I recently came across a few little quotes about jealousy which I found most interesting:
“To cure jealousy is to see it for what it is, a dissatisfaction with self”
“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.”
Whew... I still got a ways to go. I think this all stems from fear. You only become a great sailor if you experience the perfect storm - and survive.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Industry, perseverance, and frugality make fortune yield
I love that Ben Franklin quote. I must confess that I rarely live by it, but I love it nevertheless.
I'm not one to watch sports - I'd much rather be in the action than watching it. That being said, I do like watching sports sometimes - when I actually do play the sport, and when I'm looking at the player's form, to help improve my own.
I also like sports movies. Invictus, The replacements, Any Given Sunday - they all seem quite motivational. Here's my favorite speech from a movie:
I'm not one to watch sports - I'd much rather be in the action than watching it. That being said, I do like watching sports sometimes - when I actually do play the sport, and when I'm looking at the player's form, to help improve my own.
I also like sports movies. Invictus, The replacements, Any Given Sunday - they all seem quite motivational. Here's my favorite speech from a movie:
Saturday, January 29, 2011
TEDx UOIT: "Be your own engine"
With the editing help of Florentin, Greg, Dan, Bruna, and Dave, here it is (start it at 14 minutes):
Though - I did the vast majority of the legwork for this presentation, so I take the vast majority of the praise and condemnation.
Watch live streaming video from tedx at livestream.com
Though - I did the vast majority of the legwork for this presentation, so I take the vast majority of the praise and condemnation.
Advice on biking to Chicago
A friend of mine asked, "Do you want to bike to Chicago?" He's crazy. However, being the good friend that I am, I decided that I should help him out. He can organize, and I can work on the training regimen. I do know that kilometers will need to be pedaled. 160km a day for 6 days a lot. That number will be more gruesome by the passing day. I want to get a new bike for this trip - but right now I've just dropped off my back wheel from my old bike to get fixed. I don't have the time to learn to fix it correctly myself, and I'm not all that interested in fixing bikes. I just want to ride them, and I'm cheap, so I'll try to save money on them as well.
I ran last Saturday again. 6 miles in 42 minutes exactly. 8.5 pace for 5 miles (1.5 incline), then 9.5 pace the last mile (1 incline). My heart rate was 191 at the end of the run (which is crazy high, 98.5% maximum heart rate). I don't know for how long my heart was beating that fast - but it did get me a little worried. Yes, "mind over matter" but matter matters as well.
I ran last Saturday again. 6 miles in 42 minutes exactly. 8.5 pace for 5 miles (1.5 incline), then 9.5 pace the last mile (1 incline). My heart rate was 191 at the end of the run (which is crazy high, 98.5% maximum heart rate). I don't know for how long my heart was beating that fast - but it did get me a little worried. Yes, "mind over matter" but matter matters as well.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Winter runs
There's something about winter and running that I love. Maybe it's because only the hardcore runners do it, maybe it's the brisk feeling you get when you're out in the cold and all bundled up. Either way, it's quite enjoyable.
I got myself a new pair of running shoes today; same shoe but newer model (Saucony ride 3's, I figured if it ain't broke don't fix it). I needed a new pair since my knees were hurting whenever I ran, and, recently, I started getting a weird pain in my hip after trying to jump a few benches and trash cans on one of my runs.
After getting this new pair, I felt obliged to try them out... though I didn't want to tread on mud with them right away, so I went to the gym. I also want to see how I stand in time for the Peterborough 1/2 marathon next month, so I figured it's a good time. I was not impressed by the Legends Centre Oshawa running conditions. All the treadmills were taken when I arrived, and I was told I was not allowed to run on the track. I did some lunges and leg lift things as a warm up on the track instead. When the treadmills finally became free, there was a sign on them that said something like "please don't stomp loudly on the treadmills." I mean... I understand that you can make a loud noise when running, and you can make a point of making a loud noise. But comon... when you're getting tired on a run, you will tend to be louder. I feel like this is giving someone peanuts in shells, and asking them not to make a mess while eating them.
comon.
