I didn't get to vote in this year's election because I'm OS. It was weird hardly hearing anything about the election here. No doubt back home there was plenty of media coverage, debates etc. What a massive swing from 4 years earlier.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
USA: Australian story makes front page news
It isn't often that I hear much about Australia in the US papers, but on Sunday a story about Australia made the front page of the Seattle Times:
I didn't get to vote in this year's election because I'm OS. It was weird hardly hearing anything about the election here. No doubt back home there was plenty of media coverage, debates etc. What a massive swing from 4 years earlier.
I didn't get to vote in this year's election because I'm OS. It was weird hardly hearing anything about the election here. No doubt back home there was plenty of media coverage, debates etc. What a massive swing from 4 years earlier.
Sport: Seattle Marathon (Half)
At the start line, just next to the Experience Music Project (EMP) & Space Needle. The sun hasn't even come up yet, but at least it isn't raining.
About to join the 10000 folks at the start line.
Just about to get going.
The course route, which went along 5th avenue following the monorail for the first part.
G took some photos of the marathon runners who started later. Lucky folks even got a police escort.
The finish.
A little while after I'd finished. I'm draped in a courtesy space blanket because it was still pretty chilly.The Seattle Half Marathon started at 7:30 am on a surprisingly clear morning. The main surprise for me was how many people were running (more than 10000). It was very difficult trying to run at your own pace with so many other runners surrounding you.
I ran at a slower pace for the first part of the race and then picked up the pace for the second half which I had already run a few days earlier. I easily bested my goal of 2 hours, making it in 01:46:20, which placed me in the top 10% of runners. I was reasonably happy with this until I looked through some of the top finishers and found a 64 year old who had beaten my time by 20 minutes or so.
I actually felt a lot better on this run than I did on my earlier practice run. The only problems were a blister on my little toe that burst at about the 12 mile mark and some pretty sore knees after the event.
I'll probably try to do some longer distances before considering stepping up to a marathon, which would be good to do at least once.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Sport: Seattle Marathon
Tomorrow morning at the crazy time of 7:30 am in sub-zero temperatures (Celsius) I'm going to attempt the Seattle Half Marathon (13.1 miles).
I've run a few shorter events as part of my training, including the Winter Pineapple Classic, a fun event which is 5 km, running and completing obstacles while carrying a pineapple in a team. I made it in 26 minutes, 46 seconds.
I also did a 10 km trail run which was held in a forest and managed that in 48 minutes, 28 seconds.
Yesterday I decided to go and try running some of the course to see how I'd manage this particular run. I did about 11 miles (from a bit past mile 5 to mile 11 and back with a few wrong turns) and found it pretty challenging. I found out later that this is the hilliest section of the course, which makes me feel a bit better.
I think my biggest concerns are not my aerobic fitness but:
I've run a few shorter events as part of my training, including the Winter Pineapple Classic, a fun event which is 5 km, running and completing obstacles while carrying a pineapple in a team. I made it in 26 minutes, 46 seconds.
I also did a 10 km trail run which was held in a forest and managed that in 48 minutes, 28 seconds.
Yesterday I decided to go and try running some of the course to see how I'd manage this particular run. I did about 11 miles (from a bit past mile 5 to mile 11 and back with a few wrong turns) and found it pretty challenging. I found out later that this is the hilliest section of the course, which makes me feel a bit better.
I think my biggest concerns are not my aerobic fitness but:
- my legs - I have tight hamstrings & hip flexors and I feel them on longer runs.
- my stomach - I have been getting 'stitches' (pains) in my left side when running long distances. They go away as soon as I stop, but it makes it hard to keep running.
- the cold - starting at 7:30 in potential drizzle and cold weather will make it challenging to run in. After my run yesterday I know I need gloves and a couple of layers at least.
Friday, November 23, 2007
USA: Happy Thanksgiving (and Black Friday)
Yesterday (Thursday) was Thanksgiving, which is a very big event here in the States. Most people get two days off work, including me, which is great. As a special thankyou for shipping Visual Studio 2008 (AKA Orcas), we also have Monday and Tuesday off!
Since I'm a little crazy instead of using this as an opportunity to play many many hours of Xbox games (although I've probably done more than my share there as well), I've decided to run the Seattle Marathon on Sunday, or at least the Half Marathon (13.1 miles or 21 km). More about that in another post.
