To Infinity and Beyond - Becoming a Better DopeyBadger (Comments Welcome)

[mankle30]

Sounds amazing. I think your road to Boston is going through the defeated Boss!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I hope mama pigeon is okay.

I did see her again on Friday in a new spot and she seemed alive, but still not thrilled to be outside. When I passed her a second time on Friday her head was buried in the grass and rear in the air. Unfortunately, I found her in the same exact position on Saturday, but didn't want to get any closer. On Sunday, she wasn't there anymore, but I think it's because she flew off and lived a happy life with her babies!

Also you forgot the ultimate boss!

Looks like googling "final boss battle gif" doesn't come up with good Bowser options, but just "Bowser gif" comes up with some gems!

So if you are having a tough mile...just like wait for it to shoot a bunch of flames or hammers at you and then just jump over it and let it fall into the lava...or something like that?

Great work this week...

Thanks!

you are making me tired reading about your paces.

LOL, thanks! These faster paces have been fun!

Glad that you are repping the brightly colored shoes...they lead to success!

Oh for sure! My Kinvaras right now are all blaze orange (bought on clearance so presumably no one else wanted them...). There was a research article that said the better you feel about your clothing choices the faster you run (it was about lying to participants about whether they were in name brand gear or not).

This seems like solid running advice right here. I'm definitely going to be testing this out at my next race.

Awesome week and I love seeing that graph of your improvement. Impressive.

Thanks! I wasn't expecting such a dramatic separation between the lines on a two week basis. It makes for a nice method of assessing improvement without actually having to race.

I'll be waiting to hear more about your thoughts on the Freedoms.

Next run should be Sunday's 12 mile long run (dependent on dry weather).

They no longer carry Kinvaras which makes me .

That's really too bad. They're easily my favorites race shoe.

I'm going to need to buy some new shoes soon and was considering the Freedoms, but after your experience, I'm really debating if I should try them. They are pricey if I end up not liking them and I can pick up older versions of the Kinvaras on line pretty economically.

One thing I always consider when weighing one shoe vs the other is the number of miles I can't get. So a Kinvara = 180 and a Freedom = 500 miles (in theory). So the Kinvaras have to be 64% cheaper than the Freedoms to justify. Although personally my decision would also come down to needs based on the types of runs that are going to run out of miles in my current stock. So the Kinvaras and Freedoms may or may not be comparable based on the future performance of the Freedoms (and whether they're more speed or tempo/long).

Running report looks great - yay!

Thanks!

Speaking of 5 months from marathon, I was just about to register for Lakefront yesterday.

Hmm.... Where have I heard that before...

12/26/16

P.S. My sister-in-law mentioned Lakefront Marathon last night at dinner. In my holiday enthusiasm, I committed to running it, but we'll see.

2/9/17

Yes - still planning to run Lakefront!!

2/13/17

Also, nearly completed registration for Lakefront. Closed tab. Then nearly completed registration for Lakefront. Closed tab.

I'll get there, I think!

Also, I'm hoping that someone can take a moment to explain the boss battle, because @mateojr says these words very frequently!

Here's a great article I found explaining it (link). It comes from video games where every once in a while the character is challenged by a more superior enemy than a normal enemy. You have to use certain skills learned throughout the game to master defeating each new boss. The final boss battle is at the end of the video game which culminates in all of the knowledge and experience you've gained to conquer the most difficult boss of all - the final boss. In that manner, I viewed Sunday's M Tempo + T run like a final boss. It took all the skills I've learned throughout the Daniels 10k training to be able to successfully conquer this particular training run. But like some good final boss battles, who knows if that's truly the end?!?!?

They make the pace feel easier

I definitely felt this as well. It felt easier, yet it made it feel more difficult to do it. It's hard to explain the feeling. I'm hopeful it was just an effect of Tuesday's harder than normal effort.

BTW, I was debating right up until the night before, but I did run the Dark Side half marathon in the Freedom ISOs, and I'm glad I did. I really think these shoes are more at home when you are running at a faster pace.

It's always nice when a decision like this works out as a positive. I'm thinking they'e likely to end up similarly for me as well. Not an easy day shoe, but somewhere else.

Do you have other low drop shoes? I was worried about the 4mm drop since I am used to an 8mm+ drop. It has been fine, but I do wonder if that's another reason why I typically desire my Ultra Boost STs after about 9-10 miles. Again, the half marathon felt very comfortable in the Freedom ISOs, so I think when I'm at race pace, they work for me.

