Set your goals carefully - Small achievement better than big fail!

After my first 15km, I was pretty sure that I can do marathon. Achievements make you so happy and inspire for another challenges. With each next successful workout comes, confidence of success in the next one. But what happens when you can't?

To try something new, is already jump ouside of you comfort zone, and if you are brave enough and decided to participate in competitions, it is already "crazy" level! It is enough to taste once, and you don't want to stop anymore: half marathons, marathons, bosphorus, triathlon. Goal set -> goal achieved -> Pleasure! But how do you feel if you failed, if you are not so confident in success any more?

More goals = More achievements = More pleasure, right? What are another goals, let's see, pull-ups, push-ups, faster marathon, why not! And let's be serious, marathon in 3 hours, 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups and to lose some weight in between. Because there is one more free hour in your schedule. The best use of it, is accomplishing another goal! Even better would be to find few more hours and add few more goals!

7 habits of highly effective people - Stephen Covey

Desire to be enlightened and continuous seeking for time for reading made me to listen to listen smart audio books. The first was "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferrys and I've chosen as the second "7 habits of highly effective people" by Stephen Covey.

As usual, book in audio format and listen on the run.

First 30km of listening remembered me my childhood. That time, on saturdays afternoon, when I wanted to watch cartoons and my parents - movies, preacher was speaking, monotonically describing different topics from bible. The same feelings I had in university, sitting in a large audience and listening for two hours for not the most eloquent teacher. I mean you better don't start it if you are in rush or didn't sleep well :)... The same with this book.

Lot's of times I was running and listening, than switched to my own thoughts, than back to book and realized that the author is providing ninth example of the same, and I've heart first 4, so I missed nothing - as with Brasillian TV series.

The 4-Hour Workweek - Tim Ferrys

Once I asked myself, when was the last time I took a non IT book in my hands and read it? I remembered some years from the past, and not even University times - school years! It was a shame. I felt poor man with low IQ. I had to fix it ASAP.

As I usually do, I did a short research in Internet and found a list of recommended books. One of them was "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferrys. It's name was too catchy to leave it for later. As I don't have neither time to read in front of a fireplace, nor fireplace itself, I decided to listen it's audio version.

It was so damn interesting, that I did it twice quicker than planned to do. I was using each chance to listen 5 more minutes.

Running on the ice

Have you ever had the chance to run on the ice? Do not considering puddles. Today was my first time!

It is believed that running on the ice is true check of your running technice efficiency. Sprinters may not be interested in it, cause they need speed, but stiers might want to try at least once.

The main reason why you being a stier should try it is that this type of running exagerates all your mistakes, gaps and weaks. If you need an experienced coach to tell you about your running mistakes on the road, because on your own you don't feel them, on the ice you'll be able to feel each and every... but you still need a coach to tell you how to fix that :).

Before you've decided to try this semi-extrimal activity, make sure you have all you need - gypsum and analgesic winter running shoes with spikes!

50 pull-ups at once (Season 2) - Breaking plato

First season ended up with fail, or Plato.

Note: Plato - is a period of time during your training, when results do not increase, may even decrease a bit, while you are training with the same intensity.

Thus second season I started with thought - I have to break the Plato. Both of them - physical and psychological. Because I simply couldn't believe that I can do more than 30 pull-ups. It was enough to remember feelings after 15 pull-ups to understand that no way!


I've collected recommendations from Internet and my friends, and here are possible solutions:

A month without social networks (almost) - usefull time redistribution

I'm the guy, who can easily jump in a challenge, especially if it is something useful for my body or mind. My friens say that it is easy to make me to jump there, but I strongly believe that each of my challenges is my personal decision.

So, as it usually happens, few factors overlaped and resulted in something new for me: short term assignment in US, good Wi-Fi connection 24/24 and FB and Google+, which didn't manage to generate enough interesting content.

Once, when I was going to sleep, I realized that I'm in bad mood because during the last 30 min I checked my FB 10 times, and there where nothing new... Not the best reason for the bed mood, don't you think?

50 pull-ups at once (Season 1) - Plan doesn't work.

I'm challenge addicted! I understood it just after my first challenge was accomplished. Thats why I decided to add some pepper to my life. Sure, Ironman is very nice dish, but it takes a lot to prepare, and I want to eat during this preparation as well.

Finally I found two appropriate goal: "50 pull-ups in 7 weeks" and "100 push-ups in 6 weeks". In this article I'm gona describe my pull-ups story.

Back in childhood, it were pull-ups showing power of guys in my school or street. Those who could do more than 20 were real athlets in my eyes, and few of then, who could do 30+ had half transparent halo around the biceps, imperceptibly for themself.

