The Dark Tower Revisited

5:29PM - Whoopsie

Sorry for the long delay. I went and got married. I went to Hawaii. I am about to move to Knoxville.

And on the Interweb side I went and got myspace. And a blog at blogspot. I wrote a blog about Joey Chestnut

I'll come up with something more substantial at some point.

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12:25AM - Go Raiders!

Today was a beautiful day, and I finally was able to get back outside running. I've been hitting the treadmill alot since late Jan when it turned cold. However, running outside is a totally different animal. I ran down to Kaufman and hit the Bike Trail and took that all the way into Fairborn. I had a head wind on the way out, which was great cause I had a tail wind on the way back. I went for 65 minutes and made 7.5 miles, about a 8:40 pace. Looks like I'm close to where I want to be for the 15K coming up March 25th.

After that I headed off to the Nutter Center for Selection Sunday! The team came out and there were quite a few fans who turned out. I was in the front row and got on the jumbotron (along with the local news) several times. It was pretty exciting, and though I think we got seeded a bit low, I think the Raiders can beat Pittsburgh. After that.... BRING ON DUKE. I want those SOBs so bad I can taste it. I was hoping UK would get them in an 8/9 game. Speaking on the Cats... 16 years in a row we've won a first round game. If that streak ends this year.... Tubby my man... you're in trouble.

Anyone want to go to Buffalo?

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1:14AM - Wright State is Going Dancing!!!

More Pictures

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12:56AM - I mock you 3-5 inches of snow!

I mock you with my awesome variant cover!!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....



I would like to thank Dark Star Books for staying open till midnight despite the crazy ass weather.  The nachos were excellent and the fact that I got a variant cover.... well I'll say one thing... I might just tell the Bookery to shove off and get my comic fix from Dark Star from now on.
I'd also like to thank my fiance for braving the wintery roads to head to Yellow Springs with me.  You're my all time favorite girl!  And yes... I had to score yet another sketchbook.  I'm addicted!

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6:25PM - In less than one week..

The Stephen King fanboy side of me and the comic book nerd side of me come smashing together in a moment destined to be one of the coolest things to ever happen. Check out all the goodies I've scored so far



Now, some comic stores are opening at midnight next wednesday to release this comic upon the world. I was a bit disappointed to learn the Bookery would not be one of those. However, I have learned of a comic store in Yellow Springs that will! So next Wednesday at Midnight I'll be getting my hippie on and heading out to The Dark Star Book Store. Chances are a visit to Young's Dairy will be in the works. Now what are the odds I can convince my fiance to come along....

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11:43PM - Why in God's name do I need Catholic Marriage Counseling?

Isn't the 16 years of school that resulted in this:

good enough!??!!?!?!

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11:12PM - Everytime I think I'm done...

It sucks my ass back in. 

Comics. Funny Books.  ARGH!!!

So back in 2004 I guess, back before Crossgen went under, I was probably at the height of my comic obsession.  I was getting every book Crossgen put out, along with a crapload of Marvel, and maybe 2 or 3 DC/Image/Whatever else.  I was probably buying maybe 6 or 7 books a week.  Then Crossgen went out of business, Marvel replaced the Thunderbolts with crap, Kurt Busiek left the Avengers, and Marvel decided to sue my favorite video game (City of Heroes).  So I said hell with it and quit comics.  Forever!

Now over the past couple of years I've gotten a few graphic novels here and there, as my love of the funny books will never quite die off.  So I have the first 3 collections of Supreme Power.  I also have an issue or two of Ultimate Iron Man as one of my favorite authors (Orson Scott Card) wrote it (also have the Hardcover).

Then I heard that the Dark Tower series was getting the comic treatment.  As the DT stands for dark tower you knew I would be there.  So when the free sketchbook came out I went to Comic Book World when I was in NKY.  And they had a little sign that said "Free with Purchase".  So I bought Annihilation: Prolouge and Annihilation: Nova 1.  I bought these two because of my love of the New Warriors.  And wouldn't you know it, I liked em.

So I made the mistake of heading down to the Bookery last Wednesday.  I looked into this "Civil War" business a bit, and I have to say that would they have done to the New Warriors (killing Nita and Thrash) and turning Speeball into.... eh. But evidently I'm gonna get a Nova ongoing series, Turbo staring in a new series called Loners, and a volume 4 of New Warriors.  In addition, OSC has his Red Prophet series going and his Wyrms series coming out. 

So it appears I shall be collecting the funny books again.  Sigh.  Too bad the Bookery told me I probably had to be a "Twenty Percenter" to get a shot at the Dark Tower variant covers. 

