Eat.Run.Sleep.Repeat

New stomping grounds!

2014-02-13T13:19:00.001-06:00

Hey! I've move on over to my blog on Tumblr.

Pay a visit, will ya?

http://jessejstreet.tumblr.com

Illinois Half Marathon 4/28/12 (01:50:25 PR)

2012-04-29T14:21:00.002-05:00

Wow. Just wow. Things couldnt have gone better for this half- my fastest to date. Official finish time is a personal best at 01:50:25 (old 01:53:21 Chicago RockNroll '09). I credit my CES training through winter and spring for learning to pace properly and to push it where it counts. An average pace of 8:19 and negative splits in the second half with times in the 8:15 and 7:32 range were difficult for me just a year ago, but felt like a breeze this day. The rain stopped about 15 minutes before start, but it continued to be quite blustery and chilly. The cool weather definitely helped to pick up the pace.

I developed a slight kink in my left calf that felt like it was about to cramp up around mile 6, but the cramping never materialized. The IT band on the right side that had been nagging me earlier in the year gave me no issues- what a relief.

On the heart rate monitor: Wearing the HRM on this day really opened my eyes to what exactly was going on with the ticker during the run- especially during the faster paces. I'd only worn it a couple of times before, but this is the first time I had it on during an extended run. To actually see that I could push it without getting tired too fast made a big difference. I still have a lot to learn about running with it, but it was really, really interesting to see.

Overall, the Illinois half was a great race, and really enjoyed the enthusiastic crowds! Props to the Best Western Riverside in Danville for putting out breakfast for the runners an hour before they normally do- It was a relief to get a good meal in before the festivities.

Taking a week off before re-starting Ragnar training!

See more stats on my MotoActv page here

Splits:
1 1.00 mi 8:27 min/mi 141 bpm
2 1.00 mi 8:29 min/mi 152 bpm
3 1.00 mi 8:26 min/mi 156 bpm
4 1.00 mi 8:38 min/mi 157 bpm
5 1.00 mi 8:32 min/mi 157 bpm
6 1.00 mi 8:34 min/mi 158 bpm
7 1.00 mi 8:26 min/mi 158 bpm
8 1.00 mi 8:22 min/mi 160 bpm
9 1.00 mi 8:28 min/mi 159 bpm
10 1.00 mi 8:17 min/mi 162 bpm
11 1.00 mi 8:14 min/mi 162 bpm
12 1.00 mi 8:03 min/mi 164 bpm
13 1.00 mi 7:32 min/mi 166 bpm
14 0.20 mi 6:56 min/mi 169 bpm http://bit.ly/IjqeEC

Running Happy

2012-03-30T09:35:00.002-05:00

So here I am- another year of running happy. I believe this is my 6th year since coming back from a loooong hiatus- I'm talking high school here. Last year wasn't the greatest, as I was struggling with some rather scattered training for the Chicago Marathon along with fighting a right IT band issue. That injury still bugs me today, but it's not as serious and I seem to be recovering rather quickly.

I managed to only do 13 miles of the Chicago Marathon last year. I jumped in at the 13.1 mile marker after watching my favorite pro runner, Ryan Hall, zoom by with the rest of the elite field. Needless to say, I don't count it as a full marathon, and consider it a DNF (did not finish). I still had a grand time enjoying the crowds even though it got rather hot yet AGAIN.

I decided to train over the winter with Chicago Endurance Sports and their Winter Warriors program. It kept me fit through those long, cold months and liked it enough to join their Spring Training Program to prepare for the Illinois Half Marathon on April 28th. Not only am I running with a fun group of people, but it's teaching me pacing, timing, and fancy workouts that help me with my speed.

I've signed up for the Chicago Marathon again this year. My goal is to finish in that ever elusive 4 hour (or less) finish time that I came so close to reaching back in 2009. In other running news, I joined the 6-man Ultra team for Ragnar Chicago this year. Back to back runs totaling close to 33 miles are on my plate for Ragnar this year- it's going to be a challenge for sure!

Cleaning the flower beds

2012-03-20T19:05:00.001-05:00

Sent from my Windows Phone

Hello 2012

2012-03-08T10:33:00.002-06:00

Of course, my little 'ol blog has been neglected since I've been spending so much time writing about mobile tech for other blogs. I sure do miss it, though. This year's running adventures are looking to be rather interesting, and would love to continue writing about them here- I sure do miss that.

