Saturday was districts. Obviously, i'm not technically elligible... but i went to have a good time... we got there on friday, and found the coolest playground in the history of the world... imagine hundreds of square feet of jungle gym. if you see this kind of thing, and feel it's time to go work on your io flick, your a bigger dork than me.
So we ran the course, and then had dinner, team meetings... funny story... on the mile walk to dinner, w/ the coaches, and one kid, it comes up that i'm juvenile. i'm called peter pan. i say, 'hey, it's not my fault i'm good lookin'' at dinner, one of the other coaches, a world class (truly) runner and i, and the head coach are there... we order beers, and i get carded. she says, (and she's pretty youngish, attractive), do you want to see my id? server says, 'no.'
OUCH...
Saturday,the usual, got up at 6, wandered around scenic dalles, ate some waffles, wandered, drank some real coffee, wandered, ate a egg sandwich, wandered... finally go to the course... got a good workout in on the course, warming up w/ girls, then, as they raced, running from one spot w/ no fans, to the base of the one hill to cheer them up... like 600 meters... did it 6 times (3 each way on the 3 loop race)... then warmed up w/ guys, and did the same thing... it was sweet to be at the base of the hill, yelling 'up up up' to the team... and i got in a nice interval workout... so 12 x 600 at a steady race pace... plus 2 x 2000 warmup...
again, i'm super proud of all the kids: missing perhaps our best runner (achilles injury early in season), the guys sold out... and the girls crushed... the next day was the frisbee tournament... and i was fairly friskee... monday, a 4 mile run at a 7 minute pace, and 30 minutes of roller skiing, today, a rest day, 15 minute recovery run, 20 minutes of double pole (upper body) on the skate skis, 8 chinups, 20 minutes of biking... calves are crampy...
tommorrow... a snappy whistle run (slow, medium, fast, based on how many whistles)... then some more roller skiing, then thursday is rest: we have to go get the SUV's for the trip... if it works out, i'll do a longish roller ski... if not, c'est la vie... friday, over to eugene, run the course, strides... saturday... lope around yelling 'good job, go go go'.
supposed to be the start of winter: forecast calls for rain and cold. interesting for running... great for snow.
peace, congrats to all attenders at UPA nationals.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
bad league zone
don't read this if you don't care about low level effective strategery...
the 'pick-up' zone...
well, i got to play in a tournament today where we had to play much of the first half of the first game 6-6... and since it was a 3 game, games to 11,11,13 tournament, it seemed we should play some zone, early and often...
6 v 6... we went w/ 2 points, w/ the off point playing sooffffttt... and the middle as a short deep / mid making sure that all throws were short and under... the wings contained, and the deep backed...
when we went 7v7, it was much of the same, w/ these goals highlighted:
1) no easy long passes
2) lots of short passes
3) result goal: give up goals at the expense of field position turnovers, w/ numbers advantages for better chances of scoring...
we modified... as we had a VERY new player... and one hurt player... the 1-3-3 zone..., w/ the new player as front left (on a flick force)... the hard flick force allowed a skilled middle of the front 3 to cover a lot of ground... the front right sagged way back, allowing the swing to go to the downwind line. the goal was to get a marker in position to battle the trap... and give no dump, while the now tired primary marker and the middle stopped inverts... and try to turn it into a 2 man defense drill where our speedy wing would rush in to make blocks on medium range passes... it worked... and when it didn't, the hucks were to the deep, and the dump/swing, when it happened, lets the original marker recover... meanwhile, our injured player just got to hang out on the back left... when it didn't work, our overloaded deeps were encouraged to try, as our 4 or 5 person clogging 'd' gamely jogged down field hoping for a drop.... watching the superior team excercise their opportunity to finally 'pick apart a team.'
applicable notes for high level play...
walking up to a dead disc is often suicide. get it going fast, even if you get no yardage advantage
bricks are not necessarily advantageous, if you can run it to the line, and hit a player on the twenty w/ a quick pass...
HNH(TM) rewards the aggressive. fortune favors the brave.
the 'pick-up' zone...
well, i got to play in a tournament today where we had to play much of the first half of the first game 6-6... and since it was a 3 game, games to 11,11,13 tournament, it seemed we should play some zone, early and often...
6 v 6... we went w/ 2 points, w/ the off point playing sooffffttt... and the middle as a short deep / mid making sure that all throws were short and under... the wings contained, and the deep backed...
when we went 7v7, it was much of the same, w/ these goals highlighted:
1) no easy long passes
2) lots of short passes
3) result goal: give up goals at the expense of field position turnovers, w/ numbers advantages for better chances of scoring...
we modified... as we had a VERY new player... and one hurt player... the 1-3-3 zone..., w/ the new player as front left (on a flick force)... the hard flick force allowed a skilled middle of the front 3 to cover a lot of ground... the front right sagged way back, allowing the swing to go to the downwind line. the goal was to get a marker in position to battle the trap... and give no dump, while the now tired primary marker and the middle stopped inverts... and try to turn it into a 2 man defense drill where our speedy wing would rush in to make blocks on medium range passes... it worked... and when it didn't, the hucks were to the deep, and the dump/swing, when it happened, lets the original marker recover... meanwhile, our injured player just got to hang out on the back left... when it didn't work, our overloaded deeps were encouraged to try, as our 4 or 5 person clogging 'd' gamely jogged down field hoping for a drop.... watching the superior team excercise their opportunity to finally 'pick apart a team.'
applicable notes for high level play...
walking up to a dead disc is often suicide. get it going fast, even if you get no yardage advantage
bricks are not necessarily advantageous, if you can run it to the line, and hit a player on the twenty w/ a quick pass...
