Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Zoo Hill
Holy crap, Zoo Hill.
On Saturday, we rode about 40 miles, starting at Redhook Brewery, down around Lake Sammamish, up Zoo Hill and back.
As Bicycle Climbs describes, Zoo Hill is: "arguably the toughest climb in the Seattle area. Ascending 1200 feet over 2.5 miles, it has an average grade of about 10%, with common gradients in 15% and some sections approaching 20%. This is not a climb to be approached lightly." One user described the climb as "the puke-inducing lactate-producing gasp-fest that I avoid unless taunted."
The fun part about going up a giant hill, is that you get to go back down. I PR'ed my fastest time yet coming down the other side at 43.4mph. Lets just say adrenaline was pumping hard at the bottom. The beer and food following the ride at Redhook were much appreciated (and necessary).
On Saturday, we rode about 40 miles, starting at Redhook Brewery, down around Lake Sammamish, up Zoo Hill and back.
As Bicycle Climbs describes, Zoo Hill is: "arguably the toughest climb in the Seattle area. Ascending 1200 feet over 2.5 miles, it has an average grade of about 10%, with common gradients in 15% and some sections approaching 20%. This is not a climb to be approached lightly." One user described the climb as "the puke-inducing lactate-producing gasp-fest that I avoid unless taunted."
The fun part about going up a giant hill, is that you get to go back down. I PR'ed my fastest time yet coming down the other side at 43.4mph. Lets just say adrenaline was pumping hard at the bottom. The beer and food following the ride at Redhook were much appreciated (and necessary).
Friday, September 10, 2010
This. Is. Amazing.
Councilman Phil Davison of Minerva, Ohio campaign speech for Stark County treasurer. via The Huffington Post
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Amazon Kindle
I ordered the latest generation Amazon Kindle in the middle of August and it is finally shipping this week. I love to read so I have always been interested in the Kindle (since I buy all of my books on Amazon).
However, I was afraid that I would miss reading an actual book. My bookshelves are full of books that I have enjoyed and love re-reading, so I asked a few of my friends who have the older generation of the Kindle. With good reviews and encouragement that I will not miss reading an actual book and that I will love the Kindle, I ordered one.
I am super excited for it to come!
(super cute apple-green cover)
Friday, September 3, 2010
Lake Swims
In the last couple of weeks I have participated in two different lake swims.
The Swim for Life was 2.5 miles from Medina to Madison Park benefitting the Puget Sound Blood Association. The water was warm but there was a nasty current in the lake. While some may have not appreciated the white caps the entire way, I felt like I was swimming in a roller coaster type ocean. The chances that you inhaled a wave of water while breathing were high, but I like how it trained me to adjust my stroke and really learn how to move as one with the water. Surprisingly, my course was pretty good and I was able to finish in under 90 minutes.
The Park to Park swim was 1.4 miles from Matthews Beach to O.O. Denny Park benefitting the Children's Hospital. The water was actually warmer than the temperature outside (welcome to summer in Seattle). There were a few rollers through the middle of the swim, and I definitely went off course (thanks to the kayaker that pointed me back) but overall the swim went well. Having very little to spot on (besides an assortment of trees), this swim was tough because you had to constantly find the specific location on the beach where you were heading. I finished this swim in about 35-40 minutes.
After the Park to Park, we jumped on our bikes and did the Lake Washington loop. As I haven't biked since the STP (Seattle to Portland), we did the North loop and ended up at about 40 miles.
The Swim for Life was 2.5 miles from Medina to Madison Park benefitting the Puget Sound Blood Association. The water was warm but there was a nasty current in the lake. While some may have not appreciated the white caps the entire way, I felt like I was swimming in a roller coaster type ocean. The chances that you inhaled a wave of water while breathing were high, but I like how it trained me to adjust my stroke and really learn how to move as one with the water. Surprisingly, my course was pretty good and I was able to finish in under 90 minutes.
