What?

162 words
Somewhat chilly today.  I love it that I can wear my favorite outfit of shorts, t-shirt, and my purple fleece gloves.  I can’t overstate the joy I feel emerging from the fact that I can sprint without hesitation.  A memorable reader my recall that the sprint time above is one of the fastest.

inexpensive by half

436 words
A nice run in great weather.  The high today is supposed to be 14 or something.  I see on the internet that Iowa is below zero F, a dozen or so degrees COLDER than Moscow.  Well done!
I couldn’t start off with pull-ups on the school playground because since I was here last, half the playground has collapsed because they are building a road immediately beside the school.

slipping

70 words
This was the slowest time for the mid-run sprint.  Snow was falling and the surface was too cold to melt the snow (the last time it was snowing, the surface melted the snow because there must be some kind of heating source underneath).

Rude?

2561 words

The most telling thing about the cold here is that no one talks about it.  It just is.

Russian storekeepers have a well-deserved reputation for being rude.  If a person doesn’t know exactly the right question to ask, or they don’t know what they want, they might be castigated to the seventh gate of hell.  Yesterday, by coincidence, I experienced several tests of this reputation.  I came away with a mixed impression.

frosty the snowman

163 words, 1 pic;
I’ve found a new way to tell me that I need to do a better job shaving.  When I run with the temp at -25, frost gathers on my facial hairs. (I can’t call them whiskers because I still have mostly baby face fuzz).  After about 5 minutes today, I began to see specks of white popping up below my eyes.

COLD; greatest hits

414 words; 3 pics and 3 videos
A superb run today.  I ran with my flat mate, Ira.  I went to a store Thursday and nearly bought some mittens/gloves, something so that I can keep my fingers from freezing solid.  As I walked through the store, I realized that I want to look in the second hand store.

the snow miser is coming

71 words
Yes, it’s even colder.  Today, I took my fingers out of my two-layers of gloves and made fists.  This kept them from freezing solid.  The coldness seems to make me want to run faster—like I am running FROM something; maybe from the menacing snow miser.

coldest

22 words
The coldest so far, but nothing dangerous.  One thing I love is running by all the cars stuck in a traffic jam.

Non-hormonal Emergency Contraception

ANOTHER RECORD! at 1°F

370 words; 3 pictures
A NEW RECORD!!  I was totally surprised.  I consciously recognized the fact that I slowed down the last three steps—probably costing me a couple tenths of a second.  I wore two layers of gloves—one a thin, black, cotton pair; on the outside, my purple fleece gloves.  My hands were definitely the coldest part of the body—ears were cold, too.

he's a fruit

I figured that I’d meet many new things in Russia, but I didn’t think I would meet a new type of fruit.  My flat mate brought this thing home and I said, “What the heck is that?”

frozen hands

142 words; 1 picture
The coldest day so far.  My hands were truly stinging and frozen.  I think I will have to get some leather gloves or something.  The leather mittens I used to wear on the farm would probably do nicely.  My hands were so cold that they pull-ups were totally uncomfortable; I didn’t do many.

WHAM!! like a cartoon character

431 words; several pics
Walking back from my lesson this morning at 9:15, I slipped right down.  It was unlike any slippage I’ve experienced before—one second, walking normally,

melting and freezing

110 words
The median in the middle of Rokossovskovo, where I do my mid-run sprint has quite a bit of ice on it.  The problem is that some of the snow/ice melts during the day but it doesn’t dry.  It freezes overnight and when I run in the morning, it’s slick.

toilet--again?!?

477 words; pic
A fine run today—esp. good because I ran with a friend.  The results of the sprint were excellent, particularly when one considers that I had to skirt around a bunch of people…and the fact that I wasn’t really in the clear until the last 50 meters or so; the pavement was covered with little puddles and patches of ice.

snow and ice, new visa

482 words
Another new record!!!  I was shocked, well…amazed, when I returned to my room, and looked at my watch. I wasn’t shocked because as I wrote a couple days ago, the body is truly amazing.  While I was running, I didn’t even think I was running that quickly.

