1) Its soccer, not futbol or the beautiful game
2) Although we are one of only 6 countries to appear in the last 7 world cups, we have won only 4 games out of 24 played
3) Our own coach says its "not realistic" that the US team can win the tournament in Brazil (true but unusually forthright and not cliche for a US coach of anything)
4) The US was the team people in the other countries in the tournament are most rooting to lose (Iran was second) and
5) and to try to sell World Cup people in the US claim its "hockey on grass" (BTW how is that going to help?)
Friday, June 13, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
7.5 with Ted
Last Sunday Ted and I headed out from the Westin, south on 14th, around the Tidal Basin, back north along Constitution to the Lincoln Memorial, across Memorial Bridge to the Mt. Vernon bike trail, south to the 14th Street bridge, past the T. Roosevelt Memorial, and back up 14th Street to the Westin.
Temperatures were comfortable and the sun was rising while we ran. Conversation was as runningprofs conversations generally are -- part running, part professing, part panting -- and the running was superb. Both of us felt good -- recovered -- and it was easy to daydream about coming races.
We talked run form. We see it the same way but Ted sees it better: the foot strike is not a forefoot encounter but a slide across the ground from front to back. The midfoot can hit without crashing on the arch. I tried it. It felt good. It even felt as if I was stretching out my Achilles tendon and heel each time I encountered the ground.
Ted got a few pix. Maybe we'll see them here at RP blog soon.
That's RP blog run #2 for me for 2014. Chicago Marathon is out there for a third, unless we get together before then.
UPDATE: Should have checked the blog before posting! Ted beat me to it. Now you have both perspectives.
Temperatures were comfortable and the sun was rising while we ran. Conversation was as runningprofs conversations generally are -- part running, part professing, part panting -- and the running was superb. Both of us felt good -- recovered -- and it was easy to daydream about coming races.
We talked run form. We see it the same way but Ted sees it better: the foot strike is not a forefoot encounter but a slide across the ground from front to back. The midfoot can hit without crashing on the arch. I tried it. It felt good. It even felt as if I was stretching out my Achilles tendon and heel each time I encountered the ground.
Ted got a few pix. Maybe we'll see them here at RP blog soon.
That's RP blog run #2 for me for 2014. Chicago Marathon is out there for a third, unless we get together before then.
UPDATE: Should have checked the blog before posting! Ted beat me to it. Now you have both perspectives.
DC Run With Max
Max was kind enough to schlep down to the Westin early on Sunday morning for a run on the Mall. Becky had hoped to join us but her daughter had other ideas. Gotta say, the run was an all around victory. I love running in DC especially before it gets too hot. The temperature was cool, and we ran down fourteenth street to the tidal basin around the back, through the FDR memorial, which is one of my favorites, then past the Lincoln Memorial, over the Memorial Bridge, back along Memorial Parkway to the Fourteenth Street Bridge and home. Seven miles and change, averaging a 9:30 pace. My heel behaved, and my calf behaved. Max kept the pace steady and reasonable. It was a real confidence builder. Thanks Max!! Indeed, the really good news is that I was able to run Monday (6.4)(Mall), Tuesday (4ish) (Capitol Hill) and today (4)(Rock Creek Park). I haven't run 4 days in a row in many months. I will take a couple of days off, but I'm beginning to feel like a runner again!!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Meh
Ran the Michelob Ultra Chicago 13.1 on Saturday. Many nice things about the race but a disappointing outcome. First positive, package pick up. At my favorite running store on the way to work. Took a grand total of five minutes. Second, nice shirt with normal colors and design and sizing actually approximately correct.
Third, great course. Started at South Shore Community Center at 70th and Shouth Shore Drive. Its the south end of the bike path 14 miles from my apartment about 2 plus miles past Hyde Park. Its a part of the park that is particularly beautiful and an area where I don't usually run except when L. drives me there and I run one way back to the north side. Course winded through Jackson Park and then north on lake front path to about 37th street and straight back.
Fourth, easy street parking, public transportation and many shuttle buses. Well organized, easy in and out no matter where you are coming from as long as you start early enough for 7 AM start. Always funny to see people running toward start area as we are heading out on first mile.
Fifth, nice staging area. plenty of room for gear check, porta potties, stretching, milling, etc. Not surprising because start is grounds of former country club with now public 9 hole golf course.
Sixth, many corrals with staged start. Each corrals were a bit cramped but nice staged starts with 2:30 between each corral's start. Maybe I would have felt differently if I had been in "H" rather than "A".