HNH(TM) rewards the aggressive. fortune favors the brave.
UPA Nationals Write up...
... will not be found here. I will be glad to tell you about the one day Bend Hat Tournament. Detailed stats will be found at the bottom. This was the culminating tournament for the Bend Fall Hat League.... The day dawned cool and clear, but who would know, we're talking frisbee Players... I got there 20 minutes late, and had time for a full one hour warmup before play... (more to follow on the perfect warmup)
Once the teams were drawn from the hat, it seemed clear that there were two teams that were tigers. The team (Team Boo) of Doug V, Cinda, Katie, Andrew, RodK, Marshall, MarkF and someone durnnit... rolled through their pool play by a combined score of 22-2.
TEam BooWho aka 'paper tiger' boasted AndyC, Susan, Spencer, RussZ, Newbie Deb, Beckie, Todd, and your reporter played the same teams to a score of, I THINK, 18-10. We did manage to finish 'one' game.... the other got capped at 7-5 as our exploration of bad zone defense and poor offensive execution kind of slowed us down.
Before a small crowd, the Boo/Boo-Hoo game would be one for the ages. First of all it was a crampfest. Bodies were collapsing all around as athletes battled the savage 60 degree heat (yes, that's sarcasm) over the course of 3 games w/ little or no subs. Team Boo-who made hay from a series of spectacular blocks (uh, not by me) followed by writhing cramping... But the inspiring pre game speech may have made all the difference...
Russ: Shit, these guys are going to kill us.
Luke: Yep.
But to the team, a much more inspirational speech.
"Shit, y'all, we're out classed. More experience, more height, more speed, just more better. We got one chance. Bring them down to our level. Turn it into a swilly hucking position based game. It's called Huck and Hope (TM). Every real fight ends up on the ground. This ones going into a gutter. Let's make it ugly, and winit in the end.
I specifically remember thinking, "what's up with these sissies cramping... oh wait... they are RUNNING... whoops"
Boo came out confident. The Ultimate Players Score Computer had them as a 5 point favorite. The crowd was on their side. But it was BooWHO who jumped out to the early lead w/ a series of idiotic forced hucks falling into play for goals.
Boo took the time out, and regrouped. With the disc near the endzone, and a high count, Boo took another time out. Fisticuffs broke out over whether it was StallingNINE, or Stalling 8. (well, no of course they didn't). Perhaps in hindsight, the better question would have been, wait, why are they taking another time out... where did that come from? Isn't it one timeout per half? But while Boo turned that pass over, they eventually scored the goal. Perhaps the controversy spurred them to rise up.
BooWhoo was not worried, but Boo scored again. And again to make it 3-3. Boowho was still not worried, as the loudest guy on the team couldn't count. But Boo scored again, and again, and again to make the score 5-3, then 6-3. Boo who countered to make it 6- 4, but Boo took half 7-4.
And 'Boo' was receiving the ball... er... frisbee... to start the half.
BooWho scored twice to close the gap to 7-6 (side note I could actually describe every point, but here's a generic one at this point.).
Luke picks up the disc and makes a questionable decision and throws it as far as he can (HuckNHope (TM)). Someone makes a catch (scores), a spectacular bid (maybe scores), watches luke's bad throw go (out the back, out of bounds, just out of reach). Spencer or Andy makes a stellar 'D' in the zone. I probably turn it over again, far away.
Repeat. Occasionally Russ might get in on the turnover, or farthrowing excitement. But not so much, at least w/ the turnovers. Played good, definitely...
back to the action. Down 7-6, Boowho watches as Boo scores twice to make it 9-6.
And then we scored 7 straight to win... Yeah team.
Detailed stats.
Points played 48/50
Turnovers: uh, is 'all' an option? Lots.
Goals thrown: lots?
Diving layout 'd': One for the 21st century.
MVP: Co MVP, Spencer and Andy.
yeah team. off for the post tourney pizza/salad/ feed.
And now the shout outs:
BeckyT for running a great hat league and tournament.
All the players who misseeded themselves too low who made our job miserable.
AaronT for bringing Nationals level heckling w/ a broken kidney to both encourage his gal Vie to greatness, and give a reality to the tournament... example... during our 7 point run, i went into howard dean 'heeee-yahhhh' mode after every play... after my nth (where n is a high number) turnover of some point aaron goes 'where's the heee-yahhh'...
The pizza and salad, hosted by SilverMoon brewery in bend, featured delish pizza, fresh salad, foozball, pool, tasty beverages and candy, and an age group from 2 months to 43 years... and some sweet costumes...
til next year...
oh yeah, ps
SOCK, SOCK, SOCK
EYEEEEEEEEEEE!
Once the teams were drawn from the hat, it seemed clear that there were two teams that were tigers. The team (Team Boo) of Doug V, Cinda, Katie, Andrew, RodK, Marshall, MarkF and someone durnnit... rolled through their pool play by a combined score of 22-2.
TEam BooWho aka 'paper tiger' boasted AndyC, Susan, Spencer, RussZ, Newbie Deb, Beckie, Todd, and your reporter played the same teams to a score of, I THINK, 18-10. We did manage to finish 'one' game.... the other got capped at 7-5 as our exploration of bad zone defense and poor offensive execution kind of slowed us down.
