Running Lessons

This year I've learned two pretty important lessons about running, especially if you are in marathon training or run a lot. One would apply to anyone, runner or not, though.

1) Surfaces. Try to run on softer surfaces, such as asphalt, to protect your bones from all the pounding. I kind of took this for granted the last few years because most of my running was at school, which, for the majority of the mileage, was on asphalt. So, in coming back from my fractured toe to train for marathons last year, the softer surface probably helped keep it from fracturing again or something. I now look to run on asphalt, or grass/dirt if it's just concrete. I can now feel the difference.

2) Sleep. You need it. That's about all that needs to be said. But, I will go on! Sleep helps heal your body and keeps you healthy. It is especially important in marathon training because you are putting so much stress on your body and working it really hard. It needs time to recover. It can't recover very well if you don't rest! And of course, sleep is the best way to rest! I realized that this week, finally. I had trouble sleeping Sunday night, and got only about 4 hours (if that) and felt crappy and sick all day Monday. Monday night I went to bed earlier than I have ever gone to bed in a long time, definitely since starting work...10:30. That gave me about 7.5 hours of sleep, and I felt a little better Tuesday. I had a great run too, as my toe felt pretty good and didn't bother me. I went to bed early again Tuesday and felt a little better again yesterday (sore throat had progressed to stuffiness - which now is transitioning to the cough phase). I got 7 hours last night and felt a little better today as well. My run today went well too. I am convinced that sleep has improved the healing to my toe. Not only that, I feel much more energized, and therefore, generally happier.

So...get that sleep!

Coco, Some Mad Hope, and...sleep

So I think I'm a little sick as of Monday morning. Monday wasn't a great day at work either. So, I stopped on my way home at Borders (I had a nice little coupon too) and bought two CDs.

- Colbie Caillat, "Coco"
- Matt Nathanson, "Some Mad Hope"

I had planned on getting Coco, but was pleasantly surprised to see Matt Nathanson had a new one out, so I bought that one too! I have enjoyed listening to both.

Colbie Caillat is kind of a folk/acoustic/R&B type person with a refreshing voice and sound. I recommend you check her out, especially if you like Matt Nathanson - and then I'm just going by similar artists according to sources, here... - Amy Winehouse, Sara Bareilles (and even Kelly Clarkson), etc.

Matt Nathanson is one of my favorite artists, and I have tons of his songs from like five of his other CDs. It was cool to see him when he came to Bucknell, and there weren't too many people there, so that was cool too.

Lastly, I went to bed around 10:30 last night, which is the earliest I've gone to bed since starting work. I did that because of how I felt yesterday. It seemed to help a little, as I feel a little better today (and had a good run - the toe felt good!), so I'm thinking maybe I need to sleep a little more. 6 hours and sometimes less is just not cutting it.

Laughter is the best medicine

When you laugh, you're smiling and happy, so laugh! I love to read the comics in the newspaper and some stuff online, and I just don't know how they come up with some of this stuff. But, that's why they're comic writers, isn't it?
There are a few more on the Borders website there, featuring Brevity.

Zombieeees

The world's Wackiest Holidays according to TIME.

Some really strange "holidays" around the world. I especially like the monkey one in Thailand (check out slide 9). And that Naked Festival in Japan is just a little weird...where's Waldo? Oh. Uh. There he is... I think the Cheese Rolling Festival looks fun :-p The Chap & Hendrick's Olympics might be funny to watch. Heck, they even have a triathlon on slide 19!

Wandering Mind

It's been too often lately that I've been wanting to be back at school. It is really weird not being in college anymore. All I do now is go to work, come home and do nothing and go to bed. I haven't been able to run much because of a foot/toe injury. That might not fully heal this year either since I'm running the St. George Marathon in just over 2 weeks, and then Vegas in December (1/2 if the toe bothers me after St. George). Lately I've just been missing my friends above all. It's a bit lonely without them.

Cuz I'm walking down this road alone
And figured all I'm thinking 'bout is you

Colbie Caillat/Jason Reeves - Droplets

Safety First?

On the news Monday I saw a preview for a story (I didn't actually see the whole story) about the possibility of allowing teachers to carry guns. Is it me or is that just a terrible idea? Yeah, it's good to be protected, but this seems to be a little overkill...

Go Red Sox...!

Never Forget

Don't Expect. Live.

Today has been a little weird, starting with a dream I was in as I was woken this morning.

Don't expect things out of life. No, I'm not being negative, I'm just trying to reason things out and I figure this might be the way to go. Expecting things, certain things especially, can lead to disappointment, taking things for granted and lack of motivation. Not "expecting" things to happen or be a certain way can open you to surprise and satisfaction and happiness when something wonderful, or even something seemingly mundane, happens. Sometimes things you never imagined you would remember in years to come you will cherish forever. These little moments that might even seem insignificant at the time. I know I often miss the littlest things and can never forget the memories.

This is not to say that you shouldn't dream or aspire. In fact, that is part of my point (the lack of motivation part). If you expect things to happen, your drive will be weaker, even perhaps you'll end up sitting there waiting for things to happen. Dream. Dream big. Just don't expect. Dreaming is different from expecting. You have to make things happen yourself sometimes.

Don't take things in your life for granted. Enjoy them as much as you can and be really happy about them - you're often lucky to have them.

Sorry I rambled.

They Have Layers

Must have been a slow day at The Onion:
Loser Friend Sort of Doing Better
Glad he's getting his life back together...

But it's all good, because there are still ones of the type I'm used to reading:
Historic Pretzels-for-Little Debbie Swap Sparks Heavy Lunchtime Trading
Oh man, just imagine if they had my mom's cookies!

The High Cs

Luciano Pavarotti died yesterday (9/6) of pancreatic cancer. He was one of the greatest opera singers, arguably the best of his era and likely the best I've ever heard. It's unfortunate to lose such a great voice and man, but I guess people don't live forever, do they!? I'm not a huge opera fan, but I love music and singing and, therefore, appreciate it. When I think of an opera singer, I think of Pavarotti. He kind of exemplifies my image (visually and vocally) of an opera singer. RIP LP.

Is It Over Yet?

I'm ready for summer to be over. It was near 90 again today. How about Fall? Fall and Spring are really nice. Summer is nice if you have a beach or something, but I'm just going to work and coming home. I wouldn't be able to live somewhere where it was warm all year. Warm is nice, but maybe you have to have cold to appreciate the warm? This has been a fairly warm summer, and it's been especially hot in some places. Is this the whole global warming thing at work?

Dropped Like A Rock

So, in case you don't live in Michigan or follow sports or have been under a rock all weekend, UofM lost to Appalachian State (Div-1AA) on Saturday at home 34-32. They had a field goal blocked on the last play of the game. It was madness (not Sparta). The new rankings came out today, and Michigan has dropped out of the Top 25 completely. That is the first time a top-5 team has dropped out in one week since 1968! They have a lot to prove throughout the rest of the season here. I'm a Michigan State fan (in fact, I was at the MSU game...they won 55-18...Saturday and cheered with everyone else in the stadium when the Michigan score appeared on the scoreboard, and the game was mostly fun) but I usually don't really root against UofM. It was quite nice to see the Wolverines eating some humble pie, though. Notre Dame also got beat up pretty good at home. They have been down for a while now. I think it's time they got better...