So I walked and lifted weights yesterday. Today I found the CD of Sousa marches and did a 1.7 mi march around the neighborhood. The dog was happy to check her peemail and I did it in about a half hour (not bad).
The band organizers have emailed us some new information; namely that the parade route is 1.6 miles and we are expected to complete it in 25 minutes. They were clear that there would be no stopping or fancy marching -- just straight ahead. Which is nice, because marching straight will probably be hard enough. But it's bad because that's damn fast.
Here's the math: 1.6 miles in 25 minutes equals a rate of 3.84 mph. That's a 15.625 minute mile! Holy snikees! Go dial that up on your gym's treadmill. Now imagine doing that while carrying a drum. Or if you prefer, actually playing a wind instrument.
I came home last night a little dispirited because I had actually tried that pace and found that it was damn hard. My partner, Astro, who has military experience, laughed and said they were trying to scare us; there was no way it would really go that fast. She said, "It'll be a fast walk but they don't actually expect you to run the whole way. Think about Sousa music -- he did primarily marches for the military -- even his stuff isn't that fast." I felt a lot better, especially since we are actually supposed to be playing Manhattan Beach and Washington Post.
I learned a little bit earlier that the cadence and music has all been posted. I'm going to download it and make myself a little CD to listen to while I walk. Right now I have to go get myself some silk long underwear (they keep you warmest and no one will see them under my pants) and some awesome new shirts.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Progress is being made
Last night I went for a one-mile stroll with Cheddar. It was cold but we did okay.
Today I did a two-mile timed march, and it only took me 32 minutes. That's a little faster than parade pace but the course didn't have much elevation changes. It was 45 degrees out and I was sweating like the end! But that's a great job -- yea me!
Today I did a two-mile timed march, and it only took me 32 minutes. That's a little faster than parade pace but the course didn't have much elevation changes. It was 45 degrees out and I was sweating like the end! But that's a great job -- yea me!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Did a 2.2 mile walk last night in 33 minutes. That's an awesome pace. The dog really appreciated that I helped her check her peemail.
I just learned that they expect us to march (and play) at 112 beats per minute. That changes the math a little bit. We would cover the two mile parade route in 4o minutes, or a pace of a 20 minute mile. I've been training twenty minute miles but damn that's fast.
I just learned that they expect us to march (and play) at 112 beats per minute. That changes the math a little bit. We would cover the two mile parade route in 4o minutes, or a pace of a 20 minute mile. I've been training twenty minute miles but damn that's fast.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
40 Days and 40 Nights
Okay, so I have 40 days until I'm marching -- actually only 39 -- so it's a good thing I started last night.
I went to the YMCA and managed to keep up a 20 min mile pace for an hour and a half (that's when they closed the joint down). There are some parts of me that are sore today but nothing a little painkiller wouldn't handle.
I need to make a detailed training plan. It should include at least one dry run -- in weather, in uniform, marching stride. Oh, and playing.
You see, I'm a terrible marcher. There seems to be some disconnect between the top and bottom portions of my body. I've always blamed this on the fact that I'm so busy playing (the drumline is always playing; we don't get a minute's break during a parade) that I can't concentrate on marching. But since I'm playing cymbals I really need to focus on the marching. Did I mention that cymbals sometimes have to march backwards, holding the cymbals for the snare drums? So this is going to take some work on my part. I can do it, I just need to practice.
I need to learn the music. Of course, I would have to have the music first. We were in such a hurry to get the instrumentation that I don't know how they're going to get us music. I bet they'll email it to us, but yikes! Thank god(desse)(s) that I'm playing cymbals. There is no way under the sky that I could memorize all the music if I were playing quads.
So, let's see -- there are 63,360 inches in a mile and 28 inches to a stride. I'm going to assume that the parade will be 2 miles. That's 126,720 inches -- or 4526 strides. Now, let's assume that we'll be playing march music, which averages 80 beats per minute (each beat will be a stride) and that we will be keeping that tempo for cadences. That comes to marching the parade route in 56.5 minutes. Rounding up, that puts me at a pace of one mile per half hour, or a thirty minute mile. (Suddenly all that GRE studying is paying off)
That seems very doable, since I did lots more than that last night. Of course, I didn't enjoy the experience it at the time, and lord knows I didn't do it at marching stride. Knowing the pace makes it a little easier for me to make a training plan. But this is a problem I can train for.