Before a small crowd, the Boo/Boo-Hoo game would be one for the ages. First of all it was a crampfest. Bodies were collapsing all around as athletes battled the savage 60 degree heat (yes, that's sarcasm) over the course of 3 games w/ little or no subs. Team Boo-who made hay from a series of spectacular blocks (uh, not by me) followed by writhing cramping... But the inspiring pre game speech may have made all the difference...
Russ: Shit, these guys are going to kill us.
Luke: Yep.
But to the team, a much more inspirational speech.
"Shit, y'all, we're out classed. More experience, more height, more speed, just more better. We got one chance. Bring them down to our level. Turn it into a swilly hucking position based game. It's called Huck and Hope (TM). Every real fight ends up on the ground. This ones going into a gutter. Let's make it ugly, and winit in the end.
I specifically remember thinking, "what's up with these sissies cramping... oh wait... they are RUNNING... whoops"
Boo came out confident. The Ultimate Players Score Computer had them as a 5 point favorite. The crowd was on their side. But it was BooWHO who jumped out to the early lead w/ a series of idiotic forced hucks falling into play for goals.
Boo took the time out, and regrouped. With the disc near the endzone, and a high count, Boo took another time out. Fisticuffs broke out over whether it was StallingNINE, or Stalling 8. (well, no of course they didn't). Perhaps in hindsight, the better question would have been, wait, why are they taking another time out... where did that come from? Isn't it one timeout per half? But while Boo turned that pass over, they eventually scored the goal. Perhaps the controversy spurred them to rise up.
BooWhoo was not worried, but Boo scored again. And again to make it 3-3. Boowho was still not worried, as the loudest guy on the team couldn't count. But Boo scored again, and again, and again to make the score 5-3, then 6-3. Boo who countered to make it 6- 4, but Boo took half 7-4.
And 'Boo' was receiving the ball... er... frisbee... to start the half.
BooWho scored twice to close the gap to 7-6 (side note I could actually describe every point, but here's a generic one at this point.).
Luke picks up the disc and makes a questionable decision and throws it as far as he can (HuckNHope (TM)). Someone makes a catch (scores), a spectacular bid (maybe scores), watches luke's bad throw go (out the back, out of bounds, just out of reach). Spencer or Andy makes a stellar 'D' in the zone. I probably turn it over again, far away.
Repeat. Occasionally Russ might get in on the turnover, or farthrowing excitement. But not so much, at least w/ the turnovers. Played good, definitely...
back to the action. Down 7-6, Boowho watches as Boo scores twice to make it 9-6.
And then we scored 7 straight to win... Yeah team.
Detailed stats.
Points played 48/50
Turnovers: uh, is 'all' an option? Lots.
Goals thrown: lots?
Diving layout 'd': One for the 21st century.
MVP: Co MVP, Spencer and Andy.
yeah team. off for the post tourney pizza/salad/ feed.
And now the shout outs:
BeckyT for running a great hat league and tournament.
All the players who misseeded themselves too low who made our job miserable.
AaronT for bringing Nationals level heckling w/ a broken kidney to both encourage his gal Vie to greatness, and give a reality to the tournament... example... during our 7 point run, i went into howard dean 'heeee-yahhhh' mode after every play... after my nth (where n is a high number) turnover of some point aaron goes 'where's the heee-yahhh'...
The pizza and salad, hosted by SilverMoon brewery in bend, featured delish pizza, fresh salad, foozball, pool, tasty beverages and candy, and an age group from 2 months to 43 years... and some sweet costumes...
til next year...
oh yeah, ps
SOCK, SOCK, SOCK
EYEEEEEEEEEEE!
Monday, October 23, 2006
updoque.
another exciting day in short attention span land... early morning ride to work... then a GREAT day of teaching (hey when it's bad, it's good, but it went well today. in Modern World History, my curriculum (all new this year) has finally reached a point where i'm teaching 'old hat')... and the gov class went well, with a discussion of the bill of rights... and AP government flowed... so good... then, a 4 mile run, and 4 x 100 on grass (really, about 150) and 3 x 200 (about 300)... i just cruised them, as i was a little sore after the weekend... and didn't push it until the last 2 (3)...
then, back to school, 30 minutes of roller skiing, focusing on skills (double pole technique, and no pole technique) then bike home... then a good 1/2 mile to ALMOST mile of uni-biking (TM) w/ a mix of 'water -starts' (no help) and lean starts... (mail boxes)... lots of juggling...
so, good day... then, burgers and beers at 'locals night' at the deschutes... and now, tidying up the blogosphere...
g'night.
ps: wrote 'updoque' on the board, and got two classes to ask 'what's updoque'.
then, back to school, 30 minutes of roller skiing, focusing on skills (double pole technique, and no pole technique) then bike home... then a good 1/2 mile to ALMOST mile of uni-biking (TM) w/ a mix of 'water -starts' (no help) and lean starts... (mail boxes)... lots of juggling...
so, good day... then, burgers and beers at 'locals night' at the deschutes... and now, tidying up the blogosphere...
g'night.
ps: wrote 'updoque' on the board, and got two classes to ask 'what's updoque'.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
personal process, group outcome
well, that is what i think playing 'pick-up' ultimate.
