Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Dec21-27

S: 22,700 yds
B: 4h 50min
R: 4h 31min

Total: 15h 19min

Pretty awesome week with lots of good food, sleeping, and relaxing.

The highlight was, without a doubt, Christmas Day. After being awoken before dawn by a 7 year old anxious to open presents, I only had one gift to open. Because of this, I was on breakfast duty. Being Christmas, there was no fooling around, so I was tasked to make blueberry jelly stuffed pancakes on Sarah's new Ebelskiver Filled-Pancake Pan. While prepping the batter took a bit more work than traditional pancakes and cooking them was especially a pain, the extra work was well worth it. The cakes were crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside, with the jelly providing a nice surprise.

After a little relaxing with coffee, it was time to GTWD. Despite a little snow and 25+ MPH winds, I got in a nice easy 12, running an out and back on a road through the middle of no where. Although the weather made it tough to get out the door, once I got going it was actually quite exhilarating. Despite the wind, I got into a nice grove and didnt seem to notice how cold my hands and arms were until I finished and jumped in the warm shower.

Waiting for me upon arrival was an irish coffee (coffee, Jameson, brown sugar, and whipped cream) followed by a Christmas feast of beef tenderloin, mashed cauliflower, and sauteed balsamic carrots. Good stuff!

Monday, December 21, 2009

QOTD

“I could have run for second but I raced to win. That’s the point.” -Dathan Ritzenhein

Mr. Ritzenhein was named DyeStat's Boy Cross Country Athlete of the Decade and in conjunction with the honor Matt McCue had a nice profile of him posted on DyeStat. Mr. McCue did a nice job pointing out Mr. Ritzenhein's strengths while also exposing training techniques he is employing to continually improve. Overall though, the article emphasizes Mr. Ritzenhein's inscrutable work ethic, leaving no question about the reason for his success.

Dec14-20

S: 22,900 yds
B: 4h 35min
R: 4h 55min

Total: 15h 32min

I was trying to figure out why I've been much less tired during the last couple of weeks than usual. Then I realized it probably has something to do with the difference of training 14-15h a week to training 21-24h a week.

In other news, I ran the Rudolph Run 5k Saturday in downtown. The turnout was great and even though it rained the night before and was overcast during the race, the rain seemed to hold for the few hours around the event which made for a nice morning. I ran 16:30 including a short stop after my shoe came untied about half a mile into the race. It was a fun morning and I was pleased with how I felt.

That evening was the Fleet Feet Christmas Party. The "redneck" theme made for some pretty hilarious costumes and copious amounts of cheap beer. There was also karaoke, so yeah... that happened...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Getting out of dodge

So yeah, Bruce, that happened...

I know its been a couple of weeks since Florida was steamrolled by the Alabama but I am still reminded of it by cooworkers on an almost daily basis. Unfortunately (who am i kidding... fortunately) I was not able to watch the defense do their best imitation of this year's spectacular unit from Florida State. I also missed another remarkably mediocre effort from the offense lead by the clueless Steve Addazio. To make matters worse, I was in Birmingham for the slaughter, a scant 45 miles north of Tuscaloosa and a town so overflowing with crimson, it makes the battlefield at Gettysburg look green.

While the density and shear volume of toilet paper and detergent toting fans is marginally lower here in Huntsville, it is still higher than any sane person should have to tolerate. Therefore, in order to alleviate my pain, I've decided to head out to Maui, HI, on Jan 10th for an entirely different kind of suffering. This will be a physical beating rather than the emotional anguish I've had to deal with here as I'll be attempting to not embarrass myself too much in front of Simon, Paulo, and the Canadian National Team.

Oh, and did I mention I'll be in Hawaii??? I better not forget my bathing suit!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Dec7-13

S: 22,200 yds
B: 4h 47min
R: 3h 56min

Total: 14h 34min

The first week back was pretty low key and not surprisingly, I felt pretty good. Of course that should be expected when there was only a little over 14h on the schedule, most of which was pretty laid back.

