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Amazing Science
- Introduction to Logic and Arguments How to develop critical thinking skills. Probably the most important thing you will ever do!
- Logical Fallacies Errors in thinking described and explained.
- Richard Dawkins A web site for Science and Reason and for Clear Thinking.
- Talk Origins A web site devoted to presenting the evidence for evolution and the lack of evidence for creationism.
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Monthly Archives: January 2008
Run 12, 2008
Ran 7 km indoors on the mill today at a 7:12 pace, finishing in 51 minutes. I had a hard time starting because my left knee was giving me problems popping or snapping as in cracking your knuckles kind of snap. Every step I took at any pace other than a walk caused it to pop. It was not really painful, just worrying that I might break something. It was rather on the verge of feeling painful I might say. So I hummed and hawed and puttered around a bit, then put on a tensor type knee brace and it was good. After about 5 minutes I took it off and had no further problems. I know that popping is caused by nitrogen or other gases coming out of solution and that one can’t crack their knuckles again until the gases re-dissolve, but I don’t know if this is the … Continue reading
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Run 11, 2008
Today the weather was blizzardy and with winds gusting up to 50 KPH, there was a wind chill of about -40 C. I was contemplating dressing for it to go out and do my usual Sunday long run but in the end I decided that all my safety nets were down so I stayed indoors. By “safety net”, I mean our driveway is socked in and there is no guarantee that if I ran into trouble Marilyn would be able to come fetch me in the car. We have the truck parked at the end of the snowed in driveway but there is no guarantee that it will start. So I did 14 km on the treadmill. My pace was 7:45 and I could just barely tolerate the mind numbing boredom of the dreaded “dreadmill”. I only managed it by listening to almost three whole Pink Floyd CD’s. Now I … Continue reading
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Tagged blizzard, driveway, snowplow, treadmill, wind chill
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Karate 23
The tournament in Edmonton is February 17th and our teachers are preparing us for it. They are very picky about the basics, correcting and perfecting us. They say that at the yellow belt level, what they are looking for is that perfection of basics. They are determined to work out our technical problems before we can hope to move on in rank. Of course, the effort is up to us. In this school, you will never get very far if you don’t master the techniques. There is no free lunch. Today we warmed up, doing core stabilization exercises in the form of holding a position. Then we did the usual stretching, followed by dynamic warming using basic blocks, kicks, stances, and punches. Buhrs Sensei led the first hour of classes with the warm-ups, stretches, katas, and push-ups. Ballard Sensei led the second half with a lesson on the difference between … Continue reading
Run 10, 2008
Feeling pretty trashed these days so I decided I did not have the energy to head out on yet another run in the freezing cold. So I did 7 km on the dreadmill indoors. I took my time. I was feeling quite tired and sore from my other cross-training efforts but I did not want to lose any mileage so I slowed down to an average 10:40 per kilometer.
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Run 9, 2008
I was going to toy with some indoor track work today (and pick up our passports at the same time at the nearby post office). Unfortunately, my sweetie is not feeling well today so we stayed home. I ran my usual 7 km instead in 52:11 for a 7:27 pace. It was lot warmer today at only 3 below freezing and there was no wind.
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Karate 22
Itosu Rohai Shodan is a black belt kata we learned today. It’s kind of a cool one. A little difficult for a yellow belt to do but manageable. I am not sure why they are showing us how to do it unless it will take us that long to learn it well. Who knows? But we did a lot of basic work today as well and other katas too. The Sensei and other teachers are now picking on us yellow belts to make sure we are always showing correct form and stances. They no longer tolerate mistakes or slackness in our stances and with the whole class frozen in the positions of their last moves they go around and correct our form if needed, one student at a time while the rest of us wait patiently for our turn while holding our stance. You don’t adjust your stance, and you … Continue reading
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Run 8, 2008
I ran 14 km in a frozen landscape yesterday. Greenhouse effect?? What greenhouse effect? My freezing -23 run at sunset was a painful one. I now know what whales feel like when their belly blubber starts to freeze. I wore four upper layers: A neck tube, a toque, three lower layers, and mittens. My sports drink almost froze even though I made it with hot water. There were ice crystals in it. By the way, electrolyte drinks are almost undrinkable when hot because the salt makes you gag. My belly started getting frost-bitten so I had to remove my glove and hold my hand over my belly towards the end. I also had a pretty nippy face too until I warmed up around kilometer 3. I was joined by a giant husky for most of my run. He kept getting in my way because the trail is so narrow. He … Continue reading
Posted in Training Notes, Training Runs
Tagged cold, dog, freeze, husky, Mars, meditate, moon, run, stress
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