personal process: "i am going to play reasonably hard defense for at least 2 turnovers." "i am not going to get angry when my foolish efforts to be a downfield cutter are stymied by other people running around in a manner that could be well simulated by pouring dye into a running mixer (i was going to say toilet. i have matured)." "i'm going to handblock the crap out of this high school kid who has 7 times refused to throw it to the obviously open cutter, whether guy or gal"
group outcome... "oh, for the love of god, will someone just go? they are forcing BACKHAND (i'm lefty)" and, "no really, flat mark, trust me, it's 5 more throws and it's not like anyone is in position any way," and, "let's just play zone"
well in all serious, i admit the little devil on my shoulder shouting in a high pitched voice (is it physically impossible for a miniature devils to have a deep voice? or am i attaching too much significance to the movies?) has made me think of some of the above... but when i play pick-up ultimate, i am constantly amazed by concepts that are anathema to me (or are they anathematic. i don't know. i had a ex who took albuterol for her anathsma)... like... let's work on the short game... let's get everyone involved... they are new, let them pick it up...
see, people are messed up.
let's work on the short game?! why? are we developing dynamic rapport amongst our handler corps so they can over time develop the subtle communication necessary to become the dominant 1-2 punch of this pick-up game?
let's get everyone involved?! i don't know, i guess i'm just horribly horribly obsessed, but when i first learned to play i had this unreasonable fixation on scoring goals and playing defense. frankly, i was a little nervous that if i tried to force a forehand, it might cause 1) me to play more defense and 2) my team mates... oh, i have to be honest... i was always just concerned that i would have to play more defense...
they are new, let them pick it up. you have to be effin' kiddin' me. are you just trying to make them feel bad, or what? what about saying... hey, next time you get a 'd', pretend you are going to pick it up, and then take off and i'll throw you the bomb?
now let me be clear: i'm a big fan of team process goals for, well, teams... like, developing an offense at the expense of early season wins, or scoring alone... or developing a defensive scheme that means you suffer for a while... oh heck, just turn everything i just said around, apply a little intelligence (DON'T use common sense, it doesn't exist) and there might be lessons for national bound teams...
which is interesting: outcome goals, DoG's assertation that their PlugandChug (AdF) offense is radically different than west coast Huck n' Hope (tTM), well, it's just less hucking than they used to, and less than some. But honestly, for DoG, still, the threat of a huck is always there, as it is for all elite teams... Even now, perhaps beyond their salad days, the threat of someone speedy taking off meant you would have to accept SOME amount of bowling alley cuts, and short gainers, and down field dumps...
moving on, in my own inimitable stream of conciousness way (note, i do actually write w/ caps and puncs, just not on my blog), my theory is that west coast HnH grew out of the earlier rise of 4-3 coed on the left coast, more space, more huck.
so boston gains a lot of credibillity w/ me in that i ASSUME they work on process early, at the expense of outcome (w/ pretty good outcomes coming from talent and experience), w/ a true plan of finishing well. but please comment on the much lauded boston/furious semi final 4 turnover game... did furious get 2 turnovers playing HNH, or is it more likely that in a true, good game, there is a certain similarity in the plays of the teams? i don't know. i was playing one field over. not much. losing, but playing...
meanwhile, the west coast teams are also working on process goals, but they focus more on HnH? and break marks? i don't know... i'm retired... until apparently next year...
i think there is more to be said here, but, my limitations are obvious. i don't care enough to save and edit this tale...
this week, i was tailing off the running... i.e., the shorter faster things would be appropriate if i was jetting' to 'sota, but i'm not, so i'm back to base training...
yesterday, about 60 miles biking (40 in a single ride), 45 minutes of roller skiing... today, oh, 20 miles of biking, 12 miles of roller skiing (like 1:10 or so, fell), 2 hours of frisbee (dove and landed on the EXACT same spot i fell on, one neato catch on overthrown pass on comback w/ a high trailing edge catch and a pull from behind the opponents ear). and some juggling... Got Mills mess, yeah!, and a new uni-bike (tm, sounds much cooler than unicycle, if you feel compelled to make the obvious observation assume it's the origin of the name, not the other way around) PR of starting w/ nothing to lean on, and then 1500 feet over varied hills and such...
frisbee was fun, i dove a little, few handblocks, caught some neat stuff, hucked and hoped...
oh, mildly irritated, when i offered the new player some advice : "would you like some advice (does everyone ask?!)" and heard some mediocre player who thinks i'm a ball hog say, "just say no"...
state of the bod, good, foot a little achy, but only after a lot of time on my feet this weekend... and i bought another new pair of shoes (note, i'm not a collector, i just go through running shoes fast)
dinner: new current fast food recipe...
1.5-2" of pasta
1 bag of mixed fresh veggies... poke holes in it, microwave for 4 minutes (i'm probably carcinogenating the crap out it, but it says to do so on the bag, so the material is at least moderately up to the challenge, and no ecoli),
2 large frozen chicken breasts, micro thawed, and grilled
healthy dose of decent off the shelf teriyaki sauce...
enjoy...
this week is just short running, sprints and easy runs as we prep for districts.
i will get to roller ski a lot after each practice(not much time before snow fall precludes this), it's strengthening some basic muscles, and identifying the holes in my game (my V2 stroke) that i can more cofortably work on when i'm on snow... the parking lot at the nearby middle school where i unibike is nicely lit...
the girls look pretty good, but the top girl broke her femur 10 meters from the finish (Where she might have gone sub 18:00 for a 5 K... likely number one in the state)... but they should qualify... they just aren't the number one team any more...
