I have lots of cassette tapes. Hey, I grew up in the '80s, so half of my collection consists of artists like Duran Duran, Wham!, Swing Out Sister and Tears for Fears.
The other half was procured in the '90s when I became a Phish fan. Back in those days, we would find other phans at shows or through friends who knew other phans who had tapes of shows (and if you were friends with a taper? Jackpot!). Like the Grateful Dead before them, Phish always welcomed tapers at their shows as long as the tapes were copied and given away or traded, never sold.
Even in the early days of the internet, there were no mp3s, so we mostly used it as a tool to connect with other phans and trade tapes. That's how I built up my collection.
Because the cassette is now a dead medium, I have been in the process of converting my hundreds of Phish tapes to CD and mp3. My cassette player is hooked up to a standalone CD burner which records from any analog source (I've been digitizing a lot of my hundreds of vinyl records, too).
In order to make things both fun and organized, I have been converting my Phish tapes on their 20th anniversaries. So all throughout 2010 and 2011, I was recording my 1990 and 1991 tapes. The fun of it is that it needs to be done in real time (with track separation being done by pushing a button at the correct moment), so I also listen intently to them, and twice - first to figure out where the track changes were, then to actually record them onto disc. Then I convert the audio to mp3, so I have it on disc and on my computer. Listening to those old shows on my iPod while running has been quite awesome.
It has been quite the endeavor. But a few days ago, my cassette player, which has probably seen more use in the past two years than the previous two decades, conked out.
And so, I logged on to Amazon.com, a thoroughly modern method of shopping, to purchase a used tape deck - a completely outmoded technology. How anachronistic!
But I need it - I've got a ton of 1992 tapes that need to be converted this year.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
The taper begins
This is the first week of the taper - the period of time after the most intense training during which my weekly mileage steadily decreases in order to have fresh legs for the race. After finishing my 58-mile week with less than stellar results, I have mixed feelings.
Am I ready? That last 20-miler bummed me out and it was the last major training day. I hope it is not a harbinger of bad tidings for the race.
My Sunday five-miler was slow, but I was able to pick up the pace for my Monday eight-miler and Tuesday fiver.
Wednesday was the final day of hill sprints (thankfully!). I won't miss those. There is nothing fun about sprinting up and down a hill that is 1/3-mile long.
Yesterday, much-needed rest.
Today, only four miles. I have not done a four-mile run in weeks. Hopefully, it will be a piece of cake.
Sixteen days to go until the Gansett Marathon and everything aches. This is not the vibe I wanted for the taper period.
Am I ready? That last 20-miler bummed me out and it was the last major training day. I hope it is not a harbinger of bad tidings for the race.
My Sunday five-miler was slow, but I was able to pick up the pace for my Monday eight-miler and Tuesday fiver.
Wednesday was the final day of hill sprints (thankfully!). I won't miss those. There is nothing fun about sprinting up and down a hill that is 1/3-mile long.
Yesterday, much-needed rest.
Today, only four miles. I have not done a four-mile run in weeks. Hopefully, it will be a piece of cake.
Sixteen days to go until the Gansett Marathon and everything aches. This is not the vibe I wanted for the taper period.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Made it...barely
By Wednesday of last week, my back was feeling better (though not 100 percent), so I got out on the ol' track and blasted out eight 800-meter repeats with 400-meter jogs in between. My average time for those speed intervals was 3:01. I felt so good. So ready.
Thursday was my rest day and Friday was my final 10-mile pace run of the training program. I knocked it out of the park. It was so beautiful on Friday that I was positively grinning from the moment I stepped outside. Low 50s, no wind, cool and crisp air. I flew through the 10 - huge hills in Montclair and all - at a 6:30 pace. I was in heaven.
I wanted my final 20-mile run to be the icing on the cake, but that was not to be. The course was the same as the previous 20-miler, only in the reverse direction. This meant it was mostly downhill from Little Falls, through Fairfield, into Montville, for the first half; and uphill through the Caldwells, Verona and Cedar Grove, for the second. In addition, the wind was blowing from the east, and fiercely at that. Road signs were swinging in the wind like they were made of paper, and there I was, pushing up the four-mile long incline of Bloomfield Avenue from its start at Route 46 all the way to Fairview Avenue.
