Thursday, May 26, 2016

New paper!

I have published a new paper!
This is what I've been doing in the last 3-4 years...
A lot of sweat, blood and anger...
...but now is out.
I could talk/write for hours, but I won't: one day maybe I will talk about all this Science-business.
Not now. Anyway, I don't think it will change the perception that people have about Science, and there will be always some _______ (insert here you favorite adjective) complaining about it or start some stupid crusade based on nothing (like the anti-vax lately)...

Peace.



Listen to "Your achievement", by Napalm Death.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Rust in peace Nick.

When I woke up yesterday, the first news I read was about the death of former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza.
Terrible news.
I grow up with his songs.

Rust in peace Nick.


I will never forget this show.



Listen to "Rust in peace", by Megadeth.



Friday, May 20, 2016

Metallica: an anthem from a fanboy.

...because when you are a kid/teenager, all alone, trying to survive in a deep ocean of shit, and Metallica' songs are your only floatation device, you learn how to love Metallica no-matter-what, and you realize you own them something.
And that's why I cannot be mad at Metallica, and that's why when they are playing, I become that kid again.

Listen to the whole "Ride the lightning' by Metallica.

Monday, May 16, 2016

My epitaph.

"Let the animal hunt on the mountainside
and let the lightening split my heart in two
and let me howl at the moon with desire
and stretch my arms wide to embrace the sun.
Return to the earth that bore me
for there is nothing more."

("Wield lightning to split the sun", Primordial, from the album "Where greater men have fallen", 2014)


I want this on my tombstone.



Thursday, May 12, 2016

The dark side of ultra: the days after. Some thought about recoveringand whatnot...

...oh no, another post about running. -__-


Ok, here some of my thoughts about the post race period.
I am talking about the dark side of ultra running (at least for me). Because running 50 or more miles is great and makes you feel awesome and high, but you won't stay high forever, and soon or later you'll crash.
Just like drugs, but legal.
But let me go in order and be precise. I'll go point by point and hopefully I won't forget too many things...

1) The low mileage week. Ok, here an obvious point: recovering is important. After every ultra, the week after is very "pleasant" and light. I usually start to run only after 2 days after and I try to keep a low-miles profile. I gradually increase the mileage day by day, but usually the total mileage of the week is around 40-50 miles. And this is good. The short runs are good: they help to drain away every trace of lactate and they are useful to see if the system is working and if there is something wrong. During this week, I don't wake up at 4 am for the morning run and I take it easy, which is also good for the general recovery from fatigue and the mental stress.
So, I am doing all of this and I think I am doing this right.

2) The mental down. As I said, higher you went, lower you'll fall. I am talking here about one fact: while you are running a shitload of miles, you get this state of euphoria, mixed with happiness and omnipotence. And this is all good. You actually need that state and you also deserve it (note: I'm not going into the physiological details of what and why is happening, is not the topic). The problem is that after a couple of days, the mind will be back to its normal state (pretty low and dark, in my case). At that point, you are missing that nice state in which you were and you got depressed. I am still trying to cope with this issue. Sometimes it hits very bad (like after the Habanero), sometimes not so bad (like this time, after Hachie). I can't do too much to avoid it, but at least now I've learned: I know that it will arrive so I am somehow prepared. I try to stay calm, to stay positive and to do things that makes me not unhappy.

3) The hunger. Well, that's a point I really love of the after-ultra. The hunger after race. After my first 50 miles it was a kind of hunger that I had never felt before, and it was amazing. Luckily, it's still amazing! After an ultra I eat everything, and I treat my self with some junk food (in moderate doses). I know that eating is really important after (especially when I basically do not eat during the race) an I am doing it right. I know what to eat and I know how to eat, so I can easily avoid any kind of "magical recovering chemical powder" for the joy of my kidneys. Healthy, natural food are one of the best way to recover.

4) The acute crucial 12-24 hours after. This is basically the reason of why I've started to write this post. Let me put it in this term: right after the race I have an acute phase of ""symptoms"" (I really don't know how to call them... "Symptoms" sounds too harsh though) and I would like to know how to handle them and how to deal with them. First of all, there is the sore of muscles and feet. It's a part of the game, I accept it and I am ok with that. But what really bothers me is something different. Basically, 12-24 hours after the race, I am tired as hell, off course, but I cannot sleep. I barely nap. On one hand, my brain tells me to sleep, because I should be tired, on the other hand it keeps me awake (because my brain is an asshole and it hates me). It's very weird and annoying. Also, in that period of time my legs are like the core of a nuclear plant: they produce an amount of heat that could be used to energize my fridge or even a bigger machine. And this, again, is very annoying, and it contributes to keep me awake and uncomfortable. So, basically, if I could find a way to fix this problem, It would be really nice.

5) Other general observations:

  • Drink a lot of tea, especially green tea, or similar. Before and after the ultra, but also during would be nice (I personally love this http://incatea.com/).
  • Get a massage, when the sore is gone, a massage really helps. Most of the time I'm not going for it because I forgot/I'm busy/I don't want to spend too much money/I really hate to be touched by someone else (eeewww). But it helps.
  • Soak. Soak like you never soak before in epsom salt. It's very good and relaxing, and if you have fucked up feet with cuts and wounds (but I've found it's also good for blister), the salt will help to heal faster.
  • Drink a lot of water. We are a bag of water and salt, so it won't hurt.

That's it, the end.
Damn, this was long and boring...





Long topic, so listen to a long song: "Rime of the ancient mariner" by Iron Maiden.


Monday, May 9, 2016

Hachie 50 miles race report: let's-have-a-stroll-in-the-park edition.

Saturday I ran a 50 miles on pavement (official ultra number 13).
Yes, you've read it right: on pavement.
...and this is why I ran it. I was simply curious about running those long distances on pavement/cement/asphalt instead of trails.
I was thinking that it could have been very painful, but honestly speaking, it was not.
Right now I have only a general sore and that's it. Nothing compared to what I usually feel after an ultra on trails anyway... Also mentally, is not so boring as I was expecting...
So, I see more 50 miles (or longer) on road in my future...
Little note here: I ran it with the Altra Torin, and those are really great shoes! Nothing to complain about. Basically what I think about the Superior, can be perfectly applied also for this model. I ran 80.7 km in it, and I don't have blisters, falling nails or rotten toes.
Anyway, long story short, do the hamster on a 10 miles long circuit not on trails is not so bad.
The race was really cool. The circuit was actually nice (and flat), in a cute little park in a small city called Waxahachie (TX). It was really nice especially early in the morning, when the sun was rising and the mist was laying on the trees and the grass: everything was very peaceful, and it felt like being lost on some trail somewhere (bonus, I saw a cute armadillo and a big snake: extra points for me!).
I was running with only one goal: beat my previous PR on the distance of 50 miles and that was it.
Well, I did it. I finished second overall in 7 hours and 23 minutes, meaning, I beat my PR of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Yes, once again I finished second, and second is the first of the losers.
In conclusion, two short notes.
1) it was a fast race: not too much time for stop and eat. I fueled myself with a couple of gels, some grape and watermelon. It worked really well, and this also means that my training on my nutrition works well.
2) I need to improve my after-race recovering. I must study...

Ok, done.





Listen to "Apex predator - Easy meat" by Napalm Death*.



*I saw them live (for the second time) a month ago, with Melvins opening for them, but I forgot to write something about it: too bad because it was a great show, and Melvins really impressed me.
Ok, listen also to "Goin' blind" by Melvins.



Here a couple of pictures of the race:



Flying happy on the second loop.




Loop #4: fueling with watermelon.




Done.