and the boys need a really good race to go to state...
and did you see the pics of the kid getting molested by the deer on NPR? well, he'll be at summit in 2 years...
personal process: "i am going to play reasonably hard defense for at least 2 turnovers." "i am not going to get angry when my foolish efforts to be a downfield cutter are stymied by other people running around in a manner that could be well simulated by pouring dye into a running mixer (i was going to say toilet. i have matured)." "i'm going to handblock the crap out of this high school kid who has 7 times refused to throw it to the obviously open cutter, whether guy or gal"
group outcome... "oh, for the love of god, will someone just go? they are forcing BACKHAND (i'm lefty)" and, "no really, flat mark, trust me, it's 5 more throws and it's not like anyone is in position any way," and, "let's just play zone"
well in all serious, i admit the little devil on my shoulder shouting in a high pitched voice (is it physically impossible for a miniature devils to have a deep voice? or am i attaching too much significance to the movies?) has made me think of some of the above... but when i play pick-up ultimate, i am constantly amazed by concepts that are anathema to me (or are they anathematic. i don't know. i had a ex who took albuterol for her anathsma)... like... let's work on the short game... let's get everyone involved... they are new, let them pick it up...
see, people are messed up.
let's work on the short game?! why? are we developing dynamic rapport amongst our handler corps so they can over time develop the subtle communication necessary to become the dominant 1-2 punch of this pick-up game?
let's get everyone involved?! i don't know, i guess i'm just horribly horribly obsessed, but when i first learned to play i had this unreasonable fixation on scoring goals and playing defense. frankly, i was a little nervous that if i tried to force a forehand, it might cause 1) me to play more defense and 2) my team mates... oh, i have to be honest... i was always just concerned that i would have to play more defense...
they are new, let them pick it up. you have to be effin' kiddin' me. are you just trying to make them feel bad, or what? what about saying... hey, next time you get a 'd', pretend you are going to pick it up, and then take off and i'll throw you the bomb?
now let me be clear: i'm a big fan of team process goals for, well, teams... like, developing an offense at the expense of early season wins, or scoring alone... or developing a defensive scheme that means you suffer for a while... oh heck, just turn everything i just said around, apply a little intelligence (DON'T use common sense, it doesn't exist) and there might be lessons for national bound teams...
which is interesting: outcome goals, DoG's assertation that their PlugandChug (AdF) offense is radically different than west coast Huck n' Hope (tTM), well, it's just less hucking than they used to, and less than some. But honestly, for DoG, still, the threat of a huck is always there, as it is for all elite teams... Even now, perhaps beyond their salad days, the threat of someone speedy taking off meant you would have to accept SOME amount of bowling alley cuts, and short gainers, and down field dumps...
moving on, in my own inimitable stream of conciousness way (note, i do actually write w/ caps and puncs, just not on my blog), my theory is that west coast HnH grew out of the earlier rise of 4-3 coed on the left coast, more space, more huck.
so boston gains a lot of credibillity w/ me in that i ASSUME they work on process early, at the expense of outcome (w/ pretty good outcomes coming from talent and experience), w/ a true plan of finishing well. but please comment on the much lauded boston/furious semi final 4 turnover game... did furious get 2 turnovers playing HNH, or is it more likely that in a true, good game, there is a certain similarity in the plays of the teams? i don't know. i was playing one field over. not much. losing, but playing...
meanwhile, the west coast teams are also working on process goals, but they focus more on HnH? and break marks? i don't know... i'm retired... until apparently next year...
i think there is more to be said here, but, my limitations are obvious. i don't care enough to save and edit this tale...
this week, i was tailing off the running... i.e., the shorter faster things would be appropriate if i was jetting' to 'sota, but i'm not, so i'm back to base training...
yesterday, about 60 miles biking (40 in a single ride), 45 minutes of roller skiing... today, oh, 20 miles of biking, 12 miles of roller skiing (like 1:10 or so, fell), 2 hours of frisbee (dove and landed on the EXACT same spot i fell on, one neato catch on overthrown pass on comback w/ a high trailing edge catch and a pull from behind the opponents ear). and some juggling... Got Mills mess, yeah!, and a new uni-bike (tm, sounds much cooler than unicycle, if you feel compelled to make the obvious observation assume it's the origin of the name, not the other way around) PR of starting w/ nothing to lean on, and then 1500 feet over varied hills and such...
frisbee was fun, i dove a little, few handblocks, caught some neat stuff, hucked and hoped...
oh, mildly irritated, when i offered the new player some advice : "would you like some advice (does everyone ask?!)" and heard some mediocre player who thinks i'm a ball hog say, "just say no"...
state of the bod, good, foot a little achy, but only after a lot of time on my feet this weekend... and i bought another new pair of shoes (note, i'm not a collector, i just go through running shoes fast)
dinner: new current fast food recipe...
1.5-2" of pasta
1 bag of mixed fresh veggies... poke holes in it, microwave for 4 minutes (i'm probably carcinogenating the crap out it, but it says to do so on the bag, so the material is at least moderately up to the challenge, and no ecoli),
2 large frozen chicken breasts, micro thawed, and grilled
healthy dose of decent off the shelf teriyaki sauce...
enjoy...
this week is just short running, sprints and easy runs as we prep for districts.
i will get to roller ski a lot after each practice(not much time before snow fall precludes this), it's strengthening some basic muscles, and identifying the holes in my game (my V2 stroke) that i can more cofortably work on when i'm on snow... the parking lot at the nearby middle school where i unibike is nicely lit...
the girls look pretty good, but the top girl broke her femur 10 meters from the finish (Where she might have gone sub 18:00 for a 5 K... likely number one in the state)... but they should qualify... they just aren't the number one team any more...
and the boys need a really good race to go to state...
and did you see the pics of the kid getting molested by the deer on NPR? well, he'll be at summit in 2 years...
