Happy Groundhog Day!

2 Feb
2010

One of my all-time favorite movies. This little video has some of the best lines from the movie, including, “I’m a God! Not THE God…I don’t think.”

YouTube – Bill Murray – Best scenes from the “Groundhog Day” – 5.

Amazing Models

2 Feb
2010

The artist’s name is Michael Paul Smith.

Check out a full size slideshow.

Study: Humans Were Born To Run Barefoot

28 Jan
2010

NPR’s All Things Considered has published a short segment on barefoot running.  Here’s an eye opening quote from the story talking about heel strike running, “…it’s like someone hitting you on the heel with a hammer…”  Yeah, that’s what if feels like to me as well.

Study: Humans Were Born To Run Barefoot : NPR.

Conclusion: Barefoot running puts less stress on the body.

Check out the link for the video that shows the shockwave that travels up the leg when heel striking.

Natural Running?

25 Jan
2010

I’ve called the style of running that allowed me to actually become a runner again, forefoot running.  But many call it other names, particularly barefoot running.  The folks at Newton Running have suggested a new term to encompass all the different types of running that are not heel strike running, natural running.  I like it.  I’d prefer something more like “kick ass running”, but it’ll do for now.

Check out the article.

Natural Running Description

Favorite Apps: iVideoCamera

18 Jan
2010

So, I’m sitting here at work with nil to do today so I thought I’d share one of my favorite new apps on my iPhone.  It’s called iVideoCamera.

I bought my iPhone a little over a year ago in October 2008.  I replaced an aging Palm Treo 700p that did all the things that the iPhone does with the exception of a couple items.  One was MMS which was added to the iPhone’s capabilities and supported by AT&T with a recent update.  The other big one was video.  The Treo took video and decent video at that.  The new iPhone 3GS was announced with video recording but us 3G owners were left out.  Nevermind that for many months jailbroken iPhones were recording video, “your 3G is not capable of recording video”.  BS!  Recently a few applications came out that enable my current 3G iPhone to now match the specs of my vintage Treo.  My favorite one is the fore mentioned iVideoCamera.  With one tiny purchase my iPhone was made feature complete and on par with my 2006 Palm Treo.

Here’s a video I took of our current rain storm:

You’ll see that the video has some of those weird movement artifacts that you also get with the new iPod Nano camera. It’s not distracting or terribly noticeable if you are not moving the phone around too much. The video above was shot at the low quality mode. It also shoots in high quality mode at 320×426 resolution. Low quality mode gives you much more recording time with the lower resolution video. To take video of your cat, it’s more than adequate.

iVideoCamera is only $0.99 at the iTunes App Store and it worth many times more.

New Running Goal

10 Dec
2009

Web Banner

So the Turkey Trot happened on Thanksgiving day. I had said on the podcast and on Facebook that I was aiming for an 11 minute mile pace. That would have put me at around 34:06 for the 5k distance. Well, thanks to a fast start, fast is relative here, I completed the race with a time of 31:09. That’s just a 10:03 pace per mile.  Probably the best part of the race was that I got to run with guys that I went to Jr. high and high school with, Brad Chowen and Joe Padilla. Very cool. They both kicked my butt, Joe decisively and Brad just a little less so, but it was a blast none the less.

Now, I have run a couple times since Thanksgiving, but not regularly as I did training for the race. Without a race to train for, I find there is no reason for me to go out running. So my next 5K race is the Seal Beach 5K/10K on April 10, 2010. That gives me 120 days to train and get ready.

sb5k

I’ve found the web site of Hal Higdon. He has outlined there on his site both an intermediate 5K program to get faster at the distance and a 10K training program, both goals of mine. I’ll be doing the 5K program for the first 8 weeks and then transitioning to the 10K program. That should leave me in good shape to get a new PR (That’s a personal record.)  Who knows?  At least I won’t run slower.

If you’re up to it, lace up the shoes, follow the Higdon program or the Couch to 5K program, and come running with me.   Believe me, I’m not setting the ground under my feet afire or anything. You can do it.

Car Knowledge: B-

30 Nov
2009

I thought that I would do a little better on this quiz.

AND PASSED WITH AN ABOVE AVERAGE SCORE. B-

Quiz Created By Auto Insurance.org

Musical Youth: Pass the Dutchie

20 Nov
2009

I don’t know if I spelled the that right, but it doesn’t matter. This was one of those great songs from the past. It came up tonight, for some reason, when recording the latest episode of Fat 2 Fit Radio.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

What the hell is a dutchie?

Thank You for Your Service

11 Nov
2009

A couple things come to mind when Veterans Day comes around.  One is that in my family, my generation is the first that did not have at least one person in the military.  I often look back and regret that I did not serve my country in that way.  When I do hear of old or new friends that have served in the military, I hold them in high esteem.  They chose to put their life on hold to serve the country in which they live and that is something special.

When you meet someone that was/is a member of our armed forces be sure to thank them.  Five simple words, “Thank you for your service.”

Thanks to my friends and family that have served!

And now, cheesy songs by country singers.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

No Talk, Just Music

3 Nov
2009

I ran out of time again today, but I did have a chance to find a few good songs so today’s NaPodPoMo entry is a Razing Giants podcast sans talking.  Check out the links below to get this great music for yourself.

Merit – Hold Everything
Secret Pop Band – Saccharine Smile
The Smith Bros – Talk of the Town

itunes_image

Talk to you tomorrow!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Older Entries
Newer Entries
top