File under: Stopped running, still (somehow) not a fatass

To cut directly to headbanging, cut to headbanging.


So, if my blog has come to a grinding halt, know that my running career has, as well. I KILLED IT in Redondo (came in 1599th place, fuck you #1600!! with your slow ass...) and I basically see that as an opportunity to dust my hands off and move on. I still have the shoes, so maybe I'll run again. We'll see. No "pace times" until further notice.

The blog name will stay the same because, frankly, "pronating in public" still makes me laugh.

OK, so, last night, my girlfriend, from here on known as Lina, treated us to the best concert of my life.

I've been a "metal head" all my life. And it started like this, (maybe...)

As a young teen (13 or so) I had so many metal cassettes and shirts, etc. I hid them at home, cuz I was fairly sure my mom wouldn't dig it, and I love that woman, and would never try to distress her with suspicion of rampant devil-worship. I wore a Slayer bandana under my football helmet for several years, not only because its high-quality fabric kept my nasty unwashed-hair oil off my already acne-pocked face, but it also made me insufferably tough, "post game". One day, my mom found it, was none-too-pleased, and threw it out.

For years after, I hid my "Heavy Metal". Every vinyl, cassette, shirt and hat (and bandana?) was hidden away safe, in a place where a mother would NEVER look (under my bed, where EVERY mother looks).

My mom found a cassette copy of Metallica's "Ride the Lightning". I thought I was finished. Dead. Tried and sentenced, as I stood, in my bedroom. Turns out my mom was a Metallica fan (?!) and even had a record I didn't have, Master of Puppets (?!???!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!)!

Been a fan of Metal, in whatever form it takes, ever since.

Brings me back to Amon Amarth. Could be that no one cares. but I'm proud of myself for remembering the setlist as the show went on, so I'm going to include it here.

Twilight of the Thunder God
Free Will Sacrifice
Valkyries Ride
Asator
Varyags of Miklagaard
Dragons Flight Across the Waves
Guardians of Asgard
Under the Northern Star
Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags
Valhalla Awaits (this video also appears to be a Braveheart tribute, suh-weet!)
Death in Fire
Runes to my Memory
...And soon the Earth Will Cease to Be
Live for the Kill
Cry of the Black Birds
The Pursuit of Vikings

Amazing show, Lina and I rode bikes there (House of Blues) and back (Venice) , so we got some of that in, too.

If you got time, click on some of them tracks. I suggest "Twilight of the Thunder God", "Pursuit of Vikings" and "Guardians of Asgaard", only because those are the one's with videos. They're ALL good, I promise that. Money-back guarantee.

Skål!!!

Results are in!

Finally, my results are up on Active.com. My official chip time was 57 minutes, 14 seconds. My goal was to run the 10k in under an hour, which I did, so I'm stoked. I now have some new goals, and started working toward them today with a (slow as hell) 4 mile run.

50%, is that a passing grade?

With three days left before the 10k on Sunday, I felt a 5 mile run today and tomorrow would make sense, taking Saturday off. Some gnarly Achilles tendon pain has kept my runs shorter lately, but I felt good today, averaging 8.5 minute miles for a total of 42.5 minutes. I jumped on a site that calculates Age Graded Scores, and it turns out that was just over 50%. Basically, it takes me twice as long to run 5 miles as the world reigning champion, which is fine with me. For now.


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Grabbing at exercise wherever I can find it

So, it was rainy in L.A. last week. Really rainy on Thursday, when I decided that, rain or shine, I would run to work. It's about 5k to work, and between the rain, the traffic lights and the detours due to flooding, I didn't get it done very quick. But I was looking forward to the opportunity to run in torrential rain and, as it doesn't happen too often in SoCal, I was obliged to get wet.

Fast forward to Sunday, I got this last minute invite to join a 75 mile bike ride from Irvine to Solana Beach. (map is absolutely not too scale, I kind of wasn't paying attention to where we were going. but I'm promised we went 75 miles. I think that map misses all of Camp Pendleton, which we did ride through.)

Muscle memory is a funny thing; I haven't been training much on a bike, but those bygone years of constant training and racing are hard to forget. We cruised down the coast pretty quick, followed by pizza (Pepperoni, Pineapple and Jalapeno, thanks Mark!) and a few pitchers of Green Flash (thanks West Coast Ale!), and then the train-ride back up to Irvine, where we started. I had a blast riding with that crew (check out Mai's blog, Velo Angels, for the real dirt)

photo courtesy of Olivia Cao

Taken up figure skating... er, couples ice ballet.

After spending the whole day feeling like a fat ass (although, I did miss lunch due to an all-day inventory session at the shop...) and having my run cut short by coastal flooding, I took up couples ice ballet. Thanks for making me look good, Lina!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Running gear I love, and can't afford

Why is it that everytime I use the last of the coffee, I save the coffee can? It just seems like something worth saving, and I know the best way to make homemade ice cream is using two different size coffee cans, but...

...which segues brilliantly into today's PIP post; technology. I won't write about shoes today, as that probably deserves a post of its own (short version: my shoes are too big, and they hurt), but I do want to write about compression garments. I use 2Xu compression recovery socks, and I'm looking to buy some race socks of the same brand before the 10k next month. "Compression" is such a buzz-word in athletics, but I recently had the opportunity to talk with my 2Xu rep at Cynergy (where I work) and demystify some of the details.

It breaks down like this: when you were a kid, and you got hurt , you applied pressure to your "ouchie part" . Yes, you did. Pansie-ass. BUT, your bitch ass was being brilliant; you might not have known it then, but you were helping your body return de-oxygenated blood to your heart. It's called venous return. And it really makes a difference. Basically, you are helping to hasten the removal of lactic acid build-up. Which I hate. Compression garments that go all the way to your ankles (or wrists) have a "graduated fit", which basically means it squeezes your limbs like a toothpaste tube, to get things moving. And healthy.

I raise my post-run PBR to toast...

... my first blog entry. I should probably read someone else's running blog first, to see how it's done, before subjecting anyone to my own. Truth is, I thought of the name while running this morning, and had to snatch it before someone else did. (I can't believe it was available! It sounds so dirty...)

Today's run was my second 4-miler in, um, years. Yesterday was the first, and I did it in 35 minutes. I usually run along Speedway, from my apartment in Venice, south to Marina del Rey, and back. There's all kinds of obstacles and craziness to keep me on my toes. Today's run was a little slower, about 36 minutes, or 9 minute miles. This PBR will give me the carbs to make tomorrow's run hella fast.

I'm trying to get in shape for the Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10k, and I'm feeling good so far. My goal is a modest one; I want to finish in under an hour. It shouldn't be too difficult, but I also haven't done a damn thing to actively get in or stay in shape for several years, so this will be a nice litmus test.

Well, I've secured the name (I'm already thinking of a logo, kinda like the Nine Inch Nails logo, seen right, but with PIP, Pronating in Public... oh God, I already know I'm going to take this way too far... I should have shirts available for purchase next week) I'm told my buddy Ben has a blog where he writes about running, as well as cycling and beer. Sounds epic, so I'll probably check that out to see how it's done, and find out what I'm supposed to be writing about.