Sunday, July 31, 2005

10.5 Mile Run: Brownell-Shades Creek Greenway

I ran with Lito again. He suggested we change the course and we did. First, we ran it in reverse order to help shade the sun from our faces and backs on the last part of the run. This put us in the shaded neighborhoods and Jemison Park at the end of the run. Second, we went on down Broadway to Montevello (I think it is a different name at the Homewood end). Lito believes this added 1.5 miles to the course. I am a bit skeptical, but I didn't have the GPS with me, so I didn't get a measure. I will measure it in the future.

OK. Got a measure on August 14th. It is 10.5 miles! So, I updated the information below.

Data:
Distance: 10.5
Time: 1:40:50
Average heart rate: Not Measured
Pace: 9:36

Friday, July 29, 2005

3 Mile Run: Neighborhood

I ran in the morning with my new Timex Ironman Speed + Distance System watch. It worked! Despite my frustration getting here, I am satisfied now. I am still disappointed that anytime the battery goes on these devices, I seem to have to replace the watch. That's $39 instead of $2. But, I like the GPS based tracking for my runs on the road or on picking a new route. So, it is worth it.

Data:
Distance: 3
Time: 29:00
Average heart rate: Not Measured
Pace: 9:40

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

5 Mile Run: Neighborhood

I ran in the evening and collected data this time. We had an afternoon shower so temperatures were in the lower 80's. I jammed to Vertical Horizon. I forgot how much I liked this CD. I nearly caught up with another runner then collide with her at the end of a cul de sac when she turned as I was about to pass. She cut the cul de sac short.

Data:
Distance: 5
Time: 48:53
Average heart rate: 154
Pace: 9:46

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

3 Mile Run: Neighborhood

Ran in the morning to permit Betsy, wife, to continue on her new training program with an evening run. I neglected to save the data or make this entry before the next run. So,

No Data:

Sunday, July 24, 2005

10.5 Mile Run: Brownell: Shades Creek Greenway Circle

I ran the my favorite long run with Lito on warm and humid morning. We were so wet from sweating that we left tracks on the pavement. Lito is running strong and pulled me most of the way. As usual, I started out in front. When will I learn to slow down and the beginning and pick it up at the end?

Data:
Distance: 10.5
Time: 1:40:44
Average heart rate: 165
Pace: 9:36

Friday, July 22, 2005

3 Mile Run: Neighborhood

Another very hot run. Jammed to Hoobastank which is an excellent running CD. But, good to get it done and knock off some more miles...

Data:
Distance: 3
Time: 28:44
Average heart rate: 159
Pace: 9:35

Podcast Update # 7

  • JonathanSchwartz, president of Sun Microsystems, participates in an interview during which he talks about how technology has influenced more and more decentralization thought the work place and society. He also talks about blogging. In fact, he doesn't see how one can lead these days without it. Interesting idea. I know there are many executives that do not blog today. Good presentation.
  • Zoe Trippi, former campaign for Howard Dean, talks about how blogging and the internet has created more opportunities for grass root political movements. Some surprises include his reference to overloading the accounting folks when a campaign has to comply with a law that indicates you have to provide paper evidence for each contribution. That system works well, perhaps, when all the donations are large and from a relatively small number of contributors. What happens if the they are small and from many contributors as was the case with Dean's campaign.
  • Gurinder Shahi talks with Dr. Moira Gunn about biotech in India. Interesting demonstration of India's continued movement into high tech and industry.
  • David Coursey, tech journalist and author, was interviewed by Rob Greenlee. David had some rather terse and negative comments about the future of blogging and podcasting. Basically, he believes they will become domains for what will essentially become part of the main stream media staffed by "pros". Further, he does think RSS and its use to support a subscription model is all that innovative or new as it applies to podcasting. I think David speaks for a few. Yes, a few folks will put their toe in the water and find that it's too cold to continue. But, I suspect he is missing the mark in general.

    Equally interesting in his presentation is where he refers to the over exuberant, naive promoters of podcasting If he isn't thinking specifically of Adam Curry, I would be extremely surprised. David also mentions how most of the things he have been involved in ceased to exist, hum... Anyway, Adam commented on this podcast during one of his podcasts as well. Obviously, he disagreed. However, he did not get defensive or offensive. Adam does a very good job responding to criticism if you ask me.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

5 Mile Run: Neighborhood

Took off in very hot temperatures (90+) listening to Velvet Revolver. Good CD, but difficult run. It was definitely a mental run.

Data:
Distance: 5
Time: 49:28
Average heart rate: 157
Pace: 9:53

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

3 Mile Run: Neighborhood

Well, I ran 3 miles in the neighborhood, but I failed to log or save the data before my next run. I was a good run that took around 29 minutes.

