Hardly Harley

Running... Again?

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:16:00 +0000

If you know me you know there was a time about 10 years ago or so where I was running. A lot. At least 5 days a week and at least 5 miles a run. I wasn’t training, I wasn’t preparing for a race or a marathon. I just found myself enjoying the time spent running. I wasn’t obsessed with numbers, but I kept track of them all and liked seeing improvements in time and distances. It was good physical health and mental health. Then I tweaked my knee. Not bad enough that I couldn’t walk on it, just a tweak that told me I needed to back off of running for a little bit. So I decided on 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks I aborted a run very early as the pain was still there. 2 weeks became 3, became a month, became 5 years.

That’s not exactly true, I tried a number of times to get back into it. I remember the first attempt the most. I was excited to get the shoes on (new ones, of course) and run one of my old routes. I was winded by the .25 mile mark, and stopped by the .5 mile mark. The same route that I first started on 10 years ago, that I was also winded by .25 and done by .5. But I didn’t remember any of that. I just remember that first mile I was doing in 6 minutes, with 4 more miles to go. It was disheartening. I think I tried a couple more times, but all I could think about was what I used to run this course at in my prime, and I was disgusted with what I was doing.

Most of my other attempts at getting back into running went along that route, but I’d try different things to fool myself. I deleted the running app I used for 5 years or so that tracked that first run to my last run. A digital way of starting fresh. Too bad the brain doesn’t work like that. Different routes? Then I’d just compare mileage, again in my brain. I was not very kind to myself. I wasn’t fair to myself.

Earlier this year I tried again. I was going at it for a while actually. I wanted my goal not to be the distance or the time but the commitment. I knew that in time those other things would work themselves out, but I needed to commit to running for a set amount of time, I found 20 minutes to be a good amount of time, and just run. Maybe I’d get 2 miles in, maybe I’d get 1 in, didn’t matter, all I wanted to do was set the habit. But it didn’t last, because suddenly the numbers mattered again. I was doing better, numbers wise, but I was still comparing myself to much better in shape Iain and younger Iain. I threw other excuses in there also; work, weather, etc. but the main one was older and slower Iain wasn’t what I wanted to be, and I didn’t have the patience to improve.

I’m in week 3 of running again now, and I’m trying not to screw it up. I actually want to run (I think), so I’m looking back at all the things I did in the past to screw the comeback up. Which explains why I dusted off this blog for a post. So will I be successful? No clue. It’s the end of the summer with what looks to be a wet winter coming up. I didn’t used to mind running in the rain, if it started in the middle of my run, but will that be how I react when it does? I’m hoping sharing screenshots of my runs with a couple friends to kind of help to keep me accountable will peer pressure me into keeping it up. But I did that, too, previously. I think what might keep this going is the effect it’s had on me over the past 3 weeks.

Quantitatively my sleep has gotten longer, according to FitBit. From 4-5 hours to a stead 6-7+ hours. That’s huge. I also feel like I have more energy throughout the day, and in a better mood. I found that the other positive to running, the mental health aspect, was coming through again. On days I run I feel the stress from work drop off with each stride, and it actually stays off. If it doesn’t, the piano helps with that. So, as I continue this latest foray into running I want to focus less on the miles and the timings and more on the byproducts.

The Pros and (Mostly) Cons of Upgrading to a 4K Monitor

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 02:21:00 +0000

I'm in the process of getting back into photography which will mean a new camera, more on that in a later post. But the first step for me was a new computer, one with the horsepower to handle a modern day camera and its RAW files. Along with the computer comes a new 4K monitor. 4K is great for media consumption, right? Your characters on your favorite show or movie really look detailed and realistic. Scenery looks wonderful. Everything looks great, right? Wrong. You know what doesn't look great? That photo I took in 2012 that I thought was sharp but is very much not.

I transferred over my past catalogs of photos over to Lightroom Classic and eagerly began opening up some of my favorite photos. At first I was happy with how the colors looked and how the scene was composed. Then I noticed it was a little soft. Well I had just gotten a new contacts prescription so that must be it. Changed to my glasses and the photos were even blurrier!

I went through photo after photo and most came out looking soft at best, blurry at worst. A little sharpening helped some, not enough. So then I tried to think back to these years, and I think I realized why I took photos that came out blurry; I had watched and read articles about how bumping up ISO is horrible. So I kept the ISO low. Not just as low as possible for the given situation but we're talking as low as the camera got for nearly everything. Oh, and no tripod.

So when/if this new camera comes in, I'll be happy to revisit some old sites with proper ISOs and a tripod to hopefully get it right this time around. And if I don't, I know my monitor will make it known I missed it.

Oh, so what's the computer? Apple's latest Mac Mini with the M2 Pro processor.

A more adult treat after a long day walking.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 01:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTdbwxZJVQt/

When in Portland ..

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 18:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTcs8ANpWcF/

Early lunch with a view.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 19:16:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTaPaNTJUvO/

First stop for a pick me up

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 15:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTZ2dlxFvM8/

Quick and sorry trip to Portland tomorrow with these guys.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 04:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTYmAPArPb3/

He's not just a pretty face.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTNiJ0Ih2gk/

Golden hour with this lovely green guy.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 02:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTLhPvJFhAp/

The weekend watch

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 00:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTIyER_prOs/

It's amazed me how quickly this has become a favorite.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 21:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CTDWEv9BvYv/

Making Monday a little easier. Really enjoying this moon phase for #bluewatchmonday

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 03:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CS8KrPfnBsQ/

A quick small drink in celebration of #NationalRumDay

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 03:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CSqJLBYnGre/

All set for #bluemonday #bluewatchmonday

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 20:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CSXZss6hBAb/

I think this is my favorite look with the Sealander.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 00:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CSQK3JOJjEm/

It was 50 years ago today that "the other moon watch" earned it's moniker while on Commander Scott's wrist. If you don't know the story, basically Scott's Speedmaster had a malfunction so he ended up wearing a Bulova prototype that Bulova had given him. And the rest is history. Though a big watch in all dimensions, and a quartz, this continues to be one of my favorite watches, and I look forward to completing my sub-collection of moon watches when a Speedy eventually gets added.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 20:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CSFY45_BcSG/

Still in the honeymoon phase with this one. Pun intentional.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 20:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CSANdl8pXYk/

It's this a red dialed Traska Freediver? No just a minty Freediver under a tiki curse

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:18:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CR2Za8_Lm7W/

When you're going on vacation and can't just choose 1.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 02:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CRsS1IELtoC/

The Orient Star Outdoor ready for the summer. Loving this @crownandbuckle perlon.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 03:15:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CRnMgkTr6O7/

I present my next phase 😂. I've been wanting a blue dialed watch to replace my Mako II. I flirted with the PRX for a bit, but it just didn't grab me. But a blue dialed sporty moon phase from a respected Swiss manufacturer for less than $400? How could I say no?

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 03:12:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CRkoaOPLs2U/

Exploring in the Alabama Hills with this guy. It was 90 at 9am though so we didn't explore long.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:12:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CRcn87zr53C/

It's been grey here for the last 2 it 3 weeks, so I needed some color. This @bartonbands canvas really did the trick.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 02:17:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CRDFjdSLwyJ/

The Bulova for what I'm calling #SpeedyAdjacentTuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 20:17:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CQ_3xVGLtXZ/

Picked my watch for tomorrow this evening and gave this a shot.

noreply@blogger.com (Iain Harley) — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 04:17:00 +0000

My Latest via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CQz21fyraPu/