If only I could get by all year with this much training (both in terms of time and intensity)...

Thursday, December 10, 2009

PB&J Kale

Ingredients:
1 bunch Kale, Swiss Chard, or Collard Greens
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic
2 tbls EVOO
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2-3 tbls peanut butter (creamy works but crunchy is preferred)
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup water

Warm the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat while chopping the onion and kale and mincing the garlic.

Add the onion and saute for a couple of minutes.

Add the garlic and wait a couple more.

Through the salt, coriander, and cumin into the party and wait another minute.

Increase the temperature to med-high and then add the greens and the water, stirring the greens to distribute the onion, garlic, and spices.

Once the greens are sufficiently cooked (8-10 minutes depending on the type of green used and how well you like them cooked) pour in the raisins and peanut butter. Mix well to distribute the peanut butter evenly (this make take a minute or two. If you usually keep your PB refrigerated, I'd recommend letting it come to RT before adding).

Finally, enjoy!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Nov30-Dec6

S: 21,400yds
B: 2h 47min
R: 3h 36min

Total: 12h 1min

Well, that was fun. Vacation is over and now its back to work this week.

After what was all in all a pretty consistent 2009 season, I'm looking forward to really focusing on a few the details in order to step it up to the next level next year.

The race schedule still needs to be finalized but I already have a pretty good idea of where I'll be racing.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

QOTD

"I tell our coaches all the time, 'Let's not act surprised. These guys are gifted athletes; that's their job. I don't want every four-yard play to be, Ohmygod!" -Urban Meyer

Tomorrow is, of course, the day of the biggest game in the history of forever. Well, since last year, at least. However, rather than linking the numerous articles over-hyping this cataclysmic match-up which has been brewing since the beginning of the season (or even since the end of last year's epic), I'm just posting a quote from Mr. Meyer from an excellent profile of him in SI. I was most impressed with the way Mr. Meyer adapted successful methods from a number of different types of head coaches he worked under to mold his own philosophy, both on and off the field. All in all, its easy to see why the Gators have been so successful the since 2005.

To Whom It May Concern...

Dear Friend Who Is Thinking About Getting Married,

You are, no doubt, looking forward to your wedding day with great anticipation. Regardless of age, this is likely a fairly monumental event which you will remember (good or bad) for the rest of your life. Additionally, leading up to the big day, you and your fiance likely will have devoted immeasurable amounts of time, energy, and money to insure you have your perfect moment. Because this day will be so joyous, you will want to spend it with as many of your closest friends and relatives as possible and you'd like each and every one of them to have a delightful experience as well.

So please, whatever you do, make sure you consult the calendar BEFORE finalizing the date for your wedding. If you plan to celebrate matrimony in the late winter, spring, or summer, this isnt much of an issue. (In fact, these dates are encouraged. I hear spring in Birmingham is lovely.) On the other hand, if you are are forced into the fall/early winter timeframe due to other constraints, have plenty of foresight. More specifically, do NOT choose a date coinciding with the de facto college football national championship game! Especially when you are getting married in Birmingham, Alabama and you (or your fiance) actually attended one of the schools competing in said game! Not to mention that the team from your alma mater has the best defense in the country and TEBOW, who is quite possibly the single greatest college football player of all time! This may be acceptable out in whackoland but it is most assuredly not here in the South.

If all else fails and you absolutely have to have the wedding that day, at least make the ceremony in the morning when you know the game will not be played. (As opposed to oh, I dont know, 4:30 in the afternoon...)

Just something to think about.

Yours Truly,

Andrew

This is in no way related to actual events. I mean, its not like I'm attending a wedding at 4:30 on Saturday in Birmingham in which the groom will be a friend of mine who I know from UF. And its not like SEC Championship Game, pitting #1 Florida vs #2 Alabama, is this Saturday starting at 3PM (Central). I mean really, who would do such a thing??? Oh wait.........