Almost forgot. Thanks to Saturday night live

Wow. Just made it and was reminded about almost forgetting this as Saturday night live had this hilarious skit about how social networking sites have created vehicles with nothing terribly interesting going on to become amazingly relevant. Hmmmm. I'll just leave that where it is

Anyway, Im in beautiful pittsburgh for a cousins bat mitzvah. Was hoping to run around university of Pitt. Yea, I bailed. All I had was a pair of tights, a long sleeved shirt and windbreaker. There was no way that would cut I at 18 degrees. So, yes, wimped out ad did 6 miles in the tmill

More tomorrow.

day something (who's counting) - and announcing the ALL NEW Seinfeld Air Travel Episode Quiz

So I'm about 15 minutes from leaving for the airport. Oh yea, running stuff first...did a really good - meaning I felt really good doing it - 6.5 mile tempo run; I am really feeling like that this is the smartest I've trained for one of these. The proof will be in the pudding - what does that mean anyway? The proof will be on 1/29 when I run this. But doing some really good intelligent - dare I say - strategic runs.

But anyway, I'm about 15 minutes from leaving for the airport and I'm thinking to myself, what Seinfeld episode do I link this two. And it hits me that there must be a dozen or so episodes that have to do with flying or airports. Did I mention that I've got a reservation for a car when I get there (Pittsburgh) remember: it's easy to take the reservation but it's the HOLDING of the reservation that's the hard part..

So without further blathering, I give to you, for your fun and time wasting amusement, the Seinfeld AIR TRAVEL Quiz:

1. George surprises Jerry with an airport pickup and, as opposed to going anywhere else, encourages them to head right to Jerry's house. Why? (Short essay answer acceptable)

2. While waiting for Jerry at the airport, Kramer strikes up an interesting friendship with someone waiting in the lounge with him. What is the person's name and how do they pass the time.

3. On a flight home, Jerry is seated next to a passenger who get's sick on the plane and is asked to take care of the passengers dog. What is the dog's name? During the same episode, Elaine, George and Jerry have plans to go to the movies together which get broken because of the dog. What was the movie they were going to see?

4. When George and Kramer are at the airport to pick-up Jerry and Elaine, Kramer spots his old roommate. What is the roommate's name and why does Kramer want to confront him?

BONUS QUESTION:
Jerry's manager inform's him that the pilot from the day's flight will be in the audience for his show at a particular destination. Where was the show? And later in that same episode, what does Jerry deny (hint: I'm not ------- out!). How do Jerry and his manager ultimately get back to NYC? Why is he in such a rush?


I'd rate this a little harder than some of the quizzes I've done but hey, it's Friday night at 5:30 - what else are you doing right now?

shortest yet-

this is likely to be the shortest post yet as I'm time constrained today. did a 4.25 mile "mini-tempo run this morning; that's a five minute warm up and cool down and a mid 35 at about 30 seconds quicker than marathon pace... Felt good and glad to squeeze it in. More later if at all possible

getting later...and bossy pants, the Tiger's Wife and other random thoughts

so if you're following this - and there are many of you - perhaps you're noticing that these posts are trending later and later. It's actually for a reason and hopefully a smart one. I typically do my running in the morning but over the last few days, especially now that we're working with the high school in the afternoons, I'm splitting my longer running days (where I'm supposed to be doing 7/8 miles) into 1/2 in the morning and then 1/2 in the PM with the students. So, I'm posting after that. And if there's a window on those other days (i.e. today) to run in the PM, I'm doing that too so I can catch up on some much needed sleep. Hence, posting this at 10:23 after a nice dinner with my daughter - Wednesday is almost always Chinese or Pizza (tonight it was Chinese) and then some pretty intensive Xbox Hockey (Rangers/Islanders).

Anyway, after yesterday's multiple runs (including the long one), I took today really easy and did about 9 miles on the stationary bike and about 2 miles of light running on the mill. Definitely enough to break a nice sweat but not to much tax on the legs. Also, since I was on the stationary, started reading BossyPants, which I have to say is absolutely hilarious. Thanks to my daughter, I'm staring to get into a bit of - I don't know what they call it; Chick Comedy Lit? I read Mindy Khaling's book and loved that and she told me if I liked that one,I'd definitely like Bossypants. So far, yes.

By the way, since this blog can be whatever I want it to be and we're heading towards book reviewing, I also just finished "The Tigers Wife". Anybody read that? It's one of those books that's on everyone's 2011 Top 5 or 10 or whatever list. I think I recommend it. If that sounds weird it's because I couldn't stop reading it but half the time I wasn't even sure what or why I was reading it. Did you even finish a book and think "did I miss something?". That's how I felt - there seemed to be some major metaphors and I just wasn't sure I got them all. I lent my copy to a friend today so I'm eager to see what she thinks.

