40D
September 28th, 2009
To raise cash for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as part of my Fred’s Team NYC Marathon charity run this year, I’m selling my DSLR and accessories. The camera’s about a year old, has been gently handled, and is in perfect working order. Total cost of everything new was approx. $1,800 and I’ll consider any reasonable offer – email me if you’re interested. (I’ll be posting for auction on ebay in a few days time.)
List of items (original cost):
Canon EOS 40D digital SLR 10.1 Megapixel Camera Kit: includes camera, rechargeable battery, and EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ($1,300)
Specs here
Canon 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Autofocus Lens ($150)
Canon 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens ($150)
All lenses fitted with glass UV filters ($10-12 ea.)
2 Lexar Compact Flash Memory Cards: 2GB 80X, one unused ($25 ea.)
Remote Switch, RS-80N3 ($50)
Power Adapter Kit, ACK-E2 AC ($60)
2 camera / lens bags ($25 ea.)
Faster by Half
September 24th, 2009
Sunday morn provided just about perfect running conditions here in NYaaark. And hence, the birdlegs were able to record their fastest half marathon time to date (by a mere 40s, but still…). Seems that I’m definitely quicker in the cool.
After rising around half four (ughhhh), a quick spin down an empty Lexington Ave. to Grand Central, the 7 Subway to Flushing and a further 6 or 7 miles cycle out to College point (wise move to take the bike given the queues for the shuttle bus), it was a 7 AM (ughhh) off for the Queens Half Marathon. Weather was cool and bright, and the humidity comfortably low for a change. I’d rested the pins for a couple of days and running was as comfortable as is has been for months – am now touching a large chunk of wood hoping that the injury spate of this year is over. First 10 K or so felt fab (I told myself “this is as good as it gets, appreciate it yer fooker!” more than once), was tough going up a hills over the last few miles, but I was confident of exceeding my original 2 hour goal almost the whole way. A relative sprint over the last half mile meant I came in faster than the Bronx Half in Feb. by that whopping 40 seconds or so and I maintained a pace well under 9 mins. per mile. Cycle back got the legs warmed down nicely n’all.
Macromongular
September 13th, 2009
Listen HERE
Podcast subscription HERE
Primary Mongulisms:
Vibrasphere: 3300 Feet Over
Sounds from the Ground: Dune
Solar Fields: Sol
Pitch Black: Bird Soul
Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke: Pilgrimage of Lost Children
Arctic Monkeys: Crying Lightning
The Fiery Furnaces: Staring at the Steeple
BlueTech: Rite of the Dragonfly
Asura: Five Lines
Aes Dana: Haze
A Muse Meant
July 15th, 2009
New Birdw0rks album “A Muse Meant” (Mixed best for headphones.)
1. Pingo
5. Fear’s Alive
7. Scattered Thoughts to Blame
8. Bitten Lips
9. Out and Over
Download zip file of all tracks here.
Subscribe to the Birdw0rks podcast via iTunes.
Trotting along to 2010
June 2nd, 2009
Updating my ever-expanding training file, I just realised that I’ve qualified for the 2010 NYC Marathon already & it’s only the beginning of June. Can’t be bad. My 9 completed NYRR races:
- Fred Lebow 5 miler
- Grid Iron 4 miler
- Bronx Half Marathon
- Al Gordon 3 miler
- Run for the Parks 4 miler
- Scotland Run 10K
- Healthy Kidney 10K
- Brooklyn Half Marathon
- Japan Day 4 miler
plus volunteering at the More Half Marathon.
Raising $$ for Fred’s Team will hopefully go smoothly to get me in this year too, and will be fab to run NYC 3 years in a row.
Am currently sore from Brooklyn Half, Japan Day & 6 mile loop of Central Park over past 3 days, but (touching a large trunk of oak) the ITB etc. continue to improve. Despite the post-weekend weariness, the final couple of miles last night up the infamous Cat Hill felt as comfortable as running has since Feb. Fingers (not legs) crossed re. continued improvement.
From Park to Promenade
June 1st, 2009
A reasonable birdleg rennaisance this weekend: the Brooklyn Half Marathon in a sluggish, but comfortable 2:08:56 followed by the Japan Day 4 miler next morning coming in at 34:28 – a slow 9 min start there, but finished strongly once the previous day’s stiffness was worked out. Still some jip in the ITBs and left knee now, but the ice n’ stretch routine seems to be minimising the knackeration. Quite happy with the half overall given that I’ve not jogged further than an 8 miler since the Austin Marathon in Feb.
The reverse-directioned Brooklyn route was mixed – a bit dull to circle Prospect Park twice, some low-water hydration stations because of it, only a short trot on the Coney boardwalk (which can be dangerous with loose boards, I’ll grant, but it’s somewhat iconic), and a pretty tight congestion squeeze at the finish. Although ’twas warm out, Ocean Blvd was shaded better than last year (more foliage on the trees a little bit later in the year?) and was most excellent to be able to cool the limbs off in the sea post-race.
Injury recovery & prevention aside, just looking over race times over the past year (first 10 K in March 08; first half marathon in May 08), the birdpins do seem to trot more quickly in the cool. Personal bests have come between December and April, looks like.
Jogandpedal
May 26th, 2009
Updated 2009 mileage goals (1,000 jogged; 4,000 spun)
Remaining leggage: ~ 107 per month = 23 per week
Remaining wheelage: ~ 413 per month = 91 per week
Protected: Leggage, chunky rain, and sturph
May 7th, 2009The long, meandering, knackered ITB road back
May 4th, 2009
There are benefits to getting injured. Obviously, one prefers to not be injured. Yes, not getting injured is definitely best. But when you do and you recover, the latter stages of recovery can be rewarding – you have a fresh appeciation for not being injured. Or sensing that you will soon be injury free, if yer luck holds…
So tonight, in the continuing Gotham drizzle, my birdlegs ran the fastest and most comfortable they have since February. All this IT band stretching and rolling has hopefully aided recovery and I’m over the worst. It’s been long and slow, slow, slow.
One 6.2 mile loop of Central Park with a few hardy, newly-met flyers. A gentle mile and a half jog home. And then a good 45 minutes stretching (lesson learned about not stretching enough, innit). Finally some running progress – maybe it’s this Brit-like weather?
