Fans of my guitar playing will be pleased to know that I will be playing a short set with my band, Kraw, at Tomcat's West. Get all the details for the event here.
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Showing posts with label Upcoming Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Upcoming Events. Show all posts
2016-01-11
2015-12-15
Live, In Concert
The band is booking now for 2016, so please reach out to me if you'd like more details.
2014-09-08
I Don't Mean To Brag, But
Over the weekend, this happened:
See what all the fuss is about this Friday, when we take it to The Grotto with Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs.
See what all the fuss is about this Friday, when we take it to The Grotto with Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs.
2014-09-05
Upcoming Events
Catch me playing bass and singing backup vocals with the incomparable Morningside Drive, ReverbNation.com's #2 most-played band in Fort Worth, yeah!
- Saturday, September 6, 2014 @ The Prophet
- Friday, September 12, 2014 @ The Grotto
- Satruday, September 27, 2014 @ The Cellar
2014-02-19
Pre-Half-Marathon Musings
This Sunday, I'll be running the Cowtown Half Marathon in Fort Worth, Texas. I have spent the last few weeks trying to build up as much of an endurance base as I can, considering a uniquely tight schedule and some various passing illnesses. This isn't the first time I've run a race despite being completely unprepared, but it is perhaps the longest race I've ever been unready for.
Why run such a long race if I'm not ready? The answer to that question is, like virtually everything I blog about (heh), multifaceted. Let's take a look.
The first thing I must say here is that, as someone who started competitive distance running at or around the age of eight, I am not one who typically has to worry about being truly unprepared. As long as I keep up the exercise with some bit of regularity, I can be confident that I'll be able to finish pretty much any distance. And since most half marathon participants are in it for the participation of it - the experience, the satisfaction of merely finishing - I can safely say that I am every bit as prepared as the average racer.
This implies that my being "unprepared" is more about whether or not I'm in good enough shape to win, or to run well, or to place near the front of the pack. To be sure, it's an attractive prospect, one that dominated a significant portion of my childhood and young adulthood. But I often forget that it's a prospect that ultimately proved off-putting for me. That is to say, I retired from competitive running on purpose, and I did so nearly fifteen years ago. This brings me to my second reason for running.
Even if I were in peak shape right now, I would certainly not win the race. I would almost certainly not place in the top ten. I may place in my age category, but it is also equally likely that I wouldn't. The fact of the matter is that, whoever you are, whatever your history with athletic excellence, at a certain point you reach a stage in life when winning isn't everything. People who start running as adults are already at that stage of their "running careers" the first time they put their shoes on. People like me, who spend many years with "excellent distance runner" tied up in our identities, need to go through a transition from "I am an awesome distance runner" to "I used to be an awesome distance runner, and now I do it just because I enjoy it. And I don't have to win, or even run well, in order to enjoy myself."
So a major objective in my running this half marathon while being unprepared is to help myself transition to that later stage, to help teach myself that I can participate in an actual race, with actual medals and trophies and cash prizes without feeling obligated to make a go of winning.
It sounds preposterous to some of you, I'm sure. But before you judge me too harshly, consider this: I once had the opportunity of hearing a speech from legendary American distance runner Billy Mills. He told us the story of how he used to mentally prepare himself for his eventual Olympic win. He told us he used to repeat the date of the (future) race, the time he wanted to finish in, the place he wanted in the race (first, obviously), and that he would repeat this over and over in his head obsessively. (I'm not sure he used the word "obsessively," but I don't mean it in a bad way.) That mental preparation translated into a glorious win for Mills at the 1964 Olympics, but that's when it really gets interesting. Even now (he told us), when he goes for a run, his mind goes back to rehearsing his goal and the date of the 1964 Olympics.
The point is, once you acclimate yourself to this mental space, it's a real challenge to go back to being normal. When I left my college track team, I spent the next five years or so running without a watch. I needed to stop timing myself. I needed to stop keeping track of my pace. I'm finally back to where I like to track it again, but the simple fact of the matter is that a transition to normalcy is important. That's one of the things I'd like to achieve - or at least a goal on which I'd like to make some headway - this Sunday.
A third reason I'm doing it is hidden between the lines of everything I've written above. It might not be totally obvious to some of you, but it's true: I'm doing it because it sounds like fun. I know I can finish the race, I know what it feels like to run that long a distance, I haven't done it for a while, I like getting up and running in the morning, I like being part of a road racing community... In short, it sounds like fun. So, despite my lack of preparation, I want to do it. I know that if I don't do anything stupid (like try to win), I'll have a good time and I won't hurt myself. So why not?