It did not help that I made the rookie mistake of starting out way too fast. This is what trips people up at the Boston Marathon, in which the first half is all downhill and the next several miles have tough hills, and I knew that. I saw it firsthand. Yet I could not help myself. The excitement of the first 10 miles had me get to the halfway point in 71 minutes. But it did not take a lot of time of running uphill into the wind to knock the vim right out of me.
By the time I reached the West Essex Trail, with less than five miles to go, I was barely the man I had been just an hour before, and the enormous hill on Lakeview Avenue, connecting Bowden Road to Ridge Road, drained me of everything I had left. The last three miles were a broken man's shuffle, leading to a second half of 84 minutes.
Averaged out, my pace for the entire run was 7:45 or so. This would have been A-OK if I had started and ended at that pace. But to start so fast and end so slowly is bad news. It means that I must remember to work on my control. Control will be everything at the Gansett Marathon, now just 16 days away.
Thursday was my rest day and Friday was my final 10-mile pace run of the training program. I knocked it out of the park. It was so beautiful on Friday that I was positively grinning from the moment I stepped outside. Low 50s, no wind, cool and crisp air. I flew through the 10 - huge hills in Montclair and all - at a 6:30 pace. I was in heaven.
I wanted my final 20-mile run to be the icing on the cake, but that was not to be. The course was the same as the previous 20-miler, only in the reverse direction. This meant it was mostly downhill from Little Falls, through Fairfield, into Montville, for the first half; and uphill through the Caldwells, Verona and Cedar Grove, for the second. In addition, the wind was blowing from the east, and fiercely at that. Road signs were swinging in the wind like they were made of paper, and there I was, pushing up the four-mile long incline of Bloomfield Avenue from its start at Route 46 all the way to Fairview Avenue.
It did not help that I made the rookie mistake of starting out way too fast. This is what trips people up at the Boston Marathon, in which the first half is all downhill and the next several miles have tough hills, and I knew that. I saw it firsthand. Yet I could not help myself. The excitement of the first 10 miles had me get to the halfway point in 71 minutes. But it did not take a lot of time of running uphill into the wind to knock the vim right out of me.
By the time I reached the West Essex Trail, with less than five miles to go, I was barely the man I had been just an hour before, and the enormous hill on Lakeview Avenue, connecting Bowden Road to Ridge Road, drained me of everything I had left. The last three miles were a broken man's shuffle, leading to a second half of 84 minutes.
Averaged out, my pace for the entire run was 7:45 or so. This would have been A-OK if I had started and ended at that pace. But to start so fast and end so slowly is bad news. It means that I must remember to work on my control. Control will be everything at the Gansett Marathon, now just 16 days away.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Racing, resting and relaxing in Rhode Island
On April 14, I will be running the Gansett Marathon in Rhode Island. I picked this race for three reasons:
First, I wanted to run an April race.
Second, the fact the the only means of entry is by qualification - and that I had already qualified with my Missoula Marathon result - made it feel special.
Lastly, the course runs from Naragansett to Point Judith and back. Point Judith happens to be the gateway to my favorite getaway place - Block Island.
I wrote much about Block Island in my old blog, Heart and Soles. I have gone there an average of once a year since 2005 (I missed 2007, but went twice in 2006). I ran its Run Around the Block 15K twice ('06 and '09). I went there with bands to play shows ('05 and '06) and with Karen for romantic getaways ('08, '09 and '10) as well as a post-breakup friendly winter jaunt ('11).
This time, I am going with my good buddy and former roommate, Lee. He is accompanying me to the marathon and then we're hopping the ferry to the Block for three days of rest and relaxation and some quality bro time.
