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11-10-2005
I again ran the short 3.4 mile loop starting at my apartment. I started out at 4:20, so the run would end in the twilight and not the darkness of 5:30. It just hurts to say that. Darkness at 5:30. Why bother changing the clock back? If you are going to change the clock then shift all business hours in the opposite direction.
I was messing around with winamp today and ran across a podcast today about coffee. For any elderly readers a podcast is an on demand radio show posted on the internet. The podcast was about coffee. It was just amazing how pretentious someone can be about coffee. Really, it was almost comically obsessed about the bean.
Y: 43.05 M: 6.8 W: 6.8 shoes: 254.55
11-06-2005
I ran a short 3.4 mile loop starting at my apartment. The run went pretty well. At 8 AM, a fog had settled over the village on the plains. I set out feeling good and ended in the same condition. By following the small loop described on my 2004 marathon distances page, I ran an invigorating 3.4 miles. The distance went by fast despite occasional stops to wipe the precipitation from my glasses.
I arrived home from the AIChE National Conference in Cincinnati this Friday. It seems like a decent place to live, and the food was pretty good. My talk seemed to go well, but I will defer to others opinions about it. Well now it is back to the daily grind. Hopefully I will rack up miles more consistently now that autumn has finally arrived in Auburn.
Y: 49.65 M: 3.4 W: 3.4 shoes: 251.15
10-20-2005
Yeah me! I went running again. For 2.25 miles (or 1 loop around Kiesel Park here in Auburn) I ran like I am a completely in shape individual. Ok, around a mile and a half there was a little pause, but still I ran actually exercised for the first time in a long time. I never really felt right after the marathon in 2004 until I drove to Dallas a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I can actually develop a sustainable running routine for myself now. I should be able to run Friday and maybe Sunday. Next week I should be able to run thrice. Then after a week break I hope to start ramping up to running on a daily basis. Who knows, maybe I will be able to run a race or two come spring. Of course I am getting ahead of myself a little.
Just a quick work note. I am almost finished with my talk for AIChE. I have shifted my work to my preliminary dissertation. I hope to have a rough draft complete before the winter break.
Y: 46.25 M: 2.25 W: 2.25 shoes: 247.75
08-24-2005
I shifted my mode of exercise over the past weekend. If I can't convince myself to run on a regular basis, atleast once a week I am going to go on a hike. There are a handful of trails in Alabama worth hiking. By the time I get my doctorate, I will have hiked all of them.
On a sweltering Sunday (8-21-05) , I headed out to Horseshoe Bend National Military Park a few miles east of Alexander City, AL. A battle between the US military, under the command of future President Andrew Jackson, and a faction of the Upper Creek Indians occured there in 1814. Nearly a 900 men were killed on both sides, most on the side of the Upper Creek Indians, on a peninsula made by a bend in the Tallapoosa river. There is a 2.8 mile loop which goes to several of the sites. My friend, Rangit, and I pulled into the parking lot with just enough time to hike the trail. A ranger waived as we turned towards a parking spot. Yes, before we got out of the car we were greeted. My sedan also became the only car in the lot not belonging to a park ranger. While this may be due to the relative remoteness of the park, it is more likely due to the high temperature and humidity of the late afternoon. We went in the ranger shop and got a map/brochure with prompt service. (We may have interrupted some deep contemplation because the ranger inside was suprisingly awake.) The trail had a few pavilions with mini history lessons to read. Walking in the forest along the river two things occurred to me: in the future wear pants, not shorts because there are bugs and plants attacking your legs on trails and it must be really hot to being wearing pants as Rangit is. Towards the end of the trail there is a monument commemorating the battle. A line a white posts show where the Upper Creek Indians built a barrier from which to fight. Got a really cool picture of myself by a cannon. The striking thing of the area surrounding the park was its ruralness. Was it necessary to fight this war when even today the land seems relatively unsettled? I can't answer that, but the cannon looked really cool.
Y: 44.00 M: 3.00 W: 3.00 shoes: 245.50
08-07-2005
Despite my protestations to the contrary, I went running today. Headed out to the Tuskegee Forest for a quick little 3 mile jaunt. Good to get out of town for a little while. My hair has grown out to its appropriate length. I'd say it is about a razor setting of 2. I'm thinking of keeping it at this height.
