I didn't work out today. Jen is going to Florida for the weekend, which leaves the kids with me for the weekend. Well, Tita Angie is here, so there's some help. She'll be home alone with the two this afternoon, so I decided that I would leave work early to rescue her from the wrath of Eric. I worked through lunch to soften the blow on my vacation time. What the hell am I saying… I get 2 days of vacation a month… I just wanted to surf the internet for an extra hour instead of working out. Unfortunately no one was updating their blogs at that time… oh well.

I plan on running tomorrow morning maybe an 8 miler… I am due for a longer distance run and that's not too bad, especially since I getting a 5 miler in once a week. UT plays Ole Miss at Noon, so there is most of the afternoon. That game will be on TV, but the UVA game won't be, so I'll just have to follow the game tracker. Also got some yardwork on the agenda plus resurrect a computer from the dead.. MUHAHAHAHA IT'S ALIVE

I subscribe to about 5 different online survey websites. In the past, I have received product via mail to test out and complete the survey. As a reward for completing both online and websurveys, I earn about 25 bucks a year, plus points to redeem for various products. The only thing that I have redeemed points for was the Monty Python and the Holy Grail DVD only because the points were going to expire.

Anyway, I get 4-8 surveys emailed to me on a daily basis and usually complete most of them. Although, I do not lose sleep if I just delete the email. Today I had a rather interesting survey. It started out rather normal. It asked me about Transformers/GI Joe/Star Wars toys and cartoons and whether I played with them as a child and were there any children who do the same now. It then shifted to “well, you've qualified to take the rest of the survey” which was all about sexual attitudes and paraphenalia. WTF?!

How does playing with GI Joe and Transformers qualify me for a sexually orientated survey? I mean, when I played with my GI Joe there was not a “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, but “knowing is half the battle”. And my Transformers went from Robots to normal items like cars, planes, trucks, dinosaurs, etc… but I guess it's “more than meets the eye.”

Who Knew?

(aside: I need to get the paid version of LJ so that I can put a bunch of different Picture Icons to express emotion like my friend gregmce)

Jennifer made a great revelation last night at dinner. I was talking about how I had a crappy run yesterday and suggested that it was that we, in essence, skipped dinner the night before. And then I remembered I gave blood. So, the combination of no dinner the night before, only frosting cake and ice cream that day, plus the loss of blood… yeah, I'd say that I was not going to have a great run. Also, she said that it was the SPF in the TimeWise Day Solution (Anti-Aging) was why my eyes burned. She was right… I used Night Solution this morning by mistake and no burning eyeballs! That lady be smrt, I mean s-m-A-r-t!

Today was a recovery 4 mile run, where I run a little faster than yesterday but not as far. Well, today I wasn't really recovering from very much :-). It turned out to be a good run, I could tell that I was still feeling the effects of lower blood levels which got me to thinking… if you are training for athletics and if you give blood then train shortly after that, will your body adjust and in turn move the oxygen more efficiently. The idea being that if your body can use the oxygen better and you return to normal blood levels, will you have gained any overall benefit? Oh great Google… give me the answer.

Other observations… I saw a homeless guy going through the trashcans. I don't carry anything at lunch so I couldn't help him… It's definitely Game Week here at the University of Tennessee because the Vol Navy is starting to arrive. There were 5 or 6 boats already here for the game on Saturday. The RVs will soon be here. This is such a College Football City.

Also while running today, I waited at the 2 mile mark to have two fast looking guys get on the greenway so that I could use them to pace me. Sure enough, I completed the 3rd mile faster than the 2nd and 4th, so it worked out perfectly. I never got a chance to thank them… oh well.

Notice anything different? I stuck a comment section in the table. I figured that way it'll be easier for me to see certain workout if I don't have to read the narrative. I'm thinking tomorrow is going to be a rest day, I'll just skip swimming.

I got this from Marathon Central about Fox Cities Marathon in northeast Wisconsin being closed 2-1/2 hours into the race. Like, they told runners to stop and take shelter due to lightening and bad weather, but not everyone got the message. It makes it worse that some of the runners did not hear the message and were able to finish and receive medals, finishing times, etc while the runners who did stop watched them as they were being transported to the Finish Line. Fox Cities should do some major gift giving for next year's race to counteract this bad publicity. Read the write up here.