I've got Kinvaras and Zealot ISOs which are both 4mm. The Kinvaras are my race shoe regardless of distance (5k through marathon), but they tear me up at anything slower than speed (although I'm getting more comfortable running M Tempo training in them now). The Zealots are best for the long run. They usually feel clunky for the first mile or so for me, but once everything warms up and the strides gets more natural then they hit their groove. If I were running a more downhill race, I might use the Zealots instead of the Kinvaras,

Those are cool looking!!

Thanks!

Plus they match your Badger gear

Most definitely a consideration for the October marathon. Planned outfit is red shorts, red shoes, and white badger singlet.

I think I told you I'm a Hurricane fan, and I watched J.J. Watt and co destroy us in a bowl game down here in Orlando several years ago lol.

Just saying...

Also, the game temp was in the 50s so Miami was huddles by the heaters and WI was enjoying the warm weather relative to back home.

Sounds amazing. I think your road to Boston is going through the defeated Boss!

Thanks!

Challenge Accepted - Boss in Boston!

 

[roxymama]

Serious running question: is it acceptable to throw bananas at your competition? How about Fireballs? Or is that unsportsmanlike?

 

[DopeyBadger]

is it acceptable to throw bananas at your competition?

Nope, because that could actually happen...

How about Fireballs?

Yes, but only imaginary ones. Maybe I need to work on Phase 2 of the Pac-Man Theory - Fireballs and How to Use them on Your Competition!

In a related serious note, I actually had another epiphany for explaining the three pillars of running (VO2max, Lactate Threshold, and Running Economy) using a funnel, water, and related rates. But I haven't found any good videos matching my description of events. Might have to do some filming of my own. But I think it's a solid visual explanation of running and the fatigue wall. I'm actually pretty excited about it.

 

[roxymama]

Nope, because that could actually happen...



Yes, but only imaginary ones. Maybe I need to work on Phase 2 of the Pac-Man Theory - Fireballs and How to Use them on Your Competition!

In a related serious note, I actually had another epiphany for explaining the three pillars of running (VO2max, Lactate Threshold, and Running Economy) using a funnel, water, and related rates. But I haven't found any good videos matching my description of events. Might have to do some filming of my own. But I think it's a solid visual explanation of running and the fatigue wall. I'm actually pretty excited about it.

Was a big fan of Mr Wizard growing up so I support this endeavor. You'd have a field day at the testing labs at my work. Beating the crud out of our products seems like more fun than selling them sometimes.

Also I think I need to start using mental "powerstars" throughout my races. And when I fuel..I'll just pretend I'm on mushrooms (wait...that came out wrong)

 

[DopeyBadger]

Was a big fan of Mr Wizard growing up so I support this endeavor.

Loved that show too!

You'd have a field day at the testing labs at my work. Beating the crud out of our products seems like more fun than selling them sometimes.

Sounds like my work sometimes!

Also I think I need to start using mental "powerstars" throughout my races. And when I fuel..I'll just pretend I'm on mushrooms (wait...that came out wrong)

 

[DopeyBadger]

And here is another G photoshoot photo (that's G and Ellie)...

 

[McNs]

Awesome week for you - one of the runs that made me chuckle was Friday's where your average HR was only 124bpm! And cute photo of G!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Awesome week for you

Thanks!

one of the runs that made me chuckle was Friday's where your average HR was only 124bpm!

And cute photo of G!

Thanks!

 

[Anisum]

Cute photo of G!

View attachment 234773

This one made my palm hurt just looking at it since it's from Super Mario 64 and in order to spin Bowser by his tail you lined the joystick up in the middle of your palm and then spun it. The feeling is accurately summarized in this diagram:

 

[DopeyBadger]

Cute photo of G!


This one made my palm hurt just looking at it since it's from Super Mario 64 and in order to spin Bowser by his tail you lined the joystick up in the middle of your palm and then spun it. The feeling is accurately summarized in this diagram:

Oh goodness, I totally forgot about that.... I use to have so many palm wounds from that darn joystick. I had to start wearing gloves to play those games with the spinning.

 

[FFigawi]

Challenge Accepted - Boss in Boston!

Now this is the Boss in Boston!

 

[ZellyB]

Adorable photo of G!!

 

[ZellyB]

P.S. We were always more a fan of Zelda.

Although when we first starting playing it they looked like this



Because I'm old.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Now this is the Boss in Boston!

Nice find!

Adorable photo of G!!

Thanks!

P.S. We were always more a fan of Zelda.

Although when we first starting playing it they looked like this

View attachment 234864

Because I'm old.

Zelda was the bomb (although I don't know that new age boss). I think I still have the gold NES game. Don't worry I most definitely played the old classic as well. I think I was probably a touch younger than you back then though.

 

[pixarmom]

First, G is TOO CUTE!! Snuck in a badger football long sleeve for @mateojr to wear to school today.

