Rock and Roll Chicago 2010

July 29th, 2010

rnr_chicago_logoThe Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon is coming up in a few days. I’ve been thinking about it a lot the past few days. I think a lot before a big race. I guess it’s a good think that I over think now so I’ll be on automatic Sunday morning.

I haven’t been able to get back into my training routine. I’ve been feeling very sluggish since I started running again. Matthew lost a bit of confidence since the beginning of July due to his knee getting tweaked. He claims he feels slow. In the long run, the lack of confidence might be good for his body and training. He has a couple of more races this year and I’d rather have him turn this into a training run with a massive concert at the end.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago half marathon (RnRChi) will give me solid numbers to assess my training. Between the two 5k races I participated in, I’ve improved my time. I think the training is working. I hope it’s working.

My fastest official time is 2:03:42 at last year’s RnRChi. My fastest unofficial time occurred during last year’s Chicago Marathon. I clocked in at the half way point at 2:01:55. At this year’s RnRChi, I hope to get under two hours. With everything that happened this past month, I don’t know. Should I play it safe and run conservatively? Maybe I should come into the race planning for a 1:49:59 finish and adjust it accordingly based on the weather and what happens the night before.

It’s going to be a super early race. The half marathon begins at 6:30a. I have to get there at least 5:30a. That’s insanely early especially for a guy that will be at a wedding reception the night before. The biggest thing I need to do now is get to bed early, wake up early, and get quality rest. I will say this. It will be quite an interesting day for Matthew and I.

I’m looking forward to the race good bag t-shirt (they had a great shirt last year), the race, and the post-race concert. As long as I don’t injured, I’ll be happy what the day brings. I’ll be running with my brother, in a city I love, and celebrate finishing with a concert. What more can a dude ask for? Oh yeah, my friend O is having a graduation party that afternoon. It’s going to be a good Sunday.

Austin

July 27th, 2010

Texas State Capitol BuildingDanielle planned on attending graduate school outside of the Chicago area and wanted to visit the areas her target universities are in, Austin being one of them. I thought, “why not?” Texas was not on the top of my list of places to visit. I want to tell you everything but here’s a highlight of my four day weekend in Austin.  The road trip to Austin is the best non-solo road trips sans my brothers I’ve been on.

Austin started to change my views of Texas. The light car traffic made driving enjoyable. Austin abounds with parking. Buses flowed freely from bus stop to bus stop. It’s a very bike friendly and walkable city. It’s a beautiful blend of active and sedentary transportation. This is transportation heaven. I wish I had my bike. I would have walked, ran, rode, and drove. Part of me wished the Chicago area was much like this.

The Texas Capital

The Texas State Capitol building grounds was interesting.  I learned a lot about Texas history in their visitor center and on the free tour there.  We walked campus of University of Texas at Austin. It’s a beautiful campus just north of the Texas State Capitol building. Danielle and I casually walked through campus locating attempting to identify the purpose of each building. I found a trailer that advocated bike transportation and it gave me a big smile. We noticed the university transforming roadside landscape along the road into xeriscaped gardens. It warmed my nature friendly heart. I can see myself spending a part of my academic career here.  Like the University of Illinois campus, this one hit me in the heart.  The difference is that  The aroma of cows does not waft in the air at the University of Texas.

Outdoor Recreation

Austin built a dam to create a reservoir to provide ample drinking water for the city. Lady Bird Lake (AKA Town Lake) provides a great source of recreation for the city. Every day I saw people boating on its waters. I became envious of the paddlers on their kayaks as I ran down the trail around Town Lake. I wondered what the anglers caught. I waited patiently with other watchers for the Congress Bridge bats to emerge and fill the sky as one cloudy unit.

Another body of water people gravitate to is Barton Springs Pool.  It’s a pool naturally fed by a creek and a couple of springs nearby.  We arrived there early Monday morning.  As the day wore on, more people came to swim in its waters.

