The new site is up and running and properly centered (even in IE).
I think.
This site will die in the next month or so. All content has already been migrated to the new site. So all of your favorite posts (minus the Nike+ graphs which, for some reason, didn't translate) can be found there.
By the way, the new site can be found here:
http://www.jamesvsasphalt.com
Thank you.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
New Title, New Website, New Design, Same Boring Content
First, let me say that Internet Explorer has got to be the worst dynasty of browsers every conceived by man. And if you use IE, don't even bother reading the following. Until I figure out what the heck is going on (and I've been through site after site of IE CSS hacks) the experience will be laughable. You could always download a spiffy standards compliant browser like Firefox, though. That would solve all your problems. And more! Moving on...
For a long time, I've wanted out of the standard Blogger template. It's nice and all, but I have a design itch to scratch that comes from some deep seated need for DIY. I think it's why I enjoy cooking so much. Actually, now that I think about it, this explains a lot. Anyway, this DIY streak runs so deep that even sticking with Blogger was too simple. I wanted control. And now I have it, maybe to a fault.
I introduce James vs Asphalt which is based on Wordpress and will likely fall apart the moment you click on a link. Seriously, though, it's pretty solid at this point. But if you happen to discover a problem, please let me know.
While I think it's ready for (non-IE) public consumption, it's definitely a work in progress. Turns out WP is pretty flexible as long as you can deal with XHTML, CSS, and PHP. I have a dangerously limited understanding of each and I'll probably get myself into plenty of trouble in the coming weeks as I attempt to make the site marginally cooler.
Hope you like it. And I promise I'll work on getting the IE thing straightened out ASAP. Even if it kills me.
For a long time, I've wanted out of the standard Blogger template. It's nice and all, but I have a design itch to scratch that comes from some deep seated need for DIY. I think it's why I enjoy cooking so much. Actually, now that I think about it, this explains a lot. Anyway, this DIY streak runs so deep that even sticking with Blogger was too simple. I wanted control. And now I have it, maybe to a fault.
I introduce James vs Asphalt which is based on Wordpress and will likely fall apart the moment you click on a link. Seriously, though, it's pretty solid at this point. But if you happen to discover a problem, please let me know.
While I think it's ready for (non-IE) public consumption, it's definitely a work in progress. Turns out WP is pretty flexible as long as you can deal with XHTML, CSS, and PHP. I have a dangerously limited understanding of each and I'll probably get myself into plenty of trouble in the coming weeks as I attempt to make the site marginally cooler.
Hope you like it. And I promise I'll work on getting the IE thing straightened out ASAP. Even if it kills me.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Is It Fall?
Planned: 5mi @ 7:45
Actual: 5.2mi @ 7:41
Average Heart Rate: Forthcoming
I totally forgot to sync my iPod/Garmin when I got back this morning. I may have been preoccupied with the knowledge that I would be installing a 300GB hard drive in the Tivo which gives us un-told-of hours of space just before the fall season starts. Even at the highest quality 300GB translates to something like 120 hours. We started with 40 (at the worst quality). This is going to be nice.
Uh, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah. Running. It was leaning toward "chilly" even though I got out there late. And I tried really hard to stay on pace. I don't know why I feel I have to compete with whatever pace I'm given -- even if it's pretty fast to begin with.
Anyway, that's the report. And the Tivo is up and running. So that's cool too.
Actual: 5.2mi @ 7:41
Average Heart Rate: Forthcoming
I totally forgot to sync my iPod/Garmin when I got back this morning. I may have been preoccupied with the knowledge that I would be installing a 300GB hard drive in the Tivo which gives us un-told-of hours of space just before the fall season starts. Even at the highest quality 300GB translates to something like 120 hours. We started with 40 (at the worst quality). This is going to be nice.
Uh, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah. Running. It was leaning toward "chilly" even though I got out there late. And I tried really hard to stay on pace. I don't know why I feel I have to compete with whatever pace I'm given -- even if it's pretty fast to begin with.
Anyway, that's the report. And the Tivo is up and running. So that's cool too.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Week of Fives
Planned: 5mi @ 7:45
Actual: 5mi @ 7:29
Average Heart Rate: 147bpm
I think this is supposed to be a taper week. All five mile runs, all the time. I should probably take better advantage of the rest. But it was nice to run with air again. Air is underrated.
Actual: 5mi @ 7:29
Average Heart Rate: 147bpm
I think this is supposed to be a taper week. All five mile runs, all the time. I should probably take better advantage of the rest. But it was nice to run with air again. Air is underrated.
When at Altitude
Planned: 8mi @ 7:45
Actual: 6.24mi @ 8:01
Average Heart Rate: 147bpm
I started a little late and the heat and lack of oxygen got to me.
Actual: 6.24mi @ 8:01
Average Heart Rate: 147bpm
I started a little late and the heat and lack of oxygen got to me.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I've Been Running. Promise.
I was out of town from Friday to Monday and ended up skipping a run but I have two to upload. One was done in Albuquerque at an elevation of 5,000ft. And yes, that hurts. I also did some light hiking some of which was at 10,000ft. That didn't hurt, but I got a little dizzy at one point.
It's hard to believe that it's at these elevations that I ran some of my fastest times. I wonder what would have happened had I raced in California in my prime after a season of training at altitude.
Probably nothing spectacular.
