Month 5

Ugh I can't stop watching Kitchen Nightmares, you guys. Gordon. Ramsay. So. Beast. Good grief. Man. So. Good. So yeah, that's what I'm doing right now while this is going on, watching Kitchen Nightmares. He's rocking a Japanese restaurant and the owner is weaksauce.

A BRIEF RECAP OF WHAT'S GOING ON FOR NEW VIEWERS
Hey everyone who may be reading this for the first time. Each week and month this year I'm pulling small slips of paper out of a bowl and doing what it says, whether that's not drinking soda for a week or running 20 miles in a month. I have some duplicates in the weekly bowl and some that are worse than others (eat a salad x days in a week or limit my game time per day), but each is a good challenge for me. Some Monthly Things to Do are expanded Weekly ones (no soda week, no soda month) though I have a couple of very... interesting ones.

So this weekend I have another 5k (my second so far). I'll post some deets on that on Sunday with the regular weekly update. I'm pumped, and I'm trying a few new things for this race than my first 5k a couple of weeks ago -- I'm going to check out the course beforehand in person rather than just viewing it on Google Mapz, for one. Also this one kicks off at 8 am, where the first one started at 10:30, so I'm going to have to get up earlier and watch my breakfast. Ugh. I'm hoping to beat my personal 5k record of literally-a-second-under-32-minutes.

This week's Thing To Do is rly no soda seriously and last night I totally just unconsciously grabbed a root bear, popped it open, and went... aw man. I handed it off with a sigh.

For this month, I've got a 7 AM Wake-Up Call. It was originally an 8 AM Wake-Up Call but I usually get up at 8:30 anyway and that's not good enough. This will also encourage me to get into morning runs and back into tastalicious breakfasts. I'm hoping to keep this up after May, too. We'll see how it goes. I'll let you know how it goes.

Peace

Week 17

Welcome to the pool party, let's get this started. Ugh I really want to go swimming you guys. Also "natatorium" is a fancy way of saying "swimmin pool thats probably inside."

So this month I have to run 2 miles for 10 days, and the end of the month is coming up. I've got one more run left which I'll work out on Tuesday (though I'm doing a barefoot-on-grass 1 miler on Monday because I'm fancy) then I'm done! I had a few days I had to take off from painz, but its' good. I'll post next Month's Thing To Do on Wednesday. Just remind me.

So this past week I was limited to 2 hours of gaming per day. Since the current games I play have low or at least established session times, it's been pretty easy. Been working on some indie titles I've amassed as well as some League. Was pretty easy, but I'm excited about getting a couple of longer play sessions in this week.

For this week, it's a no soda week, like no ginger ale either man. Which sucks, because I just got a fresh delivery of soda and soda accessories. Also did you know that ultra runners (people who run 50k or longer distances) love Coke and drink it during races? I HAD NO IDEA. HOW XTREME IS THAT

I went on a 3 mile run today actually. I'm trying to run at least 3 miles each weekend, with a 1 mile grass run on Mondays, then 2 mile runs on Tuesday and Thursday (with an optional 1 mile [shoe'd] on Wednesday).

So now you know my running schedule. I'm wanting to get my 5k time wayyyyyyy down before I work up to 5 mile or 10ks. That means I have to stop sucking at eating and not exercising, which is going to be an Ordeal.

Peace

Week 16

i won a medal? good grief charlie brown

Hi everybody!
(hi, doctor nick!)

Welcome to week 16. Let's talk.

On Saturday I ran my first 5k (the one I've mentioned a few times here) and did surprisingly well! I ran it in 31:59, though I was hoping for a sub-30 but well you know how it is. I ran a lot faster per mile than I usually do, actually -- moving from a normal 11 minute mile to an average 9:59 minute mile.

Hopefully starting this week I'll be able to cut my time down. I'm planning on signing up for a couple of 5ks in May and June, and beyond. So my PR is literally just under a 32 minute 5k. I think I'm not going to work on increasing my distances (like training for a 10k or a 5 miler, for instance) but working on speed. For now. For now. Anyway, I had a great time this past weekend.

My monthly Thing To Do is to run 2 miles on 10 days. So far, doing really, really well. I had a set back last week, and I'm going to take it easy for the next two days, but I'm still on track to knock this one out of the park.

Last week I started three new FITNESS INITIATIVES, getting me on track to do an insane amount of push-ups, sit-ups and squats. I finished week 1 but... it kicked my butt. I'm going to re-do it this week. Each of the programs are a six week thing, but man. Whew. It's. Difficult. But. I'm excited about doing this. Boom.

