Motivated to Succeed

12:30 PM - Went biking. Finished reading Nando Parrado's Miracle in the Andes. What a fabulous account of heroism, survival, and gut-wrenching heartache! Knee felt pretty good. Only downer I have another ingrown toenail :(

Total Time: 1:00:10 Total Distance: 20 mi

OPERATION BENN'S FIRST CENTURY : SUMMER, 2009

Got excited so I mapped out my proposed route to Emma's house.  I'm excited. Check it out

If you want to see what I am up against elevation wise though, click on "show elevation"... It's a doozy!

8:00 AM - Got up, got dressed, and away on the bike. Have so much to do that I wanted to get a ride in. Got a lot done while I was on the bike actually. Read a chapter from my textbook for tomorrow, went over the 17 major themes/concepts that will be on my state test in 3 weeks and then read the first twelve pages of Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. My knee felt a little stiff when I first started but this went away after about 10 minutes. I stretched a bunch and everything is doing much better than a week ago, that's for sure! Going to do free weights tonight after class. Happy Groundhog's Day! I wish he hadn't seen his shadow, but we all knew Phil was going to stiff us with another six weeks of winter, didn't we!?!

Total Time: 1:00:15 Total Distance: 20 mi

7:30 AM - There just isn't enough time in the day to get everything in! Did a bike ride, and now rushing for a shower, 4 hours of observations, then zipping home, changing and off to class down in Albany from 4:30 to 10:00 tonight. Yuck! Had a nice bike ride though this a.m. and surprising phone call from Emmy which made my morning!

Total Time: 1:00:10 Total Distance: 20 mi

No ride today.. Bummer. One of the girls that is leaving work as of Friday called out today. Go figure. So I got asked to work 8am to 7pm.. of course I said yes because I am a reliable, good worker. :-. Finally got home and was too exhausted to do anything since I didn't get home from class last night until 11 something. Grr. Frustrated that there aren't more hours in the day. I learned a lot about my writing last night though. I learned that I am often too verbose and tend to write in the passive voice. I am going to work on changing this for my next paper due for my class. Just wish I had more time to get everything done. I need to take a minute and just chill and tell myself it will be okay. Going to get a quick nap and then try to get a bike ride in before I have to go observe tomorrow for a couple hours. I feel bummed though because 1. I know I'm stressed out, 2. I miss Emmy, 3. I feel like I just pass my stressfulness onto her when I already know she has enough to worry about. I have to stop being a slacker and get my butt in gear!

7:30 AM - Temperatures plummeted all day yesterday. This morning was -10 or -15. Yuck. But somehow by Saturday and Sunday it will be in the mid 40s and rainy. Go figure. Went biking. Felt good. The knee didn't hurt. The only bad thing was I couldn't stop itching my legs for the first 20 minutes. I don't know if it was the dry skin or what, but it was downright annoying! Have to go get a shower and then go do observations and then homework all day. I might do another bike ride as a study break later today.

Total Time: 1:00:15 Total Distance: 20 miles

Really getting into The Secret Life of Bees. I'm up to about page 60 now. Sue Monk Kidd's writing is engaging I think because she uses vernacular language. Almost has a To-Kill-A-Mockingbird-esqueness to it. I highly recommend it to anyone that likes good literature.

7:45 PM - After more than six hours working on a stupid paper (Stupid not because of the content, but the failure of my teacher to ever give clear, concise directions) I decided it was time for a destressing ride. Only did 30 minutes. Felt strong though. Read another 25 pages of The Secret Life of Bees

Total Time: 30:45 Total Distance: 10 miles

3:20 PM - After work hopped on the bike and did 30 minutes hard effort. Was a little tired from just everything. Going to try to get a good nights sleep tonight! :) Missing Emma something fierce :( yuck. Touching moment today: on the way to work I was listening to NPR's local station and their fund drive.  A homeless man called in and pledged $5 and stated that he hoped that he could pick up enough bottles and cans today to meet that pledge. Well all the way to work I was listening to people call in and pledge an extra $5 to cover his donation. It actually made the head guy from our station, Alan Chartok cry (and he's a pretty hard/conservative guy of about 65). I was really moved. Too bad that moment was ruined with the first snobby Saratogians of the day. At least I know that there are good people out there. I only wish more people from Saratoga would listen to NPR. Maybe they would stop always thinking about themselves.  Oh, and tomorrow Harry (my youngest brother) turns 15!!! Exciting! I told my mom "I bet you feel old." She laughed and said "What? Me. No I'm 29!" haha Young at heart trumps Age in a heartbeat. Carry on friends.

