That 1 mile run took me almost 20 minutes to complete … with lots of walking all along the way.  In a word, it was embarassing.

So I started working on my running in the gym.  First I worked on the ellipticals, pushing myself to run farther and faster every time.  Once I was ready, I upgraded to the treadmill and was once again reduced to slow walk/runs that took far too long.

A year of training finally came to a head last Sunday.  I woke up before the crack of dawn, grabbed some Gatorade, drove downtown … and ran in my first ever half-marathon.

One year took me from barely making it to the end of the block to running a half marathon (that’s 13.1 miles for those of you keeping track) in just under 3 hours.  To say I’m proud of that accomplishment would be a vast understatement.

My friends and me at the finish line of the Race for the Roses half marathon.

It took me a couple of days to recover from the intense distance run, but I was feeling great this week and thought it would be a perfect time for another run; albeit a shorter one.  Luckily, today was the day of Automattic’s Worldwide WordPress 5K.

So I went to church this morning, did some work on the computer this afternoon, baked some cupcakes for a snack, then went out and participated in my first ever worldwide footrace.  I ran 3.2 miles in about 32 minutes – a pace I wish I could have kept up for last week’s half marathon.

I can say, though, that running is far easier when you have people to run with.  I couldn’t have finished the half marathon without my friends running with me, and it was very difficult to pace myself today.  I started off at a 6-minute mile pace, but had to slow to a walk to catch my breath in between miles.

But that’s two race-distance runs in a week.  One to prove I could, and one to show support for a cause I care about.  I hope to keep running as often as possible, I just need to find more people to run with.

I immediately launched Firebug so I could track down the issue.  It turned out, the main stylesheet – the file that determines the look and presentation of the page – was over 3MB.  That might not seem like much in the day of high-definition movies and large hard drives, but a 3MB text file was preventing anything else from loading on the page.

A few other developers gave up loading the site after 10 or 15 seconds.  I sat through the entire download and, 30 seconds later, was looking at the clean, polished Pearson Higher Education website.

I was a bit confused, though.  The site is well put-together, but nothing about it should require a 165,000-line stylesheet definition.  I took a look at the source and discovered the problem.

The entire stylesheet was comprised of a 165-line block … repeated 999 times!

My first instinct was to email the developer directly (he was kind enough to leave his email address in the stylesheet) to alert him of the problem.  Since the stylesheet listed its creation date as 2009, and since I wanted to be extra nice, I even tracked down the “report an issue with our website” page on Pearson’s site.

Unfortunately, the form was broken and refused to submit!

I did notice that, by the afternoon, someone related to the site had cut out the extra 998 repetitions of the stylesheet, reducing it back to something resembling a sane document.  But this still shows how quickly a website can be destroyed by a developer or system administrator not paying attention.

Scope: Web development (coding only)

Description: Using a graphical layout and theme designed by Morange, I developed a custom interactive content management system for Zubeo’s new website.  The framework featured custom URL rewriting, an interactive media showcase, and parsed information from two separate SQL databases.

The website framework also allows for custom landing pages for corporate partners.  The custom landing pages are rolled in to the software download feature to enable server-side traffic tracking and filtering.

Languages: VB.NET, MS SQL, C#, Javascript, XHTML 1.1

My license proves my name and my address by itself.  For agencies with access to the DMV database, it also proves my SSN and my citizenship.

Ironically, to renew my license, I will have to physically go in to a DMV field office and present the same documentation I had to present when I first applied.  My SSN hasn’t changed.  My citizenship hasn’t changed.  I haven’t changed my name.  I wasn’t born on a different date.  I haven’t moved.  So in short, other than my photo, nothing has changed since 8 years ago.  But in the next month or two, I will get the privilege to stand in a too-long line in a too-crowded office to hand over the same proof (plus a check for $40), get my photo taken, and wait for a new driver’s license.

It’s a real pain to be a law-abiding citizen at times.  We put up so many obstacles that those of us who actually follow the rules fall behind those who ignore them.  Is this really the most effective/efficient system we can come up with?  I really think we can do better …

Last weekend I had the chance to trek out with another group of Boy Scouts for a weekend of backpacking and hiking.  It was a great reprieve from work, gave me the chance to experience nature in all its glory, and opened the opportunity to stumble upon my own new learnings about the world.

Unfortunately, I have a nasty habit of not thinking about work when I’m out and about and away from the office.  I left for the weekend with wonderful ambitions for the phenomenal new idea I’d discover while starting the campfire.  What did I find?  Nothing really.  Well, aside from the wildflowers, multiple tree frogs, brilliant night sky, and beautiful mountain vistas.

So in all, the weekend wasn’t a bust.  I might not have a million dollar marketing insight to share, but I did have another fantastic weekend with my old friend the great outdoors.  What did you do last week?

