Tuesday, December 30

Post 2008 / Pre 2009 Thoughts

Well just about rapping up 2008 and getting a head start into 2009. This year I completed 3 marathons and ran an estimated 1500 miles (I didn’t start tracking until June and ran just a hair under 890). I set PRs at every distance except the Half, (I didn’t run one officially) though I probably did during the Top Of Utah Marathon. I am 1 race away from reaching 10% of my goal of completing a marathon in every state. Also I am about in Ohio in my journey across the USA (see map below).

2009 is looking to be the most aggressive year yet as I am getting a lot better at tracking my mileage and other stats. Slowly over 2008 I have developed a massive spreadsheet that tracks and calculates just about everything you can think of regarding running and such.

My plan is to complete 6 marathons (six!) and run 1750 miles. That’s just about 5 miles a day. Next year I will also track my situps and pushups just for something else to do. My goal is 15,000 pushups and 20,000 situps. I have a few time goals this year as I want to lower my PR for the Half since it’s been about 2 years from my last official Half. I know I can give 1:30 a serious go. Dave has thrown out the challenge to break his 5K record in high school of 18:30. I believe that could be done if I have a good day. I am also going to try to break 3:30 in a full marathon. That will be ambitious as my first two marathons will be quite hilly (Tennessee and Alabama). I also have Alaska scheduled in June. My final 3 are still in the air but I have some early favorites. Going to throw my name in for New York but since it’s a lottery I am not guaranteed an entry. Based on the results of the draw will determine my 2nd half of 2009 racing calendar. I’ll have to remember to get my name in for the 2010 Zoom Yah! Yah! Indoor marathon as it is limited to 40 runners but they said it’s a neat experience.

Other than the marathons and the yet to be determined half marathon I plan on running the Slippery Elm Run, Beer Bottle Open, St. Anthony’s 5K, and the usual World’s Fastest Ellerbrock. This is list is expected to grow of course.

Here’s the recap of my marathons and what’s to come as well as my up to date (until this evening) trek across the USA.

Scheduled

February 15th, 2009Birmingham, Alabama
March 29th, 2009 – Knoxville, Tennessee
June 20th, 2009 - Anchorage, Alaska

Completed
September 20th, 2008 (3:39:05) - Park City, Utah
June 14th, 2008 (3:50:22) - Williamson, West Virginia
February 17th, 2008 (3:54:54) - Jacksonville, Florida
November 3rd, 2007 (3:55:40) - Richmond, Virginia





Monday, December 29

Late Christmas XKCD

*This is an unusually large XKCD comic so it's a bit distorted. If you have trouble reading it just click the pic for the enlarged version.

Alt Text "How could you possibly think typing 'import skynet' was a good idea?"

If you get the Alt Text...you're a nerd.

Wednesday, December 17

Tuesday, December 9

Wednesday, December 3

Wednesday, November 26

Wednesday, November 19

Take A Picture, Win A Beer

Sounds easy right? It is. Here are the rules to this simple contest.

1. Take a picture of yourself drinking a beer with George.
2. You both must be visibly enjoying a beer of your choosing.
3. Post it to Facebook in the "Party With George" event.
4. One beer per person per picture. You can only win once.

Everyone who does this will win themselves a beer. Easy speasy.

Friday, November 14

Massive To The Cup

The Crew took it to the Fire last night 2-1 and advance to their first ever appearance to the MLS Cup on Sunday November 23. The game was a true nail biter and the best that I have ever witnessed. It was fitting that former Crew legend Brian McBride scored for the Fire first but as they have done many times this year, the Crew pulled back even and eventually going up for good with strikes from Chad Marshall and Eddie Gaven. Orchestrating this attack was Argentine legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto as he assisted on both and reinforced his claim for MLS MVP.

The stadium was literally rocking the entire game, led by the Northeast Corner (called the Nordecke). If you had a chance to be there last night and didn't....well you missed it. This is the best Crew team to ever play and with the possibility of some of the key components not coming back next year (including the coach) this may be your last time seeing such a entertaining team.

Set your clocks and DVRs for November 23rd because the Crew will be playing for the highest honor and finally bring Columbus something no other Major League team has...a championship.

Thursday, November 13

Wednesday, November 12

Friday, November 7

Did You Know?

Columbus Grove is home to the two largest Bald Cypress Trees in the state of Ohio. They are located in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall on East Sycamore St.. The discovery of these two trees, moved the previously known record holder into a distant third place.

