Mon. & Tue. Training - Improvement
I forgot to log for training on Monday, so I will combine a short note for Monday and Tuesday. My run on Sunday, Spiritual Sunday, greatly influenced my recent workouts. As noted, on Sunday I ran for nearly 1.5 hours, half the distance uphill. My legs haven’t been so sore in nearly a year, but it feels good.
On Monday, I experienced gains on my weight lifting. This continued into Tuesday too, in addition, running today was easier. In the past, I was doing intense work outs 3-4 times per week. I believe the breaks between may have contributed to the lack of performance; and I believe this is because I work on computers and study a lot, so there isn’t much activity other then the workouts. With the extra activity over the weekend, I immediately felt gains. I’m considering more activities, but I still want to be patient for steady gains, to avoid a physical burnout. When I took the creatine supplement several weeks ago, I noticed an immediate change in motivation and performance, Really Strong Day. I felt a similar experience with the extra training leading into this week, so I think I found a natural solution to the creatine question, as mentioned in the previous linked article. Now the challenge is to balance between all of them, as not to burn out.
Spiritual Sunday
While my family went to church, I opted to run Pleasanton Ridge. Several weeks ago, I walked maybe 1/4 of the way up; I stopped because I was a little too sick to continue and didn’t expect the climb to be so steep and long, Pleasanton Ridge Walk. However, I fully recovered from the incident and felt an urge to run the ridge.
First off, I wanted some new music for the experience. Yesterday while listening to Last.fm, I discovered an energetic and motivating song, Been There Done That by Brian Eno and John Cale. So I purchased the album on itunes, and the album was an excellent supplement for the running experience. I was extremely driven at the very beginning, and on this trip, I noticed the greenery worked it’s way into a vibrant bloom from the oak tree branches, new from the previous walk. I immediately realized this seasonal view would not last much longer, i.e., things will turn to a yellowish brown as summer approaches, so I will likely return this week to take some pictures. The run was a lot longer then I expected; I just kept climbing and climbing. Finally, when I was nearing one of the highest and steepest points, roughly 45-50 minutes later, my legs burnt me to steady lunging march. I reached the top of the hill near the last song, and the view was stunning. I could see all the way into San Ramon, what may have been some of Danville too. I then turned around, where I was running from, and I was further enthralled into amazement. The rolling green hills, the beautiful trees, all dancing into civilization below. I thought to myself, this is why I do what I do. After a few more inspiring moments I began the descent, and the album finished and started from the beginning. At that point something clicked in me, and my stride opened up. The first song on the album, Lay My Love, really hit me hard, and I felt so motivated; everything seemed so beautiful, and my stride down the hill extenuated and amplified this direction and the resulting stimulus. When I reached the bottom of the hill, I thought to myself, it was worth every stride. Today, Easter, was a very spiritual Sunday for me.
Rob Nilsson, Brian Eno, & John Cale Poster
I took this picture at a Direct Action shoot. It features a Words for the Dying poster. Words for the Dying is a movie Rob Nilsson directed with John Cale and Brian Eno.
Dazzling Diamonds
Dazzling diamonds shock a tempering fool
with crushed coal from the earth’s pull
grinding to liquid as a falling angel
to unite and rebound as a rock, he found his soul
She laid like the rain
upon the sleek glossy sleet
and arose like thunder
before shaking beneath, he discovered his lightning
As earth rebounds
cycling within each beat
moments passed unions like gypsies make illusions
and they were born, together in one form
The Doorway Shoot - Delayed
For the third week in a row, the The Doorway shoot was delayed. This time, it was Jay, the lead actor, who became sick. I’m hoping Jay finds speedy recovery; he really has a busy schedule.
I have not published logs for the movie for several weeks. This is for two reasons: (1) I’m saving some logs for when the movie is finished, and (2) I’ve been so focused with gearing up for each shoot.
Delaying the shoot allows me more time to reflect and prepare for the production. I am actually glad to have additional time to reflect, for over the last several weeks, I came up with a slew of other ideas. I will likely head out to Antioch several times for additional location preparation.
I also spoke to Rob Nilsson about the nature of delays in independent cinema; how, in some ways, it adds to the piece.
Anyhow, we have rescheduled the shoot for next week, and I will do additional preparation leading into it.
Fri. Training - Slow and Steady
I started my Friday workout with a steady run at 8mph for 2 miles. I then moved into a mild back and upper body workout. Afterwards, I did the stair-master for 10 minutes, rotating my climb 360 degrees, i.e., climbing forward, sideways, and backwards. Last I finished with backwards sit-ups, also called good mornings, and stretched. In a previous log, I mentioned toning down my workouts, as to not push myself to burn out, as I have done for years and years. I want to focus on building slow and steady workouts aiming at form. To do this, I would rarely push myself above 10mph on the treadmill, maybe once a week, and I would likely increase the duration of the workouts a little bit too. I will gradually work towards this and see how it feels.
Wed. Training - Endurance
I ran a steady pace to kick things off, 6-7mph for the 1st .5 miles and 8mph for the additional 2.5 miles. Afterwards I did a slow and steady workout, focusing on technique. I was thinking about toning the intensity down even more; to where everything is at a slow and steady pace. I have a tendency to push my self really hard until I burn out; but I’m thinking of seeing how it feels to stay at the steady and efficient pace thinking about the muscles. I may try this for four weeks. I will think about it.
Math 55 Mid-Term
I finished my Math 55x mid-term last week, several weeks ahead of schedule. I scored a 99% on it, making one small mistake. It’s been fun challenging myself with the tests and fast pace. I haven’t taken many journals on this course, for it is more of a lead in to Trigonometry for Geometry and the Calculus latter, and I may write one my journal once the course is completed.
Across the Universe - Humn. Movie
Today we started our courses next movie, Across the Universe Dir. by Julie Taymor. The movie was introduced by Dr. Klaschus as the next step, or an extension, of American Graffiti, and this may be true; although, both movies are substantially different from the aesthetic, style, and direction of my past and current work. During todays initial showing of Across the Universe, I felt like I was watching the cast of the OC sing Beatles songs like the Monkeys. Ultimately, I was having a hard time believing the musical elements in the movie. However, I don’t believe this is solely because it is a musical; I thought the recent film Once, a musical, had truthful elements, and one of my all time favorites is a musical, The Magic Flute by Ingmar Bergman. I will refrain on this for now, for I want to see where the movie takes me. I will finish watching it in class this Thursday.
Walking Upward
I shot this picture on a walk through Pleasanton Ridge, Pleasanton CA. It has substantial glare; however, it’s one of my favorite pics from that walk.