The First 3.1 Miles

When I started the beginner's running program, C25K, this March, it stunned everyone who knew me. Far from being a runner, I had always been decidedly anti-running: "Why would anyone run unless they were being chased?" I absolutely hated it. And then, as I took on the C25K challenge just to show myself that I could accomplish whatever I put my mind to, I really started to love the feeling of pride I felt after running farther than I had before.

For the past 3 months, the extreme heat here in Southern Nevada has forced me to run only at night or early in the morning. Occasionally, in the middle of the day, I catch myself wishing it were cooler, just so I could go out and run.

This morning I ran week 9, day 1 of the program - 30 minutes - and then I kept going, until I reached 3.1 miles. It took me close to 40 minutes, but I did it. And on this coming Saturday, I'll run my first 5K. I'm certainly not expecting to get an amazing time. Just finishing it will be a victory that I could never have imagined just 6 months ago, and I'm looking forward to more to come.


As a side note, I just finished putting together my playlist for the race. Check the radness:

Yeah, my power song is by Jonathan Coulton. I don't care. That song was MADE for running. And yes, that is THE Final Countdown starting things off. You like it.

Checking in.

Psst... Are they gone?

{Takes a sweeping glance around the empty spaces}

Okay, we can get back to it. Give me a second. I'll be right back.

We're on Mars.

Truly amazing.

Violet Hill Alternate Video

I'm not a big fan of Coldplay, but their new song Violet Hill (and accompanying alternate video, below) have me thinking I might need to check out the new album set for release in June.  ...Or maybe not.  Either way, the video's good for a nervous laugh.

"From the windows, they were watching while we froze down below..."

Much more entertaining than the original video, made up of Coldplay's usual fall-flat video stylings.

I cannot describe this.

The strength of this urge is so GREAT - at times - my gritted teeth and clenched fists and straining ears can barely contain me - clawly at my shell - a NEED to crawl into another - the box of some crunching song or other - right there, all feedback and warm kick drum.

And you shake and you bleed while I sing my song...

You Ruined Everything

If I ever wanted children - which I don't - and if I ever created a slideshow of pictures of my creepy little baby - which I won't - this would totally be the background music.

Leave it Jonathan Coulton to come up with a song like this that I actually like.

Falling Behind

The next iteration of the Xbox needs to materialize soon.

The PS3, flawed gaming system that it is, is currently the cheapest and most versatile blu-ray player you can find.  Then there's the Wii, which for all its shortcomings, is a fun little novelty and still offers a very usable and (for the Wii) sophisticated web browser.

Now that HD-DVD has been officially pronounced dead and the Xbox 360 still lacks a worthwhile internet browser, the 360 finds itself behind the pack in everything but gaming.  For a console that was touted as being the home's all-in-one entertainment center, it's disappointing to find it becoming anything but.

As a sidenote: Third party applications such as MCEBrowser that are available for use on the 360 make internet browsing possible, just not practical.  Frustrating to use at best, it's a poor substitute for functionality that should have been included from the start in a console distributed by the makers of the world's most popular internet browser.

Easy-post-isistible

Oh goodness.  Use your words, Jenny.

I can't.

Must...
post another...
video.