Running Journal, Wednesday, 2010-12-29: Last Run of the Year, Windy Clearings, Orion Ascending

Running Journal, Wednesday, 2010-12-29

Resting heart rate: 70 bpm (60 second test, 15 minutes after exercise)
Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.73 (kilograms/(meters^2))
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): 1,846 calories
Weather: windy, moonless, perfectly clear night skies; 14 km/h (9 m/h) winds; 60% humidity; 29.87 inches pressure
Temp: 6 C (43 F)
Time: 7:30-8:15 p.m.

Terrain: flat; +/- 11 m (36 ft)

Comments: The last run of this year met me with relatively cool and perfectly clear night skies. Rains and winds over the last two days have cleared the air of aerosols and clouds. I saw about a dozen newly- and previously-topped trees on my run. The aesthetics repulses me. The bulbous stumps remind me of amputations, while the frantic regrowth of suckers and sprouts reminds me of a witch's broom. About half-way through my run, however, I caught myself in judgments and attempted to find compassion for the homeowners maintaining their properties. My intuition tells me most people, given adequate time, money, education, and/or energy, might tackle tree maintenance in a way much healthier for the tree. It becomes a win-win: healthy trees mean higher property values and easier tree maintenance in the long run. So what can be done? Something I will be thinking about over the next weeks, for sure. As I passed the Aldar Academy, I saw two people crossing the empty parking lot, followed by screeching of metal on metal as an unseen gate opened to allow them access. A fair number of homeowners failed to turn on their yard displays this evening. Some, but not many, yard displays suffered damage during the high winds on Tuesday evening. Above me, to the east, I noticed the constellation Orion for what seemed like the first time this season. Beautiful. The other constellations remain unidentifiable to me, presently. The running seemed easy this evening. I forgot my water bottle, which allowed me to focus on running unencumbered. My Timex 5B501 Speed + Distance watch's display no longer works, though I replaced the battery on Dec 11. So I will need something to replace it with before this Saturday's run of 12 miles. All I really need is a watch which can time my run while simultaneously counting down six minute intervals. What is the benefit of 150 laps on a Timex watch? I do not understand. I guess you can store your last 150 times, sort of like a portable spreadsheet. Makes sense. Still looking for a watch, but out of time tonight.

Goal Time: n/a

Distance (running): ~6.44 km (~4.0 miles); http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4205834 ~580 calories burned

Weight (after run): 77.8 kg (171.5 lbs), ?% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None

Foods eaten today: oatmeal + raisins + banana, walnuts, almonds, See's Peanut Brittle, V-8, Kirkland Chocolate Meal Replacement Shake, whole wheat pita + hummus, faux-chicken strips + hummus + spinach whole wheat tortilla wrap, green tea with lemon juice (two cups), hard-boiled egg, orange, Fuji apple, Siggi's Vanilla Bean yogurt