Today is the official release of my photoblog - | P | L | A | N | E | T | 3 | R | R | Y | photography The link has been on my LiveJournal Link list, but was taken off and now is back. It still is up at my Jenandterry.com website and now have added it my blogger account (which is nothing more than a placeholder account).

So how do you get there?

Why did I do this?
Well, I have been an avid photographer, oh I forgot “amateur”, for many years now. In high school my friend Patrick Wilson and I borrowed Pete's Canon FTb camera for a photoshoot much like Sting did at that time. It was a lot of fun and continued to take pictures here and there but just with an old point-and-click camera. Christmas of 1992, I even asked for a new camera so that I would have one to keep with me, because I would “see” scenes and would want to take a picture and had destroyed my last camera.

I remained mildly active in picture taking but again with an Advantix and 35mm film point-and-click. Although I was trying to capture a picture like I had a 35mm SLR, it was not happening. Once digital media came into consumer price ranges, it was easier to take pictures but without a good camera, it was the same-old-same-old. In late 2002, I asked to borrow Pete's FTb again, in anticipation of my first son's birth. I knew that I could take some good pictures, but wanted a little practice using the camera before I started taking pictures. At Christmas of 2002, Jen and I bought a Canon Powershot S45 camera a 4 megapixel digital camera. I am still learning how to use all the feature of this camera, but have gotten some decent shots with it. In 2004, just before I went to American Samoa for work, I bought a compact 2 megapixel as a personal camera. It's small enough to fit in my pocket and take shots whenever I see something. In spring of 2005, I found a yard sale gem, a Canon AV-1 in great shape with the standard lens and a 50-200mm lens, plus a flash (that was broken) all for a great price (cheaper than eBay). The Canon AV-1 is not as powerful as the FTb, they are essentially the same body frame, but the photographer has more control over the FTb than the AV-1. I am looking now to add a digital SLR camera to my arsenal of cameras, but they can be very expensive, even the older models…

How did I do this?
The photoblog is run using Pixelpost software. I load the picture via a web interface and it displays the pictures when I want. Pixelpost is customizable with many different options and it's free. It does use one of the databases given to me from my website provider, so you do need someone to host it for you. There are free photoblogging software out there. I would suggest going to Photoblogs.org for more information. Since I have the free LiveJournal Account for my running blog, I chose to customize the Live Journal website and then change the photoblog and my jenandterry.com website to match.

What will I do now?
I plan on posting a new picture everyday (at noon) until I run out of material. If you click on the ARCHIVE link at PLANET3RRY, you will see that I have already uploaded 100+ pictures. Although this is a disadvantage for me, as material to post, it does two things:

• Makes me go out and get more material
• It gives a good base for a visitor to know what I have done and what to expect

I find that new photoblogs at photoblogs.com with only a few pictures, I only glance and then leave, but those with a decent archive, I look to see what they have done and whether I want to bookmark them.

So I will post the pictures that I like when I can. There is a Common Creative License on the website. Basically, if you want to use my pictures… ask first because I will do the same. More than likely I will grant your request. Also, if you would like to purchase a print, please let me know and we can discuss pricing and sizing, etc.

Who do I like?
Here are a list of photo websites that I have bookmarked in Sage as of September 2005. Sage is a lightweight RSS and Atom feed aggregator extension for Mozilla Firefox. My site does have an RSS feed to so, so feel free to bookmark me!
[daily dose of imagery]
Astronomy Photo of the Day
Chromasia
Daily Photo
Kimesque
Mark My Shots
Photo of the Day
Pic-A-Day
Sensitive Light
Shutter and Pupil
The Daily Drink
Zestfullyclean Photoblog

Sometimes runners just have those days where everything seems to be going great. You have a plan, you know what you are going to do, everything seems in place and then it falls apart right before your eyes. Kind of like LSU on Monday against Tennessee (Go Vols!). Since today is Wednesday, it is a distance day of 5 whole miles, although I would have been better with birthday mileage of 3.4 miles. I took off the first mile without any problem. It was very busy today and for me it was a cross country run as I dodged students and traffic to make it to the greenway. I hit the first mile at a rather easy pace. Mile 2 wasn't that bad either. At the 2.5 turnaround, I did have to stop to catch my breath, but I wasn't going any faster than last week. I made it almost to the 3.5 marker before I stopped for water. After the water stop everything came apart. I made it another 1/4 mile before I stopped to walk, I was tired. I walked about 25-30 yards and started going again. Once I hit the 4 mile marker, I had to stop again. At this point I was worried that I would not make it up the Lake Loundon Hill with any gusto. Another problem that arose was that my moisturizer that I use was getting into my eyes, this as a result of it being a great moisturizer and lasting for 10 hours! After 5 hours it was still going strong! I had no water with me to flush my eyes. I basically had to walk on the greenway with my eyes closed and every once and a while squint to see where I was going. I was able to run up the big hill, but once at the top, I walked back to the Aquatic Center, there was no need in me trying to run… it wasn't happening… here are the split times:

So would have caused this degradation of stamina, this slight of speed, this train wreck of foot work? As I pondered this question, the answer slowly came over me… my birthday. It is standard operating procedure that you bring in your own cake for everyone to consume on your birthday. The cake scavengers at work will not let a cake last for more than a day, so I knew I wouldn't have any to take home. With 3 college degrees, it came to me… make another cake. So last night I made 2 chocolate cakes and would frost them in the morning. So at 6:15am I was making two batches of frosting… chocolate frosting. And when you read that last sentence frosting=Terry's breakfast. So for breakfast, I ate a bunch of frosting… simple sugars… and the runners out there know that is a no-no for a race day breakfast. So when I got into work… it was standard morning coffee fare and then… cake and ice cream an hour before running. Terry feels shame…

I had thought it was the heat and although it was hot, it wasn't as hot as it was last week. I think the lack of complex carbs and absence of protien from my morning breakfast was the main culprit of the crash. One of the guys that I work with thinks it's just old age, he's only 25+ years older than I am… so he should know.

Over at Marathon Guide there is a new interactive marathon map. It's pretty darn neat too! You see a map of the United States (including HI and AK) and marathons are shown as dots on the map. The dots are relative to the size of the marathon, so Chicago is a big green dot. Each of the markers are also active which will take you to the marathonguide.com's page about that marathon. From there you can reach the site's website, if they have one.

Another neat feature is that inaugural marathons are displayed as blue dots, so if you want to be one of the first to run that marathon, you can.

I can tell you that it is not all-inclusive, as the Richmond Marathon does not appear in the time frame of Sept-Dec. Although there are many marathons that are listed and will have a good choice nonetheless. There is a zoom capability, which takes it down to the Main interstate and main city level, this way places where the marathons are in close proximity can be easily identified. Case in point, the MD/DC area has 3 marathons (Marine Corp, Baltimore and North Central Trail (MD)) and in the default view, it's hard to distinguish between Marine Corp and Baltimore, as they are both big marathons. At the most zoomed-in view, you can see all three marathons.

Another feature that you can use, is to see marathons that are run on Saturdays, Sundays/Holidays and ALL Days. There is even a filter to find defunct marathons… not sure why you would want to see them, but maybe someone needs to view. Also, Knoxville Marathon (March) does not show up yet, so it's still in the works.

Here is the description on the site:

We're visual people and we're always wondering: “Just where are those marathons, when are they, and how big are they?” Well, those answers just got easier to find. The newest MarathonGuide.com feature lets you search for marathons with results appearing on a zoomable map interface - it's very cool…

By the time I made it to campus, I realized that I had forgotten everything that I needed to work out. I had no extra towels, no swimsuit (although I could manage) and no socks (YIKES!!!). SO I could have swam today, but I would not be able to dry off effectively.

Now, as I sat at the desk thinking of what I could do for the hour, I looked at my calendar and sure enough, the words Donate Blood were the first thing that I saw. Taking it as a sign, I went and donated blood at lunchtime today. So I am the proud owner of another Medic shirt (a donation to be for the Hurricane Relief) all for the price of 16oz of my O+ blood. My iron content was 43%, blood pressure 130/80, pulse 60 and temperature 36.6 F and an otherwise normal donation. I'll be getting a gross cholesterol letter in the mail in about 4 weeks, so I will be anxious to see how high that is.

well, tomorrow, big plans… rolling out my photoblog at noon, date night with Jennifer and oh yeah, having a birthday. Cheers!

Today was back in the regular workout routine. After helping with a race on saturday and a realtively easy Sunday, I was ready for some fast footwork. The remnants of Rita started to hit the area, so when I was getting ready for work, I contemplated whether I would swim or run.

