13.1

Up until, oh, about a month or so ago, I never would have thought that I would be a distance runner. I guess I still don't really think of myself as a runner. Running to me implies a lot of speed; I am more of a jogger. But today I "ran" my first race. I remember doing the Turkey Trot with my dad when I was much younger. I think it was only a mile, maybe two at the most. It was all I could do at the time, and I think I did it just once. But at that time, I really didn't understand the whole concept of it. So, I consider this SLC half marathon my first race. And it was probably my best run ever. I would describe it as an out of body experience of sorts. I almost couldn't believe that I was doing it. I had passed races before or seen them on TV but never though of actually being in one. It was surreal.

I left my house at about 5:30, thinking that would be plenty of time to get to the start by 7:00. I parked my car right by the celebration area and took the Trax up to the starting line. There were so many people. I didn't realize that so many people did these races. Once I got there, I put my timing chip on (I could have done that before I left, but I was afraid I would lose it.) and got in line for the bag drop. That took forever, but what was worse was the line for the port-a-potties. There had to have be close to 30 or more lined up along the parking lot. But there were so many people. I got in line at a quarter to 7:00, and it took me nearly a half hour before I could go. Fortunately, with these timing chips, I didn't necessarily have to start right away to know my personal time. So, I ended up starting about 12 minutes after the countdown.

It was probably a good thing that I started later and went to the bathroom before I started. First, I wasn't under as much pressure to run as fast as the others since by the time I started there weren't too many people behind me. And second, I found that through out the whole race there were people waiting in line at the port-a-potties that were located at the water stations. Their final time probably wasn't as accurate that way.

So, I started off telling myself that it would be just like another long training run. I think that got me though a lot of it. I knew I could do it because I had done it before. The first mile was a little difficult. It was early in the morning and my body was just warming up. The second mile was fine, too, but three through six just flew by. Before I knew it, I was already coming up on mile 8. At mile 11, though, I hit my wall. It was kind of a funny feeling. It was so sudden. My heart was doing just fine and so were my lungs, but my legs just refused to moved like they were before. Up until Liberty Park, I ran the whole way. I stopped at the water stations, but I picked it up right after. But after Liberty Park I had to do some walking. I was so surprised that I had made it as far as I did without stopping. I certainly didn't make it that far in any of my training runs. But I knew my limits.

As proud of myself as I was, it was kind of disheartening when the full marathon winners passed me up just before the finish line. I averaged about a 10 minute mile, which means that to run a full marathon in the same amount of time as I ran a half would make their average around 5 minutes. That's crazy. I don't know how they do it. The advantage was that the people were cheering extra loud as I ran down the last stretch.

You can click here for a list of the results.

The after party was just ok. Nothing special. I did get a short massage. That probably helped me to get on with the rest of my day. They had water, bananas, and creamies, but I just wasn't hungry enough to really make the most of it.

All in all, though, it was a good experience. I am glad I did it, and I do plan to do another one some time.

My Running Enthusiast.

I have a good friend/co-worker that I really like. I'll call her Elaine. We are in the same kind of position in life, have similar experiences, struggle with similar things. It was she who started my thinking about running. When she first joined the team almost a year ago, she made mention of doing some races. At the time she was getting ready for the Summer Games triathlon. So, when I heard about the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab, Utah, I was so excited and got her and my sister to register with me. Because it is so popular, they base entrance on lottery. We didn't get it. I was so disappointed. I was just about to give up the whole idea of a half marathon when she continued to be excited about running. It was good encouragement and motivation for me. So, I decided to do the SLC half marathon instead.

Throughout the whole training, she has given me advice and encouragement. She said that the races are so much fun and that I'd really like it. All the talk made me think that she had done a few of her own. I recently found out that she hadn't done any other races besides the triathlon. She was selected to run the St. George marathon but at the last minute decided she wasn't ready enough. The whole time I was thinking that it was no big deal to her.

But this morning she came into my office and gave me one last boost of support. She gave me a card and two marathon bars. The front of the card said, "Do one thing every day that scares you. (Eleanor Roosevelt)." On the inside she wrote, "Just in case the taquitos are a bust! Good luck!" (When I got my race newsletter, I read that they were providing hot dogs and taquitos as post race refreshments. I wasn't too thrilled about those options and expressed my disappointment to her, which generated the comment.) I was very touched by her thoughtful gesture. I knew she was excited for me, perhaps even more exited than I was. I owe her a lot.

Compromising Integrity for a Water Bottle, That Or a Lack of Common Sense.

It had been ages since I had run outside. Every since I got my gym membership I have been running on the treadmill. However, ever since I decided to do the SLC half marathon, I made a concerted effort to start running outside. I decided that I really liked it. Time goes by much faster, and it just feels good to be outside. Another benefit is that the sweat evaporates more, and I am not left dripping like I just got out of the pool.

