TNT Honolulu Marathon Training week 5

It was a great day for a run. The weather is starting to get better for our runs. I had a great run. I took it nice and easy and did not push myself to hard, since I am doing the human race the next day which is a 10k.
It was good to see so many of my mentees' out there. I ran the whole way with Nicole. It was a lot of fun.
Here are the stats:

Summary of the run. Avg pace looks good. Temp looks great

Check out mile 3...woooohoooo, we kicked it at mile 3....??

Our route

The pains of preparing for traveles

Ok, today I decided I needed to get my act together and start packing up for the Grand Canyon Trip on this coming Wednesday the third. I like to be prepared ahead of time so I am not running around freaking out if I forgot something.

As usual, I pack my cloths in Ziploc bags and separated those I will take down to the canyon. It is an old RAGBRAI (bike across Iowa) habit. I learned, as a precautionary measure, that it is a good idea to pack your cloth in Ziploc bags in case your bag gets wet. Your cloths stays dry.

As I was packing my BIG check in luggage with my backpack, food supplies, walking stick and all of my camping gear, I realize this sucker is going to be heavy. So I used a fish scale and sure enough it weigh in at 60 ibs. It is so heavy and big that the last time I did this was when I
went to Lake Tahoe and they had a hard time lifting it and stuffing it into the conveyor belt and told me that I need to a new one, because this one is so old that the weight is tips it over. Because the baggage is over 50IBS, I would have to pay an additonal $50 for the extra weight.

I started to wonder what would be better, if I paid the fee and lug this huge bag or split it between two bags and not pay the fee. I did some research and found out that it has now changed.
We now have to pay for Check in luggage.

Since I am taking US-Airways that is their fees.

First: $15 Second: $25. Third and additional: $100 each. Overweight Bags: 51 to 70 Pounds $50 to $15. This means if I take my big Monster bag, I would have to pay $15 + $50 = $65, total for both ways $130

If I split the Monster bag into two bag and keep it under 50Ibs I just pay $15 + $25 = $40, total for both way $80, I save $50 going this route.

SO, I went ahead and took out the food, utensils, water bottles, first aid kit and misc stuff from the monster bag into another back and kept my hiking stick, backpack, thermarest, ...etc. Now I have the monster bag only weighing in at a measly 38ibs and the other bag at 30ibs. I look like a damn dork carry all that, but that is what I have to do if I am going camping. I have my 2 camping stuff split into 2 bags, my backpack with my laptop, power adapters, camers, video camera, book and magazine and the other smaller gray one my cloth, both going with me.

Oh well.

MidWeek Training for 8/27/2008

Today was our mid week training. I was not sure if I would go since the last 2 days I felt drained and felt like I was coming with something. It could be that I was working out too much or did not get enough sleep the other day when I had to remote in to work from 9pm to 1am and be back at work at 7am. In either case, I felt better today and decide to go for it.
To better prepare myself and prevent any disaster on my bike ride back, I decided to take my old trusty hyprid bike and hook up my headlights and set my powergenerator on the back pannier handle and hook it up to my backpack with the subwoofer and 2 speakers including my running shoe. I also brought along ,what I like to call, my vegas vest, flashing red lights. On my way to training, WOW, the sound was great and loud. Good bass and sounded really good. I now have a new name for my system. I like to call it "On your left system". Damn, they hear me coming and would move out of my way. NO more yelling on your left. The music does it for me. Including runners with headsets. It is so cool. I could also call it "the parting of the sea system". Anyway, I guess, if you are on the path either running or cycling and all of sudden you hear this loud music from behind, you are going to look to see what the hell is that..... I love it.

Back to the workout. We basically did pacing drills. Run 1 mile at a comfortable pace, 2nd mile at a faster pace and the 3rd mile even faster then the last. I decided to run the last mile ALL OUT. I ran it pretty fast, but always wonder if I could have pushed myself harder. Now, I am on this mode to make my mile faster..... anyway here are the stats for each mile I ran today.

Mile 1, almost it was .97

Mile 2. eactly a mile

Mile 3 -1 mile in 6:53, check out my heartrate... Yikes!!

The last mile, around the hill

The last mile heart rate...Damn Notice how it jumps up high!!. I should have kept it on to see how fast it goes down after the mile....

TNT Honolulu Training for 8/23/2008

It was a great day for a 6 mile run, although it was very humid but a nice breeze was felt which helped a lot. I took it easy today, feeling my IT band hurting on the last mile and my tailbone from the impact.

Summary
Per mile
The Route

Chilling out by the River

For today, I decided to take a break from working out during my lunch and just relax and have lunch by the river. Aaaah such a hidden oasis to just meditate and feel refreshed.

