Life of Riley

It's Good Being the Mayor...

I've been using Foursquare for quite some time now and try my absolute best to check into the venues that I go to. First, I want to remember where I go. Second, I want to see what other people have to say about the food, drinks, etc. Third, I want to ultimately become the Mayor. (If you don't know what this means, go here...)

Well, last night my most prized mayorship paid off. As mayor of one of the top sandwich joints in the City, I was invited to a VIP pre-opening event at 4food at 40th & Madison. As part of the event we got to check out the place before it opens to the public and sample the grub.

The restaurant itself is pretty sick. Almost everything was shaped or molded from concrete...the stools, the counters, the trash cans...it looks really cool. The burgers were amazing. You need to check out the site to see how they actually do it, but I had one with chili and cheese on it and the Blonde One had the Mac Daddy...with mac & cheese and bacon on it. Both were phenomenal. I had the Dirt shake as well...which was also delicious.

The store incentivizes customers to market custom burger creations online so that they don't have to...keeping costs down. I didn't get the full run down on this, but it's still cool seeing as how there are over a hundred thousand possible burger combos. They have a lot of other cool little gimmicks too that are all listed out on their site...no fried foods, in-store composting, etc. Bottom line for me, though, the food is delicious!

Check out the website to get the whole run down of the place, but I would highly recommend checking it out. Oh, and just by registering for an account on their site you get $12 to spend on food. They open on Septemeber 7th...so register now and check it out then!

Quick Thought

Came across this in a book I am currently reading and I really liked it...

Everything is possible. The impossible just takes longer.

Foursquare Fundraising

This morning I opened my Twitter feed to find a link to The PMC Blog. The most recent post was touting the fact that the PMC is now on Foursquare. Thanks to one of this year's riders, others partaking in the event can check-in at various stages of the 2-day, 192 mile event. The post says that riders can now keep their social networks abreast on their progress, but I think that this could be used for so much more...

Instead of simply letting riders check in and let their networks know how they are doing and where they are, why not forge some partnerships to get these check-ins sponsored? Similar to the "newbie" to "adventurer" to "explorer" to "superstar" badge progression, there should be sponsored badges to be earned that indicate not only the distance traveled, but the amount raised by the rider.

 

It's fun to be a mayor. It's great to get 10% off my Tasti D. It's cool to know that I showed up (and checked in) at the same place as 50 other folks. But it would be rewarding to receive a badge for an actual accomplishment...one that actually goes to helping fund a great cause.

What would make this even cooler would be if the check-in could also serve as a social call to action. If Rider checks in and broadcasts to FB & Twitter, then that check-in would be broadcast with an associated link that is tied directly to their fund raising page. Then, all of Rider's friends or followers would A) be exposed to the Sponsor via the badge/check-in message and B) be able to quickly donate to the cause.

I am always asked about Foursquare and what it is all about when I check in places. I more or less explain it as a social game for lack of a better explanation. I explain the discounts and badges and all that stuff...it would be cool to one day explain the charitable opportunities provided.

The Grind in the Pines

I am not really sure what I was thinking taking on another Olympic distance as my first race of the season, but I did. The race was held in Pemberton Twnp., NJ, which is about an hour and 40 minute drive from the apartment. An olympic distance tri consists of a 1500m swim, a 40k bike, and a 10k run.

It was an early start to the day as Caroline and I were up and at 'em very early...about 4:00 early so that we could be out the door by about 4:30. I am very happy to say that we actually made it out the door and were on the road by about twenty-til. No traffic and a great drive later we made it to the race site by about 6:30 or so.

The race was off right around 7:30 and I was in the first wave. The water was the perfect temperature, but it was murky and red in color...and it kind of smelled funny in areas. It was a two loop course and they actually made us get out of the water after the first loop to run a quick bit up on the beach, which was very odd. I felt good on the swim and finished right about where I had hoped...a little better actually...given that I haven't swam since September.

On to the bike...40k on a flat & fast, three loop course. Nothing much of note here...except that there was no water station. I felt great on the bike and finished about where I had hoped. I really wish I had a better bike...it is such a kick in the gut to see the guys (and gals) zip by with their slick bikes looking as though they are exerting about a third of the effort that I am. I really think that I put out at least 3x as much energy to go half the speed!

The run course was what I was actually looking forward to. I have given a lot of attention as of late to
getting my run times down. At this point the sun was out and beating down hard and the humidity was so high that it was hard to dry off or cool down. I was so hot that I actually had goose bumps and the shivers...not fun. The course itself was really nice...there was a good 3.5 miles or so (maybe) of packed sand in the woods and then the rest was completed on the local roads. The only problem was that there was not enough water on the course! There were 2 aid stations and they were not positioned at the best spots. There was one point where we were forced to run a good 3 miles with no water station!! To make this even worse, one of the stations ran out of water and only had some x-ood drink. I was not happy about this at all.