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
last year... previously posted...
well, today we ran '800's' and i felt awful... the course is grass, and slow, and maybe a little long... here is last year...i did 6, w/ 3:00 rest, at 3:00, 2:58, 2:58, 3:01 (not fair, b/c i literally sprinted from bathroom to start line), 2:58, 2:54.
last week...
at 3:00, 2:56, 2:50, 2:45, and then 3:00 (totally blown...sloppy form, etc)...
yesterday, 4.5 mile run, easy, and 35 minutes of roller skiing (plus 50 minutes of bike commuting (easy zone 1))... today, 200, 400, 600, 800, 800... and then we were supposed to go 6, 4, 2... the varsity guys were burying me on the 2's and 4's... but by the 6, and th 8, i had moved up to the top 6 guys... so, i went w/ the mindsset of, just making it a workout (which was cool, we weren't keeping times)... but i did time my 8's... i ran 2 more, and my times were... 2:55, 2:55, 2:54, 2:55... then a cool down... i concentrated on deep breathing (i tend to be a shallow wind sucker), and the 4 runs were smooth... maybe even race pace, but that may be ambitious... but i was drawing deep breaths, and felt great...
work was fun, hard, since i bike i have to carry clothes, and i forgot my shirt, so i spent all day in a tye-die tshirt w/ the summit hs logo on it (anyone know how to do those cool old wilmington tye-dies)... i spilled coffee in my crotch, but it was cold. so i taught my 52 person ap gov class wearing stained shorts and a tyedie.
of course, both the princi-pal, and the vice made appearances... but i was on my 'a' game... so... not bad...
i think i have mills mess down, so as soon as i feel comfortable... w/ emphasis on the able (the emPHASIS on the SYLabble) i'll post a video... as soon as i can consistently go... cascade, reverse cascade, cascade, tennis, flash, cascade, flash, cascade, columns, cascade, arches, mills, w/ a little 4 ball, and a little of a couple other tricks who's name i forget... give me a week... music will be provided, you get your own food and drink...
well, today we ran '800's' and i felt awful... the course is grass, and slow, and maybe a little long... here is last year...i did 6, w/ 3:00 rest, at 3:00, 2:58, 2:58, 3:01 (not fair, b/c i literally sprinted from bathroom to start line), 2:58, 2:54.
last week...
at 3:00, 2:56, 2:50, 2:45, and then 3:00 (totally blown...sloppy form, etc)...
yesterday, 4.5 mile run, easy, and 35 minutes of roller skiing (plus 50 minutes of bike commuting (easy zone 1))... today, 200, 400, 600, 800, 800... and then we were supposed to go 6, 4, 2... the varsity guys were burying me on the 2's and 4's... but by the 6, and th 8, i had moved up to the top 6 guys... so, i went w/ the mindsset of, just making it a workout (which was cool, we weren't keeping times)... but i did time my 8's... i ran 2 more, and my times were... 2:55, 2:55, 2:54, 2:55... then a cool down... i concentrated on deep breathing (i tend to be a shallow wind sucker), and the 4 runs were smooth... maybe even race pace, but that may be ambitious... but i was drawing deep breaths, and felt great...
work was fun, hard, since i bike i have to carry clothes, and i forgot my shirt, so i spent all day in a tye-die tshirt w/ the summit hs logo on it (anyone know how to do those cool old wilmington tye-dies)... i spilled coffee in my crotch, but it was cold. so i taught my 52 person ap gov class wearing stained shorts and a tyedie.
of course, both the princi-pal, and the vice made appearances... but i was on my 'a' game... so... not bad...
i think i have mills mess down, so as soon as i feel comfortable... w/ emphasis on the able (the emPHASIS on the SYLabble) i'll post a video... as soon as i can consistently go... cascade, reverse cascade, cascade, tennis, flash, cascade, flash, cascade, columns, cascade, arches, mills, w/ a little 4 ball, and a little of a couple other tricks who's name i forget... give me a week... music will be provided, you get your own food and drink...
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
state of the luke
well, today we ran '800's' and i felt awful... the course is grass, and slow, and maybe a little long... here is last year...
i did 6, w/ 3:00 rest, at 3:00, 2:58, 2:58, 3:01 (not fair, b/c i literally sprinted from bathroom to start line), 2:58, 2:54. For your real athletes out there, the top guys ran them at like... oh, 2:45-2:20 w/ 5 sec. improvements for each one. Also, Varsity 1 ran 7.
we did a 1.75 mile warmup, and then i did 5.... last night i slept awful... woke up 4 times... hamstring and calf cramps, so i considered not doing the workout...
