After losing a weekend not running I had to pick it up on Monday. Got to the gym a little past 6, and as such all the machines were taken. Briefly thought about running outside, but since I have not yet invested in winter running gear I didn’t think it was wise to go running in 37 degree weather in shorts and a t-shirt.
So as to not make it a total waste, I jumped on the only available machine… a recumbent elliptical. I did 2 miles in 22:45. But… I barely broke a sweat. I guess I must be in amazing shape!
Day -139
Woke up at 5:40am
Gym at 6:05am
Recumbent Ellipticaled 2 miles in 22.45 min for a average mile of 11.22.
Time to go: [fergcorp_cdt_single date=”March 20, 2011, 6:35 am est”]
This year Jack was Buzz Lightyear for Halloween. In keeping with our tradition we had the families over for a Halloween party and Trick or Treating in our building. After everyone got to the apartment and gave Jack his candy buckets we had some apps and then put Jack in his costume. He LOVED it. He kept saying, “Infinirty enbeyon!” which, if you don’t speak Jack is, “To infinity and beyond!”
We gave him his Halloween bag and he went to get the bucket of candy for the trick or treaters who were coming to our place and proceeded to dump all of the candy into his bag. He tried to do it the easy way.
The trick or treating went even better than last year. He kept running around knocking on doors. He did not try to go into anyone’s apartment this year, which was good. We were smarter this year and sent scouting teams to the lower floors to find the apartments with candy so that when Jack got to that floor we just pointed him in the direction. Every time he got to a floor someone would say, “Jack, I found one, do you want to go?” and he would scream “Yes yes yes!” and go running. It was great. He also had the biggest smile on his face every time someone gave him candy.
When it was over Jack only wanted a little bit of the candy. We will probably end up splitting it and bringing it into work to let our co-workers get fat.
Every year The Bronx Zoo has Halloween themed activities for the month of October called “Boo at the Zoo.” We went last year with Jack and it was a lot of fun. This year we continued the tradition and made our way the whole ten minutes to the zoo.
In order to keep his real costume clean, we put Jack in his Fireman’s uniform. We didn’t want to ruin Halloween with a dirty costume. We had a really great time. Jack saw a whole bunch of animals. We went to the Tiger exhibit and all Jack cared about were the fish that are in the swimming hole. Four giant, majestic tigers and Jack is standing in front of the aquarium telling me that the big black fish looks, “just like Nemo!”
The polar bear was very cool. It was just hanging out about 25 feet from the railing. We also saw some deer, a snow leopard, giraffes and butterflies. We also got a chance to see the Dora and Diego 4D Experience. I think they went a little overboard with the water as we were visibly wet when the movie was over.
Got some great pictures with the new camera. I’m starting to figure a few things out, but I still have a lot to go. We had a great time and we can’t wait to do it again next year.
My sister is getting married next weekend and Jack is going to be in wedding party. At first we were going to rent him one, but Men’s Warehouse does not rent tuxedos below a 3T. So, then we needed to try to find one to buy. Hoping to not spend a lot of money, since this was really going to be a single use item. I managed to find one on eBay… don’t worry, it was new, not used.
The first one was too small. I thought I had all the measurements right, but I guess I do not have a future as a tailor. After a quick exchange, which was easier than I had originally thought, we got the right size.
Today I ran outside for the first time since starting to train for the Half Marathon. I figured I should get used to the cold, since the bulk of my training will be done in winter. It wasn’t so bad. You start out really cold, but then you warm up and the cold air feels good. It’s almost like running in air conditioning. Of course, when you stop, it’s awful again. You’re all sweaty and then its cold and you just feel terrible. I think I am going to start running straight into my building rather than stopping down the block and walking to my building to “cool down.”
The run felt really good. I ran 2.75 miles and probably could have run more if I timed it better. I needed to get back inside. In the future I will have to get up and out a little earlier. Maybe tomorrow.
Day -142
Woke up at 5:20am
Outside at 5:50am
Ran 2.76 miles in 32.50 min for a average mile of 11.53.
Time to go: [fergcorp_cdt_single date=”March 20, 2011, 6:35 am est”]
We finally bit the bullet and got a new camera. We have been thinking about it for a while, but had originally planned on getting another point and shoot. Then, thanks to some guys I work with, I started getting interested in SLRs. One thing led to another, and I have been convinced it was the way to go. Jen was convinced soon after.
After going back and forth between the Canon T2i and the Canon 60D I decided to spend a little more money on the 60D. The camera is a little bigger, and little heavier, a little sturdier feeling. Technically the cameras were about even with the 60D having a few extra features that one day I will learn to use. I think we made the right choice. It certainly is a camera we will have for a long time.
It is really a Christmas/Birthday gift, but since we have so many events in November/December we decided that we would get it early so we could use it for all these events. I have been playing with the camera and trying learn it. There is A LOT to learn. So many settings. Below are some photos from the first few days. I hope they will get better…
Stayed up late to watch Giants/Cowboys on MNF. Then Jack woke up from a post nasal drip cough. Then he was up throughout the night. Probably got less than 2 total hours sleep. I was up at about 4:30 and when I didn’t go back to sleep by 5:30, decided to go to the gym and run.
