tinfoil, whiskey, and computers

Tangerine is a tasty looking new app from Potion Factory.  It scans your iTunes library and gets the beats per minute (BPM).  It do so quickly.  What’s nice about this is that you can make playlists based on the song tempo, perfect for upbeat songs for working out.

The app looks like it belongs on a Mac.  It’s gorgeous and simple.  It includes Growl support.  It’s laid out much like iTunes and perfectly ccompliments it.  I’m going to run it against my entire library in the next day or two so I can put together a new workout list…well, multiple lists.  I especially like fast music for running and lifting…and doing math for some reason.

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I finished! That was my main goal, to run the whole way and finish. My second goal was under 2 hours and I blew that away. My chip time was 1:46:25. I am very happy with that and know I can definitely improve it.My friend and training partner Shannon was a huge help. She beat me by 2 minutes. She pulled away after mile 7 but helped me along up until that point.Next up is Grandma’s Half Marathon 2007 I think.

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The 10 mile race is almost here!  Oct 1 I race.  I am psyched.  I’m nervous and excited.  I’m down to around 196.  Not quite at my goal of 185, but good enough.  The main goal is under 2 hours.  Shannon wants to try to do it in an hour and 40 minutes.  It’s possible if I have a particularly good day.  Wish me luck!

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I’ve started training for the TC 10 Mile. I didn’t actually get selected in the lottery but a friend did and she doesn’t want to do it by herself so I am training to motivate her (and myself). Another friend got in but he may not run it and give me his packet so I need to be ready.

I am using the Hal Higdon 15k training program. That’s what my friend is using as well. I don’t know if she’s doing the novice or intermediate. I’m doing something in between. The novice starts too easy for my current level but I’m not quite ready for the intermediate. No biggie, just going to do something inbetween.

I’m also starting at the end of week three with a 4 mile run this morning. It works out nice because that’s about the level I am at given the rest of the program and next week is an off week. That’s perfect because I’ll be on vacation and probably not wanting to go nuts on the training though I do plan to workout.

Today’s weigh-in was my lowest yet at 203.8. I want to hit 185 by the Oct 1 race. I don’t anticipate a problem as long as I stick to the training and cut out drinking lots of beer (after vacation of course).

My run went well this morning. I felt good. The shorter days on the program should allow me to build some speed as well. My 5k race on Wednesday was ok but I don’t have a clue how much I can push myself. I had a lot in me at the end so I could have probably pushed myself much more than I did. I was still happy with my time though but it could improve.

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I don’t actually own a Tivo.  I have a generic one provided by Comcast.  It’s kind of a piece of crap but it does the job.  It’s better than what I could get with Tivo is the key to my decision (didn’t have to buy, dual HD tuners, PPV access).  But I digress.

How did it help me get into shape?  Before I really got into using my DVR I would just channel surf.  There was never really anything on but I would flip for an hour and watch nothing, just killing time.  In May my friend and I decided to seriously get into shape with a better diet and exercise.  I already recorded a few shows I liked.  When I started running and exercising it took up a good chunk of my evening.  No more channel surfing.  That was ok though.  The DVR allowed me to record anything I wanted to watch.  I never had to worry about missing anything.

Now I simply scan the channel guide, see what’s on for the evening, record something if it looks interesting, and head out to workout for a couple hours.  Instead of sitting on my butt and surfing now I head out and don’t worry about what I might miss.  Plus I don’t waste time watching commercials.  Since I started the serious workouts I’ve really put the DVR to good use.  I don’t even start watching TV until about 10pm now and I’m done by about 11:15 with a couple hours of TV.

It’s really a timesaver in general, but I think it truly helped me get into shape by eliminating some excuses of “missing my stories.”  I think I actually watch more TV now since I’m not a mindless, channel surfing zombie.  Rather I actually think about what I want to record and only watch that.

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Whoa!  Long time no update.  Sorry about that.  I guess I’ve been pretty busy these last couple weeks with stuff.  I’ve been working out a lot, dropping weight.  I wont the bet my buddy and I had for the month of May.  The bet was to lose the most weight.  I lost 15 and he lost 12.  A very good month for both of us.  He owes me dinner at Manny’s.  I’ve also been a bit busy at work with my new promotion.  Thought I think they screwed me on my raise with my first paycheck.  I think the company is trying to nickel andd dime me to be honest.  They gyped me by 1%.

I have seen movies, but I haven’t take the time yet to review them.  I will get a few up this weekend I think.  I might try an 8k race the end of this month.  I can do the distance.  It’s what I was training at before I got the blisters.  But it’s more nervewracking when it’s an official event.  We shall see.

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I think my feet may need a few days to recover from the blisters, but I just did 5 miles. I actually really like the new course I ran today too. It’s mainly a maintained trail the whole way, crosses over a lake, and a lot of people use it so you get to see a lot of faces. I can also continue on the trail further than I did when I add more distance.

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