I finished 5.75 miles in 42 minutes, with the first five miles at a 7:13 pace (8.4, 1.5 degree incline), then I sped up to 9 for 1/2 a mile, and to 10 for the last 1/4 mile. Using some funky online pace calculators, this gives a 1/2 marathon time of 1hr 36 min... which is less than my time of 1hr 39 min of 2 years ago. I'm tempted to set a time goal, but I know this is not a good thing to do... I however would like to make a dent in my time from two years ago.
I got myself a new pair of running shoes today; same shoe but newer model (Saucony ride 3's, I figured if it ain't broke don't fix it). I needed a new pair since my knees were hurting whenever I ran, and, recently, I started getting a weird pain in my hip after trying to jump a few benches and trash cans on one of my runs.
After getting this new pair, I felt obliged to try them out... though I didn't want to tread on mud with them right away, so I went to the gym. I also want to see how I stand in time for the Peterborough 1/2 marathon next month, so I figured it's a good time. I was not impressed by the Legends Centre Oshawa running conditions. All the treadmills were taken when I arrived, and I was told I was not allowed to run on the track. I did some lunges and leg lift things as a warm up on the track instead. When the treadmills finally became free, there was a sign on them that said something like "please don't stomp loudly on the treadmills." I mean... I understand that you can make a loud noise when running, and you can make a point of making a loud noise. But comon... when you're getting tired on a run, you will tend to be louder. I feel like this is giving someone peanuts in shells, and asking them not to make a mess while eating them.
comon.
I finished 5.75 miles in 42 minutes, with the first five miles at a 7:13 pace (8.4, 1.5 degree incline), then I sped up to 9 for 1/2 a mile, and to 10 for the last 1/4 mile. Using some funky online pace calculators, this gives a 1/2 marathon time of 1hr 36 min... which is less than my time of 1hr 39 min of 2 years ago. I'm tempted to set a time goal, but I know this is not a good thing to do... I however would like to make a dent in my time from two years ago.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Salsa... again
I'm going to start up the salsa group on campus again (shortly)... with some obvious help from peeps on campus. The teaching was good... I'm not the best at salsa, but the people that come to the lessons are much worse than I am (probably shouldn't be saying this...). The funnest part was... PANGAEA!
We (Leo Joanna and I) were on the fence about PANGAEA for a while. On the final day of auditions, Leo went for it with Joanna and did some freestyle salsa with a random song. The judges decided they were good enough.... so we needed to start putting together a routine. We had two weeks. We were frantically trying to put together a routine, get music, figure out costumes, etc. We would have practice sessions during lunch in the hallways at school almost every day during those two weeks. Once a song was decided upon, the routine needed to be made up and taught. We had auditions for positions, and we ended up having four couples. Here's the final show:
Note: I was nervous as hell on stage! I made like 5 pretty big mistakes, but it was still fun!
We (Leo Joanna and I) were on the fence about PANGAEA for a while. On the final day of auditions, Leo went for it with Joanna and did some freestyle salsa with a random song. The judges decided they were good enough.... so we needed to start putting together a routine. We had two weeks. We were frantically trying to put together a routine, get music, figure out costumes, etc. We would have practice sessions during lunch in the hallways at school almost every day during those two weeks. Once a song was decided upon, the routine needed to be made up and taught. We had auditions for positions, and we ended up having four couples. Here's the final show:
Note: I was nervous as hell on stage! I made like 5 pretty big mistakes, but it was still fun!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Global cooling and a planet in peril
Some say the sun has "Solar Cycles" and say that the sun is gonna start giving less of its wholesome goodness over the next few decades, decreasing global temperatures. Some say industrial black soot settling on Greenland and antarctic ice sheets is speeding up snow melting, by reflecting less energy and absorbing more. Some say that CO2 in the ozone is causing the suns rays to be re-reflected back to the earth's surface from the atmosphere. It seems that global warming is being debated foot and nail. And I couldn't care if you paid me to.
We are screwing up the planet in a slew of ways that whether or not scientists agree upon global warming doesn’t matter. If anthropogenic global warming is true, its implications are less than some other ways that humans are screwing with the planet . The things that really matter (from a suitability standpoint) are:
It turns out carbon is an OK yard stick for some of them. The “reliance on stuff that can be used up” can be exemplified in carbon (oil, natural gas, coal, trees) save for a few things like potash. As a result of trying to use less carbon, we are switching to more sustainable energy sources. Of course, we could be using more than the planet’s ability to make new stuff. Carbon can’t deal with over-fishing.