Total Time: 30:05 Total Distance: 10 miles

Am I the only one that is not having a baby on the running blog? I feel left out! :(

11:45 AM - My youngest brother is now 15. He and his friends stayed up really late last night. A couple of them brought over an XBox 360 and a Playstation 3 so they were playing that. Also, my sister Su and her boyfriend Rocco are up for the weekend. It's really awesome to have everyone around. So cool to hang out with my parents too. The only one missing is Miss Emma! :( Nuts! Hopped on the bike before attempting mounds of homework. It's really tough to hang strong for a full hour. I don't know if I could do any more on the stationary bike at one time. So did an hour on the wind trainer while I read The Secret Life of Bees. I am now more than halfway through! Might try to do a second ride later tonight for 30 mins or something if I can muster up the strength!

Total Time: 1:00:15 Total Distance: 20 miles

6:30 PM - After taking a test and getting dinner, went on the wind trainer for 30 minutes to get a quick ride in while I studied for another test tomorrow and a presentation on Tuesday. Felt good. Feel bad though if Brent started to read Secret Life of Bees because I recommended it. haha.

Total Time: 30:10 Total Distance: 10 miles

So I want to try to build a base with running and biking. I think what I am going to do is try to do what Sasha suggests at the homepage of the running blog. I'm going to try to see if I can do 3 days of jogging a week. See what that distance is, and then add a 4th day for a few weeks, and then work up to the 5x 6 miles before thinking about any long runs. I just really want to give a 1/2 or that 15k in November a good crack and shatter a PR. I hope I can! I think I can.. I KNOW I CAN! :)

8:05 AM - Sunny; Temp around 20. Went to the school to go jogging. Started off good, but then my knee started to tighten up and hurt again. The left knee on the outside started to hurt around the 2 mile mark. I wasn't tired, but the knee kept me from running :(. Thankfully made it back to the car in one piece.

• Mile 1: 9:29
• Mile 2: 9:14
• Mile 3: 9:20
• Mile 4: 9:05

Total Time: 38:00 Total Distance: 4.09 mi Average Pace: 9:17

*Going to try to get more sleep, eliminate caffeine starting today (only drinking decaf coffee might be rough but I'm going to give it a go), and try to eat more healthfully, maybe not as strict as the Paleo Diet, but going to try to eat my fruits, veggies, and whole grains!

9:30 PM - Long day of classes. I was discouraged with the pain in my knee, but Emmy suggested I do some arm exercises and crunches. I did 20 mins of arms and 200 crunches, followed by Marion's IT Band suggestions. I really hope it helps!

10:00 AM - Super windy outside today (wind gusts projected to be 50mph+). Hopefully we don't lose power because I have a TON of work to do. Today was a good ride. I did 1h30mins of solid riding, drained a 24 oz bottle of water and finished the last 150 pages of  Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. I know it's been called a "chick flick" and such, but the book itself touches on a lot of moral issues that we still face today, even though it is set in the historical backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement of 1964. I really got a lot out of it, and I feel that it touched me in a way. Was a necessary break from all the school work. Thinking about it I must look like a goofball biking and balancing a book on the handlebars. haha.

Also another plus (+) from today was that I finished the fourth revision of a reflection paper I've been working on for two weeks. Kind of funny that a two page opinion paper would give me so much trouble. We had a 3 hour writing seminar though two weeks ago in my methods class, and it's "unleashed a fire" to try to shore up my writing which was called by my professor to be a bit "passive and verbose" at times. Now on to the endless stream of other papers and projecs. Yuck.

Total Time: 1:30:20 Total Distance: 30 miles

6:30 PM - Work was done with, so I zipped home and proceeded to rewrite the demographics section of a paper (about 4 pages single spaced); had to reread about 30 pages of demographics and redo it from a Middle School perspective rather than a High School one. Grr, for the one Middle School class I actually have to take for my degree. Figures. Then called one of my group mates and talked a bit about where we are at and where we need to go with it before Tuesday. Group projects in grad school are stupid. One of the group members lives 20 miles east of me, one 40 miles south of me. hmm.. And I think we all have jobs. I swear professors are oblivious to real life.

The bike ride was what I needed. Hopped on the bike and was reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals. It's such a moving book (especially for a history buff like me). Right now I am still early on in it, as I've had school books and Sue Monk Kidd's book to read. So I am still in the election of 1860. Just reading about the four men all vying for the Republican nomination in 1860 is mind boggling. It's amazing to think how far the country has come and how much it has changed in just 149 years. It got me thinking how much it might change in just another decade or two. I hope to see the day when all people are accepted as the people they are, not what society sees them as. A person should be self-defined, not socially constrained in the parameters of mainstream policy.