Y: 44.00 M: 3.00 W: 3.00 shoes: 245.50
07-29-2005
Well, I finally went through with it. I decided to quicken the recession of my hairline. Here are the results of the experiment. I think it turned out pretty well.
I got back from Las Vegas and Pheonix on Thursday morning. It was good to see my grandmother and uncle on the trip. I arrived with slightly more money than when I left Auburn. I played the "new craze", Texas hold 'em. I figure the other players will be giving there money away anyway. They might as well lose it to me rather than the casino with another game.
Y: 41.00 M: 0.00 W: 0.00 shoes: 242.50
07-18-2005
I am posting a new section to the website. The Richard Obrzut Guide to Las Vegas is an always unfinished "things to see list" of the infamous city. From free shows, attractions, not so free souvenir shops, and golf courses, this guide is essential for any first time visitor to Las Vegas.
Y: 41.00 M: 0.00 W: 0.00 shoes: 242.50
07-11-2005
As I have been informed (and "y'all" might have noticed), the running log has been neglected for the past couple of weeks. Well the running has also been neglected for the past couple of weeks. Fourth of July has come and gone. Hurricane Dennis passed Auburn without any damage of which to speak. I finally finished the first draft of my paper. Of course, I now have another set of experiments to perform before I finalize it. A Starbucks opened up in Opelika. That hasn't reduced my patronage at the local coffee shop, but my evening coffee intake has increased. Recently read Chicago Poems by Carl Sandburg and Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore. I am now reading Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov. Life in a college town during the summer is quite sleepy as you may have noticed.
Y: 41.00 M: 0.00 W: 0.00 shoes: 242.50
06-20-2005
Has it already been 5 days since I last ran? I feel like it was just a day or two of rest. Bummed around over the weekend, could have ran on Saturday or Sunday. Really the whole motivation thing is quite difficult on some days. Maybe planning for a marathon will get me in shape. On second thought, I will pass on that. I am out of racing shape because of the last marathon. Before I forget I ran 3.25 miles at Kiesel Park by running a loop and a half. It was a pretty nice day all in all. The sun was behind some clouds, and the temperature was not too extreme.
Y: 41.00 M: 12.00 W: 3.25 shoes: 242.50
06-15-2005
I headed over to Kiesel Park again for 3.25 miles by running a loop and a half. Another sweltering day down here in Auburn. Well it looks like I have all my data for my paper. Hopefully everything makes sense when I start evaluating the data.
Y: 37.75 M: 8.75 W: 5.5 shoes: 239.25
06-12-2005
Ran a loop at
Kiesel Park for 2.25 miles. It was real steamy out there. After the first loop, I started a second and just conceded it. I'll try and run on Tuesday for two loops. Still working on my paper for school. It should be done real soon. I have also started on my preliminary dissertation. The White Sox won the series versus the Padres in three close games. If anyone still needed a reason to believe they are for real, that series is a big reason. I have now moved on to reading The Blue Octavo Notebooks. It's another Kafka collection for me to ponder.
Y: 34.5 M: 5.5 W: 2.25 shoes: 236.00
06-09-2005
Ran a loop and a half at
Kiesel Park for 3.25 miles today. My left leg was a little twinged
today, but the run went pretty well. I haven't written for a while, so
I guess there are a few updates. I headed out to Providence Canyon for
Memorial Day. I am sure I got some good pictures, but the film isn't
developed yet. I'll try to post a few of them on the photographs page.
Rain, lightning, and thunder are the stories of the last week or so.
I'll take that as my excuse for not running despite about 7 perfect
mornings in a row. The White Sox swept the Rockies, yeah. Work is
coming along. Hopefully the full first draft of my paper will be done
by the end of next week. Somehow I got a mystery scratch on my
forehead. It is rather noticeable, but I have no idea how it got there.
Really strange. I don't think I sleep walk, but it is possible I was
and bumped my head. That's all for now. My running seems to be back on
track, so I'll write again soon.
Y: 32.25 M: 3.25 W: 3.25 shoes: 233.75
05-27-2005
Ran the loop twice at
Kiesel Park for 4.5 miles today. Felt pretty good. I'll be out there
for another week or two then switch to going around campus or Tuskegee
National Forest
29.00/17.50/7.75 (230.5 on the shoes)
05-25-2005
Ran at Kiesel Park, a loop
and a half for 3.25 miles. (Yes, again) I felt really good throughout
the whole run. I was going to bump the run up to 4.5 miles but decided
to hedge my bets. I might push the mileage a little next time. If I
don't, next week is definitey in the 4 mile range.