However, carbon can deal with one thing in the oceans: anthropogenic ocean acidification. Lots of ocean critters make shells which dissolve in acid. Actually – they dissolve in water that is slightly more acidic than the ocean currently is. Lots of CO2 is currently being absorbed into the ocean, making it more acidic. By controlling carbon, we give these little critters a (very slight) fighting chance.
Carbon doesn’t address the fact that we are using more than the planet can make. It also doesn’t address most biodiversity problems, and loss of habitat. And we need to address all three at the same time: over-consumption, biodiversity, and habitat loss are verily related.
Organic food won't save us since you can’t make enough organic food in a sustainable manner to feed everyone. That’s not to say that the mass use of mined fertilizer is great either. The solution has to lie somewhere in between organic food and industrial-agribusiness. And I bumped into a solution care of Jason Clay from WWF.
He says that you can address world consumption and biodiversity problems by pulling 100 companies’ legs. 100 companies control 25% of 15 of the top commodities that are having the greatest impacts on the two aforementioned problems. He says you can’t talk only with Coca-Cola, you need to get Pepsi as well. If you get both talking at the same table, you can make concessions that don’t undermine competitive advantages. Jason Clay FTW.
We are screwing up the planet in a slew of ways that whether or not scientists agree upon global warming doesn’t matter. If anthropogenic global warming is true, its implications are less than some other ways that humans are screwing with the planet . The things that really matter (from a suitability standpoint) are:
- Loss of habitat, cropland, desertification
- Huge changes in weather patterns
- Loss of biodiversity
- Reliance on stuff that can be used up (fossil fuels, mining potash for food production)
- Over-using renewable sources (over- fishing, forestry, agriculture)
It turns out carbon is an OK yard stick for some of them. The “reliance on stuff that can be used up” can be exemplified in carbon (oil, natural gas, coal, trees) save for a few things like potash. As a result of trying to use less carbon, we are switching to more sustainable energy sources. Of course, we could be using more than the planet’s ability to make new stuff. Carbon can’t deal with over-fishing.
However, carbon can deal with one thing in the oceans: anthropogenic ocean acidification. Lots of ocean critters make shells which dissolve in acid. Actually – they dissolve in water that is slightly more acidic than the ocean currently is. Lots of CO2 is currently being absorbed into the ocean, making it more acidic. By controlling carbon, we give these little critters a (very slight) fighting chance.
Carbon doesn’t address the fact that we are using more than the planet can make. It also doesn’t address most biodiversity problems, and loss of habitat. And we need to address all three at the same time: over-consumption, biodiversity, and habitat loss are verily related.
Organic food won't save us since you can’t make enough organic food in a sustainable manner to feed everyone. That’s not to say that the mass use of mined fertilizer is great either. The solution has to lie somewhere in between organic food and industrial-agribusiness. And I bumped into a solution care of Jason Clay from WWF.
He says that you can address world consumption and biodiversity problems by pulling 100 companies’ legs. 100 companies control 25% of 15 of the top commodities that are having the greatest impacts on the two aforementioned problems. He says you can’t talk only with Coca-Cola, you need to get Pepsi as well. If you get both talking at the same table, you can make concessions that don’t undermine competitive advantages. Jason Clay FTW.
Break dancers turned salsa
I've been in and out of Salsa since I started university... mostly as a way of switching from folk dancing and dancing to techno. The biggest challenge for people who've learned to dance in a structured way is musicality. They simply don't feel the music. Take note from these two. Brilliant.
Though... near the end they break into some MJ
Though... near the end they break into some MJ
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The shale revolution!
As mentioned earlier, natural gas, a much cleaner burning fuel than coal, is a hot commodity these days, with many new gas power plants coming online to compensate for coal plant closures, and to supplement wind and solar plants.
It turns out that Ontario and Poland have some pretty hefty shale reserves. Although the sizes of these reserves are small compared to say, Russia, they but something on the bargaining table. These gas reserves can help both Poland and Ontario economically. Shale gas is a bit of an economic risk because of it untested nature - but a calculated risk because new technology promises real value.
One problem which will have to be solved is local aquifers. Extracting this gas requires fracturing lots of rock underneath - this can harm already stressed aquifers.
