A new start at running?

Finally I got started again. I've been running at an on and off basis since my early teens. For about three years ago I started to run frequently aiming for three times and 20-30 km a week. Something that has been working very well apart from some vacation or periods off illness or running related injuries. Out of some reason by mid May this year I just didn't feel like running at all anymore. I participated at a 10K race at the end of May, performed worse than anticipated - about 5 minutes slower than I had aimed for which didn't exactly encouraged my training :-(.

Well, during my three week vacation in Spain now in July, I managed to drag myself up in the mornng before the sun got too hot and ran 7K for about 6 times which felt really good. Now, home again I needed something that could encourage me to continue my training - I have a ½-marathon scheduled for the autumn that I really would like to participate in. But that will mean going back to my training. I already had a Polar S625X running computer which can measure my heartrate, speed and distance, a handy tool when running in new areas where you have little or no idea about distances. Usually I have first gen iPod Nano with me while running for listening to various podcasts. I had already tried the Nike+ running kit but hadn't liked it so I had sold it again. But I decided to give it another try and bought one at the local Apple dealer where I live.

So yesterday I modified my new Mizuno X10 shoes to fit the foot sensor, dressed up and geared up with the Polar S625X and the iPod nano with the Nike+ accessory and got out for a 10K. This time it felt quite good. Listening to Dan Carlin's Hard Core History podcast and having the Nike+ chiming in every 1K and occationally telling me my distance, speed and so on was really nice. I ran quite slow, averaging 5.40 min/km. Normally I try to run a 10K at a sub 5.10 min/km pace, but being not too well trained I made a choice to run at a slower pace. Home again I connected the Nano to my MacBook and syncronized the Nike+ information to my account at Nikeplus.com. Everything went smooth and nice.

Today, the day after, everything feels really good, a bit sore in the legs of course, but nothing seriuos. I plan to make a longer, 12 to 15K, run on friday so I'll have to see how that will go.

It feels like I got a fresh start again in running after a slow summer. My running inspiration has improved over the last weeks. Usually I feel a lot better both physically and mentally when running regularly so I think that by starting running again I will continue to do so because of the general improvements.

What's wrong with the smokers?

Today I ate lunch at the IKEA warehouse in Älmhult, Sweden. It's a non-smoking facility. Since I'm a non smoker my self, I like that. All resturants in Sweden are non smoking these days which is really nice in my opinion.

So after finishing my lunch I exited the warehouse through the main doors, or should I say - I tried to exit through the man doors. They were almost completely blocked by people smoking or finishing their smokes before entering the warehouse. I really had to cram myself out through the doors and had to pass at least a dozen smokers fuming their terrible smelling odor. I don't mind people that smokes, but please - show some consideration to the people who don't! Non smokers are actually in majority and we shouldn't have to be forced to inhale the smoke from cigarettes if we don't want to. And by practically blocking the doorway for both incoming and exiting visitors to the warehouse can only be considered as rude - smoker or not. There was plenty of free space 3-4 meters to each side of the doorway leaving a lot of free space, and ashtrays, for the smokers to use and thus both leaving the doorway available for people going in and out as well as letting non smokers breath fresh air.

What's wrong with the minds of the smokers? Are they believing that finishing off their cigarette before entering the warehouse takes so little time that it doesn't matter? Or are they in such a hurry that they can't walk 3-4 meters to the side of the door - while smoking??? I mean, they can't enter the facility anyway while smoking so what's the big hurry? And this sin't the only place place I have run into this. Outside almost every facility where smoking isn't allowed you will have walk throug a fog of cigarette smoke when going in and out. Why can't the smokers show some consideration and stand a couple of meters to the side?

My first entry

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to my corner of the Internet. I really don't know where this will end up, but I will start here and we will eventually see what will happen over time. I have a vague feeling this blog will contain mostly abut my interests, reflections and opinions about things I see, do, read and whatever.

Since I have a family I have the ususal interests belonging to that part of a regular life, but I will try to mainly concentrate about other things in my life, but you can rest assured that you will see one entry or another about the family too.

First and most - I'm a gadget freak, preferbly mobile gadgets! Secondly I'm a runner. And the combination of these two can be quite interesting if you have som money to spend on it. I like cars too, and anyone who ever have owned a car know that there is virtually no end in how much money you can spend on cars. Since my wife like traveling you will probable see some entries abut things when traveling too.

I think I'll stop here fow now. I will most likely publish another entry later today or tomorrow, so stay tuned!