So the training program has officially started, and I am happy to report that after the first week, I am easily in better shape both physically and mentally than I was when I ran the New Jersey Marathon back in April of 2005. I mean last week I absolutely crushed each of my runs as I cleared 30 miles for the week. These runs included a great 11 miler that I did back home in the Nutmeg State. Actually, I think that the run back home was fast mainly because it was run almost exclusively along Long Island Sound.. I love me some water... and it definitely beats running through the streets of Brooklyn and the odors that I constantly encounter. Not that they are bad, but they are pungent and sting the nostrils...
Of course, none of my early success would be possible if the weather was not cooperating like it has this winter. Now, I don't know if the recent weather is the result of the excessive use of AquaNet during the 80's, a sign that the apocalypse is upon us, El Nino, or simply a run of really great luck with this weather. Whatever the cause, it has made what would be a terrible winter of training into an enjoyable experience. Last winter, I distinctly remember days where I would go out, run, and with every step, all I could feel were the icicles that were forming in my lungs. Now, compare that to this winter, where I can count on my fingers, the times that I have had to run with my long pants on as I have been out there pounding the pavement for the majority of the winter. Hopefully, this weather will sustain its warmer pattern, and I hope that I did not just jinx everything. If I did, I apologize, and please feel free to send me tuperware containers containing your shit, you vengeful sons of bitches...
So for now that is all I got. Nothing really interesting, funny, or even thought provoking.. instead I am simply a man, who is running like I mugged someone in hopes that I will qualify to stand on that line in Boston on Patriots' Day 2007.
And now, back to Jack Bauer and his horrible horrible day.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
I'm Not A Homeless Guy But I Play One On TV
Tonight is beard trimming night at the old Rain Delay residence. I grew a beard for the first time when I was studying for the Connecticut and New York Bar Exams during the summer of 2003. I figured that cutting out the need to shave and maintain any semblance of non-dirtbagness would allow me to focus more on the task at hand i.e. avoiding studying as much as possible. Sadly, my current job had other ideas about the beard as they called me in for not one but two final interviews during that summer. (It makes you feel really good about a company's desire to hire you when you end up getting a job after a total of five interviews... I am still not sure how I ended up getting an offer, someone must have died or something.) Due to my numerous trips to New York that summer, I soon scuttled my plan to be the bearded wonder.
The concept of growing the beard, however, stuck reemerging during the Red Sox momentous run to their first World Series title in 86 years during the fall of 2004, and since that time, I have been bearded for more time during the year than I have actually been clean shaven. What can I say, I thoroughly enjoy my beard, and I intend to continue to remain this way for the foreseeable future even when Johnny Damon has shaved his beard and trimmed his locks to join the hated Yankees. (He's a mercenary, the Sox knew it when they originally got him so there is no reason now to be angry about it... fucken Judas.)
At the present moment, however, the Winter of 2005-2006 version of the beard has gotten a little out of a control and at the hinting of my bosses at work, the scared looks of passersby on the streets, and the weird offers of food and spare change from complete strangers, I have decided that the old beard needs a little bit of a trim job... But since I am all about sharing and caring these days... remember its hugs not drugs kiddies, I figured I would post a picture of the beard before the clippers are taken to it and it becomes a shadow of its former self.. so here it is in all of its out of control glory...
The concept of growing the beard, however, stuck reemerging during the Red Sox momentous run to their first World Series title in 86 years during the fall of 2004, and since that time, I have been bearded for more time during the year than I have actually been clean shaven. What can I say, I thoroughly enjoy my beard, and I intend to continue to remain this way for the foreseeable future even when Johnny Damon has shaved his beard and trimmed his locks to join the hated Yankees. (He's a mercenary, the Sox knew it when they originally got him so there is no reason now to be angry about it... fucken Judas.)
At the present moment, however, the Winter of 2005-2006 version of the beard has gotten a little out of a control and at the hinting of my bosses at work, the scared looks of passersby on the streets, and the weird offers of food and spare change from complete strangers, I have decided that the old beard needs a little bit of a trim job... But since I am all about sharing and caring these days... remember its hugs not drugs kiddies, I figured I would post a picture of the beard before the clippers are taken to it and it becomes a shadow of its former self.. so here it is in all of its out of control glory...
