I think long distance running, certainly above a certain age (read: amount of self-knowledge), is about conquering fear in advance. I’m about to run 26 km, and made it twice 13 km (i.e., back and forth), to make it less impressive. Still, I’m apprehensive 😬 What am I doing this for, again? 🏃‍♂️

(Almost) daily weight training is having an effect. This morning I was able to haul a bag of kitty litter up a flight of stairs, 20 kgs or so, one-handed. I haven’t done that in many, many years (like 25 years). Next challenge, hold a ball in two hands, lay down, and stand up, ball in the air.🏋️‍♂️

I’ve edited 12 posts from 2016 in a blog I transferred from WP to micro∙blog, which took me 3½ hours. It’s mostly relinking to articles inside the blog from the old url to the new url. Since micro∙blog clearly has another naming scheme than WP, I have to do it manually, painstakingly, link-by-link 😞

TIL. Apparently, the triple negate (!!!) I saw in front of a reminder in the Apple Reminders app means “high priority.”

Mobile Safari on iPad slowed down to an unworkable crawl. I checked my Internet speed (OK), and an alternative browser (also OK). Then I force-quit the Safari app, and things went back to normal. So, lesson learned, Safari needs regular maintenance, and probably some bug fixing by Apple too 🧭

On King’s Day, April 27, I ran another half marathon race, in a year best time (see my Strava if you’re curious). I was so tired afterwards I got the hickups for the rest of the day, and had to rest the next day. 🏃‍♂️

One has to plan a lot and far in advance if one wants to enter in a popular marathon, even when to subscribe before there’ll be a waiting list. There’s the preparation as well, a training schedule, either bought, downloaded, or self-made. Also, how to fuel in a race, and how to get there, etc. 🏃‍♂️

I’m about to carpool to a half marathon race with a runner who will be 15 and another who’ll be 40 minutes finishing ahead of me. So I’m the slowpoke of the trio. Not sure what to think of that.

I suppose if you don’t know why to use a feature, and after some research, you still have a good use for it, you shouldn’t use it, even (maybe precisely) if it’s out of lack of imagination. I’m thinking about newsletters here; never found much use for them, neither reading nor writing.

Watching the London Marathon live. Elite women run a separate race here.

Instead of the pseudoscience of the sitting-rising-test to score life expectancy, there’s actual value to be able to sit on the floor and get back up, but safely and sensible, much like a toddler does, using hands, legs, and a bit of coordination. See this YT video.

Yesterday I passed 1000 km this year. If I keep this up, I’ll pass 3000 km early December this year. As you would expect (or maybe not), I’m not fast, on average 6:44 min/km (10:50 min/mi). That’s because I only run 20% fast, and the rest slow, to keep my running hobby sustainable.

With 3 half marathon races finished, 6 planned, and a regime of strength and conditioning exercises, am I over-preparing for my 2023 fall marathon? From experience I know you can’t over-prepare, as long as you don’t get hurt 🏃‍♂️

Three times is a charm, it seems. After the first two half marathons I ran this year my hip muscles were very sore. However, on April 16 I only finished tired, not exhausted. I also ran the best time this year, without going all out. My PR was safe, though, with more than 20 minutes to spare 🏃‍♂️

I tried the 10 kg kettlebell again, using exercises for runners, not too long, yet long enough to raise my heart rate and feel the resistance of the weight. Now I’ll increase the reps slowly over the weeks, concentrating on technique. In a couple of months I should be able to handle two kettlebells.

I’m reminded by my DOMS that even a measly weight of 10 kg represents a serious challenge to my undertrained (read: old-man) leg muscles. I’m happy I didn’t buy the recommended two kettlebells of 16 kg (36 lbs) each. Since I don’t have a driver’s licence, I’ll pay to have those delivered 🏋️‍♂️

I bought an “el cheapo” kettlebell so I can start strength training to be able to handle two 16 kg (36 lbs) eventually. I appear to lack the strength in my body to do my slow long runs of 26+ km without being exhausted afterwards. These long runs I’ll need for marathon training.

I also gave Superagent a 1-star review, because I think asking for money for a blocker that’s easy to circumvent is a bad practice. Obviously, website owners want manual cookie consent; it’s the law. Automating cookie consent seems to be legal, though. Mind you, I’m no lawyer.

Superagent is now asking for a subscription. Since it really didn’t work for me—I was still seeing cookie consent pop-ups—I decided to delete the iOS app.

The Secret to Drawing Overwhelming Detail! by Stephen Travers Art on YT.

The main secret is to draw the effect of detail rather than detail itself.