Sunday, August 29, 2010

Earned 5K

run2

The days and even the minutes leading up to my first 5K were nerve racking. Had I trained hard enough? How would I do? What would my time be? Would I look like I belonged and knew what I was doing, or would I be the one who took a wrong turn and ended up off the course? All those questions and a million more raced through my until the gun fired. At that point, nerves turned to pure adrenaline and all those questions vanished to a single goal of finish!

When I set this challenge for myself, I really didn't know how it would go. As somebody who never ran more than a mile at one time prior to this, I think anything could be viewed as an accomplishment. Looking back on my records, my first 5K times were in the thirty-two minute range when practicing. Two months later, I was hovering at the twenty-six minute mark. At this point, I felt comfortable setting my goal for my first official 5K race to finish in the twenty-five minute range.

When that gun fired, throw all those practices out the window. Being squashed in that mob when everybody starts, it's a whole different feeling. Practices, it's your mind and your watch, that's it. The race, it's one thing to get passed by somebody who looks like a gazelle, it's a completely different story when getting passed by somebody who looks like they'd stop at a McDonald's along the race route. Take this for what's it's worth (meaning I'm not very fast), but I felt like I was shot out of a cannon. That first mile was by far the fastest I've ever ran. Maybe it was all the adrenaline, but it was exhilarating to pass people. What started as a mob, ten to twenty across, soon thinned out to a steady line of people only a few wide. At that point it became sizing people up. I knew full well I wouldn't be able to keep up the pace I started, but settled in pacing myself off a woman that had legs that looked taller than myself. I figured if I could keep up with her, I would be doing pretty darn good. Then the hill hit. This course was advertised as a "flat course" and perfect for PR's (Personal Records). I really questioned who thought this was a flat course the whole time I was running up this huge incline. Which, also separated me from my long legged friend, she was hell and gone by the time I reached the top of Mt. Saint-Flat.

I was tired, the jolt of energy from the start was long gone. Now the voice was saying "What were you thinking starting out that fast? Dumbass". Those few moments of self doubt turned to determination quickly when I spotted what looked like a 4'8" female ninja. I could understand finishing behind the woman giant, but finishing behind this woman with chipmunk legs couldn't possibly happen. Could it? For about a mile, even though my body wanted to stop and rest, I kept willing myself to keep going. It took me to the last corner before I finally was able to muster enough energy to overtake her, the whole time irritated that my legs are twice as long as hers and I'm the one trying to catch her.

The final corner, the finish line came into view. At this point, I knew I was going to accomplish my goal. What's that off in the distance, but the finish line clock and it's reading twenty-two minutes? Are you kidding me? I was gassed, but thought of coming that far under what I thought I could was the driving force to push the last few tenths of a mile. 22:56! A full three minutes better than I was even hoping for!

In the end, that time is misleading. Turns out even though it was an official race with the USRFTGSGE (not the right acronym but it's something crazy like that), I don't think they measure the course correctly. By my estimation, I think the course clocked in at 2.9 miles instead of the 3.1 it should have. Which also explains how I was able to beat my best practice time by three minutes. I know I ran it faster than my practices, but not THAT fast. Had the course been the right length, I'm still estimate I would have finished in the high twenty-fours, which would make more sense, but still beat my goal.

For my first race, it was very fun. I really didn't expect the completive side to kick in like it did. Another huge difference running the race as opposed to practicing out on a trail by yourself, it was awesome having people cheering you on along the way. There were definitely points where I wanted to stop and catch my breath a bit, yet with somebody cheering, I couldn't do it. I'm very curious what time would have been had the course been the correct length. I'm bummed that my first race is also going to be my fastest time for some time. Hopefully, not long, but until I beat that time, I will always feel it's a little hollow just because I know it's not accurate. So, even though I earned this 5K, now I have to earn the time I got!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Just Lookin, Honest

Just Lookin

Now you have to sing this like the Mr. Roboto - Styx song:

Domo Arigato, Mrs. Robo
Domo Arigato, Mrs. Robo
Mata ahoo Hima de
Domo Arigato, Mrs. Robo
Himitsu wo Shiri tai

(How's that to an 80's flashback?)