Garwin/Timex news: I finally gave up and called Timex. It is going to cost me $37.50 plus state tax to send the watch to Arkansas for a replacement. But, I am convinced that will fix it. At least, I didn't have to replace the whole lot including the GPS unit.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

9 Mile Run: Birmingham: Shades Creek Greenway

Well, I'm back home and this run was with Lito. One glance at that pace will tell you that he is a positive influence. And, no walking. Good strong run on a humid morning. It felt great to be running back home. The Rio Carbon did spontaneously reboot during the run. Technology just can't consistently perform well while running it seems. :(

Data:
Distance: 9
Time: 1:17:57
Average heart rate: 159
Pace: 8:39

Saturday, July 16, 2005

3 Mile Run: Columbia, SC

The Garwin/Timex was dead (predicatable). I failed to run in the morning and I had to fly in the evening, so I went out at 3:00 pm. Man it was hot. Then, at 1.25 miles, a downpour started. But, it was great it cooled the air and me. Ran to Rage Against the Machine. They jam! Good run, and I can't wait till I get home.

Data:
Distance: 3
Time: 28.00
Average heart rate: Not measured
Pace: 9:20

Friday, July 15, 2005

5 Mile Run: Columbia, SC

I am on a business trip in Columbia, SC. So, I used the Garwin/Timex thing again. The screen was still blanking out, but was usable enough to actually record data. I think the problem is moisture. I will be trying to figure out how to remove it. My current thought is air pressure and evaporation. The run was good just went along an interstate frontage road.

Data:
Distance: 5.155
Time: 47.39
Average heart rate: Not measured
Pace: 9:14

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

PodCast Update #6

More ITConversations...

  • Annalee Newitz talked about Sex Laws and Technological Change. Now, this one is not o-safe as may be obvious. But, it is very interesting. Annalee builds a great case for how porn has created a climate for a variety of technologies to flourish although not always sponsoring their initial development. She is clearly motivated to protect personal freedoms and judging by some of her comments is on the activist side of this stuff. I don't lean that far, but someone should look out for us and I trust her after listening to this podcast.
  • Nicholas Negroponte of the Media Lab at MIT, Ian Morris of AMD and Teresa Peters of Bridges.org discussed Globalization of Technology. Given my recent and continued readings of Jared Diamond's work, interest in Thomas Friedman's writings, and such, this was made for a very interesting presentation. Good points were made by one and all, but I must say Teresa Peters seemed to be the most in tune with the real situation in the world. But, I was swayed (forgive me for forgetting which speaker), but one of the men did speak very specifically to hands on experience in Cambodia. So, none of these speakers were a slouch in terms of being informed and dedicated to helping alleviate the vast gap between the haves and have nots. There were some comments about colonization via technology that were terse and sarcastic. But, I thought they may betray a sentiment worth thinking about.

PodCast Update #5

More ITConversations…

Catching up as you can tell

3 Mile Run: Dallas, Texas

I am on a business trip and hanging out near the Dallas-FortWorth airport. So, I used the Garwin/Timex thing again. Well, it measured and worked fine during the run. But, screen is sometimes blank and sometimes faint since the end of the run. Argh!

The run was good just went along an airport frontage road. The scenery was lack luster (hey Dallas ain't exactly scenic), but I did have a plane fly just a few hundred feet above my head. That was cool. Jammed to the Stokes and they jam.

Data:
Distance: 3:
Time: 27:56
Average heart rate: Not measured
Pace: 9:18

Sunday, July 10, 2005

10.5 Mile Run: Brownell Circle

Well, the Garwin/Timex worked today and I finally got an accurate measure of the loop. It is not 11 miles (darn, that means all those runs are even slower then I thought). But, it is good to have the watch and GPS working again. I listened to the rest of the 2 Black Eyed Pea CDs I purchased. I sure don't regret buying them. Good stuff.

As to the run, well I fell asleep before eating supper and the wife said I wouldn't get up. It is all due to my 2 1/2 year old son wanting to cuddle. He fell asleep and I couldn't help but follow. So, when I woke up and it was time to run, I went for it. Before running, I thought I should probably shoot for 9 miles and not 11 miles (ok, 10.5 miles). But, my ego and the desire to measure the distance got in the way and I went for the longer run. Unfortunately, I started dying at about 8 miles. So, I walked-ran the last 1.5 miles as can be seen by my pace and time below. I feel confident that I will my fitness back to the level where this is run is not so challenging and my pace returns to where it was 6 months ago.

Data:

Distance: 10.54 (according to the GPS)
Time: 1:53:26
Average heart rate: Not measured
Pace: 10:45

Saturday, July 09, 2005

3 Mile Run: Neighborhood

I put the latest CD from the Black Eyed Peas, Monkey Business, on my mp3 player and jammed to this while running. Good CD, but I haven't heard it all yet. I also had a successful run with the Garwin/Timex device. It was the battery in the watch. And, I have to tell you fixing that was very interesting. First getting the back of the watch off is tricky as there are rubber flaps that overlap the back on each side of the watch that has a band connected. These may have a purpose I am not sure. Second,the screw that holds the piece of metal on top of the battery is so tiny and goes into such a tiny hole, that I found it nearly impossible not to lose the screw. But, I was able to pull it off. Oh! I spoke too soon.