My View from where I was sitting

Me Just relaxing for lunch

The hidden Oasis

Mid week training -08/20/2008

Today was my first mid week training all year for Honolulu Marathon training. I am always go into these workout treading it, because I know it is going to Kick my ass, but afterwards, I feel so good from the great workout. What I decided to do is Bike from downtown to Wilson and lakeshore and do the speed workout and then bike back. It is about 9 miles each way. I took my new road bike and basically averaged about 18mph.
At training we went through some form drills and did 25 minutes of light jog, 300m of sprints up the hill down the hill and light jog again. I ended up doing it 5 times. My stats are shown below.
After the workout, I did not realize it was going to get dark sooner and did not bring my lights. So I had to husseled back to downtown, where I left my car. Cruising at 19mph, I felt good. As I approached Oak Street beach some idiot in front of me did not look back and did not give me a warning, as I am yelling on your left, he cut right in front of me, I slammed on my brakes, unhooked my foot from the pedal and slid down slamming into the ground on my back and hitting my tailbone. It could have been worst, because of my backpack that I had my running shoe cushioned the blow. My tailbone is a bit sore now. I gave the idiot a lecture about giving warnings, signaling and looking back before he makes such a drastic move.
Lesson learned...

Summary of the workout

satellite view of the run up and down the hil

Pace per mile

Elevation, you can see the little hills

Heart rate

Realizing your capabilities is only the begining

No, I was not angry in this photo.... hahaha, I took it myself with my Treo Phone, just because I dont have any recent pic of myself.
Anyway, the point of this entry is that each of us have so much pontenial then we actually realize. In this society, we are held back to really no what we are made off. Everything is just spoon fed to us. Everything comes easy for us. No one in todays society does not know what real suffering is. This goes on in the same line of my last entry about living life simply.
Have you not felt the yearn to be back in nature? Only those who have experience the real outdoor and have spend sometime in the wilderness will know what I am talking about.
Once you experience this, then you will start to feel the pull of nature and the outdoor. To be disconnected is such a liberating feeling.
That is why, after I save and buy my own house, I am planning to buy some land somewhere in Colorado, Montana or Alaska and start building my own cabin with my own hands.

This entry is just my own random rants....

Buy land and building a cabin?

Picture taken at alaskaantlerworks.com

Lately I have been thinking about buying land somewhere in Alaska, Montana or Wymoning. Enough land, where I can build my own cabin with my own hands. Been looking for ideas and how to in building cabins. The land is actually quite cheap. I can buy about 46 acres of land for almost 30k and can use the trees to build my own log cabin. The hunting part, I would need to get a gun permit, and a hunting license.

About a year ago, I found Jill, who has the Alaska Antlers works as a side business but her story with her husband is really cool. TO find someone who has the same ideas about life is such a great feeling.

The following link has their story.

http://www.alaskaantlerworks.com/Alaska_cabin.htm

Just being simple

Me (Danny) at the Grand Canyon hike 2006

Ever since I watched the show "Experiment Alaska" and the more I spend time hiking, camping and just being more outdoor with nature, the more the outdoor calls me back. Lately, I have been having such a craving to go totally basic and primal. What I mean about that is living life down to the simple basics. Spending time disconnected with society and living your life, where you have to be self sustained. Hunt, fish for your food, cut your wood for fire, find water, fix or adapt your shelter, being either a cabin or tent. You work to live. At the end of the day you will have something to show for. If you caught fish, it is you that did that. In today's society we have lost touch with ourselves and are so connected that we have forgotten how to live our lives.

The craving of going back to nature for an extend period of time is eating at me. It feels like a pain on my side I can't get rid off. I have never felt this intense desire to be out there and being disconnected with the world. Living life in a very simple way. What are you capable of? Can you survive out there in the wild? Everything we have today is basically given to us. We live our life simply but yet complicated.

If I don't get into Experiment Alaska show, I can guarantee you that I will, in 2010, either take a 6 month leave, or quite my job and do the thru hike on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). A 2,650 mile hike that should take me about 5 1/2 month to do. A hike from the Mexican border and California, through the Navajo dessert, through the sierra, into Oregon and into Washington into the Canadian border.

I have been in outings on my own where I come back to civilization and the tremendous amount of sensory is so great, I feel overwhelmed. It is huge sensory overload, the people, flashing light....etc It is such an interesting sensation when you come back from the basics.

Just thinking about our lives here.....

I would be interested to see what other people think about this.... or am I the only one feeling this one?

Experiment Alaska??? What is it

I have mentioned before about this show called "Experiment Alaska" by the Discovery Channel

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/alaska/alaska-week.html

A good friend of mine, Tina, one day called me up and said "Hey you could to audition for this" I have only seen half of one show and was interested, but never seen the whole season 1. I went to the audition, filled out an application and sat in front of the video camera for about 3 minutes.

Basically, this show makes survival look like kids games. This is the real deal, there are no contest, competition or any drama power plays. You get dropped off somewhere in near the Gulf of Alaska in September and have to navigate yourself through the terrain to find you cabin, shack or whatever they give you. There are 4 teams of 3 or for people. Each team are in different locations. You have to survive 3 month in the harsh environment of Alaska. You are only given the basic necessities, a gun and whatever else you need to survive.

