Hi America.
I was just rambling on about some research I've been reading about and I yammered on a bit about memory consolidation and how that refers to the process of converting short term memory into long term memory, and how this is dependent on proper functioning of a brain area called the hippocampus. And then I went on to describe some recent data that shows how the hippocampus might be recording the events of the day and playing them back so that you have many opportunities to store them in long term memory. I'm doing this because it's my blog and I'll put here whatever I want to.
Dave had a good point about how it relates to Alzheimer's Disease, and yes, people with AD do have structural abnormalities in their hippocampus, with very dense neurofibrillary tangles and ß-amyloid plaques in thier hippocampus (those two things are indiciative of AD). There is even a report of 20% or greater tissue degeneration in the hippocampus of patients with mild-moderate AD. And regarding the affect of stress, here's a great example showing how stress affects learning. Initially it seems to help, where stressed rats make fewer errors on their maze, but continued stress hurts their performance dramatically - many biochemical changes can be affected by the stress hormone cortisol.
Anywho, back to the memory consolidation, there's some brand new data that changes things a bit. The idea was nice and clear, that the hippocampus can drive cells in the proper sequence and they will then be strongly connected to each other and things will remain that way, burned into your mind for all time, but it's not so cut and dry. Apparently neurobiology is somewhat complicated. Who knew? Anyway, yesterday I talked about how, if you record which cells are firing and the order they fire, and then look at the order they fire in the sharp wave during sleep, you see that it's the same order, and it's sped up which would make it more likely to change the wiring of cells in cortex, but if you look at what's happening directly after the animal runs the maze, you see the same kind of group firing - and a similar sharp wave. But if you look at what order they are firing during that sharp wave, you find that it's sped up, but it's reversed. It's different than random, and it's the opposite of what was happening just a few seconds prior.
And if you think in the same simple way that this is driving cells in cortex to form connections between them, it's strange, because this order of firing would actually serve to weaken the connections between them. Who knows why. Maybe for some reason you want them weakened. On some level, there may not be any real difference in a system that learns by strengthening specific synapses and a system that learns by weakening specific synapses - on some level. Or in another way, firing the cells in reverse order would actually strengthen the synapses in the reverse order (i.e. the connections from cells C -> B -> A are stronger, and the connections from A -> B -> C are made weaker) and maybe that is beneficial in some way. I don't know how it works, I'm open to your ideas.
That's enough science for now.
Keith out.
Oh, yeah, 4 miles this morning - nice and cool, you should have come running with me, America. Maybe tomorrow, on the bridge - we leave from the parking lot of Ichibon's on the Kemah side of the bridge at 5AM sharp.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Memory Consolidation II
The people demand random bits of knowledge and I accomodate. I'm kicking around some ideas about the mechanism of memory storage in the brain, and if you haven't read the background post about Memory Consolidation you can do that first.
So, here's a few things you should know beforehand. It's possible to stick electrodes in a rat's brain and record the activity of single cells as the animal walks around and does what he does (you can distinguish more than 100 cells at a time if you're really good - the different colored clusters on the figure at left are responses from different cells). And it doesn't hurt the rat, he loves it, actually - they give him chocolate. Anyway, if you do this and stick electrodes in the animal's hippocampus, you can find cells that respond only when the animal is in a particular location - whether he's in a maze or wherever. 
And you can record from many cells and find cells that respond when he's in one place, and some that respond when he's in another place, and some when he's in a third place, and some when he's in a fourth place, and so on... They call these place cells. (The figure at right shows the responses of different cells as the animal moves from one area to the next - different cells are active when he's in different places.)
So, people have done this (Lee and Wilson), and recorded where the animal goes and which cells fire. And then they record the activity of these cells while the animal is sleeping (during slow wave sleep i.e. deep sleep, with no dreaming).
During slow wave sleep, there are slow oscillations in activity of most of the cells in the area, accompanied by sharp waves, where you find many cells firing at the same time. (Those fast downward spikes on the EEG pictures during the still period are the sharp waves.) And if you look at the same cells that you were recording from when the animal was moving around, you find they are participating in the sharp wave, and 
they fire in the same order they fired in when the animal was navigating his maze. The sharp wave is thought to originate directly in the hippocampus, so it seems like the hippocampus has recorded this activity, during the day, and plays it back during the night - over and over again, for long term storage somewhere else - presumably in the cerebral cortex.
There is one key difference between the activity of the place cells during the awake-behaving period to the activity during the sharp waves during sleep that should be mentioned. During awake navigation, the cells fire in order dictated by their place field in the time it takes him to move from one field to another - in this case the whole navigation of the 'maze' took about 4-5 seconds, so recording the whole sequence of place cell firing takes 5 seconds. But during sleep, during the sharp wave, they all fire in the same order, but it takes less than 200 milliseconds from the first to the last. So playback of this information was about 20X faster than recording - on average.
Interestingly, this speeding up of playback might just make it easier to understand how it gets stored in cortex, because neurons do everything fast. Action potentials, and biochemical pathways, everything takes milliseconds to reach completion. If an animal is going to learn that there is a relationship between two events (i.e. bar press = food reward), it's difficult because these things happen at a very slow timescale. And if it takes 200 milliseconds for the whole chain of events to be played back, it's a more reasonable task. And it ties the reasearch into a huge body of literature by people who study learning and memory at the single cell level - who find that co-activation of two cells within a time of 20 ms or so will lead to a strengthening of the connection between them.
So, basically, the idea is that, the hippocampus records a slow sequence of events and plays it back real fast, and the sequential firing of cells, drives cells in cortex to fire at the same time, and thereby strengthening the connections between the cortical cells. Thereby consolidating those memories there for long term storage.
Of course, saying that the hippocampus guides the long term storage of information in cerebral cortex begs the question: How does it get recorded in the hippocampus in the first place? But that's a whole different thing.
There's more to the story, that I'll get to tomorrow. There's some new data that came out last month that might throw a wrench in this model, or maybe not, it's unclear, it's cutting edge, you'll hear it here first.
Rock on.
Keith.
So, here's a few things you should know beforehand. It's possible to stick electrodes in a rat's brain and record the activity of single cells as the animal walks around and does what he does (you can distinguish more than 100 cells at a time if you're really good - the different colored clusters on the figure at left are responses from different cells). And it doesn't hurt the rat, he loves it, actually - they give him chocolate. Anyway, if you do this and stick electrodes in the animal's hippocampus, you can find cells that respond only when the animal is in a particular location - whether he's in a maze or wherever. 
And you can record from many cells and find cells that respond when he's in one place, and some that respond when he's in another place, and some when he's in a third place, and some when he's in a fourth place, and so on... They call these place cells. (The figure at right shows the responses of different cells as the animal moves from one area to the next - different cells are active when he's in different places.)So, people have done this (Lee and Wilson), and recorded where the animal goes and which cells fire. And then they record the activity of these cells while the animal is sleeping (during slow wave sleep i.e. deep sleep, with no dreaming).
During slow wave sleep, there are slow oscillations in activity of most of the cells in the area, accompanied by sharp waves, where you find many cells firing at the same time. (Those fast downward spikes on the EEG pictures during the still period are the sharp waves.) And if you look at the same cells that you were recording from when the animal was moving around, you find they are participating in the sharp wave, and 
they fire in the same order they fired in when the animal was navigating his maze. The sharp wave is thought to originate directly in the hippocampus, so it seems like the hippocampus has recorded this activity, during the day, and plays it back during the night - over and over again, for long term storage somewhere else - presumably in the cerebral cortex. There is one key difference between the activity of the place cells during the awake-behaving period to the activity during the sharp waves during sleep that should be mentioned. During awake navigation, the cells fire in order dictated by their place field in the time it takes him to move from one field to another - in this case the whole navigation of the 'maze' took about 4-5 seconds, so recording the whole sequence of place cell firing takes 5 seconds. But during sleep, during the sharp wave, they all fire in the same order, but it takes less than 200 milliseconds from the first to the last. So playback of this information was about 20X faster than recording - on average.
Interestingly, this speeding up of playback might just make it easier to understand how it gets stored in cortex, because neurons do everything fast. Action potentials, and biochemical pathways, everything takes milliseconds to reach completion. If an animal is going to learn that there is a relationship between two events (i.e. bar press = food reward), it's difficult because these things happen at a very slow timescale. And if it takes 200 milliseconds for the whole chain of events to be played back, it's a more reasonable task. And it ties the reasearch into a huge body of literature by people who study learning and memory at the single cell level - who find that co-activation of two cells within a time of 20 ms or so will lead to a strengthening of the connection between them.
So, basically, the idea is that, the hippocampus records a slow sequence of events and plays it back real fast, and the sequential firing of cells, drives cells in cortex to fire at the same time, and thereby strengthening the connections between the cortical cells. Thereby consolidating those memories there for long term storage.
Of course, saying that the hippocampus guides the long term storage of information in cerebral cortex begs the question: How does it get recorded in the hippocampus in the first place? But that's a whole different thing.
There's more to the story, that I'll get to tomorrow. There's some new data that came out last month that might throw a wrench in this model, or maybe not, it's unclear, it's cutting edge, you'll hear it here first.
Rock on.
Keith.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Memory Consolidation
I know a certain Jamoosh who likes to hear my random bits of info about science and nature, so I'll include one here tomorrow or the next day, when I figure out how to articulate it. It's really cool and at the cutting edge of neurobiology, so you will all be sure to LOVE it. I'll give a short background today.
I'm sure all my loyal lovely readers know that I work as a graduate student, studying neurobiology, and I'm sure everyone has loved my posts about bird migration and magnetosensation. Since I passed my qualifier, I've brought myself up to date on some literature which deals with some very high level issues about the function of the brain. And it's my blog and I can put here whatever I want, and since this is what's got hold of my mind right now, I'll blog it.
Anyway, I study a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which has long been known to be involved in learning and memory, as well as in siezure initiation in many forms of epilepsy. Nobody really knows what it does, and most of the knowledge comes from determining what happens when you cut it out. One guy, they refer to as patient H.M., like fitty years ago, had real bad epilepsy, so they cut out both of his hippocampi, and it totally screwed him up. He lives and breathes and communicates with others, and you might not know there was anything wrong with him, until you left the room briefly and he totally forgets who you are.He has short term memory, and he has long term memories - from before his operation, but he can't convert the short term memories into long term memories, something they call anterograde amnesia. It's much like that dude from Memento, which you should definitely go rent right now if you haven't seen it, not because of its biological relevance, but because it's a badass movie.
There's now some data which might explain how that whole "memory consolidation" magic happens, and I think it sheds light on the role of the hippocampus and perhaps the functional organization of the brain.
So tune in next time,
Keith.
I'm sure all my loyal lovely readers know that I work as a graduate student, studying neurobiology, and I'm sure everyone has loved my posts about bird migration and magnetosensation. Since I passed my qualifier, I've brought myself up to date on some literature which deals with some very high level issues about the function of the brain. And it's my blog and I can put here whatever I want, and since this is what's got hold of my mind right now, I'll blog it.
Anyway, I study a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which has long been known to be involved in learning and memory, as well as in siezure initiation in many forms of epilepsy. Nobody really knows what it does, and most of the knowledge comes from determining what happens when you cut it out. One guy, they refer to as patient H.M., like fitty years ago, had real bad epilepsy, so they cut out both of his hippocampi, and it totally screwed him up. He lives and breathes and communicates with others, and you might not know there was anything wrong with him, until you left the room briefly and he totally forgets who you are.
There's now some data which might explain how that whole "memory consolidation" magic happens, and I think it sheds light on the role of the hippocampus and perhaps the functional organization of the brain.
So tune in next time,
Keith.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
London Marathon Review
America's sweetheart Deena Kastor breaks her own American record by winning the London Marathon in 2:19:36. She's now the fourth fastest woman marathoner ever behind Racliffe, Ndereba, and Noguchi. Felix Limo of Kenya wins the men's race in 2:06:39. Khalid Khannouchi posts a strong fourth place finish in 2:07:04, and is probably already thinking of Chicago. Gebrselassie cramps and finishes in ninth. Paula Radcliffe hit the snooze button eight times this morning.
And I hit the snooze only 3 times, and then ran 4 miles. I wanted to run with the HRB gang this evening, but the afternoon heat scared me away, so I'll show up just for the meeting and the food.
Keith.
And I hit the snooze only 3 times, and then ran 4 miles. I wanted to run with the HRB gang this evening, but the afternoon heat scared me away, so I'll show up just for the meeting and the food.
Keith.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
London marathon is tommorow.
I was kidding a bit yesterday about Tergat being afraid of Gebrselassie. This article illustrates how heartbroken he was about having to drop out of tomorrows race. I feel for him, he seems like a nice guy. Perhaps, though, he was a bit intimidated, and trained himself into injury.
Here's a more complete list of the elite athletes for tomorrow's marathon. Make your pick for a chance to win tiny wind up car and an antennae ball. It's good to see some Americans in the hunt in both of these races too, but I'm sticking with Gebrselassie and Chepkemei.
Myself, I ran my 8 miler this morning. Nothing to report other than it's feeling easier than the last two eight milers. I'm starting to think I might be ready to bump it up to 5 miles per day after next week. We'll see. I might wait an extra week to make sure my foot will be okay.
Have a nice day.
Keith.
Here's a more complete list of the elite athletes for tomorrow's marathon. Make your pick for a chance to win tiny wind up car and an antennae ball. It's good to see some Americans in the hunt in both of these races too, but I'm sticking with Gebrselassie and Chepkemei.
| Elite Men | PR |
| Khalid Khannouchi (USA) | 2:05:38 |
| Evans Rutto (KEN) | 2:05:50 |
| Felix Limo (KEN) | 2:06:14 |
| Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 2:06:20 |
| Jaouad Gharib (MAR) | 2:07:02 |
| Martin Lel (KEN) | 2:07:26 |
| Stefano Baldini (ITA) | 2:07:29 |
| Shigeru Aburaya (JPN) | 2:07:52 |
| Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) | 2:08:32 |
| Tsuyoshi Ogata (JPN) | 2:08:37 |
| Shami Mubarak Hassan (QAT) | 2:09:22 |
| Jon Brown (GBR) | 2:09:31 |
| Christopher Isegwe (TAN) | 2:10:21 |
| Elite Women | PR |
| Margaret Okayo (KEN) | 2:20:43 |
| Deena Kastor (USA) | 2:21:16 |
| Constantina Dita (ROM) | 2:21:30 |
| Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) | 2:22.33 |
| Susan Chepkemei (KEN) | 2:23:12 |
| Mari Ozaki (JPN) | 2:23:30 |
| Selina Kosgei (KEN) | 2:24:32 |
| Mara Yamauchi (GBR) | 2:27:38 |
| Eri Hayakawa (JPN) | 2:28:50 |
| Galina Bogomolova (RUS) | 2:31:54 |
| Berhane Adere (ETH) | 2:41:50 |
Myself, I ran my 8 miler this morning. Nothing to report other than it's feeling easier than the last two eight milers. I'm starting to think I might be ready to bump it up to 5 miles per day after next week. We'll see. I might wait an extra week to make sure my foot will be okay.
