an entry somewhere else » US

Epic Triathlon (their nomenclature)

Anthony — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:08:10 +0000

Yesterday, I completed the last of my summer fun–a sprint triathlon in Petoskey, MI. The results:

500m swim: 13:02, pace: 2:37/100m
T1: 4:44 (this included a 400-500m run from the water to transition area)
20k bike: 40:18, 18.5mph (this had some big hills)
T2: 0:53
5 mile run (~8k): 41:53, 8:23 min/mile
Overall: 1:40:48, 2d in my age group (9min behind leader); Overall: 18 out of 40, (20min behind leader)

The swim was nice and enclosed in a harbor. I had a decent pace considering I hadn’t swam since Colorado. The pace was actually near to the pace for my Oly in late June. The bike had some big hills that dropped me down into the single digits for speed. The run was longer than the usual sprints (and only about a mile less than an Oly length), so I started off pretty slow and picked it up once the path went into the trail with a heckuva kick on the last mile. I’m happy with the pace for the run as well. That’s it for this season for me. I’m going to winterize the bike and take it easy to settle in.

Bass Ackwards

Anthony — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:00:10 +0000

I arrived at the airport an hour early but, alas, my flight was canceled. After waiting in line for several other to rebook, my turn arrived. I was then informed that I was rebooked for the earlier flight but unable to be notified because I didn’t book the ticket and there was no local number. The woman in front of me was told the same thing, but she had a local number. No other airlines (or so I was told) had any seats available today at all. I got a voucher for a free drink and 1st class. There isn’t a first class section on my first flight. Another reason why I never look at Northwest for flying anywhere.

Another day in northern Michigan isn’t so bad. I’ll miss a couple meetings, the opening meet and greet, and a decent dinner on Uncle Sam. I’m sure I won’t get my per diem for that night either.

Live music (that I particularly like)

Anthony — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:54:50 +0000

Last night, I went off with my good friend to the Shawn Colvin/John Hiatt concert at the Interlochen Arts Academy. The venue, Kresge Auditorium is much like a covered bandshell and a great place to catch a show. Al and I went primarily to see John Hiatt, a great songwriter. I bet many of you have heard his songs covered by other legends in the music biz, but maybe not his name. He put on a helluva show. Shawn Colvin opened up and, since I’m not a superfan of hers, I only knew a few of her songs. Still, she played solo throughout her set save a finale duet with Hiatt. Hiatt also played solo except for a couple duets with Colvin. Hiatt in the raw is much better than his studio albums. It looked like he had a lot of fun up there and put his chops to good use belting out new and old songs as well as putting the guitar to good use. The only song that I expected to hear, but didn’t, was “Thing Called Love”. But, hey, if he can not play one of his most famous songs and still leave me felling like I got my money’s worth, then he’s a master. I’d easily pay the money to see him two nights in a row.

Nothing special

Anthony — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:23:22 +0000

I’m back in northern Michigan and working toward getting all my medical appointments finished. Tomorrow, I’ll get my TB test read; there isn’t an abduration showing, so I think I’m good;) Too many things going on this weekend: my brother’s belated wedding reception, the annual “Shoe” — a horseshoe toss competition held by a friend’s father, a John Hiatt-Shawn Colvin concert, shopping for all the clothes I ditched in Makassar, and some CDs I’ve been hankering for since I heard about them.

Monday, I head out to DC for a pre-departure orientation and, hopefully, catch up with some friends in DC as well. Hopefully, I’ll get to put in a few running miles while I’m there as well. So much fun.

In the next week, I’ll also be the pround owner of a new MacBook. Yes, I’ll be happy with my choice.

Messing Around

Anthony — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:17:51 +0000

I survived the train from Denver to Ann Arbor. I actually had to run from the late Denver-Chicago train to the Chicago-Ann Arbor train which made all the contact I made with my Chicago friends a moot point. I will never learn.

The sun is beaming well here and I’m having a fun time relaxing with some friends and their cute 1.5 year old daughter who has yet to cry since I’ve been here despite me having a beard again. She does wake up and wonder who the heck I am every morning though. Very nice. I’m heading out to Blimpy Burger in a few minutes for my annual Pepper Steak Bullet. Once a year is enough for something like that.

I’ve done some updating of links. You can now find out more about Indonesia under the Indonesia link. It has some info on my new home-to-be, Darussalam, Banda Aceh. Good stuff.

