The Cape Wind project (http://www.capewind.org/) is proposing 130 large wind turbines to generate power in Nantucket Sound. Thus far, Cape Wind has met every environmental and conservation challenge and is backed by the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, Masspirg, the Conservation Law Foundation, and numerous others.
Yet the so-called Alliance to protect Nantucket Sound (http://www.saveoursound.org/site/PageServer) which was recently ridiculed by Jon Stewart (http://youtube.com/watch?v=LEaOkhWOZ1A)
insists that it's bad for the environment, even though all these groups that are normally considered extremists are backing it as not being a threat to the environment. They say the project will produce more expensive power and that people won't pay an additional premium for wind power. This last part in particular is flat out wrong. Businesses throughout Boulder proudly pay a premium for wind power and advertise that they do so. People WILL pay more for cleaner energy and independence from foreign oil.
They claim it's a threat to public safety, even though the Coast Guard, Air force and other agencies addressing these areas have disagreed. The best the Alliance can do for an advocate of
these claims is a retired Lieutenant Commander, one who no doubt received a nice Advising Fee.
Which brings me to the reason I'm posting about this today.
The Boston Globe today had an article about Cape Wind's finances (http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/25/group_opposing_wind_farm_off_cape_saw_big_drop_in_contributions_in_06/).
Turns out that of Cape Wind's $2m budget this past year, 75% of it was provided by 9 donors. Almost 25% of the total fundraising by one donor. Yet these people claim to represent the popular will. None of their donors are listed publicly.
This is NIMBYism at it's worst and it wouldn't surprise me to find out that some of these large donors have some fiscal interest in keeping Cape Wind out. Such as, perhaps, another energy company built around fossil fuels.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Giving Thanks
Yesterday was Thanksgiving... I'm going to skip the usual 'list of things I'm thankful for' and just say that it's been a good year. It will be an even better one once graduate school is over. I flew out to Boston for the holiday and it's been great seeing the family. Not to mention stuffing my face.
I finally made my travel plans to Boulder earlier this week. I'll be visiting Colorado for a week after the quarter is over, which I can't wait for. I miss Boulder and can't wait to get out there again.
Ironman Arizona has finally been pushed to November. The news was released today. The race will be held twice in 2008. First in April, then in November. From then on IM Arizona will always be in November. Too bad I decided NOT to do an IM in 2008... but that's ok.
I finally made my travel plans to Boulder earlier this week. I'll be visiting Colorado for a week after the quarter is over, which I can't wait for. I miss Boulder and can't wait to get out there again.
Ironman Arizona has finally been pushed to November. The news was released today. The race will be held twice in 2008. First in April, then in November. From then on IM Arizona will always be in November. Too bad I decided NOT to do an IM in 2008... but that's ok.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
I... Am... BACK!
Got in a 100 yard swim (4 x 250 yards) tonight followed shortly thereafter by a 30 minute technique workout on the trainer. Great Stuff!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Nice Swim, Mr. Froggy...
Got into the water today and felt REALLY good about it for the first time in a couple weeks. I did three sets of 250 yards, just swimming and working on feeling comfortable. I wasn't worrying about drills, though I was conscious of my form, and I didn't worry about my speed, although I did do all three in under 5:30. It was just a good, enjoyable swim.
The highlight, oddly enough, was at the end. I took a breather when i had finished my third 250 and decided I'd try to swim a full 25 underwater. This is something I try every once in a while and, as a kid, I could do it. It's been a while since I could though. Still, I gave it a shot... and made it with ease! The funny part was I felt like I had a lot in my tank still when I finished and was almost tempted to turn around and see how far I could go... Maybe next time.
The highlight, oddly enough, was at the end. I took a breather when i had finished my third 250 and decided I'd try to swim a full 25 underwater. This is something I try every once in a while and, as a kid, I could do it. It's been a while since I could though. Still, I gave it a shot... and made it with ease! The funny part was I felt like I had a lot in my tank still when I finished and was almost tempted to turn around and see how far I could go... Maybe next time.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Coaching
I've been thinking about finding a coach to help with my training for quite a while. As enthusiastic as I am about training, I just don't consider myself to be educated or experienced enough to put together a smart training plan or set realistic goals.