Have a nice day.
Keith.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Whoosh.
Well, I managed to get my four miler done at the tail end of that storm this morning. That makes it 61 days for my running / no ice cream streak, which breaks my previous record of 60 days, which I set yesterday.
8 miles on tap for this weekend, as well as another 4 miler, although I haven't decided which day I'll do each of them. Probably, I'll do the 8 miler tomorrow.
I can still tell that there's something wrong with my footular area. Some achiness right at the cuboidular bone. Maybe I should do some kind of strength training for my feet.
In other news, I had to present a paper in our journal club this morning, and I really hate presenting things. It was a really cool paper, and I don't think I presented it well, so I'm kind of disappointed. I tried to communicate some rather abstract things about the possible function of a part of the brain called the hippocampus, and I just kind of fumbled through it. That and the presentation was pretty short and my advisor mentioned how short it was twice.
Who cares about that anyway, here's some news from the world of running - exclusively here!
Paul Tergat drops out of the London Marathon because he's scared of Haile Gebrselassie. In an off-the-record comment, questionable sources have quoted him as saying, "I moved to the marathon to get away from him, and now he's followed me here." Tergat went on to say, "I'm scared of Haile."
In other news that I made up, Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot will be featured on the Cheerio box.
Lastly, it's almost not completely untrue that the race director of the London marathon has confirmed that the winners of Sunday's race will be greeted at the finish line with a pie in the face.
Anyway,
Keith out.
My computer's still broke, so I might not be able to update this weekend.
8 miles on tap for this weekend, as well as another 4 miler, although I haven't decided which day I'll do each of them. Probably, I'll do the 8 miler tomorrow.
I can still tell that there's something wrong with my footular area. Some achiness right at the cuboidular bone. Maybe I should do some kind of strength training for my feet.
In other news, I had to present a paper in our journal club this morning, and I really hate presenting things. It was a really cool paper, and I don't think I presented it well, so I'm kind of disappointed. I tried to communicate some rather abstract things about the possible function of a part of the brain called the hippocampus, and I just kind of fumbled through it. That and the presentation was pretty short and my advisor mentioned how short it was twice.
Who cares about that anyway, here's some news from the world of running - exclusively here!
Anyway,
Keith out.
My computer's still broke, so I might not be able to update this weekend.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
4 miles and a picture that I like very much.
Hi America,
I ran 4 miles this morning and was pretty tired. I'm waiting for these four milers to start to feel easier.
Anyways, I'm at work working on a presentation that I'll have to give on Friday, and I wanted to share this figure from a paper I read in preparation.
Rock on.
Keith.
I ran 4 miles this morning and was pretty tired. I'm waiting for these four milers to start to feel easier.
Anyways, I'm at work working on a presentation that I'll have to give on Friday, and I wanted to share this figure from a paper I read in preparation.
Rock on.
Keith.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
How good are the race equivalency charts for you?
You probably know about the various race predictor charts. For example, Jack Daniels has the whole VDOT tables which you can find here. And another one that I like is the calculator from Greg McMillan's site. Galloway has one that's less ambitious (that's soooo Galloway ;) ).
So how good are they to predict your times? If they are off, do you believe that if you were in top shape, they would hold true?
And, if you're wondering, I ran 4 miles this morning.
Shake it like a salt shaker.
Keith.
So how good are they to predict your times? If they are off, do you believe that if you were in top shape, they would hold true?
And, if you're wondering, I ran 4 miles this morning.
Shake it like a salt shaker.
Keith.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Boston Marathon Recap
Two Kenyans win Boston, and nobody wins my antennae ball. I guess I'll roll it over to the winner of the London Marathon poll, so that winner will get a Jack-in-the-Box reindeer antennae ball that was slightly chewed on by my dog and/or a small windup car with a smiley face that I got from the Houston Marathon Expo that is kindof like that yellow car, but is a different one - it's a small police car. Alternatively, the winner could choose from some other junk I don't want.3 Americans in the top 5, and 5 in the top 10 (in the Men's race). There seems to be significant improvement in terms of American marathoners, although, still not really on the superelite level, like Tergat et al. But, I guess, the different conditions of different marathons make it difficult to compare - different runners have different strengths. Keflezighi beat all but one in the heat and hills of Athens, but at his current level, wouldn't stand a chance on the flat 'time trial' marathons of Berlin or London.
Meb missed a PR by 2 seconds, and Brian Sell PRs by 2 minutes 27 seconds for fourth place. Sell and 3 other Hanson-Brooks athletes took 4 out of the top 15 spots with Clint Verran in 10th, Luke Humphrey in 11th, and Chad Johnson in 15th. I guess 20 milers really aren't all that necessary. :) (Of course I'm kidding, the Hanson's "regular Joe" marathon plans top out at 16 miles, but their elite guys still run all day and night for months on end.)
I'll break from the norm to talk about my own running a bit. 4 miles this morning, was a little tough, but only because I couldn't get into it. I couldn't stop thinking about how much further I had to go before I could stop. I guess I was a little tired from Sunday's 8 miler. Oh, did I mention I ran 8 miles on Sunday?, maybe I haven't blogged that yet, well I did.
My foot hurts occasionally, in the same place that ruined my NYCM, but not too badly and not while I'm running. I plan to maintain the same mileage for at least two more weeks, so I hope it behaves itself.
Keith out.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Haile is my homeboy - Boston / London preview
Edited to add a more complete list of elite athletes in the Boston Marathon. Make your pick! People who guess any race correctly get a free Jack-in-the-Box Antennae Ball.
4 miler this morning, and it was slow and rough, I think I was a little dehydrated, and it was late because I forgot to set the alarm again, and it was hot, but who cares about that stuff anyways.
The Boston Marathon is this Monday, April 17th, and there are some wicked fast people running it. A lot of people are speculating that this year, an American might actually win it, which would be the first time since 1983. Meb Keflezighi seems to be leading the way for an American recovery to distance running greatness, and I hope he can win it. You probably know about his silver medal in the Olympic marathon, and his second place finish at the NYC marathon, and his second place finish in the US Olympic trials - so he's good enough to be among the leaders at the end, but it always seems to come down to who is having a great day on race day.
Alan Culpepper, the U.S. Olympic trial champ, and Brian Sell, the 2006 U.S. Half Marathon Champion, along with Clint Verran, and 6 others from the Hanson-Brooks team will be there too.
Hailu Negussie, last years winner will be there to defend, as well as Robert Kipkoech and Timothy Cherigat, the winners from 2003 and 2004. And another Kenyan named Wilson Onsare, who has the fastest time of the whole field (2:06:47), and John Korir, who has won tons of road races, but this is his first marathon.
Elite women in Boston are Jelena Prokopcuka, Rita Jeptoo, Reiko Tosa, Bruna Genovese, and others.
And next week is the London Marathon, which has an even more impressive field. It's a shame that those folks won't come over and race each other in Boston instead. This race features: Tergat, Rutto, Limo, Baldini, Gharib, Lel, Rop, and the one and only Gebrselassie, and the return of Khalid Khannouchi. It's almost disgusting. And the women's race isn't looking too bad either, although supposedly Paula Radcliffe has dropped out with a foot problem : but I wouldn't be surprised if she surprised me and re-entered and ran it. But there's still Okayo, and Chepkemei, Petrova, Tomescu-Dita, and America's sweetheart Deena Kastor to keep an eye on.
So, how about your picks? Who will win it all in Boston and London? Keep in mind, that I didn't mention everybody. You should vote in comments, because the other polls that I sometimes have on here are anonymous, and no one would know if you won or not.
So, for the record, I'm picking my homeboy Haile Gebrselassie to win in London, and Chepkemei to win the women's race.
And I'd like to see Keflezighi break the streak and win Boston, and Reiko Tosa to win the women's race, even though I've never heard of her, but I dig Japanese chicks so I vote Tosa.
Keith out.
4 miler this morning, and it was slow and rough, I think I was a little dehydrated, and it was late because I forgot to set the alarm again, and it was hot, but who cares about that stuff anyways.
The Boston Marathon is this Monday, April 17th, and there are some wicked fast people running it. A lot of people are speculating that this year, an American might actually win it, which would be the first time since 1983. Meb Keflezighi seems to be leading the way for an American recovery to distance running greatness, and I hope he can win it. You probably know about his silver medal in the Olympic marathon, and his second place finish at the NYC marathon, and his second place finish in the US Olympic trials - so he's good enough to be among the leaders at the end, but it always seems to come down to who is having a great day on race day.
Alan Culpepper, the U.S. Olympic trial champ, and Brian Sell, the 2006 U.S. Half Marathon Champion, along with Clint Verran, and 6 others from the Hanson-Brooks team will be there too.
Hailu Negussie, last years winner will be there to defend, as well as Robert Kipkoech and Timothy Cherigat, the winners from 2003 and 2004. And another Kenyan named Wilson Onsare, who has the fastest time of the whole field (2:06:47), and John Korir, who has won tons of road races, but this is his first marathon.
Elite women in Boston are Jelena Prokopcuka, Rita Jeptoo, Reiko Tosa, Bruna Genovese, and others.
And next week is the London Marathon, which has an even more impressive field. It's a shame that those folks won't come over and race each other in Boston instead. This race features: Tergat, Rutto, Limo, Baldini, Gharib, Lel, Rop, and the one and only Gebrselassie, and the return of Khalid Khannouchi. It's almost disgusting. And the women's race isn't looking too bad either, although supposedly Paula Radcliffe has dropped out with a foot problem : but I wouldn't be surprised if she surprised me and re-entered and ran it. But there's still Okayo, and Chepkemei, Petrova, Tomescu-Dita, and America's sweetheart Deena Kastor to keep an eye on.
So, how about your picks? Who will win it all in Boston and London? Keep in mind, that I didn't mention everybody. You should vote in comments, because the other polls that I sometimes have on here are anonymous, and no one would know if you won or not.
So, for the record, I'm picking my homeboy Haile Gebrselassie to win in London, and Chepkemei to win the women's race.
And I'd like to see Keflezighi break the streak and win Boston, and Reiko Tosa to win the women's race, even though I've never heard of her, but I dig Japanese chicks so I vote Tosa.
Keith out.
| Men’s Open Field | Personal Best |
| Wilson Onsare, Kenya | 2:06:47 (Paris, 2003) |
| William Kiplagat, Kenya | 2:06:50 (Amsterdam, 1999) |
| Tesfaye Tola, Ethiopia | 2:06:57 (Amsterdam, 1999) |
| Benjamin Maiyo, Kenya | 2:07:09 (Chicago, 2005) |
| Patrick Ivuti, Kenya | 2:07:46 (Chicago, 2005) |
| Julius Ruto, Kenya | 2:08:10 (Paris, 1999) |
| Hailu Negussie, Ethiopia | 2:08:16 (Hofu, 2002) |
| Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Kenya | 2:08:59 (Milan, 2002) |
| Timothy Cherigat, Kenya | 2:09:34 (San Sebastian, 2002) |
| Alan Culpepper, United States | 2:09:41 (Chicago, 2002) |
| Mebrahtom Keflezighi, United States | 2:09:53 (New York, 2004) |
| John Yuda, Tanzania | 2:10:13 (London, 2004) |
| Luc Krotwaar, Netherlands | 2:10:13 (Fukuoka, 2003) |
| Alirio Carrasco, Colombia | 2:12:09 (Chicago, 2003) |
| Brian Sell, United States | 2:13:22 (Chicago, 2004) |
| Clint Verran, United States | 2:14:17 (Chicago, 2002) |
| Kazuo Ietani, Japan | |
| John Korir, Kenya | Debut |
| Deriba Merga, Ethiopia | Debut |
| Women’s Open Field | Personal Best |
| Reiko Tosa, Japan | 2:22:46 (London, 2002) |
| Jelena Prokopcuka, Latvia | 2:22:56 (Osaka, 2005) NR |
| Derartu Tulu, Ethiopia (withdrawn) | 2:23:30 (Helsinki, 2005) |
| Rita Jeptoo, Kenya | 2:24:22 (Helsinki, 2005) |
| Elfenesh Alemu, Ethiopia (withdrawn) | 2:24:29 (London, 2001) |
| Alevtina Biktimirova, Russia | 2:25:12 (Frankfurt, 2005) |
| Zivile Balciunaite, Lithuania | 2:25:15 (Tokyo, 2005) NR |
| Olivera Jevtic, Serbia and Montenegro | 2:25:23 (Rotterdam, 2003) NR |
| Bruna Genovese, Italy | 2:25:35 (Tokyo, 2001) |
| Kiyoko Shimahara, Japan | 2:26:14 (Hokkaido, 2005) |
| Olesya Nurgalieva, Russia | 2:29:35 (New York, 2005) |
| Kutre Dulecha, Ethiopia | 2:30:06 (Amsterdam, 2005) |
| Tina Connelly, Canada | 2:34:43 (Sacramento, 2003) |
Billy Mills in the 1964 Olympic 5000m final
Got this from YouTube, it loads slowly, but it's incredible.
Keith.
Keith.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Will you BQ? - poll question
I like the idea of having qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. Sometimes, I wonder if the only reason I want to run it so bad is because they won't let me run it. (I also want to run the More Marathon and they won't let me run that one either!) But I like it because it gives the unwashed masses, who may never qualify for the Olympic Trials, or any elite events, something to aim for. Things like this, and age-group awards, go a long way towards promoting fitness in the average Johnny Punchclock and Sally Homemaker. I posed the question to Jon Warren in my email interview about whether or not the average person is physically capable of a BQ marathon time, but I think my underlying question was, "Should I bother trying?"
As of this morning, I've done one marathon, in around 5 hours and 23 minutes, so running a 3:10 marathon is more than a little rediculous, but in all honesty, I do think I might be able to qualify someday. I believe I was in shape last year to finish around 4:30, but had some foot problems going in, and I limped through the last half of the race, but 4:30 is still nowhere near BQ time. Sometimes, I try to deny it, but my body does seem to be capable of adaptation to training, and during a period of solid training last year, I even managed a 5 miler in 38:18 (don't laugh - I think that's fast). So, with some more years under my belt, and the extra time in qualifying that comes with it, maybe I can do it.
I've shed many of my self destructive impulses in the last few years, and have even flirted with self discipline every now and then. Grown-ups have such a huge advantage over children when it comes to discipline and consistency, and I'm still getting the hang of this grown-up thing. ;)
So, should I bother trying? Sure, why not, what else am I gonna do? But first things first. I've gone through phases of solid training, and solid slacking - the most recent being from the time of the NYCM to mid February or so. I've improved a lot in the last 8 weeks, and I've lost about 15 pounds, but I need several more months of consistency before I can run a solid marathon to even know where I'm starting from. So that's my goal for the year, stay injury free and run a solid marathon, which I think can be somewhere around 4:20 or so later this year.
Chatting with some training partners about what races we plan to run for our run at the TMC, we still have no idea which race will be first, and only two races, seem to be definite : the Sunmart 50K and the Houston Marathon.
What about you? Is Boston a big deal for you? Do you have a date with Heartbreak Hill in your future?
Rock on.
Keith.