Other bloggers out there should know, my friendly cyber-czar has finished up facilitating a design competition using the Sandbox theme. I’ll be changing my skin as soon as they are all released, but please have a look at what went on here. I’m eager to hear what the judges have to say.

Transit

Anthony — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 22:07:33 +0000

Well, I’m now in Boulder. Last night, I came with one of the friends I was staying with earlier for the Stroke & Stride. It’s a little swim and run at the Boulder reservoir. I finished the 750m swim in 19:33 and the 5k run in 26:47. Transition time: 1:32. Of course, I do get to claim that I’m at altitude at the moment. A little disappointed in the swim, but I’ve not been hitting any water with regularity lately unless it’s been as part of analysis of yeast cultures.

Next athletic event: Petoskey Sprint Triathlon on August 19.

I rented a road bike here and my friend has his own, so we did a short ride today up some hills. The scenery was great when I could get my eyes on it rather than keeping my eye on the road.

Done Deal

Anthony — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:54:13 +0000

In response to the job offer in Banda Aceh, I confirmed that I would take it today. A little email and it was done. A few things changed, a few things didn’t in the overall contract. Not enough to make a stink about. This will leave me some more time to prepare better for a job in 2008.

I’m currently in Colorado visiting up with friends. Great weather, big bike lanes…

My, Oh My

Anthony — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:55:29 +0000

The improbable has occurred: I have been offered a position to return to Indonesia. Only this time, it would be to Banda Aceh, one of the hardest hit places of the 2004 tsunami on the tip of Sumatra. I am leaning heavily leaning toward returning and will tender my decision Thursday morning. Today, I leave for Colorado via Greyhound. I’ll have a lot of time to mull it over.

A Year of Fitness

Anthony — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:50:50 +0000

Last year, I trained for a sprint triathlon in my entry to the sport. Three weeks ago, I completed my first Olympic-length triathlon (see the Triathlon page for my training regime). Yesterday, I ran the same sprint tri that started me off. This year was teeth-chattering cold in the water, wet on the bike and a little sun on the run. I’ll compare.

Last year: 3d of 8 in my age group, 69/125 all men

Swim: 20:02, Pace: 4:01/100m, Rank: 6
Transition 1: 3:52
Bike: 40:31, Avg speed: 18.5 mph, Rank: 3
Transition 2: 1:08
Run: 27:36, Pace: 8:53/mile, Rank: 3
Total: 1:33:06

This year (with change in time from last year): 11th of 24 in my age group, 71/158 all men

Swim: 16:11, Pace: 3:15/100m, Rank: 9/24 Comparison- 20:02 v 16:11
Transition 1: 3:18 Comparison: 3:52 v 3:18
Bike: 40:14, Avg speed: 18.5mph, Rank: 12/24 Comparison: 40:31 v 40:14
Transition 2: 1:20 Comparison: 1:08 v 1:20
Run: 25:37, Pace: 8:15mph, Rank: 11/24 Comparison: 27:36 v 25:37
Total: 1:26:38 Comparison: 1:33:06 v 1:26:38

A 6:28 minute improvement! Got whacked in the head a couple times on the swim, plus I hadn’t swam in two weeks. The bike was wet and I did take the turns a little slow and felt the burns on the quads…. I may turn in one more sprint this season.

Nugget of wisdom?

Anthony — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:35:42 +0000

Think long and hard about getting married - Anon

It seems a few weeks and another continent have the opposite thoughts on my friends and family. Only two weeks ago, I could have been presented with several brides. This week, there were very obvious checks of my ring finger and the above ‘advice’ from a couple of high school classmates who shall remain nameless.

The above nameless classmates also told me that another classmate of mine’s marriage is an anomaly on the marriage scale. I’m not sure this is true, but two fellas telling me to ‘think long and hard’ doesn’t bode well. Of course, I know that ‘long and hard’ is a given when taking such a step. However, I’m optimisitic and confident that two rotten-ish apples out of a bushel is not what someone should guage their prospects on. I am clearly not them; they are clearly not me.

So, I continue to ply the astrolabe to my life and plan travels even though I have no idea where or when my next job will materialize. Thus far I have applied for positions in Qatar and Athens. I plan to apply for positions in UAE and Bloomington, IL. The job market is pretty tough for a semi-experienced guy like myself. Often, universities will post jobs just to satisfy statutes even though they have a part-time employee or candidate already in mind for the position. I don’t know this and still apply to get a short letter or nothing in response. So it goes.

Until then, Oberon and deep thought.