EULA - So True

X-Game Flunkie

Wednesday, November 5

Wednesday, October 29

Stupidity Awards

I get these emails a lot but this one had a few good ones. Enjoy!

1. When his 38-caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim
during a hold-up in Long Beach , California, would-be robber James Eliot
did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel
and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.....

And now, the honorable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a
finger in a meat-cutting machine and, after a little shopping around,
submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting
negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried
the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car
during a blizzard in Chicago
returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space.
Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver
found that the 20 mental
patients he was supposed to be transporting from
Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence,
the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there
a free ride.
He then delivered the passengers to the mental ospital, telling the
staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre
fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital
recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train.
When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was
simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train
before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a
$20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the
cash drawer, he man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the
register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from
the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total
amount of cash he got from the drawer...$15. (If someone points a gun at
you and gives you money, is a crime committed?)

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty
badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinderblock through a liquor
store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinderblock and
heaved it over his head at the window. The cinderblock bounced back and
hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor
store window
was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was aught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York
convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911
immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description
of the snatcher.
Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher.
They put him in the car and drove back to the store.
The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a
positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the
lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a
Burger King in Ypsilanti , Michigan, at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and
demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because
he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When
the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for
breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away.

***A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER***

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on
a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived
at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near
spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying
to steal gasoline and plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's
sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press
charges, saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

Tuesday, October 28

Chinese Democracy Is Streaming

On the official website - http://www.gunsnroses.com/

Fat Tax Coming (In Alabama)

Finally!

Oct. 23, 2008--The state of Alabama has issued a warning to its state workers: Get fit or pay up.

In August, the Alabama State Employees' Insurance Board approved a plan that will charge workers an additional $25 to cover their insurance premiums, if they don't take advantage of free health screenings available to all state employees. The program, to begin in January, will require state workers to receive medical screenings for body mass index and health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.

Read More

Sunday, October 26

Free Dr. Pepper As Promised

PLANO, Texas, Oct 22, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Don't cry, Guns N' Roses fans. The agonizing wait for the 17 years-in-the-making masterpiece Chinese Democracy will finally be over (fingers crossed) on Nov. 23, 2008. Sure, there have been more rumored release dates than the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper, but if Chinese Democracy hits stores as announced today, it's going to be so easy, easy for every American to get a free Dr Pepper as promised.

"We never thought this day would come," said Tony Jacobs, vice president of marketing for Dr Pepper. "But now that it's here all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Dr Pepper is ready to give out free soda coupons to every American when the album releases on Nov. 23, 2008. If you're out to get a free Dr Pepper just follow these simple steps:

HOW TO GET YOUR FREE DR PEPPER

1. On the Nov. 23, 2008 release date, go to www.drpepper.com
2. Register your information to receive a coupon for one free 20-oz. Dr Pepper.
3. When your coupon arrives, redeem it wherever Dr Pepper is sold.
4. Drink your Dr Pepper slowly to experience all 23 flavors. Dr's orders.

Coupons will be available for 24 hours, starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 23, 2008. Allow 4-6 weeks for coupon to arrive. Coupons will expire on Feb. 28, 2009. Limit one coupon per person. Full terms and conditions available at www.drpepper.com .

Friday, October 24

Wednesday, October 22

Tuesday, October 21

Chinese Democracy Starts Now! (Really....)

Well at least on November 23rd that is. What is all the hoopla about you ask? Well only the countdown to the most anticipated album of the past 15 years. Yes that's right, Axl Rose and his Guns N Roses are about to officially release Chinese Democracy. I for one have been waiting quite awhile for this to say the least. I first heard some of the new album when they toured clear back in 2002 and have seen it delayed time after time after time.

Plus everyone gets a free Dr. Pepper too! Win-win there!

According to the BEST BUY (who has complete dibs on it ala Walmart and AC/DC) website, the official tracklist for Chinese Democracy is:

1. Chinese Democracy
2. Scraped (Lies They Tell)
3. Shackler's Revenge
4. Street of Dreams (The Blues)
5. If the World
6. Better
7. This I Love
8. There Was a Time
9. Riad N' the Bedovins
10.Sorry
11.IRS
12.Catcher (in the Rye)
13.Madagascar
14.Prostitute

From what I hear, "Scraped' is to be the 1st single.

