place of nathan.

I’m getting rather excited to go camping this coming weekend. (Wanna join us?)

That got me thinking about what I enjoy most about camping. I think for me, camping is an escape from the technology-driven, high-stress hustle and bustle of everyday life.
If only for a day or two, it’s an escape (I leave my cell phone, iPod and Macbook Pro at home) from what I deal with daily and get back to the basics.
I can’t just go to the fridge and get lunch. I have to kindle a fire, get coals going, etc. I have to work for my food. I have to boil my water to make coffee (french press), instead of just pushing a button on my coffee maker.

It’s like an alternate reality, and it’s thoroughly enjoyable for me!

What do you like best about camping?
(And if you’re interested in joining our camping excursion this coming weekend (Sept. 19-21), let me know in the comments and I’ll fill you in.)

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Yesterday afternoon I went out for a long run with Isaac.
11.4 miles later, we returned back home. We stopped twice for a brief water break, and were cooled by a slow but steady sprinkling of rain, with the occasional shower.

After the run, I was completely exhausted.
Today, my calf muscles are so very, very tight. My right calf is like super tight. I’ve stretched it about 15 times so far today, but nothing is quite getting it loosened up like I wish it would.

But anyway, I’m looking forward to the Fort Wayne Half-Marathon in a couple weeks!
Let’s see if I can break one hour…

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If you could take a trip vacation anywhere in the world, and cost is of no bearing, where would you choose?

Me? Probably tour the Italian countryside (as long as I’m with my wife!).

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[NOTE--No photographs are provided to spare you the gory image]

As I’ve mentioned a few times, I have been running a lot recently in preparation for a the Fort Wayne certified half marathon the end of September.
About a month ago I bought a new pair of shoes.

Then I went camping and I think broke (or at least sprained or bruised) a metatarsal (bone on the top of my foot).
About a week after this, I had a nagging arch pain, and I feared I was developing fallen arches, so I put arch supports in my new shoes (I probably mis-identified the broken metatarsal pain as falling arches, but I never put two-and-two together until now…)

In the past two weeks, I’ve been running five times a week, and five times a week I have a blister on my big toe.
It hurts!

So tonight is one of my days off, so I’ll let it heal, and then I am taking out the arch supports for Saturday’s 10-miler.

We’ll see how my big toe does.

It’s just a big pain in my BIG TOE.

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So I’ve been running a lot more lately, getting ready for the Fort Wayne certified (that means it counts) half marathon.
Last weekend Isaac and I went out for a long run, and it was the first time I’ve been out over an hour in two years, I believe. It felt great!
We are looking forward to another long run, 8 miles, this weekend. Should be greatly enjoyable! We’re planning on putting in the long runs in the morning so that we can get our bodies at least partially used to running in the morning (the half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m.).
Tomorrow morning at 6 a.m., I’m getting up and putting in a run with Jason. That should be a challenge! I haven’t been up that early since I don’t know when.

Hope you’re going to join us at the half marathon! You don’t have to run all that hard, you know. You can walk as much as you want–exercise is good for you, your body and your heart.

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This week as I rolled out a new Microsoft Exchange service for our Email (here @ New Hope), I knew I would need (if I wanted to fully use the available functionality) to switch back from Mozilla Thunderbird to Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.

It is still taking me some getting used to for sure! Nothing is quite as simple and straight-forward as it was in Thunderbird.
But I am thankful to have a calendar program that syncs to my phone and my Email all in one place.
Now, I just need to relearn Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. (Don’t you just love that long name?)

Last night’s roll out took me somewhere around 3 1/2 hours, and I’m tired today. I guess I need to go for a training run!
(p.s. I still miss my T-bird.)

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This week, Emily and I adopted a new pet dog, Fido.

We got it from Emily’s brother Joel.

At first, Emily loved the dog, but she’s since become a little freaked out by the way the dog seems to stare at her while she’s dressing. She says Fiedo gives her the ‘heebie jeebies’.

Anyway, here’s a photo of our new puppy dog!

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I’m curious…do you get enough exercise on a daily (or weekly) basis?

I’ve really been trying to exercise more this summer, and it comes and goes. I have done a better job of walking to work (8 minute walk one way), and also have been running (for the Fort Wayne certified half marathon in two months).

I think they say we’re supposed to get 15-minutes of vigorous activity at least 4 times a week. How are you doing?
Another question: How are you exercising? Walking? Running? Biking? Swimming? Basketball? What say you?

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Just wanted to remind all my faithful readers the Fort Wayne certified Half-Marathon is coming up in about two months. This will be a great race.
I’ve already got two friends confirmed to run the race with (Isaac and Jason), and hope to add more (Todd and my brother-in-laws).
This week I started training more distance, and my legs can feel it! I’ll be up to 10 miles in a few weeks!

Get out there and start training.
Here’s a link for more info.

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This week’s poll question is about the Chicago Cubs…

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My long-time friend and running buddy Ryan (although he’s still about 140 pounds!) recently started blogging, so I figured I’d send some link love his way. Be sure to swing by and check out his stories.
This one-time English major has an Impromptview.

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