Why run such a long race if I'm not ready? The answer to that question is, like virtually everything I blog about (heh), multifaceted. Let's take a look.
The first thing I must say here is that, as someone who started competitive distance running at or around the age of eight, I am not one who typically has to worry about being truly unprepared. As long as I keep up the exercise with some bit of regularity, I can be confident that I'll be able to finish pretty much any distance. And since most half marathon participants are in it for the participation of it - the experience, the satisfaction of merely finishing - I can safely say that I am every bit as prepared as the average racer.
This implies that my being "unprepared" is more about whether or not I'm in good enough shape to win, or to run well, or to place near the front of the pack. To be sure, it's an attractive prospect, one that dominated a significant portion of my childhood and young adulthood. But I often forget that it's a prospect that ultimately proved off-putting for me. That is to say, I retired from competitive running on purpose, and I did so nearly fifteen years ago. This brings me to my second reason for running.
Even if I were in peak shape right now, I would certainly not win the race. I would almost certainly not place in the top ten. I may place in my age category, but it is also equally likely that I wouldn't. The fact of the matter is that, whoever you are, whatever your history with athletic excellence, at a certain point you reach a stage in life when winning isn't everything. People who start running as adults are already at that stage of their "running careers" the first time they put their shoes on. People like me, who spend many years with "excellent distance runner" tied up in our identities, need to go through a transition from "I am an awesome distance runner" to "I used to be an awesome distance runner, and now I do it just because I enjoy it. And I don't have to win, or even run well, in order to enjoy myself."
So a major objective in my running this half marathon while being unprepared is to help myself transition to that later stage, to help teach myself that I can participate in an actual race, with actual medals and trophies and cash prizes without feeling obligated to make a go of winning.
It sounds preposterous to some of you, I'm sure. But before you judge me too harshly, consider this: I once had the opportunity of hearing a speech from legendary American distance runner Billy Mills. He told us the story of how he used to mentally prepare himself for his eventual Olympic win. He told us he used to repeat the date of the (future) race, the time he wanted to finish in, the place he wanted in the race (first, obviously), and that he would repeat this over and over in his head obsessively. (I'm not sure he used the word "obsessively," but I don't mean it in a bad way.) That mental preparation translated into a glorious win for Mills at the 1964 Olympics, but that's when it really gets interesting. Even now (he told us), when he goes for a run, his mind goes back to rehearsing his goal and the date of the 1964 Olympics.
The point is, once you acclimate yourself to this mental space, it's a real challenge to go back to being normal. When I left my college track team, I spent the next five years or so running without a watch. I needed to stop timing myself. I needed to stop keeping track of my pace. I'm finally back to where I like to track it again, but the simple fact of the matter is that a transition to normalcy is important. That's one of the things I'd like to achieve - or at least a goal on which I'd like to make some headway - this Sunday.
A third reason I'm doing it is hidden between the lines of everything I've written above. It might not be totally obvious to some of you, but it's true: I'm doing it because it sounds like fun. I know I can finish the race, I know what it feels like to run that long a distance, I haven't done it for a while, I like getting up and running in the morning, I like being part of a road racing community... In short, it sounds like fun. So, despite my lack of preparation, I want to do it. I know that if I don't do anything stupid (like try to win), I'll have a good time and I won't hurt myself. So why not?
2013-12-16
Let's Do This Thing
A few days ago, friend and faithful Stationary Waves reader LK got in touch with me about the prospect of running the 2014 New York City Marathon. The idea was of obvious appeal to me, but it's been five - and will be six, by the date of the race - years since I ran a marathon. I wanted to run it, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull it off.
The last race I "ran to win" had a rather remarkable impact on my blood sugar. At the end of the race, my blood sugar was elevated. I ran at around 9:00 AM, and I ended up eating lunch at the usual time, around 11:30 or 12:00. When I tested to measure my lunchtime bolus, my blood sugar was very, very high. But I knew it was temporary. I took a reduced lunch bolus and then at around 2:30 PM, the inevitable drop in my blood sugar happened. I knew it was coming, so I could handle it. I also knew it was going to be a big low, and it didn't let me down. I spent about an hour trying to keep my blood sugar up.
Ever since then, I've been a little reluctant to get back into racing. I can obviously take care of myself - I proved it that day. But the exercise-induced blood sugar spike is not really a great thing for my health, and on top of that I started to wonder in the back of my mind whether that kind of exercise was really a good idea.
I quickly brushed the thought aside, but it obviously sunk its claws into my psyche. The fear took hold, and I've been carrying it with me ever since. With the fear, comes doubt and not a little bit of sadness. Will I ever be able to "really run" again? Will I ever be able to handle a marathon? What can I expect to gain from exercise anymore? And so on.
