Guitar Lesson #4

After a fairly soggy ride to the class I was relieved to find that my guitar case was, as advertised, waterproof. Tonight's class was very exciting as we were introduced to the tricky art of fingerstyle which is what I'm really interested in, or at least that what I consider to be the most difficult and flexible style of playing. After some revision and more on rhythm we go stuck into plucking!!

Tonight's ditty's included Ride On (Christy Moore) and Good Riddance; Time Of Your Life (Green day)

Tonight's takeaways:

• More strumming
• Fingerstyle
• More Capo
• Cords: C, D, and Em... oh and A!
• Yet again... sore fingers

12... errrrrr 14 miler

Yes, did it again... this weekend run was supposed to be a 12 miler but in my bid to avoid "making up" distance at the end of the run I took the scenic route around the Curragh. It was an enjoyable run, I felt good the whole way around even on the two occasions when the heavens opened up and drenched me. The final distance was 13.71 miles which I ran in 2:21:11, that's a slow but reasonable pace of 10:18.

U2-tastic

I never was a big U2 fan and have never had the urge to see them live before but last night's concert in Croke Park (Dublin) was awesome. I'm not one for drama but it was infinitely better than I thought it might be, the stage alone was incredible... it managed to do what all the marketing bumf claimed it would do by "establishing a physical proximity" where "the band is just sitting in the palm of the audience's hand". The entire stadium felt connected to the stage as its' claws reached out into the crowd... nowhere to be seen was the traditional outdoor concert appearance where the stage is stuck in one end of the stadium flanked by stacks of speakers.

This stage was closer to the center of the stadium and having no defined front or back it was surrounded by the crowd. The biggest feature turned out to be the cylindrical video screen which was positioned high above the band for the first half of the set and in the second half it expanded down like a giant concertina to form a dramatic cone of light that flooded the stadium and projected the performers outward.

"We have some magic, and we've got some beautiful objects we're going to take around the world, and we're inside that object."

Last mid-week 3 miler

For the first time in ages I have stuck to the plan and ran all three mid-week runs, if I keep this up I may even get close to a 4 hour marathon in October.

This morning's run was early (7am) and I ran a little over 3 miles in 27 minutes, that's a little under 9 minute miles and right where I want to be. Next is a 12 miler the day after the U2 concert in Dublin... something tells me I may be pushing that one out by a day... BUT it will be done!!

Lunchtime 6... errrr... 3 miler

Yes, the other way around today! The plan was to run 6 but on the treadmill I could only manage 3 before boredom set in and I switched to a bike. You can't beat the outdoors!!

Guitar Lesson #3

After a two week gap we're back in the class room. A few faces missing tonight, I hope they haven't given up. I was late and missed the first 10 minutes, arriving just as our teacher began to inspect our homework... DAMN!!

Tonight we focused on rhythm, and how to keep it flowing... and like most things on this course it wasn't easy but there lies the challenge! Tonight's ditty's included Wonder Wall (Oasis) and This Year's Love (David Gray), and after our performance we've got a lot of work to do before next week's class.

Tonight's takeaways:

• Even further strumming
• A little more plucking
• Using the Capo
• Cords: Em7 and A7sus, with a brief into to C, D, and Em
• Sore fingers

Lunchtime 3.. errr... 4 miler

Working from home today I could nip out at lunchtime for my first midweek run. I had 3 miles on the schedule but didn't notice my distance until I had travelled 2 miles. I finished having run a little over 4 miles in 36 minutes, a nice brisk pace.

Yawn...

An odd thing happened this morning... every time I woke I thought it was a little earlier than before, as if time was going backwards, and the really weird thing was that all the evidence supported that logic...radio, clock, etc. It was so convincing!!! And yes... I woke up late...

Adidas DCM 5 miler

I had 11 miles on my schedule for today and as today's race was 5 miles I though running 6 miles before the race would be a great idea... add that to the 5 mile race and I'll have done my 11 miler!! However, that brilliant plan scuppered due to several beers the night before, severe lack of sleep and training but above a complete absence of the will to do it... in fact the will to live was struggling to get a look in as I tumbled out of bed this morning.

Before setting off I had to fix the panniers to the bike to store my motorcycle gear while running. A major benefit of riding a motorcycle is being able to get closer your destination, frequently right beside it! This was the first time I had taken the motorcycle to a race a I wasn't sure if was practical but when I got to the Phoenix park there were quite a few other bikers getting their gear on, or off, and some getting their grove on but I think they were foreign (just a guess as they were tanned and attractive, not typical Irish characteristics).

