Stockholm Marathon 2010?

Written by Mark Olson on June 25, 2009 — 1 Comment

Another 6K down! My most difficult run to date. It was exceptionally difficult. Difficult to the point that at the 3K stage … I began having thoughts … of “why am I running?” and “I could just start walking now”. However, I at the 1.5K stage … I had never felt better! I was cruising effortlessly … and foolishly decided to pick the pace up. I picked it up WAY TOO much!

Realizing that I let my excitement get the best of me … I got myself running back on pace … and good thing … because it was not too soon after … my body started responding with explicit signals that my gettie up pony start was not appreciated. My legs became heavy and the lungs were fighting for some air exchange.

I managed to finish the run … despite in significant speed change in the end (and not for the good). It was a dramatic negative speed change – much more so than my 8K that I ran on Monday.

Last night … my calves were in a state of “Mark you are in idiot” … I am guessing the 2K warm down was not enough to satisfy them. They are still a little tender this morning. It is possible that I will give them an extra day to rest Friday morning by skipping my Friday workout or reducing the mileage a little. I will see how they feel tomorrow morning. It would be nice to get one more workout in before the long trip back to Canada.

At the same time, I don’t want to find myself injured. I have set a long term goal of running the Stockholm Marathon in 2010. This really will be dependent on how long it takes my body to get this base training. It is just one of those things on so many peoples things they want to accomplish … and I am not sure why I have never thought about adding it myself. Most likely because I have not thought much about running before.

It is two different things to set goals and work towards them. The later is the more difficult. A long road ahead … hehe.

Posted in Health & Fitness, Running | Tagged ,

A Little Embarrassment at the ICA

Written by Mark Olson on June 23, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Åkersberga ICAStopping by the local grocery store, ICA Kvantum, is almost a daily activity for me.  Yes, life is exciting!  My visit to the ICA yesterday was a little different than most days.  The cashier greeted me with a friendly “hej” and started pushing mangoes, bananas, two apples, and some blueberries juice over the lasers that make little beeping prompts indicating a successful register.  Oh don’t forget the ICA plastic bag that costs a few Swedish ponies.  That’s when I looked up at the total for my order.  With only a few items getting the laser business … my order was over 700:- , which is $101 Canuck Bucks!  Those are some expensive Mangoes!

The lemons were the last things to be weighed as they wobbled on the scale … I am sure my lemons were given the laser business too … just no prompting beeps.  Earlier I had reserved a movie from the kiosk located in front of a wall of chocolate.  That wall of chocolate is SUPER IMPORTANT to the remainder of the story – joking! I reached out with my ID card while saying in almost perfect Swedish … “Och en film också” – who knows if that is even correct Swedish.  The cashier laughed as she said … and how about I take care of that very expensive ICA bag – but she said it in Swedish.  Oh yes my readers of goodness … I now translate on the fly.

She took my ID card to retrieve my movie reservation.  She looked down from the film reserve monitor to my ID card and says “something Swedish … some more Swedish … Frost?” in a questionable tone.  My translating skills are on the fritz right about now. No time to think … I responded with a … nej Olson …  as I though she was trying to confirm my last name. Seconds later she asks me the name of the movie I rented.  I now found myself looking towards the ceiling … as though I was ready to make a purchase at the arches.  I could not remember the movie title! GUH!   Moments later my genius kicked into action … I said … Nixon!  She laughed as she showed me the DVD case … the movie was called “Frost / Nixon”.  For those curious … this movie was 2 hours of life waster.   Having now realized my obvious blunder … yes I said blunder … ’cause I listened to some Dane Cook about a week ago … so the word blunder … is still in my vocab.  Let’s try that again -  Having now realized my obvious blunder I said that I now understood … Frost … in some redonkulously crafted Swedish.

Not as embarrassing as my weeks of ordering cinnamon buns … but worth a mention.

Posted in Life in Sweden | Tagged , , , , ,

I just ran 8K!

Written by Mark Olson on June 22, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Stockholm StadiumOver my past couple runs … the mileage has been increasing little by little. I was super excited to make it to 5K just two runs ago. Even that seemed like a challenge at the time. Today, I would face my biggest challenge yet … an 8K run. Oh trust me … I had some doubts yesterday whether I could pull this off or not.  So … that little voice in my head has been on a “you can do this” chantcapade for past 12 hours.