Clearly, a large part of this is irrational. I have been exercising regularly - and in fact, quite heavily - since my diagnosis, with no real end in sight. Exercise helps me manage my blood sugar, it's not a hindrance at all. I can do this, and experience proves it. At the same time, another sizable part of it is entirely rational. Blood sugar spikes take a toll. Hypoglycemic events are traumatic, especially the big lows that come from a heavy burst of exercise. There are no two ways about it. Balancing this complex set of emotions can be tricky. Then again, conquering one's fears and learning to effectively manage one's diabetes is an important part of living with the disease. So getting in touch with LK about this marathon was a much-needed impetus for change.
I honestly don't know whether I can run the New York City Marathon. I'm comfortable admitting that. In another life, it would have been easy, but like Living Colour says, "This is the life we have." I have to start somewhere. I have to try to make changes, improve on my abilities, overcome my illusions, and conquer my fears.
All that is to say that I registered for the Cowtown Half Marathon this morning. The race is on February 23rd, and I am not really in shape for it. But the benefit of doing this is that, first, I am forced to get in shape for it; second, I need to do some reconnaissance to find out whether I can even make a go at NYC; and third, it ought to be a lot of fun.
Maybe I will see you there.
2012-05-11
Reminder: Upcoming Events
This just a reminder that you'll be able to catch yours truly tonight and tomorrow at the following events:
Machine Messiah at the Daily Grind:
Friday, May 11, 2012
601 Somerset Street
Ottawa, ON K1R 5K1
Things should get started around 8pm. I am anticipating Machine Messiah will hit the stage around 11pm. I'll be playing bass tonight, as opposed to my usual guitar + vocals. The venue is licensed and the show is 19+.
Catch the Facebook page here.
Wylie Ryan Day-Before-Mothers Day Run
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1K 4Y5
The races get started at 9:50am, but you can still register for the race itself. If you're like me, and plan on registering the morning of the event, you'll want to show up well before 8am to make things easy on yourself.
I have not yet decided whether I'll be running the 5K, the 10K, or the half marathon. My guess is I will likely end up putting myself in the 10K to avoid the pressure associated with a 5K ("Must run fast!!!") or the half marathon ("Must finish strong!!!").
I hope to see you at either event. Feel free to say hello when you get there.
Machine Messiah at the Daily Grind:
Friday, May 11, 2012
601 Somerset Street
Ottawa, ON K1R 5K1
Things should get started around 8pm. I am anticipating Machine Messiah will hit the stage around 11pm. I'll be playing bass tonight, as opposed to my usual guitar + vocals. The venue is licensed and the show is 19+.
Catch the Facebook page here.
Wylie Ryan Day-Before-Mothers Day Run
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1K 4Y5
The races get started at 9:50am, but you can still register for the race itself. If you're like me, and plan on registering the morning of the event, you'll want to show up well before 8am to make things easy on yourself.
I have not yet decided whether I'll be running the 5K, the 10K, or the half marathon. My guess is I will likely end up putting myself in the 10K to avoid the pressure associated with a 5K ("Must run fast!!!") or the half marathon ("Must finish strong!!!").
I hope to see you at either event. Feel free to say hello when you get there.
2012-05-04
A Few Quick Thoughts
Music
Today I'm heading into the studio to record some bass tracks - and potentially some guitar tracks - for an upcoming album. Naturally, I will make the details of how to obtain this album available as soon as I know about them myself. Because we are in the recording phase, the time horizon on this could be fairly long.
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to faithful Stationary Waves reader PR, for loaning out some useful equipment during the recording process. It is an exciting and enlightening process to be in a situation where the band and I have the ability to choose among a wide array of tools in order to produce the best tone.
Upcoming Events
Speaking of the band, if you're in the Ottawa area, I hope you will come out to see me in my capacity as bass player for Machine Messiah. It's all happening at The Daily Grind, beginning at about 8pm. There is talk of my also kicking off the night with a solo-acoustic performance, so be sure to come out early and make a whole evening of it.
Macroeconomics
Perhaps it's just me, perhaps it's because the university "spring semesters" are coming to a close, or perhaps there is something to it, but it appears that the economics blogosphere is slowing down remarkably the last little while.
From what I can tell, the various viewpoints have become a tad repetitive and it seems like the real dialogue that had been inspired by the recession has evolved into a small number of parallel monologues. You've got your Austrians, your Market Monetarists, your Chicago-ites, your classic Keynesians, and your MMTers. Rather than interacting with each other these days, they are mostly sticking to their own particular talking points and staying out of the head-on theoretical debates now.