So, finally, I have done it. Mark van Akkeren, a fellow BTCer, friend from Boulder and he of the First-out-of-the-water at the Ironman World Championships in Kona this past August, had made the offer before and after talking to him about his philosophy on training recently, I decided to take him up on the offer.
I'm excited and a little bit nervous. I've never worked with a coach before. I was a member of my high school cross country team for about 1 day when I knew it wasn't for me and that's about the closest I've come to having a coach before.
The first thing to do, is give him as good an idea of where I am as possible. Mark has been following my blog so he has some familiarity with my training, particularly during the 30 days of swimming. Below is the email I sent him today, answering some of his questions about my training and goals.
---------------------------------------
Get comfortable, this could take a while...
Review of 2007:
I'm
not sure how in depth to get on this so I'll start off with the basics
and you can ask for any details you consider important.
Races
Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge (January) - Half marathon on
Saturday (2:45:35) followed by the full marathon on Sunday(4:48:42).
Took the half very easy because I was running with a friend (and the
full was the next day).
Bolder Boulder - 53:50
9 Stroke and Strides - best overall time of 43:30 (750m swim) 16:43swim, 25:05run
5430 Long Course Tri
- you've already heard about this one but to sum up... 47:11 Swim
(Breaststroke), 3:28:55 bike, 2:59:07 run. I imploded on the run, I
knew my HR was too high early on but I felt great and foolishly kept
pushing.
So not a lot of races. Training wise, I picked up freestyle
courtesy of an introductory lesson with Mike Ricci and have tried to
work a lot on the drills he gave me since I left Boulder (as you know
from the 30 days of swimming) and feel a lot more comfortable with it
than I would have expected to. I still need to work on my swimming a
lot, particularly the bi-lateral breathing (I don't breathe well on my
right side) and on pressing my chest. I also never learned flip-turns,
but I'm not sure that something I need to worry about or not.
As far as the Bike goes, until Summer 2006, I hadn't ridden a bike
in 10 years or more. I started biking to and from work in Boston
roughly 3 days a week (17 miles each way) which lasted about 6 weeks
before I broke my foot and sprained my ankle on a spill that August.
once I healed up I was back in cincinnati and was only riding
stationary bikes until I got to Boulder and started riding a bike
everywhere, every day.
As far as running, it was the event I was most comfortable with
and I kept it pretty simple. I did 3 basic dedicated workouts each
week. A long run, a speed/hill workout and a tempo run. I also followed
most bike rides of more than 40 minutes with a 20 minute easy brick
run. The biggest thing for me running wise was getting my Lactate
Threshold tested at BCSM and adjusting my long run effort down as a
result. I have been training by HR for several years and was doing my
long runs at around 155, much higher than the 125-135 range Neal
Henderson recommended (I can send you those results if you like).
Limiters
ha ha... you name it, I've probably got it.
let's see... Swimming experience, form, my endurance is pretty good I
think considering my experience though... bike power and form...
running form...
Mostly I think my biggest limiters are not knowing how to train
smart, a tendency to try to do too much too fast and not knowing what
goals are realistic to set (along with having just learned to swim
freestyle). The 5430 was my first triathlon. My first road race was the
NYC marathon, I like big goals and tend to overlook the small ones.
I've often said that I like long races because I feel like I've got
good endurance, but not good speed. But really, I've never trained to
be fast so I don't know that that's true.
2008 Goals
A big part of me, that part that likes big goals, wants to do an Ironman distance next fall. But given a
choice between completing an Ironman in 2008 or really racing one in 2009, I'll take 2009.
Flying Pig Marathon - May - I did this race once before and
finished in 4:44:10 with a pair of the worst blisters I've ever had.
I'd love to break 4 hours. I don't know if that's feasible or not.
5430 Long course - August - I feel like if I'd been smart during the run, I
could have finished in under 7 total. Like I said above, I'm not
entirely sure how to set realistic goals, but I'd like to think 6:30 is
feasible. If busting my backside meant I could do 6:00, then I'd bust
my backside.
Last 6 weeks
up until about 3 weeks ago, I felt like
I was at a great place in my training. I was finishing up the 30 days
of swimming, which meant 5-6 hours a week in the pool, and was also
doing 4 workouts a week on the bike and running. I'm not comfortable
riding my bike around here so have stuck to the trainer but was doing 2
spinerval workouts each week, along with a long ride of 1.5-2 hours and
a tempo ride. This meant about 4 hours a week on the bike.