I thought it was the order of things, being in business trip in US, to cross free time I've got, admiration from childhood and training plan - "50 pull-ups in 7 weeks". See how it was.

Triathlon calculator (swimming/cycling/running/speed/pace/km/mi)

Another version of calculator is released.

No changes in icon, BUT! I got it finally!!! I just had to listen to feedback, see what another calculators do and testi is on several devices, not only mine. My idea to have a smart time input field which can guess what time you've entered failed... In order to enter "1h 30m" on the phone, you have to switch three times between letters and numbers, which is frustrating... plus you have to remember the format to enter the time or read about it in help (which nobody does, obviosly)
So, hours, minutes and seconds now are separate fields. Only numbers, no more long help read. Give it a try here and install mobile versions. Please rate it, provide your feedback - I feel happy like a baby when I get it :)

Competition Ironman Half-Ironman Olympic Tri Sprint Tri

km mi

Distance

 

IM HIM Olympic Sprint 200m 100m 50m 25m Other

 

km mi

Pace

min/100m328ft

- -

Speed

kmmi/hr

Distance

 

IM HIM Olympic Sprint Other

 

km mi

Pace

min/kmmi

- -

Speed

kmmi/hr

Distance

 

Marathon Half-Marathon 10km 5km Other

 

km mi

Pace

min/kmmi

- -

Speed

kmmi/hr

 T1 

 T2 

Total: 0:00:00

Mobile version:

Русский вариант.

Solo Marathon with walking finish.

I run another Solo Marathon today (12/13/14). Another marathon and another record, but not the one I'm proud of.

Flat track, ideal weather... but awkwardness + few mistakes = worst result!

Preparation was like in movies. I've been running for 3 month, 4 days a week with different phases, intervals and long runs. During this time I did more than 285mi including several half-marathons, 30+km runs and even one marathon. According to plan I had to finish this race in 3:09! Atlanta Thanksgiving Half-marathon result added some confidence (my time was 1:33:44).

Ok, day X. I feel good. After warm-up I was seriously determined to do it in more or less the same time specified in plan. Start at 9 am. It's time - GO GO GO!

Atlanta Thanksgiving Half-Marathon

Race instead of turkey

"Guys, how are you going to celebrate Thanksgiving?"
"Are you going to celebrate somehow Thanksgiving?"
"Have you decided what you are going to do on Thanksgiving?"

It were "TOP3" questions our colleagues were asking last time. Two days before Thanksgiving, Dug, knowing about my attitude towards running, asked if I know about Atlanta Thanksgiving Half Marathon? "No", I said and opened Google. It was my answer on those  "TOP3" questions - I'm running!

And it begun...

• Registration in the last day...
• Expected time 1:35...
• Searching possibilities to get there in time without paying additional 30$...
• Morning discussion with drunk girl and her strange friend...
• Fail and salvation with clothes...
• Starting wave confusion...
• Start, GO GO GO.......

100 push-ups in 7 weeks

To go out of my comfort zone is something I need, thus I decided not to limit with Ironman only, and remembered my unfulfilled dreams from childhood - 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups! Sounds great, hard to implement, good for health in general and some nice body relief as bonus - exactly what I need!

As it usually happens "bicycle" was invented before, and you just have to use it. So I found a training plan with the same name as my goal - "100 push-ups in 6 week", and started training... The idea is to increase load smoothly, interchange rest and training in the right way and demonstrate willpower. Add to it to my 3 month US trip, and you'll get perfect combination:

• I travel without family, thus I'll have a lot off free time
• US is well known by it's junk food, so I'll have to get rid of extra calories
• Next summer/autumn I'm going to finish full Ironman distance

Spock - framework for Java developers, who doesn't like Unit testing

I'm Java developer! Coding is base of our profession. It's testing is somewhere nearby. Honestly - I hate writing unit tests. Subconsciously I can not accept the fact that I have to write 20 lines of code in order to test 5. You can make mistake in any code, even the one, which intended to test another one, what about them? In addition you have to know bunch of testing frameworks (JMock, EasyMock, PowerMock), testing standards, best practices, etc.

Please, don't get me wrong, I do not belittle importance of testing. I was writing those tests even without excessive passion. I just didn't like the way I had to do it. And apparently, in one one of our projects client insisted on Spock - another framework for testing, but on Groovy. "Happy client!" - is our company mantra, so we are learning new for us framework, and..... HERE IT IS! For the first time testing become simple, logic, intuitive and FAST!

The most boring marathon

Marathon is a dream for runner-beginner! There is so much proud in this phrase "I run marathon!", which is not actually the same what you feel in the process of achieving this goal.