So that's todays ramblings...And since I've veered on to the subject of books and want to keep the Seinfeld thing rolling, how about a clip from the "Marlene" - that's the one where George has breaks up with his girlfriend but accidentally leaves his books at her house and begs Jerry to get them for her. He asks why he needs them back wondering "are you going to read them again - if not, why do you need them? Do you think if you read Moby Dick a second time Ahab and the Whale become good friends?" I always liked that....here's the clip"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4AUlPIZHfo

finally....and you can feel free to skip "Take Me Home Tonight"

I know, I know - 10:15 and you've been waiting for this post. Right...Anyway, lots and lots of running today. Had another great session with the students at Yonkers High School - we probably covered about 3 miles of distance stuff in addition to an uphill relay - the fun way to get in some hill repeats. The students did an amazing job and great to be out there with some former Yonkers High Students and some volunteers for Teens Run Yonkers

OK - here's my confession. We finished up our high school run around 4:30. This was truly the only day I could fit in a long run especially because this weekend is out. So, yes, it's true. I did 13 miles on my treadmill. I watched a fairly ridiculous movies while doing it called "Take Me Home Tonight" notable only because - well, it's really not notable for anything. Oh, actually that's not totally true. It seems like the cool thing to do is have all the movies take place or some how click back to the 80's. So, this is supposed to take place in the 80's with the big revelation that one of the main characters works at Drexel Burnham. For those of you who weren't paying attention during that time of pink ties and suspenders, Drexel was the junk bond king and the place where Michael Milken was a star trader (and then not so much) before he became an advocate for health and fighting cancer. True story. Anyway, the movie is fairly lame and only notable as it starts with "Video Killed the Radio Star" being played through a big boom box.

Anyway, did my 13 miles and the one positive I can say about doing it on a treadmill -besides replicating the life of a hamster is that it gets you in the practice of doing the run at the recommended light pace that a long run should be. So there's that.

So, that's my story for tonight. Then I watched the 2nd and 3rd period of yet another awesome with by the New York Rangers.

here's what you were waiting for - along with the Bottle Deposit and the Wait Out

6:15 PM and no doubt you're saying to yourself,"where's Grabel's blog?" I know. I understand. You've gotten attached to a steady diet of these fascinating updates about my daily running. And today was almost the first day that I almost forgot to post. It was actually a great and productive day in the running column (and some others).. Started out the day with a light 5 mile run on the treadmill a bit faster than my smart coach suggested pace. It was just enough to fit in one of the two episode seinfeld shows - the one where they work the deposit bottle scheme; here's a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xez2n371MTo

and the Wait Out which features future (and sort of then stars) Deborah Messing and Carey (something - I can never get his name right but he was in the first Saw and played the hero in that great movie the Princess Bride; here's a clip from that one where Kramer is struggling with a barely broken in pair of jeans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQuuvtOuVLE


This afternoon we had a real well paced 3 mile run with Teens Run Yonkers from Yonkers High School and these great students continue to amaze me. After we finished this, they did sprints as part of a relay race - just awesome.

Following that, I was so inspired by their speed, I did some of my own and revved up my treadmill to do about 2 9:30 miles on my treadmill (fast by my standards)

So there you have it - now you can enjoy the remainder of your day.

Day #37 - who needs sleep anyway?

Well, I'm writing this at 7:45 on a Sunday morning that I was hoping to use as a sleep catch up/restful day. I was still planning to fit something in, but something brief. Didn't quite happen like that....

For some reasons, I woke up at 3:30 AM and that was it. I tried reading - maybe a mistake - -and ended up getting caught up in what I was reading. Since I was doing it on my new nook, where there's a clock, I decided I would stop myself at 4:00 AM no matter what. After I did, all the sudden I had this urge to find other related books - you know that, "we recommend/if you like this, you'll like that more?" So now I'm looking at Anita's picks, at Sam's picks and all these other recommendations. The last thing on my mind is sleep.

I was able to limit myself and stopped the madness at 4:15 but now I'm wide wake but I vow to go back to sleep. I try everything - propping the pillows, getting in the right position and none of it's taking.....So at 4:30, just decided to start my day early.

Now that I've paid my registration for the ING Miami, I am, for once, really sticking to the schedule (Or as best I can with my 110 Day Challenge). Since today was supposed to be a rest day, I've changed it into a light cross train day so I did about 70 minutes on the stationary bike (14 miles give or take) and then an EZ two mile run. But my legs were really feeling it after.

All in all, nice to be able to start my Sunday super early - but I'll probably need a nap later!

Speaking of sleep - or lack of it - and naps, here's a clip from Seinfeld's "The Nap"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFlBM60x4OI