SoCo and Other ‘Hoods

Torchys_Tacos_TrailerSouth Congress is the home to a number of eclectic business and people. Like many ‘hip’ neighborhoods, it started as a shady part of town where artists lived and thrived. (Most likely due to low rents.) Its low income roots are still seen scattered throughout the neighborhood that’s being built up to cater to the trend sheep who ‘discovered’ this neighborhood’s charm. Gentrification? Perhaps. It feels like SoCo posesses a healthy mix of economic diversity to keep the neighborhood unique, vibrant, and eclectic without that gentrification vibe to it.

We ditched the car yet again to walk around the area near our hotel. We discovered a curious neighborhood of new construction and old housing stock. Skyscraper condos sit right next to middle class single family homes. Within the concentration of single family homes, we found a newly minted neighborhood bar built within a former house and a couple of restaurants with seating in the front yard of a home. I wanted to explore more and taste the flavors in this neighborhood but our time in Austin is short. Yet another excuse to return to Austin.

Feelin’ Austin Music

We experienced a taste of Austin’s famed music scene. We didn’t go down to Sixth Street that weekend. We didn’t visit Stubb’s. We chose to do something more laid back, something that I would do. We visited the Cactus Cafe to see David Garza perform. It was a free Monday show, well almost free. We loved him so much that we tossed some cash in the tip jar reserved for the performer/band/group.

Good Eats Highlights

Damn BP Taco at Torchy's TacoThere were a lot of good eats in Austin. Torchy’s Tacos is one of those places. It’s so good that we visited there multiple times. The only time we didn’t eat there was when we dined at Iron works for some barbeque, and when we decided to try another Tex-Mex joint. I blame my coworker Brad for my addiction. He recommended that I try their breakfast Taco. I tried their tacos and LOVED IT! They also had Mexican Coke. If you’re a Coca-Cola aficionado, you know why that makes my taste buds grin. Next to Torchy’s Tacos’ food trailer at the trailer park is Holy Cacao. Try their cakeball and a Frozen Hot Chocolate. Yum. It’s a chocolate addict’s heaven. That trailer park was a slice of heaven for me. Tree, an REI employee at the downtown Austin store, recommended that we visit Iron Works BBQ for some Texas barbecue. It was good barbecue that wouldn’t offend a person. That’s the impression I got after talking to Tree and I think it’s because Texas barbecue hasn’t been codified yet like a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza or a Philly Cheesesteak.  Let me tell you, it is some damn good barbecue. I wanted to go back before we left town but the time table didn’t allow us to do so. I left Austin pining for more Torchy’s Tacos, barbecue, and chocolaty delights from Holy Cacao.

Austin changed my opinion of Texas. It’s not as weird as they claim to be. Perhaps I found it normal because I’m one of the weirdos that should be living in Austin. It’s one of the few times where I felt at ease and normal. Maybe I should consider transferring to University of Texas at Austin? A part of me wants to move down there.  Austin definitely deserves, at the very least, another visit. Who wants to drive to Austin with me?

Seeking a New Roadtrip Companion

July 23rd, 2010

My Austin road trip has me thinking about my next road trip companion. I’m ready to do a road trip across the country. My mom has been bugging me to buy a new car because she felt Justine might kill me on day. Justine is a 15 year old car that doesn’t carry the latest and greatest in automotive safety. I understand where my mom is coming from. Justine is showing her age and the lack of air conditioning on hot and humid days is a mood killer on a road trip. Finding a new companion is a tough. Travel buddies come and go. A travel companion is a long term relationship. Purchasing a new vehicle is a huge commitment especially since I plan to drive the vehicle for at least ten years.

I ran all the possible vehicles from all manufacturers through my screen.  The vehicle had to be built in North America, be under $30,000, possess attractive (yet quirky) styling features, and have ample storage room for my travel gear like backpacks, clothes, coolers, etc.  Of those candidates, I test drove them and narrowed my selection down to two, the Chevrolet HHR and the Honda Element. Each vehicle had its pros and cons. Both had quirks that made them lovable or annoying.

