Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-11-08

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-11-01

  • Ò€œ@donmilleris: 3432 people have donated to #savebluelikejazz Only 13 hours remain to join us! http://kck.st/a0WParÒ€ // I donated! πŸ™‚ #
  • So when can we buy #feedback from @derekwebb ? #
  • Today really had a lot of awkwardness in it for me. Glad it's at an end. #
  • Don't wait until it's "finished" #html5Edu #
  • RT @jackjillmaddie: And trogdor comes in the NIGHT! #
  • This is why I make the music I make.
    This is why I donated to the movie Blue Like Jazz.
    This is so, salve so true.
    http://j.mp/drOoks #
  • Win a free copy of #WordPress @mojo_themes from @wpbeginner ΓƒΒ’Γ‚β‚¬Γ‚β€œ http://bit.ly/bmkULN (RT to Enter) #
  • Just completed a 5.15 mi run – 5-ish miles plus lifting plus crunches – hungry now. http://rnkpr.com/abdj5w #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 3, day 2 of #CrunchFu – I did 103 crunches (25 in a row) and scored a A+ grade! #
  • I wish there were more good IMAP clients for the Mac out there. #
  • I use Apple's client for my personal mail, but I'm stuck choosing from Postbox, TBird, and webmail for my work mail. They all kinda stink. #
  • Sparrow looks interesting, but it's gmail only for now. Once they add IMAP support, I'll likely buy it. #
  • Tonight was Trunk or Treat at church. Not all went as planned. Not many showed up, so we took our candy out into town and gave it away! #
  • Just completed a 6.05 mi run with @runkeeper. Check it out! http://rnkpr.com/abfmcp #RunKeeper #
  • Wow. I just bought some size 32 jeans. Haven't worn that size since… middle school? #
  • Just completed a 3.54 mi run – Happy Reformation Day. http://rnkpr.com/abghs2 #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 3, day 3 of #CrunchFu – I did 119 crunches (29 in a row) and scored a A grade! #
  • Two of my least favorite things are over: October in general and Halloween in particular. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-25

  • Kids are in bed. DVR is queued up. Take it away, sale @nbcchuck! #
  • My Twitter value is $47.25, buy according to http://www.twalue.com … What about yours? #twalue #
  • Come out to the Lancaster Elks Lodge this Friday night at 8PM for a showcase of great local bands, viagra including of course Superficial Charm! #
  • Just completed a 3.25 mi run – Right knee hurts again. http://rnkpr.com/ab4il0 #RunKeeper #
  • Just completed a 4.29 mi run – I need to find my gloves… brrr. http://rnkpr.com/ab5odl #RunKeeper #
  • If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others. #
  • At the diner with my wife & kids, my mother-in-law, and my nieces. It's kinda… loud. #
  • Come out to the Lancaster Elks Lodge tonight at 8PM for a showcase of great local bands, including of course Superficial Charm! #
  • Done loading in. Doors open shortly. #
  • Save The Zombies are on stage. They're wrapping up their set. Up next: Tigerbomb. #
  • Tigerbomb on stage. These guys rock. #
  • Wow! That was a great set! Great crowd, too! #
  • Blood Sucking Fiends on stage now. Really digging their sound. Very retro/new wave. #
  • Oh crap! Their bass player just blew the cab. Oops. #
  • Bass cab fixed. The show goes on. #
  • The Guitar Center guy that sold me my Gretsch was in the crowd tonight. Glad I didn't know until after I played. πŸ™‚ #
  • Get A Life on stage now, closing out the night on a bang. #
  • Breakfast for dinner again. Awww yeah. #
  • Just completed a 9.61 mi run with @runkeeper. Check it out! http://rnkpr.com/ab9epu #RunKeeper #
  • Neighbor kid just stopped by and asked me to fix her violin. Which I did. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-18