Seconds within to my run … I felt like a sac of bricks trying to run without legs … ’cause sacks of bricks don’t have legs. I started to feel more comfortable around 2K … and that is when I got my first injection of the gettie up ponies. I managed to hold off from giving it the business … as I knew … there were still more Ks to go than I have ran since my health kick began … just over a month ago. Now that I give this some thought … this would be very close to the longest distance that I have EVER ran. Well … besides that one time when I was in grade 9 … I ran 10K before a 10K return bike ride … which all preceded a swim practice of goodness. That was years ago! As the Sweds would say … “ta det lugnt” – take it easy.

Controlling my urges to pick up the pace, I noticed that I found myself in a rhythm that just seemed to keep me going without much effort. Almost like the same feeling when I am swimming long distances … find the rhythm … hit the autopilot … and enjoy euphoric feelings of goodness. Well … I should say those euphoric feelings follow a good swim practice … I am not yet able to say the same about running – not yet anyways.

Preach’s “Transatlantic” Radio Show with Preach on the decks – is my running music of choice. WhOa … this podcast of progressive trance is the perfect running companion – for me anyways.

I felt so PROUD when that little voice on my iPod said congratuations! … it was such a good feeling – I had accomplished my goal for the day! Especially going into this run with some doubt. I have a feeling this training is going to start to get addicting. So what’s up next – a day of rest! Actually, it should be two days … but I need to make a small adjustment for my Friday departure date – back to Maple Leaf Land.

Upcoming runs this week.
Monday: 8K
Wednesday: 6K
Friday: 6K

Should be a good week. Well at least it is going to be a good Monday – it is Chicken Balti night – WHOA!

Posted in Health & Fitness, Running | Tagged , , , ,

Not Taking the Photo Opportunity

Written by Mark Olson on June 20, 2009 — Leave a Comment
The process of getting my digital photo mess under control continues. Problem – a flawed … a very flawed workflow. Workflow refers to how I get the photo from my camera, edited, locally archived, backed-up, and shared online. This process becomes a little more complicated once you introduce a couple of cameras, a couple computers, and a couple online photo sharing services. Oh … and don’t forget the backups!

Let me share an example. I capture a photo using my iPhone and upload it immediately to Flickr. Already, my computers are out of the loop. This photo is missing from my Aperture library and all backups associated with the Aperture database.

How about another example. This time I am out and about with the Kanon Canon – Kanon is Awesome in Swedish. For arguments sake I take 45 awesome shots … import them into Aperture … and immediately upload them to Facebook and Flickr. I then decide at a later date to add some descriptive text to my Flickr photos … and perhaps some tags. Now … my aperture database does not contain this additional information associated with the descriptions and tags … nor does my Facebook account.

I have over 5000 photos associated with my Flickr account. They have been imported from scanned photos, multiple cameras, and from multiple computers over the past 3 years. You can only imagine the disorganization associated with my photos at this time. Remember … not all my photos are stored on Flickr either. Oh why not add some duplicate photos to the mix as well!

Solution? YES!

MobileME? Not quite. I have looked at using this cloud service provided by Apple, but it does not satisfy my needs. The major problem associated with MobileMe … for me … is the amount of online storage or lack thereof. PLUS … I am not willing to give up using FLICKR … it is simply a brilliant means of sharing your photography online. PLUS, my blog is heavily based on FLICKR, so not an option punkt! One more plus :D It still would not address all my workflow problems.

So what about that workflow solution? I hope to post this within the next couple of days as I am putting the closing touches to it now. This photography workflow will not be as simple as clicking button and life is wonderful, but it should be comprehensive enough to ensure that photos get taken, edited, cataloged, stored, backed-up, and shared … from multiple cameras, to multiple computers, to multiple online services. I guess it is called a workflow for a reason.

Hopefully, once it is in action … I will start to enjoy the hobby of photography again :D Well … I do enjoy photography … but the processing part is what keeps me from grabbing the camera when I leave the flat.

So a solution to my digital photo disorganization and not taking the photo opportunity should be addressed with one workflow … I hope :D

Posted in Technology | Tagged , , , ,

Off to Swastika in One Week!

Written by Mark Olson on June 19, 2009 — Leave a Comment
One week until take off! Where has the time gone? It is time for the annual summer trip back to the hometown. It will be nice just to chill out in the middle of nowhere in Canada … and just chillax with friends and family. Although, from what I am reading … the temperatures are a little too hot for my liking right about now – approaching 30 degrees. That is a 60 degree difference from my last visit in December! Hopefully … it will be enough to kill off the infestation of bugs in the area.

Just a couple things left to gettie done before I leave. Mainly paying the bills and giving the flat one super cleaning. Oh yeah … and pack!

