A New Approach
Although I’ve previously mastered (some) distance in my running, my speed was distinctly average at a pace of 10:10.
Over the past couple of months my running has been patchy with the odd illness, general apathy, new tattoos (I’m up to five now), and - most recently - UDS Karmic and AllHands.
But yesterday seemed like a good day to start again, and I repeated it again today. Instead of my usual route of 4.6 miles, I opted for a shorter one of 2.4 miles and pushed myself. So far my average pace is 08:53 - a big improvement. I’ll keep going at this pace/distance until I can do it comfortably (or even faster), then add some more miles on.
It’s made me realise how much I missed running though.
*Yawn*. *Stretch*.
I have decided that when I am king, everyone shall have a sunny garden and a trampoline upon which to lie.
13.1 Miles Later…
Remember I mentioned previously about my “Delusions of Grandeur” having entered myself for a half marathon? Well, this time last week I was nursing aching muscles (and knees, and arches) having completed the Haweswater Half Marathon in 2 hours 13 minutes and 10 seconds. I placed 477 out of 511 finishers, and 328 out of 342 males. However I never entered expecting to place particularly highly - I’m happy to a) finished it and b) finished it in a time better than I expected (based on my training runs, I expected to finish around 2:14 and I set myself a goal of 2:20).
The race atmosphere is fantastic, and the course itself was beautiful running alongside Haweswater. I’ll definitely be entering another - I’m thinking about the Keswick Half Marathon, and considering the Brathay Windermere Marathon(!) over the next few months.
My longest training run before the race was 10.6 miles, so I was really feeling the last couple of miles, but I ran the majority of the race alongside a nice guy from Durham - John - who kept me going.
These Shoes Are Made For Running
I’d already been thinking about some new running shoes, but David’s comment reminded to actually do something about it, so I went to Lakes Runner in Ambleside to do the whole gait analysis thing (apparently I’m neutral) and came away with a pair of Brooks Glycerin 6 which are definitely more comfortable than my old Asics.
Let Down By Technology
Unfortunately my Garmin Forerunner 50 let me down 4.5 miles into the race, or rather the Footpod did, so I had no instant pace/distance readout and had to rely on the mile markers. Not a bad thing, but I did miss it. I believe it was the battery, because it has been working since I replaced it, but I don’t believe I’d used it enough to drain the old one. Ho hum.
Lessons Learnt
The job is dead! Long live the job!
It’s finally here!
Today marks the last day of my employment with CSC. After 9 years (originally a freelancer, then the last 4½ years as a permanent employee) it is time to move to pastures new.
On Monday I will be joining Canonical as a developer on Launchpad (any comments about (open|free)ing of said product should be directed to Matt).
The best bit? Getting to work with a passionate group of people who believe in what they’re doing. The worst bit? Having to explain to non-technical family and friends what Canonical do. The best bit of the worst bit? Starting to explain it to the schwuklets, realising who I’m talking to, tell them they help make Ubuntu and schwuklet #2 (who is only 5 years old) knowing exactly what I’m talking about!
Of course every silver lining has a cloud, but you have to take the (dog) rough with the smooth. (I’d put a 
in here, but you know how much he likes those…)
Keeping Quiet Reason #1
In the past I’ve hinted at reasons why I’ve been so quiet on here (and why most of my recent content has been non-technical).
Well, the cat’s out of the bag on one the reasons now:
Thanks to Jono I am co-authoring the 2nd edition of The Official Ubuntu Book due out around the release of Feisty.
I’m even on Amazon!
Also Appropriate
The best-laid schemes o'mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An'lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
From To a Mouse by Robert Burns.
From tiny acorns…
I’ve been quiet. Too quiet. Even allowing for the holidays I’ve been too quiet. However, in my defense, there are reasons for this.
Firstly, following on from my previous articles there will be more, in a Python vein.
Secondly, a couple of projects – which at the moment I won’t discuss, not because I can’t, just because I like being mysterious – will be coming to fruition this year. Think articles, but BIGGER.
We shall have to wait and see if they turn into Oaks!
Wii Wii Wii, all the way home…
I had intended to let the new game consoles pass me by. I resisted the initial “got to have one” when the Xbox 360 came out – a decision I am very happy with after trying it at friends houses. Although I was a dedicated PlayStation fan, the Playstation 3 holds no attraction to me. The Wii did appeal, mainly because it eschews the now common “graphics are king” theme and actually tries to innovate. The price was also attractive, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to get one at launch and so would wait to see what they were like after they had launched.
That was the plan, anyway.
Since a Nintendo DS Lite is the gift of choice in my house this year, a bit of surfing was in order. During such a outing I stumbled across Amazon’s pre-order information for the Wii, and the fact that they would be taking them today – long after other outlets have (over)sold their allocation. Pre-orders opened this morning and closed five minutes later, but not before I’d got my order in for a console and a copy of Zelda.
Now I just need to convince schwukette that it doesn’t really need to go under the tree…
Published Again!
It’s always nice to see your work in print. Don’t get me wrong – online publishing is great, but there’s just something…nice about holding something you’ve written. Now it’s not the first time something I’ve written has been printed, but this time it is directly attributable to me.
On page 50 of Issue 66 of Linux User & Developer you will find my article about Open Source software for children, inspired by my childrens recent painless conversion to Linux.
Go buy, read, enjoy, and provide me with feedback please. Oh and keep an eye out – there is more where that came from (hint, hint)!
Triumphant Return
I’m now back after a weeks holiday in France, preceded by an intensive week of work at my day job handing off a particularly long running project to its new victim maintainer.
Unfortunately I now seem to have been struck down by some sort of bug that whilst not serious enough to prevent me from work, it does make the experience pretty unpleasant.
In other news it looks like I should have an article published in the next issue of Linux User & Developer and I’m writing a couple more for other ‘outlets’. Futher bulletins as events warrant.
look good