• "8:30 - full tank of carbohydrates, heart rate monitor set on, satellites found..." - imagine your feelings if you don't have corresponding attitude, and, because of your leisure, physical shape too...
• "...I was waiting for start along with thousands of runners..." - what if you are alone?!
• "...I continued running along the quays and bridges of St. Petersburg. There were so many beautiful things around me!!!" - and now switch to the small room without any beauties.
• "...The most sharp-sighted ones could read my name on my number and shouted "Grisha, come on, go go go!"" - what if there is nobody to support you?!
• "...Got out, gave chip, took a towel and went to take the certificate with results I could and had to have better..." - if there is no even small medal or any other paper charter?!
• "...I was recovering so diligently, that over-recovered by 2 kg..." - what if you don't have with whom to celebrate?!

Runner time calculator

km mile
Dist.:	Marathon Halfmarathon 10km 5km
Pace (min/kmmi )
Speed ( km mi/hr)

Once upon a time I decided to play with different distances and paces required for specific time. Plus to this speed, pace, miles, km... - finally I didn't find as good calculator as I wanted and decided to create my own.

For time and pace you can use dot (.), comma (,) and colon (:), we understand.

Enter, ENTER - watch!

I've tried and liked it. Probably it can be useful for you too.

If you've found any bug - let me know, I'll try to fix it.

My first open water swim - Bosphorus 2014

Marathon, Bosporus, Half-Ironman. - This chain of events has to happen this summer, and it's all right so far. Second goal achieved, although with some mistakes, but more on this later.

Pre-history

Let's go back to the beginning. Summer 2013. Triathlon: Swimming, Cycling, Running - absolute zero experience in all those elements :). I was fully aware that it is impossible to get Ironman quickly. I thought that it would be nice to participate in several cycling, running, and swimming races. All of them had to take place next summer (2014) in order to have time for the preparation, and have enough time for recovery. Eventually, I had the marathon in June, Bosporus swim  - July and Half Ironman - August. Right, I know, there is no cycling in this list--I couldn’t fit everything in just three summer months --autumn was planned for another thing.

White Nights - my first marathon!

Marathon, Bosphorus, Half Iron Man - this is the chain of events I planned for the summer of 2014 at the end of the summer of 2013, when my ambitions prevailed over my laziness and I decided that it was time to change. Did I believe then that I could do it - NOT AT ALL, but as you know - If you can dream it, you can do it.

Marathon

Marathon is not something you can plan today for tomorrow. It takes time. In my case it was one year of continuous preparation. During this time I managed to run around 1000кm, preparing myself for this event.

Plan

I realized that it was not enough to just run every day in order to make it happen, I needed a Plan. There were several options to choose from: I could find a trainer, elaborate a plan by myself or use one of thousands existing in the Internet.

Second book - Water, First part - Water magitians.

My article has this name not because I'm far from reality or triathlon had negative affect on my mind. Let me tell you what does it mean, before you fantasy did it instead.

Actually this is the name of one of Avatar cartoon series (or something similar). It is gorgeous cartoon, where people have super skills, like water, fire, air and ground control, and only Avatar can control everything (this guy is on the picture).

I like to make analogy between this cartoon and triathlon. Sport - is a fairy world were runners are "Ground magicians", swimmers are "Water magicians" and cyclists are "Air magitians" (as triathlon doesn't have analogy for fire magicians, we'll skip it ;)). Those who possesses all of them are Avatars, or in our world - Ironmans.

Bucharest Half Marathon - It worth doing!

10/06/2013 Bucharest Marathon day, and I was happy participant.

A bit of statistics:

• Marathon in Bucharest has been organizing since 2008
• There were more than 2.5k participants this year (2013):
• Marathon - 680.
• Half-marathon - 1617.
• Relay race - 364.

 

How it was.

Registration.

Each event starts from the registration. It's first part is online - basic information about yourself and payment (33 EUR). Second is the most interesting - Expo, getting your number, feeling this atmosphere.

Anenii Noi - Chisinau - Half Marathon dress rehearsal!

This Sunday (9/29/13) Sporter.md team conquered distance between Anenii Noi and Chisinau. Thanks to sporter.md for this (and hopefully the other) running event and and sportive initiative in general!

This run opens series of runs "From somewhere near Chisinau to Chisinau" :).

My first race: 87 - 26:00

Hello!

Due to small push from my friends I got to my first running race. Yes, everything is serious. This is not simple morning workout - this is race, as serious race, as it in general can be in our small country. The organizers proudly announced that this is the last step before republic competitions on sprint distance which were going to be 19th October.

Event took place in one of Chisinau parks - Valea Trandafirilor (I've never been there before, beautiful place). There were a lot of people, more than I expected, I guess more than 100, and few different distances - 1k, 3k and 6k (runkeeper said that actually there were 5.3k). As future marathon runner, I was interested in the longest distance - 6k, and my first ever number is 87!