Here I am using the various features of the watch to scroll through the display to collect the statistics and some displays have gradient displays (varying crispness). In other words, some parts of the display are faint. This mirrors my experience with my first heart monitor. God forbid the battery goes dead. Opening the watch to change the battery, kills the watch. This is simply not forgivable. Users MUST be able to change their own batteries. I am getting pissed off now.

I am not sure why I am running so slow these days. I am guessing that the time off for my recent injury decreased my fitness and that the heat is having impact. I hope some speed comes back! But, maybe age is just catching up. :(

Data:

Distance: 3 (2.972 according to the GPS)
Time: 29:22
Average heart rate: Not measured
Pace: 9:52

Podcast Update #4

More ITConversations...

I listened to another Podcast within which Lawrence Lessig talks about remixing and its fit within culture and law. He makes the case what we can do with paper based content, we can not do with digital content. For paper, we established practices and rules that permit quoting, read as copying, content of other authors. For digital content, we are still exploring what the rules should be and we have big business stress their muscle to protect their revenue streams. Lawrence builds a great case for accelerating the pace of change. Lawrence is a great speaker and this is another content rich presentation.

Kim Polese delivers a convincing and informative presentation about modern IT shops. She builds the case that the IT person in a company is a super hero (and she is right). More importantly, she talks about the impact of open source and other innovations on the way IT and companies view putting together their infrastructure. Her observations are insightful and she delivers a great presentation.

Tod Maffin, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, talked about podcasting and its use within public radio. He delivers a informative and interesting presentation.

Joel Spolsky, Joel on Software, delivers a very interesting and insightful presentation talking about modern software development trends. He has some interesting viewpoints and criticisms on Extreme Programming. Further, the talks about why customers don't know what they want. This one is a must listen to! I looked up The Joel Test which lists 12 questions you should ask at the end of a job interview. He also builds a great case for daily builds. Very interesting and provides good fodder for shaping ones development processes.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

5 Mile Run: Neighborhood

Limp Bizkit cranks. Well, I guess you figured out what I listened to while I ran. Cindy, the tropical storm, was still around. So, I ran in a down pour. But, it felt good to get the run in. I had to rush as we had dinner plans with Kaye's twin. I was a bad boy and got a slightly heated, but friendly discussion about George Bush. I am essentially the only liberal in the group.

Data:

Distance: 5
Time: 49:06
Average heart rate: 151
Pace: 9:49

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

3 Mile Run: Neighborhood

Well, we're back home. I took off in the rain and ran fine. Nothing spectacular and it took several days to get to the log book here. So, I forgot all the great stuff I would have likley entered if I had logged right after the run.

Data:

Distance: 3
Time: 28:52
Average heart rate: 157
Pace: 9:37

Sunday, July 03, 2005

9+ Mile Run: Demopolis, AL

We visited my in-laws for the July 4th weekend. So, I ran around the north south side of town. The Garwin/Timex GPS system screwed up again. This time before I even started. I went out way early to buy new batteries for the GPS unit thinking this was the problem last time. When I returned from the store, I put on the watch and noticed a totally blank screen. Hum. Maybe, it's the watch.

Anyway, it was very humid. So, humid I dropped the singlet at about half-way. I walked a little towards the end of the run. I probably walked 1/4 to 1/2 a mile. I didn't time the walk so the time reported below was all running. If I had run the entire way, I think it would have been a 10 mile run.

I caught up on the Dawn and Drew Show and Adam Curry's Daily Source Code podcasts. CastBlaster is apparently available for public beta, so I am excited about giving it a try.

Data:

Distance: 9+
Time: 1:27:00

Friday, July 01, 2005

3 Mile Run: Neighborhood

I had to just crank this one out and get ready to meet friends for dinner. I didn't get to enter this until July 5th, so I don't remember the particulars (how I felt, what I listened to, etc.) for the run.

Data:

Distance: 3
Time: 28:52
Average heart rate: 157
Pace: 9:37

Podcast Update #3

More ITConversations...

I listened to Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Wired Magazine in an interview. He talked about some of the latest and greatest technology and why it was selected for showcasing at NextFest 2005 (more at Wired.com). Since I subscribe and had read the article, the podcast didn't really add much for me. But, if you haven't read the article, this podcast is very interesting. And, in fairness, it was an interesting interview.

I listened to a 2-part podcast within which
Steve Wozniak, co-founder, Apple Computer essentially talked about his life history (part 1 and part 2). It was very interesting. He details how he acquired an interest in electronics and some of the details behind his innovations as he and Steve Jobs created Apple Computers. Thanks Steve.