I did see her again on Friday in a new spot and she seemed alive, but still not thrilled to be outside. When I passed her a second time on Friday her head was buried in the grass and rear in the air. Unfortunately, I found her in the same exact position on Saturday, but didn't want to get any closer. On Sunday, she wasn't there anymore, but I think it's because she flew off and lived a happy life with her babies!



Looks like googling "final boss battle gif" doesn't come up with good Bowser options, but just "Bowser gif" comes up with some gems!

View attachment 234770
View attachment 234771
View attachment 234772
View attachment 234773



View attachment 234777

View attachment 234776



Thanks!



LOL, thanks! These faster paces have been fun!



Oh for sure! My Kinvaras right now are all blaze orange (bought on clearance so presumably no one else wanted them...). There was a research article that said the better you feel about your clothing choices the faster you run (it was about lying to participants about whether they were in name brand gear or not).







Thanks! I wasn't expecting such a dramatic separation between the lines on a two week basis. It makes for a nice method of assessing improvement without actually having to race.



Next run should be Sunday's 12 mile long run (dependent on dry weather).



That's really too bad. They're easily my favorites race shoe.



One thing I always consider when weighing one shoe vs the other is the number of miles I can't get. So a Kinvara = 180 and a Freedom = 500 miles (in theory). So the Kinvaras have to be 64% cheaper than the Freedoms to justify. Although personally my decision would also come down to needs based on the types of runs that are going to run out of miles in my current stock. So the Kinvaras and Freedoms may or may not be comparable based on the future performance of the Freedoms (and whether they're more speed or tempo/long).



Thanks!



Hmm.... Where have I heard that before...

12/26/16


2/9/17


2/13/17










Here's a great article I found explaining it (link). It comes from video games where every once in a while the character is challenged by a more superior enemy than a normal enemy. You have to use certain skills learned throughout the game to master defeating each new boss. The final boss battle is at the end of the video game which culminates in all of the knowledge and experience you've gained to conquer the most difficult boss of all - the final boss. In that manner, I viewed Sunday's M Tempo + T run like a final boss. It took all the skills I've learned throughout the Daniels 10k training to be able to successfully conquer this particular training run. But like some good final boss battles, who knows if that's truly the end?!?!?



I definitely felt this as well. It felt easier, yet it made it feel more difficult to do it. It's hard to explain the feeling. I'm hopeful it was just an effect of Tuesday's harder than normal effort.



It's always nice when a decision like this works out as a positive. I'm thinking they'e likely to end up similarly for me as well. Not an easy day shoe, but somewhere else.



I've got Kinvaras and Zealot ISOs which are both 4mm. The Kinvaras are my race shoe regardless of distance (5k through marathon), but they tear me up at anything slower than speed (although I'm getting more comfortable running M Tempo training in them now). The Zealots are best for the long run. They usually feel clunky for the first mile or so for me, but once everything warms up and the strides gets more natural then they hit their groove. If I were running a more downhill race, I might use the Zealots instead of the Kinvaras,



Thanks!



Most definitely a consideration for the October marathon. Planned outfit is red shorts, red shoes, and white badger singlet.

Just saying...

Also, the game temp was in the 50s so Miami was huddles by the heaters and WI was enjoying the warm weather relative to back home.



Thanks!

Challenge Accepted - Boss in Boston!

Ha! Now I see that I've been sitting on this Lakefront fence for almost six months!!

Love the description of the Boss battle. @mateojr speaks of this often, but the link and your description help me to see it in a different way and I very much appreciate that.

 

[DopeyBadger]

First, G is TOO CUTE!!

Thanks!

Snuck in a badger football long sleeve for @mateojr to wear to school today.

Good choice!

Ha! Now I see that I've been sitting on this Lakefront fence for almost six months!!

Better make a choice, because they might start charging you rent for sitting on that fence for so long.

Love the description of the Boss battle. @mateojr speaks of this often, but the link and your description help me to see it in a different way and I very much appreciate that.

Happy to help! Before running became such a passion, video games were where I spent a majority of my time. So I can relate to @mateojr's use of "boss battle" as common language use.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Another new toy arrived today:



They are Columbia Arm Sleeves that are intended to keep the skin cool during high solar radiation days. I recently read some research that validates the use of these to increase performance on sunny days, so I'm interested to see if the research matches real life. I could definitely tell they were cool on the skin when I tried them on. They're not very flexible though and a really tight fit. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[Anisum]

Those look cool (pun intended) but the idea of wearing more layers on hot or sunny days seems counter productive. I'll be curious to see how it goes.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Those look cool (pun intended) but the idea of wearing more layers on hot or sunny days seems counter productive. I'll be curious to see how it goes.

Agreed!