Lee is one of my the only single male friends I have left. And while I still love my married friends and their wives, and absolutely adore their children, and I still enjoy hanging out with Karen, a single guy needs single-guy friends to hang with. It's something married folks can not understand because their lives revolve around their families (as they should!), just as I can not wrap my head around what it must be like to be a family man.
So it'll be Lee and me and an island that will just be awakening for the spring season. We'll probably drink too much and stay up late and be stupid but, you know, that's what single guys do.
First, I wanted to run an April race.
Second, the fact the the only means of entry is by qualification - and that I had already qualified with my Missoula Marathon result - made it feel special.
Lastly, the course runs from Naragansett to Point Judith and back. Point Judith happens to be the gateway to my favorite getaway place - Block Island.
I wrote much about Block Island in my old blog, Heart and Soles. I have gone there an average of once a year since 2005 (I missed 2007, but went twice in 2006). I ran its Run Around the Block 15K twice ('06 and '09). I went there with bands to play shows ('05 and '06) and with Karen for romantic getaways ('08, '09 and '10) as well as a post-breakup friendly winter jaunt ('11).
This time, I am going with my good buddy and former roommate, Lee. He is accompanying me to the marathon and then we're hopping the ferry to the Block for three days of rest and relaxation and some quality bro time.
Lee is one of my the only single male friends I have left. And while I still love my married friends and their wives, and absolutely adore their children, and I still enjoy hanging out with Karen, a single guy needs single-guy friends to hang with. It's something married folks can not understand because their lives revolve around their families (as they should!), just as I can not wrap my head around what it must be like to be a family man.
So it'll be Lee and me and an island that will just be awakening for the spring season. We'll probably drink too much and stay up late and be stupid but, you know, that's what single guys do.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The stupidity does not stop
I am a smart guy. I know it. But, all too often, I can be really stupid.
For some reason, I had it in my head that Jones Beach Phish tickets would go on sale at Ticketmaster on last Saturday.
I prepared a plan of attack, opting this time to try my luck at an actual physical Ticketmaster outlet at a local Wal-Mart instead of dealing with the futility if their awful website.
Saturday morning, I looked at the Ticketmaster website and was stunned to see that tickets went on sale Friday, not Saturday, and unsurprisingly, both shows were sold out.
But it is really OK. I had also prepared myself for the inevitable disappointment of not getting tickets. I will be happy with the five shows I scored from Phish Tickets by Mail. If nothing else, that saves me $140 and two vacation days. I will be sure to treat myself to something else, maybe during the Vermont trip or during my Rhode Island marathon getaway.
For some reason, I had it in my head that Jones Beach Phish tickets would go on sale at Ticketmaster on last Saturday.
I prepared a plan of attack, opting this time to try my luck at an actual physical Ticketmaster outlet at a local Wal-Mart instead of dealing with the futility if their awful website.
Saturday morning, I looked at the Ticketmaster website and was stunned to see that tickets went on sale Friday, not Saturday, and unsurprisingly, both shows were sold out.
But it is really OK. I had also prepared myself for the inevitable disappointment of not getting tickets. I will be happy with the five shows I scored from Phish Tickets by Mail. If nothing else, that saves me $140 and two vacation days. I will be sure to treat myself to something else, maybe during the Vermont trip or during my Rhode Island marathon getaway.
Monday, March 26, 2012
A stupid, stupid injury
Last Friday, near the end of the second "step back" week sandwiched between tough weeks of 55 and 56 miles, I did something really stupid.
It was the end of the work week, I was itching to get out, and I had to pee really badly, when one of the managers asked me to move a big box of copy paper.
I could have told her to wait until I went to the bathroom first and then moved the paper a few reams at a time.
Instead, in my haste to pee and get the hell out of there, I hefted the giant, heavy box and moved it to its designated spot. I hit the restroom, split and went home.
By the time I went to bed that night, my back was hurting, and when I woke up, it was aching. Somehow, I ran 13 miles (thank goodness it was not 20!) with my back in agony. And, like a fool, instead of taking my optional rest day on Sunday, I began my final week of heavy training with a aching five-miler.