So, for next week... I get 2 hours of gaming per day :( I have cut my amount of gaming time anyhow, but mang dis stanks. It'll give me more time to read the six books I checked out from the library because I'm dumb at putting holds on books and guhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I've had worse problems

Peace guys

edit: we passed 500 page views on the blog good job everyone huzzah huzzah for everyone

Interlude 2

So yesterday someone planted two homemade bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. They exploded, and a lot of people were injured. At time of writing, three people have passed away as a result of this attack.

I

Like you may know, I'm not a SRS RUNNER. I've read about ultramarathons and I love the idea of trail races, but I have bowed shins and running is painful. Running is hard. I like running and my legs don't some times. I ice my legs and wear compression shin sleeves after every run, and do what I can to forget the pain. Out of mind, out of... uh. Anyway, I push it out. I focus on other stuff. I push through the pain when I run. But.

I'm hurting today. And that's cheesy and campy and I'm sorry. I don't know anyone who was at the Boston Marathon. Not a soul. I couldn't tell you the name of anyone within 50 miles. But. I'm hurt. I watched the news yesterday, just watching pictures of this usually totally awesome event being shattered. I saw pictures that haunt me. And I burned. My legs burned. My arms burned. My heart burned. I wanted to go for a run, and punch things, and yell. I had and have anger. Who would do this? Who would dare?

It's just grisly. The injuries. The people injured. The targets. Anger.

Apologies for the stream of consciousness.

I don't feel like this is an attack on running, or Boston, or the Boston Marathon. It was an attack on humanity. I'll keep running. I'll release my anger. I will remember the people lost and the people hanging on. I'll remember those with injuries, physical and mental.

My pain is nothing.

Week 15

Hey look who it is

This past week my Thing To Do was read two new books by authors I'd never read before, which meant I had to put down the book I was currently in (thank you, small slips of paper, that book was terrible and I'm glad I had an excuse to stop reading it) and grab a couple of others. Luckily, the two books I finally decided to read this week had just come in to the library (thank you, luck).

First on the docket was Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Last month when I had to read a bunch of books, this book was suggested, so I put a hold on it... and just this past week got it in. Ugh what is it with other people wanting to read the books I want to read! Anyway, I gotta say, I had no expectations going into this recommended piece of fixion (that's how I'm writing fiction this week, deal with it) and I'm kinda glad for it. I really enjoyed it; basically a road trip movie with a half-Faerie-folk with several dozen plot devices shoved in. When was this book written? 1999? What? It was a little... rough at times, but overall was a pretty good read. I'd read it again, but I mean it's not my favorite book ever. It has a couple of scandalous bits you wouldn't expect, one in like the second chapter, what on earth mister gaiman. Also if Neil Gaiman was a Mega Man villian what would his power be

Second, I read Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by Christopher McDougall, which follows the formation of a 50 mile run in Mexico between several American ultrarunners and members of a crazy awesome tribe of peeps who run all the time and don't never stop! It's super informative, giving a lot of information on ultrarunners and about how the hell people go running for a hundred miles and don't blow up, as well as talking about several key characters and how they got involved in The Race. Really good. It's a bit heavy handed on the anti-Nike, peeps were meant to run barefoot stuff, which, while I don't necessarily disagree with, I feel applies best to people who don't run on concrete and asphalt. Trail running? Go crazy man, that stuff is nuts. And who knows. You definitely get a better form running barefoot (or close to it) but can really wreck your stuff. I'm not a director, I dunno. I do know I liked this book and will be adding it to my shelf. It's also my first BOOK ABOUT RUNNING

Speaking of, this month's goal is to run 2 miles on ten days. I'm doing good, and am on pace to meet my goal.

ALSO I just OFFICIALLY SIGNED UP FOR A 5 KILOMETER (3.1 MILES) race this coming Saturday. This will either be one of the best or worst decisions of my life. Also, did you know the movie Boondock Saints came out the same year Stardust by Neil Gaiman did? I just learned that.

So, this week is kinda a Gimmie. I've been wanting to start a few Exercise Regimens for a few weeks now and need to kick my own butt to get this kickstarted. I pulled a slip this week that's not really a thing for me (No dranks) but when I wrote these up, I was like "what are some common new years resolutions? oh kicking the devil's drink, i will put something like that into these" but that's not... It's not a resolution for me. So I'm going to do it (I've earned the title Teetotaler) and force myself to start three separate Regimens.

One Hundred Pushups
Two Hundred Squats
Two Hundred Situps

Basically, each of these were designed to get a person of varying skill levels to doing x of y exercise in six weeks. Let's do this. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my one-mile-run and Exercise Regimen days.

Okay.

Let's go.

Week 14

Who kept putting this blog off and has two thumbs?

So for this month, I have to run (at least) 2 miles on ten different days. I'm doing really well so far, though I am taking a couple of days off because of my shins. I really need to be doing more stretching before and after, and being more consistent and intelligent with my icing. I'm gonna take it easy (I have a little breathing room in my schedule) but then really get back into it. I still feel very confident I can do it this month. Being exercisey and moderately healthy takes work, man.

