music is amazing

Words 200
The largest amount of snow on the ground for any run so far.  The reason—it’s still snowing and the large grounds keeping crew that does a great job of clearing snow, has not had enough time to work.  I pushed it very seriously during the sprint, but still came up slow—the slippage is definitely the reason.

DFS

Words 158
Wore only one layer of gloves today, so my fingers are stinging again.  My stocking hat made sweat trickle down into my eyes, so I am going to wear the trusty DFS hat again—or none at all.  The sprint venue was covered with a layer of snow, so that was partly to blame for my poor performance.

NEW RECORD AT -4 F!

Words 310
It’s thrilling to look at the watch and see all those zeros, as in 1 minute, 00 seconds.  About 15 meters before the end, I needed to fiddle with my sleeve—I’m sure that added a couple tenths to my time.  We haven’t had any new snow in several days, and DURING the day, the bright, clear sun warms things up to nearly -15 C so the pavement is 95% snow and ice free—great traction.  I have to find a new word for ‘amazed.’  Some months ago, I was happy to run this distance in 1:05.

6-lane street

Words 218
About 2 tenths of a second slower than the record on the mid-run sprint.  About 80% of the sprint pavement was snow and ice-free; therefore, I had some good traction.  At one point, where the ice has melted and then froze again, I felt my feet slip.  I’m sure I lost a tenth of a second or so at that point.  I’m pretty sure I will continue to achieve faster times because as I am running now, I stress the arms AND legs to a very high level.  It’s fun.

Losing my religion

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a church?  I heard this on my iPod, and I was able to heard it at double speed.  This guy, George Saunders, is probably quite funny at regular speed but at double time, he is totally hilarious.

water, at -19?

Words 193
I think I was wimping out before because today, at -19 C, or -2 F, I was NOT very cold.  The wool socks on my hands kept my fingers warm and I was sweating.  My ears took the prize for the coldest part of my body.  I guess my DFS hat must be getting stretched out.

Why I'm not the superintendent

Words 107; 1 pic
The ground is covered with 4 cm of soft, white, clean snow.  Even though I achieved my slowest time on the mid-run sprint, I probably expended the most energy.  I was consciously stressing my legs and arms the entire time, but I was slipping a great degree every stride.  Thus, the fun lasted longer so I took more strides.

squats

Words 623
I did some exercises at the equipment that is near our building—right beside a small soccer pitch that is full every weekend with enthusiasts—even in the cold.  I found an exercise machine that stresses the user’s quadriceps.  It’s basically a large piece of metal lying on the ground that people can simply pick up.  I did this several times and now one quad is hurting.

second of the day

Words 25
This was my second run of the day.  Ira and I ran to the outdoor market and through a nearby cemetery.  The snow was significant.

Pig bung is delicious

Words 424; audio clip 26 minutes

Pig bung could pass for deep-fried squid.  When I worked at the pork packing plant in Storm Lake, I was the first person, the primary player, the big kahuna in the Chits Department. Pig stomach and intestines come down form the kill floor to me on a slide.

Dad sure learned a lot

I heard this story on NPR today.  The young guy is the 7th of 7 kids and he's about 40 years younger than his dad.  He said he didn't like his dad when he was younger.  When the kid went to college was when his dad got really smart.  It seems unbelievable now, but I can remember a time when I didn't like MY dad.  I guess that is what I have to look forward to.  I hope I can endure the pain.

Here is the story:

Russian winter wonderland

Words 169, 7 pics

I did one set of pull-ups today because I thought it would help me get finished faster.  Then I realized that pull-ups don’t take much time, I think it is a psychological issue.  It is truly amazing how LONG one-minute seems when you are running as fast as you can.

Moscow is how far north?!?

360  words, a bunch of tables
It’s pretty cold again.  Again I see the fact that I run like crazy in the cold.  Under 1:05 is easy except when the pavement is full of ice.

I looked at the website:  http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=166&month=3&year=2013&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1

I LV TOFU

78 words, 10-minute audio
Today, I listened to Wait,Wait Don’t Tell Me while I made breakfast.  It was compilation of bits that involved eating.  I heard most of the stuff before including an interview with one guest I had never heard of before, and haven’t since:  Paula Dean

high school football practice

206 words
I love it when I do something that I can compare to high school football practice.  The other day, I needed to ride the metro one stop to the circle line in order to transfer to another line. It was rush hour and the place was stuffed with people.  The train car was not packed as tightly as sardines because sardines are swimming in oil.  Because I was going only one stop, I let everyone else bustle onto the car before me.  By the time I heard, “Be careful, the doors are closing. The next stop is Kyrskaya,” the car extremely full.  I lowered my shoulder, planted my feet on the platform and shoved into the pack.  Everyone wore at least 4 inches of padding so they didn’t mind—it seems that it was just expected.  The thing it reminded me of is pulling “dead hogs” (railroad ties) around the football practice field in high school.
Not a long time later, the doors were trying to close on an older lady’s leg so I stuck my arm in between them.  After she was through, I pulled my arm out with the speed of a hummingbird and they slammed together with enough force to smash a cracker.

I'm not a man

294 words
       I wrote in November about coming home to find a drunken mess of humanity shrouded in cigarette smoke..  http://runner12345.blogspot.ru/2012/11/diet.html Now I am paying less for a larger room with a huge balcony and smart bay window that fills the room with daylight and I can use the large kitchen without worry of air pollution.  Before the New Year holiday, I made an apple pie to share with my students at our holiday celebration.

sunrise

191  words
I ran with the long-sleeved t-shirt again today, so I didn’t sweat.  I have to undress right away so I don’t start sweating now.  I wore only one pair of gloves and my hands are still freezing.

Peace Pilgrim

260  words
Back in Moscow.  Ran toward a pool nearby.  Stopped in to find out the prices and times.  350 rubles ($11.50) for one visit and no discount for a monthly, 4 visit pass.  It makes me wonder why anyone would purchase a membership.

new pull-ups

112 words
After I dissed the Albanian guy who tried to tell me a new way to do pull-ups, I changed to the method he espoused and I’m having fun with it.
I ran harder than I could imagine this morning during the sprint.

Mt. Dajti

339 words; 4 videos, 5 pictures
A new record!!!  I felt like I was going fast and I was.  I’m not certain of the old record, but I know it was 46 seconds and something.  I’m pretty sure it was somewhere near 46.65, and I’m 99% sure it was not under 46.5 so I am confident that today’s result is the fastest.

in the kitchen

265 words; 1 video, 3 pictures

            For Christmas, the boys received some Mythbusters episodes.  A job as a mythbuster has to be the all-time most fabulous job.  Even better than acting.  One myth they tested was the old idiom:  to hit the ground running.  They tested people being lifted and dropping to the ground, then a bicycle being dropped while at speed and finally, a car.