I compared them to my mom’s Honda C-RV. I loved how it rides. There’s some feedback at the steering wheel. It didn’t feel numb. The interior looks attractive. Everything around the driver’s seat is well thought out. The only thing I didn’t like is the driver information display that shows information that is needed only occasionally like fuel, oil life, and temperature. It looks nice but it splits the speedometer and tachometer. However, the exterior isn’t something I liked at all. From the A-pillar forward, I thought it has a bit less than average looks. The Acura MDX would have been the twin I would have bought if I could afford it.

The Honda Element was the first vehicle I drove. It performed exactly like the CR-V. I enjoyed looking at the instrumentation in the dashboard. The tachometer and speedometer sit side-by-side! My biggest qualm with the Element is how I felt in the drivers seat. The design of the dash, the window, and the seat felt awkward. I didn’t feel right no matter what position I put the seat in. I think the rake of the windshield and the angle of the A-pillar threw me off.  I’m sure I can get used to it.  The steering wheel was offending as well.  It looked like an afterthought and the designers were stuff in the 1990s.

The engineers and designers gave the Element a lot of smart features the CR-V doesn’t have. The back seat can be raised, flipped, and folded to the side of the car. They can also be removed. I loved how a carabiner keeps the rear seats hanging. (I’d upgrade the ugly Honda carabiner to a better looking climbing wire gate carabiner.) There are plenty of storage solutions found throughout the vehicle. The center console has an optional cooler. I liked the wide cargo doors. Unfortunately, the design of the doors created a bit of a blind spot that needs to get used to. A favorite feature are the flat rubberized utility floor that can be easily wiped down. I first saw them in a police car and wish they had them in more vehicles. The fabric has a highly water resistant finish. That’s a big plus for someone that likes being in the outdoors.  The exterior looked like that there is no line between business and play. It played off my quirky side and I liked it.

I found myself inside a Chevrolet HHR a week later. I felt and heard the road as I drove. It’s a bit more harsh than the CR-V or the Element.  The harshness felt more connected to the pavement. However, it was on the side of too much. I’d rather be on that spectrum than on the side mind-numbing. Too many cars attempt to disconnect the driver from the road’s sound and even the car itself. I feel isolation numbs the driver’s focus and takes away their concentration on the road.

The back seats don’t do acrobatics and contortions like the Element but it does seat five. They fold over to create a flat surface from the main cargo area to the front seats. There weren’t too many innovative design features in the HHR but it did the basics well and allowed a few things to do double duty such as the cargo tray laying flat on the floor, raised to create a shelf, or lean partially open to hang things like sweaty running shirts. It also had plenty of storage solutions like the Element. Because the HHR doesn’t have the cool rubberized floor like the Element, I’ll have to invest in all weather mats.

Sitting in the cockpit felt utilitarian. The seats were designed so you have a place to sit while driving. They’re not bad seats. They just aren’t special in a good way. They didn’t feel as nice as the Element or the CR-V. However, the total design around the driver seat didn’t feel awkward. The speedometer and tachometer design felt slightly odd but they sat close together the way I liked it.

I love the overall appearance of the HHR. It reminds me of the old Advance Design pickup trucks from the 1940s and 1950s. In fact, HHR stands for Heritage High Roof and the1949 Chevrolet Suburban inspired the HHR’s design. The HHR has a lot of customization opportunities to individualize my car. I am quite excited by that prospect.

Both cars have their positives and negatives. The only thing between me and my new road trip companion is a great price and even better customer service. Will it be a Honda Element or a Chevrolet HHR? This weekend is dedicated to carefully through the numbers. I need to research the invoice prices, MSRPs, and dealer sales data. I didn’t want purchasing my road trip companion to leave a bitter taste in my mouth. We’ll find which will be my new road trip companion at the end of the July. Who knows. I might find myself waiting another year.

