a knob for brightness

the personal blog of Greg Bassett, IT Security, Travels & Endurance Sports

Month: October 2008

No Philly for me

October 22, 2008 /

I pulled the rip cord, and bailed out of the Philly Marathon. My 20 miler on Sunday told me that trying to pull a sub-4hr 26.2 was not gonna happen. Sub-5hr would be questionable. Sure, my legs weren’t fresh, but it still hurt way too much to run that slow on a flat forgiving terrain. I’m bummed because this means that I didn’t follow through on my goal of a sub-4hr marathon in 2008. Most of my other goals were met, in that I set PRs at all my races, and really improved some times in my 10k and 13.1 runs.

So now it’s officially the “off season”. I’m not doing any coached, structured training, but I am planning on some new routines. LOTS more MTB this fall/winter. Maybe some ‘cross if I can find some group rides or some classes. If not, I’ll put together a barrier and practice mounts/dismounts in the back yard.

And this: For Nov/Dec/Jan.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about this workout. I’ve got no idea where I’m going to hang the pull-up bar, but I’ll figure out something. Since each workout is an hour long, I’ll do them in the AM before work. I’ll still try to get out for at least one swim/bike/run each week and then go long bike/long run on the weekends.  

It’s a new day!

20 miler in the bag

October 19, 2008 /

As I figured, the day was excellent, but the run was a struggle. Gory details here:

I was cruising along through the first 10 miles, but as soon as I reversed direction, I knew I was in trouble. It became harder and harder to maintain pace, and my legs felt worse and worse. At 15 miles both achilles tendons were complaining, and my sciatic was affecting my gait on the right side. My right heel was getting numb and every so often I was getting shooting pain down my right leg. This is “not good” as I thought I was past this problem years ago.

I pressed on and finished the run, but had to take several walk breaks along the last 5 miles.

I also need to pack more calories for the run. By the time I got back to my car and started to drive home, I was in full bonk. I got lost getting out of Hillsborough and it was only by sheer luck that I ended up back in Manville, where I found a Subway.

As I was waiting for my sandwich, I began to get the shakes from lack of food and from the cold. I was still in my shorts, but had changed into a dry long-sleeve t-shirt. I began to get really, really cold and my legs felt like someone had worked them over with a baseball bat. I got my food to go, and sat in the car, in the sun with the engine running, and heat on full blast.

I downed a bottle of OJ to get my blood sugar set, then slowly ate my sandwich. It’s amazing how good a crappy sandwich tastes after a 20 mile run.

Once I got home, I got into the hot, hot shower and stayed there until everything was warm and loose again. Heaven, sheer heaven!

I’m feeling pretty good now, but I have serious doubts about the Philly Marathon in 4 weeks. I’m about 75% sure I’m going to bag the race, but keep up the long run-training at least through the end of November.

It’s fall.

October 19, 2008 /

I’m nothing if not observant. The leaves have covered the driveway and the patio, the house is decorated with pumpkins and halloween stuff, and the heat came on last night.

It must be fall.

Yesterday I wanted to get out for my 1:00/1:00 brick on the Ravine Lake loop/Pleasant Valley loop. Then I remembered that it was the weekend for The Hunt. No freakin way I was going ride my bike through the traffic caused by 50,000 drunk yuppies/hipsters/horse people.

So I grabbed the and hit Chimney Rock for some MTB loops and a nice out-&-back along the Middlebrook trail. It was a GREAT workout and an excellent way to get back to training after a forced week-off.

Today I’m headed back outside to hit the D&R Canal Towpath for a 3:30/20 mile run. I haven’t been to the D&R since this spring’s marathon training. I’m looking forward to checking out the fall colors and watch the boaters along the lake in Princeton at the turn-around.

My eyes! My eyes!

October 12, 2008 /

A little late, but here is Friday’s WTF…

mtb.jpg (image)

I’m getting dizzy looking at this. Best not to think about it too much, and just let the art flow over you.

Lifehacker Confessions: The Tips and Tricks I’m Not Using

October 10, 2008 /
I’m guilty of most of these as well.  

Confessions: The Tips and Tricks I’m Not Using

I’ve just about totally given up on Firefox, and like the cool, clean look of Chrome.  I do miss the Evernote button though.
I was never a command line guy, ever since Windows 1.x, I’ve been GUI.  But I did dump Google desktop in favor of Windows Search.  Less intrusive indexing than Google desktop search, faster serarches and better “context” with search results.  
I can’t say I’m useless with Office, but the 2007 version does send me scrambling for hidden functions that used to be readily available on the menu or tool bar.
My GTD-fu has taken a holiday.  I’m barely holding on to my sanity by dumping all tasks and thoughts into ThinkingRock and pushing websites and info bits into Evernote.  Weekly review?  WTF?  I think it’s time to re-read the bible
As for Linux, I’m not booting Kubuntu as much as I used to boot GNOME.  I like the KDE 4x interface a lot, but wonky wireless is a hassle to deal with.  GNOME isn’t as elegant looking, but works.  I still haven’t taken the time time to figure out how to print from the Linux box to the printer attached to the Windows box.  It’s probably pretty easy, but I just haven’t taken the time to figure it out.
Maybe I’m getting too old to keep my geek card…

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