The only downsides were the weather, the enormous kind of stupid medal, and my disappointing performance. Its was mid-high 60s at start, a lot of sun, and not much shade. (Sunday morning's high 50s would have been perfect) Probably low 70s by the end which I just wasn't ready for psychologically or physically. Instead of starting slow and trying for a negative split, I decided to try for good times for the first half and just hang on as it got hotter. First 2 miles were sub-9 and then settled it to low mid 9s. I was fine until 9-10 and then it got a little ugly. Finished in a disappointing 2:10 which all can I say is a PKSPR (post kidney stones PR). On the brighter side, my dodgy calves, tendons, and feet all held up ok. But it's been a tough 48 recovery period much more akin to a full marathon.
Have to ponder the take aways as I head into summer training and the eventual heat and humidity of Chicago July and August. But signing up for two of the three summer halves later today and hope to do better.
Third, great course. Started at South Shore Community Center at 70th and Shouth Shore Drive. Its the south end of the bike path 14 miles from my apartment about 2 plus miles past Hyde Park. Its a part of the park that is particularly beautiful and an area where I don't usually run except when L. drives me there and I run one way back to the north side. Course winded through Jackson Park and then north on lake front path to about 37th street and straight back.
Fourth, easy street parking, public transportation and many shuttle buses. Well organized, easy in and out no matter where you are coming from as long as you start early enough for 7 AM start. Always funny to see people running toward start area as we are heading out on first mile.
Fifth, nice staging area. plenty of room for gear check, porta potties, stretching, milling, etc. Not surprising because start is grounds of former country club with now public 9 hole golf course.
Sixth, many corrals with staged start. Each corrals were a bit cramped but nice staged starts with 2:30 between each corral's start. Maybe I would have felt differently if I had been in "H" rather than "A".
The only downsides were the weather, the enormous kind of stupid medal, and my disappointing performance. Its was mid-high 60s at start, a lot of sun, and not much shade. (Sunday morning's high 50s would have been perfect) Probably low 70s by the end which I just wasn't ready for psychologically or physically. Instead of starting slow and trying for a negative split, I decided to try for good times for the first half and just hang on as it got hotter. First 2 miles were sub-9 and then settled it to low mid 9s. I was fine until 9-10 and then it got a little ugly. Finished in a disappointing 2:10 which all can I say is a PKSPR (post kidney stones PR). On the brighter side, my dodgy calves, tendons, and feet all held up ok. But it's been a tough 48 recovery period much more akin to a full marathon.
Have to ponder the take aways as I head into summer training and the eventual heat and humidity of Chicago July and August. But signing up for two of the three summer halves later today and hope to do better.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Canadian Privacy Legislation
Occasionally somebody passes a law that makes my life markedly better. Occasionally.
In the US, the TCPA (comprehensive report by the LUC Consumer Antitrust Institute) did that until a combination of loopholes and limited enforcement seems to have rendered it basically useless (my opinion, based on anecdotal experience from spending holidays working from home).
Re: loopholes, according to the FTC:
Canada has enacted new anti-spam legislation. I just received this e-mail from a car dealer I had pinged a year or so ago:
In the US, the TCPA (comprehensive report by the LUC Consumer Antitrust Institute) did that until a combination of loopholes and limited enforcement seems to have rendered it basically useless (my opinion, based on anecdotal experience from spending holidays working from home).
Re: loopholes, according to the FTC:
4. What types of calls are not covered by the National Do Not Call Registry?
The do not call provisions do not cover calls from political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors, or companies with which a consumer has an existing business relationship.Canada has enacted new anti-spam legislation. I just received this e-mail from a car dealer I had pinged a year or so ago:
Due to the new Privacy act legislation and to respect your privacy, we need your consent to keep our communications going with you as a valued customer. You, as a consumer, have the option to opt in or out.
Please permit us to reach out to you electronically by clicking on the link below.
'Canada's law on Spam' http://fightspam.gc.ca/eic/site/030.nsf/eng/home
I say "bravo." A complete reset of all of my half-baked opt-in decisions. Too bad (1) I only have one relationship of which I am aware with a Canadian merchant, and (2) this particular auto dealer may have been the least annoying I've ever interacted with.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Unamerican sports
Mexico plays Bosnia in a friendly in Solider Field before 60,000 fans (55,000 rooting for Mexico).
The French Open is going on and the Giro D'Italia just finished.
What does this all mean?
It means that I am getting increasingly psyched for my ultimate un-American sports summer where I will be watching some combination of the World Cup, Wimbledon, and the Tour de France.
Can't wait.
The French Open is going on and the Giro D'Italia just finished.
What does this all mean?
It means that I am getting increasingly psyched for my ultimate un-American sports summer where I will be watching some combination of the World Cup, Wimbledon, and the Tour de France.
Can't wait.
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