It’s been a while…

Posted June 1, 2010 By Andrew and has no comments yet.

Too much time has passed between my last post and this one. I apologize for this. I promise it hasn’t been without merit. I’ve heavily involved in starting up a website called RunnerStream. It specializes in Southern California High Definition Running Videos. Most running sites carry videos but they are poorly shot and edited. We do an excellent job of both.

That said, I just completed a trip home with 41 items to my name. The only things I grouped in this were my socks (a pair of socks = 1 item) and my wallet. If you wanted to be technical could be 5 items (id, 2 credit cards, debit card and wallet). I’ll post a picture of all the items, but here’s a quick summary off the top of my head, lets see if I can make it to 41.

MacBook
MacBook Power Adapter
Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse
Headphones
iPhone
iPhone Cable

Timbuck2 Backpack
6 pr Socks
4 underwear
3 undershirts
2 shorts
2 running shorts
1 dri-fit running shirt
1 jean
3 t-shirts
1 dress shirt
1 collared shirt
1 puma shoes
1 brooks running shoes
1 belt
1 running watch
keys

I’m missing a few, when I get the pictures up I’ll adjust the list.

That’s all for now. I’ll add my current running schedule in the next day or so.

Best wishes!

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Categories: Lifestyle

Test Run

Posted February 18, 2010 By Andrew and has 4 comments.

Literally and Figuratively

I’m packing my bags and leaving on a test trip. I’m only going to be gone for a weekend, but I plan on testing out some key elements.

Primary:
I need to test out my travel ability with my current bags. As you can see from my 50+ List I have 3 bags. Each serving a distinct purpose. The Samonsite suitcase is the main bag for my items. Timbuk2 Hemlock is for laptop transport and walking around for any distance with items. The Hidden Timbuk2 bag is for short trips without much stuff or just a laptop. I need to know whether these fit my needs perfectly.

Secondary:
A weekend trip isn’t long enough to test out if you brought the right gear to live and function for months. However, I reason that if I find an item to be unnecessary in a small trip mostly likely it will still be unnecessary in a long stay trip. This had a few exclusions to this, like I won’t need to do laundry on this trip and clothes wise should be overpacked. If during this trip I feel like I didn’t pack enough, it’s not true. I simply must have the wrong items and I’ll need to address this.

Final Item:
Test out lifestyle of living minimally and exploring a new location. I plan on treating this test run as I would the first couple days in a brand new city I plan on staying in for months. Run the city, go out, meet people, etc.

Now to choose a place, this is where I need some suggestions. My only requirement is that it 3 hours or less of a drive. It can be a major city or small city, it doesn’t matter. Either will be useful. *Note* I’m also willing to cheat a bit if someone would let me crash on their couch for a weekend. I’m a pretty good cook if that entices anyone. The above rules still apply.
So far:
– San Diego
– Small towns?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

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Categories: Freedom, Lifestyle

Running fast

Posted February 16, 2010 By Andrew and has no comments yet.

As promised my first in a series of training tips and how to’s.

I like to run fast. That is when I’m out for a sweat and not for an exploration run. There is a good feeling to pushing your body to, and then past, a certain self imposed limit. One such example is a marathon. So what’s the best way to do so. Simple run, a good amount (A solid easy week should be 20-40 miles, I typically run 50-60) and then vary your hard runs. The three types of runs that I typically use to train are the following: Training runs/recovery runs, tempo runs, and fartleks.

Easy Runs

Simple to do, just go out and run. Make the run at a conversational pace. One that is not making you work hard but you’re not walking either. These are at the pace that I typically explore the city. I’m out running to run around.

Tempo Runs

A tempo run is a run where you are working hard to run a quick pace for an extended amount of time.  A recommendation is:
Goal Race (If you have one)
10-K: 4 to 6 Miles
Half-marathon: 6 to 8 Miles
Marathon: 8 to 10 Miles

These should be hard. They are meant to be a workout.
Why they work – They teach your body to deal with the physiological stress that your body endures when racing. Your body learns to adjust to using oxygen more efficiently and removing lactate acid from your muscles.

Fartleks

Fartleks are run faster at their peak than tempo runs, but give a short “recovery period” at training pace.  It’s a nice workout that can teach you to run though pain and push though. This runs give me a boost the last half mile of a marathon. My thoughts return to this type of run and I’m able to remind myself that I’ve been in this pain before and I can push on.

One example:

Fast: 5min
Training pace: 2:30min
Fast: 3min
Training Pace – 1:30min
Fast – 1min
Training Pace – 0:30min
Then repeat

That’s the basics of a Fartlek.

I’ll cover track workouts, or in my case city block workouts, since they are a lot easier to fine in a foreign city than a track, in a future post.

As always, Comments / Questions / Tips are welcome.

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Categories: Running

To Start

Posted February 15, 2010 By Andrew and has 2 comments.

With this post I officially begin the small task of reorganizing my life with a focus on life experience over material possessions.

What does this mean exactly? A thought I had while Colin, of Exile Lifestyle, was here inspired me.

What do I plan on doing for work? I plan on continuing to program as I enjoy doing it. However, there are other things that need to be done in concert with this.

  • First, I need to travel. Specifically away from North America and to somewhere where a culture shock awaits me.
  • Second, interlinked with the first, is to explore new places. Traveling is one thing but to actually explore an unknown city is something else entirely. I’m not traveling to see the tourist sights, I’m traveling to experience the culture and city.
  • Finally, Running. I believe the best way to discover a city is through running the city. It’s always been one of the first I’ve done on family vacations in new places. It’s not a coincidence that on family vacations I always ended up driving. I knew the city. I wasn’t going off of a map or coordinates from a GPS. I had the city mapped by location recognition and a basic understanding of the major streets.

Now I’ve come to the purpose of this blog. I plan on keeping record of my travels. The steps that I take to lead a minimal lifestyle (50 Item Challenge). Most importantly how I integrate running, traveling and minimalism into the Workbot Not.

Comments? Questions? Go Here.

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Categories: Freedom, Lifestyle, Minimalism, Running, The Thought -Workbot-