It was so incredibly difficult to keep moving in the heat and humidity with nothing to drink. I finished much slower than I had wanted to on the run. It was the one real disappointment of the whole morning. I'll always wonder how I would've been able to finish out had there been some sort of water on the course. Overall I finished just at 3:16:10...nothing great, but a good starting point on which to improve this season.

All in all it was a decent race and I would think about doing it again next year. The price was right for the experience and it is fairly convenient to the City. A couple of things that I would hope for if I were to do it again would be better aid station placement and maybe a finisher's medal.

I'm trying to figure out the next race...I am thinking about doing Pine Bush, Belmar, and Lake George again this year with Crystal Lake mooshed in there in August. If anyone has any suggestions for good races or wants to run one or two with me...reach out and let me know!

(Re)Planning My Summer

This was to be one of my most memorable summers yet...and it still might be, but for reasons I'm not all that happy about. For well over a year now I have been registered for Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island. I have been super excited for this race and have been doing my best to train and prepare around a pretty hectic work schedule. In light of recent events, I've had to put this race aside...for this year...since I can no longer commit to the travel or lodging. It sucks...

So now I am trying to figure out how to plan out the rest of my summer. The initial plan was a couple of Olympics with the Ironman smooshed in the middle. Now, I am thinking of the two initial olympics with 3 sprints smooshed in the middle. I know that I said earlier this year quality over quantity...but now I am thinking quality of quantity. Aside from the Olympic this weekend, I ran all other possible races last summer, so I have a benchmark to aim for...past results to outperform. If anyone is interested in teaming up or running a race with me, let me know.

We'll see what happens. I'm pretty bummed about the whole no Ironman thing...but I am going to see if I do some convinging and get a Goofy Challenge registration as an early birthday present. I think that would be an appropriate replacement pre-turning-30 challenge.

What I Would Like...

I have been thinking a lot about how cell phones are moving more and more toward becoming personal productivity devices. Smart phones are becoming smarter and are able to do things faster and more efficiently than ever before. We are able to surf the web, communicate in a myriad of ways with friends, get work done, and so on and so forth. Even the simplest of phones are able to get on and quickly browse the web now days. We are moving toward a place where our "cell phones" are going to not only be personal productivity devices, they will become our singular communication devices for all things communicable (except maybe disease, but who knows).

I am talking about email, text messages, phone calls, blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, geo-location posting (FourSquare, etc). When this happens there is going to be one major problem...easily getting communications out there.

So...since I more or less use my Blackberry as my everyday communication tool when I am not at work I would like something to make certain tasks easier and certain aspects more enjoyable. I don't much bother to jump on my netbook to browse the web once I'm home...I'll do just about everything from my BB. I would like a device that 1) allows me to connect to a larger screen, ie my television, and 2) allows me to use external devices to "do things."

I would like to wirelessly connect my Blackberry to a keyboard and mouse and TV all at once. But here's the catch...I want this connection to recognize that I am connected to a bigger, better screen and adjust my browsing capabilities accordingly. I don't know the ins and outs of mobile web, but, if possible, I want this connection to trigger the non-mobile web to be served via my BB to my TV. I would then like to be able to use this wireless keyboard and mouse to browse the web, write emails, and so forth...whether from the web (Gmail or Facebook.com) or via applications (Facebook or FourSquare) or via pre-installed Blackberry-specific programs (Blackberry messenger or mail program).

I know that certain BBs can be used as modems. I don't want this...that necessitates a secondary delivery method (PC, laptop, net book, etc). I want to be able to plug and play and then unplug and go. I want to harness my Blackberry via my TV at no additional monthly costs. I'd still use the thing the same, just with different tools on a different screen.

Does this exist? Would anyone else use this? It's times like this that I went to engineering school...

2010...and Beyond

I am not really sure if I ever really do a recap/look forward, but this year I thought that I would...

2009 was one hell of a year. There were ups, there were downs, and there were all arounds. I don't know what I really want to get in to and what I don't so I won't. Just some brief highlights I guess...

• I continued to bust my tail to get an internal search functionality up and running at work. By year end I would say that this was accomplished...next step to grow and make it something respectable.
• I competed in 5 triathlons over the course of the spring/summer. There were 4 sprints and 1 olympic distance. There was to be a 6th, but rain on Travers' day kept me from doing Crystal Lake for the second year.
• I got engaged...day after said rain on Travers' day. Yep...engaged...crazy...but exciting!
• I ran a 4 mile "fun run" on July 4th in Raleigh and a 5 mile "Turkey Trot" on Thanksgiving.
• There was the Final Four in Detroit...unbelievable time. Many thanks to Peter and the whole CBS Sports team!
• I got my picture taken in the winner's circle for the first time! It was with my Grandfather's horse, Saratogian, at Aqueduct. It was an amazing race and an experience I will never forget. (Too bad he forgot how to run his next time out...)