Lady Antebellum

135 words, 2:45 music clip
An easy run to the old sprint route on Rokossovskovo.  Great music from Lady Antebellum in my ears.  The only detraction was the ice and snow on the sidewalk.  I have completely eliminated 1-minute sprints from the regime because of patches of ice popping up unexpectedly.

stinging fingers

150 words
Yes, my finger tips were stinging today, so I estimate the temp. was significantly below zero.  The temperature is only an estimate because we don’t have internet here, yet.  After 13 minutes, I was back at the Podbelskovo Metro station, so I truly did not move far away from my first apartment/room.

New Apartment--Leg ups

248 words, one picture
My first run from the new apartment.  I arrived at Bolshoi Cherkizovsky at exactly the right moment to cross a 6-lane street in the middle of a green light.  That’s my new street address: Bolshoi Cherkizovsky—some reading this might recognize Bolshoi as the name of the famous dance theater in Moscow.

I'm not a success

I’m not a success.  One of our lessons featured a ‘psychometric’ test designed to tell a person if they have the right stuff needed to become successful.  The results were tragic if you took them at face value.  To be a bona fide success, one needed a score of 20-24.  I received an 11.

more amazing than we can imagine

One long-sleeved t-shirt, hat, gloves—a fine outfit.   A new record for the mid-run sprint.  It must be understood that such a record is no small accomplishment.   It’s not like I slacked off when I had run this stretch earlier.  It’s not like this is a downhill sprint like I unwittingly created this summer in Emmetsburg.  I am truly giving it all have every time.  

father of two Cesareans

           Two long-sleeved t-shirts and a hat.  Sweat all over.

            Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me was a collection of clips from past episodes.  One bit featured a British comic who was totally hilarious.  I remember now that I am the proud father of two cesareans.  Listen below to hear the explanation:

billy connolly

           

            Yes, -6 is noticeably colder than 0.  For all you residents of the modernity-challenged ‘greatest country in the world,’ -6 is about 21° F.  I wore two long-sleeved t-shirts today and a stocking hat.  I sweat a bit; so I could probably have gotten along with only one such shirt. 

darkness

I broke the 1:05 mark again—easily this time; over 1 second faster.  One thing about the sun here is that it gets up quite late.  We DIDN’T change the clocks from Daylight Savings Time, so the sun is an hour later in the morning than in the past.  I haven’t been here in the past, so I have nothing to compare to, of course.
Since it is dark outside, when I don’t have my glasses, I need to ask people I meet on the street to read my watch and tell me what time it is.  Now that the sun is sleeping so late, this happens more often. Last week, at 7:20, I had to crowd-source my time investigation.  Today, I had my glasses on when I left the house.

provincial

A good day today.  My days are filling up, so I don’t have time to write much about the run.  After shattering my record by more than 2 seconds on Monday, I guess my body is accustomed to running quickly.  In the past, I thought that breaking the 65 second mark was a big deal.  Now it’s terribly provincial.
I enjoyed Wait, Wait today.  Mo Rocca was on for the first time in awhile.

record, birthday card, Zhirinovsky

Some people reading this may notice that I took more than 2 seconds off my record time for the mid-run sprint.  I was shocked!  It may have been because I was running later in the day and that my body was more limber, loose, and ready to roll.

Diet

         Someone asked a couple weeks ago about my diet.  I have been thinking about my answer, but haven’t gotten to it until now.  Last night, I came back from work at 10:45 to find the air in the apt thick with cigarette smoke an extra 5 tattooed, drunk people drinking and smoking and stumbling around.  One was slumped on the couch storing loudly.

car talk, music sample

A quick, no frills run today.  I have 4 lessons in 4 different places today.  Amazing that 1 week ago, I had one lesson on Fridays.
During the run, Car Talk—Zue called from San Francisco called.  Click or Clack said, “I thought the zoo was in San Diego.”  Very funny.

Afghanistan

I began the sprint at a slowish pace, then sped up.  Finished strong.  I guess that is the way I should always do it.
Listened to an author talk about his book.  http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/11/13/looking-ahead-with-jake-tapper  His book is one that talks about a camp in Afghanistan that was put in a terribly indefensible position.  He also talked about the fact that the wars are separated from the American people.  It’s worth a listen.

Bull-same vowel sound as good?!? Give me a break.

It was hilarious last night.  I needed to teach some pronunciation.  I went into this exercise with the understanding that I would have to try to understand British pronunciation.  The very first word was 'bull'  I was supposed to pronounce it as if it had the same vowel sound as 'good'  A clear travesty as far as someone from the USA is concerned.  I was sweating.