There is something to be said for "active recovery" though. I feel like the strength in my body that I have built up from running so many miles has been a help in healing. Monday's 10-miler was uncomfortable and, even though I ran at a 7:30 pace, I could tell I was getting better.
Tuesday's easy five-miler was at a 7:10 pace and still a bit bothersome, but I have every bit of confidence that I can train through this as I round out this highest-mileage week and head into the taper of the home stretch.
It was the end of the work week, I was itching to get out, and I had to pee really badly, when one of the managers asked me to move a big box of copy paper.
I could have told her to wait until I went to the bathroom first and then moved the paper a few reams at a time.
Instead, in my haste to pee and get the hell out of there, I hefted the giant, heavy box and moved it to its designated spot. I hit the restroom, split and went home.
By the time I went to bed that night, my back was hurting, and when I woke up, it was aching. Somehow, I ran 13 miles (thank goodness it was not 20!) with my back in agony. And, like a fool, instead of taking my optional rest day on Sunday, I began my final week of heavy training with a aching five-miler.
There is something to be said for "active recovery" though. I feel like the strength in my body that I have built up from running so many miles has been a help in healing. Monday's 10-miler was uncomfortable and, even though I ran at a 7:30 pace, I could tell I was getting better.
Tuesday's easy five-miler was at a 7:10 pace and still a bit bothersome, but I have every bit of confidence that I can train through this as I round out this highest-mileage week and head into the taper of the home stretch.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Phish lottery
Five for seven.
That was my result from the Phish lottery. If I had to choose, I would say the two tickets I did not get were the ones I wanted least (Jones Beach), but I really would not want to have had to choose. And I had no choice anyway. I did not get them. So, you know, oh well.
But I am thrilled that I will be going to Atlantic City and the SPAC and I immediately set about reserving hotel rooms.
I was shocked (though I guess I should not have been) by the weekend prices of hotel rooms in A.C., so I booked a hotel in nearby Absecon. It was half the price of an A.C. hotel and all I had to do was walk a half-mile to the train station and take it one stop (for only seven bucks round trip) to the heart of A.C.
So there! Take that you overpriced Vegas-wannabe of a city! I beat you!
For the SPAC, I booked two nights at a pet-friendly hotel about 30 miles north of Saratoga because my ex-girlfriend (but still good friend) Karen will be coming along and bringing her new dog. We are going to have SO MUCH FUN. I have always wanted to travel with a dog and, lately, been wanting one of my own.
After the SPAC shows, we will continue north for a day trip up to Vermont where we will visit the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory. What a (short, not-so-strange) trip it will be!
As for Jones Beach, I figured I would try my luck on Ticketmaster. That is usually futile because Ticketmaster sucks ass, but what the hell.
That was my result from the Phish lottery. If I had to choose, I would say the two tickets I did not get were the ones I wanted least (Jones Beach), but I really would not want to have had to choose. And I had no choice anyway. I did not get them. So, you know, oh well.
But I am thrilled that I will be going to Atlantic City and the SPAC and I immediately set about reserving hotel rooms.
I was shocked (though I guess I should not have been) by the weekend prices of hotel rooms in A.C., so I booked a hotel in nearby Absecon. It was half the price of an A.C. hotel and all I had to do was walk a half-mile to the train station and take it one stop (for only seven bucks round trip) to the heart of A.C.
So there! Take that you overpriced Vegas-wannabe of a city! I beat you!
For the SPAC, I booked two nights at a pet-friendly hotel about 30 miles north of Saratoga because my ex-girlfriend (but still good friend) Karen will be coming along and bringing her new dog. We are going to have SO MUCH FUN. I have always wanted to travel with a dog and, lately, been wanting one of my own.
After the SPAC shows, we will continue north for a day trip up to Vermont where we will visit the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory. What a (short, not-so-strange) trip it will be!
As for Jones Beach, I figured I would try my luck on Ticketmaster. That is usually futile because Ticketmaster sucks ass, but what the hell.
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