Damn you Comics!  Damn youse to helllllllll

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1:04AM - Las Meninas

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2:41AM - I've been meaning to post for a bit

So a quick summary:

1.)Workout Summary as best as I can remember since Turkey Day:

    12/12: 30 Minute Bike ride + a lame ass attempt at chest
    12/11: 5 1/2 mile run accomplished in a time frame of around 45:30
    12/8:  2 1/2 miles treadmill run at a 7 min pace + bicep/tricep workout
    12/6: Swam 3 500s in about 29 minutes
    12/1 Ran 5 miles at the indoor track at the Nutt (40 laps)
    11/29 Swam 2 500s

And there was a 60 minute Bike Ride in there somewhere.
   
  2.)My Cell Phone broke.  I went to Cingular and got a new one.  This new one did not allow me to delete certain built in contacts (i.e. "Pay your bill').  This pissed me off to no end, so I took the phone back and bought a RAZR.  I then downloaded some mod software and have customized the phone to my heart's content.  Every contact in the address book has a pic of the person next to it (from pre-existing pics), my ring tone is the Bengals song (Hear dem Bengals growling mean and angry), my loading screen is an animated picture of a cat inside a computer that says Loading, the graphic on the outside of the phone when it is open is now an rG logo instead of the Cingular man, and the phone yells, "RUN! GO! GET TO DA CHOPPA!" whenever I shut it down.  Life is good.

3.)I began to watch an awesometastic show on the SciFi channel called The Lost Room.  It fulfills my need for quirkiness in the TV shows I am a huge fan of (others include Twin Peaks, Picket Fences, X-Files, Quantum Leap, Sliders, Profit, Brisco County, American Gothic, Eerie Indiana).  The premise can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Room

4.)I mean to reply to several things I saw in my friend's pages over the last few weeks.  Sorry I didn't. Suffice to say my fiance agrees 100% with your assesment of Gilmore Girls Carrie.

That's all folks!

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2:56AM - Turkey Dace Race

I know I know.  I've been slacking again with the updates.  But it has been an incredibly busy month for me.  The Sunday after Run Like Hell I went to the Bengals game, went home to Dayton, woke my ass up at 4AM, flew to Las Vegas, went to a meeting by 10AM Vegas time, was in Vegas the entire week, flew home, then a week later I'm flying to Virginia. 

But fear not!  I was training.  Not as much as I should have, but I did manage to keep up with the running and I also swam a few times.  I bascially did two types of running the last month, a 5.4 mile run or a 3 mile run, all depending on how I felt.  The last time I ran the 5.4 mi run it took me 45:25 which is an 8:24 pace.  That would place me faster than my 2004 (54:54 8:50 pace) and 2003 (53:55 8:40 pace) Thanksgiving Day Race times.  I also had the additional goal of keeping up with my buddy Andy.

I sort of eased my way into this week.  I did a 2.5 mile jog Tuesday at a nice slow pace, and prior to that the last time I ran was last Friday and that was only for 3 miles.  So though I was a bit concerned about not sticking to a training plan, I've noticed that if I take it really easy the week before a race I always seem to do well.

So the fiance (who ran the race today as well) and I get up at 7AM and meet Andy to head down to the race.  For once it is a nice day.  In 2004 it was rainy and cold and 2003 it snowed.  This year I just had my under armor shirt on and felt fine.  Andrea sets up around the 9 minute milers and Andy and I head up to the 8 min sign.  I begin to protest but think what the hell.

We start the race winding up through Cincinnati and I felt great.  And I continued to feel great the entire race.  In fact I need to post more about it, but this is long enough.  Suffice to say, I finished in 50:28, a pace of 8:08, which is a new personal best.  Additionally, though I finished about a step behind Andy, I stayed with him the entire race, even the kick at the end.  And, amazingly enough, I placed ahead of him in the official results, as a result of me starting the race a step behind him.  Go figure.  We had the same time, but I finished in 1953rd place and he was 1955th (out of 10569 people).  I guess milliseconds make a difference :).  Andrea also did great finished in a little over an hour (1:00:24, 9:43 pace)!

After my disappointing run leg in my triathlon all those months ago who would've thought I'd run the 6.2 mile Turkey Day Race at a 8:08 pace and beat Andy in the official books?  Not me that's for sure.  On to the next challenge!

-Kyle

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1:18AM - Run! Run Like Hell!

Well tonight was the big night.

But first let's go back a few weeks.  So after Raider Run I went out and tried to do a nice long run.  Of course I did the first 3 miles at my Raider Run Pace and had to quit after 33 minutes.  Then I went and played Volleyball.  I ended up diving and landing hard on my hip.  That was two Thursdays ago. It didn't hurt much at the time.