Total Time: 1:00:20 Total Distance: 20 miles

2:00 PM - I am at Emmy's in Pittsfield, MA today still. She wanted me to do the Power 90 workout with her, and I tried, but it's just not my thing. I have to get over my self-conscious issues doing weird yoga poses and such. I will give it another shot some other time though. It looked like a good workout because Emma was sweating at the end. I did 23 minutes on the elliptical at 5 resistance. Was sweating like crazy. Emma's sister Liana was on the treadmill next to me. Afterwards I did 200 crunches and some other ab work. Phew! I am hoping to cycle 100-120 miles this week. I've noticed that my legs compared to last year are HUGE. So much more muscles from cycling. I don't know if this bodes well or not to my future ambitions of running again. (First off I'll be heavier because of muscle mass, but secondly and more IMPORTANTLY, I think I'm just too darn sexy as a biker ..) ... BAHAHHA Okay. I tried to stop myself from laughing but couldn't. No, seriously though, cycling gives you sick leg muscles!

Total Time: 23:00 Total Distance: 2.3 mi Average  Pace: 10:00

9:00 AM - Puppysat Libby and Aggie last night on the living room couch. Aggie is still a "puppy" despite being probably about 80 lbs and the size of a full grown labrador. Woke up at 6am, coffee and talked with the Daddio, and then hopped on the bike and cycled 2 hours hard. Got some reading for today's classes done. Felt good to get a nice ride in like that.

Total Time: 2:00:40 Total Distance: 40 miles

8:20 AM - Hopped on the bike after morning coffee with my dad. Did a 1-hour hard ride. Really got sweating during it. Read from Goodwin's Team of Rivals again.

Total Time: 1:00:43 Total Distance: 20 mi

2:15 PM - Had a very long night/day so far. I've had a "crick" in my neck for the last couple weeks, and it has gone away and come back several times. I woke up at about 6am this morning and it just hurt too much to go back to sleep. We got 7" of wet snow last night which made our driveway a mess and I got called into work earlier in the week to cover since they still have not hired someone to fill the void another bookseller left when she quit. Ended up being 20 mins late for work because I had to dig my car out when it got stuck (that should count for some kind of cardio, shouldn't it?). Got home after shopping for stuff for dinner. Hopped on the bike and was elated to find I can still bike with a messed up neck (as long as it is inside and I don't have to look over my shoulder for traffic behind me!). Got to thinking a lot while I was on the bike today:

We don't really realize everything life has to offer until it is often times too late. Reading Team of Rivals I got to look at the harsh reality that life in the states at the turn of the 19th century was. Something to note was three of four of the major candidates for the 1860 Republican nomination had all lost at least their father, and in Lincoln's case his mother as well, before they were in their teens. I read from my methods book by Jack Zevin as well about ways through which to approach history in a secondary setting to students.  The biggest idea I took away from those two chapters of Zevin's work is an idea we would do well to remember in our daily lives.. to view things in a "frame of reference". Remember there are always other sides to a story. Remember that often it is the victors that write history, and not the subjugated. We would do well to think of the "other side" of things. I think we as a people and a nation would be a more Christian society if we would morally consider others.

Total Time: 1:00:11 Total Distance: 20 miles

3:00 PM - Good day at work. Really felt good making so many people's day. It's days like today that make me really appreciate my job. Had the cutest old guy (~85 or so) that came up and said hi to me before I had a chance to say "How are you today?". He goes: "A very good morning to you, young chap!" Read from my prep guide for my test tomorrow. I hope I do well on the ATS-W. We will see though.

Total Time: 1:03:15 Total Distance: 21 miles

12:00 PM - My test went okay. Some girl finished in 50 minutes or something, but I took about 3 hours for the 80 m/c questions and essay. I have never been good at m/c questions. That's my excuse for why I went into history where all you do is write essays. I did great on the essay from my own standpoint on things, but the m/c were really rough. It didn't help that 2 or 3 of the answers on every question were actually "correct", BUT they asked for me to choose the "most correct" grrrr. and those stupid roman numeral ones where the answers are like a. I, and III, b. I, II, and III, c. II and III only, etc. etc. I just pray to God I passed. Read another 25 pages of Goodwin's Team of Rivals. It's going to take a month or two to get through as I'm only on page 80!