I've signed up to run the Chicago Marathon again this year in my continuing quest to finish in or under four hours. I've come ever so close, but my personal best still stands at 04:11:44, which I did back in 2009. That particular race had me beat my previous PR by 43 minutes! I'm hoping that wasn't a fluke, and am working hard this year to shave that 11 minutes off.

I'm crossing my fingers that I'll have more time to write here. For those of you who are still visiting- thank you!

Climbing!

2011-06-22T19:52:00.001-05:00

Climbing!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

She never fails to impress but I think she wants to go higher!-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Ragnar Start line waving of runner #1- Karen!

2011-06-10T09:23:00.001-05:00

Ragnar Start line waving of runner #1- Karen!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Ragnar Relay Ready!

2011-06-09T18:14:00.006-05:00

Well, the time has come. I'm one day away from joining 11 other amazing runners to take on the Madison to Chicago relay Friday through Saturday. We leave for Madison, WI. around 6:30 a.m. Friday for our 10 a.m. start. Two vans, 6 runners each, no sleep, tons running, and lots of fun awaits us! It looks like we'll be challenged with some rain in the forecast, but the race goes on rain or shine unless really threatening weather comes up. In that case, they'll postpone it and then continue when it's safe to do so.

I'm feeling pretty good today. The nagging IT band on the right side of my leg has been really sore since the weekend- more than usual. I've been doing a lot of resting and stretching this week with lots of one on one with the foam roller. I haven't done any running in fear of aggravating it further, so keeping it loose with all the stretching has been vital. We'll see how much it complains during the relay. Either way, I'll be taking a couple of weeks off when I'm done before beginning my Chicago Marathon training later this month.

Just like last year, I'll be providing updates on our progress via Twitter, Facebook, and here whenever possible. So make sure to check back!

Here is a photo gallery from last year's race and a video of our finish!

Wish me luck!

Splish Splash I Need A Bath!

2011-05-30T15:40:00.001-05:00

I'm resting up as I write this after running a decent 13 mile run on Saturday. This comes after a 3 miler Friday afternoon, with a decent four hour "nap" in between. This is sort of a carbon copy of last weekend, except I had an official 13 mile half marathon to run on Sunday- the Splish Splash half-marathon at Keylime Cove in Gurnee. That race wasn't my best performance, finishing in an unofficial 2:06- that's about 13 minutes beyond my personal best in the half at 01:53. It got dang hot! But it was more of a practice run for the Ragnar Relay coming up here in a couple of weeks.

I hadn't run a race that big since the Chicago Marathon back in October. Plus, how could I miss running a half marathon in Gurnee of all places! I can now admit to being partly responsible to holding up traffic on busy Grand near Gurnee Mills. And I got to run through Great America and UNDER the American Eagle. How cool is that? It was the inaugural running of this race and I think a first for Gurnee. It was a really nice experience despite the rather slim spectator turnout. I hope it becomes an annual thing and more people turn out. The post-race buffet at Keylime Cove was really awesome. There was a HUGE spread of all kinds of goodness, and a band to boot. Applause to Splish Splash for a job well done.

The Ragnar Relay is in a couple of weeks, so my training has been focused on that. I have a string of double digit long runs planned, including 13.1 last weekend, 13 this weekend, and and another 10 next Saturday. Even though I only have a total of 19 miles to do over three legs, it still feels good to finally be hitting big mileage.

More photos from the race can be found here.

I can't wait for this thing to begin!

Splish Splash Half Marathon packet pickup, Keylime Cove, Gurnee

2011-05-21T14:01:00.001-05:00

Splish Splash Half Marathon packet pickup, Keylime Cove, Gurnee
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Madison to Chicago Here I Come!

2011-05-14T21:41:00.001-05:00

Well, in less than 30 days I'll once again be running the Madison to Chicago relay on June 10th and 11th. Its been something I've been looking forward to all winter. Almost 30 hours of non-stop running with a team of 12 and two support vans between us, hopscotching between two states to make it to the finish line in Chicago. We start at 10 a.m. on Friday and finish some time in the afternoon on Saturday.

Last year, I ran three legs for a total of 12 miles or so, and got maybe 20 minutes of pure sleep over two days curled up in the front seat of an SUV somewhere on a lakefront near Kenosha. Some of the team in the van I was riding in tried to sleep on the beach before a fearce north wind came through to stir us all awake. I met 11 of the coolest runners you'll ever run into, and it was a joy teaming up with them last year. We lost a couple of that same crew for this years run, and they will be sorely missed, but we still managed to fill the 12 person team just as well this time.

We are ready to roll.