As of this morning, I've done one marathon, in around 5 hours and 23 minutes, so running a 3:10 marathon is more than a little rediculous, but in all honesty, I do think I might be able to qualify someday. I believe I was in shape last year to finish around 4:30, but had some foot problems going in, and I limped through the last half of the race, but 4:30 is still nowhere near BQ time. Sometimes, I try to deny it, but my body does seem to be capable of adaptation to training, and during a period of solid training last year, I even managed a 5 miler in 38:18 (don't laugh - I think that's fast). So, with some more years under my belt, and the extra time in qualifying that comes with it, maybe I can do it.
I've shed many of my self destructive impulses in the last few years, and have even flirted with self discipline every now and then. Grown-ups have such a huge advantage over children when it comes to discipline and consistency, and I'm still getting the hang of this grown-up thing. ;)
So, should I bother trying? Sure, why not, what else am I gonna do? But first things first. I've gone through phases of solid training, and solid slacking - the most recent being from the time of the NYCM to mid February or so. I've improved a lot in the last 8 weeks, and I've lost about 15 pounds, but I need several more months of consistency before I can run a solid marathon to even know where I'm starting from. So that's my goal for the year, stay injury free and run a solid marathon, which I think can be somewhere around 4:20 or so later this year.
Chatting with some training partners about what races we plan to run for our run at the TMC, we still have no idea which race will be first, and only two races, seem to be definite : the Sunmart 50K and the Houston Marathon.
What about you? Is Boston a big deal for you? Do you have a date with Heartbreak Hill in your future?
Rock on.
Keith.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
4 miles - maybe I'm not a geek.
I missed the group run on the bridge this morning because of a mis-programmed alarm clock. But I still got my four miler in eventually, when I woke up on my own.
Last night, I tried to regain my "G-card" by rewiring my spare power supply to fit my Dell MOBO, and my computer still didn't work. I guess I could have done it wrong, but since it seems to have the same problems as using the old power supply, it looks like the problem is with the motherboard instead. Maybe it's time I got another one, it is about 8 years old, and changing the motherboard is not likely to be easy since it has to fit all that old hardware. A friend of my Mom's just got a refurbished computer through dfs-directsales.com, and he says it's good enough, and fairly cheap, so maybe I'll do that, or my boss says he might give me his old one.
So, maybe I'm not a geek. Since I can't fix my computer with spare junk that's lying around and lots and lots of electrical tape, and I can't even seem to program an alarm clock properly.
I didn't try to fix my computer last week because I felt like I needed a break from it, but now it's getting frustrating.
Shake it like a polaroid picture.
Keith.
Last night, I tried to regain my "G-card" by rewiring my spare power supply to fit my Dell MOBO, and my computer still didn't work. I guess I could have done it wrong, but since it seems to have the same problems as using the old power supply, it looks like the problem is with the motherboard instead. Maybe it's time I got another one, it is about 8 years old, and changing the motherboard is not likely to be easy since it has to fit all that old hardware. A friend of my Mom's just got a refurbished computer through dfs-directsales.com, and he says it's good enough, and fairly cheap, so maybe I'll do that, or my boss says he might give me his old one.
So, maybe I'm not a geek. Since I can't fix my computer with spare junk that's lying around and lots and lots of electrical tape, and I can't even seem to program an alarm clock properly.
I didn't try to fix my computer last week because I felt like I needed a break from it, but now it's getting frustrating.
Shake it like a polaroid picture.
Keith.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Back from vacation.
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for everyone's comments about my qualifier. I'm so relieved to have gotten it over with, I can't even describe it. It's a bit of a miracle that I've behaved myself in training and dieting all this time.
My vacation was nice. It was pretty busy and there were always things to do, but it was still a good break from my work. And I enjoyed running in the new environment. The weather was great, and I understand it was pretty nice here too. I ran everyday, just as planned, although I did push my 8 miler back to Sunday instead of Saturday, because I slept in a little too long on Saturday. That run went well, much better than I expected since it was the longest run since the Surfside half. And there were four milers on the other days. And somehow since I was gone, we've lost a couple of my favorite blogs, so that's a little sad. I know how it goes though, I sometimes want to hang up my bloggerID too. It's strange to feel pressure to do such a silly thing like blogging. Not to mention how difficult it is to keep up on everyone's blogs, and to keep making clever comments like, 'nice word verification word.'
Okay, back to running. For some reason I was a little spent this morning, and it took a little extra effort to get my butt out the door. The article that suggested I run every day predicted I'd have a difficult week the second week at a new mileage level, so I guess this is it. Hopefully it will get easier. I'll run the bridge tomorrow morning.
And as it turns out, I'll be without my computer for a while longer. My spare power supply is insufficient to power my computer because it's a Dell and they've modified the standard ATX form factor in several stupidly unnecessary ways, so I'm going to have to find and 8 year old Dell power supply or make an adaptor or get a new motherboard or do something else I haven't thought of yet.
There was something else I wanted to mention, but I don't remember what it was. And I want to go home now, and can't blog from home... dammit.
Keith out.
Thanks for everyone's comments about my qualifier. I'm so relieved to have gotten it over with, I can't even describe it. It's a bit of a miracle that I've behaved myself in training and dieting all this time.
My vacation was nice. It was pretty busy and there were always things to do, but it was still a good break from my work. And I enjoyed running in the new environment. The weather was great, and I understand it was pretty nice here too. I ran everyday, just as planned, although I did push my 8 miler back to Sunday instead of Saturday, because I slept in a little too long on Saturday. That run went well, much better than I expected since it was the longest run since the Surfside half. And there were four milers on the other days. And somehow since I was gone, we've lost a couple of my favorite blogs, so that's a little sad. I know how it goes though, I sometimes want to hang up my bloggerID too. It's strange to feel pressure to do such a silly thing like blogging. Not to mention how difficult it is to keep up on everyone's blogs, and to keep making clever comments like, 'nice word verification word.'
Okay, back to running. For some reason I was a little spent this morning, and it took a little extra effort to get my butt out the door. The article that suggested I run every day predicted I'd have a difficult week the second week at a new mileage level, so I guess this is it. Hopefully it will get easier. I'll run the bridge tomorrow morning.
And as it turns out, I'll be without my computer for a while longer. My spare power supply is insufficient to power my computer because it's a Dell and they've modified the standard ATX form factor in several stupidly unnecessary ways, so I'm going to have to find and 8 year old Dell power supply or make an adaptor or get a new motherboard or do something else I haven't thought of yet.
There was something else I wanted to mention, but I don't remember what it was. And I want to go home now, and can't blog from home... dammit.
Keith out.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Whoo hoo!
I passed! Whoo hoo! Look Away!
I'm now officially a Ph.D. candidate, and supposedly there aren't too many flaming hoops to jump through between now and the dissertation defense. And now I'm off to sunny Florida to kick back for a few days with the fam. I'm more than thrilled to have gotten this off my shoulders.
I started planning this little magnetosensation project way back in October. It's kind of silly how we do things here, where our qualifier is to write a grant proposal about a subject which is completely different than the one you work on, and plan it down to the last detail, all the while no one ever expects to actually do these experiments. I got tripped up on a few things, mainly because it's so very different from my own project, and there are some key differences between birds and mammals that only people that work with birds will know about. That, and there are questions where someone asks, "what else do you know about [blank]?" and they're looking for something very specific and it's hard to tell through the skull what they're thinking of. But I guess there was nothing serious enough to flunk me or even to make me rewrite the written portion, so that's nice.
Anywho, I'm on vacation for a few days. I plan to keep my streak alive during vacation (currently 47 days, counting a tired 4 miler this morning), and I'm usually pretty good about running on vacation, and there are some good routes around my Mom's house, so that will be cool. How do you like that!? I'm back on top, baby! It's the summer of Keith! Keith is back, baby!
If it ain't loose, then shake it like a loose tooth in a supertooth phonebooth!
Keith out.
I'm now officially a Ph.D. candidate, and supposedly there aren't too many flaming hoops to jump through between now and the dissertation defense. And now I'm off to sunny Florida to kick back for a few days with the fam. I'm more than thrilled to have gotten this off my shoulders.
I started planning this little magnetosensation project way back in October. It's kind of silly how we do things here, where our qualifier is to write a grant proposal about a subject which is completely different than the one you work on, and plan it down to the last detail, all the while no one ever expects to actually do these experiments. I got tripped up on a few things, mainly because it's so very different from my own project, and there are some key differences between birds and mammals that only people that work with birds will know about. That, and there are questions where someone asks, "what else do you know about [blank]?" and they're looking for something very specific and it's hard to tell through the skull what they're thinking of. But I guess there was nothing serious enough to flunk me or even to make me rewrite the written portion, so that's nice.
Anywho, I'm on vacation for a few days. I plan to keep my streak alive during vacation (currently 47 days, counting a tired 4 miler this morning), and I'm usually pretty good about running on vacation, and there are some good routes around my Mom's house, so that will be cool. How do you like that!? I'm back on top, baby! It's the summer of Keith! Keith is back, baby!
If it ain't loose, then shake it like a loose tooth in a supertooth phonebooth!
Keith out.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
4 miles on el bridgio
It's been a long time since I've been back on the Kemah Bridge with the gang from the club. But now that I'm up to 4 miles per day I can run two loops and I won't have to explain why I stopped running on the wrong side of the bridge. It felt pretty rough out there, but I actually kept a good pace, running 4.01 miles in 35:58 - possibly a record for me.
I'm pretty happy with this first week at 4 miles per day. I was concerned about my foot problems returning, but my new choos seem to be working out better than my last pair.
My qualifier is tomorrow. Everyone telling me to relax is making me nervous. I was relaxed. And then I'm off to sunny Florida for a few days of running along the golf courses and beaches all the while thinking of you poor bastards. I'll try to log in and report here the final verdict on my exam, and whether I get to keep my job or whether I have to start posing as a male model to make money.
For Dave:
Anyways, if it ain't loose, then shake it loose! (That's my new signature line.)
Keith.
I'm pretty happy with this first week at 4 miles per day. I was concerned about my foot problems returning, but my new choos seem to be working out better than my last pair.
My qualifier is tomorrow. Everyone telling me to relax is making me nervous. I was relaxed. And then I'm off to sunny Florida for a few days of running along the golf courses and beaches all the while thinking of you poor bastards. I'll try to log in and report here the final verdict on my exam, and whether I get to keep my job or whether I have to start posing as a male model to make money.
For Dave:
I think if you were having power supply problems it would be more severe, like randomly shutting off or smelling like burnt wires. I don't know what the problem is but you may have too many things running at the same time and maybe some spyware and stuff on there too robbing you of all your CPU time. Have you tried running "Spybot Search and Destroy"? It's a free program and something I run every couple of months or so to remove those kinds of things. Or it could be a virus, but it definitely sounds to me like it's a software thing rather than a hardware thing (unless theres a bunch of gunk built up on the mouseball :)).
Anyways, if it ain't loose, then shake it loose! (That's my new signature line.)
Keith.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
4 miles - 45 day streak
So, I told you my power supply on my computer is shot. Here's how much of a geek I am - I was looking through my drawer for something totally different, and I found another computer power supply. I don't remember where it came from, but it's the right form factor and everything.
I'm not going to fix it yet though, I'm tired of computing. I'll just update my blog quickly from work.
I ran another 4 miler this morning, and yes Dave, I'm still streaking. Whoo hoo - look away! 45 days. Things are starting to feel better - motivation wise. I'm going through a rough patch, where I have trouble remembering why I bother doing any of this. But things seem to be improving. Two more days, and my qualifier will be behind me, and I can quit obsessing about that. I had a practice presentation for some graduate students this afternoon and it seemed to go okay. There are a few points where I need to think about what I need to say because it gets complicated and I stumble around a bit.
Right after my qualifier, on Friday night, I'll be on an airplane out of here. I'll spend four days or so in sunny Florida and I'll visit my family, and we'll have a party for my gramma who will be 85 on Sunday.
Did I mention that you Rock?!
Keith out.
I'm not going to fix it yet though, I'm tired of computing. I'll just update my blog quickly from work.
I ran another 4 miler this morning, and yes Dave, I'm still streaking. Whoo hoo - look away! 45 days. Things are starting to feel better - motivation wise. I'm going through a rough patch, where I have trouble remembering why I bother doing any of this. But things seem to be improving. Two more days, and my qualifier will be behind me, and I can quit obsessing about that. I had a practice presentation for some graduate students this afternoon and it seemed to go okay. There are a few points where I need to think about what I need to say because it gets complicated and I stumble around a bit.
Right after my qualifier, on Friday night, I'll be on an airplane out of here. I'll spend four days or so in sunny Florida and I'll visit my family, and we'll have a party for my gramma who will be 85 on Sunday.
Did I mention that you Rock?!
Keith out.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
4 miles for Monday and another 4 miles for Tuesday.
Yesterday, I ran like that guy that was possessed by that bug in Men In Black. Rather, I jumped around, stomping my feet, running like a monkey runs. Not intentionally, of course. Today was a bit rough too, but not as rough, but still rough, just less so. Whatever enthusiasm I was riding last week is missing this week. The last two miles this morning, I started to find my rhythm again.
But then I came home to find out that my computer has died. I think it's the power supply. Not a huge problem - it's replaceable. But, because of that, I'm blogging from work, something I try not to do. But it's after five dot dot zero zero, and I was pretty productive today, so I don't feel too bad about it. My presentation for my qualifier is just about finished. Unfortunately, I'm probably going to go bananas before Friday.
Actually this running streak has kept me on level ground for the most part. Usually this type of stress would be my excuse to slack off on my running and dieting. Also, the overwhelming success of the 'ice cream counter' has been a bit of a surprise. I think I'll start a 'Pizza counter' and maybe a 'Snack cracker counter' too. Then I would be unstoppable. Like Hannibal with the elephants. Unless things go awry, and I wind up floating down the amazon with an army of tiny monkeys at my feet.
I'm going to leave my computer in it's currently dead state for a while.
Rock on.
Keith.
But then I came home to find out that my computer has died. I think it's the power supply. Not a huge problem - it's replaceable. But, because of that, I'm blogging from work, something I try not to do. But it's after five dot dot zero zero, and I was pretty productive today, so I don't feel too bad about it. My presentation for my qualifier is just about finished. Unfortunately, I'm probably going to go bananas before Friday.
Actually this running streak has kept me on level ground for the most part. Usually this type of stress would be my excuse to slack off on my running and dieting. Also, the overwhelming success of the 'ice cream counter' has been a bit of a surprise. I think I'll start a 'Pizza counter' and maybe a 'Snack cracker counter' too. Then I would be unstoppable. Like Hannibal with the elephants. Unless things go awry, and I wind up floating down the amazon with an army of tiny monkeys at my feet.I'm going to leave my computer in it's currently dead state for a while.
Here's a little something to cheer you up.
Rock on.
Keith.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The start of the 4 milers ...
Alright, so I feel well enough to kick it up a notch. BAM!
4 milers from here on out, until I feel ready for 5 milers, or until I croak.