  • Coding up a quick and dirty solution in REALbasic today. Nice break from PHP, store although I keep typing superfluous semicolons. #
  • I forgot my Zyrtec this morning. Stupid nose. #
  • Just posted a 3.25 mi run with @runkeeper. Check it out! http://rnkpr.com/aauw1z #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 2, day 3 of #CrunchFu – I did 81 crunches (27 in a row) and scored a A++ grade! #
  • I just completed stage 3, day 1 of #PushupFu – I did 46 pushups (12 in a row) and scored a B+ grade! #
  • District Data Committee meeting. #
  • I bought a used Soloflex off craigslist tonight. Time to start building some muscle. #
  • My pastor sent me some thoughts on this week's service, based on the passage he's covering, and inadvertently planned the service. Win! πŸ™‚ #
  • Just completed a 4.03 mi run – Almost had a run in with a skunk. http://rnkpr.com/aaw5sk #RunKeeper #
  • Use a JavaScript library like jQuery or MooTools to simplify cross-browser compatibility. #jsEdu #
  • Band practice tonight. Getting ready for saturday's show.
    http://superficialcharm.com #
  • Awesome of the Day: 8-Bit Revenge
    http://j.mp/cpLbyv #
  • Just completed a 4.17 mi run – Right knee is bugging me. http://rnkpr.com/aaykdx #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 3, day 1 of #CrunchFu – I did 94 crunches (26 in a row) and scored a A++ grade! #
  • Enjoying my free @saladworks for wearing my shirt. πŸ™‚ #
  • Just completed a 10.01 mi run – Walked about one mile of it. http://rnkpr.com/aazn7y #RunKeeper #
  • Did 10 mile run this AM. Currently installing new dishwasher with my father-in-law. Superficial Charm show tonight. Should sleep well. πŸ™‚ #
  • Not a huge crowd at tonight's show, but they did outnumber the band. πŸ™‚ #
  • Trying to work out. Dog has other ideas. http://twitpic.com/2yjft7 #
  • Home with a sick kid today. Shaping up to be a very long day. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-11

  • Just completed a 4.00 mi run – Weights again – ouch. http://rnkpr.com/aam1go #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 1, ed day 3 of #CrunchFu – I did 57 crunches (25 in a row) and scored a A++ grade! #
  • Just posted a 2.25 mi run – Treadmill (cold + rainy = Brad runs inside). http://rnkpr.com/aandn5 #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 2, tadalafil day 1 of #CrunchFu – I did 66 crunches (30 in a row) and scored a A++ grade! #
  • Sarge or Missy? GymFu have added in new voices! http://gymfu.com/voices/ #gymfu #
  • I just completed stage 2, day 2 of #PushupFu – I did 33 pushups (11 in a row) and scored a A+ grade! #
  • Things I just pulled out of our vacuum cleaner: teddy bear pencil topper, pom-poms (2), pencil, hair band (2), bendy straw, thread. #
  • PHP, thou art a heartless wench. #
  • Just completed a 7.06 mi run – Seven miles, lots of hills, no walking. http://rnkpr.com/aapsa6 #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 2, day 2 of #CrunchFu – I did 74 crunches (30 in a row) and scored a A++ grade! #
  • I just completed stage 2, day 3 of #PushupFu – I did 38 pushups (11 in a row) and scored a B grade! #
  • This Friday is off to a great start. πŸ™‚ #
  • Soft pretzels in the breakroom?? Holy crap, yes! #
  • Just made Jiffy Pop for the kids. Never did that before! #
  • Doing 12 miles in the morning with my friend who's training for a marathon. Better get some sleep. #
  • Well, maybe just a couple minutes of Angry Birds first. #
  • Just completed a 6.07 mi run – Was going for 12 miles but my hip started to hurt. http://rnkpr.com/aaqw8z #RunKeeper #
  • My garage is super creepy tonight. Doesn't usually bother me, but there are many winged and/or multi-legged creatures out there right now. #
  • My dog is sick. My house smells like the humane league. #
  • Nice! RT @nevmonster: http://twitpic.com/2wgtlb I think I got mud on my face #
  • Breakfast for supper. Awww yeah. #
  • Tonight it's just us boys. Showing my son Star Wars for the 1st time. Well, 2nd time, I guess. We tried once before, but he fell asleep. #
  • "No, son, it's DARTH Vader. Not DARK Vader." #
  • Why didn't the Empire have a backup of those Death Star plans? #
  • My son is bored out of his mind watching Star Wars, but he's for it so long that he won't admit it. πŸ™‚ #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-04

