Task - 91 Run a 5k (Flutie 5K)

13th Annual Eastern Bank Flutie 5K

When:   October 14, 2012

Where: MetroWest Medical Center 
             Leonard Morse Hospital
             67 Union Street, Natick, MA 01760

Time:   11:05am

Course Description: 5k (3.1 mile) rolling course on suburban roads. USATF sanctioned; certification course MA08013JK.

After not training as much as I had planned I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to run the whole distance. Those nerves seemed to have faded away the day before when we picked up our numbers. Maybe it was the excitement but I wasn’t even thinking about not running the whole distance anymore. 

We woke up early and got ourselves ready. The weather forecast wasn’t great and in fact they were forecasting that there was a 60% chance of rain at 11:00am. We arrived at 9:00am two full hours before the official start. It was just cloudy at this point but the sky looked ominous. At this point I was more worried about the rain then the race. Who wants’ to run 3.1 miles soaked? As the start time grew closer we along with all the other runners got in line and positioned ourselves based on mile times. Shortly after 11:00 the drizzle increased to a light rain. Almost as soon as the rain started we heard the buzz and we were off.

We were faced immediately with a small incline and jockeying for position with the crowd. As we reached the top of the hill we took a left and began the small decent down the Leonard Morse Hospital main entrance. When we reached Union Street we turned right and at this point Dan started to pull away from me. I had decided long before the race to not try to keep pace with him. Being in far better shape and having run the Chicago Marathon a few years ago he was far better conditioned to complete the race faster than me.

I settled in behind a small group who seemed to be running a similar speed as myself. I maintained my position with that group until we turned right onto Woodland Street and began ascending the small long hill. This start of this hill also marked the 1 mile mark of the race. I continued up woodland this time with no group to assist maintain my speed. It was entirely up to me to keep my pace consistent.  

One thing I found really cool was how the neighborhood we were running through all came out to watch and several families were providing water and orange slices to the runners. It was a nice gesture and many seemed to take advantage of their generosity. Our next turn would be on Juniper for a short distance then a left onto Clearview and a quick right on to Buckskin and another quick right on to Sundance. At the end of Sundance the cul-de-sac had a small utility path that connected with the adjoining neighborhood. This was the 2 mile mark. I had actually improved my pace but I was starting to really feel it. It was on the utility path my pace slowed and I took my time. Once we reached Moccasin I pushed forward and on to Nokomis and then a left on to Arrow. Arrow took us back to Union Street and to the finish line. I continued to move along and as I neared the entrance the adrenaline seemed to have kicked in and I go a second wind to push me up the hill. I finished strong not too far behind Dan.

After getting bottled water we wandered down the hill to the tents where Wegmann’s was providing a complimentary lunch and other vendor’s were showcasing their products. We got ourselves a CocoVitamin water and decided to check out our official times. I completed the race at 31:12 with an average pace of 10:03 per mile. I was very pleased with that. I was also please to only have finished 2:19 seconds after Dan. 

This might be the start to many more races. We will have to see. Sadly the summer is over and I’ll have to wait until next year to run another.



Home Improvement - Breakfast Bar

Installing a Breakfast Bar

I rarely entertain and almost never throw dinner parties and as a result I got rid of my 6 seat dining room table almost a year ago. With no formal place to eat I found myself having meals on my coffee table. This is ok when it is just me but once in a while I have another person over for dinner. Having a guest eat at the coffee table is less then ideal.

Before remodelling my kitchen I used to have breakfast bar but it didn't make the cut and was removed. Not really interested in having a big table that takes up lots of space again I decided to revive the idea of a breakfast bar.

I have over remodeled my condo and am already at a point where I may not see some of what I have invested returned when I sell as long as housing prices remain low. Not wanting to compeat with the granite in the kitchen and cost being a factor I decided to look at alternative materials. Everything seemed to be almost the same price as granite. I didn't want to spent the $600 they were looking for to complete the job.

My friend Chris being a contractor and landlord regularly watches those home improvment shows like "design on a dime" and in one episode they featured a home with a similar problem. They had a perfect solution and he suggested I do the same. Their solution was a low cost butcher block counter from Ikea that they cut to fit the space. This seemed like the perfect plan and at $129 for the counter fit the budget for the job.

Shortly there after I picked up the counter and a few corbels at Lowes. I spent $129 on the counter $90 on the corbels and $5 on the butcher block oil treatment for a grand total $225. I made a template out of cardboard and once I found the size and shape I wanted it was time to get to work. I brought the counter to his house since he has all the tools and more space to work. We got the counter set up on saw horses and it didn't take long to sketch out the pattern on the counter. 30 minutes later we had the counter shape cut out. Next we used a router to soften the exposed edges. Once completed it was time to dry fit the counter in my condo.