The First Four Weeks: Marathon 2010 Training Update #1

July 5th, 2010

The first four weeks of Chicago Marathon training has come to a close. I learned a lot in the past few weeks. Each piece of knowledge will definitely improve my training.

The new program I am using keeps it interesting and challenges me on different levels. It’s a foreign way of training to me. I logged miles during my first two years of running. The new program incorporates speed workouts of many forms. I’m blessed to have my brother train with me. He guides me through the new running exercises. Having a partner to train with helps me keep the demons at bay. If he weren’t there, I might have cut short a training session or had a cheat day (or three.)

I’m adding another layer to my training, On the hamster wheel, I felt my shoulders rolling in. My core was unable to keep up with the pace my leg and goal set. Other muscle groups attempt to compensate and fatigue from the extra load. Every muscle needs to contribute equally to keep my form. I want to be fast and strong for the Chicago Marathon. I want to run happy. I also want to look good too. The lower half of my body looks like the legs of a training Spartan in the movie 300 while my upper body looks like Olive Oyl gained some weight. Disturbing indeed. Therefore, I’m adding resistance training to my regimen.

I discovered how important sleep is for daily recovery. My mood and performance swings with the amount of sleep I get and how I wind down. I decided to limit my availability at my job to keep my training and sleep schedule regular. It seems that I receive the same amount of hours when I was in school and my almost completely open availability I have now. A limited availability will make me less crazy as it’s one less thing that I have to keep track of.

I eat more when I stay at home. If I attempt to stay awake, all I do is eat easily assessable junk. I eat when I’m bored. I eat when I’m stressed. It’s like an alcoholic at an open bar. So, I decided to spend more time at Borders, Starbucks, or the library to write or read. I’ll spend a few dollars on a Javakula but the calorie hit is much lower than if I were at home.

I closed out the first four weeks of training with the Stampede Run 5k/10k in Arlington Heights. Interval, hill, and tempo workouts paid off. I went out too fast for the first mile, my legs and back had that cramping burning feeling. I ended the race with a personal best despite the warm weather and the stench of lawn fertilizer.

The next four weeks begins with a trip to Austin, TX. My friend Danielle plans on attending a graduate school out of state so I’ll be visiting University of Texas with her. Vacations and trips are a dangerous time. It’s easy to justify the extra calories or the lack of training. I’ve made a commitment to stick to it while I’m on the road. I found a 10k on our way to Austin called the Toughest 10k in Texas. It’s part of Lampasas’s Spring Ho! Festival.

I hope everyone is progressing with their training or injury recovery. I hope to run with all of you soon. Have fun. Live well. Run happy.

Seeking Independence

July 4th, 2010

Ensuring freedom and independence is a long battle. The sacrifice is high but the rewards are endless. The thirteen colonies fought five year long years before ensuring freedom from England. They faced many ups and downs during until the United States of America was formed to ensure freedoms and rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. Personal freedom and independence is no different. During my one year review of my life, I found myself disappointed.

I did not gain as much ground as I wanted. Demons climbed out of the woodwork, rapped against my skull, and attempt to claw inside. There’s much work to be done. I stepped back to reflect on what work and what didn’t. I looked around for inspiration. I sought out reasons why demons start to haunt my thoughts again.

Running has rewarded me in the past year. I gained some of the self-esteem I was lacked. I strengthened my resolve. It provided me physical and mental health benefits. I feel have a better body image and I am happier as a whole. I rely on other people less for my happiness such as a girlfriend or a friend. My mood hasn’t fluctuated since I’ve been consistently training. My body feels better. Many people that haven’t seen me in awhile say I look slimmer. My legs look hot sexy. It’s my only confidence booster in life.

Many of the things that trouble me are inter-related. They feed off of each other. School, finances, and my home life tear me down quickly.

