my heart rate monitor again today. Basically, it was kind of like when I first started using it, hard to stick to a consistent rate. But I now know that this just takes a couple runs and some getting used to.

By the way, the dragon is a Taipei Night Market (snake alley) purchase. I am sure the seller is still telling the story about how much he took the American for. But I REALLY like it.

===> 4 miles

Warm? No, HOT.

Today is in the 90's.
I knew that getting out early for a run was important to avoid the heat. I haven't really gotten back into the early AM thing since the injury, so this morning was kind of like a bucket of cold water. I set my alarm for 5. Unfortunately, I found out that, yes, you can get up at 5, have a couple cups of coffee and STILL get back to sleep without much trouble. I did finally run at high noon. Hot, especially out at the Lab.

The photo doesn't really tie in with this entry at all. It is a couple months old now but nonetheless, I like it a lot. I am tying to get digitally organized with everything. It is amazing how quickly hundreds and hundreds of photos can build up when they are free to take and storage space is unlimited (sort of).


fauna and flora (minus the fauna)

6 miles, tomorrow I will start with the heart rate monitor again I think.

A Run in the Park

I didn't start my watch this morning- by accident and totally out of character. I also was not on my home turf, sometimes I travel. So I can't say with any confidence how far I ran. What I do know is that my leg felt GREAT, I had fun, and that Central Park was very pretty.

I am going to say that it was about 6 miles +/- 2 (ridiculous).