After spending a few minutes in the pet store watching the antics of these Robo Dwarf Hamsters the other day, was there any doubt they wouldn't come home with me? By the look of it, I think Sweetie Pie may have even fallen in love with them faster. Even though two of them were the ones really playing, I couldn't break up the family, so all three came home with me. The triplets have adjusted to their new home fine. After about fifteen minutes of exploring they were comfortable enough to fall asleep. I've only seen narcolepsy set in that faster in my dad, so they must have realized they had a good home.

The real problem is going to be figuring out names for them. They are next to impossible to distinguish from one another. Becca has the idea of marking each of them with some paint to tell them apart. It really might come down to that, but I'm hoping their personalities will come out and it will be easy to figure out who is who.

Look forward to what adventures these little girls will have.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Only a Matter of Time



We stopped in to our local pet store for our routine pet supplies for the week. Every trip in includes window shopping all the animals. These Robo Dwarf Hamsters had us cracking up! We missed video an awesome crash, but this moment wasn't too far behind it. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before we have these two characters as pets

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Secret Agent L



Every once in a while the Internet surprises even me, well today I found this story: Secret Agent L

The Video explains everything. Great concept, story, and even better execution of her mission. Look forward to watching Secret Agent L's website and hopefully watch this Random Acts of Kindness thing go viral!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Goals

GTX

This picture is roughly ten years old. It was taken with a 3 mega-pixel camera, which happens to be the same mega-pixels my cell phone has (and it's probably time to upgrade it). The composition isn't great, the subject matter looks fairly boring, no fancy light and to most who look at it see only a car. What do I see? I see a accomplished goal and it makes that 3 mega-pixel picture seem like it's about 30 mega-pixels.

That car was not purchased on a whim, an impulse, or a love at first sight viewing on a dealer showroom floor. Months went by as I first researched the car itself. I built it virtually over and over again as I decided on the options. Test drives. Not to mention planning for if I could afford it and how comfortable I would be making the payments. Finally, the negotiating to not only get the price I wanted, but special ordering it to get it exactly the way I wanted it. Why go through all that, it was just a car, right? Well, it was and it wasn't. To me, it was a goal. This was going to be my first major purchase out on my own. It represented hard work and my personality on the exterior, but deep down it was the goal of successful completion of college and getting my first job.

Fast forward ten years and I've been working on another goal. Well, this bog entry is reminiscing about my first major goal, but really it's in celebration of completing my next major goal for myself which became official today.

(Even though I'm extremely proud of myself for my current accomplishment, looking back on that car, I miss it!)

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Superman's Spaceship

Ball

This summer has been so busy, old hobbies are getting replaced by new hobbies. I probably shouldn't say replaced, it's just lack of time to do all of them. My digital camera has been collecting dust, instead of shots lately. This weekend was finally a visit to check out the Chihuly exhibit at Meijer Gardens. It's only been open since late April and this was my first visit.

I've been a fan (of the work) of Chihuly since first experiencing his exhibit in Kalamazoo a few years ago. As far as the artist, my impression is that he's pompous and arrogant and I'd probably hate him on a personal level. My overall impression of his works around the Gardens gave me the same impression. Yes, I completely enjoy the designs and appreciate them for what they are. Yet, there's another side of me that thinks it's ridiculous to place purple cat-tail things in a pond that is completely overgrown. Seriously, it almost resembles the crabgrass in my yard. That's the pompous arrogance that makes me want to punch artists in the face sometimes. I want my art to be visually stunning. If it looks like something I could do, then I have a hard time calling it good art.

It really was a great day experiencing the Gardens, the art, and nature with my parents. This one piece reminds me of the spaceship that brought Superman to Earth and it was a Super Day.