After dry fitting and checking levels it was time to install the corbels that would serve as support. I choose to mount them on either side of the opening where I was sure to hit studs. Next we dry fit the counter again to be sure everything lined up and it looked great. To permanantly install the counter we used liquid nails and applied it liberally to the corbels and to the sill the counter would sit on.

Since it was likely that it might have to support a fair amount of weight such as someone possibly leaning on it with their full body weight I opted to add a mechanical support in the form of a L bracket that would run the full length in the kitchen and be screwed into both the counter and the sill.

I am very pleased with how it came out. With it all installed all I have left to do it caulk it in, stain the surface, and paint the corbels. Shouldn't be too hard or take too long.



Task 02 – Take a segway tour of Boston

Boston By Segway

Location: Boston by Segway
                 420 Commercial Street
                 Boston, MA 02109
                 (617) 670-4200

Website:  www.bostonbysegway.com

Rating:    4-Stars

We arrived about 20 minutes early. They start the training promptly at the scheduled time and not a second early or a second later. So we wandered around for 20 minutes. At 10:30 we were instructed to watch a quick introduction to the segway personal transporter and then pick a helmet that is comfortable from the garage. The video was short and gave the basics of segway operation and safety. Once we finished the video we moved into the garage where we selected helmets.

Next our training instructor introduced us to our Segway i2 transporter. He was very patient and went over the basics and provided some additional suggestions to help make our first time on the segway enjoyable. Once we learned the basics it was time to put what we learned to the test and I went first.

After successfully getting on my segway I was told to practice staying in one spot and maintaining my balance. It is important to allow the machine to worry about being balanced and for the user to simply stand up straight. The machine self balances and if you keep moving around it is constantly adjusting and can be a tad disconcerting. Once I realized I don’t need to worry about balance it came naturally and it was much easier then I had anticipated. Next he told me to practice turning in place. First to the left and then to the right. Once I mastered turning it was time to move forward and then to backing up slightly. Before moving on to my dad the last thing he explained was how to dismount the segway. With my training over he told me to continue practicing while he trained the others.

Once everyone was trained we meet our guide for the next two hours. Her name was Captain JoJo. She asked us the usual where are you from question and provided some insight into how she became a segway tour guide. Our tour took us first northwest along Commercial St which eventually becoming Causeway St. We turned down Beverly St where at the end are the Boston Locks. We crossed over the locks and into Paul Revere Park in Charlestown. From the park we followed the boardwalk along the water and then up Warren St. From here you could see the Bunker Hill Monument pretty clearly. That was out next stop. After traveling a short distance on Warren St we took a left on to Monument Ave where we got great views of this Monument. 

Our guide JoJo told us the history behind the monument and its name. From there we went one block on High St. before heading down the very steep Pleasant St. Here she said is where most people have trouble and usually someone falls. We handled it like pro’s and she was impressed. Next we took a right on to Main St which would lead us back to Chelsea St and Paul Revere Park. From the park we traced our steps back across the lock system and turn a right back on to Causeway St heading towards the TD Garden. When we reached the TD Garden we took a few minutes to take some pictures in front of the sign.

We continued down Causeway and then along Staniford St passing by the Erich Lindeman Mental Health building. We learned that it was voted the second ugliest building in Boston second only to City Hall. When we reached Cambridge St we took a left. This is where the traffic became a little disconcerting. Boston drivers are aggressive and they were definitely aggressive with us. Eventually we made it to School St safely.

We followed School St where we learned that the Old City Hall and Boston Latin School now was home to the Ruth Chris Steak House. At the end of school St. we passed by the Irish Famine Memorial. We then followed along Milk St. We eventually turned on to Batterymarch St. which lead us to High St. A left onto High St brought us to the Rose Fitzgerald Memorial Park which we crossed to the Boston Harbor Hotel. 

We went through the arch to the Harborwalk which we followed along the water. We saw RedSox owner John Henry’s 164ft Yacht. Our path eventually took us past the Harbor Towers and to the Boston Aquarium. At the Aquarium we saw the seals playing in their tanks. 

Our tour continued along the Harborwalk onto Long Wharf. It was here on Long Wharf that my brother testing the limits of the Segway managed to do a 360 on one wheel before dumping it. With no injuries to him or the segway we continued on eventually arriving in Christopher Columbus Park. With the Harborwalk almost done we ended up on Atlantic St. We followed Atlantic St. which eventually became Commercial St. back to the Segway Garage.

Once back it was time to dismount. Following what I had learned earlier I grabbed the bar and easily dismounted without any trouble.

Being local’s, I will admit we were less interested in the tour itself and more interested in having fun on the segway’s. With that said Captain JoJo did teach us a few things about Boston we didn’t know. She was clearly well educated on the history of our city and enjoyed sharing what she knew. By the end of the tour the segway’s almost felt like an extension of your body and I found driving them a very easy process.  

I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to enjoy the city a little differently.