Total Time: 1:00:13 Total Distance: 20 miles

9:30 AM - Snowy, snowy, snowy. "I love that you chose me." That's how I started my morning. Last year I gave Emmy a candle in a bowl with 365 reasons why I loved her typed out on little fortune cookie like slips of paper. This year she returned the favor and each morning I wake up and read one to myself. I think the joke's on her. What she failed to realize is that 1. I am way too lucky that she said "yes"! and 2. It was all too easy to come up with 365 reasons why I love her because there's a million more where they came from! Hopped on the bike this morning as the snow came down. Read the first 130 pages of Edmund Burke and Ed Pavelka's The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling. There really are a lot of similarities in preparation and execution of long distance cycling and running. One line that stuck out to me:

"Your goals should align with endeavors that satisfy you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Never lose sight of the fact that the journey toward any goal is just as important as the rewards." (Burke & Pavelka, 2000, pg. 113)

Ride, run, and carry on, friends.

Total Time: 1:00:20 Total Distance: 20 miles

8:00 AM - Biking early. Wish I had more sleep last night. Was going to do 2 hours, but just don't want to overdo it with a long week of work and school and all. Finished The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling by Edmund R. Burke & Ed Pavelka. You really learn a lot from reading books written by people that have actually experienced everything there is under the sun, and I love reading books about endurance events. They write, "even though it's effective, indoor cycling produces too much physical and mental discomfort for many people. Their enthusiasm flows away like the swat dripping from every pore." Is it bad that I actually seem to like indoor training? I get a lot of reading done!

Total Time: 1:00:11 Total Distance: 20 miles

8:20 AM - Got up early and on the bike before homework all morning and working the closing shift 3pm to 11:30pm. I really don't understand why we're still open so late. Who in their right mind goes to a bookstore at 10 or 11 at night and on a weekday no less! Read from Team of Rivals. Was listening yesterday to Doris Kearns Goodwin talking about it and her new book on Teddy Roosevelt which should be coming out in two years. I really like ToR, but it's long and time consuming. I'm still only at page 110 or so. Eek! During my ride I did 5 x 2 minute Hard "on"s with :30 second breaks in between. Was really working up a sweat. I thought the wind trainer was going to launch off the floor because it was certainly as loud as a jet engine! Super happy =) because my friend Julian in my classes lives in Saratoga Springs and is also an avid biker (mainly Mt. biking). He is going to give me my first ever biking jersey!! And hopefully I am joining a cycling club to get the "scoop" on how to become a better biker.

Total Time: 1:00:30 Total Distance: 22.5 miles

8:40 AM - Went for a recovery ride this morning. Started with some of ToR but wasn't up for reading history that early in the a.m. Instead read the last 70 pages of Michael Connelly's 26 Miles to Boston. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to learn about the history of such an amazing race (even if you're a slowpoke like myself and have no shot at every qualifying for it). During his own quest for the marathon Connelly reflects on joining the "cream of the crop" when you complete a marathon:

"The goal is met. The satisfaction is eternal.... A ribbon with its attached pendant provides teh runner validation for the blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed in order to participate in this event. After receiving his medal, [each runner] ponders how a fifty-cent medal could be worth a million dollars." (p. 241)

It's funny when you think about it. Of all the things I have accomplished in life, of all the things I hold on to, it is the memories from putting myself through the pain on the roads. It's pushing my body to its limit and then asking for more, and I take pride in being a marathoner. I guess even as I think back to the last time I ran pain free, I can take pride in knowing that (not to do injustice to John L. Parker or anything) "Once a runner", always a runner.

Total Time: 1:01:30 Total Distance: 20 miles

5:15 PM - Went to buy some clothes for observation hours / student teaching. It's werid every time I go to the store because 1. I don't like buying clothes, and 2. I hardly (if ever) where pants and button up shirts. I blame this on my active runneresque lifestyle which is naturally the polar opposite of slicked up, docked out professionalism :-P. Worked in my favor though. I bought a pair of dress shoes, 3 Oxford shirts and socks which would have retailed at 180 bucks, all for 94 dollars. JCPenney's is truly a great store :). Now if only I could make myself comfortable and look halfway decent in the dress clothes! That'll be the next mission!

Hopped on the bike and read from Race to the Pole by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Read the first 40 pages. You really learn to appreciate advances when you read just about the basic struggle for existence, much less for adventurers and Royal Navy expeditions like Scott's. In an age of instantcy, that is to say you can "Google" anything under the sun, hop on the internet and text message someone a world away and satellites beam down television signals, it is hard to imagine the world during 1901 and 1902 when Robert Scott was selected to be the Commander of the Antarctic Expedition. "Technology's cutting edge" was the 83,000 miles (yes miles) of telegraph cord that Britain had dropped off the boat as an underwater cable. Simply amazing.

I met my goal of 400 miles of biking for the month of February!

Total Time: 1:00:34 Total Distance: 20 miles