Friday, October 17

Phun Foto Phriday w/Special Guest Graph

I know...you were waiting. Okay now you can start your weekend.




Friday, October 10

Thursday, October 9

50 States Update - Top Of Utah Marathon

Number 4 is done. The very downhill and very challenging Top Of Utah marathon has been completed in a personal best time of 3:39:05. I was unable to schedule a late fall marathon so I decided to take the winter off and focus on finding an early 2009 marathon. Alaska is the next officially scheduled race coming up but that is about 8 months away. Some promising races in between look like Nashville, Myrtle Beach, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, or somewhere in Delaware.

Interestingly enough there is a completely indoor marathon in Minnesota but space is limited and you have to put yourself in a lottery before June. So that looks like one for 2010.

Scheduled

June 20th, 2009 - Anchorage, Alaska

Completed
September 20th, 2008 (3:39:05) - Park City, Utah
June 14th, 2008 (3:50:22) - Williamson, WV
February 17th, 2008 (3:54:54) - Jacksonville, FL
November 3rd, 2007 (3:55:40) - Richmond, VA

Tuesday, October 7

Run Across USA Update

It's been awhile since I last posted an update but I'm still trucking along. Just passing through Hartford, CT and eclipsed the 500 mile mark a few days prior.

Friday, October 3

Phun Foto Phriday

I've been busy so no updates for you...but I do have time to share this picture from my summer vacation.

Friday, September 26

Thursday, September 18

Friday, September 12

Tuesday, September 9

Just Do It

just jump

Rodgers proves there's life after Favre

The Green Bay Packers proved Monday night there is life after
Brett Favre.

For the first time in 16 years, the Packers won a game without Favre as their starting quarterback. And if first impressions are any indication, Favre’s replacement, Aaron Rodgers, is going to have a prosperous career.

Playing with what must have felt like the weight of the football world on his shoulders, Rodgers was practically flawless in the Packers’ 24-19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. He was poised, confident, elusive and effective in directing the Packers’ offense.

Read More

Friday, September 5

Wednesday, September 3

Friday, August 29

Thursday, August 28

Tuesday, August 26

Run Across USA Update

Finally have an update on this. Exited Maine and through New Hampshire and knocking at the door of Boston. Slowly making my way...

Friday, August 22

Everybody's Working For The Weekend

No words necessary....


Tuesday, August 12

Run With Francis 5K

Background: Francis bet me 50 dollars that he could run a 5K in under 19:30 at Mr. Derr's party this year. Sounds like this should be a good time to watch...more details as they become available.

Wednesday, August 6

Thursday, July 31

Wednesday, July 23

Run Across USA Weekly Update

Yea, it's been awhile, been busy at work and MapMyRun had some issues. Needless to say I have fallen behind on the day to day info but have been able to keep the miles coming. Here's an updated map for all you so interested in this segment. More funny stuff to come...

Wednesday, July 16

Hunter S. Thompson Article From 9/12/2001

This was written the day after 9/11. Pretty darn prophetic looking almost 7 years back. Just a small except:

Make no mistake about it: We are At War now -- with somebody -- and we will stay At War with that mysterious Enemy for the rest of our lives.

It will be a Religious War, a sort of Christian Jihad, fueled by religious hatred and led by merciless fanatics on both sides. It will be guerilla warfare on a global scale, with no front lines and no identifiable enemy. Osama bin Laden may be a primitive "figurehead" -- or even dead, for all we know --

We are going to punish somebody for this attack, but just who or what will be blown to smithereens for it is hard to say. Maybe Afghanistan, maybe Pakistan or Iraq, or possibly all three at once. Who knows? Not even the Generals in what remains of the Pentagon or the New York papers calling for WAR seem to know who did it or where to look for them.

This is going to be a very expensive war, and Victory is not guaranteed -- for anyone, and certainly not for anyone as baffled as George W. Bush. All he knows is that his father started the war a long time ago, and that he, the goofy child-President, has been chosen by Fate and the global Oil industry to finish it Now. He will declare a National Security Emergency and clamp down Hard on Everybody, no matter where they live or why. If the guilty won't hold up their hands and confess, he and the Generals will ferret them out by force.



Read the whole article here.

Sunday, July 13

Oldie But A Goodie

Good video to Bobby Gaylor's Suicide song.