  • After almost one full year of development, diagnosis the new website at work is live: http://www.mtwp.net #
  • Kids are in bed. Time to watch Chuck! Woot! #
  • This subversion checkin is taking way longer than I expected. Probably because it's like 3 gigs. #
  • Just completed a 2.98 mi run – Ran with hand weights – way harder than I expected. http://rnkpr.com/aabwi6 #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 1, day 1 of #CrunchFu – I did 28 crunches (10 in a row) and scored a A++ grade! #
  • I miss summer. I know a lot of people like autumn and the cooler temps, but I'll take 90 and humid, thanks. #
  • Rainy mornings make me so sleepy… #
  • Got home to learn that the power's out. Yay. Guess we're going out for dinner! #
  • Out at the Lincoln Highway Diner with the family since we have no power at home. Mmmmm… pancakes. πŸ™‚ #
  • Power is still out. Going on five hours. πŸ™ #
  • Just completed a 4.04 mi run – Four miles, lots of hills, three pound weight in each hand. http://rnkpr.com/aah41f #RunKeeper #
  • I just completed stage 1, day 2 of #CrunchFu – I did 48 crunches (26 in a row) and scored a A++ grade! #
  • This has the potential to be the worst movie ever: http://j.mp/9747lP #
  • My wife gave the dog a bad haircut. He's all jaggy now. He looks low resolution. It's like having an animated GIF for a pet. #
  • .@toddhiggins I miss Clarus. And Claris for that matter. in reply to toddhiggins #
  • Just completed a 5.06 mi run – Ran without weights & felt like I was flying. http://rnkpr.com/aai7hw #RunKeeper #
  • On the bridge for the Columbia Bridge Bust. #
  • The kids are disposing of the leftover ice. http://twitpic.com/2u2aec #
  • Long day at the Bridge Bust. But a good day! Made lots of connections with folks and gave lots of lollipops to kids. And had soft pretzels. #
  • Doing another low key, mostly acoustic set tomorrow morning. Me on my trusty old white Alvarez and my main man & goto guy Jeff on bass. #
  • My niece at lunch today: "Daddy, can I be full now?" #
  • Chilling at the mall with my number one homeboy. πŸ˜‰ http://twitpic.com/2ufcd1 #
  • Olive Garden. Awwww yeah. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-09-27

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-09-20

HBG Half Marathon 2010

I heard my iPhone buzzing. I thought that was odd, because I could have sworn I had turned the ringer back on before I went to sleep. Oh well. The bigger question, of course, was who was calling me so early? It couldn’t have been later than 5:00 AM.

Except that it was 6:20 AM. Crap! I knew immediately that it was Tim calling. And I knew what he wanted.

He wanted to know where the heck I was.

Panic set in. This wasn’t the plan. This wasn’t the plan!

The plan was to get up at 5:00 AM and get to Tim’s house by 6:00 AM. We were going to meet Steve, Katie, and Bridgett there, and we were all going to drive up to Harrisburg for the half marathon together in Tim’s van. It was going to be a group thing. After all, we’d all been running together and training for this half marathon together for months. We got up early on Saturdays and met at various locations: Tim’s place, my place, downtown Lancaster, the Conewago Recreation Trail. Anywhere we could find a good place to run. We increased our mileage almost every week, and we had made tremendous progress together.

We were a team.

Only I was kind of messing up the team right now. We were supposed to leave Tim’s by 6:00 AM, and here it was already 6:20. Crap!

I picked up the phone. “Leave without me,” I said.

Tim was curious. “You still coming?”

“Leave without me,” I repeated. “I’ll meet you up there.”

“You sure?”

Sure or not, I didn’t have much choice. By the time I would have gotten to Tim’s place, I would have made us all late. I scrambled to get my running gear together, thankful that I had at least laid some of my things out and gotten my hydration belt ready the night before.

Jen stirred in bed. “Are you going up by yourself now?”

I nodded. “Yeah, not much choice.”

“Do you know where you’re going?”

“I have GPS on my iPhone,” I said. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Don’t rush,” she offered. “You have plenty of time to make it there before eight.”

“I know.” But I still hated driving in Harrisburg. We said goodbye and I dashed over to the computer to print out directions. Of course, I didn’t know the address, so I had to search the web for info on the half marathon. I finally printed the “to” and the “from” directions, and I was off.

Thankfully, traffic was light that early on a Sunday morning. I found my way to City Island in Harrisburg and secured one of the last available parking spots. It was about 7:30. I called Tim to find out where the team was, and we met up a few minutes later.

When I saw Tim up ahead, I felt like I could breathe again. My first official half marathon was not something I wanted to do alone. I wanted to be with the same people I’d been training with for so long.

And they’re good people. A good team. As soon as I got there, they handed me my timing chip, which they had picked up for me. And the day before, they had picked up my race packet when I couldn’t join them because of prior commitments. I strapped the timing chip around my ankle and we gathered for a group picture.

Soon, it was time to make our way toward the starting line. We headed outside, and it was cold. It had been raining for hours and the air had quite a chill to it. We all figured we’d be warm enough soon enough.

The next few minutes were a blur. I remember meeting Katie’s friend Jen and her friend Eric, who was on my RunKeeper street team.

Before I knew it, we were running.

For a while, we were running in front of a father and his two sons, aged ten and twelve. We were all impressed with kids that young even attempting a half marathon. At one point I heard the father ask, “Are you guys okay?”

“My legs kinda hurt,” replied one of his sons.

The father laughed. “Yeah, they’ll probably do that until we’re done!”