1. Set a schedule and keep it
   Don’t make people guess when you’ll be posting content.  Stay consistent with your updates.
2. Be interesting
   While you might absolutely love every detail about your day, we don’t necessarily need to know what you’re eating for breakfast or which pair of blue jeans you want to wear to work.  This is the problem plaguing most Twitter-ites, and it can drift into the blogging world, too.
3. Be relevant
   If you’re writing a blog about landscaping, stay on topic.  Your readers tune in day after day because you post thoughtful articles about gardening and fertilization.  A random post about how you got a new bookcase won’t bring people back for more.
4. Be memorable
   Just because you should stay on topic doesn’t mean you can’t spice things up a bit.  Add a quirky side to your blog to help your content stand out from the crowd.
5. Spell check!
   I can’t explain just how important this rule is.  It’s annoying to read a well-written and thought-out article and have to dismiss it because of poor use of English.  Check your spelling and your grammar before you post.
6. Use pictures
   I break this rule more than any other, so do as I say, not as I do  Use images to illustrate your content otherwise your readers will bore more quickly and move on to other writers’ stuff.
7. Use lists
   It’s easier and more interesting to read top ten lists than heavy discussions of “the best of.”  Whenever and wherever you can, use lists to express hierarchy rather than weighty words.
8. Comment on other people’s stuff
   Make a habit out of reading other writers’ posts.  Make a habit out of commenting on their material.  Not only will this encourage trackbacks to your site, but it might inspire new articles and crossovers in the future.  Collaboration = growth.
9. Don’t over-advertise
   Everyone dreams of making it big by selling advertising space on your site.  It’s OK to have one or two spaces for rent – maybe even Google AdWords.  But don’t sell so much space on your site that people can’t find your content.  It’s annoying, disrespectful to your readers, and won’t make you rich in the end.
10. Don’t plagiarise
    The majority of trackbacks to my site are other people copying and re-posting my content.  Many other bloggers complain about the same thing.  This is NOT OK! Using someone else’s material to drive traffic to your site is dishonest, unethical, and rude.  Don’t do it!

Last night I saw something I never expected to see on game day.  It wasn’t that we were shut out in the first half.  It wasn’t that we lost the game.  It wasn’t even Blount’s post-game explosion.  What I never expected to see was this quote, on message boards, Facebook, and Twitter:

I’m ashamed to be a Duck

We lost the game.  OK.  We’ve lost before (and by larger margins), so this is something we can handle.  That so many people would respond this way to Blount’s behavior is, frankly, sad.

As I posted this morning on Facebook, “One man does not represent an entire school.”  The U of O has a long history (more than 130 years) of strong academics, healthy civic involvement, and powerful athletics.  To write that all off because of one person’s behavior is to say to all those who came before us that their triumphs and accomplishments are meaningless.  That all of the time, effort, and money we’ve faithfully invested in our school are for naught.

The University of Oregon has a strong, tempered brand.  Our students are politically active, our athletes are formidable opponents, and our alumni are some of the leading faces in government and business in the world today.  Our brand cannot and should not be summed up by 10 seconds of post football game activity.

When your brand comes under attack either internally or externally, you need to cling closer to it.  Every action you take to defend yourself should be on-brand.  In Blount’s case, a suspension would be appropriate – but we should not abandon or disown him.  Likewise we need to temper our responses to the public backlash many Ducks have been receiving from other teams.

It’s easy to lose your cool.  But it’s not productive.

Last night saw a frustrating display of our offense on the field and a repulsive display of our emotional composure off the field.  But one night can’t undo 130+ years of history and tradition.  The Ducks can still be great, but only if we stick together, remember where we came from, and respect all of the successes and failures that have brought us to where we are today.  This is not the time for shame, it’s an opportunity to show real strength in the face of adversity.

Last night was hard.  Today will be harder.  But tomorrow I will still be proud to be a Duck.

Update (9/4/09 9:13PM)

I learned this afternoon that LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the remainder of the season.  He will still practice with and support the team, but he will not be allowed to play in a game for the rest of the year.  I agree with the coaches decision; this was the right call to make, both from a team position and a U of O brand position.

1. Don’t think about work
   This is your time, and you’re not necessarily being paid for it.  Don’t do anything work related until you clock in again later.
2. Don’t Tweet
   If you’re on Twitter, turn your updates off during your break.  Otherwise you’ll be tempted to pick things back up before you get back to the office.
3. Don’t pay for Internet in the hotel
   Otherwise you’ll find yourself checking email, touching base with colleagues, and … working.
4. Don’t use the free Internet in the hotel
   Even if access is free, avoid connecting.  If you absolutely have to do it, make sure you drive far out of your way to find access – 20 miles should do it.  On vacation, home is where the peace is.  Don’t let the outside world interfere and keep your real-world Internet as far away as possible.
5. Don’t answer your coworkers’ phone calls
   I know, it sounds a bit insensitive, but let’s be realistic.  The world will continue to spin without you for a day or two.  If it’s really important, they’ll leave a voicemail.  It’s OK to check the voicemail so long as you follow rule number 6:
6. Don’t return work calls until you’re back in the office on Monday
   You will never run into a problem so serious that it demands your immediate attention.  Your coworkers are perfectly capable of handling things in your absence (if they aren’t, you probably aren’t working in the right place …)
7. Do get a sunburn
   If you manage to get a sunburn, it means you’re spending time outside doing nothing.  Good for you!
8. Do go to a party
   Even if it’s just a night out at a club, it’s healthy to break out of your rut once in a while and enjoy yourself.  Treat yourself to a cocktail while you’re at it.
9. Do wear shorts
   Whatever your typical dress code is at work, break it while you’re on vacation.  The more distance between you and your regular work environment, the better.
10. Relax, refresh, and cut loose
    You’re on vacation.  You can do whatever you want whenever you want.  Just make sure it helps you feel like a stronger, more energetic person.

So here’s to taking a week to relax from work, recouperate from long projects, and refresh from the daily grind.  I’ll keep all of you in mind while I’m on my trip, though, and if anything newsworthy does happen I’ll be sure to let you know!

Stay tuned for a report on my adventures on August 31st!