That next Saturday I was in NKY and decided to go to the park for a 3 mile run.  There I learned a very important lesson.  Dayton does not have hills.  This park in NKY was chockful of them.  I ran the first mile in 6:56, hit the two mile mark a little over 14min, and then it all went to hell.  I had to stop and walk.  It was ugly.  But I learned something, Run Like Hell is a very hilly course and I knew I wasn't gonna run it in 21:57.

That next day my hip starting hurting like a bitch.  It was like that for several days this week.  So I didn't do anything.  No training.  Last night I did go play volleyball again and I felt okay.

So onto today.  I felt pretty good all things considered.  It was pouring down rain when I arrived at the race, but the weather was warm enough for just my normal running shorts and my under armor shirt.  I also had a hat on cause of the rain.  The rain had slowed down by the time the start time rolled around and I was still feeling great except for my shoes being soaked.

The gun sounded and off we went.  As usual it was a walk then a slow jog to the start finish line and I probably didn't get there until 20-25 seconds into the race.  Regardless, I made nice long strides first down then up the first hill and made it to the first mile marker around 7:20.  That was about where I wanted to be.  Going up through the cemetary was difficult as usual, but as this was the 5th time I've ran the course it was expected.  Coming out the cemetary and passing the 2nd mile marker I was at around 15:30.  Pretty much dead on previous Run Like Hell times for me.  Now at the park a week ago I hit two miles in 14 minutes, but damn this course is hilly.

Coming back down before the last big hill I got passed a bit, but on the big uphill I passed em back.  The difference is probably that I knew the hill was coming.  Turning onto Woodburn for the final stretch I felt okay and the way I sprinted at the end made me think I left alot on the table.  I crossed the line at 23:54, for an official pace of 7:41.  They were still marking the girls when I finished so I hope I finished in front of some of the Top 25 ladies.  Regardless, I am a bit disappointed at the time but I think overall with the rain and the hills, I'll take it. 

Time to bear down and get ready for the 10K on Turkey Day. 

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3:10AM - Sorry! Been Busy!

No time for a real update, but in the meantime in between times:


My Halloween Costume!

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12:54PM - Raider Run Complete

This morning I awoke at 7:30 ready to rock. I was pumped! It was time to see if all the training paid off. It was the annual Homecoming 5K Race for WSU, and I was ready to tear it up. I had last ran this particular race in 2003, and I finished in 22:38 for a 7:18 pace. Now back in 03 I was in excellent running condition still, though at the time I ran this race I was just coming back from a nagging foot injury. My goal for 2006 was to beat this time.

I meander to my computer after getting out of bed and discover that it is cold. 33 degrees to be precise. With a wind that makes it feel alot colder. Thankfully, I have both an Under Armor long sleeve shirt and Under Armor tights. These puppies keep ya warm. I get dressed and head down to the race.

I'm the first person there that is there to run, so I get #1 as my race number. I vote calling off the race because of the cold and base the results on bib number but no one agrees. I toss on a sweatshirt to keep myself warm while I am standing there waiting for the race. My wonderful fiance shows up for support (thanks babe!) and keeps me company as we countdown to race time.

In 2003 there were over 140 people in the race. I don't know if it is because of the cold or because of the lack of advertising but today there is less than 50 people lined up. The course will be the same as 2003 I am told and then BOOM, the gun sounds and we are off.

I'm so happy to be running because it is sooo friggin cold. About 10 steps into the race my foot lands funny and I almost twist something. What a way to start. Immediately a pack of tall skinny young kids break away, but I notice I too am distancing my self from the pack. We start up the long hill towards campus and boy that wind is killer. They tell us there will be timers at the 1st mile marker but no one is there so I have no idea what kind of pace I am doing. I used to run this hill after my bike rides during my triathlon training and I am amazed at how much easier the run is when you aren't also pushing a mountain bike. In fact it is so cold I don't notice the usually "Why are you doing this to me?" complaints from my body. After the mile marker I find a nice pace and start running behind a guy. I don't want to pass him yet, so I hang back a few feet and just pace.

The run become easier as we are going slightly downhill and often times for my long run I am coming in the other direction going uphill so this is a nice change of pace. An old guy (50 or over) comes charging up and passes me and the guy I am pacing with at about the 2 mile mark. Now there is no way this old dude is gonna beat me in a 5K. Maybe in a 10K but no way in this race. I pass the guy I was pacing with and keep the old dude at a comfortable distance. In 03 and old guy passed me in this spot as well and beat me. I was damned determined it wasn't gonna happen again.

