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The Week #209
by James- π΄ I took a day off work, my first day off that wasn't for taking care of a sick kid since probably...the start of the year-ish? Far too long. Naturally, it rained real good. Not one to be deterred by some rain I went to Kamakura, which thanks to said rain, was quieter than normal. This enabled us to get lunch at Oxymoron, which usually as 90 minute wait. Afterwards we dropped by Patagonia to look around and ended up buying some new running shorts for myself and a swimsuit / UV shirt for Leo.
- πββοΈ Running continues. This week one of my runs was a proper "LSD" run ((Long, slow, distance) this maybe a Japanese running term???) where I ran for an hour. I've run for an hour in the past, but not in the last few years. A weekly long run sounds like a worth goal I should have, but for now "every so often" is sufficient. Lowering the barrier for a run such that pace, time, and distance do not matter is what keeps me getting out there.
- πΊοΈ Back when handheld GPS units started becoming a thing, I always wanted to try Geocaching. Geocaching is a game where someone hides something at some geocoordinates and you go find it. I never had the money for a unit in high school so I kinda forgot about it β until this week.
Leo and my bonding time is usually on the weekends and I've grown tired of going out to the Aquarium or hanging around the house trying to kill time (that one is actually kinda stressful). Historically Leo has been the type of kind to walk 10 steps then "get tired", but lately that isn't the case.
I asked Leo if he wanted to go on a treasure hunt with me and that according to this app, someone left something over at a local park. He got his backpack, put some snacks in it, and walked, uphill, the entire way to the park. In the end we were unsuccessful in finding the caches but he kept in good spirits the entire time. He even said he wants to go treasure hunting with all 3 of us. - π² I rode bikes with Leo both days this weekend. The second and longer ride we went to Ito Yokado. This is the same place we went a few weeks back for Leo's longest ride and he did it again like a champ. While there he didn't have a meltdown about not being able to play the crane games (successful communication ftw!). On the way back we went a bit further to our local family run Onigiri place and bought lunch. I don't have a basket on my cross-bike, so Leo put them in his and carried them home.Β Riding bikes with the boy is super fun.
Picking up rice balls - π² This ride above was also the first one with my new grips on bike. Replacing them was easy-peasy. Peel off the old ones and a bit of alcohol to clean the bar and slide on the new ones.
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by James5:30 am run club
βLateβ start this morning. Sunβs been up for an hour, may as well do something. Daylightβs burning. Bench 7-11 in all of its glory.4.2km
31.5min
18.2m climbed
151.4avg bpm
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by James5am run club
To Sakaigawa and back, enjoying the cooler weather. New Patagonia running shorts are comfortable af. Ended at bench 7-11, per usual.8.4km
63.8min
55.8m climbed
163.2avg bpm
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Checkin to Patagonia (γγΏγ΄γγ’ ιε)
Shopping on a rainy day -
Checkin to OXYMORON
Yummy curry π -
The Week #208
by James- 4οΈβ£ years of the week! Pretty wild that I haven't missed a Tuesday post the entire time (Tuesday as defined as Tuesday for me, wherever I may be). At some point I should take this and turn them into a paper archive. Maybe for year 5.
- βοΈ My coffee machine has been a bit on the fritz. Not that it's not brewing, but for some reason it started flowing over. I think I've fixed it, but I've grown tired of monitoring the machine while it's brewing to see if it's gonna make a mess or not (kinda defeats the purpose of using a machine). So I've been making pour overs instead.
Making pour overs has been a good change of pace. A bit of zen in the morning. I also haven't been downing as much coffee, which is undoubtedly a good thing.Β - β€οΈ Unrelated to drinking less coffee as it's technically one from a couple of weeks ago, my Apple watch gave me a notification about new trends in my resting heart rate going down (I forget the exact number, but I think it was 41 bpm). Lower heart rates (to a point!) are generally indicative of stronger hearts (fewer pumps required to make appropriate volume of blood go 'round), so I take it as a sign that my consistent running over the past 5 or 6 weeks is starting to make a measurable difference.
- π² Riding my bike is a happy place for me. It seems like it's turning into one for Leo as well. ( I say turning, but in the past he's told me he wants to go ride bikes because it makes him feel happy). This week Leo wanted to ride some place he hasn't ridden before, so we rode along different streets to the park I've been running at lately.
There were a couple of short sections where there aren't sidewalks and the roads are a bit narrow, but he navigated really well.
Inspired by Probably Riding, I've decided to ride my cross-bike more. However, the grips have gotten a bit grody and the cheap wirelock I bought has grown legs and gone on walk about. So I ordered some new grips and a U-lock from Blue Lug. When they arrive, I'll attempt to change the grips myself (which shouldn't be hard (famous last words)). - π‘οΈ Leo, with me coaching him through it, beat Queen Gibdo in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom! Beating this boss was quite difficult and took us a few hours of attempts (over the course of a couple of weeks), but we did it! The main that let us beat the boss was sleeping at an inn in one of the pricer beds so that we had a couple of extra hearts and (more importantly) a bit of extra stamina, so we could run away after a melee attack. 4 bosses down just a couple to go...we'll be ready before the new Zelda game comes out in September (just before my birthday π!)
- π Summer has official arrived. There was a day this week with a high of 33. I think my runs are going to need to be starting at 4:45am for the next couple of months.
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by James5am Run Club
Because Iβm up anyways and itβs 33 degrees with 90% humidity during the day. Ending at bench 7-11 with an ice coffee and an Aquarius, reminds of running when Leo was first born and I did similar.5.0km
35.7min
26.4m climbed
154.7avg bpm
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Checkin to Shake Shack
Chicken sandwiches π -
by JamesMorning Run
Almost didnβt go, but I was already dressed.3.6km
26.3min
27.2m climbed
158.6avg bpm
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by James
Leo Run
To the bench 7-11. He was on my shoulders for most of the way back. Extra 17kg π«£1.2km
27.8min
7m climbed
106.4avg bpm
