Running Resources
Every time I start a new hobby (fantasy football, cycling, running) I always try and find the most efficient tools to help me get going. Here are a few things that have helped me so far in my quest for running a Marathon:
- Gmaps Pedometer: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/
- I use this to plan out my routes before I run, the best part is you can save your routes.
- Runkeeper (iPhone/Web App): http://www.runkeeper.com/
- By far the best iPhone app for tracking where you ran, how fast, elevation change. It also overlays it on top of Google Maps… very cool.
- Shot Bloks: http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_shot_bloks/
- One pack contains 6 little energy jello shots. I typically eat 1 every other mile… make sure you have water to help wash it down.
- Clif Bar: http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_clif_bar/
- I usually eat one of these right when I get back from a run. I tend to be really hungry when I get back and it always hits the spot. My favorite flavor is Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch.
- Nip Guards: http://www.nipguards.com/
- Every time I run over a hour my nipples chaff really bad. So… yeah, they have a funny name, but Nip Guards does the trick. I am not going into more detail.
- Nike+ http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/
- This is a poor man’s Runkeeper. I wouldn’t recommend using this at all. It isn’t accurate (it said I ran 15.5 miles, it was only 14), it doesn’t show you where you ran, or elevation. I used it a few times and then moved on to Runkeeper.
- Friends/Family
- Most of all, if you have really supportive people in your life it helps out more than all of these cool tools. My family and friends have been super supportive and it always helps when I am huffing it up a hill half way through my run.
I am always looking for recommendations for running resources. Leave me a comment if you have any other thoughts…
4 commentsMarathon before 30?
Last fall my buddy Tom from work asked if I wanted to run a 5k…
I should have known that with my addictive personality that the 5k was just the beginning. Since then I have run two 5k’s, a 10k, and a half marathon. Next up?? Possibly the Portland marathon in Oct. The marathon is 2 weeks before my 30th birthday, so yeah to me it is a big deal.
I will be sharing the ups and downs of Marathon training here on this blog for the next couple of months… stay tuned!
No commentsLinux
I started a new job last summer and one of my favorites aspects has been the exposure to Linux. I have been a “Windows” system admin for 10 years now so it feels good to learn something new. I am still working with Windows, but 2 of the projects I have been working on are rooted in Linux. The first project was to provide a blogging platform and I was quick to suggest Wordpress, which is a free open source software based on the “LAMP” stack… Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP. I have been using wordpress on my blog for a few years now, but I feel like I know the software much more intimately now that I have deployed 40+ blogs at work. The second project I have been working on is VMware. When I was brought on we had 2 different VMware farms running different versions of the software. Now we are setup in a single farm all running the latest version. VMware uses Linux as its service console to help you monitor and support the environment. Of course over the last 6 months or so I have had the rite of passage that is vi. I am not going to claim that I am an expert but I am quite comfortable with the core keyboard commands.
Just today I was asked to deploy Urchin which is very similar to Google Analytics, except that you get to store your data in house rather than Google using it to learn more and more about you. I had the option of using Windows or Linux on this project and I think I might just go with Linux 
Seattle Viaduct
Since I moved to Seattle in March 2006 I have been hearing this discussion on what to do with the viaduct. I have talked to everyone who will listen, but I think this video sums up my view perfectly.
Enjoy!
Via StreetFilms
No commentsSuperbowl XLIII
The 2008 NFL season will come to an end tomorrow and with it I see a huge sea change. Jon Gruden is no longer the hard working genius, Shananhan isn’t untouchable, and Dungy decided to retire while Peyton is still in his prime.
It doesn’t stop at the coaching level though… here are the last 3 MVP’s (not counting this year’s Manning)
2005 | Shaun Alexander, who this season did his best impersonation of Johnny Drama while trying out for any team that would answer the phone.
2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson, who after averaging close to 400 touches a season throughout his career looks closer to Emmitt on the Cards, then Emmitt on the Cowboys.
2007 | Tom Brady, who is still sitting on the couch with this leg up hoping that Gisele isn’t eyeing Big Ben.
Who will fill the void in the upcoming seasons? Well, we do have some promising young QBs such as Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, and Matt Ryan. It will also be interesting to see if the Vikings can surround Adrian Peterson with some talent before they run him into the ground the same way the Chargers did with LT. And can the Saints figure out Reggie Bush? I still remember the Saints in the NFC championship against the Bears. They had the lead after Reggie Bush ran for a long touchdown, but towards the end of the run he turned around and taunted the closest defender. That was just what the Bears needed, the Saints ended up losing the game and haven’t been back to the playoffs since.
I’ve always heard that the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league, and looking at the way things change so fast I guess it is true. Peyton Manning seems to be still going strong, but just as he inherited the “face of the league” from Brett Farve, he will have to pass it on to someone else soon.
Superbowl XLIII prediction:
Cardinals 21 – Steelers 17
3 commentsNFL Playoffs 2009.01.18
Eagles over Cardinals
Steelers over Ravens
NFL Playoffs 2009.01.10
Ravens over Titans
Panthers over Cardinals
Giants over Eagles
Chargers over Steelers
NFL Playoffs – Working Class weekend
Alright, here are my picks for the working class playoff weekend:
Arizona over Atlanta
Indianapolis over San Diego
Baltimore over Miami
Minnesota over Philadelphia
1 commentJanuary ‘09 Manifesto
- Spend less than $200 for food for the entire month
- Buy an alarm clock (so that I won’t have my iPhone on my bedside stand)
- Run a 5k in less than 25 min (my personal best is 25:50)
- Play Wii Fit everyday
- Read the book of Genesis (taking notes on each chapter)
- Learn 5 words in Portuguese
- Write a [written] letter to my nieces and nephew
- Call family once a week
- Date night with Kelly at least twice
Ocarina iPhone App Review
I really love my iPhone but there are times when I can go through a dry period where I think the gadget is getting stale. Oh… but that dang App Store keeps me coming back. Recently I discovered Ocarina developed by Smule. Anyone who has played the Legend of Zelda will fondly remember the angelic sounds of the Ocarina.
The way you play the iPhone Ocarina is by blowing into the microphone and playing the 4 keys on the touch screen:
In my opinon it is probably the best designed application for the iPhone because of it creativity and functionality. Until you try it, you won’t believe how well it works.
There is even sheet music for quite a few songs… my favorite being the Godfather theme.
No comments