Alonzo Bodden

Wonderful sleep last night.  Very seldom do I sleep until 8:00 am.  Finally, going to sleep at midnight is allowing me to sleep a bit later in the morning.  I usually don’t get home until at least 10pm so I stay up late—usually fiddling around.  I ought to go to sleep.  I am pleased with the result of the sprint.
I enjoyed Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me this morning. One of the guests was Alonzo Bodden, the funniest black man I have never seen.  I first became enamored with Mr. Bodden in the spring when he did a fabulous impersonation of Pres. Obama at a factory that processes highly textured beef product.
The guest on the show was Martha Stewart.  It seems amazing that she has risen from a convicted criminal to regain her position as whatever she is.  They didn’t even mention her time in prison—did she spend any time in prison?—much less make a joke about it.

Middle School

A bit colder, but nothing dramatic.  From the details above, it’s obvious that I was really pulling a plow this morning.  The weather calls for sun this afternoon and no rain for three days.  Tomorrow, I may participate in a hike before the ground gets covered in snow.

rain

I held back on the sprint at the beginning.  I put out only 90% instead of 150% until I was near the finish.  It felt faster.  I wasn’t picking up pillars of lead at the end, but the result was not as fast as an earlier time.
I ran this time at night again.

revocation of US independence

This is so funny, I will share it here.  This is exactly the stuff I'm dealing with everyday.  I'm tasked with teaching British English with a British textbook.  Last night, I came across, "The team are hoping to win the game this weekend."  Is it just me, or is 'team' a singular noun?  Once or twice each lesson, I need to say, "Maybe that's how they say it in England, we doan talk lak tha wherrrrre Ah cum from."

musical inspiration

Tonight was all about the music. After getting off the bus, I looked around me and realized that it wasn’t raining, and it looked like it hadn’t been for a couple hours.  The rain had been steady all day so I decided that I needed to jump at the chance to get out while it was a bit dry—you know, “Make hay while the sun shines”

birthday

My birthday run was super.  Shorts and t-shirt—small amount of sweat.   I guess I didn’t start out fast enough on the sprint because I was sure that I ran faster—not the case.

One of my students, a 15-year-old young man, wants to be a chef.

What do you listen to while running?

       The other day, I heard an interview with Martin Sexton, a guy about my age who is a folk singer.  I loved what he said.   Some of it could have been taken directly out of the file cabinet between my ears.  It's likely that I will try to find some of his music.  He also explained, however, his attitude that people who go around with ear phones in are tuning out the world.

dips and a new sprint

Too many clothes—it’s 5 degrees.  Could’ve done with a t-shirt and shorts.  Pull-ups will all be without ‘body boosting’ from now on.  I’m making this decision even though I believe the US Navy allows momentum boosting even though they say it is not allowed.

a small round piece of tin foil

I could feel their gaze. I could see their smirk of incredulity.  As I continued my run, I could hear their words, “What’s this cream puff doing running around picking up bits of trash?  We pay Asians to do that.”
A minute earlier, there had been two guys standing outside a food shop smoking.

-1, still sweating

Regrettably, I sweat significantly on this run.  I wore too many clothes, of course.  On the way home from my lesson, I couldn’t get my hands warm even though they were inside my purple fleece gloves, there was snow all over, yada, yada, yada.  I thought it would be cold.

indoors

So, my first day of forced inactivity.  Not exactly, I guess, because I wasn’t completely inactive.  I did some pushups and stretching in my room.  Outside was wet and rainy/snowy; the worst weather for  a runner.  I was not going to go out there and slip.  It seems that I will be teaching more on Tuesday and Thursday, so I don’t think it will be comfortable to find a swimming time.  I may have to be satisfied with indoor exercises.

Tom Bodet

So it may look from the date above that I took three days off.  Not really.  I tried to run Sunday morning—my regularly scheduled run date—but the rain/snow was coming down and the snow that had built up a bit was melting, so there was a terrible amount of water on the sidewalks and streets.

