Missionary Talks Episode 2 is up

Check out the next installment of the podcast, Missionary Talks. This is the conclusion to the interview with Gary Layne from Guadalajara, Mexico.

If you are not sure what a podcast is, I wrote a bit of an explanation of what they are and how you can get started listening to them. Also, there is a page at the Missionary Talks website that tells how you can help promote the podcast and help it to grow.

Anyone can write a review at iTunes. It is a bit early for that in that you don’t know much about the show. But if you like the format up to this point, you are welcome to review us there or on your own website/blog. Don’t forget to vote for the show at Podcast Alley.

October Running Summary

No record month here. But I am not disappointed. This was planned. I wanted an easier month after the half marathon and definitely after the record month of September.

I ran 42 miles this last month (40 miles fewer than in September). That included the 13.1 Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon in which I placed 269 out of 298. So, I was not one of the faster runners. But that race was not about winning, it was about running the distance.

Total mileage for the year is 494 miles. Since this is my first year running, this is a record. 200 of those miles are on my new shoes, which I guess are not so new any more.

As I am working out a new plan for my training, I don’t have a projected mileage for the month of November, but it will probably end up being around 60 miles.

Lazy runner

I have determined that I am a lazy runner. I hardly ever arrive home from a run feeling like I gave it my all. And, although I realize that not every run is a race, I should at least feel like I am working.

Therefore, I have my goal. I am going to focus on getting my 5 Km. time down. I currently run a 28 min. 5 Km. I would like to get that down to under 25 and would love to flirt with 20 minutes. Since I have finished my training for the half marathon, I need a focus. I will work on the shorter race.

I will still run longer runs each week. I think 8 miles is a good long run for me. 6 almost seems too short to call a long run and 10 is too long to do every week. So, 8 will be the long ones.

I will have to do some research to see how I am going to tackle this plan of mine, but I will get my times down. This feeling of being a lazy runner has been bothering me since before my half marathon in early October, but I did nothing to change it back then. Now that I need some motivation, this is the thing to work towards.

Warm fuzzies

I have to tell about some warm fuzzy feelings I have gotten from the podcast community about starting my podcast. I have received good support from several people.

Let me start with Tim Bourquin from Endurance Planet. I was out on a run one day listening to Endurance Planet when I got the idea for my show. I have been wanting to start a podcast since September of 2005, but was having trouble deciding on a format and a topic. Endurance Planet provided my format. That podcast is made up of 15 minute interviews with endurance athletes (mostly triathletes). It was the perfect format for me. The subject matter came to me just after I decided on the format. I would talk with Missionaries and share about their ministries.

I wrote Tim. While looking for his contact information I found out that he is the owner of the company that does the “Podcast Expo” more properly known as the Portable Media Expo (now changed to Podcast & New Media Expo). He was doing the Podcast Expo at the end of September when I first wrote him. He graciously answered my questions and helped me define my goals.

Then I started writing to Steve Runner at Phedippidations for some audio tips as I actually started making some recordings. He also helped me with a name for my show. How did he help? With a name like Phedippidations, I just decided that he had the worst knack for picking names. So I gave him a list of names and figured the one he hated the most was probably the best one to pick. He ranked a few and the one lowest on his list was the one I chose.

Steve also agreed to play a promo for my show. As soon as he knew I was working on a show he started saying he would make the announcement for me and let the world know. I had to hold him back a couple of weeks, but he should be giving me some air time during his next show if he has a chance.

I wrote Tim back and told him my show was up. He went and listened to the first episode and wrote me back with some encouraging words. He then offered to let me introduce his show “The Podcast Brothers” with a short commercial for my own. I sent that recording to him today. Maybe it will be out in the next few weeks.

Then there is Terry at Planet3rry. He has his own podcast called Gravity @ 1053 (linked from the blog site). He had no direct link to me getting started with the podcast, but being able to hear him go through his beginning episodes and reading his blog encouraged me to make the step. Terry and I have also shared some WordPress tips to make our blogs a bit better.

Of course, the vast number of podcasts I am currently subscribed to and the ones that have come and gone since I have started listening to podcasts, are also to be thanked. From some, I have learned what not to do. From others, I can only be envious of their studio setups and cleverness with words.

Thank you all.

Time change

(I wonder how many blog posts will have that as their title today? Quite original.)

People go on and on about how much they hate the time change business and how that their hour gets stolen from them. Of course this is the time of year it gets given back to them.

I have no strong opinions about whether we should or should not change the clocks. I guess it helps one way or another. But what I do have strong opinions on is the incessant complaining by people about how they are robbed that hour. Get over it! No one took an hour from you. And you do not have it given back in the Fall.

I guess it affects me less than it does most people because I do not live by an alarm clock. If I had to be up at a certain time every day that might make a difference. But you get used to it in less than a week. Why all the complaining? For me, I get up between 6:30 and 7:00 every day. With the time change that will be move around a bit, but I will settle back into my getting up time in a few days.

Some people just need to learn to take naps.