A learning experience.

Well, the marathon is over. I am limping up and down stairs, and eating and drinking everything in sight. I came out of it with a 3:48:13. Which, depending on how you look at it could be good or bad. Good that its a personal best by about 30 minutes compared to my first marathon(this being my second). Bad that at the 15 mile marker I was on pace to run a 3:05 or so. I guess there is something in this whole "pacing" thing I keep hearing about. Plus I didn't eat or drink enough I think, and thus had a 1-2-3 punch knockout of hardcore bonk and severe leg cramps and a killer headwind in miles 18 to 22 - without an adequate (read: salty goodness) aid station in sight equals mucho walking. S'all good. I think with more running, and tempo during the longer runs I can easily keep that pace I was on for the rest of the race. Here are how the splits fell out:

START 5 Mile 10 Mile Half 15 Mile 20 Mile 23.5 Mile FINISH
8:35:16 AM EST 0:34:10 1:08:24 1:31:05 1:46:42 2:39:33 3:13:50 03:48:13
TIME Chip Time: 03:48:13 Clock: 03:48:27 Pace: 8:42

Placement Overall: 2556 Gender: 2071 Division: 167

I was also 436th female across the line. Holla!

And of course a shout-out to everyone that came out to give their support. It meant so much to see you cheering. Thanks!

You stay classy...world.

Good Song: All-American Rejects - It Ends Tonight

A fall day

Yo, whats up!

"Cold" is the word of the week. Seems as though Fall just ran right in without any care or warning. Makes for perfect running weather atleast! The nervousness has intensified as the race draws closer this weekend. How fast should I go out? How long can I maintain the pace I want to keep? Will I hit "the wall"? What the hell am I even going to wear!? Damn decisions, more stressed out about this then some of the bigger triathlons I've done.

On a less stressful note, the folks over at Set-Up Inc. just made the Virginia Triathlon Series results official, and turns out I won my age group. Normann watch out! I'm gunnin' for you now...
Maybe as the prize they'll send me a nice new pair of Zipp wheels. I could use those.

4 days!!

Good Song: Editors - Colours

Welcome back, welcome back!

Good times back at JMU this weekend, spent with friends new and old! Started it all off with a solid 50+ mile ride with a major 10 mile climb to the top of Reddish Knob with some slow(hah, yeah right) mofo's. The leaves and mountains were freaking amaaaaaaazing. Why didn't I appreciate all this scenery back when I was in school? Oh yeah, parties. No worries! Still felt good to get back on the bike after all the run mileage thats been thrown down lately. Usual homecoming festivities followed, and don't ask me where I ended up sleeping...because I'm not really sure myself. Mmmmm, fall. Gotta love it. Time to run... marathon in t-7days!

Good Song: The Decemberists - Summersong

Ironman World Championship

Some would argue this weekend is the biggest in the sport of Triathlon. The famous Ironman World Championship gets under way around 12:30pm EST, and pits the world's fastest, most dedicated, endurance athletes against each other. A couple of friends have been keeping my updated on all the happenings of race week, and it sounds just as amazing as I have imagined. I don't ask you send them specifically good vibes, but all the athletes over there competing this weekend. They all worked their asses off to not only qualify, but to be there and actually do their best. If you have a chance, check out all the action live via IronmanLive. Who knows, maybe I'll have the opportunity to experience this week in Kona firsthand some day. Could St. Croix be the ticket? We'll see...

A hui hou!

Good Song: Killers - This River is Wild

True Love.

Hah, this guy has his priorities straight.

Good Song: Silversun Pickups - Checkered Floor

Disaster...averted.

Well. Where do I start? Basically, I cancelled the camping trip as I was shivering in my sleeping bag, on a little ridge about 3000+ feet up, in the middle of a windy rain-driven storm after 7 or so miles of hiking...up. Don't get my wrong the trail itself was awesome, and would have been fabulous if the temps had cooperated and not been so freaking North Pole-ish! Oh well, I returned home the same day wet, cold, and tired. I'll be back to complete the whole loop soon enough, oh yes, I will. Next time I'll be ready. Ready to not get big huge blisters, and not carry a ton of stuff, and well, you get the idea. Until then, I train...for the marathon, or, to do that hike again? Who knows... here are some pics, maybe you'll get the idea:

Winding my way up the trail...leaves were BURSTING with color!