It was kind of hard. Maybe from not running in 3 days. Maybe from no sleep. Maybe because it was really hot in the gym. Whatever the reason, it hurt. I still had a good time, but I just felt terrible the whole run.
Day -145
Woke up at 4:30am
Gym at 6:00am
Ran 2 miles in 23.32 min for a average mile of 11.46.
Time to go: [fergcorp_cdt_single date=”March 20, 2011, 6:35 am est”]
Jack was old enough this year to actually carve a pumpkin, so while we were in VT we picked up a good one. At the store I picked out the NY Giants carving kit. It was the worst piece of junk ever. The stickers used to keep the stencil in place were useless. The paper kept falling. Nothing was working out. We figured Jack would probably want a regular Jack-O-Lantern anyway. So, I bagged the Giants stuff and set to make a regular pumpkin.
First we needed to cut the top and scrap out the inside. I gave Jack the scoop and he set to work. Except that he could scoop anything out and any time a piece of pumpkin or seed got on him, he cried and made me wash it off. Eventually, it was too much for him and when a big chuck got on the back of his hand, he threw up.
Back to the pumpkin… we gave Jack some crayons and told him to help me draw. I had finished cleaning out the pumpkin, so it was only a matter of carving and decorating. Jack watched me carve and then he drew on some hair. I guess we will try again next year.
Today was a good run. It didn’t start out good… but after the first mile, things started to feel okay. I thought I was going to have to stop. I had a headache and my body was just not feeling it. But I soldiered on, and eventually felt better.
I ran the first mile at 5mph, the second mile at 5.5mph, then a 1/4 mile at 5mph and the last 1/4 mile at 6mph. 6mph is my goal. That is a 10 minute mile.
Day -149
Woke up at 5:40am
Gym at 6:00am
Ran 2.5 miles in 28.30 min for a average mile of 11.24.
Time to go: [fergcorp_cdt_single date=”March 20, 2011, 6:35 am est”]
The night before I slept for 10 hours and didn’t wake up for my alarm. Jen had to wake me on her way out the door to work. Last night I slept for 5 hours an was able to get up and run. My body is freaking out right now!
On the plus side I realized I have been miscounting my time. When I was running outside I would start the running app on my phone and go. At the gym I start the treadmill really slow and then just walk on it while I set up my headphones, water, phone, and then start running. So all this time I have been about a minute off with my total time because I have been including my setup walking.
Today I set up in a minute and only walked .1 miles, so I just ran to 2.1 miles and subtracted a minute off the total. My new time was MUCH better. More like what I was running over the summer. It also helped that I didn’t use the incline.
Day -150
Woke up at 5:40am
Gym at 6:00am
Ran 2 miles in 23.45 min for a average mile of 11.52.
Time to go: [fergcorp_cdt_single date=”March 20, 2011, 6:35 am est”]
![After losing a weekend not running I had to pick it up on Monday. Got to the gym a little past 6, and as such all the machines were taken. Briefly thought about running outside, but since I have not yet invested in winter running gear I didn’t think it […]](https://www.stevenjshaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Steve_5K-620x250.jpg "NYC Half Marathon in 139 Days")
![This year Jack was Buzz Lightyear for Halloween. In keeping with our tradition we had the families over for a Halloween party and Trick or Treating in our building. After everyone got to the apartment and gave Jack his candy buckets we had some apps and then put Jack in […]](https://www.stevenjshaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Jack_Halloween-620x250.jpg "H-A-Double-L-O-W-Double-E-N Spells Halloween")
![Every year The Bronx Zoo has Halloween themed activities for the month of October called “Boo at the Zoo.” We went last year with Jack and it was a lot of fun. This year we continued the tradition and made our way the whole ten minutes to the zoo. In […]](https://www.stevenjshaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Jack_Jen_Zoo-620x250.jpg "Boo at the Zoo 2010")
![Milk. Shaken. Not stirred. My sister is getting married next weekend and Jack is going to be in wedding party. At first we were going to rent him one, but Men’s Warehouse does not rent tuxedos below a 3T. So, then we needed to try to find one to buy. […]](https://www.stevenjshaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Jack_Tux-620x250.jpg "Shaw. Jack Shaw.")
![We finally bit the bullet and got a new camera. We have been thinking about it for a while, but had originally planned on getting another point and shoot. Then, thanks to some guys I work with, I started getting interested in SLRs. One thing led to another, and I […]](https://www.stevenjshaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Soy_Sauce-620x250.jpg "New Camera")
![Jack was old enough this year to actually carve a pumpkin, so while we were in VT we picked up a good one. At the store I picked out the NY Giants carving kit. It was the worst piece of junk ever. The stickers used to keep the stencil in […]](https://www.stevenjshaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Jack_Pumpkin-620x250.jpg "Pumpkin Carving")