It is soon midsommar … oh sweet celebration of the sun … uhmmm … minus the sun. It continues to rain here … yay for rain! See what happens when you decide to stay in Sweden for Midsommar … there is no sun! I COULD have left for back home a week earlier. Actually, that would have been the better idea so that I would not have to rush my way through Toronto.

Posted in Random Ramblings

Couch to 5K in 4 weeks

Written by Mark Olson on June 18, 2009 — 2 Comments

Couch to 5K in 4 weeks I did it! I have reached a constant running distance of 5K today! It might not seem like much of an accomplishment, but for me it is. It is sad to think that I was able to push out 5K of constant butterfly swimming only a few years ago. A month ago … the 1K walk from the train station to my flat was enough to do me in. My energy levels were flat lined and the only boost I could get was from a cup of java. I could feel my health deteriorating as I sat in front of the tv eating pizza and chocolate. There was no activity in my lifestyle at all. Consuming little to no fruit or vegetables … but making sure to pick up some easy to make frozen food for dinner … as my energy levels to cook were almost non-existent.

So how did I do it?

Week 1

Break the old habits and bring in the new! I started with my diet. My intention was not to start some measure everything I eat diet and get stressed. My long term goal was to simply increase my intake of healthy foods. Mark you want that pizza … eat TWO! … but first eat half a cucumber and a handful of broccoli. At work … I still filled my plate … but over half with vegetables! I love eating … just started to make some small changes. You know … like replacing a croissant with Special K Bran Flakes … and coffee with white tea.

Running was the furthest thing from my mind. A 2K walk was enough for me! That is what I started with … 3 times a week. It was a little embarrassing for myself … but I needed to start somewhere.

Week 2

Amazingly, by week two … my eating habits changed drastically. I did not experience any cravings for frozen pizza or croissants. In fact, I was eating so much raw vegetables that I was always too full for anything else. And to be honest … sitting in front of the TV or computer munching on some veggies and fruit is much more pleasant than eating cinnamon buns – as the veggies and fruit last longer.

I was feeling physically better! Felt as though I had a little more energy. I decided to add some running to my walk … not the best idea in the world for the confidence. I ran less than 0.5K and had to start walking – WHAT! Was i really this far out of shape? Perhaps it dented my confidence, but injected my determination to get back into shape – with a take it easy attitude … not easy for someone who was so fit … not so long ago.

Week 3

Good eating habits are forming! The first thing I want in the morning is a cold glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice diluted in water. Not only am I eating healthy … I am enjoying eating a whole lot more … and feeling a whole lot better after. McDonald’s … what McDonald’s … I have not set foot in one … in 4 weeks at that point … and I now ask myself … why did you do that to yourself?

I managed to get myself running up to 3.5K this week. Actually, it was just … Mark you are running 3.5K … three times this week. Suck it up! The first time SUCKED! I thought I was going to die by the time I finished. I am not sure what miracle happened to my body but by the third run … it wasn’t so bad? Brilliant!

Week 4

No changes in the healthy eating … and my first run of the week … felt really awesome at 3.5K. I felt that I still had some energy left in the tank when I reached the marker. I actually felt ADRENALIN for the first time in MONTHS! What an amazing feeling … MISSED THAT!

It was time to crank out the 4K … which was yesterday. I manged to do it! I was actually quite proud of myself. I could see and more importantly feel my progress. As I ran by that 3K mark … I thought to myself … it was not that long ago that this was a challenge. I felt energized by the time my warm down walk home had ended!

I was so excited that I decided it was time to get a new pair of shoes … as I am going to keep the running thing going. The last thing I want is an injury … so proper fitting shoes were in order. To better keep track of my progress … and help keep me motivated … I have also hooked up the Nike + to my shoes and ipod. So getting some use out of my old iPod …as an iPhone is just not convenient to run with. So … when I have my progress tracking available online … I will be sure to include it on my site.

Today … some more “accurate” data for you. I ran 5.04K in 28.21 at an average pace of 5.37 min/K.

Not too shabby for someone who couldn’t run just a few weeks ago as he was too full of frozen pizza, croissants, and delicious cinnamon buns :D

I now feel as though … I have at least a base for a base … if that makes any sense. Tomorrow is an off running day for me … followed by yet another 5K run on Friday … and an 8K on Monday. I am following one of the training programs on the NIKE site … so let’s see how this goes :P

Posted in Health & Fitness, Technology | Tagged , , , , ,
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