I sent in my
abstract for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
National Meeting. It will be in Cincinnati, OH from October 30 until
November 4. The information about that can be found at the link to the
left. I put in for "01F05 Processing of Pharmaceuticals and
Nutraceuticals under High Pressure."
24.50/13.00/3.25
05-21-2005
Ran at Kiesel Park, a loop
and a half for 3.25 miles. I started out pretty good, and then the sun
came out. I got real tired really fast. I finished the run after a few
short walking breaks. Watched the White Sox clinch their series against
the Cubs this afternoon. I had to use the gameday feature at chisox.com
because @$%@$% Fox decided Alabama and Georgia would rather watch the
New York series. That makes 222.5 miles in my marathon shoes. My milage
totals are below as follows for year/month/week.
21.25/9.75/6.5
05-18-2005
Ran at Kiesel Park, a loop
and a half for 3.25 miles. Felt really good. Only stopped for a
breather twice. Once was at 1.5 miles, and the other was at 2.25 miles.
Beautiful day. This makes 219 miles for the Nike Air Pegasus in which I
ran the 2004 Chicago Marathon. Speaking of marathons, I recieved an
e-mail from the Chicago Marathon organizers asking if I want to order a
2005 jacket. That e-mail got deleted quite readily. Also, I am close to
finishing The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
05-09-2005
Ran
at Kiesel Park, a loop and a half. The first loop was two and a quarter
miles. The second loop tacked on another mile for a total of 3.25
miles. I went to Orlando, FL for the International Symposium on
Supercritical Fluids on May 1-4. I came back with a bad head cold or
something. The 9th was my first decent feeling day. After the 9th, I
also felt miserable. I am putting this up on the 17th, and I think I am
finally back to normal.
04-18-2005
I went out to Kiesel Park today
and ran a loop and a half. The first loop was two and a quarter
miles. The second loop tacked on another mile for a total of
3.25 miles.
04-13-2005
Yeah, twice in a row for another 3
miles today around the short loops around the streets of Auburn.
04-11-2005
I am starting running after a false
start in the last couple of posts. Ran 3 miles today in the 3
mile loop on the streets of Auburn.
02-13-2005
Guess I have changed
this from a running log to general ramblings considering my lack
of running in the past couple of weeks. Hopefully, now that the
weather seems to have changed, I will get in a run or two this
week. Work... Damn frustrating. Things work, things don't work,
and more things need to be done. Have my first test in Advanced
Physical Chemistry on Tuesday. Should go well. Might go to a park
in Alabama next weekend to get away for a day. Not sure which
one, but I'm sure I'll find something cheap and relaxing. Half
way through the Gulag Archipelago volume 1. Somehow that is the
last one of the three I am reading.
02-05-2005
Hello all. Played
tennis on Friday. Did pretty well by my standards. May do that a
few more times. The week has been one of those winter dulldrum
weeks. Trying to get going on writing, but I am getting weighed
down by collecting data. Next week things are finally going to
get rolling along though. Saw the Pine Hill Haints in downtown
Auburn Wednesday. Good show, less than stellar sound system
though. No cover so one cannot complain, too much. Had a freezing
rain last weekend. I snapped off a few cool pictures and will
post them when I take the time to scan them. It was kind of
interesting watching the news. They just kept repeating not to go
anywhere unnecessary. They just don't now how to handle real
weather in some places. Might head out to the Tuskegee National
Forest one of the next couple days.
01-22-2005
I went over to Kiesel Park today to
get myself motivated enough to run a little bit. Figured if I
actually went somewhere to run, I would shame myself into giving
a halfway decent effort. I arrived at the park at 4:30 PM on a
beautiful January day. The high of the day was around 65 F with
very little wind. I ran the big loop around the park for 2.25
miles. Felt a little winded, but that is too be expected this
early in my return to athletecism. I could have gone longer, but
my body simply wasn't used to breathing hard. Legs feel pretty
good though; that is great news. It is supposed to rain tomorrow
and be cold on Sunday, so on Monday I hope to be able to get
another run in. Also, assume my Nike Air Paegasus Wide (9.5)
shoes have about 203.5 miles on them now.
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