So anyway, the Thursday of Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks for good harvests at the end of the season. That leaves the Friday as a somewhat empty day. Well retailers here are always willing to go out of their way to help the poor consumer so they do what back home would be called Boxing Day sales, but on steroids.
Many retailers open up at around 5 am and still have big crowds attracted to some crazy discounts. I was planning to go along and get a Navigon 2100T for $99 (saving $200) at Staples, but after staying up late playing Rock Band on the Xbox 360 with a bunch of Aussie folks and then rounding out the evening with some Halo 3 I just couldn't get up before 9am. So I checked online and of course they were all sold out in their online store. We dressed up for the chilly morning and motored over to Staples only to find basically all of their Black Friday specials were gone, including my awesome Navigon deal.
We drove around to a few other places in the area and alas it was all the same story. So I remain a poor sole addicted to Live & Google Maps. How did we ever get about before them?
I can hear the question now, why is it called Black Friday? Well according to a sometimes reliable source, it is the day that retailers finally move from the red (making a loss) to the black in their ledgers, all because of the enormous boost to sales from this one day.
I wonder what happens on Boxing Day...
Oh, and as for Rock Band, wow that game is cool.
Disclaimer: I guess I'm a bit of an Xbox fanboy since I finally caved in to office peer pressure and bought one to play games online. It is almost like the old-school 'playing a round of golf' with your business buddies, except you're aiming to frag your boss instead of let them win a hole..
On with my rant. So we played Rock Band with a few folks and it is an extension of the sensation that is Guitar Hero (I, II & III). In Rock Band, you can play with a Bass Guitar, a Guitar, Drums and you can sing. We had people stepping up for all roles and it is a really well done game. If someone in your band can't quite keep up (typically the singer or the drummer because those roles seem harder than the guitar), other folks in the band can rescue them using 'Star Power' that they accumulate by playing well. My only initial complaint - there doesn't seem to be a heap of songs available so when you go on tour you end up playing the same song many times after a few hours.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes it is just a game. No, your Rock God status does not apply to any real musical instruments. Remember that people, and enjoy the game.
Since I'm a little crazy instead of using this as an opportunity to play many many hours of Xbox games (although I've probably done more than my share there as well), I've decided to run the Seattle Marathon on Sunday, or at least the Half Marathon (13.1 miles or 21 km). More about that in another post.
So anyway, the Thursday of Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks for good harvests at the end of the season. That leaves the Friday as a somewhat empty day. Well retailers here are always willing to go out of their way to help the poor consumer so they do what back home would be called Boxing Day sales, but on steroids.
Many retailers open up at around 5 am and still have big crowds attracted to some crazy discounts. I was planning to go along and get a Navigon 2100T for $99 (saving $200) at Staples, but after staying up late playing Rock Band on the Xbox 360 with a bunch of Aussie folks and then rounding out the evening with some Halo 3 I just couldn't get up before 9am. So I checked online and of course they were all sold out in their online store. We dressed up for the chilly morning and motored over to Staples only to find basically all of their Black Friday specials were gone, including my awesome Navigon deal.
We drove around to a few other places in the area and alas it was all the same story. So I remain a poor sole addicted to Live & Google Maps. How did we ever get about before them?
I can hear the question now, why is it called Black Friday? Well according to a sometimes reliable source, it is the day that retailers finally move from the red (making a loss) to the black in their ledgers, all because of the enormous boost to sales from this one day.
I wonder what happens on Boxing Day...
Oh, and as for Rock Band, wow that game is cool.
Disclaimer: I guess I'm a bit of an Xbox fanboy since I finally caved in to office peer pressure and bought one to play games online. It is almost like the old-school 'playing a round of golf' with your business buddies, except you're aiming to frag your boss instead of let them win a hole..
On with my rant. So we played Rock Band with a few folks and it is an extension of the sensation that is Guitar Hero (I, II & III). In Rock Band, you can play with a Bass Guitar, a Guitar, Drums and you can sing. We had people stepping up for all roles and it is a really well done game. If someone in your band can't quite keep up (typically the singer or the drummer because those roles seem harder than the guitar), other folks in the band can rescue them using 'Star Power' that they accumulate by playing well. My only initial complaint - there doesn't seem to be a heap of songs available so when you go on tour you end up playing the same song many times after a few hours.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes it is just a game. No, your Rock God status does not apply to any real musical instruments. Remember that people, and enjoy the game.
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