I had the opportunity to run with some friends this morning, and almost took it. But, they wanted to go 6, and I only wanted to go 4, and since starting at 6AM meant getting up at 4:45 (which was really 3:45), I passed. I should have though, since the alternative was oversleeping, and running 4 in the heat of midday.
I decided that my new shoes looked a little too clean and white, so I ran down on the Seabrook trails today. I got started pretty late, and it was about 79F already, and sunny. I had it all planned for a one mile extension to a normal 3 mile route, but it came up short. Anyways, I ran until my GF said it was 4 miles. She and I will take a break for the next few weeks. She keeps pushing me to go faster, and I keep telling her that I'm not ready for that. Having a GF can be hard on the old body.
So here's some data to compare to my pace after a few weeks of four milers - provided I don't crash and burn before then.
27 March - 1 April (after 4 weeks of 3+ miles per day)
3 mile daily runs - average pace = 9:41
6 mile run - average pace = 9:16
Keith out.
4 milers from here on out, until I feel ready for 5 milers, or until I croak.
I had the opportunity to run with some friends this morning, and almost took it. But, they wanted to go 6, and I only wanted to go 4, and since starting at 6AM meant getting up at 4:45 (which was really 3:45), I passed. I should have though, since the alternative was oversleeping, and running 4 in the heat of midday.
I decided that my new shoes looked a little too clean and white, so I ran down on the Seabrook trails today. I got started pretty late, and it was about 79F already, and sunny. I had it all planned for a one mile extension to a normal 3 mile route, but it came up short. Anyways, I ran until my GF said it was 4 miles. She and I will take a break for the next few weeks. She keeps pushing me to go faster, and I keep telling her that I'm not ready for that. Having a GF can be hard on the old body.
So here's some data to compare to my pace after a few weeks of four milers - provided I don't crash and burn before then.
27 March - 1 April (after 4 weeks of 3+ miles per day)
3 mile daily runs - average pace = 9:41
6 mile run - average pace = 9:16
Keith out.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
6 miles - and an analysis of the accuracy of my gift.
Here are the stats for my run this morning:
1 : 9:11
2 : 9:12
3 : 9:13
4 : 9:02
5 : 9:21
6 : 9:36
Total : 6 miles in 55:39
Avg Pace : 9:16
Yesterday I used my gift of foresight into the near future to predict that I would average about 9:15 for this run. That pace seemed a little ambitious, and maybe a little unwise for me at this point, because of my lingering foot problems, but I can't really help that, I sees what I sees.
I ran with the club, and tried to keep up with the faster group for the first four miles, which explains the pace, and the last two I did by myself and slowed down a bit. I guess my predictions were pretty close, and I was right, my foot did (and still does) feel alright, so I am hopeful. Wow, I should use my gift more often - but only for good - I vowed that a long time ago.
This afternoon ... I will go to the grocery store ... to buy some more Rice-a-Roni, and I'll be impressed with the many varieties, and I'll debate the strengths and weaknesses for a very long time ... I'll forget to buy dog treats ... when I get home, I'll be moderately disappointed when the episode of Stargate that comes on will be one I've seen already ... Florida beats George Mason ... LSU beats UCLA ... That's all I sees right now.
Keith.
1 : 9:11
2 : 9:12
3 : 9:13
4 : 9:02
5 : 9:21
6 : 9:36
Total : 6 miles in 55:39
Avg Pace : 9:16
Yesterday I used my gift of foresight into the near future to predict that I would average about 9:15 for this run. That pace seemed a little ambitious, and maybe a little unwise for me at this point, because of my lingering foot problems, but I can't really help that, I sees what I sees.
I ran with the club, and tried to keep up with the faster group for the first four miles, which explains the pace, and the last two I did by myself and slowed down a bit. I guess my predictions were pretty close, and I was right, my foot did (and still does) feel alright, so I am hopeful. Wow, I should use my gift more often - but only for good - I vowed that a long time ago.
This afternoon ... I will go to the grocery store ... to buy some more Rice-a-Roni, and I'll be impressed with the many varieties, and I'll debate the strengths and weaknesses for a very long time ... I'll forget to buy dog treats ... when I get home, I'll be moderately disappointed when the episode of Stargate that comes on will be one I've seen already ... Florida beats George Mason ... LSU beats UCLA ... That's all I sees right now.
Keith.
Friday, March 31, 2006
3 miles on Friday
I'm very glad it's Friday. I ran another 3 miler this morning - surprise.
Here are my splits:
1 : 10:10
2 : 9:42
3 : 9:03
Total : 3.04 miles in 29:16
Avg Pace : 9:37
I tried to keep the pace easy, but there was still a mile around 9 m/m. But my foot feels okay. Tomorrow, I'll do an even worse job of keeping my pace easy - Oh, I'm not sure if you know this, but, I can see the future a little. Yeah, tomorrow, I'll run with the club and I'll average around 9:15 for 6 miles. But my foot will feel okay for that run too, so I'll attribute it to a good pair of shoes and I'll be hopeful that I've solved the problem.
Keith.
Here are my splits:
1 : 10:10
2 : 9:42
3 : 9:03
Total : 3.04 miles in 29:16
Avg Pace : 9:37
I tried to keep the pace easy, but there was still a mile around 9 m/m. But my foot feels okay. Tomorrow, I'll do an even worse job of keeping my pace easy - Oh, I'm not sure if you know this, but, I can see the future a little. Yeah, tomorrow, I'll run with the club and I'll average around 9:15 for 6 miles. But my foot will feel okay for that run too, so I'll attribute it to a good pair of shoes and I'll be hopeful that I've solved the problem.
Keith.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Update
Here are my stats so that you may update your graphs.
Wednesday
1 : 10:19
2 : 9:46
3 : 9:20
Total : 3.06 miles in 29:56
Avg Pace : 9:47
Thursday
1 : 10:04
2 : 9:23
3 : 9:03
Total : 3.11 miles in 29:29
Avg Pace : 9:29
The past few days or so, it's become more obvious that I can feel my left foot hurting me, right there by the cuboid, right where it hurt me last year and trashed my NYCM time. So that's upsetting me a bit right now. I got a different pair of shoes today, a stability shoe from New Balance, similar to the first pair of running shoes I had. Those shoes seemed to work out for me pretty well, and since I can't find that exact model, I'll try something similar.
And the date for the oral qualifier is set, but it won't be tomorrow like I was hoping, but next Friday. So I have another week to get more and more sick of reading about those stupid birds. I'm certainly ready to get this over with. At least today is finished now, I had to present a poster with some of my modeling experiments that I've done, but now that it's over, the importance of the whole experience is questionable. Preparation of a scientific poster takes a long time, and it has to look absolutely perfect, and there are always tons of revisions to the figures and to the text - it takes at least a week of solid work - boring work - struggling with software - not struggling with data acquisition, which is what I should be struggling with. And the only people we presented them to today are people that either work with us and know it already, or people that work on something totally different and don't care. Plus, I didn't win anything, so bleh!
I gotta go, I just found out that Lex Luthor is working with that girl that is hypnotizing Clark and I'm floored!
Keith.
Wednesday
1 : 10:19
2 : 9:46
3 : 9:20
Total : 3.06 miles in 29:56
Avg Pace : 9:47
Thursday
1 : 10:04
2 : 9:23
3 : 9:03
Total : 3.11 miles in 29:29
Avg Pace : 9:29
The past few days or so, it's become more obvious that I can feel my left foot hurting me, right there by the cuboid, right where it hurt me last year and trashed my NYCM time. So that's upsetting me a bit right now. I got a different pair of shoes today, a stability shoe from New Balance, similar to the first pair of running shoes I had. Those shoes seemed to work out for me pretty well, and since I can't find that exact model, I'll try something similar.
And the date for the oral qualifier is set, but it won't be tomorrow like I was hoping, but next Friday. So I have another week to get more and more sick of reading about those stupid birds. I'm certainly ready to get this over with. At least today is finished now, I had to present a poster with some of my modeling experiments that I've done, but now that it's over, the importance of the whole experience is questionable. Preparation of a scientific poster takes a long time, and it has to look absolutely perfect, and there are always tons of revisions to the figures and to the text - it takes at least a week of solid work - boring work - struggling with software - not struggling with data acquisition, which is what I should be struggling with. And the only people we presented them to today are people that either work with us and know it already, or people that work on something totally different and don't care. Plus, I didn't win anything, so bleh!
I gotta go, I just found out that Lex Luthor is working with that girl that is hypnotizing Clark and I'm floored!
Keith.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Busy busy busy
Things are totally converging on me this week at work, but I still got out this morning, as scheduled, for my 3 miler.
Here are my stats.
1 : 10:03
2 : 9:37
3 : 9:34
Total : 3.05 miles in 29:41
Avg Pace : 9:44
I've fallen a little behind on reading everyone's blogs and leaving clever comments like, "Hey, nice run!" or "Hey, nice word verification word!" My oral qualifier is looking like it's going to be this Friday, and there's also a poster that I had to make to present on Thursday.
After this week it should be much easier, and I'm even taking a short trip home next weekend for my Gramma's 85th birthday, so that will be a nice break.
5000 G, Peace.
Keith.
Here are my stats.
1 : 10:03
2 : 9:37
3 : 9:34
Total : 3.05 miles in 29:41
Avg Pace : 9:44
I've fallen a little behind on reading everyone's blogs and leaving clever comments like, "Hey, nice run!" or "Hey, nice word verification word!" My oral qualifier is looking like it's going to be this Friday, and there's also a poster that I had to make to present on Thursday.
After this week it should be much easier, and I'm even taking a short trip home next weekend for my Gramma's 85th birthday, so that will be a nice break.
5000 G, Peace.
Keith.
Monday, March 27, 2006
3 rough miles
So, it was clear before, but it's even more clear now that I'm not ready for two-a-days. I'm achey in many new places.
I've been wondering if the proper extrapolation of running everyday is not running more everyday, but running more than once a day. Judging by how difficult it is, it must be good for me. Perhaps that's a good experiment for another year.
So, this will be my fourth week at 3 miles per day, and I think it will be the last before I bump it up to 4, so I'm going to start bringing my watch again so I have some data to compare to my training after 4 weeks of 4 miles per day and subsequently 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 miles per day in the coming months. I'll proceed to add one mile per day like that until I disintegrate. I'll post a poll on when people think I will disintegrate soon.
So here are my splits for my rough 3 miles.
1 : 10:04
2 : 9:53
3 : 9:42
Total : 3.07 miles in 30:19
Avg Pace : 9:52
Have a good day, please.
Keith.
I've been wondering if the proper extrapolation of running everyday is not running more everyday, but running more than once a day. Judging by how difficult it is, it must be good for me. Perhaps that's a good experiment for another year.
So, this will be my fourth week at 3 miles per day, and I think it will be the last before I bump it up to 4, so I'm going to start bringing my watch again so I have some data to compare to my training after 4 weeks of 4 miles per day and subsequently 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 miles per day in the coming months. I'll proceed to add one mile per day like that until I disintegrate. I'll post a poll on when people think I will disintegrate soon.
So here are my splits for my rough 3 miles.
1 : 10:04
2 : 9:53
3 : 9:42
Total : 3.07 miles in 30:19
Avg Pace : 9:52
Have a good day, please.
Keith.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
2.9 miles - 2 runs in one day.
I'm a sucker for a group run, so I ran a lap around Memorial with some of the HRBers. This was the first time I ran twice in one day, and it certainly felt like it. But it feels good to know that I can run even though I'm tired. It's been a while since I've felt like I was in decent shape.
I enjoyed our meeting and our speaker, Tom McBrayer, he rocks so much he could be an HRBer himself. Apparently he certifies all the courses in the whole state, which exceed 10^8. My Bleu Cheese Burger was very good, but the fries were subpar - cold and limp, but I could tell that they were good when they were fresh, so that's something.
I'd write more about all the lovely bloggers that were present and running and chatting with Joe and James David and all the other lovely bloggers too, but it's getting late and I'm gettings sleeplys. I don't even care about the typos anymre. Gotta run tomorrow morning - day 36, and 4/9 people predicted my streak would end between 36 and 40, so I can't miss it!
Sleepy time.
Keith out.
I enjoyed our meeting and our speaker, Tom McBrayer, he rocks so much he could be an HRBer himself. Apparently he certifies all the courses in the whole state, which exceed 10^8. My Bleu Cheese Burger was very good, but the fries were subpar - cold and limp, but I could tell that they were good when they were fresh, so that's something.
I'd write more about all the lovely bloggers that were present and running and chatting with Joe and James David and all the other lovely bloggers too, but it's getting late and I'm gettings sleeplys. I don't even care about the typos anymre. Gotta run tomorrow morning - day 36, and 4/9 people predicted my streak would end between 36 and 40, so I can't miss it!
Sleepy time.
Keith out.
6.6 miles for another group run.
I'm not sure why, but this run really wiped me out. It happened yesterday too, after my run and errands I found myself having difficulty to walk in a straight line. At about 3PM yesterday, I hit the couch and crashed for about an hour and then stared into space for another hour or so until I could move my arms and legs again. I feel like having another nap today, but I'm at work now, and I've got a bunch of stuff to do. And I'm starving. I'm going to order the largest hamburger in the history of really really large hamburgers after a lap around Memorial this afternoon.
This morning's run was very nice. I got to run with 5 fabulous babes from the club, and it was about 45 degrees, so it was perfect once we got moving. It has really turned into a beautiful day. Maybe I will take a nap. I am at work, but maybe I could go lay under a tree and have a nap for an hour or so.
Okay, I'll go give that a shot. See you later.
Keith out.
This morning's run was very nice. I got to run with 5 fabulous babes from the club, and it was about 45 degrees, so it was perfect once we got moving. It has really turned into a beautiful day. Maybe I will take a nap. I am at work, but maybe I could go lay under a tree and have a nap for an hour or so.
Okay, I'll go give that a shot. See you later.
Keith out.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
4.4 miles with the CLFC
There was frost on my car windows this morning, I think for the first time this year. Boy, that was cold, at first. 10 minutes running and everything was fine though. I ran with the club for a nice four point four miler. The group was a lot smaller because a bunch of them have made the trip up to the bluebell run. I'm a little sorry I didn't go up for that one. It sounds like a nice course and a good race, and there were a lot of CLFCers and HRBers there, but I don't plan on doing any racing for several months. I know it's a little strange to say it, but I feel like racing interrupts my training.
I had trouble getting out of bed at 5:40 this morning. I had that familiar 'why bother' feeling that I've struggled with in the past, but as things got moving, and I got to running with the peeps I felt a lot better.
After my run, I finally got around to fixing my flat tire that I got right before the Surfside half marathon. I've been riding around on my little donut tire for about 7 weeks. I always put stuff like that off for as long as humanly possible. And pretty much the only reason I'm doing it now is because I got that ticket last month and I have to pass inspection before I can get the case dismissed.
I also had them fix a leak in the rear brake cylinder while I was there. I always hate bringing my car to the mechanic because it always winds up costing way more than I planned, and I'm never quite sure if it's all really necessary. Today, it wasn't so bad, since the guy showed me everything that was wrong and was up front about how much it would all cost, so I don't feel like I got skinned too badly. Not like last time, when I took my old car to Brake Check and it wound up costing me more than $900, and then something else broke the next day and it cost me a few hundred dollars more. I'm not sure if they were being dishonest, or if it was just a tough situation with my P.O.S. car.