It turns out that Ontario and Poland have some pretty hefty shale reserves. Although the sizes of these reserves are small compared to say, Russia, they but something on the bargaining table. These gas reserves can help both Poland and Ontario economically. Shale gas is a bit of an economic risk because of it untested nature - but a calculated risk because new technology promises real value.
One problem which will have to be solved is local aquifers. Extracting this gas requires fracturing lots of rock underneath - this can harm already stressed aquifers.
Trwa budowa mostu polnocnego :D
I have to give props to a polish company, Pol-Aqua. The company started in 1990, when Marek Stefański wanted to start a company that built water-mains, starting with 10 000 Polish Zlotys in capital. That plan flopped when he couldn't get any contracts. He didn't fret - he ended up getting some contracts in construction. The 2009 4th quarter year over year income was 4.29 million - that's 192% growth year over year. The company has the contracts for some pretty key investments in Warsaw, like the national stadium, and the northern bridge.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Quebec shale, Ontario wind, and BC hydrogen
Shale was recently found in Quebec which could quickly change it's "have not" status as a province. Good timing too, because Ontario is investing heavily in wind power.
(side note) Wind power actually means an added demand for natural gas. How? Wind is intermittent, and only blows when it wants to (that blows!). So to get power when people need it, they install (and are installing quite a few... like this one) other sources of power which are more reliable, and can be turned on whenever (this cancels out nuclear which takes days to turn on to full power). Combined-cycle natural gas has been chosen for a few locations in the GTA, because it has a lower carbon footprint than coal, and is faster to build and more reliable than nuclear.
In short: Quebec is gonna supply Ontario's natural gas (and Ontario will be paying for it).
Also - Vancouver is becoming the hydrogen center in Canada. It turns they're releasing hydrogen at electrochemical plants, and shipping hydrogen from Quebec to serve hydrogen powered buses. They're using their brains now and using the local hydrogen.
(side note) Wind power actually means an added demand for natural gas. How? Wind is intermittent, and only blows when it wants to (that blows!). So to get power when people need it, they install (and are installing quite a few... like this one) other sources of power which are more reliable, and can be turned on whenever (this cancels out nuclear which takes days to turn on to full power). Combined-cycle natural gas has been chosen for a few locations in the GTA, because it has a lower carbon footprint than coal, and is faster to build and more reliable than nuclear.
In short: Quebec is gonna supply Ontario's natural gas (and Ontario will be paying for it).Also - Vancouver is becoming the hydrogen center in Canada. It turns they're releasing hydrogen at electrochemical plants, and shipping hydrogen from Quebec to serve hydrogen powered buses. They're using their brains now and using the local hydrogen.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Refurb ontario coal plants to - wood!
They can:
- give people in Northern Ontario jobs in the lumber industry
- stop Ontario from importing coal from elsewhere
- reduce Ontario's carbon footprint
Here it is!
- give people in Northern Ontario jobs in the lumber industry
- stop Ontario from importing coal from elsewhere
- reduce Ontario's carbon footprint
Here it is!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Polish power stuff
A new source for a medical isotope was found - in Poland.
Based on current estimates, Poland is supposed to outrank Hungary and Estonia in GDP PPP by 2014, giving it 4th rank in Eastern Bloc countries by that year (after Slovenia (Which in the same year will rank near Spain), Czech Republic, and Slovakia).
Poland's ambitious road construction can be seen here.
Based on current estimates, Poland is supposed to outrank Hungary and Estonia in GDP PPP by 2014, giving it 4th rank in Eastern Bloc countries by that year (after Slovenia (Which in the same year will rank near Spain), Czech Republic, and Slovakia).
Poland's ambitious road construction can be seen here.
power gen data
(some interesting stats that I like to keep track of)
US wind power generation as a % of the whole
2008 2009
1.2% 1.7%
US coal gen as % of whole
2008 2009
50.7% 45.2%
Stats from EU:
Wind power’s total capacity in the European Union has now reached 74,767 MW, up from 64,719 MW by the end of 2008 with Germany remaining the EU country with the largest installed capacity, followed by Spain, Italy, France and the UK.
The wind capacity installed by the end of 2009 will in a normal year produce 163 TWh of electricity, meeting 4.8% of total EU power demand.