Also, it is quite convenient for me that I work across the street from a decent running trail. There is a path that goes around Decker Lake. One of the reasons I liked running at the gym was that the general public wouldn't see me. But I found that this little track was secluded enough that I felt comfortable with it. Granted, it does goes right past the I-215, but those people are driving so fast and wouldn't recognize me anyway.

Well, yesterday I went on my mid-week run around the lake. I have done maybe 8 or so runs there so far. And well, this is the first time that anyone has taken my water bottle. I certainly wouldn't leave anything valuable out there, but for some one to take a water bottle is quite low. Was he that thirsty that he would deprive a runner of her replenishment? I say, if you are going to steal something, make it worth it.

In disbelief that someone would compromise his integrity for some tap water, I thought of some other possibilities. But none of them dignified the water-taker. Maybe someone thought it was litter and disposed of it for me. Then I realized that only an idiot would think that. The bottle was nearly full and probably still cold. And with people running on the trail, one could only assume that the person had use for it and was coming back for it. Or maybe someone was just so thirsty that he couldn't wait to get his own water. Then I thought that someone who put himself in that situation would have taken the water and left the bottle. But there was no bottle to be found. My only other explanation would be the drunk boys that were fishing didn't have the functioning power to think otherwise.

Whatever the case was, someone wasn't thinking or doesn't have high enough principles to act honorably. Sure, I finished my run without dehydration. It wasn't a big deal. Obviously the person needed it more than I did. I am just ashamed that there are people like that out there.

My Sport.

I have decided to make running my sport. I never really considered it a sport before. I just used it as a means to stay healthy. But after thinking about it some, I realized that it really is a sport. There is a lot that goes into it. I guess I figured that sports were automatically team oriented and more competitive. Yes, running is quite the event when it comes to track and field, and especially during the Olympic season, but it doesn't get as much acclaim as say basketball, or football, or baseball, or even tennis. I mean, how many marathons are televised from start to finish? That would be quite boring if you ask me. Now, I suppose, if people consider golf and bowling sports, then certainly running should be one too.

Looking back, I wish I had played sports more. Maybe I shouldn't say more and just put the period after sports, because I didn't really play any at all. School work and music were the emphasis of my youth. It is unfortunate because there are valuable skills in playing sports. Sure, you can play music well into your retirement years, whereas sports skills may not be as useful, but developing a habit of physical activity is something that will be a benefit later on. Sports is a social opportunity as well. A friend's 70 year old mother plays on a family soccer team. That is a good thing to do as a family—you get exercise, interaction, unity, bonding, etc.

Well, because I never really learned to play team sports, I thought I might as well do an individual one. I can play team sports, and I enjoy them quite a bit, but I do not feel like I can play them well enough to play with people who do know how to play. I will admit for everyone who is too afraid to admit it that playing sports with someone who doesn't really know how to play isn't much fun. It slows the game down and increases the chance of losing. And no one wants to lose. It's even the case when people play "just for fun."

After talking to an experienced running friend, I decided I would get serious about this. I started by buying some shoes. It was recommended by this friend, as well as a couple of other people, that I have my gait analyzed. About five months back, I was due to get some new running shoes. I tried several different brands but never found one I actually liked. Some of them even gave me pain from my ankle to my knee to my hamstring. I finally decided on some Asics, which I had never used before. They were the best of what I tried. But with my increased running in preparation for the SLC half marathon, I started getting pain again. And I was due again to get new shoes. So, I went to Runner's Advantage. I believe it is now the Salt Lake Running Company.

The guy put me in some neutral shoes to do the analysis. I ran for about 30 seconds on a treadmill while a camera recorded my feet. The guy then played it back in slow motion and showed me what was happening. There is a term called pronation which means "to turn (the sole of the foot) outward so that the inner edge of the foot bears the weight when standing" (from dictionary.com). Ideally you want to be neutral. Underpronation is when the weight is borne on the outer edge of the foot and overpronation is when the weight is borne too much on the inner edge. Neutral, then, would be evenly distributed or flat. I overpronate quite badly. He recommended some stability shoes. But the ones I had before were actually appropriate for my gait. With that, he said that I should try some arch support insoles. After testing out a few different brands of shoes and different insoles, I decided to get a pair of Brooks. I went back on the treadmill and he recorded me again. This time, with the new shoes, my feet were aligned properly. There was a night and day difference. I wish I could have kept a recording to show the difference. I was amazed. Apparently my arch is just really weak. Oh, and it was confirmed that I am supposed to get shoes a full size bigger than my regular shoes. I was in disbelief when I first learned that.

With the new shoes, I was pumped for my first run. Unfortunately it was the day my mom came into town, so I didn't have a chance to really test them out like I wanted. I went on the treadmill and struggled to keep up my normal pace. Midweek runs are always much harder for me. I did have a few concerns, though. My feet moved around too much. I was worried that they were indeed too big for me. But, I thought I would give them some more time. Saturday came around and I was determined to have a good run. I laced up the shoes a little tighter this time and set out. It was a good run, and there was no pain...and no blisters.