Running
I was doing a speed workout, a long run of 90-120 minutes and an easy
30 minute brick run after the tempo bike ride. The speed workout was
with the university running club on thursday nights. This added up to
3.5-4 hours per week.
Then I had two weeks where I struggled to do
anything other than short runs. I had to go out of town twice during
that period for just over a week total and spent most of the time in
between and the week after, trying to catch up on my thesis work
(since, of course, that was when midterms were). Since last Monday I've
been pretty well caught up with classes and have been getting in closer
to my normal runs and rides, though I only got in the the pool twice
last week.
As far as time goes, I can dedicate 10-15 hours a week to training
which probably seems like a lot for being in graduate school, but
really, I have very little going on out here as far as a social life.
Actually, training usually IS my social life/relaxation time since I
can run with the running club or watch a movie or the news while I ride
the trainer.
So, finally, I have done it. Mark van Akkeren, a fellow BTCer, friend from Boulder and he of the First-out-of-the-water at the Ironman World Championships in Kona this past August, had made the offer before and after talking to him about his philosophy on training recently, I decided to take him up on the offer.
I'm excited and a little bit nervous. I've never worked with a coach before. I was a member of my high school cross country team for about 1 day when I knew it wasn't for me and that's about the closest I've come to having a coach before.
The first thing to do, is give him as good an idea of where I am as possible. Mark has been following my blog so he has some familiarity with my training, particularly during the 30 days of swimming. Below is the email I sent him today, answering some of his questions about my training and goals.
---------------------------------------
Get comfortable, this could take a while...
Review of 2007:
I'm
not sure how in depth to get on this so I'll start off with the basics
and you can ask for any details you consider important.
Races
Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge (January) - Half marathon on
Saturday (2:45:35) followed by the full marathon on Sunday(4:48:42).
Took the half very easy because I was running with a friend (and the
full was the next day).
Bolder Boulder - 53:50
9 Stroke and Strides - best overall time of 43:30 (750m swim) 16:43swim, 25:05run
5430 Long Course Tri
- you've already heard about this one but to sum up... 47:11 Swim
(Breaststroke), 3:28:55 bike, 2:59:07 run. I imploded on the run, I
knew my HR was too high early on but I felt great and foolishly kept
pushing.
So not a lot of races. Training wise, I picked up freestyle
courtesy of an introductory lesson with Mike Ricci and have tried to
work a lot on the drills he gave me since I left Boulder (as you know
from the 30 days of swimming) and feel a lot more comfortable with it
than I would have expected to. I still need to work on my swimming a
lot, particularly the bi-lateral breathing (I don't breathe well on my
right side) and on pressing my chest. I also never learned flip-turns,
but I'm not sure that something I need to worry about or not.
As far as the Bike goes, until Summer 2006, I hadn't ridden a bike
in 10 years or more. I started biking to and from work in Boston
roughly 3 days a week (17 miles each way) which lasted about 6 weeks
before I broke my foot and sprained my ankle on a spill that August.
once I healed up I was back in cincinnati and was only riding
stationary bikes until I got to Boulder and started riding a bike
everywhere, every day.
As far as running, it was the event I was most comfortable with
and I kept it pretty simple. I did 3 basic dedicated workouts each
week. A long run, a speed/hill workout and a tempo run. I also followed
most bike rides of more than 40 minutes with a 20 minute easy brick
run. The biggest thing for me running wise was getting my Lactate
Threshold tested at BCSM and adjusting my long run effort down as a
result. I have been training by HR for several years and was doing my
long runs at around 155, much higher than the 125-135 range Neal
Henderson recommended (I can send you those results if you like).
Limiters
ha ha... you name it, I've probably got it.
let's see... Swimming experience, form, my endurance is pretty good I
think considering my experience though... bike power and form...
running form...
Mostly I think my biggest limiters are not knowing how to train
smart, a tendency to try to do too much too fast and not knowing what
goals are realistic to set (along with having just learned to swim
freestyle). The 5430 was my first triathlon. My first road race was the
NYC marathon, I like big goals and tend to overlook the small ones.
