Run Yank Run 026: Well Howdy!

Well howdy, long time no see. Sorry about that - I had recorded 45 minutes of witty, inspiring, and captivating material the first week of January (yeah right) but most of it ended up garbled. I think the microphone jack got jiggled during the run. Sigh.

Then things got crazy with the weather and work and sick kids, etc. Anyway, we are back in business.

When I have been able to run I have been doing great - bookended morning and evening commute runs with average weekly totals of about 25 miles - despite not running for several days per week.

I am also doing the 100 Pushups program and the 200 situps program, and that is humming along well.

Anyway, I promise it wont be so long till the next episode - I just realized I completely forgot to mention the 10 in 10 Challenge put together by Nigel from Running From The Reaper, so stay tuned for that in the next episode!

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Featured Song:

Crazy song by a dude on the Paris Metro

Intro/Outro:

"You Start It" by The Monikers

Download Episode 26

Run Yank Run 025: Merry Christmas!

A very Merry (Happy) Christmas to you!

This run is along the Thames on a chilly but not frigid Christmas Eve. This week there has been snow and ice but the temps warmed up a bit - at least enough to melt the ice and create some decent mud for the towpaths, hehe.

I hope all of you have had wonderful holidays!

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Featured Song:

"Gloria" by Cat Jahnke

Intro/Outro:

"You Start It" by The Monikers

Download Episode 25

Run Yank Run 024: Deep Freeze

BRRRRRR it is cold in Blighty! I really can't complain when I hear about the temps from my Canadian friends or others with really frigid temps, but for some reason 0 degrees Celsius in London just feels really cold. No matter that it is just 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

In this episode I am running on yet another morning commute run to Ealing Broadway in the wind and cold. That boom mike is doing a great job of getting rid of the cars, but it does sound tinny. Can't have one without the other, I guess. Well, at least you can hear what I'm saying now!

I got to work yesterday with my change of work clothes only to find that I had forgotten my trousers! WHOOPS! So, I changed back into my running clothes and had to walk to a store and buy a pair. That threw my morning out of whack and I wasn't able to meet up for a run with Patrick from Twitter. We are going to reschedule.

Last night it was supposed to snow quite a bit but it all melted by morning. That doesn't change the fact that it was blowing a gale last night. Simply ferocious winds!

I started the Hundred Pushup Challenge program this week. You gradually build up over 6 weeks until you can do 100 pushups in a single session (but you do them reps).

Time to pack it up and run on home (literally). It was snowing again but I think it's stopped. Really cold outside right now - 34 Fahr at last check. I am wondering about running in the dark though. This morning there were patches of ice. Hmmm....

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Featured Song:

"Hi" by THE PAPERAZZI

Intro/Outro:

"You Start It" by The Monikers

Download Episode 24

Run Yank Run 023: Take Three

Wow, two episodes in a week! Well, I really wasn't pleased with the way the Olympus directional mic sounded so I went to a local store and picked up a headset microphone and a windscreen. On the next commute run I recorded more material with the new mic and found I had enough for a whole other episode, so there you are.

While this new mic has even less car noise than the directional one, I have to work on where it is positioned because I am huffing and puffing right into it. I did my best to minimize the breath sounds but they are still there for this episode (sorry). I also look like an aerobics instructor. Whatever.

So my Christmas present arrived early! I ordered an Altura Night Vision Evo rain jacket for running and even with free shipping it arrived the very next day! Gotta love that. I wore it for the first time this morning and it fits and runs well. It is covered in reflective tape and even comes with a detachable strobing light, so I should be plenty visible on those pitch-dark evening commute runs.

In this episode I speak about the Run Net Community, a concept around this emerging group of Internet-connected runners who are active in blogs, podcasting, Twitter, etc. To learn more about it, check this link: Run Net Community

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Featured Song:

"Apathy and Empathy" by Uncle Meat and the Highway Children

Intro/Outro:

"You Start It" by The Monikers

Download Episode 23

Run Yank Run 022: Blustery Day

Greetings! This podcast episode was recorded with the new microphone I mentioned last time. I have to say that while it DID lower the car noise, it is much more susceptible to wind and also overdrives my recorder, leading to distorted audio sometimes. Sigh. Out of the frying pan into the fire!

In this episode I mention something very important: a relative of a dear friend of mine is missing. His name is Devon Hollahan, American, 22 years old, last seen leaving a concert in Frankfurt Germany. I am attaching a link to news coverage of this below. Please, if you have any information about Devon, contact the Frankfurt police.

Link to the news article

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Featured Song:

"I Was The Riot At The Art School Last Night" by The King Hats

Intro/Outro:

"You Start It" by The Monikers

Download Episode 22

Run Yank Run 021: New Route

Update: Whoops, I missed that the audio for this episode had major issues. Sorry folks! I have re-published a new version of the podcast audio file....

Another short podcast this time, but I want to keep the frequency of the episodes up and this was the day to record another episode.

In this one I discuss the running and lack thereof over the last week and a half, a new route for my commute runs, a new noise canceling microphone that should help with commute run recordings, and some potential races for 2010.

Here's the new microphone:

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Featured Song:

Accordian music by an old man on the Paris Metro

Intro/Outro:

"You Start It" by The Monikers

Download Episode 21

Run Yank Run 020: Keepin' On

Well, the hits just keep on coming, except when it comes to producing this podcast! I want to apologize to those of you still checking in on me for the lack of episodes or updates lately. Life has just kept on being crazy.

I have good news though! I have been running again and it feels great. Last Saturday I did an 8+ miler then got in a 6.6 and a 10K. My legs feel strong and it was great to be moving again!

The time change happened and now it is pitch dark by 4:45 every day, so my evening commute runs are done in darkness. I have kitted out with a headlamp, red blinker light facing backwards on my backpack, a reflective anklet and the ubiquitous hi-viz flourescent green jacket with reflective bits. If cars can't see me this way I don't know what else would work!! I feel a little silly like a gaudy Christmas tree or something, but safety first.

No runs this weekend although I had planned to. Two of the kids were sick and my wife Rebecca as well, so we all holed up in the house and watched movies basically all weekend.

Needless to say I'm ready to run.

This weekend and most of today has seen some pretty impressive weather rolling through, with wind gusts of 75mph and even a bit of hail one morning. Thankfully the wind has died down now so it shouldn't be too gusty for me on tonight's run.

I have been chipping away at producing a podcast about the World Festival of Races Dream Inspires run we did in Oxford, but the anount of material to edit and the required voiceover to explain what the heck is going on at any given time has really slowed that down... perhaps I'll rethink how I am approaching coverage of that excellent event.

Stay well, stay happy, stay running!

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Featured Song:

"Psycle Pswami" by Satan's Pilgrims

Intro/Outro:

"You Start It" by The Monikers

Download Episode 20