Rock 'n' Roll Runner: October 2006

Training Summary: October 23-29

Kind of a down week with two really good workouts bookending it. Ran 41 miles with one off day. Was a bit under the weather mid-week so I took a day off and had three recovery days where I just did 5 mile easy runs. Key workouts were a 12 miler at 6:59 pace (6:49 pace for the second six miles) on Monday before I got run down and an 8K tempo run on the track on Saturday in 30:57 when I got my groove back. That workout went especially well as it was 40 degrees and pouring rain with 30mph winds when I did it. I started slow at 6:31 and worked my way down until I hit the last 2 miles in 6:03 and 5:45. Back on track and ready to roll!

Ultra Vivid Scene - Mercy Seat

Hard to believe that this came out in 1988 -- sounds so much better than anything out now. UVS were vastly underrated.

BMLC Website is Launched

If forming an old guy running team wasn't goofy enough, the BMLC track club has taken the next step and set up a website. You can visit us at http://www.bmlctrackclub.com where you will find profiles of most of the team -- hopefully the other guys will get around to submitting theirs now that we're public -- as well as entries in our Black and Blue log, named after our team colors and the fact that someone always seems to be injured. Thanks to John Voorhees for taking time off his busy work, family, running, and beer drinking schedule to get this baby launched!

The Only Ones - Another Girl Another Planet Music Video

Never mind the shitty Blink 182 cover version of this song. This is the 1978 original by the criminally underrated Only Ones, who released three fantastic albums in their all too brief career. The band's entire back catalogue is compiled on the 2-CD set "Why Don't You Kill Yourself?" Dig the badass graphics here too -- never mind all those fancy film editing programs available today. Old school still rules!

The Saints - (I'm) Stranded

Vintage 1976 Australian punk rock! Their first two albums are mindblowing and their later stuff ain't bad either.

Beer of the Week: Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

By BMLC teammate John Voorhees (yes, BMLC is a drinking team with a running problem!):

Like Stephen Magee, I'm a big fan of Dogfish Head beers. Stephen has covered some of my favorites and for my money, the 60 and 90 Minute IPAs are two of the best beers around. But as I sit here this evening, I'm really enjoying another one of Dogfish Head's beers - Indian Brown Ale. Indian Brown is a great beer for a cool Fall day. Each bottle is like digging into a fresh loaf of pumpernickel bread - it has a rich, molassaasy flavor that reminds me of running a cross country race in a cold, wet park. Made with Liberty and Goldings hops and a dose of carmelized brown sugar, Indian Brown is a great complimewnt to ribs and a football game. Go Bears!

Training Summary: October 16-22

Another kickass mileage week. 55.5 miles in 6 days with some beastly workouts, including a 16 miler on Monday where I ran 8 miles on the Rocky River Metro Parks bike paths and 8 miles on the horse trails in Mastick Woods. Wednesday I did 7 x mile repeats with only 60 seconds rest between each rep and averaged 6:05 with my last 3 sub 6:00 (final one in 5:48). Thursday I did 8 miles on grass (that is the running surface -- I haven't toked up in close to 2 years!) and Saturday 10.5 miles hard on the horse trails again. I'm getting in really good shape now and can't wait for the Iron Turkey races in November and of course, the cross country national championships in December.

Rock 'n' Roll Runner Meets Ultramarathon Man

I was emailing with my BMLC teammate John Voorhees early on Friday morning and joked with him that maybe I would run into Dean Karnazes on my morning run as he was running the Cleveland Marathon course as part of his 50 'thons in 50 days stunt (see http://www.endurance50.com). I live on Lake Avenue which is part of the course and on my way out I see this procession of cops, followed by Dean and an entourage. I waved at them and they were all yelling at me to join them. I was half way tempted but the next part of the course would have taken me on the Shoreway for 3 or 4 miles (basically a freeway) and I would have ended up downtown with a long way to go home! And it's not like one of Cleveland's finest would have escorted me home!

Beer of the Week: Pumpkin Update!

I just posted Stephen's review a few minutes ago and realized that I had bought a large bottle of Southampton Pumpkin Ale the other day, so continuing the Halloween theme, I decided to crack it open and write a review while drinking it. My first thoughts after a few sips are that this is very smooth and it has a really nice nutmeg kick and more of an aroma than some of the other pumpkin ales that I have tried. While not as strong as the Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale, which I tried on Stephen's recommendation and loved, it's definitely enjoyable. Not as "pumpkiny" as most pumpkin ales I've tasted but pretty nice nonetheless.

Beer of the Week: Pumpkin Ale Taste Test!

BMLC teammate Stephen Magee took a Pumpkin Ale taste test. Here are the results:

Many say I am just a Dogfish honk. So I had several friends over for a blind beer tasting. I harvested 4 pumpkin beers (I have already reviewed Dogfish Head Punkin Ale), here is the combined review of the three others. First we have an entry from New Holland Brewery "Ichabod". This beer had great artwork on a very nice 6 pack with a flowery and detailed description. Yet that is the best thing I can say about the beer. All tasters complained about the weak color and lack of any flavor. This one hit the drain and was never finished. I recommend you look at the 6-pack and keep walking, don't look back. The next entry was from Blue Moon Brewing Company controlled by Molson/Coors "Pumpkin Ale". This brew was pleasing to look at and had a slight sweet aroma, but not much taste. It was similar to any American Lager and the words "Ale Brewed with Natural Pumpkin Flavor" did not inspire the masses to flock to this beverage. My pal Andy claimed he could taste New Jersey (where all food additives are created in labs) in this beer and that fact that is was bottled in February made me wonder if it would work as anti-freeze in my car this winter? If you like American Lager and want to some off some seasonal brew you could sever this one. The last entry is from Michigan Brewing Company "Screaming Pumpkin Spiced Ale". This beer had a nice amber color and a STRONG smell of cloves and All-Spice. With one swig you can understand why this is called screaming, very spicy and full of flavor. The finish is a bit strong may be too much for some. Worth a glass or two, this beer is your mother's pumpkin pie after your kid sister dropped in extra spice, pie on steroids! The only one of the batch I can recommend. All beers listed here come in a 6-pack and retail between $7.99 and $9.99. Spice is the variety of life, you have to open a few skunks to get a gem.