When I got to work, that question was answered for me. I was going to run. I had forgotten my swimsuit and even worse, all my towels. Luckily enough, I had extra shorts, socks and even a shirt (which due to the summer heat I hadn't worn) but the only towel was a 8×10 sized towel. Oh well, it would have to do.

It was slightly misty while I walked to the aquatic center but not too bad. Swimming was outdoors, but as I type this I remember that pool is extra cold after rain. So I got ready to run and took off with the intent to run swiftly. For the most part, that happened. I had to stop for a few seconds in the first mile to allow some cars to pass me, but everything else in my way was just a weave in the run pattern. I made it halfway where I took a water break, which without the hot sun was nice and relaxing. I made it back without stopping, even on the big hill and really ate up the clock. Looking at the split times for the Farragut Fall 5k, I would have come in 2nd or 4th in my age group… I would have had to do a sub-23 for second… but realistically, 4th is more like what I would have gotten.

If I keep up the speedwork, I will have a great Autumnfest time in November. Here are the splits for today.

The Farragut Fall 5k was this past Saturday and I got a chance to work the finishing line as a volunteer. Actually, I had been told that there were enough people, but I knew that even though that was what was scheduled, come to race day, it would not be the case. Strike one up for the Terrster! Despite all the cancelations, we had just enough people to easily take care of the finish line of the race. I really hadn't volunteered much for races up to this point, so I knew nothing, other than me personally finishing races on how the finish line operated and knew nothing about how the finish line operated.

Typically when I finish the race, in the last 50-100 meters I am either in a full-blown sprint, or I am passing people to find my place in the finish line. Normally, I am so out of breath that when I finish, I pull off the tab off the bottom of the race number and hold it in the air, so that the person taking the numbers can get it and I can regain my breath. Typically there is a chute monitor to make sure that you stay in line as you crossed the line, this keeps the paper trail of bib numbers in order. There is also someone who is punching in the bib numbers as they come through the line as well. Maybe more, I don't know… I've only helped setting the chutes up not actually manage the race.

So I found the Finish Line director when I got to the race location (It's the closest 5k race to my house) to find my assignment. I was directed to Ed Leaver, who had all the equipment and could tell me how I could help out. We first started by making the chutes, what the runners enter after finishing to keep them in line, just with polls and cord. But, since we were finishing on a narrow greenway, we had to make the chute a lot longer, so that the bib numbers could be collected with creating a traffic jam. Apparently, there are often a couple of chutes to rotate to keep the numbers straight. Once we got the chute up and running, we were given what we would do during the race. I was paired up with a lady named Terri, easy enough to remember, and were given the little computer thingy that records times and bib numbers. I had never even held one of those things up to this point. In fact, I learned that there is another attachment (much the Jeopardy buzzer that the contestants have) that someone else uses to mark when the runner crosses the finish line.

I was actually afraid that I would be responsible for the timing of this certified course and that the official times of 150+ runners would be in my hands. After all, the runners pour their guts out on a non-so-easy course for 15-40 minutes and to have it all in the air due to some rookie, just made me nervous… one wrong entry and someone could lose an age group award. Thank goodness that they had another counter that was used for back-up, redundancy… it's a good good thing.

We walked up to the race start so that we could synchronize with the gun start for the official timing. For this race, and I do not know about others, we set the main big clock up after we got back, so that could potentially be off by a second or so. We made it back with a few minutes before the overall winner crossed the finish line. That was easy! He was also all by himself AND 2 minutes ahead of the next runner! His time was 15:53 and that is in minutes for 3.1 miles! The not so scary part of using the apparatus was that I did not need to record everyone's bib number, but just “selects.” Selects, as defined to me, were about every 3rd or 4th runner, or runners that would probably be an age group winner, etc. Such as the first female, or young runner, etc. The hardest part of the whole process was reading the bib numbers as they came into the finish line. We were lucky that the orientation of the finish line funneled the runners down to 1 or 2 way before the crossed the line. So, it's not rocket science, but it's a lot of responsibility because you always need to be looking for the next bib number and hope that you enter it in correctly. The other Terri was responsible for hitting the button when the runner crossed the line… so she had to make sure that she got EVERY runner. We ended up with 190 runners by the race end. It was then time to disassemble the finishing chute, pack stuff up and call it a race.

I had loads of fun, as everyone was nice and everything ran smoothly… ask me again when it's chaotic, I may have a different answer.