I've often said that I like long races because I feel like I've got
good endurance, but not good speed. But really, I've never trained to
be fast so I don't know that that's true.
2008 Goals
A big part of me, that part that likes big goals, wants to do an Ironman distance next fall. But given a
choice between completing an Ironman in 2008 or really racing one in 2009, I'll take 2009.
Flying Pig Marathon - May - I did this race once before and
finished in 4:44:10 with a pair of the worst blisters I've ever had.
I'd love to break 4 hours. I don't know if that's feasible or not.
5430 Long course - August - I feel like if I'd been smart during the run, I
could have finished in under 7 total. Like I said above, I'm not
entirely sure how to set realistic goals, but I'd like to think 6:30 is
feasible. If busting my backside meant I could do 6:00, then I'd bust
my backside.
Last 6 weeks
up until about 3 weeks ago, I felt like
I was at a great place in my training. I was finishing up the 30 days
of swimming, which meant 5-6 hours a week in the pool, and was also
doing 4 workouts a week on the bike and running. I'm not comfortable
riding my bike around here so have stuck to the trainer but was doing 2
spinerval workouts each week, along with a long ride of 1.5-2 hours and
a tempo ride. This meant about 4 hours a week on the bike.
Running
I was doing a speed workout, a long run of 90-120 minutes and an easy
30 minute brick run after the tempo bike ride. The speed workout was
with the university running club on thursday nights. This added up to
3.5-4 hours per week.
Then I had two weeks where I struggled to do
anything other than short runs. I had to go out of town twice during
that period for just over a week total and spent most of the time in
between and the week after, trying to catch up on my thesis work
(since, of course, that was when midterms were). Since last Monday I've
been pretty well caught up with classes and have been getting in closer
to my normal runs and rides, though I only got in the the pool twice
last week.
As far as time goes, I can dedicate 10-15 hours a week to training
which probably seems like a lot for being in graduate school, but
really, I have very little going on out here as far as a social life.
Actually, training usually IS my social life/relaxation time since I
can run with the running club or watch a movie or the news while I ride
the trainer.
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Sunday, November 11, 2007
What a week...
First of all... Did you hear that the Red Sox won the World Series? Well, they did. Just thought that should be mentioned here.
I wasn't sure if I wanted Curt Schilling back in Boston this year. He's a gutty, gritty pitcher but he yaps too much and has an overly healthy ego. I also didn't think he was worth the money he was seeking... $13m per year. To me, $10m seemed reasonable considering his age and health, maybe with some incentive money.
Apparently the Sox agreed because that was basically what they gave him. Schilling probably could have gotten more money elsewhere... but he put his money where his (considerably large and active) mouth is and stayed in Boston like he said he would.
Then you've got what the Celtics have been doing this week... 5-0, best start in 20 years...
Then the Pats beat up the Colts in Indy...
And the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer are going to the championship match this coming Wednesday.
it's a good time to be a Boston sports fan... real good.
I wasn't sure if I wanted Curt Schilling back in Boston this year. He's a gutty, gritty pitcher but he yaps too much and has an overly healthy ego. I also didn't think he was worth the money he was seeking... $13m per year. To me, $10m seemed reasonable considering his age and health, maybe with some incentive money.
Apparently the Sox agreed because that was basically what they gave him. Schilling probably could have gotten more money elsewhere... but he put his money where his (considerably large and active) mouth is and stayed in Boston like he said he would.
Then you've got what the Celtics have been doing this week... 5-0, best start in 20 years...
Then the Pats beat up the Colts in Indy...
And the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer are going to the championship match this coming Wednesday.
it's a good time to be a Boston sports fan... real good.
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
Happenings
Mucho improvement this week on training. Lots of time on the road, including hill work, as well as time in the saddle, in the weight room and a dip in the pool.
Not a great week training wise, but definitely an improvement.
There may also be big news in the offing...
Not a great week training wise, but definitely an improvement.
There may also be big news in the offing...
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Friday, November 02, 2007
bad
I've been so bad for the last week to ten days... I've hardly worked out at all, been eating like crap and my classwork has stalled. Last night I went for a 5 mile OD pace run and i felt like ti helped out a lot. Today, things are better. I just feel like I got stuck in a rut somehow, probably a result of getting thrown off by all that travelling insanity, and it's been tough to get out of it again.
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