Last week I was in SLC so I decided to run around Decker Lake. The week before that I ran into Farmington. This time I mapped out a 5.3 mile square (to run twice) just around Centerville. I went down Main Street and saw so many other runners. And let me tell you, they were all so friendly. Some would wave from across the street, and with those on the same side, we would exchange morning salutations. I realized that there are quite a few runners. I felt a sense of unity, but without competition. There were several runners who passed me, but that was ok; I was running for myself. I didn't have to worry about letting anyone else down. I felt really good after I was done and was excited to make this a consistent thing.

Chocolate Orange Marble Chiffon Cake (COMCC).

I must have been browsing the internet one day looking at recipes, and I came across this one. You can find it here. I guess when I find a recipe that goes over well, I put it in my repertoire, and I keep making it. It think this was maybe the fifth time I've made this one. I can remember for the life of me the first time I made it or why. And it certainly has gotten easier to make since the first time.

My mom is in town for her annual Collegium Esculapian conference, and she brought with her a suitcase of oranges. It was also her birthday last week, so I thought it would be a good cake to make. And, I told my roommate that I would make it again some time because there wasn't any left over when I made it my sister's birthday.

Now, the last time I made this cake, my roommate asked why it was called chiffon cake. Here is the run down on different cakes and tortes.

Chiffon cake is a very light cake made with vegetable oil, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and flavorings. Unlike butter, the traditional fat used in cake making, it is difficult to beat air into oil, so chiffon cakes, like angel cakes and other foam cakes, achieve a fluffy texture by beating egg whites until stiff, and folding them into the cake batter before baking. The high oil and egg content creates a very moist cake, and as oil is liquid even at cooler temperatures, chiffon cakes do not tend to harden or dry out as traditional butter cakes might. This makes them much better-suited than many cakes to filling or frosting with ingredients that need to be refrigerated or frozen, such as pastry cream or ice cream. Chiffon cakes also tend to be lower in saturated fat than butter cakes, making them potentially more healthy than their butter-heavy counterparts. The lack of butter, however, means that chiffon cakes lack much of the rich flavor of butter cakes, and they are hence typically served accompanied with flavorful sauces or other accompaniments, such as chocolate or fruit fillings.

Angel Food Cake is similar to the chiffon cake but contains no oil, butter, or other fatty ingredient.

A basic sponge cake is made by beating the eggs with sugar until they are light and creamy, then carefully sieving and folding in the flour (depending on the recipe, the flour may be mixed with a small amount of baking powder, though some recipes use only the air incorporated into the egg mixture, relying on the denaturing of the egg proteins and the thermal expansion of the air to provide leavening). Sometimes, the yolks are beaten with the sugar first while the whites are beaten separately to a meringue-like foam, to be gently folded in later. The mixture is then poured into the chosen cake tin and baked. As can be seen, both methods take great care to incorporate air in the beating, whisking and sieving stages. This makes a very light product, but it is easy to lose the air by removing the cake before it has finished in the oven.
     Before the mixture has cooled, after cooking, it is still flexible. This allows the creation of rolled cakes such as the Swiss roll, or the Bûche de Noël. This basic recipe is also used for many treats and puddings, such as madeleines, ladyfingers and trifles, as well as some versions of strawberry shortcake. In addition, the sponge cake technique is used in angel food cake (where only egg whites are used) and some recipes for Belgian waffles (where the egg whites are separated from the yolk and folded into the batter at the end of preparation).

Butter cake is a cake in which one of the main ingredients is butter. These cakes are considered one of the quintessential cakes in American baking. They find their origins in the English pound cake, which traditionally used equal parts of butter, flour, sugar, and eggs to produce a heavy, rich cake. The invention of baking powder and other chemical leavening agents during the 19th century substantially increased the flexibility of this traditional pound cake by introducing the possibility of creating lighter, fluffier cakes using these traditional combinations of ingredients, and it is this transformation that brought about the modern butter cake.
     Butter cakes are traditionally made using a creaming method, in which the butter and sugar are first beaten until fluffy to incorporate air into the butter. Eggs are then added gradually, creating an emulsion, followed by alternating portions of wet and dry ingredients. Butter cakes are often considered to be unsurpassed in their richness and moistness when stored at room temperature, but they tend to stiffen, dry out, and lose flavor when refrigerated, making them unsuitable for filling or frosting in advance with ingredients that must be refrigerated, such as cream cheese frosting and pastry cream.

Tortes contain very few ingredients; unsalted butter, chocolate, eggs, and sugar. There is a large proportion of eggs that provide the leavening. It is a type of European-style cake that contains little or no flour, although sometimes containing ground nuts or breadcrumbs.

April Fool's Day.

I didn't have time to come up with a prank or hoax; I've been way too busy for that sort of stuff. But I thought I would reference some past jokes. (Many are repeats.)
Top 100 April Fool's Day hoaxes
Top 10 April Fool's Day hoaxes
Wikipedia: April Fool's Day