Last week (and into this week) I had a $.25 swear jar week! I had one of those about a month and a half ago (I think) and I did abysmally. This week? $5.50! An improvement from last time, but still a bit higher than I'd like. It's difficult to track yourself like this, and harder to be like "tsk!" On the other hand, I don't want to be a square, daddy-o. At the end of the year I'll pool everything together and donate it to a charity (TBD) (Thanks for the idea, Katie!). Which one I'm not sure yet; probably Habitat for Humanity or Friends Against Hunger. Any other suggestions, my groovy friends? Hopefully I get a slightly disappointed look because of how little I'm donating, which is a weird thing to want. A really weird thing.

OH HEY I MENTIONED I was going to take a picture and talk about it of that other recipe I talked about and made last week for that weekly Thing To Do! Here it is! Kale Chips! UNCOMFORTABLY EASY TO MAKE AND REALLY NOT THE WORST THING THAT IS GREEN I'VE EVER EATEN

it looks better in person i swear

Steps

1. Buy a bunch of Kale. Like... a bunching. Of Kale.
2. Have olive oil or just pam and salt or other seasons on hand
3. Also have an oven
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
5. Put on some sweet jamss
6. Rinse Kale, then pat dry (or dry enough, it's not a race)
7. Line cookie sheet with wax paper, then place Kale leaves on it, no overlap
8. Brush or spray oil (lightly, it's not the beach), then sprinkle seasonings on
9. Bake that for 10-12 minutes
10. Eat that, son
11. If you bag it up (like I did) and it gets non-crunchy the next day, just throw in oven for a couple of mins at 350 again

This week, we have a reprise of last month! I have to read two books this week, by new authors, not part of a series. That means I'm gonna put down a book for a week and pick up two others. Thankfully, my crop of six new books from the library has a couple of new authors for me. I'll post em up next week with a short review

Peace bros

Month 4, Week 13

We're back! AND IT'S MONTH FOUR LETS GET DOWN with some Shibboleth, a band with a song I've heard a few times on Pandora but never had enough interest to learn more about. I'm sure using their name in my blog won't attract any Illuminati spiders.

Let's talk about how last month went, what's the deal with last week, and what's in store for this month and what I gotsta do this week. More of the same, I'm afraid, but this time I'm more prepared. "what is he talking about," you may wonder. "what is the deal with this video being too close to the text too, whats that all about"

So last month was Reduced or No Sugah Month. Basically, cut down my sugary foods intake and get slightly healthier, though it quickly devolved into an exercise in willpower. I failed more often than I'd like to admit, and yesterday I had a slight sugar binge and made myself pretty sick -- the effects of which I'm still feelin today. Guhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I do plan on cutting down my overall sugary crap food intake after the past month -- I could tell I was feeling better, and my body's reaction to a sugah glut may be indicative of an already changed system. So we'll see.

Last week I was charged with learning and preparing two recipes. The first I made were some No Bake Energy Bites, with a recipe lifted from a website called Gimme Some Oven, perhaps the best name for any website ever. I did add a quarter cup of dried vegetable protein crumble (don't judge, I was at the store at the WALL OF GRAINS AND STUFF and saw it) and a quarter cup of nutella, and I may have added an additional quarter cup of oats, but they came out quite fantastically! I plan on making many more and taking some pictures for real this time, I swear you guys. They are delicious. My second recipe is going to be put into use this week -- I semi-intentionally (pedants would say that means unintentionally) am putting off using it until this week. I'll update with feedback and maybe a recipe.

So, this week, I've got another $.25 swear jar week, which I added a couple of virtual quarters to during my run earlier (it is cold). Hopefully I won't beat my previous top score, but I'll keep you posted.

Drumroll please

Okay, stop drumroll

This month, I have to run at least two miles for 10 days. I can spread them out as I choose, and do more miles or more days (I'll already be ramping up the mileage per day, not sure about adding days). I'm currently on a Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday running schedule, so this shouldn't be too bad. I may kick it up to 3 miles per outing in two weeks. Gamechanger. My initial constant soreness has gone away, though I do have achy bits after I get back and for about an hour or so after a run. I'm icing my legs down, moms, so don't worryyyy. What does the E in RICE stand for? I can't remember. Rest, Ice, Compression... Energy Drinks? Eragon? Eggs?

So, all in all, not a bad month. Given my newfound enjoyment of running, this shouldn't be too bad. When I conceived this Thing To Do, it was to help me get onto a consistent schedule (and was originally only one mile for 10 days~!). Hopefully it will keep me on my schedule and give me that extra motivation to stick to it.

Thanks for reading. I'll catch you on the flip side