Fear, self-doubt, and other demons brought back bad habits and poor decisions. I did poorly in class and dropped others. I couldn’t handle negative self-talk. I spent more time at the library battling negative thinking than discovering new knowledge and ideas. Learning the material in school became a burden. Here’s the funny thing. I love learning new things from books in the public library’s stacks. If I becomes formalized education, I fall apart. This summer is, in a way, my Valley Forge. I need to fine tune existing skills and hone new ones. I plan to register for two classes this Fall to test my skills and adapt them.

Money is a tool we use to barter for things we need or want. W hat we decide to do it dictates if it good or bad.  The credit card companies are collecting interest from me that should be going towards my dreams. Bad decisions haunt me and I kick myself everyday, twice as hard when a bill is coming do. My goal before the summer ends is seeking a full time job to supplement the money I’m already earning. Once I accomplish this, I can start saving for school. Seeking for business opportunities to temper risk of working for someone else. The opportunity needs to flexible enough to travel wherever I live. I do not want to be tied down to one place very long. I want my options.

Living with my parents is a very draining affair. It’s cheaper than renting a studio apartment but is it worth my sanity? There isn’t much I can do with living at my parent’s home except avoiding the place. A six dollar mixed coffee is much cheaper than rent or going insane. I am also looking at colleges outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. I want to be far enough not to be tempted going back to a place that familiar and un-nurturing. After running the Illinois Marathon, I made attending University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as my goal. Everyone I’ve met enjoys the university, it’s far away from my parents domain, and they have what I need, the academics, the atmosphere, and the inspiration. I just need to prove to them that they need me as a future alumnus. There are other schools I am looking at but attending this school is my top priority.

Reaching for my dreams is an ongoing process that I need to continuously work on. Before I get there I need to free myself of demons that inhibit my progress and find ways to overcome roadblocks. Actions today create a brighter tomorrow.

Numbers and Calculators. A Spiritual Exercise.

June 8th, 2010

So there are a bunch of numbers floating and zipping around in my head.  I threw them into online calculators.  A few interesting results occurred at the end.

I ran the 2010 Soldier Field 10 in 1:28:51.  The McMillan running calculator projects that my marathon time would have been 4:08:51.   My 2010 Illinois Marathon goal was 4:10:00.  Mission ‘virtually’ accomplished.  I can crush 4:08:51 in real life.  When I mean crush.  I mean CRUSH.

A venti Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks with no whip cream is 440 calories.  I love them so much, I’m incorporating them into my marathon diet as a long day treat.  I love my mom’s cooking too.  I’ll make room for that! Yum.

During my food splurge last week, I gained 7 pounds.  I’m just under 200 pounds.

I want to lose 30 pounds before the Chicago Marathon. That is an average weight loss of 2 pounds a week. I want to buy new clothes and not waste money.

To lose one pound of excess fat, I need to reduce or or burn roughly 3500 calories less each week while keeping fueled for my training.  This means reducing my calories by 500 calories a day. I’m keeping a food journal to keep track.

The number of daily calories I need to consume is roughly 2350 (assuming I have an inactive lifestyle) in order to maintain my current weight.

A weight change calculator predicts, I can run a marathon over 4 minutes faster if I lose five pounds.  I wonder how much faster I’d run if I were 30 pounds lighter.

To qualify for the Boston Marathon in my age group is 4:10:59.  The qualifying standard for the 2012 Olympic Trials is a “gun time” of 2:19:00.

At the end of this exercise, I know one thing for sure.  The only person I’m competing against is myself and my last personal best.  I am my harshest critic but also my biggest (and many times only) cheerleader.  Memories haunt me and fear stops me cold when I see these numbers.  It stops me in my tracks.  I gather my self and push through those fears.  I do my best to run my life with courage.  “Run happy.  Run free.  Run with courage,” I tell myself. “Run.”

Super Start to Summer

June 3rd, 2010

SF10_Jump_blogSummer launched on a great note.  Beautiful weather. Beautiful place. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.  The Soldier Field 10 was my almost perfect.  Bike the Drive. The Chicago Blackhawks won the first two games of the the Stanley Cup finals. 