We make the final run back to the parking lot, which we have to run around a bit to get to the finish line. I start kicking once I hit the parking lot and easily pass the old guy. I come tearing down the finish and see the clock. Unofficially I see my time as 21:57! That is a 7:03 pace!! And the great thing is I am warm now and not even that out of breath. The whole race went by alot faster than my normal 5K runs. I guess that is the adrenaline flowing.

We hang around and I win some Red Lobster gift cards as a door prize. Woot!. 2nd place in my age division was like 21:20 and the guy who got the medal for 2nd was I think was directly in front of me so I'll give myself third place in my age group at the moment. I'll comfirm that when the official results go online. Overall I am very happy with my performance and looking forward to kicking some ass at Run Like Hell.

-Kyle

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12:20PM - Training the Mind!

In an effort to not let my formal education get in the way of learning my previously mentioned quals list has never been set in stone. I continue to add books and remove books as I come across them. What normally happens is I either A.)go off and read some books referenced in a book on my list I really enjoyed or B.)John recommends another book I need to read. Last week provded instances of both A and B.

I was re-reading Steven Johnson's: "Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software" which is a fascinating look at the concepts of decentralization (how complexity can arise from simple agents reacting to their local environment). Johnson made alot of references to some research of ants done by Deborah Gordon. As ants are used very frequently as an analogy for understanding emergence and complex systems, I felt it would be a good idea to check out Gordon's: "Ants at Work: How an Insect Society Is Organized". This book is well written for the ant novice and does give you a sense at how complicated insect society is, yet maintaining that these complexities are the results of local intelligence operating under a very small set of rules.

A couple of days later, John recommended Robert Pirsig's: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those in the field of teaching. The book provides a personal account of Pirsig's ride across the country with his son Chris while trying to address some of life's biggest questions. Pirsig also takes shots at science (The Church of Reason) and Western Thought (rationalization, compartmentalization, Plato, Aristotle) that got me thinking in a new way. And I think the thoughts in the book about what to do when "stuck" are great. Currently I have the sequel to the book, "Lila", on order.

Finally in the meantime in between times I am reading John Holland's: "Emergence: From Chaos to Order", which I hope will provide me with a good introduction to my newest interest, genetic algorithms.

On the body side of things I ran 5.5 miles Tuesday in about 48:30, which isn't the best time, but it was the first long run I managed to finish since I was sick. Raider Run is this Saturday!

-Kyle

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3:15PM - Back in the Saddle

It's been awhile, but fear not constant reader, I am still training! As you may recall I was feeling a bit under the weather during my last correspondance, and those feeling stayed with me for a bit.

After the last time I posted I did not run that Thursday. I did however play our first Intramural volleyball game. We kicked the other team's ass, but during the second set I started to get that cold I'm feeling sick sweat. Then the next day I was sore all over the place. The problem with intramurals is that despite how much i run, bike, and swin whenever you play a sport you use all sorts of muscles you never think about. And I jumped more that night than I had since the last time we played volleyball (back in Feb.). So needless to say when I went to the park that Friday to try a run, I was sore, still sick, and boy did it show. I ran a little under two miles and quit.

I took that weekend off and last Monday I attempted a long run. I got about 30minutes into it and quit after my legs just stopped. It felt like they were dead. There was just no energy there.

I next hit the pool last Wednesday to see if it was just my legs or if my body still lacked endurance from being sick. I did 3 500s in under 30min, with no problems. I played Volleyball again on Thursday. We lost, but I felt energetic most of the game and I went up and did about a half mile around the track after the game to loosen up a bit.

Which brings us to this morning. I needed a good run. And I got it. 3.16666 miles in 22:22, by far the best time I've had since I've started the training. That's a 7:03 pace! My first official race is next weekend (Raider Run) and I'm using that as my Run Like Hell tune-up. After all the days off with being sick I'm still where I need to be for the 5Ks. We will see in a couple of days how I do on the long run.

And it seems my weight has found a nice happy place of 184, where I've been hanging out at for the last couple of weeks.

-Kyle

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11:50PM - Bah... Sick

So picking up from last Friday.... I went and did some intervals.  I did it in 17:30.  Yee-doggie!  Then I took Saturday and Sunday off.  I prompty went for an awesome run on Monday where I did 5.4 miles in 47min for around a 8:40 pace. 

And then came Tuesday.  I woke up and felt like shit.  So I didn't do anything yesterday or today.  I'm worried I'll lose some of my training if I don't stay on it so come hell or high water I'm gonna try and run tomorrow.  Wish me luck.  I'm eating oranges and then sucking on zinc tablets an hour or so later as much as I can.

