Move, Gabba, Move...

Improve, Gabba, Improve

2007-05-13T01:34:00.000-07:00

... I'm seeing some lil' improvements - here's today summary:

Of course, I must do something more.

Run 'n' Swim WeekEnd...

2007-04-15T03:01:00.000-07:00

Spent some time running (yesterday - 30' @ my average pace) and swimming (today - nice time, 100 Lengths in 1h 02m 40s).

Off-Topic: Tool's lyrics are impressive. Check this.

I know the pieces fit cause I watched them fall away
mildewed and smoldering, fundamental differing,
pure intention juxtaposed will set two lovers souls in motion
disintegrating as it goes testing our communication
the light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
we cannot see to reach an end crippling our communication.

I know the pieces fit cause I watched them tumble down
no fault, none to blame it doesn't mean I don't desire to
point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over.
To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication.

The poetry that comes from the squaring off between,
And the circling is worth it.
Finding beauty in the dissonance.

There was a time that the pieces fit, but I watched them fall away.
Mildewed and smoldering, strangled by our coveting
I've done the math enough to know the dangers of a second guessing
Doomed to crumble unless we grow, and strengthen our communication

cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion

between supposed lovers
between supposed brothers.

And I know the pieces fit

Crazy Idea?

2007-03-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Some links:

http://www.waterproofcases.net/headphones.html
http://www.waterproofmusic.com/armband.html
http://www.otterbox.com/products/ipod_cases/waterproof_headphones/

Is it a crazy idea or not?
mmmh
Lemme think about it :-)

Today's swimming...

2007-03-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

Today's performance is 100 lengths, FreeStyle, 1h 11m 16s... Really relaxed. There's a nice, calm, silent, strange atmosphere when you're the first one to get in the pool [at 5.51 am] and start gently to swim, counting the lengths, with some slight background thinking...
Great Stuff.

Second Run - Blisters...

2007-02-27T19:13:00.000-08:00

I've successfully completed my second run, 45 minutes, lowering dramatically the pace (5:49 min/km).

Here is the playlist:

Invaders 3:23 Iron Maiden
The Prisoner 6:02 Iron Maiden
Futureal 2:54 Iron Maiden
The Wicker Man 4:35 Iron Maiden
Ace Of Spades 2:57 Motörhead
Stay Clean 2:52 Motörhead
Metal Militia 5:09 Metallica
Master of puppets 8:35 Metallica
Damage, Inc 4:15 Flotsam & Jetsam
I've Got The Fire 2:37 Iron Maiden
Cross Eyed Mary 3:55 Iron Maiden
Wasted Years 5:07 Iron Maiden
Deja-Vu 4:56 Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden, Motorhead ... wow. It feels like ... teen spirit [sorry, Nirvana fans, I couldn't resist :-)]. But, after an entire working day I discovered some unpleasant guests in my feet... Blisters.
An excerpt from this site:

Blisters Treatment

Consider whether it is worthwhile treating the blister or whether it would be more beneficial to leave it to die down itself. Often a blister can be more painful once the underlying skin has been exposed.
If needs be, release the fluid with sterilised needle and apply a dressing.
If the blister has burst, trim the skin round the area and apply dressing.

First Run

2007-02-25T02:34:00.000-08:00

At last, yesterday I tested the Nike+ stuff and it was nice :-). The "nike- sensor-without-nike-plus-shoes" trick worked out smoothly with a little help from some velcro, and the results coming from the end of session stats were perfectly aligned with those from the Technogym running machine.

I must say, it's easy to face a 45 mins running with a sexy voice telling your pace and distance every ten minutes. Even easier if the background music is my favorite, high performance rock. Really cool. At the very end I even heard the Lance Armstrong voice tell me something like "Congrats, this is your personal record"... was it real or some post-training hysteria?

Bad side... I'm having some annoyance because of bleeding nipples... something I tried to recover with Vaseline and some 80 lengths freestyle swim I made this morning.

On the tech side, a couple notes:

- The sync process with iTunes and the Nike site worked like a charm, and at the first attempt, really a no-brainer.

- I modified the standard iPod armband to fit the Nike dongle. Maybe I'll manage to acquire a proper iPod/Nike armband later, but the mod is working, at least for now. I just performed a tight cut on the bottom of the iPod holder, about 2,5 centimeters, as you can see in the picture. It seems to hold up the 'pod correctly, and the phone jack should help in preventing the device from slipping.

Tomorrow will be another running day, let's see if the configuration is still working.

Day Zero.

2007-02-20T14:30:00.000-08:00

Today's was the day. I still don't know if this whole running stuff dementia deserves a blog, but it may help to encourage me in this adventure. All in all, it's me against me, and that may be a stimulating challenge. So, I finally decided to buy some semi-serious running equipment and I spent the whole morning with Mirco choosing the perfect fit.
Budget was surely an issue, I'd prefer to invest more money when I can see and compare results, and possibly when the schedule is taking a good shape. Given the discount rate (50%) I found in an EUR shop (Viale Europa, Rome), I've chosen the Nike's Air Max 360, dropping the Nike+ series idea, at least for now. There are enough info, on the web, to mod the shoes with some velcro or whatever else to fit the Nike+ sensor (actually, the price of the Nike+ shoes was more than the double of the Air Max 360, so I desisted).
I'll try to apply the mod (I've taken this picture to indicate approximately the sensor position I intend to maintain) and evaluate the results. Whether it'll work or not, I don't really care... I'd bring the iPod anyway :-).
Here's the "Run, Gabba, Run..." playlist I've chosen for the first attempts:

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner 6:31 Iron Maiden
The Wicker Man 4:35 Iron Maiden
The Mirror 8:15 Dream Theater
Acid Rain 2:34 Dream Theater
Caught in a New Millennium 6:21 Dream Theater
Just Let Me Breathe 4:02 Dream Theater
The Nomad 9:06 Iron Maiden
Futureal 2:54 Iron Maiden
Another Won 5:22 Dream Theater
Afterlife 5:56 Dream Theater
Under A Glass Moon 7:28 Dream Theater

I'm not going to last that long, but I'll try. If I have to die, I'll die with my boots on (can you guess?).
See you soon (I hope).