Been a while since I have last wrote, but here I am with one week until the Riverbank 5k.  My training has gone pretty well, though I could have been more dedicated the last couple of weeks.  I have been still getting 3 runs in a week, mostly outside since the weather has become very receptive to that.  Though I could be cross training and eating better, but compared to what shape I was in 6 months ago, this is going well.

I did add to my running gear: a Nathan Hydration Belt with (2)10-oz bottles.  This has been a great addition for my running experience.  Before I would start to dry out and that would start to affect by pace, endurance, and mental game.  Now I feel like I can go for a longer run, non-stop and not have anything holding me back.

My current pace is around 11 minutes and I feel I can at least do that at the Riverbank if not a touch faster.  So with one week to go, I am going to predict my 5k time is going to be between 33:30 and 34:30. See you at the line!

With just over a month to go before the Riverbank run for me, I am starting to see all the benefits to training.  My 5k time is getting into the 35min range which is where I wanted to be at a minimum for the race itself.  My running endurance is getting to points I have not been at in over  a decade.  What a great feeling it is now to be getting ‘fit’.  My weight is coming off slowly, but steadily, just need to keep at.  Even looking beyond the Riverbank, I will continue my training for better times and longer events.  I am looking for other 5k’s to run this year, which will give me something to aim for and continue my fitness journey. I also have the 3 day backpacking trip in August which I will see major differences doing compared to last years backpacking trip. More to come…

To further motivate myself into becoming more fit, embrace a healthy lifestyle, and to become a better runner; I have registered for the the Riverbank 5k on May 9.  I cannot think of a better way for myself to achieve my fitness goals than to have a destination that is real.  Not to mention I had to pay entry fees to do this, so there is money on the line.

As further encouragement and a little accountability, my brother Pat is also going to run this also.  Since we have always been somewhat competitive with each other, failure is not an option.  Mostly me, since I have signed up, but I will be egging him on until he signs up.  So for both of us, getting into better shape and keeping up with the other is going to be a driving force.

I was hoping to get some time in this weekend at the gym or at the very least at home.  Saturday turned into a long day at the store and a reload of my home computer.  Sunday was busy also and by the time I started to think I had time to get some exercise in, it was 11:00pm.  So I instead opted for some sleep, which is important also.

I did not do anything crazy eating-wise, I had sensible amounts of food, and fairly healthy stuff too.  I think that is going pretty well, knowing how to control my appetite.  Overall, I have been adding more fruits, veggies, nuts, and lean mean into my meals.  So, no failure there this weekend.

Hopefully this will be a good week at the gym, I am positioning myself more and more into running, so that is going to be the direction and focus over the next few months.  Big reason is the Riverbank 5k coming up in May (88 days). But also after thinking about and read a Runners magazine I think that is a exercise that fits me well and will help me to achieve my health and fitness goals.

Another year has begun, with another round of ‘resolutions’ to be made. I never really was one to make a resolution on the Eve and probably never will.  I think in terms more of ongoing resolutions, what I want to change at the moment instead of waiting for a particular day to make the change. If I really get serious about making a change then I just do it.  Now I do have overall goals that I want to achieve and since I have started working toward those goals many would think I made a resolution on the Eve to do them.  Nope! But if anyone really wants to think that, then that is fine with me.

What I think is the most important is achieving those goals and not letting them fall by the wayside. Why set a goal and never complete them? Then that is simple a fashionable statement to make.  Such as ‘I want to lose weight’ or ‘quit smoking’. There are plenty of statistics one can google up and see that most of these resolution are never followed through.

2008 will be remember for so many life changing events for me and my family.  Myself and Brenda both had surgeries that have impacted our lives. My career in the manufacturing industry came to an abrupt halt when my employer of eight years closed their doors.  My second career in the Information Technology world gained a strong foothold with my new employment as a Network Administrator. This also was a year of change in my education as I start winding down my journey for a bachelors degree. I took more vacation time this year than I had in the previous five combined.  Camping, Hiking, Photography, and Guitars have reentered my life with plans to stay for the rest of my life.

Many events both large and small; came and went and affected my life this year.  I now look toward the new year with intrigue and wonder as many things are changing.  New president, economy faltering, and dreams for the new year await me. It will be interesting to see what I write here this time next year.

Mystery Science Theater 3000…Oh where to begin.  I had completely forgotten about this television show if not for a banner ad on some website out there.  You really have got to have a unique sense of humor to understand or even watch this show.  In case you have never seen it before, you are basically watching a show of a man and two robots watching a cheesy movie and making comments, jokes, and noises about the cheesy movie.  They are silhouetted on the bottom of screen like you are a movie theater.

I can remember seeing this show for the first time in the early nineties.  The cheesy movie they were poking at was called “Danger, Death Ray”.  I ended up rounding up some friends to watch the next episode and soon it became a ritual.  My sense of humor and even how I watch a movie with others can be traced back to this show.  Unfortunately, the show is no longer on, but like many shows a DVD collection is out there.  I am sure someday I will own it, but for now I can catch episodes on YouTube.

I am not saying this was my first time voting, but a sigh of relief from this long and very drawn out campaign. As many will say, it is not who you voted for, but the fact that you DID vote.  There is no other greater thing about being an American than the ability to voice your opinion on matters that will affect your neighborhood, town, state, nation, and world.

So who did I vote for?  I really do not think it matters who I voted for to anyone else.  I voted my concious on the items on the ballot.  I will have victories and defeat as far as who is elected and proposals that are passed or defeated.

Overall I think this election will change many things, from the course our nation is on to how campaigns are run.  We have turned a page and I think even entered a new chapter in our counties history.  As I write this, no one knows who is our next president.  But whoever it is he has great challenges ahead.

I remember back in the spring of 2008 hearing about a professor who was dying doing a series called “The Last Lecture”.  Fast foward several months and I am sitting in a class where the professor shows us a youtube video of this same professor, Randy Pausch, giving a commencement speech.  It was thought provoking and moving to hear him give a short speech to an outgoing class of graduates.

Later that night I decide to lookup some more on Randy Pausch and found the youtube video of the actual “Last Lecture” .  I sat there watching the one hour plus video and was really moved by what I heard.  It made me look at my past and current and god willing future.  I really encourage anyone to watch and listen to what he says, for this could effect you as it did me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

After talking to my co-worker Tadd, it came to me: if I keep waiting for the perfect website to come to mind in all its glory and I sit down and create it…NOTHING is going to happen.  Bingo, then with a little nudge from other friends, I just went to the Wordpress Theme library place they got and picked one the look like a good start. So here it is, HERE IT IS, finally. After paying for the domain name and hosting at 1and1 and sitting on dreams for three months, the ball is rolling.  Now I need to work on content and some other ideas, that I will be asking Tadd about since he knows more about web design than !.