What's in a Name
For the last couple of years, I have used the pen name or nom de plum, Rain Delay, to write on this blog, while playing Halo, or generally whenever, I do not feel like using my real name for something. I believe that the name provides me with a degree of entertaining mystery as the character that is Rain Delay has a level of freedom that I lack in my real life. Also, it is a nifty way to prevent my parents from ever finding this blog. Once again, I repeat that anyone who tells them that I write this thing will be asked to pack up their things and report to the principal's office where you will be fitted for a new pair of shoes to help you swim when we drop you in the East River. (get it, I am going to make sure you drown.)Anyway, while I have used the name frequently, I have never officially explained what the name means and why if you know me, the name is completely appropriate. (Note: I do not count the numerous times that I have told this story to my friends while intoxicated. Nothing is ever official when the booze is involved.)
It all started back in law school when my buddy, who we will call Tito, described my inability to get ready to go out or basically to do anything that required leaving my apartment in a timely fashion as a Human Rain Delay.
For those that do not know, rain delays happen in baseball and other sports when it rains too much, your team does not have a dome or atleast a retractable roof, and thus the game is appropriately delayed for the rain to pass. You can usually tell if the game that your team is supposed to be playing in is experiencing a rain delay because:
A. There will be a notation on your television that there is a rain delay.
B. Thurmon Munson will be at bat against Bill Lee; or
C. If you are at the game, there is a massive tarp on the field, and it is raining.
(I cannot believe I just explained that.)
As for Tito's observation, I cannot disagree with him and would like to formally apologize to him for forcing him to endure this little quirk of mine for three years of law school. It is not so much that I am high maintenance or that I take a long time to get ready. (My friends will disagree with that last sentence as there are stories out there of me spending a solid half an hour or more to find the perfect t-shirt for the evening. Of course, those stories are nothing more than rumors or hearsay, and I will deny that they ever happened.) Rather, I have the inexplicable talent of creating numerous little tasks that I must complete before I am able to leave my residence. These tasks and their completion, of course, seems totally rational and mandatory to me while being utterly nonsensical to anyone who is involved in getting me out of the house. I guess I am a little obsessive compulsive, but I can promise you that I will not enjoy my brunch or my evening out if I do not clean up all the clothes in my room, wash the dishes, pick up all the red fuzzy carpet droppings, or do whatever other task that comes to mind before I leave the house. They just have to be done, this is not negotiable.
So there it is, as Tito so aptly once noted, I am the human rain delay, a character that is not so much a super hero put on this earth to save the world, but rather, a source of endless frustration for all who I consider to be my friends. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go make sure that I turned off my space heater for the thirteenth time today.
It all started back in law school when my buddy, who we will call Tito, described my inability to get ready to go out or basically to do anything that required leaving my apartment in a timely fashion as a Human Rain Delay.
For those that do not know, rain delays happen in baseball and other sports when it rains too much, your team does not have a dome or atleast a retractable roof, and thus the game is appropriately delayed for the rain to pass. You can usually tell if the game that your team is supposed to be playing in is experiencing a rain delay because:
A. There will be a notation on your television that there is a rain delay.
B. Thurmon Munson will be at bat against Bill Lee; or
C. If you are at the game, there is a massive tarp on the field, and it is raining.
(I cannot believe I just explained that.)
As for Tito's observation, I cannot disagree with him and would like to formally apologize to him for forcing him to endure this little quirk of mine for three years of law school. It is not so much that I am high maintenance or that I take a long time to get ready. (My friends will disagree with that last sentence as there are stories out there of me spending a solid half an hour or more to find the perfect t-shirt for the evening. Of course, those stories are nothing more than rumors or hearsay, and I will deny that they ever happened.) Rather, I have the inexplicable talent of creating numerous little tasks that I must complete before I am able to leave my residence. These tasks and their completion, of course, seems totally rational and mandatory to me while being utterly nonsensical to anyone who is involved in getting me out of the house. I guess I am a little obsessive compulsive, but I can promise you that I will not enjoy my brunch or my evening out if I do not clean up all the clothes in my room, wash the dishes, pick up all the red fuzzy carpet droppings, or do whatever other task that comes to mind before I leave the house. They just have to be done, this is not negotiable.