US wind power generation as a % of the whole
2008 2009
1.2% 1.7%
US coal gen as % of whole
2008 2009
50.7% 45.2%
Stats from EU:
Wind power’s total capacity in the European Union has now reached 74,767 MW, up from 64,719 MW by the end of 2008 with Germany remaining the EU country with the largest installed capacity, followed by Spain, Italy, France and the UK.
The wind capacity installed by the end of 2009 will in a normal year produce 163 TWh of electricity, meeting 4.8% of total EU power demand.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
New school new challenges
"It's late September and I really should be back at school" (Maggie May, Rod Stewart)
I started at UOIT, and I find the school in some ways a disappointment, in others a blessing. The classes are much less fast-paced than Waterloo... which means that I won't be learning as much, but I can review what I've "learned" in my undergrad, and try to figure out a path for the future. I can also go to the gym, help out in two clubs,... and then I need to start cutting things off my plate.
Should I finish my masters as fast as possible? (I can finish by December 2010, possibly by November depending on how fast I write my thesis) Or should I try to go on exchange, and extend my stay at the university until May 2010?
What kind of job should I get after the masters? In what field? In what Country? Should I continue in academia, research, or go to industry?
These things creep up on me all too often.
I know that I like the true engineering aspect of things. I'm not sure if I would make a good scientist, though I really haven't had much lab experience to deduce that - next term will help me determine this. And Teaching - hopefully I'll get a TA position, in which case I'll be able to deduce if I like teaching.
I should figure out if any of my current profs who will get to know me a little better are teaching undergrad courses next semester - this way I'll have a better chance of getting a TA position.
For now, Ta ta.
I started at UOIT, and I find the school in some ways a disappointment, in others a blessing. The classes are much less fast-paced than Waterloo... which means that I won't be learning as much, but I can review what I've "learned" in my undergrad, and try to figure out a path for the future. I can also go to the gym, help out in two clubs,... and then I need to start cutting things off my plate.
Should I finish my masters as fast as possible? (I can finish by December 2010, possibly by November depending on how fast I write my thesis) Or should I try to go on exchange, and extend my stay at the university until May 2010?
What kind of job should I get after the masters? In what field? In what Country? Should I continue in academia, research, or go to industry?
These things creep up on me all too often.
I know that I like the true engineering aspect of things. I'm not sure if I would make a good scientist, though I really haven't had much lab experience to deduce that - next term will help me determine this. And Teaching - hopefully I'll get a TA position, in which case I'll be able to deduce if I like teaching.
I should figure out if any of my current profs who will get to know me a little better are teaching undergrad courses next semester - this way I'll have a better chance of getting a TA position.
For now, Ta ta.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Przeżyj to sam
Some of the things that are happening in the US, Canada, UK, and other countries are reminding me of one particular song. The situation right now is a lot different. But it's the same situation: people are afraid to act.
Lombard - Przeżyj to sam
Na zycie patrzysz bez emocji
Na przekor czasom i ludziom wbrew
Gdziekolwiek jestes w dzien czy w nocy
Oczyma widza ogladasz gre
Ktos inny zmienia swiat za Ciebie
Nadstawia glowe, podnosi krzyk
A Ty z daleka, bo tak lepiej
I w razie czego nie tracisz nic
Refren:
Przezyj to sam, przezyj to sam
Nie zamieniaj serca w twardy glaz
Poki jeszcze serce masz
Widziales wczoraj znow w dzienniku
Zmeczonych ludzi wzburzony tlum
I jeden szczegol wzrok Twoj przykul
Ogromne morze ludzkich glow
A spiker cedzil ostre slowa
Od ktorych nagla wzbierala zlosc
I poczal w Tobie gniew kielkowac
Az pomyslales: milczenia dosc
(My humble translation)
Lombard - Survive this yourself
You look at life without emotions
Against the times, in defiance of the people
Wherever you are in the day or night
Through the eyes of a spectator, you watch the game
Someone else is changing the world for you
He risks his neck, and raises his voice
But you from afar, it's better like that
And should something happen, you don't loose anything
Survive this yourself, Survive this yourself
Don't turn your heart into hard stone
So long as you still have a heart
Yesterday you saw the news again:
Exhausted people, and outraged crowd
And one little detail caught your eye
A huge sea of human heads
The speaker drew out harsh words
From which anger abruptly grew
That same anger sprouted in you
Until you thought: enough silence
A better version (without the video) can be found here
Lombard - Przeżyj to sam
Na zycie patrzysz bez emocji
Na przekor czasom i ludziom wbrew
Gdziekolwiek jestes w dzien czy w nocy
Oczyma widza ogladasz gre
Ktos inny zmienia swiat za Ciebie
Nadstawia glowe, podnosi krzyk
A Ty z daleka, bo tak lepiej
I w razie czego nie tracisz nic
Refren:
Przezyj to sam, przezyj to sam
Nie zamieniaj serca w twardy glaz
Poki jeszcze serce masz
Widziales wczoraj znow w dzienniku
Zmeczonych ludzi wzburzony tlum
I jeden szczegol wzrok Twoj przykul
Ogromne morze ludzkich glow
A spiker cedzil ostre slowa
Od ktorych nagla wzbierala zlosc
I poczal w Tobie gniew kielkowac
Az pomyslales: milczenia dosc
(My humble translation)
Lombard - Survive this yourself
You look at life without emotions
Against the times, in defiance of the people
Wherever you are in the day or night
Through the eyes of a spectator, you watch the game
Someone else is changing the world for you
He risks his neck, and raises his voice
But you from afar, it's better like that
And should something happen, you don't loose anything
Survive this yourself, Survive this yourself
Don't turn your heart into hard stone
So long as you still have a heart
Yesterday you saw the news again:
Exhausted people, and outraged crowd
And one little detail caught your eye
A huge sea of human heads
The speaker drew out harsh words
From which anger abruptly grew
That same anger sprouted in you
Until you thought: enough silence
A better version (without the video) can be found here
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Another week done...
Another week done... This week my running consisted of:
mon - shorter and (slightly) slower than tempo: 10k 2%, 52min
wed - swam for an hour... I always loose count of how many laps I swim!
fri - tempo 10k 2% 47min
sun - 27.5k, slower pace (I didn't have a watch, nor did I check the exact time before / after the run)
I used 1 gel pack during the run... had a second in my pocket. I'm not 100% sure about using them. I read you shouldn't use them for the first time during a race; I tried for insurance ;). I want to feel the wall; I hear it takes 30k or so to feel. During today's run I definitely felt it in my legs, a and a little in my glutes knees, but not as much in my chest. I was actually running on the side of the road for a while because of a pain in my knees. The tempo runs I feel it more in the chest... I'm gasping for air, but my legs are... ok. This could be something to do with running on the tready for the tempo and outside for the long run...
This week is gonna be a challenge for training... especially during the drive down to Florida on Friday :D
mon - shorter and (slightly) slower than tempo: 10k 2%, 52min
wed - swam for an hour... I always loose count of how many laps I swim!
fri - tempo 10k 2% 47min
sun - 27.5k, slower pace (I didn't have a watch, nor did I check the exact time before / after the run)
I used 1 gel pack during the run... had a second in my pocket. I'm not 100% sure about using them. I read you shouldn't use them for the first time during a race; I tried for insurance ;). I want to feel the wall; I hear it takes 30k or so to feel. During today's run I definitely felt it in my legs, a and a little in my glutes knees, but not as much in my chest. I was actually running on the side of the road for a while because of a pain in my knees. The tempo runs I feel it more in the chest... I'm gasping for air, but my legs are... ok. This could be something to do with running on the tready for the tempo and outside for the long run...
This week is gonna be a challenge for training... especially during the drive down to Florida on Friday :D
Monday, February 23, 2009
1/2 done
I broke 1:40. I was expecting 1:45. I managed to get a fairly good night sleep, despite having gone out to play pool and did a little drinking the night before (this didn't bother me because the run didn't start until 12:30). For the hour or so before the race, it was snowing considerably. But like 5 minutes before the race, the snow cleared.
I'm guessing that most of the runners didn't know what to expect from the race, and were taking their time for the first half. I know I was. There were two small hills in the whole course, and it only snowed from maybe 8km to 14km. By 10km the pace had started to pick up. People now knew the track, and didn't see it as challenging.
I have this one song that I always tend to sing in my head or sometimes out loud when I run, "Ja tu jeszcze wrócę" by Kazik. By 15km I was only thinking "6 more to go."