Okay, HRB meeting tommorrow. See you there.
Keith.
I had trouble getting out of bed at 5:40 this morning. I had that familiar 'why bother' feeling that I've struggled with in the past, but as things got moving, and I got to running with the peeps I felt a lot better.
After my run, I finally got around to fixing my flat tire that I got right before the Surfside half marathon. I've been riding around on my little donut tire for about 7 weeks. I always put stuff like that off for as long as humanly possible. And pretty much the only reason I'm doing it now is because I got that ticket last month and I have to pass inspection before I can get the case dismissed.
I also had them fix a leak in the rear brake cylinder while I was there. I always hate bringing my car to the mechanic because it always winds up costing way more than I planned, and I'm never quite sure if it's all really necessary. Today, it wasn't so bad, since the guy showed me everything that was wrong and was up front about how much it would all cost, so I don't feel like I got skinned too badly. Not like last time, when I took my old car to Brake Check and it wound up costing me more than $900, and then something else broke the next day and it cost me a few hundred dollars more. I'm not sure if they were being dishonest, or if it was just a tough situation with my P.O.S. car.
Okay, HRB meeting tommorrow. See you there.
Keith.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
3 milers are getting easy.
3 yesterday, 3 today, 3 tommorrow, 3 Saturday, 6 Sunday, 3 Monday, 3 Tuesday, 3 Wednesday ...
These three milers are getting to be almost completely effortless, which I like because it's very easy to get myself out the door to run them. I feel like I'm ready to bump it up to 4 miles per day, but I'm hesitant. Before I started this new regime, I had planned to bump up my mileage when I reached a certain weight, and I'm getting there, but it will probably take another week or two.
I'm worried about a return of my mysterious foot pains, which, if you remember, I had transiently diagnosed as a subluxated cuboid bone, but have come to the conclusion that it was probably just a stressed ligament. These problems seem to strike when I'm running a lot and carrying some extra fat, so I think it's a good idea to couple my weight loss goals with my mileage increases, but I don't have a good rationale for the equation to use.
I guess I'll stick with 3 miles for at least one more week and decide about another week at that point. And I'm going to run with some peeps from the club this weekend, and perhaps we'll figure out what marathon we want to start with in the fall to begin our run at the TMC, so maybe I'll have a better idea how aggresssive I need to be with my mileage increases.
Keith out.
These three milers are getting to be almost completely effortless, which I like because it's very easy to get myself out the door to run them. I feel like I'm ready to bump it up to 4 miles per day, but I'm hesitant. Before I started this new regime, I had planned to bump up my mileage when I reached a certain weight, and I'm getting there, but it will probably take another week or two.
I'm worried about a return of my mysterious foot pains, which, if you remember, I had transiently diagnosed as a subluxated cuboid bone, but have come to the conclusion that it was probably just a stressed ligament. These problems seem to strike when I'm running a lot and carrying some extra fat, so I think it's a good idea to couple my weight loss goals with my mileage increases, but I don't have a good rationale for the equation to use.
I guess I'll stick with 3 miles for at least one more week and decide about another week at that point. And I'm going to run with some peeps from the club this weekend, and perhaps we'll figure out what marathon we want to start with in the fall to begin our run at the TMC, so maybe I'll have a better idea how aggresssive I need to be with my mileage increases.
Keith out.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
People who do things in moderation are jerks.
3 achey miles yesterday, and 3 less achey miles today.
About this time last year, I started a similar trend of running everyday, and I managed a streak of 30 days before taking a day off. I only mention it because today was my 30th day for the current streak. I remember that first day I took off, because I was thinking, "30 days on and one day off, that will be the system, tomorrow I'll start another 30 day streak."
In actuality, I followed that 30 day streak with 4 days off, then one more day of running, then 6 days off, then one more day of running then 10 days off. I guess it's really not consistency I have a problem with, because I can be consistently good, or consistently awful. I can't do anything in moderation, and I'm sick of people who can have one chip, or one scoop of ice cream. What a bunch of assholes.
Take care of yourselves, and each other.
Love, Keith.
About this time last year, I started a similar trend of running everyday, and I managed a streak of 30 days before taking a day off. I only mention it because today was my 30th day for the current streak. I remember that first day I took off, because I was thinking, "30 days on and one day off, that will be the system, tomorrow I'll start another 30 day streak."
In actuality, I followed that 30 day streak with 4 days off, then one more day of running, then 6 days off, then one more day of running then 10 days off. I guess it's really not consistency I have a problem with, because I can be consistently good, or consistently awful. I can't do anything in moderation, and I'm sick of people who can have one chip, or one scoop of ice cream. What a bunch of assholes.
Take care of yourselves, and each other.
Love, Keith.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon Relay
A lot of people really like training for and racing half marathons, but I think the quarter marathon is even better, at least I think that now that I'm not in half marathon shape. Our relay team, "The Hometown Heroes," consisted of Sue, Keith, Jim, and Tonia, all from the Clear Lake Fitness Club. My leg was 2nd, and it was already a little bit warm outside, I wouldn't have wanted to do more than one loop out there today. Luckily the clouds and tree cover kept the sun from killing me, and there was a pretty nice breeze which helped as well. The sun came out and beat down on me the last 3/4 mile or so, and by then I was more than ready to be finished. I was thinking that anything under 65 minutes would be a pretty good finish, considering how undisciplined I had been about my training in the first part of this year, but I thought I had improved considerably in the last four weeks, and that I had an outside shot at breaking 1 hour. I finished in about 61 minutes, and based on how hard it was, I think it's a pretty good determinant of the shape I'm in right now.
After my leg of the relay was finished, and after I recovered a little, I asked where I could be helpful, so they put me back out on the route, to make sure everyone went the right direction. They put me on the trail, at the first major turn, right as the runners began their fourth loop. My position was all but obsolete, because there was a sign with an arrow on it there too. And the crowd quickly got pretty thin, but that meant that I could walk back towards the start and run with some of the runners for a quarter mile or so.
So, I got to run briefly with 50 stater Steve Boone, who I met at the Surfside race too, and Brenda from my club, and our very own Holden Choi, so it was a pretty cool place to be. Steve had already passed on his fourth loop.
And I walked and chatted briefly with a man and a woman for a bit, and enjoyed their back and forth banter. I naively asked if they were up for one more lap and he said "why not, maybe two more, maybe we'll run until it's dark." It turned out this was his 97th marathon, not counting ultras and even 100milers, and I later found out that this was none other than Dr. Muscles himself (Chris Rampacek).
So I think it's a pretty good race, and of course I'm completely unbiased. The heat can be a factor for a race this late in the year, and the humorous part of that is that on Tuesday it's supposed to cool down by 15-20 degrees. I was concerned that the trails would be very crowded, but it wasn't bad at all, so the staggered start for marathon and half-marathon is definitely a good idea. They had signs up every couple hundred feet or so, with running trivia, with the answers a few signs later, and some facts about the runners, including a sign that told Jan's story about weight loss and training for Houston, and a sign about Dr. Muscles and others.
The only suggestion I have for the race director, is basically the same suggestion I have for all race directors, and that is that I think the overall winners should get hit with a pie in the face as soon as they finish. Speaking of that, some dude named Bryan Smith from Louisiana ran a 2:47:22 to win it.
Rock on.
Keith.
After my leg of the relay was finished, and after I recovered a little, I asked where I could be helpful, so they put me back out on the route, to make sure everyone went the right direction. They put me on the trail, at the first major turn, right as the runners began their fourth loop. My position was all but obsolete, because there was a sign with an arrow on it there too. And the crowd quickly got pretty thin, but that meant that I could walk back towards the start and run with some of the runners for a quarter mile or so.
So, I got to run briefly with 50 stater Steve Boone, who I met at the Surfside race too, and Brenda from my club, and our very own Holden Choi, so it was a pretty cool place to be. Steve had already passed on his fourth loop.
And I walked and chatted briefly with a man and a woman for a bit, and enjoyed their back and forth banter. I naively asked if they were up for one more lap and he said "why not, maybe two more, maybe we'll run until it's dark." It turned out this was his 97th marathon, not counting ultras and even 100milers, and I later found out that this was none other than Dr. Muscles himself (Chris Rampacek).
So I think it's a pretty good race, and of course I'm completely unbiased. The heat can be a factor for a race this late in the year, and the humorous part of that is that on Tuesday it's supposed to cool down by 15-20 degrees. I was concerned that the trails would be very crowded, but it wasn't bad at all, so the staggered start for marathon and half-marathon is definitely a good idea. They had signs up every couple hundred feet or so, with running trivia, with the answers a few signs later, and some facts about the runners, including a sign that told Jan's story about weight loss and training for Houston, and a sign about Dr. Muscles and others.
The only suggestion I have for the race director, is basically the same suggestion I have for all race directors, and that is that I think the overall winners should get hit with a pie in the face as soon as they finish. Speaking of that, some dude named Bryan Smith from Louisiana ran a 2:47:22 to win it.
Rock on.
Keith.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
3 miles after oversleeping
It's funny that getting up at 7:45 counts as oversleeping now. I only mention it because my alarm didn't go off this morning. The power went out and screwed everything up. I'm lucky this didn't happen tomorrow. It's one thing to oversleep and miss my race, but I'm doing the relay, and I would have a lot of apologizing to do after missing that one.
I use an alarm clock program I wrote for my computer, so I think I'll rewrite it today, so that it can come back on with the same settings after the power comes back on. I've been meaning to do that.
The weather for tomorrows race is probably somewhat imperfect. Weather.gov says it will be 68F at the start, and 74F by 11AM, with 8 - 15 mph winds.
I use an alarm clock program I wrote for my computer, so I think I'll rewrite it today, so that it can come back on with the same settings after the power comes back on. I've been meaning to do that.
The weather for tomorrows race is probably somewhat imperfect. Weather.gov says it will be 68F at the start, and 74F by 11AM, with 8 - 15 mph winds.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Sad day yesterday, hamster-wise.
It was a sad day yesterday. My poor little hamster finally passed away. It was becoming increasingly clear over the last week that he wasn't going to last much longer, and he was approaching the upper limit of a hamster's life expectancy, so I was preparing for it a little.
His name was '40 oz. Gangsta,' and you'd better not look 'em in the eye cuz he'll cut yo ass, foo.
Actually he was the most gentle creature on earth, and he never tried to bite anyone, and never even tried to avoid people like most hamsters do. He was formerly an experimental animal (shhhh) that I 'procured' from the place I used to work, so I guess you could say he was lucky to have me too.
So, if you don't mind, pour one out for my homey.
Keith.
His name was '40 oz. Gangsta,' and you'd better not look 'em in the eye cuz he'll cut yo ass, foo.
Actually he was the most gentle creature on earth, and he never tried to bite anyone, and never even tried to avoid people like most hamsters do. He was formerly an experimental animal (shhhh) that I 'procured' from the place I used to work, so I guess you could say he was lucky to have me too.
So, if you don't mind, pour one out for my homey.
Keith.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
3 miles and a Poll Question
3 miles on the same loop I've run for a couple of weeks. I felt stronger than I have in a while, so I hope the relay goes well this weekend.
Keith.
Keith.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Neglible Cellular Senescence
Neglible Cellular Senescence is the term for helping cells to rid themselves of toxins and possibly replenish your body with new youthful cells in an effort to dramatically extend your lifespan. Here's an article asking 'We will be able to live to 1,000.' But it brings up a good point about science in general. If any of you ever come up with a radical idea about science, the first thing you should do is to shave your two foot beard. Nobody believes guys with two foot beards.
Rock on.
Keith.
Rock on.
Keith.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
3 miles against my will
I didn't really feel like running this morning. It was cold, and although that makes it much more enjoyable once I get going, it's still harder to get out the door. And it aggravates my asthma too. But I survived, and felt okay after a couple miles.
The weather outlook for the race this weekend seems like a mixed bag. It seems like it will be in the 60's for most of the race, but it might rain (30%), and it might get a little windy (11-12mph from the North). Probably 2/3 of the trails should be pretty well shielded from the wind, but there is a fairly long (one mile) straightaway that could get breezy.
Keith out.
The weather outlook for the race this weekend seems like a mixed bag. It seems like it will be in the 60's for most of the race, but it might rain (30%), and it might get a little windy (11-12mph from the North). Probably 2/3 of the trails should be pretty well shielded from the wind, but there is a fairly long (one mile) straightaway that could get breezy.
Keith out.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
3 miles - the trails are ready.
I ran a bit down on the Seabrook trails, site of next weekend's Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon / Half-Marathon / Relay, and the preparations are visible. They've resurfaced a lot of the trails and it's new crushed stone, packed very well. It's very flat and stable. The mile markers are down already, every mile, painted on the grass right next to the trail. Everyone at the club was very excited about it yesterday, especially Robby Sabban, the race director, who apparently hasn't been sleeping very much. It should be a very good race.
The weather forecast from weather.gov is not quite good enough to foretell the temperature for Sunday morning, but it predicts 56 and 55 for Friday and Saturday mornings, so if that is the trend, it seems about as good as can be expected. There might be some chance of showers, which might stabilize the temperature, so it doesn't get too hot.
I don't know if the bloggers ever got together for a relay team or not. There are some relay spots still open, and I think Robby said there were about 18 spots left for the marathon/half marathon too (but that was yesterday). And it's probably important to note that online registration closes TODAY! (Sunday 12 March!)
Anywho, Run strong, and oh yeah, run long too.
Keith out.
The weather forecast from weather.gov is not quite good enough to foretell the temperature for Sunday morning, but it predicts 56 and 55 for Friday and Saturday mornings, so if that is the trend, it seems about as good as can be expected. There might be some chance of showers, which might stabilize the temperature, so it doesn't get too hot.
I don't know if the bloggers ever got together for a relay team or not. There are some relay spots still open, and I think Robby said there were about 18 spots left for the marathon/half marathon too (but that was yesterday). And it's probably important to note that online registration closes TODAY! (Sunday 12 March!)
Anywho, Run strong, and oh yeah, run long too.
Keith out.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
6 miles - it's warm out there
6 miles. My longest run since the Surfside half marathon. The club has reloaded with a bunch of new people. There were many more people there than I expected with the BCC today and everything.
It seems like the mental barriers have been rebuilt a little. After a little while, I planned to quit at 4 miles and walk it in, and then extended it to 5 miles, but eventually I just decided to stop complaining and finish up. My legs had enough energy, it was just uncomfortable. It was pretty warm and humid out there, maybe that was part of it.
Hamster update: I think he's improving, he seems to be moving around a little easier. He's eaten some more apple, and he really enjoyed some tangelo I put in there.
Okay, I've gotta go read some papers about gene manipulation in chickens. I can send you some pdfs if you want them.
Keith.
It seems like the mental barriers have been rebuilt a little. After a little while, I planned to quit at 4 miles and walk it in, and then extended it to 5 miles, but eventually I just decided to stop complaining and finish up. My legs had enough energy, it was just uncomfortable. It was pretty warm and humid out there, maybe that was part of it.