So who knows what 2010 will bring. I am hoping to have many more ups and not so many of those downs this year. I've got some ideas that I am toying with and debating if and how to make more than just ideas. So just some things that I am already looking forward to and some more things that I am hoping to look forward to...

• 10...10...10!
• The Bachelor Party...not sure whether I am psyched or just scared to see what is put together.
• Making this whole search "group" into something...something respectable...something respectable agency wide...something respectable MDC wide. I'm sick of being the guy at the agency who knows search...looking to become the guy at the agency overseeing and strategergizing search.
• More work debauchery...work hard, play hard. We do both for sure!
• I am really trying to figure out what to do with my whole online identity. I've got Facebook and Twitter and Typepad and FourSquare...and who knows what is next. This year I hope to pull the utility out of each and maximize the benefits each platform has to offer. I am especially going to make a concerted effort to really post some more of my thoughts than I have been in the recent past on here.
• Triathlons...quality, not quantity this year! I am hoping to have my spring/summer race schedule panned out in the coming month or so. Thus far I am looking forward to competing in my first Ironman 70.3 in Rhode Island in July. I am thinking that I would like to compete in a sprint and an Olympic before (or at least just an Olympic) and maybe an Olympic at the end of the season. I would love to be able to do the Pine Bush again for the third year in a row. Who knows...maybe quality AND quantity!
• Get fit...STAY fit! I was in arguably the best shape of my life last September when I completed the Lake George tri. I was lean, muscular, could ride and swim forever, and managed to get my average mile time down to about 8 minutes. By the time I got my ass back in gear this year I had popped about 2 minutes back onto my average mile...not to mention my endurance is S. H. I. T. I am looking to one up my fitness from last year and then manage to stay active through the fall and winter.
• Learn to tattoo. I have a machine that just sits in its box. I want to conscientiously make an effort to try to learn this art form. If I have an artistic bone in my body it is buried somplace deep...but I'm looking to find it!
• Finish up my leg piece and move on to the next one. I have so many ideas of what is next...time will tell what I decide on.
• Take some time off! I haven't been on a "real" vacation in years. With the way everything is right now, I don't know if we'll be jet-setting to anywhere warm and exotic this year either. It's a shame because Travel Zoo is always telling me how cheap it is to travel...oh, I wish I could. I am hoping to make Rhode Island a week-long adventure by the water and then there is wedding week in NC. Can't wait!

So there it is. Some highlights from 2009 and some thoughts about 2010.

Time to Give Thanks

So we are back from Cleveland and settling back into life in good ol' Riverdale. It was nice having some time away from the office...even though I never really made it too far away from work. Oh, well...maybe I'll leave work at the office for Christmas. We headed out to Cleveland early Wednesday morning. Thankfully the drive wasn't so bad and we made it without getting into much traffic...just one traffic jam once we entered into PA.

Once in Cleveland we got ourselves settled in for a weekend of food, fun, and family. It was nice to kick off Turkey Day with a quick little Turkey Trot that was put on by Hermes of Cleveland. The run was a 5 miles run around downtown Cleveland and Dr. MacNab was daring enough to undertake this with me. The day could not have been better! It was fairly balmy when we got out there and it seemed like forever sitting in the wind waiting for the official start of the race, but once we got moving the temp was perfect! The route took us through downtown Cleveland and out and around Browns Stadium. For such an awful football team, they sure have one hell of a stadium. All in all the race was a success...we worked up one hell of an appetite and are looking forward to running again next year!

The rest of the weekend was equally as eventful. My 'Boys won...Thanksgiving dinner was delicious (as usual)...we took a great trip out to Caroline's Aunt & Uncle's house...I won a couple of cool board games...lost at Monopoly (huge bummer there)...stayed up late...got up early and just had a great time.

Thanksgiving is always a special time of year and a break that I look forward to each year...

I'm baaaaaack...

After a very brief test period over at Wordpress I have decided that Typepad is for me and some things are indeed worth paying for. It was the look and feel and ease of use that did it for me. Wordpress certainly isn't as easy to use as I would have liked. There may have been a post or two in there somewhere that isn't here. I'll look into migrating those over here. Now the trick is figuring out all of the places where I have already updated my blog URL...

For now I am contemplating how to utilize this platform a little bit more often. We'll see what happens with that...

I'm Moving...

...to Wordpress. I don't know why I've stayed here on TypePad for so long when the Wordpress platform is free to use at the most basic level and fairly cheap for some upgrades, which I may be taking advantage of. For now I will be available here as well as at ryandahlstrom.wordpress.com. I am hoping to upgrade to a custom URL, so I'll update everything once I do...for now I'm off to LinkedIn and Facebook, and everywhere else I have directed to this site...