My training over the winter was pretty scattered and light. I absolutely hate running on the treadmill because it seems I can't stay uninjured running through the winter months on it. One year it was the left knee, the next the right knee, a hip flexor, and an IT band the year after that. This time around I did no more that two or three miles at a time on it, and came out mostly unscathed. I am still fighting that IT band on my right leg, but targeted stretching has helped it a lot. I am mostly healthy, thank God.

So here I go again. I'll be blogging throughout the relay here, on Twitter, and Facebook along with the usual random post.

Thanks, friends, for sticking around. I'm still alive and healthy.

Oh, and Katie says hi :)

Annoyances:

2011-04-27T09:22:00.001-05:00

Annoyances:
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

I HATE it when I break the pocket clips off of my pens.-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Supplying the world with copper

2011-04-20T11:26:00.001-05:00

Supplying the world with copper
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Test from Blogsy

2011-04-16T21:35:00.001-05:00

One annoying thing about this blog is its ability to post while mobile. I can put up a post using my phone, but it's a bit annoying to type an entire post out using my phone (via email that is). This little post here was put up using Blogsy for the iPad- one of many blog posting apps I've used via my phone (or iPad) that does involve tiny, little email messages.

I wonder If I can post a picture:

Hey, that wasn't too bad. I can even resize the photo and everything. By the way, that's a photo from the start line of the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle that I ran last weekend. Neat, huh?

How about a link to the techie blog I write for?

Niiice.

I like it!

Ready for the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K. First race of '11!

2011-04-10T08:55:00.001-05:00

Ready for the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K. First race of '11!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Coca-Cola Thursday's

2011-03-31T14:02:00.001-05:00

Coca-Cola Thursday's
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

Can I say that I love Thursday's?

Ever since I started training for my first Chicago Marathon back in 2007, I made a promise to quit drinking Coke. I loved it. I drank it almost every day. Not only is it unhealthy, but it was doing a number on my teeth (so says my dentist).

Fast forward to now, I still keep that commitment- except for Thursday's.

I drink it once a week with my lunch and/or dinner on Thursday's just to have that taste again. I maybe drink half the can, but it still tastes oh so good.

The water bottle behind it has been my constant companion since quitting.

Better for me I'm sure.

webOS 2.0 on the Pre 2 is a happening place!

2011-02-26T17:01:00.001-06:00

webOS 2.0 on the Pre 2 is a happening place!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Hello 2011!

2011-01-01T01:32:00.004-06:00

Goodbye 2010. It's been fun.

Wow. Another year, and decade, is gone. Just like that. I feel blessed to even get to see 2011. I remember being a kid in grade school and commenting how I would probably never live to be 18 years old in fear of being blown up my an atomic bomb or something. Well, here I am. Still alive and well.

The year 2010 has been a good one to me. I have nothing to complain about and am grateful to have the things I have in my life -a wonderful girlfriend, my family, friends... I'm healthier than I've ever been, and I can't wait to see what's in store in the next 10 years of my life.

I'm not one to really make any New Years Resolutions except to live my life to the fullest, treat those around you as you'd like to be treated, live a healthy lifestyle, and always keep a positive attitude.

One of the highlights for me this summer was of course training and running the Chicago Marathon for the 3rd time. It wasn't the greatest of finish times due to low running mileage, but I finished and that's all that counts. Still, I would like to finish a marathon at or under four hours, so I will try again this year. I don't know if it will be in Chicago, but I will be setting that goal. More to come on this I'm sure.

Next week I will be traveling to Las Vegas for the first time to attend the Consumer Electronics Show as press to report for http://www.webosroundup.com - the mobile techie blog I write for. It will be a blast to surround myself with so much gadgetry. It'll be strange to not be traveling for business, even though it is business, but a fun kind of business! Follow me on Twitter or read up on the event on webosoundup. I can't wait.

Oh, and I hope to post here more often. These dang cobwebs keep clogging up my little 'ol blog :)

Stay thirsty my friends.

Well that didn't last long...

2010-11-21T14:06:00.004-06:00

Ooookkkaayy... well that was quick...

My hopes of posting every day in the month of November failed after only the first week! Here I am near the end of November (already!) and I'm posting again. I guess my poor little blog gets second pickin's after writing for the techie blog I actually get paid for. I work deadlines for that site, and this one I write when I'm able, I guess. That, and I've been swamped at the office, so I'll be glad when the holiday's bring a little less work as most of everyone, it seems, goes on vacation.