-Kyle

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11:52PM - It keeps getting better

I apologize for the lack of updates.  I had some big things come up for work that needed my attention.  In the meantime in between times I have still managed to keep up fairly well on the training, though I have skipped weight training for a bit.

To sum up the week that was:

Wednesday - I swam 3 500s.  I felt good.  My first 500 I did in the fatest time I ever have, around 9:30. Evidently being skinnier has an effect on swimming too.

Thursday - Intervals.  About 50 seconds faster than last time. Did the 5 reps of 2 jog laps 2 sprint laps.

Friday - Nice 60 minute bike ride.

Then I skipped working out over the weekend cause Saturday is always an off day and I worked and watched football all day sunday.  I picked up the long run on Monday and did about 4.85 miles in 45 mins, which was around a 9:17 pace.  This means I'm adding mileage and doing it at a faster pace at the same time.

Which brings us to today.  Once again I killed the park.  I ran the 3.1666 miles in 22:50.  That's a 7:12 pace!!!!! I knocked almost another minute off my time from last time.  I'm kinda scared how much I weigh at the moment, but I'll check tomorrow.  All I know is someone I hadn't seen in a month today said 'Wow you really lost some weight" and then immediately said "You look good but don't lose anymore!"

Hhehe when they start thinking you're anorexic it means you got it! ;)

-Kyle

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1:40AM - Success! And Failure!

So I've been a major slackass and have avoided this journal like the plague because of it.  Now it is time to own up!

First the good:  Training = Mission Accomplished.

Well to go back a bit, Thrusday was interval training again (5 repetitions ~19min) along with biceps and tricep training.  Friday was an hour bike ride (somewhere between 14-15 miles). Saturday was an off day.  Sunday I ran for 42 minutes (haven't mapped out the distance yet).  Monday was another off day.

Today was glorious.  First, I nailed it at the park.  I did the 3.16666 miles in 23:42.  Which is.... dun dun dun a 7:29 min pace!  Whoo-hoo!  2 months out from Run Like Hell and I am at the goal.  Then I went to the gym to weigh myself, and BAM 186!  Almost to my target of 185.  Howzabout them apples?

As for the bad.... yea I suck.  Alot.  But I'm tired so more on that tomorrow.  Unless I'm depressed about it again.

-Kyle

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11:13PM - Today in review

I think I did pretty good today.  I accomplished alot for my class, with reading the article and researching the ISAP abstracts.  I did spend entirely too much time arguing with deaf ears, but that is usual for that class.  I did manage some cool metaphors involving Tiger Wood's retooling his swing and Christopher Columbus discovering the New World, so I guess that counts for something.

I'm happy to report I am looking much more sexy in my tri-suit after losing 11 pounds.   Despite some early technical difficults, and occasionally slamming into my lane partner/fiance, I managed to swin 2 500s in 20:30 as planned, and I tossed in 6 additional laps early on while sorting out the aformentioned unnamed technical difficulties.

As for Quals, I didn't touch my reading list.  However I did manage to read two articles on the list (Dekker's Crew SA Paper and Wicken's SA Paper).  I'm too tired to write out some notes for them tonight, so I'll shoot for that tomorrow morning.

On the misc. side of things I scored the thank you notes and got em written and ready to be mailed.  The student eval has been pushed back until tomorrow.

Goals for Tomorrow

Training - Intervals and if I am feeling especially vigorous, biceps/triceps/shoulders

Quals - Two more articles plus write out notes for those and yesterday's.  Finish the damn list

Misc - Student Eval, DJs for the Wedding

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11:34PM - Final Review of the Day

Training:  As previously mentioned, the 3.1666 in 24:30 (a 7:44 pace).  I also made it to the gym where I lifted back and chest.  I weighed in at 189lbs, bringing my weight loss total to 11lbs.  It's funny how weight loss works.  My muscles look better now cause they are more defined, but I am soooo much weaker than I was.  I am currently struggling on bench with my old warm up set (135lbs) when previously I would max out around 205-210lbs.

Quals:  I managed to read 1 article.  That is much more than I have accomplised in a long time. Yay me.  By the way the cut is mainly for me, I highly recommend not clicking it.

Tomorrow's Goals (outside of work):

Training - The pool is finally open. I want to do at least 2 500s, maybe a thrid depending on how my body responds

Class - Read the damn article we are supposed to read and briefly peruse the abstracts for ISAP

Quals - Read 2 articles and finish the final list.

Misc - Finish student evaluation. Find some thank you notes.

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