Training Summary: October 9-15

54.5 miles in 6 days with one much needed rest day. That makes 10 weeks in a row averaging 53 miles a week. Last week's training included a 16 mile run on Monday and a really tough interval session on Wednesday, where I ran 4 x 2 mile with 2:00 rest between each rep in 12:47, 12:33, 12:11, and 11:54 for an average of 12:21. Doing workouts like that as cutdowns (i.e. running each rep faster than the one before) is a great strength builder. You start out at a managable pace but the short rest begins to catch up with you after a while and it gets tough going at the end. A great race simulator. My other 'key' workout of the week was a hard 8 mile run on dirt trails on Saturday. Everything else was relatively easy aerobic work.

The People's Revolutionary Choir

The two best new bands I've heard this year are The December Sound from Boston (more about them soon) and The People's Revolutionary Choir from London. PRC have only one release to date, the fantastic single "Elevate". "Elevate" is staggering -- channeling everything that was ever cool about Spacemen 3, The Stooges and The Jesus and Mary Chain (and even a little bit of early U2) into three minutes of druggy bliss. The flip side "Salvation Blues" is a trippy slide guitar-based instrumental, while the CD version of the single has a third track entitled "Feel So Good," which has a similar rockin' vibe to "Elevate." Jim Reid and Ben Lurie from the Jesus and Mary Chain are big PRC fans, producing early demos for the band and rumor has it that Bobby Gillespie, Kate Moss and the lads from Kasabian have atttended gigs.

Check out the band's website at:
theprc.co.uk

And listen to "Elevate" over and over again on their MySpace page:
myspace.com/thepeoplesrevolutionarychoir

I Hate Rock 'n' Roll...

For every good band I work with I get about 50 emails a day from douche bags like these guys looking for a deal. Gee, wonder why no one signed 'em yet? To paraphrase The Who, "The Kids are all wrong."

Training Summary: October 2-8

A bit slow posting this update, but last week I ran 53 miles and had some pretty good quality workouts. Highlights were a negative split 12 miler on Monday where I did the second 6 miles @ 6:54 pace; a session of 10 x 800 meters @ 2:59 with 30 seconds rest between each rep on Wednesday; and 10 x 400 meter hill repetitions on Saturday. Overall, a good week of cross country specific training.

Beer of the Week: Lion Stout

BMLC teammate Stephen Magee comes through with another great beer review: If you think of great Stout you seldom or never think of India. Well hold onto your beer-loving belly and take the trip to Sri Lanka. This brew will change your mind. Lion Stout pack’s a good punch with 8% ABV and a soft taste that is not too heavy. It is bottle conditioned and top fermenting this yields a smooth finish to an exceptional beer. Full of a Mocha and Chocolate flavor this beer will not be the same old stout you have had at the bar each trip. Instead it will open your mind to what a solid beer can be. This beer pours black has a reasonable tan head (a thing of beauty). It starts out sweet and malty, but finishes strong and masks the alcohol well. This beer is brewed to withstand the tropical climate, so it can stand up to you. Don’t trust me? Take a bottle to task and you will be a happy lad.

Jesus & Mary Chain - Rollercoaster

Just because I always thought this song was badass and I've been listening to Honey's Dead a lot lately.

Beer of the Week: Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale

My BMLC teammate Stephen Magee is quite possibly the greatest Dogfish Head fan in the world so he's kindly volunteered to review a few of their finest ales in the coming weeks. This week's entry is the Punkin' Ale, which I'll definitely vouch for! Here's Stephen now:

Love the pumpkin pie that the fall season brings? If you are like me your mom made it with some spice and you had to have it with ice cream. Well each fall Dogfish Head releases another off the hook beer made from pumpkins and it will tingle your tongue. Most seasonal releases from your average brewer may leave your mouth board out of its gourd. This brew will wake up your mouth and treat you to a flavor fest. The smooth rich brew washes down cold without the need for ice cream. At first sip it may taste like any other pumpkin brew. On second sip you get a taste of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar. This beer is brewed with real pumpkins and hops. Sold in a four pack this can run $12.00 if you get it on seasonal special $8.99. I have sampled several other pumpkin ales and this one has more flavor and body that the others, not for the Bud or Miller palate, but people who enjoy a good beer will ask for more. This beer is not one that ages as well as others so get some and drink it up. I have had a bottle last 6 months, but after that you may be wasting the beverage. Best to get some and you will treat not trick your taste buds and the buds of all your friends. As one bottle of Dogfish Head (Burton Barton) say’s “Please share it with loved ones and hoard it from the non-believers”!

Training Summary: September 25-October 1

Really solid week of training, especially after a tough race last weekend. Managed 55 miles on 7 workouts. Highlights included a 16 miler @ 7:28 pace on Tuesday and a session of 20 x 400 in 87 (5:48 per mile pace) with 30 seconds rest between each rep on Friday. Really pleased with the 400s as the pace felt very smooth and relaxed and the rest was minimal. Got super drenched as the rain was pretty rough but bad weather builds character. Gives me a confidence boost when I'm working out in the rain or in the dead of winter and I don't see anyone else out and about. This week I have three key workouts planned: a negative split 12 miler on Monday, 12 x 800 with 30 seconds rest between each rep on Thursday, and hill reps on Saturday.

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