It's hard to believe that it's at these elevations that I ran some of my fastest times. I wonder what would have happened had I raced in California in my prime after a season of training at altitude.
Probably nothing spectacular.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Lock Down
Planned: 5mi inc. Warmup; 2 x 1600m @ 6:04 w/ 800m jog; Cool
Actual: 5.62mi inc. Warmup; 2 x 1600m @ 6:03 & 5:50 w/ 800m jog; Cool
Average Heart Rate: 157bpm and 173bpm (during intervals)
Will I ever run on the track again? The big ol' lock was back on the gate. Just like it was all summer and all spring and all fall. Jerks. My tax dollars [used to] pay for that track!
There was a guy in a green T-Shirt wandering the parking lot when I started my run. He looked normal enough but he was still there when I got back and he passed close enough to me that I could hear him mumbling to himself. His hands were twitching occasionally and he looked kind of haunted. It felt like college all over again. There was a giant -- for lack of a better descriptor -- redneck on our hall who would occasionally get hammered on Everclear and when he was drunk, you had to keep one eye on him because he could snap in a second and try to kill you. For no reason. I didn't like him when he was sober either.
I left Griffith without finishing my stretching for fear of dying.
The intervals were tough, especially the second one. And it didn't help that I screwed up the math (again) and ran further than necessary. It's a good thing all the races are marked or I'd end up running an extra mile if they gave me the chance. Doh.
Nike+ seems to be having a problem. That or iTunes 7.4.1 has a problem. Or my iPod has a problem.
In any case, the graph is -- I hope -- forthcoming.
[Update: And now it works. Why? No idea.]
Actual: 5.62mi inc. Warmup; 2 x 1600m @ 6:03 & 5:50 w/ 800m jog; Cool
Average Heart Rate: 157bpm and 173bpm (during intervals)
Will I ever run on the track again? The big ol' lock was back on the gate. Just like it was all summer and all spring and all fall. Jerks. My tax dollars [used to] pay for that track!
There was a guy in a green T-Shirt wandering the parking lot when I started my run. He looked normal enough but he was still there when I got back and he passed close enough to me that I could hear him mumbling to himself. His hands were twitching occasionally and he looked kind of haunted. It felt like college all over again. There was a giant -- for lack of a better descriptor -- redneck on our hall who would occasionally get hammered on Everclear and when he was drunk, you had to keep one eye on him because he could snap in a second and try to kill you. For no reason. I didn't like him when he was sober either.
I left Griffith without finishing my stretching for fear of dying.
The intervals were tough, especially the second one. And it didn't help that I screwed up the math (again) and ran further than necessary. It's a good thing all the races are marked or I'd end up running an extra mile if they gave me the chance. Doh.
Nike+ seems to be having a problem. That or iTunes 7.4.1 has a problem. Or my iPod has a problem.
In any case, the graph is -- I hope -- forthcoming.
[Update: And now it works. Why? No idea.]
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Where the Sun Don't...Tan
Planned: 3mi @ 7:45
Actual: 3.2mi @ 7:27
Average Heart Rate: 143bpm
I bought a pair of short running shorts back in April or May in order to combat the coming summer heat. They looked fine in the store, but as soon as I got out on the trail they revealed their dark secret -- or my dark secret. My upper thighs are whiter than bleached bone. And the shorts don't cover that up as soon as I start to, y'know, move.
It's embarrassing running with thighs as white as mine. I don't know why exactly, but it is. I decided that the best thing would be to just grit my teeth and run as often as I could with them, my thinking being that eventually, that portion of my leg that was now exposed would very soon match the rest of me.
It's been at least four months. FOUR MONTHS.
Am I genetically incapable of tanning this portion of my body? How do all the other runners with their shorty shorts (which are even shorter than mine) turn out so uniform in their coloring? Does everyone secretly visit a tanning booth every two weeks? I don't get it.
Now, normally I don't obsess too much about appearances. But this really bugs me for some reason. Not enough to lay out or anything. But enough to getting hopping mad, stomp around on my blog, and then go take a shower because I just got back from my run and I'm still really sweaty.
By the way, don't get too excited about the average heart rate. I had to make a pit stop which surely supplied the sense of calm that brought down the average.
Actual: 3.2mi @ 7:27
Average Heart Rate: 143bpm
I bought a pair of short running shorts back in April or May in order to combat the coming summer heat. They looked fine in the store, but as soon as I got out on the trail they revealed their dark secret -- or my dark secret. My upper thighs are whiter than bleached bone. And the shorts don't cover that up as soon as I start to, y'know, move.
It's embarrassing running with thighs as white as mine. I don't know why exactly, but it is. I decided that the best thing would be to just grit my teeth and run as often as I could with them, my thinking being that eventually, that portion of my leg that was now exposed would very soon match the rest of me.
It's been at least four months. FOUR MONTHS.
Am I genetically incapable of tanning this portion of my body? How do all the other runners with their shorty shorts (which are even shorter than mine) turn out so uniform in their coloring? Does everyone secretly visit a tanning booth every two weeks? I don't get it.
Now, normally I don't obsess too much about appearances. But this really bugs me for some reason. Not enough to lay out or anything. But enough to getting hopping mad, stomp around on my blog, and then go take a shower because I just got back from my run and I'm still really sweaty.
By the way, don't get too excited about the average heart rate. I had to make a pit stop which surely supplied the sense of calm that brought down the average.
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