Partly, I think this is because theoretical debates are difficult, and most of these economists either don't want to have them or don't have the time to have them. Partly I think it's because academics would rather explore their own small areas of expertise than justify the foundation upon which those expertise rest. Partly I think it's because they don't want to argue.
Nevertheless, when competition is sparse, consumers suffer. I have not been too eager to open up my Google Reader and see what they're all talking about lately. The answer is, they're sticking to their talking points.
The field seems to be gravitating toward its consensus, and that consensus should not really surprise anyone at this point. The consensus is that the Fed can and should engage in more expansionary policy. Austrian-adherents like myself are naturally no fan of this consensus, but we must remember that the vast majority of professional economists have lived their entire lives for the principles of monetary manipulation and credit adjustment. It would be surprising indeed if an entire profession suddenly turned around and marched the other way. For most economists, that would mean denying everything any of them have written up to this point. Even if they should do this, no one should expect it to happen.
To the Austrians, I would make the following recommendation: The "End the Fed" message, although a right one, does not meet the profession where it is. What needs to be presented is an idea that provides the profession with a way to observe the truth of Austrian predictions without throwing everything out.
All things said, this means I will likely try to stick to non-economic content until I come across something genuinely interesting, or worthy of additional commentary. For you, that means more music, running, philosophy, logic, and diabetes.
Today I'm heading into the studio to record some bass tracks - and potentially some guitar tracks - for an upcoming album. Naturally, I will make the details of how to obtain this album available as soon as I know about them myself. Because we are in the recording phase, the time horizon on this could be fairly long.
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to faithful Stationary Waves reader PR, for loaning out some useful equipment during the recording process. It is an exciting and enlightening process to be in a situation where the band and I have the ability to choose among a wide array of tools in order to produce the best tone.
Upcoming Events
Speaking of the band, if you're in the Ottawa area, I hope you will come out to see me in my capacity as bass player for Machine Messiah. It's all happening at The Daily Grind, beginning at about 8pm. There is talk of my also kicking off the night with a solo-acoustic performance, so be sure to come out early and make a whole evening of it.
Macroeconomics
Perhaps it's just me, perhaps it's because the university "spring semesters" are coming to a close, or perhaps there is something to it, but it appears that the economics blogosphere is slowing down remarkably the last little while.
From what I can tell, the various viewpoints have become a tad repetitive and it seems like the real dialogue that had been inspired by the recession has evolved into a small number of parallel monologues. You've got your Austrians, your Market Monetarists, your Chicago-ites, your classic Keynesians, and your MMTers. Rather than interacting with each other these days, they are mostly sticking to their own particular talking points and staying out of the head-on theoretical debates now.
Partly, I think this is because theoretical debates are difficult, and most of these economists either don't want to have them or don't have the time to have them. Partly I think it's because academics would rather explore their own small areas of expertise than justify the foundation upon which those expertise rest. Partly I think it's because they don't want to argue.
Nevertheless, when competition is sparse, consumers suffer. I have not been too eager to open up my Google Reader and see what they're all talking about lately. The answer is, they're sticking to their talking points.
The field seems to be gravitating toward its consensus, and that consensus should not really surprise anyone at this point. The consensus is that the Fed can and should engage in more expansionary policy. Austrian-adherents like myself are naturally no fan of this consensus, but we must remember that the vast majority of professional economists have lived their entire lives for the principles of monetary manipulation and credit adjustment. It would be surprising indeed if an entire profession suddenly turned around and marched the other way. For most economists, that would mean denying everything any of them have written up to this point. Even if they should do this, no one should expect it to happen.
To the Austrians, I would make the following recommendation: The "End the Fed" message, although a right one, does not meet the profession where it is. What needs to be presented is an idea that provides the profession with a way to observe the truth of Austrian predictions without throwing everything out.
All things said, this means I will likely try to stick to non-economic content until I come across something genuinely interesting, or worthy of additional commentary. For you, that means more music, running, philosophy, logic, and diabetes.
2011-09-28
Upcoming Events
There are a couple of events of interest to faithful Stationary Waves readers planned for early October:
- The next Ottawa-area meet-up of the Ludwig von Mises Institute of Canada will be held on Sunday, October 2nd, featuring yours truly and Mark Stobnicki of the Institute. We have some good topics lined up for this event, so come on down to the Heart & Crown and join the fun!
- The next information night for Team Diabetes, the official competitive/fund-raising arm of the Canadian Diabetes Association will be held on Tuesday, October 4th. I have no affiliation with the CDA other than my public declaration to get involved.
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