Mmmmm...dark, and ominous.

Looking up towards Lookout Mountain (say it with me, "32% grade".)

"Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink."

Mother nature has a sick sense of humor.

Good Song: The Kooks - Ooh La

Out to the mountains

Headed out to spend a couple days in the mountains along the 26 mile long Wild Oak Trail...the leaves should be changing, and hopefully the rain will have stopped! Pictures when I return!

Math is fun!

Subject: Math 1950-2006

________________________________

1. Teaching Math In 1950

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

________________________________

2. Teaching Math In 1960

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

________________________________

3. Teaching Math In 1970

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
$80. Did he make a profit?

________________________________

4. Teaching Math In 1980

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
$80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number
20.

________________________________

5. Teaching Math In 1990

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or
the
preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a
profit of
$20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for
class
participation after answering the question: How did the birds
and
squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no
wrong
answers. )

________________________________

6. Teaching Math In 2006


Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de
la
producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?



Good Song: The Format - Time Bomb

Damn you title IX -- goodbye male sports...

6 guys sports v. 12 girls teams... how is that fair???

JMU ENACTS PROPORTIONALITY PLAN TO COMPLY WITH TITLE IX

Press conference attendees Rose, Damico, Moorman, Rivers, Bourne (l to
r)
September 29, 2006

HARRISONBURG — James Madison University's Board of Visitors voted today
to approve a plan to bring the JMU Athletics program into compliance
with Title IX.

The plan will take effect July 1, 2007, when the following varsity
teams will be eliminated:

Men's
Archery
Cross Country
Gymnastics
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track
Swimming
Wrestling

Women's
Archery
Fencing
Gymnastics

With 28 varsity teams, the JMU Athletics program ties for the rank of
seventh in terms of the number of teams among all 327 Division I
schools nationally.

"The JMU Athletics program is unusually large for a public university
of our size," said Joseph Damico, rector of the JMU Board of Visitors.
"With so many teams, we faced an insurmountable challenge coming into
compliance with Title IX. Fundamentally, that is why the Board voted
today for this plan."

The proportionality requirements of Title IX mandate that collegiate
athletics programs mirror each school's undergraduate population in
terms of gender. As of the fall semester 2006, JMU's proportions place
it fundamentally out of compliance with federal law:

Overall Enrollment
Female 61%
Male 39%

Athletics Participation
Female 50.7%
Male 49.3%

Jeff Bourne, JMU athletics director, said, "We explored every avenue in
search of an alternative to this action. Lamar Daniel, a well-known
consultant on Title IX compliance, has worked closely with us and he
believes that this plan is our most viable alternative for reaching
compliance with Title IX."

Once this plan is fully implemented, total participation in athletics
will move to 61 percent female and 39 percent male, in alignment with
current student enrollment. The university will then have 18
intercollegiate sports:

Men's
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Golf
Soccer
Tennis

Women's
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track, Indoor
Track, Outdoor
Volleyball

This decision affects 144 student-athletes currently participating in
these sports, as well as three full-time and eight part-time coaches.

"Now that the Board has voted to enact this plan, our main concern is
with our affected student-athletes and coaches," said Bourne. "We are
taking great care to preserve the financial guarantees already made to
our student-athletes. If you are a student-athlete on an affected team
and you are receiving a scholarship, you will continue to receive that
scholarship until you graduate."

Currently, eight students on the rosters of the 10 affected teams
receive a total of $13,500 in scholarships. Access to sports-medicine
and academic-advising programs also will be available to them. Any
affected student-athletes who decide to transfer to another program
will be provided with full assistance regarding the transfer process.
Affected coaches will receive severance packages appropriate to the
university's policies and procedures.

All of the financial resources recovered from the implementation of
this plan will be redirected to provide the full complement of NCAA
scholarships for women's golf, tennis and swimming. Partial scholarship
funding will return to men's golf and tennis, with a plan to enhance to
full funding by 2011.

To view online the press conference held Friday afternoon to announce
the plan, go to http://media.jmu.edu/special/8_924.asx. Attending are
JMU President Linwood Rose, Board of Visitors Rector Joseph Damico,
Associate Athletic Director Sheila Moorman, BOV member Wharton Rivers
Jr., and Athletic Director Jeff Bourne.