So there it is, as Tito so aptly once noted, I am the human rain delay, a character that is not so much a super hero put on this earth to save the world, but rather, a source of endless frustration for all who I consider to be my friends. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go make sure that I turned off my space heater for the thirteenth time today.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Just for reference
Here is the training schedule that I am taking on... Any distance below is in miles, I don't understand the metric system.
BASE WEEK (JANUARY 16, 2006 TO JANUARY 22, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-5 Th-5 F-OFF S-10 S-3
Total for the Week: 27
WEEK ONE (JANUARY 23, 2006 TO JANUARY 29, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-5 Th-5 F-OFF S-10 S-3
Total for the Week: 29
WEEK TWO (JANUARY 30, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 5, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-5 Th-5 F-OFF S-10 S-3
Total for the Week: 29
WEEK THREE (FEBRUARY 6, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 12, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-6 Th-5 F-OFF S-12 S-3
Total for the Week: 31
WEEK FOUR (FEBRUARY 13, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 19, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-6 Th-5 F-OFF S-12 S-3
Total for the Week: 31
WEEK FIVE (FEBRUARY 20, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 26, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-6 Th-5 F-OFF S-14 S-3
Total for the Week: 33
WEEK SIX (FEBRUARY 27, 2006 TO MARCH 5, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-6 T-6 F-OFF S-RACE S-3
TERMS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE REMAINDER OF THE PLAN:
Progression Long Run: Basically you are supposed to start to pick up
the pace with forty minutes left in the run so that your last thirty
minutes look like this: 10 minutes at marathon pace (MP) +20 seconds,
then 10 minutes at MP +10 seconds, and the final 10 minutes at MP.
Tempo Pace: 10 to 15 seconds slower than your 10-k pace.
Strides: Plan to do 10 X 100 meter pickups after one of the easy runs
each week.
WEEK SEVEN (MARCH 6, 2006 TO MARCH 12, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W- $ T-6 F-OFF S-% S-3
$ = 3 X 1.5 miles at tempo pace with a steady half mile between repeats.
%= Steady Long run of 13 miles at 10% slower than MP.
WEEK EIGHT (MARCH 13, 2006 TO MARCH 19, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-$ T-6 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 2X2 miles at tempo pace with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Progression long run of 16 miles
WEEK NINE (MARCH 20, 2006 TO MARCH 26, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 4 mile tempo run
%= Steady long run of 15 miles at 10% slower than MP
WEEK TEN (MARCH 27, 2006 TO APRIL 2, , 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at MP, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= 10k race
WEEK ELEVEN (APRIL 3, 2006 TO APRIL 9, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at MP, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Progression run of 18 miles
WEEK TWELVE (APRIL 10, 2006 TO APRIL 16, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at MP, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Half-marathon
WEEK THIRTEEN (APRIL 17, 2006 TO APRIL 23, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at tempo pace, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Progression long run of 20 miles
WEEK FOURTEEN (APRIL 24, 2006 TO APRIL 30, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 5X2 miles at MP with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Steady long run of 16 miles at 10% slower than MP
WEEK FIFTEEN (MAY 1, 2006 TO MAY 7, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-5 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X3 miles at MP with a steady half mile recovery between repeats
%= Progression log run of 22 miles
WEEK SIXTEEN (MAY 8, 2006 TO MAY 14, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-5 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 2X4 miles at MP with a steady half-mile recovery between repeats.
%= Steady run off 15 miles (i shortened this from 18)
WEEK SEVENTEEN (MAY 15, 2006 TO MAY 21, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-$ T-4 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 15 miles with the last 8 to miles at MP.
%= 2X3 miles at tempo pace with a steady half mile recovery between repeats
WEEK EIGHTEEN (MAY 22, 2006 TO MAY 28, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-3 F-OFF S-2 S-MARATHON
$= 8 with last 3 miles at MP.