Hamster update: I think he's improving, he seems to be moving around a little easier. He's eaten some more apple, and he really enjoyed some tangelo I put in there.
Okay, I've gotta go read some papers about gene manipulation in chickens. I can send you some pdfs if you want them.
Keith.
Friday, March 10, 2006
What an unfunny day.
After work, I'm driving in my car, obeying all traffic laws, because I'm a very safe driver. And I'm in the left turn lane, and there's a line of cars behind me, and some dude doesn't realize that I'm in the left turn lane and pulls up next to this line of cars, on the total wrong side of the road. He eventually realizes how he's messed up and he stops and sits there on the wrong side of the road for the duration of the extraordinarily long light. But I'm thinking that it's a little funny because he's stuck way out there, and there's a cop car right across the street. Well, the light eventually changes and I go and the guy makes his way back onto the proper side of the road, and the cop takes off in our direction. But, apparently, a dude like me, who has an expired sticker, is a much greater threat to public safety than the guy that likes to drive on the wrong side of the road. And the cop didn't even slow down to run that other guys plate. He went straight for me.
Anywho, when I got home I found a couple of movies from Netflix in my mailbox, so that helped my mood a little.
Work is all writing all day. Qualifier coming up. Keith gonna crack.
Anyway, I hope everyone who's running the BCC has a great day tomorrow. I liked the BCC the year I ran it, it was my first goal race, I was training for it for six months. If it weren't for my racing moratorium, I'd be running it too. I'm heading down to Clear Lake Park to run 6 with some peeps from the club.
Have a good weekend,
Love, Keith.
Anywho, when I got home I found a couple of movies from Netflix in my mailbox, so that helped my mood a little.
Work is all writing all day. Qualifier coming up. Keith gonna crack.
Anyway, I hope everyone who's running the BCC has a great day tomorrow. I liked the BCC the year I ran it, it was my first goal race, I was training for it for six months. If it weren't for my racing moratorium, I'd be running it too. I'm heading down to Clear Lake Park to run 6 with some peeps from the club.
Have a good weekend,
Love, Keith.
Tired 3 miles - here's an unfunny post
I ran 3 miles this morning, as usual, and I felt kind of tired the whole way.
But it was more mental fatigue than physical fatigue. I've been kind of upset since last night. I was looking at my poor little hamster, and it seemed like his eyes were sealed shut, so I picked him up and did my best to wipe away the eyegunk, and I noticed that he is not doing well in other ways too. He stumbles around and he seems very weak and uncoordinated. It also appears that he hasn't been eating much and has lost some weight.
This morning he seems a little more energetic, so hopefully he's improving. I got him to eat some fresh apple, and I gave him a capful of my protein shake, but I don't know if he'll drink that or not. I'll see how he's doing tomorrow and decide if he needs to see the vet.
Keith.
But it was more mental fatigue than physical fatigue. I've been kind of upset since last night. I was looking at my poor little hamster, and it seemed like his eyes were sealed shut, so I picked him up and did my best to wipe away the eyegunk, and I noticed that he is not doing well in other ways too. He stumbles around and he seems very weak and uncoordinated. It also appears that he hasn't been eating much and has lost some weight.
This morning he seems a little more energetic, so hopefully he's improving. I got him to eat some fresh apple, and I gave him a capful of my protein shake, but I don't know if he'll drink that or not. I'll see how he's doing tomorrow and decide if he needs to see the vet.
Keith.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
3 miles, chance of showers
3 yesterday, and 3 more today. It started raining a little as I finished up, which is kind of nice, once in a while.
I've been a little achey yesterday and today, but better today, yet still a little achey, but better. Achey, but less achey, and yet still just a bit achey. Maybe a little more than a bit, maybe a chunk achey. But, yesterday, I was a load of achey, and today, only a chunk, so I'm achey, but better.
Gotta go to work now.
Keith out.
I've been a little achey yesterday and today, but better today, yet still a little achey, but better. Achey, but less achey, and yet still just a bit achey. Maybe a little more than a bit, maybe a chunk achey. But, yesterday, I was a load of achey, and today, only a chunk, so I'm achey, but better.
Gotta go to work now.
Keith out.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
3 miles - and a vague description of the training plan
3 miles, around my neighborhood. I'm starting to feel like a runner again. I've been getting that achey, too-much-energy, feeling in my legs when I'm at work. It's strange that I can be tired from my morning run, and at the same time, itching to run some more.
I intend to run 3 miles per day with 6 miles on Saturday for at least three weeks, and then bump it up to 4 miles per day with 8 on Saturdays, and we'll see what happens then. By that time, it might be time to start the marathon buildup. I'm pretty psyched to get back into marathon training, but I always start the difficult training too early and burn out (like two years ago - training for my first half), or get hurt (like last year - training for NYCM), so I'm resisting that urge for now.
So, the plan here is, to start with short daily mileage to find my rhythm, and re-establish the habit, and that has begun, so I'm happy about that. Then build mileage, and run aimlessly, with no racing for a good long while (except Seabrook). And start a beginner marathon program, and try to get to the start line of an early Fall marathon healthy and happy.
Rock on.
Keith.
I intend to run 3 miles per day with 6 miles on Saturday for at least three weeks, and then bump it up to 4 miles per day with 8 on Saturdays, and we'll see what happens then. By that time, it might be time to start the marathon buildup. I'm pretty psyched to get back into marathon training, but I always start the difficult training too early and burn out (like two years ago - training for my first half), or get hurt (like last year - training for NYCM), so I'm resisting that urge for now.
So, the plan here is, to start with short daily mileage to find my rhythm, and re-establish the habit, and that has begun, so I'm happy about that. Then build mileage, and run aimlessly, with no racing for a good long while (except Seabrook). And start a beginner marathon program, and try to get to the start line of an early Fall marathon healthy and happy.
Rock on.
Keith.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
3 miles yesterday, 3 miles this morning
So far, so good. I know it's only 3 miles, but the times I've done this sort of training before, it did get difficult after 5-6 days at a new level, but then got easier. I even got up at 7AM on Sunday so I could stick to my schedule. I think it's better than sleeping in until noon on Sunday, and then having my rhythm totally screwed up for a half-week.
I'm curious to know how fast I'm going, because I haven't taken my watch with me for several weeks. But I think I'll run without it for a while longer. I might even run my leg of the Seabrook Relay without it. I tried racing with no watch before, and I hated it, but I think the main problem was because I didn't know the distances on that race either. That was the Jingle Bell Run, and the mile markers weren't even there half the time (at least I didn't see them). I've run the Seabrook trails a hundred times, and I know the distances between everything already, so I don't think it will be a big problem.
I like the consistency of running everyday, at the same time everyday. Maybe not everybody would like it, but I do. I posted this link before, but here it is again. --Rethinking the hard-easy myth-- It's an article about running consistent distances everyday, and how it might be beneficial for some types of training. It's probably not suitable for marathon training, at least not in its most simple extrapolation, but I have a couple of months before I start gearing up for another marathon.
-Keith
I'm curious to know how fast I'm going, because I haven't taken my watch with me for several weeks. But I think I'll run without it for a while longer. I might even run my leg of the Seabrook Relay without it. I tried racing with no watch before, and I hated it, but I think the main problem was because I didn't know the distances on that race either. That was the Jingle Bell Run, and the mile markers weren't even there half the time (at least I didn't see them). I've run the Seabrook trails a hundred times, and I know the distances between everything already, so I don't think it will be a big problem.
I like the consistency of running everyday, at the same time everyday. Maybe not everybody would like it, but I do. I posted this link before, but here it is again. --Rethinking the hard-easy myth-- It's an article about running consistent distances everyday, and how it might be beneficial for some types of training. It's probably not suitable for marathon training, at least not in its most simple extrapolation, but I have a couple of months before I start gearing up for another marathon.
-Keith
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Spring Program sign-up at CLFC
I woke up at 4:30 this morning, for just a four mile run. I wanted to get to the park and get finished before it was time to help set-up for the spring program sign up. As it turned out, there were like 15 people there to help set-up, and not much to do, so I could have slept in a bit longer.
It was probably about half returning people and half new people there, and I think it's going to be a little chaotic, because everybody is there to do something different. In the fall, everybody is training for the Houston marathon, or half marathon, but now everybody is planning for something different, and some people are just starting out. So, it should be fun.
And, as far as my efforts to give up my sense of humor for Lent, I did pretty good not trying to say anything funny, which was a big improvement from yesterday, where for about an hour I had a huge lapse in focus. But it was an extreme situation, where one of the bulbs on the microscope blew out, so we changed it and the light never came back on. And it was difficult to figure out, and for a while there were four highly educated people scratching their heads about why the light bulb don't work! But that's no excuse, I should have resisted the urge to point out how stupidly funny the whole situation was.
Two weeks left until the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon/ Half-Marathon/ Relay. I'm doing the relay with my friends Tonia, Sue, and Jim, from the club. Our team name is The Hometown Heroes. Also, the race director told me about some of the goodies that will be in the goodie bag for the race, and apparently everybody gets a pair of NB running socks, and a bag - some kind of bag with a drawstring and armthings to wear it on your back.
Keith.
It was probably about half returning people and half new people there, and I think it's going to be a little chaotic, because everybody is there to do something different. In the fall, everybody is training for the Houston marathon, or half marathon, but now everybody is planning for something different, and some people are just starting out. So, it should be fun.
And, as far as my efforts to give up my sense of humor for Lent, I did pretty good not trying to say anything funny, which was a big improvement from yesterday, where for about an hour I had a huge lapse in focus. But it was an extreme situation, where one of the bulbs on the microscope blew out, so we changed it and the light never came back on. And it was difficult to figure out, and for a while there were four highly educated people scratching their heads about why the light bulb don't work! But that's no excuse, I should have resisted the urge to point out how stupidly funny the whole situation was.
Two weeks left until the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon/ Half-Marathon/ Relay. I'm doing the relay with my friends Tonia, Sue, and Jim, from the club. Our team name is The Hometown Heroes. Also, the race director told me about some of the goodies that will be in the goodie bag for the race, and apparently everybody gets a pair of NB running socks, and a bag - some kind of bag with a drawstring and armthings to wear it on your back.
Keith.
Friday, March 03, 2006
2 miles, felt good.
2 miles again, and I didn't bring my watch, but it seems like I'm pretty much back to a decent pace (for me at least). I'll run four tomorrow, and two on Sunday, and I'll start with three miles a day on Monday.
Well, my first day without wisecracks was interesting (Just so you're up to speed, I'm giving up wisecracks for Lent - please ignore the fact that giving up wisecracks for Lent is itself a bit funny). I'll wait a bit longer before I call it a huge revelation, but there were some interesting results. I only had a few slipups, and they weren't even very funny, so I'll need to focus a little better.
Keith.
Well, my first day without wisecracks was interesting (Just so you're up to speed, I'm giving up wisecracks for Lent - please ignore the fact that giving up wisecracks for Lent is itself a bit funny). I'll wait a bit longer before I call it a huge revelation, but there were some interesting results. I only had a few slipups, and they weren't even very funny, so I'll need to focus a little better.
Keith.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
2 more miles, and Keith get's a makeover.
I ran two miles again this morning. It was difficult at first, but then got easy.
I've decided to give something up for Lent. I'm not sure why, I never have before, and I don't even really know what Lent is.
Actually, I've been intrigued by a book I heard about called Give It Up! : My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less. I didn't read it or anything, but apparently some woman gave up something for a month, a different thing each month, and in the process she learned things or appreciated things or something. And I think maybe I should do that because, I really don't appreciate any of this crap. :)
Okay, here's a quote from the Amazon page.
From the stuff she gave up, the only one I'd really have trouble with would be for television.
But, I guess this would be my list.
Television.
Fast food and ice cream. (except I gave that up 10 days ago)
Blogging.
WebSurfing.
Movies and restaurants.
Diet soda.
Making jokes.
Hmm. Before I started writing the list, I thought I'd probably end up giving up television this month, but I'm curious now, what would happen if I stopped making jokes about everything. That's very interesting. I'm not sure I'm capable of it. I even made a joke a second ago about not appreciating any of this crap. I appreciate many things. Maybe, I could use a personality makeover, I'm not entirely happy with the current state of affairs.
Okay, that's what I'll do. I won't make any jokes about things for the whole month of March. I'll say what I really feel.
Rock on.
Keith.
I've decided to give something up for Lent. I'm not sure why, I never have before, and I don't even really know what Lent is.
Actually, I've been intrigued by a book I heard about called Give It Up! : My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less. I didn't read it or anything, but apparently some woman gave up something for a month, a different thing each month, and in the process she learned things or appreciated things or something. And I think maybe I should do that because, I really don't appreciate any of this crap. :)
Okay, here's a quote from the Amazon page.
Like most people, Mary Carlomagno was stressed out, overscheduled, and tripping over the clutter of her days -- until she decided to take control and simplify her life. Each month she renounced one thing: alcohol, shopping, elevators, newspapers, cell phones, dining out, television, taxis, coffee, cursing, chocolate, and multitasking. During the course of the year, Mary took stock of her life, discovered what was really important, and gained a deeper appreciation for the world around her.
From the stuff she gave up, the only one I'd really have trouble with would be for television.
But, I guess this would be my list.
Television.
Fast food and ice cream. (except I gave that up 10 days ago)
Blogging.
WebSurfing.
Movies and restaurants.
Diet soda.
Making jokes.
Hmm. Before I started writing the list, I thought I'd probably end up giving up television this month, but I'm curious now, what would happen if I stopped making jokes about everything. That's very interesting. I'm not sure I'm capable of it. I even made a joke a second ago about not appreciating any of this crap. I appreciate many things. Maybe, I could use a personality makeover, I'm not entirely happy with the current state of affairs.
Okay, that's what I'll do. I won't make any jokes about things for the whole month of March. I'll say what I really feel.
Rock on.
Keith.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Lego Spiderman 2
Okay, I didn't know everybody loved Legos as much as I did.
You have to check out this movie. It's the Lego version ofSpiderman 2.
Okay, that link might not work. Try this one.
-- And check out these Lego-glasses I found.
Jen - did you know that blog comments are actually considered a legally binding contract?
Rock on.
Keith.
You have to check out this movie. It's the Lego version of
Okay, that link might not work. Try this one.
-- And check out these Lego-glasses I found.
Jen - did you know that blog comments are actually considered a legally binding contract?
Rock on.
Keith.
10 day streak ...
... and I'm feeling pretty good. It's been clear for many years, that I can't do things halfway. Moderation is not easy for me. I either train and diet like a swiss watch, or it's total chaos.
But things are going smoothly, I've been finding it easier and easier to get up in the morning, and I actually woke up 15 minutes before the alarm clock went off this morning. And these two mile runs are short and easy and just enough to get the day started right. At some point, probably next week, I'll bump it up to 3 miles each morning. Two doesn't feel like enough some mornings (and it's the two hard miles, no easy miles).
But I wonder, sometimes, if a healthy and fit Keith is good for this blog. Maybe there are enough stories in this group about people striving towards goals and overcoming obstacles to succeed in the end. Don't we need a golden bright and shining example of a lazy quitter?