Thursday, July 10

Wednesday, July 2

Tuesday, July 1

Friday, June 27

Funny Friday Foto

At least they sleep easier that night

Thursday, June 26

Run Across USA Weekly Update



Day 15 – 7 Mile Tempo Run
Sherman
Total Mileage: 111 miles

I crossed into Sherman and back into Aroostook County during my 7 miles. This town was named after Ohio senator John Sherman, “The Ohio Icicle”. He was the famous author of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Day 16 – 11 Mile Distance Run
I-95 – Benedicta
Total Mileage: 122 miles

Benedicta appeared to be a unique place. It was one founded by Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick as an all Catholic colony in 1834. Still today it is predominantly Catholic. My run took me on I-95 where I will remain for quite awhile.

Day 17 – 5 Mile Track Run
I-95 – Salmon Stream Lake
Total Mileage: 127 miles

Today I ran past Salmon Stream Lake with coincidently enough contains no salmon. It's a shallow, body of water about a mile long and a half-mile wide. Part of the Penobscot River watershed, it contains white suckers, sunfish, pickerel, yellow perch, white perch and smallmouth bass -- and an occasional brook trout.

Thursday, June 19

50 States Update - Hatfield-McCoy Marathon

Well just finished up the Hatfield-McCoy Marathon in Williamson, WV. Here are the results. Amazingly enough I set a personal best for a marathon despite all the hills. 3 time winner Chuck Engle gave me some pointers on how to start the race and they proved to be extremely helpful as I had enough gas left to complete the last few miles without any problems.

Next up is Park City, Utah in September. I am looking for a late-October/November marathon close by to bring my total up to 5.

Scheduled
September 20th, 2008 - Park City, Utah

Completed
June 14th, 2008 (3:50:22) - Williamson, WV
February 17th, 2008 (3:54:54) - Jacksonville, FL
November 3rd, 2007 (3:55:40) - Richmond, VA

Wednesday, June 18

Run Across USA Weekly Update



Day 12 – 3 Mile Taper Run

North of Knoles Corner

Total Mileage: 84 miles

I am feeling good and ready to tackle the Marathon.

Day 13 – 26.2 Mile Hatfield-McCoy Marathon Run

Knoles Corner & Hersey

Total Mileage: 100 miles

I passed through Knoles Corner and Hersey during my marathon. Each were your basic Maine town with nothing much of exception to note. My marathon time clocked in around 3:50 which was a personal best for me. I was very surprised considering all the hills and look forward to September’s marathon.

Day 14 – 4 Mile Track Run

Patten

Total Mileage: 104 miles

I left Aroostook County and crossed into Penobscot County as I passed through Patten, Maine. Apparently famed actress Gladys George was born in this area. Shortly I will be exiting Highway 11 and making my way on I-95. The majority of the rest of my trek will be along interstates.

Thursday, June 12

Kid Fails Driving Test 5 Times

Funny stuff right here.

Wednesday, June 11

Run Across USA Weekly Update



Day 8 – 6 Mile Tempo Run

South of Masardis

Total Mileage: 67 miles

Not much to report on Day 8. I am continuing down 11 making my way towards the next town of Knoles Corner.

Day 9 – 4 Mile Recovery Run

South of Masardis

Total Mileage: 71 miles

I am just plodding along the Maine countryside. I never knew Maine was this hilly.

Day 10 – 6 Mile Tempo Run (Columbus 10K)

South of Masardis

Total Mileage: 77 miles

I finished the Columbus 10K in 43:44. This was almost a PR but I consider it a success considering the heat and humidity.

Day 11 – 4 Mile Track Run

North of Knoles Corner

Total Mileage: 81 miles

Not much to add to this final track workout. I have just one more 3 mile taper run on Day 12 before the Hatfield-McCoy Marathon.

Tuesday, June 10

Free Beer For Life!

Requires ability to score goals.

Friday, June 6

Thursday, June 5

Bestest Computer Accessory Ever

Turn your internal hard drive into an external hot swappable hard drive with this awesome device.

Wednesday, June 4

Run Across USA

Well I have decided to run across the United States...virtually. Every Wednesday I'll try to post an update along with an updated map that plots my virtual trek across the country.

Here is a chronicling of my virtual run across the United States. This run starts in Fort Kent, Maine and ends in Imperial Beach, California. As I complete my marathon training runs, I will translate the mileage on the MapMyRun website and plot my progress across the United States. I did a quick google map of the planned route and it looks to be close to 3500 miles. However I do not expect to follow the exact route Google laid out for me and will decide as I run.

