Summer Dayz

Summer is upon us, the heat, the humidity, the salty sea breeze that's warmer than the standing air, ahh summer on the Chesapeake. Last week was the first time that it really was summer and this week is going to be the second. Looking forward to a nice run in the mid 90's on Wed and Thurs, might push it thursday for speed just to tax my heart on the 3.6 mile run i hit during lunch.

But who knows, some feedback will be coming, maybe a commentary on the other runners i see at lunch. There's eye candy, non-candy, dear lord and then the pseudo-runner, jogger and the guy who runs when he thinks someone's watching(really funny)

An indoor Run Worth itI

To any, of the few loyal readers, I have a love hate affair with treadmills. They're handy when you're stuck in Wyoming in January, a bad part of Philly or really need a workout but you want to watch the game, so you suck it up. But sometimes its gorgeous out, sunny, warm and beautiful but yet you take the treadmill route....why? Because the view is amazing.

To your right you see what i got to run to Saturday, before the Yankees game at Camden Yard; the Yankees won with an A-Rod A-Bomb Grand Slam in the 8th to seal it 13-3. So while running at 3 in the afternoon for a 7:05 start i got to look out on the field from the 5th story of the Hilton Hotel.

So for once I can't really complain about my indoor run, I got to watch warm ups, a little BP and all before the Gates were open to the general public. After your run I recommend Pickles Pub right next door because the beer is cheap($3) and there is meat roasting on charcoal at the exit. So here's a stay for you random athletes who like baseball, and beer.

Treadmills were quality as well, but who cares about them on this post

Running Ramblings

So I need to write more. The current problem is my travel has been greatly reduced so now I spend more time running around base. So I need to revamp this entire blog to my ramblings. In other words I am still a traveling runner, but now you're getting my thoughts, ramblings, which will probably allow me to actually post more because it's not just route's or reviews, so just a heads up to my single follower, this may actually get interesting.

be aware, be scared.

Future topics:
finance, silver, apartment gardening, arduino, analytics, cycling, brewing, random thoughts and ramblings.

who knowsss what the future will hold

Starting the migration outdoors

It's that great time of the year, the grass is blooming, my allergies knocked me out for a few days, and its warm enough to get some decent runs outside. There's only one real negative, outside of the extra pain, and that's the strong march winds. Most of my base routes are loops which means if one way has the wind at my back...the other is in my face. I mean it looked like i was wearing spandex the other day because the wind was blowing so hard, and I'm a firm believer that I'm too big for spandex. But good times about, love the migration, hopefully taking the bike out soon.

Allergies!!!!!

Have struck, so I've been out of commission the last few days. The worst part is it always happens when the weather gets nice, everyone's outside running. I mean I'm struggling to keep my head up and heading outside to just get some soup and everyone and their uncle is running. Pretty sure i even saw someone and their uncle running together...

So not sure if there's a more miserable feeling for a runner. I mean the broken ankle or bone sucks, but you know you're down for a bit so you've accepted your fate. The muscle pull you just get the frustration of not being where you were last week, but can still move. Allergies or a sudden cold, always strike right when the weather turns, spirits go up and you're sunk. I was getting ready the day before for a nice 9-10 miler but bam, nothing happened because i was laid up. Hoping for health in the next two to three so i can catch the 50's in the middle of this week

Treadmill review LifeFitness 95T

Since I've conquered most of what winter has thrown at me on a treadmill, I figured it's time to post a review of my good buddy since I'll be abandoning him/her in the next few weeks (60's!!!). To start, is a treadmill a masculine or feminine? I mean a ship is a she, vehicle's can be both, is a treadmill a she or a he? I use he, but mostly because I'm lazy.

So the treadmill today is the LifeFitness 95T. I think its the engage but w/e they're all pretty close, so I'll take the base model because again its the apartment complex treadmill. First glance it looks like any other treadmill, a deck, armresters and a big screen. This one has the added bonus of being able to show TV(whenever the cables are plugged in) and you can plug and iPod in and/or a USB stick to record the workout, both of which are pretty slick. I personally have used the iPod dock more than once when I forgot to charge it before hitting the gym, so it's definitely functional. More importantly the ride, or run. The features are nice, but the run is what matters.
Pro's: It "rides" smooth, easy to change speed, easy to raise and lower deck, two cupholders, screen deck and little table, speed change is smooth as well. Important to me also is the belt stays tight during the runs so my knee takes it pretty well.

Con's: Speed change can be a little slow at times, the handle bars get slick when sweat gets on them, and the real gripe is the standing area on the side of the deck is incredibly slick when a little wet w/sweat.

All in all I'd recommend this one if you have an option at the gym or one at a hotel, giving it a solid B+, the only thing holding it back from an A is the slippery side rails which could be easily fixed by the manufacturer in the future, add some sandpaper

On the road againn, on the road again

Unfortunately I didn't get out for any good runs the last time I was traveling a week ago. It's a great trip to the Adirondacks to visit, great in the summer, but being the genius I am, I went in the winter. Ok it was for pre-marital counseling, and really was the only time to go but I still hoped to get a good run in. One of my favorite runs is this one here.
The Run isn't too bad minus the hill as shown by the elevation map below
You start on a ridge with a great view of the Valley below and then you can either go down the easy hill to start with the epic steep climb at the end. Or you can do the Epic drop to start, and then a nice slow rising climb for the last mile of the 8...it's your choice, but 200 feet of elevation change makes it interesting.

I'll call this one Decisions