Penn Relays

My Penn Relays debut was more nerve-racking than any other running races that I had done. I was sharing the track with some of the greatest runners at high school, college, and professional level. It was my first time ever racing on track. It was the first time I raced for only a mile.

My splits were very revealing
75
89
95
89

Mile = 5:48

I started out fast. I had a great first lap but couldn't sustain the pace. My third lap was rough, and I barely recovered enough to bring it home. On a good note, I didn't trip on the track and I held on to the baton. My team didn't finish last!

Penn Relays

The Scientist
Originally uploaded by reflexblue

I am going to run in the 114th annual Penn Relays this Friday! One of the top annual track events in the world, the Penn Relays will be held at Franklin Field on UPenn campus.

Primary Colors

Primary Color
Originally uploaded by reflexblue

I left work two hours early today so I could vote and go to swim practice. I was voter #268 at the Pine Street Pizza location. There was no line. I saw more volunteers and campaign workers than voters.
I had been torn all week debating whom should I vote for as the Democrat presidential candidate. I was still undecided as I walked from Market East train station to my polling location. Then I heard a loud noise saying "YES WE CAN" from a bullhorn on top of a car filled with Obama signs. Right there at the intersection of 12th and Market, I decided to vote for Hillary Clinton.
I also voted for Larry Farnese and all the candidates endorsed by the Liberty City Democrat Group.

Confessions of a Lane Six Swimmer

Two of my fellow lane six swimmers have already moved over to lane five. I'm not ready yet, but I'm working on it. Depending on who shows up at practice in lanes five and six, I know where my ass belongs.
I swam in lane five twice the past two weeks. I could keep up with their speed for 50's, but I was not ready to do 100's with 10 seconds rest yet.
My freestyle definitely improved. The biggest thing I've focused on the past month was my freestyle pull. I wanted to make sure I kept my elbows high, rotated, reached, glided, pulled with closed fingers, and followed through. I was very encouraged to see that I could keep pace with some lane five during 50 sprints.
There are many things I need to work on before my ass can firmly stick in lane five, but how exciting is it even to be considering that possibility?

Invisalign Smile

Invisalign Smile
Originally uploaded by reflexblue

It may as well be a chastity belt, a diet enforcement tool and a torture device. I am referring to the Invisalign teeth aligner. I've been wearing these trays the past 4 months, and they are taking over my life! Everything I do now involving my mouth I have to ask myself ... it is aligner-removal worthy?

Personal Best at Clean Air 5k

Banana
Originally uploaded by reflexblue

It's nice that I hardly ran the past 2 months and still able to break a 5k personal record. I finished 67th out of 1485 finishers with a clock time of 20:34 and a chip time of 20:31.20. I was 16th out of 119 in my age group, and 62nd out of 689 male runners.

Cherry Blossom Philadelphia

Cherry Blossom princesses!

Primary Colors

obama.jpg
Originally uploaded by embellezca

The Pennsylvania primary elections are a week away, and I can't wait for this political circus to end. As a registered Democrat voter, I will choose between Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama. Honestly, I don't care for either one of them. The more I read about them, the more insincere they come across.
While I think either Clinton or Obama will be a friend of the gays and the underinsured, I am ready to consider other issues. I like how John McCain handles the current mortgage issue. Even the Iraq issue, I hate to admit it, but McCain seems to understand the situation more than other candidates.
So I don't care if Clinton or Obama wins the primary. By the general elections, I will have a tougher choice to make.