Can you Push it?

No, not very well. I've always been pretty crap at pushups, so when I came across this website the other day I got real interested. I just did the initial test and surprisingly managed 31 good form pushups before collapsing in a pathetic pile of twitching arms. The plan has a schedule of three workouts a week for six weeks, building up to executing 100 pushups in one go. Sounds simple enough and it's quite the online craze at the moment. I will start week 1 on Sunday and see how bad I really am. Anyone else fancy giving it a go?

Running plans for the weekend include a memorial run for a club member who died on a stormy night on the greenbelt a year ago, and a hilly road run followed by an equally hilly trail run on Sunday. Then the week after it's the El Scorcho 50k. Happy trails everyone.

The Stash

Ooooh it's just like Christmas. Now why, you ask yourself, is this crazy boy taking pictures of shoes and socks? Well, this is all the stuff I ordered at the weekend (artfully arranged). Everything arrived today and we spent a happy half hour or so trying on various combinations of socks and shoes while Gavin played with the empty boxes. In a weird moment of "role reversal", Nancy had the cheek to ask me why I have so many shoes!!! I have packed all the running socks away in the Montrail box so I know where they are. Have to guard against those socknappers.

The great sourdough experiment has hit a small snag - the "bitch" became contaminated and started smelling like old socks, so out she went. All is not lost though as I started another batch when I noticed she was doing poorly and it seems to be going much better. The "son of the bitch" is still eating well and looks (and smells) a lot healthier. Let's hope that's not famous last words.

I ran with my buddy tonight and we talked about a trip to run the Guadalupe mountains we've been planning for labor day weekend. I hope we get to go because it sounds like a lot of fun. Nancy is looking forward to it too, and we may plan on taking a few days extra and taking in the Davis mountains and the Carlsbad caverns while we're out there.

On the Road Again

So I'm going to be a coach with Round Rock Fit again this year, though I'm probably not going to run the Austin marathon (it's only a week after the Rocky Raccoon 100). I've been thinking about it for a while, and finally decided to go for it. It will force me to keep up the road side of my running, help maintain my pace for the flatter trail races and it's something I've enjoyed doing for the past few years. It's very rewarding to help people reach their goals.

Meanwhile, back on the trail I returned to the scene of the crime early Monday morning and ran the same Walnut Creek route that clobbered my ankle the other week. No such problems this time, just a nice relaxing run.

And my only other newsworthy item - I got some new songs for the jukebox. "Sad Sad City" by Ghostland Observatory and "I Will Possess your Heart" by Death Cab for Cutie. Pretty boring week, huh?

The Sock Crusade

I ran Ken's loop this morning and the ankle felt a lot better. I still babied it on the majority of the trail, but it felt much stronger and I was a lot more confident in trusting it. However, I have discovered a very worrying situation - my running socks are being kidnapped. Yes that's right, innocent wicking foot servants are being systematically and ruthlessly taken from my sock drawer never to return. I have yet to receive a ransom note, but what else could it possibly be? I struggled to find a pair to run in this morning and I have no idea where they have all gone.

For years I did all my road running in Ultimax Ironman socks and loved them - zero blisters. But I have discovered that some corrosive element inherent in trail running makes these beloved old warriors very brittle and I have torn at least three pair in the last few months. So I have been experimenting with Injinji Tetrasoks (the ones with the toes) instead. I have heard a lot of good things about them but I don't know if I like them or not, so this morning I browsed the Running Warehouse (one of my favorite online running stores) and bought a selection of different types of sock to try out. The great sock experiment - I will let you know how it goes.

And while I was browsing, I found a great deal on trail shoes at the Sierra Trading Post. Their Montrail Hardrocks and Vasque Velocity shoes were on closeout, there was an extra 20% off for July 4th weekend, and I found a coupon for an additional 15% off that. Result - I ended up with two pairs of really good trail shoes for around $90. I've been running in Hardrocks for a while, but I've been wanting to try out the Vasque Velocities for less technical trail, so I will get to play with them too.

And finally, some good news from the great sourdough experiment - the bitch is bubbling. I didn't expect to find any activity so soon, but took a peek this morning and those lovely little yeast seem to be having a burp party. Not getting too carried away in case it's a false fermentation, but I'm very hopeful of success.

Growing a new pet

"Walking the new pet" while enjoying another yeast-based product

Late last year I started experimenting with making a Sourdough starter from scratch. Basically the idea was to create an environment that is conducive to capturing wild yeast and then helping it grow and multiply. Once alive and thriving, the starter can be fed and used as a sponge for making sourdough breads, pizza crusts, pancakes etc etc. It's amazing that "starter" cultures have lived and been maintained for hundreds of years. My prior efforts failed when we went to the UK for three weeks over Christmas and forgot all about it.

So today I decided to try again. The initial "recipe" is simple enough - 1 cup of bread flour and 1 cup of warm water. Store in a plastic or glass container in a warm place (do not use metal containers or cutlery). Every day for about the first week throw out half the mixture and add back in 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of flour. I have dubbed this process "feeding the bitch" (it's just like having a pet). If I've done it right, after 2 or 3 days I should start to see a lot of bubbles and notice a pleasant, sour, "beer-like" smell. At that point I will move it to the fridge and feed it once a week until it's needed (I'll cover the "proofing" process if I ever get there).

This is a picture of the starter just after mixing - the surface is pretty smooth with no signs of activity. Hopefully that will soon change. I'm going to store it loosely covered on the kitchen bar and see what happens. Nancy says I can't keep referring to my new pet as "the bitch", so any suggestions for another name are welcome.

And finally, after posting yesterday's blog entry which highlighted the cultural, intellectual and historical significance of the Welsh, I came across this. I think I need some more wine :-)

Born on the 4th of July

Three score and ten years ago today (divided by two) I was born. Yep, today is officially half my allotted time. And because of that, Americans all over this Nation will be setting off fireworks and getting drunk in celebration. Well, I suppose they are also celebrating the small matter of American Independence as well. An interesting and little-known fact is that without the Welsh there may not be an America or a Constitution. Seventeen signatories of the Declaration of Independence were of Welsh heritage, including Presidents Thomas Jefferson (a fluent Welsh speaker) and John Adams. Indeed, halfway up the steps of the Washington monument is a stone that reads

Fy Iaith, Fy Ngwlad, Fy Nghenedl
Wales
Cymry am Byth

Translated from the Welsh it reads: "My Language, My Land, My Countrymen - Wales for Ever". It is the only inscription on the monument other than times, dates, architects and "Laus Deo" ("Praise be to God" in Latin). Why is it there? Who knows, but apparently the mystery will be explored in Dan Brown's new novel (and Da Vinci Code followup) "The Solomon Key". No doubt it was the Cardiff branch of the Knight's Templar!!!


Roughly 1% of the US population are of Welsh descent - a stealthy invasion perhaps, but we'll have you all drinking Welsh beer soon.

Anyway, back to modern day US-based Welshies. I started off my 35th birthday with a run on the Greenbelt with some friends. I did an easy-paced 15 miles to test out my ankle. Some people went on to do more, some did less, but that was just about right for me. It went fine and I enjoyed talking rugby with Gordon, but the ankle's still not right and I was very careful with it. It stiffened up after the run, and right now I am feeling every day of those 35 years.

Still, I managed to get home in time to watch the Nathan's famous hot dog eating contest on ESPN. The "sport" of competitive eating - absolutely gross to watch, but congratulations to Joey Chestnut who successfully defended his title (59 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, and the first to consume an extra 5 in a tiebreak "eat off").

Wouldn't like to be stuck in a locked room with any of them after that!!!