BASE WEEK (JANUARY 16, 2006 TO JANUARY 22, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-5 Th-5 F-OFF S-10 S-3
Total for the Week: 27
WEEK ONE (JANUARY 23, 2006 TO JANUARY 29, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-5 Th-5 F-OFF S-10 S-3
Total for the Week: 29
WEEK TWO (JANUARY 30, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 5, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-5 Th-5 F-OFF S-10 S-3
Total for the Week: 29
WEEK THREE (FEBRUARY 6, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 12, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-6 Th-5 F-OFF S-12 S-3
Total for the Week: 31
WEEK FOUR (FEBRUARY 13, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 19, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-6 Th-5 F-OFF S-12 S-3
Total for the Week: 31
WEEK FIVE (FEBRUARY 20, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 26, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-6 Th-5 F-OFF S-14 S-3
Total for the Week: 33
WEEK SIX (FEBRUARY 27, 2006 TO MARCH 5, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-6 T-6 F-OFF S-RACE S-3
TERMS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE REMAINDER OF THE PLAN:
Progression Long Run: Basically you are supposed to start to pick up
the pace with forty minutes left in the run so that your last thirty
minutes look like this: 10 minutes at marathon pace (MP) +20 seconds,
then 10 minutes at MP +10 seconds, and the final 10 minutes at MP.
Tempo Pace: 10 to 15 seconds slower than your 10-k pace.
Strides: Plan to do 10 X 100 meter pickups after one of the easy runs
each week.
WEEK SEVEN (MARCH 6, 2006 TO MARCH 12, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W- $ T-6 F-OFF S-% S-3
$ = 3 X 1.5 miles at tempo pace with a steady half mile between repeats.
%= Steady Long run of 13 miles at 10% slower than MP.
WEEK EIGHT (MARCH 13, 2006 TO MARCH 19, 2006)
M-OFF T-6 W-$ T-6 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 2X2 miles at tempo pace with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Progression long run of 16 miles
WEEK NINE (MARCH 20, 2006 TO MARCH 26, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 4 mile tempo run
%= Steady long run of 15 miles at 10% slower than MP
WEEK TEN (MARCH 27, 2006 TO APRIL 2, , 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at MP, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= 10k race
WEEK ELEVEN (APRIL 3, 2006 TO APRIL 9, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at MP, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Progression run of 18 miles
WEEK TWELVE (APRIL 10, 2006 TO APRIL 16, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at MP, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Half-marathon
WEEK THIRTEEN (APRIL 17, 2006 TO APRIL 23, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X2 miles at tempo pace, with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Progression long run of 20 miles
WEEK FOURTEEN (APRIL 24, 2006 TO APRIL 30, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-8 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 5X2 miles at MP with a steady half mile recovery between repeats.
%= Steady long run of 16 miles at 10% slower than MP
WEEK FIFTEEN (MAY 1, 2006 TO MAY 7, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-5 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 3X3 miles at MP with a steady half mile recovery between repeats
%= Progression log run of 22 miles
WEEK SIXTEEN (MAY 8, 2006 TO MAY 14, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-5 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 2X4 miles at MP with a steady half-mile recovery between repeats.
%= Steady run off 15 miles (i shortened this from 18)
WEEK SEVENTEEN (MAY 15, 2006 TO MAY 21, 2006)
M-OFF T-5 W-$ T-4 F-OFF S-% S-3
$= 15 miles with the last 8 to miles at MP.
%= 2X3 miles at tempo pace with a steady half mile recovery between repeats
WEEK EIGHTEEN (MAY 22, 2006 TO MAY 28, 2006)
M-OFF T-4 W-$ T-3 F-OFF S-2 S-MARATHON
$= 8 with last 3 miles at MP.
Where Has The Time Gone
So once I used to write on this sucker pretty regularly and then, the transit strike happened, the holidays came and went, and I slowly neglected my little blog more and more... and instead I developed an unhealthy and often criticized addiction to Anchorman.
But thankfully, I have found some time this evening while watching Hour Three of the 24 to get in a quick update and to announce a new direction and the plans for the next coming months for Putting Myself Out There.
Here is the update:
1. The transit strike: man did that really blow. I had to walk to work four miles in the snow up hill while barefoot. At least that is what I am going to tell my grandkids when I get old and pop out some young spankies. Enough has been written about the strike but all and all I thought it was a nice although cold opportunity to realize how much we depend on mass transit and yet how we each can survive when it disappears. Now, go hug each other...
