I’m told by freelancers, being a freelancer doesn’t mean you’re your own boss, but rather that you get to pick your “boss”, IOW, your client. The client still gets more value out of you than your product is worth. This is what capitalism is, extracting value out of a workforce.

The graph shows what I could expect as a reasonable time on the marathon, based on training data. Two years ago, I could expect 5u30', a year ago 5u15', and now 4u15'. In all cases I was/am preparing for a marathon in October/November. Notice the serious detraining after the 2021 marathon 🏃‍♂️

I tried to add some of my Garmin Connect activities to my Dutch running blog, using iFrame snippets with code running on Garmin Connect. My blog slowed down to less than a crawl. Aside from security risks, using iFrame code seems a bad idea.

One of the advantages of having a blog… I wondered why a year ago I had such poor training regime for running. Then I read: overtrained in January (with complete bed rest for a week), followed by a slew of injuries after I picked up my training far too quickly. I was out of shape, quite a bit 🏃

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 🏋️‍♂️