Soldier Field 10

It all started Saturday morning.  The birds sang.  While the sun struggled to wake up, I popped out of bed.  I didn’t get the sleep I wanted but I felt good.  After Matthew, Patrick, and Lou got their things together, we headed off to Soldier Field 10. Getting to the Chicago lake front was quick and parking was a breeze.  We had plenty of time to warm up, stretch, chat, and stretch some more.  I didn’t see my supervisor and her husband.  I didn’t have her cell phone number also.  Did they over sleep?  Will we ever see them on this busy day?

I loved how Fleet Feet Chicago set up the starting line.  The starting line was split down the middle.  To the runner’s right was corral A and to the left was open corral.  It was different.  It was better.  It was a good use of a traffic barrier on the road.  It allowed the crowd to leave the starting line in a smaller grouping as the road narrowed as it went under McCormick Place.  

Where I stood in the corral was a jaw dropping view of the Soldier Field’s colonnades framed by trees standing guard along the road, blue skies above, and anxious runners waiting to be unleashed on the course.  I felt unusually good.  As we neared the starting line, I found my supervisor and her beau.  They jumped in with us.  My supervisor as my brother and I our pace.  She told us to go on ahead so her beau (J), my brother, and I left her behind.  We ran as a group for the couple of miles.  Traffic broke us up.  I felt REALLY good and decided to abandon the plan.  When the group broke us up again, I sped a bit up.  Matthew caught up and told us our pace has been increasing.  We lost J in the crowd.   I swore I heard his laugh at around mile four but I couldn’t find him.  Ultimately, he finished over two minutes before me. 

It just felt good that day.  My brother helped me manage my run.  I ran happy.  I ran free.  The race didn’t feel crowded like other races I’ve entered.  Yes, I cramped up after drinking a strong Gatorade but I ran through it. Matthew told me he’ll be leaving my side after mile seven.  I told him to run sexy.  He pulled away from me.  “I’m so close!” I thought to myself. I kept Matthew within my line of sight and slowly caught back up to him.  I pushed it harder hoping he would follow.  I looked back and saw he didn’t follow suit.  It was just me.  Soldier Field continued to grow larger in the horizon. 

I returned to the place we started.  An awful lot of people were huffing and puffing.  The crowd was tired.  The fifty yard line was within reach.  I started hooting, hollering and clapping my hands to get myself and everyone excited to get on the field.  I has extra to throw it into another gear as I entered the field.  I crossed the finished line and someone patted me on the shoulder.  I turned around expecting my brother and saw bib number 900 extend his hand for a hand shake and said something positive.  That quick moment was the highlight of my race. 

I found Matthew at the finish line, Lou floating around outside, and Patrick searching for us.  We relaxed and took a photo to celebrate our finish.  Later that night, the Chicago Blackhawks won game 1 and I discovered that I ran the event in 1:28:51, just enough to qualify for corral A.

Bike the Drive

For a second straight day, I woke up before the sun.  Patrick was kind enough to drive Matthew and me to Grant Park for Bike the Drive.  We rode bike_the_drive_2010south to the Museum of Science and Industry.  I must say, the volunteers on the southside seemed much more excited and into it than volunteers on the northside.  I might consider living down south.  I took a few great photo perspectives while riding.  I just wish I had one with me and my brother.  It was a blast riding a carless Lake Shore Drive.  It’s something I definitely want to do again. 

After the ride, a co-worker told me she leaves us at the end of June.  It made me think a lot since then.  A Blackhawks win prevented me from getting all ‘emo’ about my life.  I’m glad she’s leaving.  She’s following her heart.  I need to do the same.  The theme for this summer will be building a foundation and create the path towards what I want. It’s been in the back of my mind for a while.  Thanks Tiff for bring it to the forefront of my life again.