After a bit, we got behind a group of Christian runners with scripture on their shirts. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Katie, Tim, and I stuck together for about the first four or five miles. Maybe six. Eventually Tim fell behind, saying, “I’m not running to keep up with you. I’m running my pace. See you at the finish line.” I kept up with Katie for a few more miles. Turns out, she was having a really, really good day. She was feeling no pain and running like the wind. I, on the other hand, was feeling some serious pain, mostly in my stomach, and breaking wind instead of running like it. Somewhere around mile eight, I eased up and told Katie to go on without me. I ran for about one more mile before I really hit the wall. I died around mile nine.

After a bit, I slowed to a walk. At first, I truly felt ashamed. All that training, all that time invested, and here I was walking a half marathon.

Then I remembered what Tim had said repeatedly: “Most people in this world never even make it to the starting line.” I walked, aching and sore, and waited for Tim to catch up. It wasn’t long before I heard, “Hey! Nice of you to wait for me!”

I picked up my pace again and said, “That was only part of the motivation.”

Tim laughed and checked his phone. “We’re still running a great pace,” he said. “Let’s do this.”

On we ran together.

For about a mile and a half. My legs gave out and I just had to walk again. Tim grabbed me by the arm. “Come on, let’s finish this. You and me.”

I shook him off. “Go, man,” I said. “I’ll get there.”

“You sure?”

“Go.”

Tim took off and I walked a bit further. Soon I heard another voice, one I didn’t recognize. “Come on!” she yelled. “Pick it up!”

I turned to see an unfamiliar young woman running toward me from behind. “There’s still time to finish with pride!” she said. “Let’s go!”

Once again, I picked up my pace, and I thanked her for the encouragement. “No problem,” she said. “You pay me back by picking up a straggler on your next race.”

“Deal.”

I don’t remember many details from the next few miles. I had hit that point when your mind and body aren’t really even connected. I remember talking to a really nice guy with a strong Indian accent who was, at this point, completely panic-stricken about the full marathon he was scheduled for in two months. I remember spilling water on a volunteer at one of the water stations. I remember getting back to the bridge and seeing and hearing a group of runners who had already finished cheering for those of us still running. Cheering with everything they had left. That pushed me forward some more.

Soon I hit the bridge back to City Island.

A man on the sidelines yelled to me, “Don’t hold back! You just need to make it across the bridge! No sense saving anything now!”

I’m sure he meant that to be encouraging, but the fact was, I had nothing left to save. I was spent.

But I ran across the bridge.

And I crossed the finish line.

With a time of two hours, twenty minutes. At that, I had to laugh.

When we did our practice half marathon at the Conewago Trail, I finished in 2:20. I had wanted to beat that time, but for my first official half marathon, I was content to achieve that.

A volunteer removed my timing chip from my ankle and another placed a medal around my neck. It was heavy. It was real metal, not plastic junk. And even though I knew that all of the almost one thousand runners who ran that day each got one, I felt like a champion. Like Tim said, “Most people in this world never even make it to the starting line.” And I had crossed the finish line.

I made my way back to the pavilion or garage or whatever kind of building it was where they had set up food and music for us. I found the rest of my team and helped myself to a well deserved breakfast of fruit, half bagel, and a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

While I ate, I checked Twitter, only to find some tweets of encouragement from my daughter, who had borrowed my wife’s phone at church to send me a couple messages. I’m not ashamed to say that I teared up a bit when I read them. I had made my daughter proud, and that was a great accomplishment.

I probably would have cried more if there had been any fluid left in my body.

After having some time to reflect, I realized some of the mistakes I’d made that day.

First, oversleeping and rushing to get to the race venue didn’t start me off on the right foot.

Second, I underate the day before. By a wide margin. I didn’t eat enough carbs, or enough food of any kind. So I started the race at a deficit, hoping that some Gatorade could make up the difference. It didn’t. I paid for it with some stomach pain during the race.

I also pushed too hard, too soon. Tim commented that he felt like he didn’t hit the wall he always hits at the nine mile mark because he listened to his body. I joked that I listened to Katie’s body and ended up hitting Tim’s wall for him. Instead of trying to keep up with Katie (who had a great day and was really feeling it), I should have held back and maintained a more manageable pace early on.

Finally, I hadn’t done enough hill work leading up to the race. I had heard that Harrisburg was a pretty flat course, so I had been working on my pace and my endurance, and I had neglected hill work.

Given all that, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. This past spring, I started the Couch to 5k program. Little did I know I’d be going from couch to half marathon in five months.

Katie snapped one last picture of the boys: Steve, Tim, and me.