so, in hindsight, todays workout was not so bad... at 3:00, 2:56, 2:50, 2:45, and then 3:00 (totally blown...sloppy form, etc)... if i'd known last year was 6 when i was running, i'd ov run another... but i was blown..., so i guess it was a much better workout than last year. varsity ran 2:45 - 2:30, so it turned out to be better than last year... then went and got my orthotics adjusted (i've been having '4rth metatarsal pain'... so the guy dug a little hole for my 4rth metatarsal joint... i feel pretty good... and it's actually a nice cut down from last year, especially since it seemed like a 'bad workout'... and the previous day (mon) was harder, a 6 mile at like 7:30 pace, 126 heartrate (i.e., easy, which means i'm getting stronger)
sunday, 20 miles of biking (but easy, like 2 trips to town, one to school, where i did 35 minutes of skate skiing), one to ultimate, where i played for 3 hours...)...
thursday is the 400's and i may or may not run them.... it's nice to see the year to year improvements, but since i'm training for skiing, i may do 800's to get an interval, vs speed, response... but who am i kidding... i'll run them... but i basically missed 10 days with illness, so my stride length, which should have been improved by 2 weeks of fast 1000's is still static... i think i should have done mile repeats today, and i would have been faster than my earlier times... just couldn't quite 'stride it out'
frisbee: my ignorant prelim is coming...
i did 6, w/ 3:00 rest, at 3:00, 2:58, 2:58, 3:01 (not fair, b/c i literally sprinted from bathroom to start line), 2:58, 2:54. For your real athletes out there, the top guys ran them at like... oh, 2:45-2:20 w/ 5 sec. improvements for each one. Also, Varsity 1 ran 7.
we did a 1.75 mile warmup, and then i did 5.... last night i slept awful... woke up 4 times... hamstring and calf cramps, so i considered not doing the workout...
so, in hindsight, todays workout was not so bad... at 3:00, 2:56, 2:50, 2:45, and then 3:00 (totally blown...sloppy form, etc)... if i'd known last year was 6 when i was running, i'd ov run another... but i was blown..., so i guess it was a much better workout than last year. varsity ran 2:45 - 2:30, so it turned out to be better than last year... then went and got my orthotics adjusted (i've been having '4rth metatarsal pain'... so the guy dug a little hole for my 4rth metatarsal joint... i feel pretty good... and it's actually a nice cut down from last year, especially since it seemed like a 'bad workout'... and the previous day (mon) was harder, a 6 mile at like 7:30 pace, 126 heartrate (i.e., easy, which means i'm getting stronger)
sunday, 20 miles of biking (but easy, like 2 trips to town, one to school, where i did 35 minutes of skate skiing), one to ultimate, where i played for 3 hours...)...
thursday is the 400's and i may or may not run them.... it's nice to see the year to year improvements, but since i'm training for skiing, i may do 800's to get an interval, vs speed, response... but who am i kidding... i'll run them... but i basically missed 10 days with illness, so my stride length, which should have been improved by 2 weeks of fast 1000's is still static... i think i should have done mile repeats today, and i would have been faster than my earlier times... just couldn't quite 'stride it out'
frisbee: my ignorant prelim is coming...
Monday, October 02, 2006
year in review.
nope. wasn't at regionals. the luke who was posting was probably luke johson, but i don't know.
today, i am 26 years old. my drivers license says otherwise, but that's not my problem.
it's been a great year. i got a new bike (thanks bike thief), and i've been riding like crazy... probably 150-200 miles per week during the summer, and 115-150 mpw since school started. plus 30 miles or so of running, a day or two of ultimate, unicycling (suprisingly tiring), roller skiing...
i'm running as fast now as i did the only year i ran cross country, my freshman year... which is to say i'm a moderate talent w/ a pretty good pain threshold, and a love of working out... probably, on a fast 5k course, a sub 19 runnerish... and hopefully i'd be faster when 'we' peak in 3 weeks... i'd like to think i can run a 5k around 18.
i weigh the same as i did the day i graduated, 6'2, 175#, and i still have my fingers and toes. my pinky is a wreck, worthy of a picture, but if you've seen it, you know... interesting, the heaviest i've ever been was 205 (and that was from lifting) and i could get over the rim. right now? haven't looked at basketball court in years...
i do have a few lines in my face. i guess i've laughed a little in the past few years.
frisbee? i throw a lot better than i did 16 years ago, but i run a little slower than i did 10 years ago. i'm definitely mellower. i still have an 'on' switch, but i know when a game w/o refs, for no pay, is just that.
biking? well, i could kick my 10 year ago ass, skiing, never saw them 10 years ago...
i've learned more new skills in the past 2 months than i learned in 10 years before that... juggling (cascade, reverse cascade, columns, 4 balls, showers, behind the back, under the leg, over the head, 3 ball flash, under the arms, fake mills mess, tennis), a little unibiking, a little roller skiing...
i'm reading less: i used to be a book a week reader, now it's just 150 pages a week or so for school, plus grading. and since grading is, uh, not usually the highest quality, i'm probably getting dumber. for instance, i used to use caps and punctuation.
but frisbee is what i miss. the camraderie: the teamwork: the throwing deep to someone open and knowing that ONLY they could be cutting. but, the occasional billy berrou no look behind the back offhand throw for a goal... or is that idris. whatever. they are the same.
i guess it's time to set goals.
i skied a 10k in 38:14 last year. it was enough to be the 'most improved' and i won a sweatshirt, but i want to go 32 this year... this will put me w/i 3 minutes of the really good skiers... it's my 4th year on nordic skis, should be about right. i.e., i'm not good, but i want to be. to achieve the goal, i've worked on base conditioning all summer, and now i'm roller skiing. i've also changed my diet to include... like 8-15 servings of fruit and veggies...