I thought that I'll pace myself until the 20th kilometre then let everything go. Just sprint. But it was going slow as molasses. I managed to keep a decent pace behind some guy, but by 18km he was getting away. Then something weird happened.
"Now is not the time to be slowing down" yelled someone from behind. It was some ancient runner, who looked like he still remembered when D day hit the news. He started selling me gimmics. I knew they were gimmics, but tried to entertain their thoughts either way. Drank some gatoraid at the last water station and made it past 19km.
I managed to hold a decent conversation with him until the final turn. Then he pulled ahead. At this point I was gasping for air, getting dizzy. I managed to run all the way to the finish, but I couldn't have finished much faster if I tried.
Note to self: next time, don't eat Mcdonalds for breakfast before a long run.
I'm guessing that most of the runners didn't know what to expect from the race, and were taking their time for the first half. I know I was. There were two small hills in the whole course, and it only snowed from maybe 8km to 14km. By 10km the pace had started to pick up. People now knew the track, and didn't see it as challenging.
I have this one song that I always tend to sing in my head or sometimes out loud when I run, "Ja tu jeszcze wrócę" by Kazik. By 15km I was only thinking "6 more to go."
I thought that I'll pace myself until the 20th kilometre then let everything go. Just sprint. But it was going slow as molasses. I managed to keep a decent pace behind some guy, but by 18km he was getting away. Then something weird happened.
"Now is not the time to be slowing down" yelled someone from behind. It was some ancient runner, who looked like he still remembered when D day hit the news. He started selling me gimmics. I knew they were gimmics, but tried to entertain their thoughts either way. Drank some gatoraid at the last water station and made it past 19km.
I managed to hold a decent conversation with him until the final turn. Then he pulled ahead. At this point I was gasping for air, getting dizzy. I managed to run all the way to the finish, but I couldn't have finished much faster if I tried.
Note to self: next time, don't eat Mcdonalds for breakfast before a long run.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Winter sports
It's winter outside. There's no doubt about that. Can running in -25c weather be called a winter sport? It is a little challenging when your tears freeze to your face as you run. I also found another thing about running: I have weak knees. In the sense that my cartilage gets worn away fairly quickly, leaving a good knee cap to bone connection. Not too good if you still want to walk in your fifties. My cousin says I should take glucosamine, and start some cross training (swimming, x/c skiing, biking, and at least join a gym to run on a treadmill).
I thought running was a cheap sport! To be able to do it for more than 2 months, you need good shoes, watch your diet, and pray that no serious injury happens. ARGH!!! All I wanted to do was to run... That's aight, In the end, running got me to swim and x/c ski again aswell, so it's - you ask for a better winter jacket and you get a mild winter or more firewood kinda deal. Signed up for the Peterborough 1/2 Feb 22nd!
I thought running was a cheap sport! To be able to do it for more than 2 months, you need good shoes, watch your diet, and pray that no serious injury happens. ARGH!!! All I wanted to do was to run... That's aight, In the end, running got me to swim and x/c ski again aswell, so it's - you ask for a better winter jacket and you get a mild winter or more firewood kinda deal. Signed up for the Peterborough 1/2 Feb 22nd!
Monday, January 05, 2009
On the market
So... I've completed my undergrad. Another sheet of paper churned out of the factories we call universities finished its production run. This one had some defects on the way through, and had to be fixed. It still doesn't run 100% as the way it should. And it hasn't been sold yet - might be one of those GMs or Fords that don't seem to be selling too hot.
Apart from that, I've decided to start running. The plan is a marathon in May (one of three: vancouver on the 5th, mississauga on the 10th, or ottawa on the 23rd). Tomorrow I'll officially start my training program. I ran 1/2 a marathon in october - but that was without any training (except random rollerblading and biking). I have to say - I feel like this is something I want to do. It's not something that someone told me - you should do this... I want to run.
Apart from that, I've decided to start running. The plan is a marathon in May (one of three: vancouver on the 5th, mississauga on the 10th, or ottawa on the 23rd). Tomorrow I'll officially start my training program. I ran 1/2 a marathon in october - but that was without any training (except random rollerblading and biking). I have to say - I feel like this is something I want to do. It's not something that someone told me - you should do this... I want to run.
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