Honked at by a short man

I was honked at today for the first time in Moscow.  It had been raining all day so there were puddles everywhere—forcing me to stay away from the water-logged play areas around the pull-up bars, and to concentrate on staying away from the puddles rather than do any sprints.

smoking in Moscow

          I suppose there might have been a little boosting in there, but not much.  I got a bit lost this morning.  I feel that things don’t get old if you get a bit lost every now and then.  I ran down what to the intersection where I thought I found the super-thin bar a couple days ago.  Well, it wasn’t there.  Yeah, yeah, I hear you all poking at me

33 degrees

Ran tonight at 22:00 at 33 degrees.  Weather is finally colder.  I wore a long-sleeved t-shirt and another t-shirt.  Sweatpants made of cotton.  I ran quickly and I did 5 1-minute sprints.  I run most of the time very quickly.  Last month, I did the 5k at a pace of 6:40 per mile.  I wonder how long

"flip around"

I ran today in the late afternoon.  It was probably the prettiest day of my entire stay in Russia this year.  I ran to jumpstart my mood and interest today.  I ran very quickly most of the time.  I ran by two high bars where I could attempt a flip around.  To do what I call a ‘flip around,’ as I pull up, I swing my feet

Arnold Swartz…Arnold Swartsen...Arnold Swartzegg...The Terminator

  I found the small-diameter pull-up bar for the third time, and now I know EXACTLY where it is.  I stumbled across it the first time and thought it was on the south side of the street.  I went looking again one day, looked all over without success.  Looked another day, turned to

pull-ups are normal

Well, it’s happened.  I should have known that sooner or later, I would become accustomed to pull-ups and it wouldn’t seem like a major accomplishment.  Today, I started with 21.  I achieved this result on a large-diameter bar/play ground structure, too.  As I was doing it, I didn’t feel each pull-up.  When I finished, it was like I wasn’t sure if I done all—they went by so quickly that I didn’t feel each one like in the past.  It felt great.

Tima the cat

A short run today.  I wanted to get back in time to chat with the boys before they went to school.  As I entered the apartment after the run, I was greeted by Tima, the cat.  He has an endearing habit of rubbing against my feet and legs, then giving me a quick bite.  He’s such a little scamp.

bad luck--touched by a car

Another good run today.  Started a bit slow and grumpy.  It was great to be out because it has rained steadily for 5 days.  This morning   I was touched by another dog.  This was another dog to which I paid no attention.  I don’t think he warranted attention because he was only about a foot tall

4 sprints!

Ran well today.  Four sprints, less pull-ups, and a couple groups of push-ups.  I’ve having great fun running these days.  It seems like it rains all the time here, so when it’s not raining, I take advantage of that little respite and get out there.  I’ve been wearing one long-sleeve t-shirt

22? Really? Wow!

I’ve written a few times about the impact psychological effects can have on running.   If I’ve been working all day, or if it’s hot—or I THINK I’ve been working all day, or I if I THINK it’s hot—I might run slower.   Little stresses become big.  In the same way, if I’m feeling good,

Athlete's foot

I wrote some days ago that I was going to start running 4 days per week—MWF,Sunday.  I couldn’t run on Monday b/c it was raining ALL day.  So today, after my private lesson, I ran to the swimming pool that my student pointed out to me.  It was about a 40 minute run over—including dead ends,

walk like a rabbit

Felt great today!  It was amazingly comfortable sleeping because the rain was coming down all night.  I woke and started to write some blogs and the rain went crazy—throwing buckets and cats and dogs and turtles.  It was not long before the rain seemed to stop, so I took that opportunity to

Ryder Cup???

The rain was significant this morning.  I would have run longer, but I have only one pair of tennis shoes.  Therefore, if they get soaked, I am stuck with them until the rain stops.  Now that I think about it, I guess that wouldn’t be so bad.  They are already quite old and

Yashinator

           Yes, I ran only 21 minutes today. The problem was my eyes. I couldn’t read my watch because it was too dark. I wasn’t really dark, but I still couldn’t read the digits.

Lost!

I was worried about getting lost in the forest.  I was worried the first couple times about getting lost running on the streets around here.  I should have been worried yesterday.  I took off at the chumly respectable hour of 8:40.  I didn’t even consider my route or how long I’d be

picking up the knees

I had my first private lesson today.  I ran there in 15 minutes.  We talked for 90 minutes, I took $33 and then I ran some more.  My student described how he had been on a