race my bike: this is scary. bike racing is a hairy deal, an hour or 3 of traffic jam at 100 milesperhour (metaphor). but it sounds fun.
cut my running times to sub 18 for 5 k. not a big deal for an elite athlete, but never claimed to be. just dogged and persistent.
learn french. i've got harry potter and the socerers stone in french and english, i took french in college in hs, and i'm willing to try.
develop a rudimentary guitar playlist of say 20 songs played w/ competence.
learn to windsurf.
play in at least one non co-ed 'elite type tournament'. not at elite play, not at sectionals, but play well, for a good team, at tempe, hawaii, solstice, tune-up, or other... this is a hard goal. the early ones are in ski season (which i'm loathe to miss), the late ones are usually 'hard roster' tourneys.. but it's a goal... maybe there will be a sweet oregon/whore team to join up with.
juggle 5 balls.
unicycle 12 miles in one stretch. or at least in one day.
play in a local tennis tournament.
long term: clean up the finances and consider buying a house (although, the market here is so weird, it's not necessarily in my best financial interests, but hey, how can such a gamble possibly go wrong)
become a competent age group ski racer
coach my hs team to a state title: but more importantly, foster long term love of the sport, and develop players who go on to make an impact at a higher level
write a novel.
that'll do.
today, i am 26 years old. my drivers license says otherwise, but that's not my problem.
it's been a great year. i got a new bike (thanks bike thief), and i've been riding like crazy... probably 150-200 miles per week during the summer, and 115-150 mpw since school started. plus 30 miles or so of running, a day or two of ultimate, unicycling (suprisingly tiring), roller skiing...
i'm running as fast now as i did the only year i ran cross country, my freshman year... which is to say i'm a moderate talent w/ a pretty good pain threshold, and a love of working out... probably, on a fast 5k course, a sub 19 runnerish... and hopefully i'd be faster when 'we' peak in 3 weeks... i'd like to think i can run a 5k around 18.
i weigh the same as i did the day i graduated, 6'2, 175#, and i still have my fingers and toes. my pinky is a wreck, worthy of a picture, but if you've seen it, you know... interesting, the heaviest i've ever been was 205 (and that was from lifting) and i could get over the rim. right now? haven't looked at basketball court in years...
i do have a few lines in my face. i guess i've laughed a little in the past few years.
frisbee? i throw a lot better than i did 16 years ago, but i run a little slower than i did 10 years ago. i'm definitely mellower. i still have an 'on' switch, but i know when a game w/o refs, for no pay, is just that.
biking? well, i could kick my 10 year ago ass, skiing, never saw them 10 years ago...
i've learned more new skills in the past 2 months than i learned in 10 years before that... juggling (cascade, reverse cascade, columns, 4 balls, showers, behind the back, under the leg, over the head, 3 ball flash, under the arms, fake mills mess, tennis), a little unibiking, a little roller skiing...
i'm reading less: i used to be a book a week reader, now it's just 150 pages a week or so for school, plus grading. and since grading is, uh, not usually the highest quality, i'm probably getting dumber. for instance, i used to use caps and punctuation.
but frisbee is what i miss. the camraderie: the teamwork: the throwing deep to someone open and knowing that ONLY they could be cutting. but, the occasional billy berrou no look behind the back offhand throw for a goal... or is that idris. whatever. they are the same.
i guess it's time to set goals.
i skied a 10k in 38:14 last year. it was enough to be the 'most improved' and i won a sweatshirt, but i want to go 32 this year... this will put me w/i 3 minutes of the really good skiers... it's my 4th year on nordic skis, should be about right. i.e., i'm not good, but i want to be. to achieve the goal, i've worked on base conditioning all summer, and now i'm roller skiing. i've also changed my diet to include... like 8-15 servings of fruit and veggies...
race my bike: this is scary. bike racing is a hairy deal, an hour or 3 of traffic jam at 100 milesperhour (metaphor). but it sounds fun.
cut my running times to sub 18 for 5 k. not a big deal for an elite athlete, but never claimed to be. just dogged and persistent.
learn french. i've got harry potter and the socerers stone in french and english, i took french in college in hs, and i'm willing to try.
develop a rudimentary guitar playlist of say 20 songs played w/ competence.
learn to windsurf.
play in at least one non co-ed 'elite type tournament'. not at elite play, not at sectionals, but play well, for a good team, at tempe, hawaii, solstice, tune-up, or other... this is a hard goal. the early ones are in ski season (which i'm loathe to miss), the late ones are usually 'hard roster' tourneys.. but it's a goal... maybe there will be a sweet oregon/whore team to join up with.
juggle 5 balls.
unicycle 12 miles in one stretch. or at least in one day.
play in a local tennis tournament.
long term: clean up the finances and consider buying a house (although, the market here is so weird, it's not necessarily in my best financial interests, but hey, how can such a gamble possibly go wrong)
become a competent age group ski racer
coach my hs team to a state title: but more importantly, foster long term love of the sport, and develop players who go on to make an impact at a higher level
write a novel.
that'll do.
refreshin' the podcasts
http://www.ultimatetalk.com/?cat=17
and the podcast commentary tracks...
http://mlsmith.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_mlsmith_archive.html
right at the top for podcast two
and
scroll down to december 13 for podcast one commentary track...
and the podcast commentary tracks...
http://mlsmith.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_mlsmith_archive.html
right at the top for podcast two
and
scroll down to december 13 for podcast one commentary track...
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