Garmin Connect

When Garmin Connect first took over for Motionbased, I was disappointed that they disabled the latter before implementing important-to-me features in the former - especially elevation correction. So I stopped using it.

Got myself an early birthday present this month, a Garmin Forerunner 310XT. Its seamless integration with Garmin Connect had me give it another try. It's been over a year since I stopped using it.

My wrist, modeling the new gadget after a short run

To my pleasure, it has been greatly improved. And, since dailymile has also added some integration with Garmin Connect, it seems like a win-win for me.

So check this action out. There's a little program that sits on my computer. Whenever I bring my new little gadget within about ten feet of the computer, that little program wakes up and automatically transfers my workouts to Garmin Connect. I can then log in and write whatever I want about the workout, and then go to dailymile, push a button, and the workout is imported. Cool, eh?

Embeddable Garmin Connect log of that short run. Click "view details" to see accurate elevation data! (If you can't see the embedded log above, please click here.)

New entries for Steve's blog are published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:00am NY time

April Recap, May Goals

What I look like 5 minutes after running hard in a half-marathon. Photo by Carl Cox

April:
Ran 7 out of 30 days in 7 distinct workouts
Total Mileage: 40
Weight on April 30: 305.0

2010:
Ran 93 out of 12 days in 96 distinct workouts.
Total Mileage: 428

My stated goals for April:
"I don't know. I think I'm just going to run."

And, I guess, that's what I did.

Sitting here on April 30, it's easy to think that it was a total slacker month. And it was. But, looking at the individual workouts, there were some really tough ones - workouts where I actually accomplished something. Check this out:

* I ascended the Palm Springs Tram Road in under an hour (doesn't sound hard but it is)
* I ascended Bear Mountain via the AT in under a half-hour
* I got a 10-minute PR in a half-marathon

So really, the only place where I can legitimately say I slacked is in # of days off, total mileage, and nutrition. But boy, did I slack in those areas.

At any rate, I'm looking forward to May with eager anticipation. There is a 48-hour race where, as I said in a previous post, my goal is to run 100 miles. I'd also like to restart a streak, too. I don't know if it'll continue past the 48-hour race, but I'd sure like to try. My three streaks of 50 days or more ended with difficult ultras (50 days ended with the JFK 50-miler, then 60-something days ended with Damn Wakely Dam, then 80-something days ended with Umstead 100.) In my experiment-of-one, the only way I can maintain some sort of consistency is when I try to maintain some sort of streak. So it appears that's what I have to do, and I will start up again tomorrow, May 1.

And that brings me to May goals:
1. Run 31 out of 31 days
2. Run 100 miles at the 48-hour race, and 200 miles total
3. Weigh 280 on May 31, losing 25 lbs
4. Complete 5 ascents of Bear Mountain, including one double-ascent


New entries for Steve's blog are published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:00am NY time

Crewing at Badwater

In my "2010" post in February, I speculated that I hoped to crew a friend at Badwater.

Mon-Tues July 11-12
Badwater crew (maybe)
This depends one two factors: 1. will Tony get into the race, and 2. will he choose me (out of lots of interested people) to be on his crew. Unlike most crew candidates, I have no intention of ever running Badwater, but I do want be there to see what it's like. Either way, I intend to join Tony for a trip up Mount Whitney on July 14.

Well, I'm please to announce that not only did Tony get in, he invited me to be on his crew.

What is Badwater?

Tony running badwater in 2009

Badwater is one of the most difficult foot races in the USA. Held in Death Valley in the middle of summer, participants race their way across 135 miles of asphalt from below sea level to the 8000+ foot Mt. Whitney Trailhead, passing two mountain ranges on the way, in temperatures that can reach 130ºF. It can reduce a grown man to tears (and I have a video to prove it..)

Crew?
Badwater doesn't provide any aid to runners in the traditional sense, and its rules require every runner to have their own dedicated crew of 2-6 people and 1-2 vehicles. Apparently, runners tend to have choices as far as who crews for them; there are many people who want to get on a crew because it increases their odds of being selected to run in the race. (For the record, I have no intention of ever applying to run.)

Ok, but what is a crew?
This will be my first time, but from what I can gather, I understand that crew members:
* Pace the runner
* Provide basic medical care (we're lucky to have a physician on our crew)
* Prepare food and drinks to the runner
* Provide clear-headed advice to the runner (who may be experiencing dementia)
* Do everything possible to get the runner across the finish line.

why?
I want to support Tony! But I'd be lying if I said I was doing it for completely selfless reasons (though that is a part of it.)

Being on a Badwater crew is a very difficult job with a lot of responsibilities in extreme conditions. It's probably as close as I'll ever come to running the race. As I said, I have no intention of ever running Badwater - but that doesn't mean I don't want to experience it. And the fact that I can experience it with Tony and a few other good friends -- all the better.

So what's the plan?
Conveniently, Alex and Joey are going to be in California the same week as the race. My parents (who live there) are putting him in a sea camp at Dana Point Harbor. This is good, Death Valley is dangerously hot in summertime and is no place to have a 6-year old running around. The weekend before the race is prep on Saturday and race briefing on Sunday. Race itself is Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is a rest day (I've always wanted to explore the Alabama Hills a bit), and Thursday a few of us are hiking up Mt. Whitney, which is the highest peak in the lower 48. Maybe a little poker on Friday in Vegas and return home that weekend.

Who else is on the crew?
Meredith, Eddie, Eric, Herb, and Chris. Tony has a post on his blog introducing all of us.

Who is this Tony fellow, anyway?

Tony running away with a sub-20 Umstead 100 finish last month

Tony has a blog, you can read more about him there. (:

New entries for Steve's blog are published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:00am NY time