Rock on.
Keith.
But things are going smoothly, I've been finding it easier and easier to get up in the morning, and I actually woke up 15 minutes before the alarm clock went off this morning. And these two mile runs are short and easy and just enough to get the day started right. At some point, probably next week, I'll bump it up to 3 miles each morning. Two doesn't feel like enough some mornings (and it's the two hard miles, no easy miles).
But I wonder, sometimes, if a healthy and fit Keith is good for this blog. Maybe there are enough stories in this group about people striving towards goals and overcoming obstacles to succeed in the end. Don't we need a golden bright and shining example of a lazy quitter?
Rock on.
Keith.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
2 + 2
2 miles yesterday and 2 miles today. Nothing really to note about them. No great difficulties. No wild animals. No chicks checking me out, but there was one old lady I think was checking me out. (old ladies love me)
Work is a hassle for me right now. I'm supposed to write up a summary of this computational project we've been working on, so that we can figure out what we want to publish, and then of course I'll write that paper. I'm also supposed to be working on my proposal, finishing up the details and preparing an oral presentation. And I found out the other day that I'm supposed to write up another publication (maybe two) about some work I did two years ago. All writing and no working makes me crazy.
But I guess I'm focusing on the negative as I am prone to do. Publications are good. I just wish someone else would write them, and I'll collect the data. You'd think someone would go for that, but, no.
Why don't you buy yourself something nice today, maybe a nice cup of coffee, or a pair of sunglasses, or a nice spiral notebook, or a set of legos, or a book. You deserve it. You are <insert your name>, and you one of a kind.
Keith.
Work is a hassle for me right now. I'm supposed to write up a summary of this computational project we've been working on, so that we can figure out what we want to publish, and then of course I'll write that paper. I'm also supposed to be working on my proposal, finishing up the details and preparing an oral presentation. And I found out the other day that I'm supposed to write up another publication (maybe two) about some work I did two years ago. All writing and no working makes me crazy.
But I guess I'm focusing on the negative as I am prone to do. Publications are good. I just wish someone else would write them, and I'll collect the data. You'd think someone would go for that, but, no.
Why don't you buy yourself something nice today, maybe a nice cup of coffee, or a pair of sunglasses, or a nice spiral notebook, or a set of legos, or a book. You deserve it. You are <insert your name>, and you one of a kind.
Keith.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
2 more miles and a discussion on vitamin supplements
I ran a little two miler down by the Seabrook trails. It's kind of a drive for just a little 2 miler, but I wanted to get out of my neighborhood while I can. It takes too long during the week.
Anyway, I always thought those people that take tons of vitamins were usually flaky hippies. But since I decided to start taking care of myself (May 2003, 248 lbs), my supplement count has creeped up, and now there's 4 of them! And I'm researching whether or not I should add a fifth. It already seems like a lot, but I have good reason for each of them.
My Daily Multivitamin - The first one I started. My grandma sends me these vitamins (Centrum), and she sends them way too often. She sends the 100 pill bottle every couple of months or so, and I have about a year's supply at this point.
Vitamin C - I started taking this to get over a cold, and I think it does help for that, but I stuck with it after I got over it. It's an immune system booster (supposedly), and an antioxidant too.
Calcium - Good for bones and teeth. I would have thought it would be good for your brain too, because it's such an important signalling molecule, but apparently, it's so important for brain function, your body will harvest Calcium from your bones long before levels in your brain drop.
Omega-3/6/9 Essential Fatty Acids - It better be good for me, because it smells and tastes terrible.
I'm considering another antioxidant supplement. There's already a lot of vitamin C, but it's limited because it's so hydrophilic, it doesn't have access to all cellular compartments.
Anywho, am I missing any good ones? What supplements do you take?
Keith.
Anyway, I always thought those people that take tons of vitamins were usually flaky hippies. But since I decided to start taking care of myself (May 2003, 248 lbs), my supplement count has creeped up, and now there's 4 of them! And I'm researching whether or not I should add a fifth. It already seems like a lot, but I have good reason for each of them.
My Daily Multivitamin - The first one I started. My grandma sends me these vitamins (Centrum), and she sends them way too often. She sends the 100 pill bottle every couple of months or so, and I have about a year's supply at this point.
Vitamin C - I started taking this to get over a cold, and I think it does help for that, but I stuck with it after I got over it. It's an immune system booster (supposedly), and an antioxidant too.
Calcium - Good for bones and teeth. I would have thought it would be good for your brain too, because it's such an important signalling molecule, but apparently, it's so important for brain function, your body will harvest Calcium from your bones long before levels in your brain drop.
Omega-3/6/9 Essential Fatty Acids - It better be good for me, because it smells and tastes terrible.
I'm considering another antioxidant supplement. There's already a lot of vitamin C, but it's limited because it's so hydrophilic, it doesn't have access to all cellular compartments.
Anywho, am I missing any good ones? What supplements do you take?
Keith.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
4 mile long run
I met a couple people down at clear lake park for a few miles this morning. 4 miles counts as my long run now! This short mileage is starting to feel too easy now, but I'm going to stick with it for a while longer before I increase. I'd like to solidify my newfound consistency before I make it harder.
It was nice and cool this morning, foggy and cool. No rain yet, it might not be so bad. It was beautiful down by Clear Lake, and there were two teams of people from the rowing club out on their boats. I think I might like to try that too. I've heard it's a pretty good workout.
I hope the weather cooperates for the Rodeo Run. Good luck everyone.
The weekends are always traumatic to my healthy lifestyle. Keep an eye on the Ice Cream counter on the left panel. Let's see if it gets reset.
Anyway, Have a good weekend.
Keith.
It was nice and cool this morning, foggy and cool. No rain yet, it might not be so bad. It was beautiful down by Clear Lake, and there were two teams of people from the rowing club out on their boats. I think I might like to try that too. I've heard it's a pretty good workout.
I hope the weather cooperates for the Rodeo Run. Good luck everyone.
The weekends are always traumatic to my healthy lifestyle. Keep an eye on the Ice Cream counter on the left panel. Let's see if it gets reset.
Anyway, Have a good weekend.
Keith.
Friday, February 24, 2006
2 miles - and a HUGE announcement.
2 more miles, a five day streak for me, but who cares.
I'm working on something huge. Something that will transform this website and bring it to the next level. I know what you're thinking, there is no next level, but I believe there is, and if not, I'll create a next level.
Very soon, the superfans among you will be able to broadcast your superfan status, and subsequently elevate your place in society.
Someone also gave me the idea to have Keith-brand bottled sports drink and maybe Keith-brand candy bars, so I'm kicking around ways to implement that.
Rock on.
Keith.
I'm working on something huge. Something that will transform this website and bring it to the next level. I know what you're thinking, there is no next level, but I believe there is, and if not, I'll create a next level.
Very soon, the superfans among you will be able to broadcast your superfan status, and subsequently elevate your place in society.
Men's Tee - Text says "Imagine a world without hatred"
Display your superfan status and at the same time, inform the world that you're not entirely happy with its attitude.
Ladies Yoga Top - Keith is always there
to assure you that you CAN do it!
Someone also gave me the idea to have Keith-brand bottled sports drink and maybe Keith-brand candy bars, so I'm kicking around ways to implement that.
Rock on.
Keith.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
2 miles and 3 raw eggs
Okay, 13 eggs is too much. 13 would probably ruin my whole day. And Barbara even tried to change her sponsorship to make it 19 eggs. So, I changed the rules, which I think is okay because the rules were never defined in the first place.
So, the rule is, "there is a limit of one egg sponsorship per person." Which made it 3 eggs, more than enough to prove my point, especially considering that I never had a point in the first place.
Here are my splits:
Egg 1: I was pretty nervous and wondering why I even started this whole stupid thing. But I took a sip, and even though they're all mixed together in the cup, they come out one by one. And it went down almost without notice. No sweat. There's not much taste, there's just a very rich, fatty, texture. But it goes down easy, I even think about not cheating and doing all 13.
Egg 2: More difficult. 3 will be enough. The yolk broke, but still went down quickly.
Egg 3: Worst one yet. For some reason, I didn't swallow it right away and it just stopped right in my mouth, with the yolk right on my tongue. Very slimy. Exactly as you'd imagine it. And I couldn't bring myself to swallow it for several traumatic seconds. The only thing to do was to break the yolk first and then swallow. Very upsetting.
Right now, about a half hour later, they're still down, but I do feel kind of funny. I have the vague feeling that I want to throw up. But I did it, not exactly with the same composure that Rocky Balboa did it, but it's done.
Tune in next week when I eat 1 cubic feet of packing peanuts.
Rock on.
Keith.
So, the rule is, "there is a limit of one egg sponsorship per person." Which made it 3 eggs, more than enough to prove my point, especially considering that I never had a point in the first place.
Here are my splits:
Egg 1: I was pretty nervous and wondering why I even started this whole stupid thing. But I took a sip, and even though they're all mixed together in the cup, they come out one by one. And it went down almost without notice. No sweat. There's not much taste, there's just a very rich, fatty, texture. But it goes down easy, I even think about not cheating and doing all 13.
Egg 2: More difficult. 3 will be enough. The yolk broke, but still went down quickly.
Egg 3: Worst one yet. For some reason, I didn't swallow it right away and it just stopped right in my mouth, with the yolk right on my tongue. Very slimy. Exactly as you'd imagine it. And I couldn't bring myself to swallow it for several traumatic seconds. The only thing to do was to break the yolk first and then swallow. Very upsetting.
Right now, about a half hour later, they're still down, but I do feel kind of funny. I have the vague feeling that I want to throw up. But I did it, not exactly with the same composure that Rocky Balboa did it, but it's done.
Tune in next week when I eat 1 cubic feet of packing peanuts.
Rock on.
Keith.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Get your egg in...
2 more miles on the third day of the rest of my life.
Okay, so I'm going to have to get some fresh eggs tonight. The ones I have are still before their expiration date, but it's close.
So, here are the current sponsors.
Cassie - 1 raw egg
Edwin - 5 raw eggs
Barbara - 7 raw eggs
Total - 13 raw eggs
- the number is getting high, but what the hell, I'll still do it.
I'll accept egg sponsorships until midnight tonight, so there's still time to get your egg in. Keep in mind though, that too many raw eggs and I could get salmonella poisoning and die.
Rock on.
Keith.
Okay, so I'm going to have to get some fresh eggs tonight. The ones I have are still before their expiration date, but it's close.
So, here are the current sponsors.
Cassie - 1 raw egg
Edwin - 5 raw eggs
Barbara - 7 raw eggs
Total - 13 raw eggs
- the number is getting high, but what the hell, I'll still do it.
I'll accept egg sponsorships until midnight tonight, so there's still time to get your egg in. Keep in mind though, that too many raw eggs and I could get salmonella poisoning and die.
Rock on.
Keith.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
2 more miles on the road to recovery
2 more miles this morning.
So nobody dared me to drink a raw egg. Come on! I'm dying to try it. Dare me already! Come on!
So nobody dared me to drink a raw egg. Come on! I'm dying to try it. Dare me already! Come on!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Watching the Winter Olympics...
This weekend was the first chance I had to really get into the Olympics and I enjoyed almost all of it. For the most part I prefer the sports that don't have judges, but are based solely on the clock or the finish line.
I have new appreciation for the biathlon. I kind of thought that this was a really odd pairing of sports, skiing and shooting. I'm reminded of a joke Norm Macdonald made about combining the 100 yard dash with fishing. But I get it now, and I wonder how good I'd be at something that requires such calm and focus like marksmanship, in the middle of a very difficult race. My guess is not so good. I also think it's funny to see people skiing with guns on their back.
And the coolest winter sport, in my opinion, is short track speed skating. It just seems so fast and chaotic. I guess the only problem I have with it is really about how Apolo Ohno is the only person they ever talk about. I'm sure he's a fine person and all, and I respect the fact that he gave up a rock and roll lifestyle to go live in the dorms at the Olympic Training Center to focus on his training, but there' s too much Apolo.
And the regular speed skating is cool too. And the 1500m race tomorrow should be pretty good, two of the Americans are the favorites. Chad Hedrick (from Houston) is the world record holder and Shani Davis is the former world record holder. Unfortunately NBC seems to be focusing on the fact that they're mad at each other, and it's getting kind of silly. And I was reading about Joey Cheek, who won gold in the 500m and silver in the 1000m, because he donated all his bonus money form the USOC to children in African refugee camps, and I learned from the NBC website, that he enjoys "building and shooting potato guns." It just seemed interesting.
Anywho.
Keith out.
I have new appreciation for the biathlon. I kind of thought that this was a really odd pairing of sports, skiing and shooting. I'm reminded of a joke Norm Macdonald made about combining the 100 yard dash with fishing. But I get it now, and I wonder how good I'd be at something that requires such calm and focus like marksmanship, in the middle of a very difficult race. My guess is not so good. I also think it's funny to see people skiing with guns on their back.
And the coolest winter sport, in my opinion, is short track speed skating. It just seems so fast and chaotic. I guess the only problem I have with it is really about how Apolo Ohno is the only person they ever talk about. I'm sure he's a fine person and all, and I respect the fact that he gave up a rock and roll lifestyle to go live in the dorms at the Olympic Training Center to focus on his training, but there' s too much Apolo.
And the regular speed skating is cool too. And the 1500m race tomorrow should be pretty good, two of the Americans are the favorites. Chad Hedrick (from Houston) is the world record holder and Shani Davis is the former world record holder. Unfortunately NBC seems to be focusing on the fact that they're mad at each other, and it's getting kind of silly. And I was reading about Joey Cheek, who won gold in the 500m and silver in the 1000m, because he donated all his bonus money form the USOC to children in African refugee camps, and I learned from the NBC website, that he enjoys "building and shooting potato guns." It just seemed interesting.
Anywho.
Keith out.
One day back on track
I feel like Rocky Balboa, back on the track to good health.
I ran this morning, only 2 miles, but I though it was important to have a good deal of easy running under my belt before I get back into the meaningful stuff. And I had a good breakfast too, which is extremely rare for me. I tried a protein shake, from a recipe I got from a Jedi Master friend of mine.
Okay, I gotta go eat some raw eggs. Seriously though, dare me to do it and I'll do it.
I ran this morning, only 2 miles, but I though it was important to have a good deal of easy running under my belt before I get back into the meaningful stuff. And I had a good breakfast too, which is extremely rare for me. I tried a protein shake, from a recipe I got from a Jedi Master friend of mine.
Okay, I gotta go eat some raw eggs. Seriously though, dare me to do it and I'll do it.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Sunday night - a good night for inner reflection
Okay, I guess that's enough.
Enough pizza. Enough Cheez-it. Enough Zima. Enough donut holes. Enough beer. Enough television. Enough ice cream. Enough Jack-in-the-Box. Enough couch potato.
Like Pai's Uncle from Whale Rider,
or like Bob Montagnet from The Good Thief,
or like Fuckhead from Jesus' Son,
let the purification begin.
Rock on.
Keith.