You have almost 2 weeks to capture as much salmon as you can before the salmon run ends and your in competition with the bears. Then you can "Can" the salmon and have food for the remaining months. If you fail catching enough salmon then your are pretty much in trouble. Without any protein in your diet, you will lose all your energy and it will become very difficult to function.

You are also given 2 opportunties to hunt and are given a rifle to hunt, one for Goats and two for Moose.

I finished watching the first season and I abosuletly thrilled. This is what I want to do. This is my type of show. I would pay to be on this show.

I have emailed the producer and she has indicated that my Energy stood out and that she crossing her fingers. I should hear something soon. Wish me luck!!

Honolulu Marathon training Update

Well, it was a beautiful morning for a great 6 mile run. I woke up, with a slight headache, almost like a hangover, but I was not drinking. I could sleep at all last night and barely slept at all. Most of the night I was contemplating on Discovery Channel "Experiment Alaska" I explain more later on that.
So, I got my butt out of bed at 5:30am and was at Wilson and Lake Shore path by 6:30am. I felt like I did not have enough energy and felt tired. As soon as we started to run, I can feel the stiffness in my body, but after a mile, I was back into the groove of running. Breathing was smooth, my pace was comfortable and my form was good. I mostly ran with one of my Mentee Nicole and Nadia.
I finished the 6 miles still feeling fresh and great. My knee did not bother me at all and felt no pain whatsoever. I also took it easy, since this is the first time I am running 6 miles this year. SO I was not sure how my body would react by the changes that occurred in my body, such as taking a 7 month off from running, my knee injury and the weight loss.
Over all I am pleased with my 6 miles
Here are some stats

Summary
Per mile
Map of route

Chicago Distance Classic 08

What a beautiful day for a run. The weather was just perfect for a half marathon. Could not have asked for a better weather. This was the first time I missed the CDC, due to an injury and lack of running. I volunteer at the TNT Aid station, passing out water. It was great fun and very inspirational and motivating. I really wanted to be out there running SO BAD. The itch was just there. I could not believe how much I really wanted to run again. The endorphins, the excitement of pushing your body and the just the air pushing in and out of your lungs is such a high. I found so many of my friends running and they all looked awesome. I officially start running again. Good job all!!

Awesome day
Aid station 8 setting up

Natalie, Danny and Tatyana

Michelle, Danny and Sue

Note: I did lose a lot of weight this year, due to more weightlifting and cycling. Maybe way too much. Hoping it will improve my time..

First 3 mile run after injury

Wow, not too bad, ran 3 miles on Saturday early morning with the team and I felt great. Only thing I noticed is the my knee is still tight and tense. I did not feel any impact pain, but I can tell there is less motion on that knee. I slightly compensated with my other foot and felt a slight strain. I could have easily done 4 miles but decided to take it easy.

Summary

Per mile stats, took it nice and easy


The route

Knee, one month later and after 3 mile run

Indiana Beach Camping

I actually had a really good time. I came into this trip thinking, ugh, another camping trip and I am already burnt out from Ragbrai and all the camping. This turned out to be better then I expected. Met a lot great people and everyone was very friendly. I drove the Pontoon, which helped also. How many times to I get to drive one. SO this was such a thrill for me to drive one. Had Lots of fun doing it. We spend close to about 4 hours around the lake. Chris the Event coordinator for this event was absolutely great. Everything went without a hitch. People that I met that left me an impression are, Allison, from Indy, who is a chemist. She is the sweetest thing I have ever met. Eugene, a very cool guy that I got along very well. Mary, a beautiful and very approachable women. Miguel, such a funny guy. There were others, but I felt a better bond with those people. Here are some pictures.

Mary cooking breakfast and Chris in the background

Danny driving the Pontoon boat
Danny just relaxing Allison and Danny
The other Pontoon boat
The High life group

For more pictures check out

http://picasaweb.google.com/runandcycle/IndianaBeachHighlife

Ragbrai Next Year????

Well, I have been thinking and thinking about this and pretty much made up my mind on the 2nd or 3rd day that I will make this my last RAGBRAI (Bike ride across Iowa). I have done it 10 years in a row and this year, I had fun, but it was more effort and work then I would like to be. I felt that I had to cater to everyone else. Part of it is my fault for offering my help with everything. Another reason is also the people, the environment was not the same. I really did not meet too much new people and missed several old friend from Ragbrai that I see every year. However, I was glad that my friend Brian, Rick, Danny Garza was able to participate. I am also glad to see the Morse Brothers, Brian and Craig and thier Friend David. That was fun. It was a very interesting, and strange Ragbrai this year. Just felt a bit burnt out from it all.

My plan for next year is to do another different ride. I am either looking at LAGBRAU (Legecy, annual great bike ride across Utah) or Cycle Oregon,

http://www.lagbrau.com/

http://www.cycleoregon.com/

We will see what happens next year.

I might just do the Burning man

http://www.burningman.com/

Audience for the Shaving of the head

I found this interesting, Here are some pictures of the audience watching me get my head shaved. Ahhhhhh, good times..... These pictures were taken by Stacy.

Wow, I look like I am being tortured

Enjoying the entertainment