The Park to Park swim was 1.4 miles from Matthews Beach to O.O. Denny Park benefitting the Children's Hospital. The water was actually warmer than the temperature outside (welcome to summer in Seattle). There were a few rollers through the middle of the swim, and I definitely went off course (thanks to the kayaker that pointed me back) but overall the swim went well. Having very little to spot on (besides an assortment of trees), this swim was tough because you had to constantly find the specific location on the beach where you were heading. I finished this swim in about 35-40 minutes.
After the Park to Park, we jumped on our bikes and did the Lake Washington loop. As I haven't biked since the STP (Seattle to Portland), we did the North loop and ended up at about 40 miles.
I'm back!
I have decided to start blogging again, it has been just about a year since my last post.
New thoughts, articles, inspirations and random blurbs to come.
New thoughts, articles, inspirations and random blurbs to come.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin
Super interesting article about the relationship between exercise and weight gain.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Structure of HIV genome 'decoded'
Article from BBC News:
Scientists say they have decoded the entire genetic structure of HIV-1 - the main cause of Aids in humans.
They hope this will pave the way to a greater understanding of how the virus operates, and potentially accelerate the development of drug treatments.
HIV carries its genetic information in more complicated structures than some other viruses.
The US research, published in Nature, may allow scientists the chance to look at the information buried inside.
HIV, like the viruses which cause influenza, hepatitis C and polio, carries its genetic information as single-stranded RNA rather than double-stranded DNA.
The information enclosed in DNA is encoded in a relatively simple way, but in RNA this is more complex.
RNA is able to fold into intricate patterns and structures. Therefore decoding a full genome opens up genetic information that was not previously accessible, and may hold answers to why the virus acts as it does.
The team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said they planned to use the information to see if they could make tiny changes to the virus.
"If it doesn't grow as well when you disrupt the virus with mutations, then you know you've mutated or affected something that was important to the virus," says Ron Swanstrom, professor of microbiology and immunology.
"We are also beginning to understand tricks the genome uses to help the virus escape detection by the human host."
Deep inside
Dr David Robertson from the University of Manchester welcomed this "definitive analysis".
"What this may reveal is some of the proteins operating at a level below the structures, which may have all sorts of functions within the virus.
"More generally, if we can unpick the structures then we can compare the systems of different viruses and gain new understanding of how they work."
Keith Alcorn of the HIV information service NAM added: "Encouraging the virus to mutate is not a new idea, but it is one of a number of options on the table.
"How important this information will be for the development of new drugs remains to be seen, but it is a useful addition to what we know."
Scientists say they have decoded the entire genetic structure of HIV-1 - the main cause of Aids in humans.
They hope this will pave the way to a greater understanding of how the virus operates, and potentially accelerate the development of drug treatments.
HIV carries its genetic information in more complicated structures than some other viruses.
The US research, published in Nature, may allow scientists the chance to look at the information buried inside.
HIV, like the viruses which cause influenza, hepatitis C and polio, carries its genetic information as single-stranded RNA rather than double-stranded DNA.
The information enclosed in DNA is encoded in a relatively simple way, but in RNA this is more complex.
RNA is able to fold into intricate patterns and structures. Therefore decoding a full genome opens up genetic information that was not previously accessible, and may hold answers to why the virus acts as it does.
The team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said they planned to use the information to see if they could make tiny changes to the virus.
"If it doesn't grow as well when you disrupt the virus with mutations, then you know you've mutated or affected something that was important to the virus," says Ron Swanstrom, professor of microbiology and immunology.
"We are also beginning to understand tricks the genome uses to help the virus escape detection by the human host."
Deep inside
Dr David Robertson from the University of Manchester welcomed this "definitive analysis".
"What this may reveal is some of the proteins operating at a level below the structures, which may have all sorts of functions within the virus.
"More generally, if we can unpick the structures then we can compare the systems of different viruses and gain new understanding of how they work."
Keith Alcorn of the HIV information service NAM added: "Encouraging the virus to mutate is not a new idea, but it is one of a number of options on the table.
"How important this information will be for the development of new drugs remains to be seen, but it is a useful addition to what we know."
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