The race started late, but we all expected that. I ran the first half mile at a pleasant pace with a fellow fetchie before taking off to catch up with my virtual partner who was fixed on a 40 minute time. I ran at what I thought was a fast but reasonable pace, I didn't want put everything into the first few miles only to lose it later in the race. I really wanted to beat the magic 40 minute barrier but I crossed the line a second over 43 minutes, while not what I wanted it was a really good time and I'm very happy with it.

We spent about an hour at the finish area eating, chatting and making plans for later and by the time I got back to my motorcycle stretching had completely slipped my mind. It was during dinner later that night that I remembered but a busy restaurant is not the place to be throwing legs over shoulders so tomorrow I will surely pay the price with a pair of aching legs...

Germans...

... or specifically German Engineers really do say what they mean! My motorcycle (German as it happens) has a neat feature that counts down remaining kilometers when the petrol level
drops below one quarter. I had the pleasure of seeing it in action this morning when, on the way into work, petrol was getting pretty low and by the time I arrived at my office it had only 2 kilometers in the tank. As an optimist (others may use more colourful descriptions) I took that as 2 kilometers and a bit extra... you know, a little bit extra just in case. That evening the first thing on my to-do list was getting to the nearest petrol station.

Luckily, I thought, it wasn't far... literally down the road. Unluckily it was a pretty long road which turned out to be 2.5 kilometers. As I approached the 2 kilometer mark and within sight of the petrol station the bike slowly lost power and gracefully glided to the road side. It was amazing... as the counter rolled from 1 kilometer to 0, at exactly the same moment, the bike ran dry.

I put the side stand down, put my helmet and gloves into one of the panniers before I stated to push. I knew this bike was heavy but after a hundred meters it started to get very heavy, and got even heavier and heavier with every step. After negotiating a major junction and two sets of tram lines I made it to the petrol station where I one last obstacle to scale, a short but sharp uphill ramp into the station. After a final big push I was in.

Never again will I second guess anything this motorcycle tells me! I've learnt the hard way that there are no if, buts or maybes... it tells you the way it is and that's that, ignore it and you will be sorry! I'm off to re-read the user manual...

Guitar Lesson #2

With 3 cords, strumming technique and a firm but proper grip on my guitar I was looking forward to the next installment. There were a few comedy moments but that's to be expected. After strumming and a reminder of our 3 cords we were introduced to the next trio; G, Cadd9 and Dsus4. Once we'd mastered those we were making music, of sorts, by playing along to Sweet Home Alabama but it would be fair to say that Lynard Skynard did a better job, but only just.

Apart from sore fingers I am really enjoying this course, a lot more than I thought I might.

Today's takeaways:

• A re-tuned guitar
• Further strumming
• A little plucking
• Cords: G, Cadd9, and Dsus4
• Sore fingers

Achill Half Marathon 2009

Last year if you said to me that I'd be running the Achill half marathon this weekend I'd say you'd be right... and you are, clever thing! This is my third Achill run and every year I run a better time, thankfully this year was no exception.

We drove across Ireland to Keel (the race start, finish and HQ) the night before the race to pick up our race numbers and decided to get some food once we've got the race pack in the bag so to speak. Big mistake... Keel is not known for it's late night culinary offerings and, as we found out, neither is Achill Sound or Mulranny (now spelt Mallaranny) where all kitchens seem to close at 9pm and as our accommodation resembled a building site and only had a microwave oven for cooking our options were limited.

Later that night after a couple of tasteless re-hydrated pasta packs, ham sandwiches that tasted more like chicken and a warm cup of tea (or so it said on the box) we sat on our upturned crates and planned for tomorrow's events.

The day started out overcast and a little chilly which meant no need for sunscreen, but that gradually changed as the race went on. The first mile was nice an easy, I ran it in a little over 10 minutes before stepping up the pace a little to just beyond my comfort zone. I was going for a sub 2 hour half marathon and felt that I could do it this time.

Around mile 5 it dawned on me that I obviously have a selective memory as I climbed yet another hill having told everyone that there was only one significant hill at mile 9. The sun started to shine and the odd brief shower cooled us down, a curse in disguise as my skin baked in the sun.

As expected, mile 9 was the start of the dreaded hill... it was steep and very, very long which probably explains why it stuck out in my memory. After "the hill" the remaining terrain was undulating all the way to back to Keel. I didn't quite make it in under 2 hours but I did come close, the official time was 2:02:36... the one to beat next time!

The lack of sunscreen and the surprise appearance of the sun during the race slowly but surely became obvious as my face arms and legs began ripen like plum tomatoes. By the end of the night I was positively glowing like a man shaped radiator. Today's lesson... lash on the sunscreen if there's even a remote possibility of sun!!

Here's the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8024483