I've been well. I haven't done any serious running since the marathon, but I'm starting to feel that icky feeling of not doing much of working out as of late. Lately, I've been getting these interesting aches in my legs, and I'm guessing it's because I'm losing some of my fitness down there. Fortunately, my recent trips to the gym these past couple of weeks have gone well, and I'm easily doing 2 and 3 milers on the treadmill with hardly any effort. That's great news.

I plan on running a 10K Turkey Trot in Kenosha on Thanksgiving day, so my workouts have mostly been focused on that. I haven't done any racing since the marathon, so this will be a welcome treat.

Until next time my friends! Hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Pink Xmas!

2010-11-07T23:12:00.001-06:00

Happy Pink Xmas!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

The Borders near me felt rather festive when I paid it a visit this weekend.

That was further reinforced by this lovely, pink Christmas tree in near the front of the store. Undecorated, but pretty nonetheless :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Crazy working days

2010-11-06T23:59:00.001-05:00

Well, the first week of National Blog Posting Month is almost over. I didn't do too bad except for the rather lame post last night- all sleepy-eyed and everything. The weekend is here and time to take it easy.

I've babbled on before how crazy work is due to a year-long project that is just about to wrap up. My company is doing away with its old data line carrier and moving to a new one. The entire process was time consuming and grueling and times. We're so close to wrapping up I can taste it. I've had four weeks of vacation available to me, but barely used any of it because of all the work involved moving over all 13 of our locations nationwide. My schedule is a bit more relaxed nowadays as we wind down into the holidays.

Ahh the holidays- I find it hard to believe they're almost here. I may finally be able to take a week off during Christmas and not think about work at all. We've had two of our staff leave within a two month period, so I've had to take on other responsibilities. I shouldn't complain, after all. I'm happy where I am- even after almost 11 years! IT is what I do. There are still so many challenges ahead, and look forward to learning new things. I wonder where that path will take me...

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

By my chiny chin chin!

2010-11-05T23:56:00.000-05:00

Barely got this post in before midnight! Time got away from me today, so that means juicy posts this weekend...

Still so much to write about!

I'm not done yet, my friends :)

Whiskey Sin in JstreetRadio

2010-11-04T23:50:00.001-05:00

Whiskey Sin in JstreetRadio
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

The radio show is going strong. We're booked with interviews clear through the end of the year.

This year, we're celebrating our 5th year on the air.

You can catch it anywhere in the world, Thursday nights at 8pm CDT by visiting http://www.wrlr.fm

- that's a shameless plug if I've ever seen one :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Camping times

2010-11-03T20:50:00.004-05:00

-Canoeing on the Wisconsin River in the Dells area.

Wow. So many photos on the phone I've yet to post anywhere! I've been bad, really bad.

I was excited to actually do some camping again this year. On this trip, Katie and I headed up to Point Bluff Resort near the Wisconsin Dells area in late August. It's a spot I've been going to for years, and was excited to see it again after a long time of not going. It was a bit noisier than I remember, but we were camping, after all. The river is beautiful this time of year.

I did plan on doing a 20 mile run while I was up there, but it was not to be. Trying to do a big run like that when I'm out of my "comfort zone" (i.e. home) was a bit more difficult than I imagined. As a matter of fact, many of my training runs for the marathon suffered this year, but I'll save that for another post.

The canoe trip down the river took about three and a half hours to complete. We were spotting bald eagles high above the trees, and the turtles that were laying along the bank. The entire trip is quiet and peaceful, which is why I like it so much. We both managed not to tip over, and came out mostly unscathed!

Another photo is here.

I simply can't wait to get out there again next summer. Maybe we'll hit Cedar Point or the Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin...

Something to daydream about during the long and dreary winter for sure.

PS: I've updated my races and finish times for this year along the right side on my main page.

Halloween weekend!

2010-11-02T20:50:00.004-05:00

Giant marshmallow in the micro
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Yes, folks, this is what happens when you put a marshmallow in the microwave! This one got to the size of a healthy bread bowl- I couldn't believe my eyes! Who would have known?

This was just one of the many highlights of my Halloween weekend!

Katie and I had a two-fer planned for Halloween festivities this past Saturday. My dear friends Kelly and Justin got married and had what might have been one of the coolest wedding receptions ever- just tons of fun. Head on over to http://www.essenpreiswedding.com and check out some of the hilarious photo-booth photos taken that night.

We wrapped up the holiday by attending our friends Matt & Vicki's Halloween party later that night. Good people, food, and games made for a great party.

I can't believe it's November already. Sooo much to catch you guys up on. It feels good to be writing here again, I just hope I can keep it up!

Chat again soon....