2. Holidays: this year's Christmas festivities really stepped it up a notch. Not only did we each receive a lot more gifts than usual due to some unknown mutual fear of underbuying that gripped each us before the actual day, but also, we got a little crazy with the holiday libations. I blame the second part of that sentence on my mother who introduced a little drink called the Poinsettia to the mix. Basically, this drink as originally described was supposed to be a sublime combination of champagne and cranberry juice. My mother, however, decided to up the ante and add her own ingredient, vodka. Needless to say, it became readily apparent that as the evening progressed mom's secret ingredient became the evening's holiday cheer as all involved became quite intoxicated. Happily, mom's little creation kept us laughing long into that cold winter night... Man, ever since I stopped writing, I have become really really soft... I will take my skirt off now.
3. Moving: my parents are moving out of our childhood home. Man, does this one suck. This past weekend, I spent my time cleaning out both the attic and the basement and I will be back next weekend further emptying my home of childhood memories. It has been a truly difficult process as we are cleaning out a house that we have lived in for 21 years. It is definitely hard not to get nostalgic during the course of the whole thing and wonder if they are doing the right thing. I love my parents' new place, but I wonder if it will ever be quite the same. I guess they say that we will have to just make our new memories there. We shall see.
4. Running: today is the first day of my marathon training and also a great segue into the new focus for a lot of what I will be writing here in the next couple of months. As I stated a long long time ago, I love to run, and over the course of the next 18 weeks, I will be devoted to running the fastest marathon of my life. As such, I plan to write often or atleast weekly about how training has been going along with a splash of high comedy that is my daily encounters. We shall see how it all works out, but I think with a new focus, I may be able to post on a more consistent basis as I am sure you will love to hear about how much I hate the training that I am doing and how much pain I am because of it.
Soon enough my fragile little flowers.. soon enough...
But thankfully, I have found some time this evening while watching Hour Three of the 24 to get in a quick update and to announce a new direction and the plans for the next coming months for Putting Myself Out There.
Here is the update:
1. The transit strike: man did that really blow. I had to walk to work four miles in the snow up hill while barefoot. At least that is what I am going to tell my grandkids when I get old and pop out some young spankies. Enough has been written about the strike but all and all I thought it was a nice although cold opportunity to realize how much we depend on mass transit and yet how we each can survive when it disappears. Now, go hug each other...
2. Holidays: this year's Christmas festivities really stepped it up a notch. Not only did we each receive a lot more gifts than usual due to some unknown mutual fear of underbuying that gripped each us before the actual day, but also, we got a little crazy with the holiday libations. I blame the second part of that sentence on my mother who introduced a little drink called the Poinsettia to the mix. Basically, this drink as originally described was supposed to be a sublime combination of champagne and cranberry juice. My mother, however, decided to up the ante and add her own ingredient, vodka. Needless to say, it became readily apparent that as the evening progressed mom's secret ingredient became the evening's holiday cheer as all involved became quite intoxicated. Happily, mom's little creation kept us laughing long into that cold winter night... Man, ever since I stopped writing, I have become really really soft... I will take my skirt off now.
3. Moving: my parents are moving out of our childhood home. Man, does this one suck. This past weekend, I spent my time cleaning out both the attic and the basement and I will be back next weekend further emptying my home of childhood memories. It has been a truly difficult process as we are cleaning out a house that we have lived in for 21 years. It is definitely hard not to get nostalgic during the course of the whole thing and wonder if they are doing the right thing. I love my parents' new place, but I wonder if it will ever be quite the same. I guess they say that we will have to just make our new memories there. We shall see.
4. Running: today is the first day of my marathon training and also a great segue into the new focus for a lot of what I will be writing here in the next couple of months. As I stated a long long time ago, I love to run, and over the course of the next 18 weeks, I will be devoted to running the fastest marathon of my life. As such, I plan to write often or atleast weekly about how training has been going along with a splash of high comedy that is my daily encounters. We shall see how it all works out, but I think with a new focus, I may be able to post on a more consistent basis as I am sure you will love to hear about how much I hate the training that I am doing and how much pain I am because of it.
Soon enough my fragile little flowers.. soon enough...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)