My current pace is approximately 30 miles a week and that should put me completing this in over 2 years. I do see this number increasing as I switch my training plan for my September marathon to one that requires more mileage. Either way this appears to be a massive undertaking. Fortunately there is a group on the MapMyRun website that has others doing the same.

One last idea that I will try to accomplish is to do a small write up on some of the places that I will “visit”. We shall see how long that lasts though.






Day 1 – 8 Mile Tempo Run

Fort Kent

Total Mileage: 8 miles

My first run started out on the New Brunswick/Maine border in a small town called Fort Kent. Fort Kent is located in Aroostook County and the home to the Fort Kent Blockhouse built during the Aroostook War. Many of the people there speak French due to it’s proximity to the Canadian towns of Clair and Saint-François-de-Madawaska. My 8 miles took me just south ending in Soldier Pond.

Day 2 – 20 Mile Long Run

Wallagrass – Eagle Lake

Total Mileage: 28 miles

My 20 mile run took me through the tiny town of Wallagrass and on through Eagle Lake. The town of Eagle Lake, established in 1911, is located in northern Aroostook County running north/south along U.S. Route 11. It is characterized by ruggedly sloping terrain dissected by brooks and streams as they flow into the pristine Fish River and the expansive Eagle Lake.


Day 3 – 4 Mile Recovery Run

Maine Countryside

Total Mileage: 32 miles

My 4 mile recovery run took me through the countryside of Northern Maine. I still am in the heart of Aroostook County which is the largest county this side of the Mississippi. Most of the residents here simply refer to it at “the County”. Due to the heavy influence of French culture most of the population of 73,938 is bilingual and employment is hard to find if one does not speak both languages.

Day 4 – 6 Mile Track Run

BuffaloPortage

Total Mileage: 38 miles

Day 4’s 6 mile track workout took me past Portage Lake and to the town of Portage. This town was settled in 1844 by lumbermen from Canada and later incorporated in 1909. Portage Lake looks like a nice place to spend a week of vacation with many outdoor activities to keep busy.


Day 5 – 5 Mile Tempo Run

South of Portage

Total Mileage: 43 miles

My 5 mile tempo run on Day 5 took me mainly through the Maine countryside south of Portage. My elevation chart is showing that Maine is a bit hillier than what I was expecting. There is nothing much more to note as I approach Ashland which is the next sizeable town.

Day 6 – 13 Mile Long Run

Ashland

Total Mileage: 56 miles

I crossed the 50 mile mark with my 13 mile run through Ashland. Ashland appears to be similar to many of the other small towns I have come across. The main industry around here is logging which is understandable 88% of Aroostook County’s 3.8 million acres is forest land.


Day 7 – 5 Mile Track Run

Masardis

Total Mileage: 61 miles

Day 7’s run took my through another small town called Masardis. The community name derives from Abnaki term for "place of white clay". The Abnaki are a tribe of Native American and First Nations people belonging to the Algonquian peoples of northeastern North America.

Tuesday, June 3

Just Wow....

I cannot believe this could happen but in Japan...well...

A homeless woman who sneaked into a man's house and lived undetected in his closet for a year was arrested in Japan after he became suspicious when food mysteriously began disappearing.

Police found the 58-year-old woman Thursday hiding in the top compartment of the man's closet and arrested her for trespassing, police spokesman Hiroki Itakura from southern Kasuya town said Friday.

The resident of the home installed security cameras that transmitted images to his mobile phone after becoming puzzled by food disappearing from his kitchen over the past several months.

One of the cameras captured someone moving inside his home Thursday after he had left, and he called police believing it was a burglar. However, when they arrived they found the door locked and all windows closed.

"We searched the house ... checking everywhere someone could possibly hide," Itakura said. "When we slid open the shelf closet, there she was, nervously curled up on her side."

The woman told police she had no place to live and first sneaked into the man's house about a year ago when he left it unlocked.

She had moved a mattress into the small closet space and even took showers, Itakura said, calling the woman "neat and clean."

Monday, June 2

Friday, May 30

Thursday, May 29

McBride Left Fulham


Reports saying former Crew legend Brian McBride has left English club Fulham FC to come play in the MLS. Further reports claim he is not going to the Crew but to the Chicago Fire. No report needed to claim that the Crew got screwed once again.

Wednesday, May 28

Friday, May 23

Mad Bobcat Skillz

The self-loading bobcat
Funny Pub - Friday, 23 May 2008

Feed Me....