Enough pizza. Enough Cheez-it. Enough Zima. Enough donut holes. Enough beer. Enough television. Enough ice cream. Enough Jack-in-the-Box. Enough couch potato.
Like Pai's Uncle from Whale Rider,
or like Bob Montagnet from The Good Thief,
or like Fuckhead from Jesus' Son,
let the purification begin.
Rock on.
Keith.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Galloway Gallop 1K
So, my friend asked me to run with her 4 year old for the Galloway Gallop 1K, while she runs with her 6 year old, and their Dad takes pictures. But she warned me that he'd probably run a little bit, and then I'd have to carry him for most of the way. So, I agreed, but I made sure I explicitly told her that "I don't know how to carry a child," and also that sometimes little kids don't like me. Someone else ran with him last year, and from the story of that race, I think he had to be carried most of the way, and he kept saying that he was "bumpy."
And it was sooooo cold, and raining a little bit, and windy. Nobody was expecting a breakthrough performance. He ran straight through probably 700 meters. He was pushing through pain, I could tell. He was digging deep. He was visibly tired, and zigzagging on the road a bit, but when someone passed him, he'd find another gear, and match pace. At one point, he said, "mumble mumble TIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRED!"
There was a difficult point, about 3/4 of the way through, where I think he was about to cry, and I suggested he walk a bit, so we did. And I asked him if he wanted me to carry him, so I piggybacked him for a hundred meters or so, but when I asked him if he wanted me to put him down so he could finish, he said Yeah! And he took off running again and even kicked it in the last hundred meters or so.
And his parents were very proud of him and his brother. They both did great, and nobody was bumpy. And I had fun too. We've discovered yet another talent of mine, "pacing young children in road races."
Rock on.
Keith.
And it was sooooo cold, and raining a little bit, and windy. Nobody was expecting a breakthrough performance. He ran straight through probably 700 meters. He was pushing through pain, I could tell. He was digging deep. He was visibly tired, and zigzagging on the road a bit, but when someone passed him, he'd find another gear, and match pace. At one point, he said, "mumble mumble TIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRED!"
There was a difficult point, about 3/4 of the way through, where I think he was about to cry, and I suggested he walk a bit, so we did. And I asked him if he wanted me to carry him, so I piggybacked him for a hundred meters or so, but when I asked him if he wanted me to put him down so he could finish, he said Yeah! And he took off running again and even kicked it in the last hundred meters or so.And his parents were very proud of him and his brother. They both did great, and nobody was bumpy. And I had fun too. We've discovered yet another talent of mine, "pacing young children in road races."
Rock on.
Keith.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
I'm finally finished
Well, I'm finally finished with my proposal, the written part anyway. I have about six weeks before I get to defend it in front of a band of angry rabid professors.This is the European robin (Erithacus rubecula). I've been reading so much about these little guys, I have such a huge appreciation for them now. And look how cute they are, I just want to put the whole thing in my mouth.
It's a huge weight off to finally get this thing finished. And I think it's a pretty good proposal, although I think I waited too long to start writing it, and it could be improved with a couple days of tinkering.
Anyway, it's finished. I can relax now.
Keith.
No offense, but...
I don't mean to offend anyone that reads this blog, but I can't really hold my tongue on this issue. I don't really think it should start any controversy, because it's really an open and shut case. Maybe some people are just raised a certain way and are resistant to change, even if it's for the better. But the facts are clear. There are 17 kinds of Cheez-its and only 2 kinds of Cheetos, and the Flamin' Hot Cheetos are really just a novelty snack, no one really buys them more than once. I always though Cheetos were kind of a disappointing version of the classic Cheese Puff, like maybe the throwaways from the Cheese Puff factory. And I think Cheez-its are baked, although I don't really know that for sure. I actually wouldn't even put Cheetos at the level of the Pizzaria Combo, although maybe better than the Cheddar Cheese Cracker Combo.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Surfside Beach Half Marathon
A beautiful day for a race, mostly. And a beautiful place to have it. I enjoyed the Surfside race, and I'll definitely do it again. It was probably my favorite race so far. It was great to see some of the HRBers again, you guys rock!
Here's a picture of the medal, and the other thing, I don't know what it is, but it's cool.
I ran real slowly though, my slowest half marathon ever, but I'd have to say that it still wasn't all that bad for a non-runner. It's really not fair to compare me to runners, or even to myself when I was a runner.
So, now I can concentrate on my quitting running full time. I can concentrate on my competitive eating, and watching Stargate SG-1, and my drinking. My drinking has really suffered from all this training, any my total alcohol consumption has plummeted at least 95% probably. I had two beers last weekend, and it's been a long time, and I got a little bit sick from it and stopped. :(
Next week, I'm considering doing some audioblogging directly from my sofa. I can talk about what's on teevee, and I'm planning a series of reports about the strengths and weaknesses of the many different types of Cheez-its.
So tune in next week.
Keith.
-Edited to add-
I completely forgot about the best part. The post race food was great. There was barbecued brisket and something else, that I didn't hear what the guy called it, but it was basically, bacon, crispy bits of something, and magic. I don't know why I eat anything else.
Here's a picture of the medal, and the other thing, I don't know what it is, but it's cool.
I ran real slowly though, my slowest half marathon ever, but I'd have to say that it still wasn't all that bad for a non-runner. It's really not fair to compare me to runners, or even to myself when I was a runner.
So, now I can concentrate on my quitting running full time. I can concentrate on my competitive eating, and watching Stargate SG-1, and my drinking. My drinking has really suffered from all this training, any my total alcohol consumption has plummeted at least 95% probably. I had two beers last weekend, and it's been a long time, and I got a little bit sick from it and stopped. :(
Next week, I'm considering doing some audioblogging directly from my sofa. I can talk about what's on teevee, and I'm planning a series of reports about the strengths and weaknesses of the many different types of Cheez-its.
So tune in next week.
Keith.
-Edited to add-
I completely forgot about the best part. The post race food was great. There was barbecued brisket and something else, that I didn't hear what the guy called it, but it was basically, bacon, crispy bits of something, and magic. I don't know why I eat anything else.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
The sun is a bitch to the clouds.
I have less than a week left, now. I've been doing nothing these past few days except writing this grant proposal, and I'm starting to go a bit loopy. I started brainstorming ideas on the opening paragraph, and went in a very strange direction. I need a break.
Cryptochrome dependent magnetosensation in the avian retina
Can’t tell which way to go. Getting so cold.
The sun is a bitch to the clouds.
No contest.
A few cloudy days and the whole flock dies.
Nothing gets pollinated.
The sky turns black with cicadas
…and death.
But, alas! A hole opens up.
I can see the horizon.
It saves us from the gamble.
Keep the sunset on your right,
and find your rhythm, young one.
It’s a long way, but we’ll be all right.
…this time.
That’s what the world would be like without cryptochrome dependent radical pair formation in the avian retina. Literally, the whole world would die!
Cryptochrome dependent magnetosensation in the avian retina
Can’t tell which way to go. Getting so cold.
The sun is a bitch to the clouds.
No contest.
A few cloudy days and the whole flock dies.
Nothing gets pollinated.
The sky turns black with cicadas
…and death.
But, alas! A hole opens up.
I can see the horizon.
It saves us from the gamble.
Keep the sunset on your right,
and find your rhythm, young one.
It’s a long way, but we’ll be all right.
…this time.
That’s what the world would be like without cryptochrome dependent radical pair formation in the avian retina. Literally, the whole world would die!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Magnetite = Migrate-ite
Hey! Somebody else had a comment about bird migration, so I have an excuse to write more about it. And this time, I get to use the term "testicular diameter."
Dave brought up the fact that they are said to have actual magnets near their beaks, and that's true too. They have very small crystals of a mineral called magnetite, which is a type of iron oxide. The current thinking is that it is a different system, which gives the bird information about the strength of the local magnetic field, more like a magnetometer, rather than a compass. It is thought that the birds can use this sense to form a map of the magnetic environment and it can help them find their way around places they've been before, like how some animals can explore and learn where they are based on odors and gradual variations in types of vegetation. It has been calculated that with the sensitivity of this organ, they can recognize locations they've been before to within a few 10's of kilometers.
And he brings up another cool fact, about how they know to go North at one time of year and South at another. No one can explain how that happens, but it's clear that it isn't learned from older birds, they know it instinctively. In fact, you can fool them, by artificially controlling the light/dark cycle to make them think that it is winter, and they will begin to put on weight, and the males will experience an increase in testicular diameter in preparation for the breeding season, and they will show migratory restlessness, trying to go South. Even a caged bird will spend more time at the South end of the cage!
Anybody else want to talk about migratory birds? How about single domain and/or paramagnetic particles? How about learning and computation in the brain? Anyone? I can talk about the proteins that underlie electrical activity in the brain too.
I wonder how many extra hits I will get now that I mentioned "testicular diameter."
Anyway, I gotta go.
Keith.
Dave brought up the fact that they are said to have actual magnets near their beaks, and that's true too. They have very small crystals of a mineral called magnetite, which is a type of iron oxide. The current thinking is that it is a different system, which gives the bird information about the strength of the local magnetic field, more like a magnetometer, rather than a compass. It is thought that the birds can use this sense to form a map of the magnetic environment and it can help them find their way around places they've been before, like how some animals can explore and learn where they are based on odors and gradual variations in types of vegetation. It has been calculated that with the sensitivity of this organ, they can recognize locations they've been before to within a few 10's of kilometers.
And he brings up another cool fact, about how they know to go North at one time of year and South at another. No one can explain how that happens, but it's clear that it isn't learned from older birds, they know it instinctively. In fact, you can fool them, by artificially controlling the light/dark cycle to make them think that it is winter, and they will begin to put on weight, and the males will experience an increase in testicular diameter in preparation for the breeding season, and they will show migratory restlessness, trying to go South. Even a caged bird will spend more time at the South end of the cage!
Anybody else want to talk about migratory birds? How about single domain and/or paramagnetic particles? How about learning and computation in the brain? Anyone? I can talk about the proteins that underlie electrical activity in the brain too.
I wonder how many extra hits I will get now that I mentioned "testicular diameter."
Anyway, I gotta go.
Keith.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Sunday, February 05, 2006
There are going to be some changes around here
Other than the new template, I'm going to institute some other changes around here too. For example, I'm going to refer to myself in the third person exclusively. I'm also going to make some other changes in my non-virtual life too, like when people sneeze, I'm no longer going to say "bless you," or anything of the sort, and if someone sneezes many times, I'm going to say something like "yeah, yeah, yeah, you're airway has become irritated, we get it!" And I'm not going to hold the door for anyone anymore, otherwise, everything will be the same.
Keith.
Keith.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Running Update - I quit again.
Hey America,
Well, I've been working like a jungle fire on my proposal all this week, and haven't updated the blog in a while, so here's an update.
It has been an eventful week in terms of my running. To sum it up, I quit. And I'm determined to quit this time. There's a different look in my eyes, everyone notices it. I'm focused. I have a schedule worked out and everything. It goes a little like this:
Everyday : 0 miles.
And I'm going to stick with it. Until my proposal is finished. Until my lingering injuries subside. Until I feel like running again.
Actually it's not the running I'm most tired of, but the racing. I hinted before that I wasn't really into racing at this point, and I've decided not to force the issue. At times I really do enjoy the challenge that a race offers, so I'll wait until I get the bug back. I probably won't race again until next fall. (Except for the stuff I'm already registered for - I'm not burnt out enough to waste $50)
So really, I'm just quitting racing for a while, and I'll probably start running again in a couple of weeks or maybe next week.
If I had scheduled this cutback time, like everybody suggests you do once a year, it probably would be much more easy to accept. I long for the days where I'd run a few miles and feel better because of it. Lately I haven't been looking forward to it at all.
Anyhow,
Rock.on.Keith. (ouch)
Well, I've been working like a jungle fire on my proposal all this week, and haven't updated the blog in a while, so here's an update.
It has been an eventful week in terms of my running. To sum it up, I quit. And I'm determined to quit this time. There's a different look in my eyes, everyone notices it. I'm focused. I have a schedule worked out and everything. It goes a little like this:
Everyday : 0 miles.
And I'm going to stick with it. Until my proposal is finished. Until my lingering injuries subside. Until I feel like running again.
Actually it's not the running I'm most tired of, but the racing. I hinted before that I wasn't really into racing at this point, and I've decided not to force the issue. At times I really do enjoy the challenge that a race offers, so I'll wait until I get the bug back. I probably won't race again until next fall. (Except for the stuff I'm already registered for - I'm not burnt out enough to waste $50)
So really, I'm just quitting racing for a while, and I'll probably start running again in a couple of weeks or maybe next week.
If I had scheduled this cutback time, like everybody suggests you do once a year, it probably would be much more easy to accept. I long for the days where I'd run a few miles and feel better because of it. Lately I haven't been looking forward to it at all.
Anyhow,
Rock.on.Keith. (ouch)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Vitamins and Veggies
I'm writing in response to Lisa's question about the connection between vitamins and photoreceptors, but it leads to some interesting points about vitamins and stuff, so I put it out here so everybody can read it.
The photoreceptors in your eyes use molecules derived from vitamins to absorb the energy from light around you. The most common is derived from vitamin A for use in a proteins like rhodopsin (the main photopigment in your rods) and the three color-opsins (for the three types of cones). Another is derived from Vitamin-B2 and is used in another photopigment called cryptochrome. So, in research, sometimes people can use vitamin deprivation to shut down one pathway to determine if the phenomenon they are studying happens through the -opsin pathway or through the cryptochrome pathway.
But it's interesting because these vitamins, aside from being good at absorbing energy from light, they're also inherently good at absorbing energy from free-radicals too. This makes them very good anti-oxidants, which is the main reason why they're good for us.
For the same reason, you're supposed to eat your vegetables, because they have lots of photopigments to absorb light from the sun, and act as anti-oxidants. Carotenes, lycopene, xanthophils, chlorophylls, are all photopigments, and are also good anti-oxidants.
So everyone should take their vitamins and eat their veggies and pick the most heavily pigmented ones and also you should try to give and get eight hugs a day.
Rock on.
Keith.
The photoreceptors in your eyes use molecules derived from vitamins to absorb the energy from light around you. The most common is derived from vitamin A for use in a proteins like rhodopsin (the main photopigment in your rods) and the three color-opsins (for the three types of cones). Another is derived from Vitamin-B2 and is used in another photopigment called cryptochrome. So, in research, sometimes people can use vitamin deprivation to shut down one pathway to determine if the phenomenon they are studying happens through the -opsin pathway or through the cryptochrome pathway.
But it's interesting because these vitamins, aside from being good at absorbing energy from light, they're also inherently good at absorbing energy from free-radicals too. This makes them very good anti-oxidants, which is the main reason why they're good for us.
For the same reason, you're supposed to eat your vegetables, because they have lots of photopigments to absorb light from the sun, and act as anti-oxidants. Carotenes, lycopene, xanthophils, chlorophylls, are all photopigments, and are also good anti-oxidants.
So everyone should take their vitamins and eat their veggies and pick the most heavily pigmented ones and also you should try to give and get eight hugs a day.
Rock on.
Keith.
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