The other thing I need to focus on is upper body strength. Marching quads would have been totally impossible but most people don't know that cymbals are actually quite heavy. Think about it -- you're carrying around giant discs of metal. And they generally have to be "up" the whole time so you're putting great amounts of pressure on your biceps, shoulders, and upper back. I have an old rotator cuff injury in my left arm that I'll have to work around.
I refuse to embarass myself or my community by looking like a slug out there. I'm going to do it well and with a smile. Once again, I'm glad that I've been working out for about a month now to get more upper body strength, but I need to kick it into high gear. There's no sense in losing feeling in my arm for a week afterward; though that's a sacrifice I would gladly make.
So, in summary, my critical deficiencies are:
I went to the YMCA and managed to keep up a 20 min mile pace for an hour and a half (that's when they closed the joint down). There are some parts of me that are sore today but nothing a little painkiller wouldn't handle.
I need to make a detailed training plan. It should include at least one dry run -- in weather, in uniform, marching stride. Oh, and playing.
You see, I'm a terrible marcher. There seems to be some disconnect between the top and bottom portions of my body. I've always blamed this on the fact that I'm so busy playing (the drumline is always playing; we don't get a minute's break during a parade) that I can't concentrate on marching. But since I'm playing cymbals I really need to focus on the marching. Did I mention that cymbals sometimes have to march backwards, holding the cymbals for the snare drums? So this is going to take some work on my part. I can do it, I just need to practice.
I need to learn the music. Of course, I would have to have the music first. We were in such a hurry to get the instrumentation that I don't know how they're going to get us music. I bet they'll email it to us, but yikes! Thank god(desse)(s) that I'm playing cymbals. There is no way under the sky that I could memorize all the music if I were playing quads.
So, let's see -- there are 63,360 inches in a mile and 28 inches to a stride. I'm going to assume that the parade will be 2 miles. That's 126,720 inches -- or 4526 strides. Now, let's assume that we'll be playing march music, which averages 80 beats per minute (each beat will be a stride) and that we will be keeping that tempo for cadences. That comes to marching the parade route in 56.5 minutes. Rounding up, that puts me at a pace of one mile per half hour, or a thirty minute mile. (Suddenly all that GRE studying is paying off)
That seems very doable, since I did lots more than that last night. Of course, I didn't enjoy the experience it at the time, and lord knows I didn't do it at marching stride. Knowing the pace makes it a little easier for me to make a training plan. But this is a problem I can train for.
The other thing I need to focus on is upper body strength. Marching quads would have been totally impossible but most people don't know that cymbals are actually quite heavy. Think about it -- you're carrying around giant discs of metal. And they generally have to be "up" the whole time so you're putting great amounts of pressure on your biceps, shoulders, and upper back. I have an old rotator cuff injury in my left arm that I'll have to work around.
I refuse to embarass myself or my community by looking like a slug out there. I'm going to do it well and with a smile. Once again, I'm glad that I've been working out for about a month now to get more upper body strength, but I need to kick it into high gear. There's no sense in losing feeling in my arm for a week afterward; though that's a sacrifice I would gladly make.
So, in summary, my critical deficiencies are:
- marching incompetence
- lack of upper body strength
- overall poor conditioning
Thankfully, these can all be countered by thorough training.
Unfortunately I can't "get myself in shape" in forty days. That would be medically unwise. But I can start myself down the path and make the experience a memorable one.
Oh yeah, I've still got to get a place to stay. I lived in DC for a few years about 10 years ago and have some friends still living there. I'm going to give them a call tonight.
And I still have to finish the basement playroom for the boys, make shelving for toys and such, parent the children (4yo boy twins and 17mo girl), make a firewood holder, and move the firewood out of the driveway. Only that last task can I even imagine as cross training.
Reality sets in
The signup for the parade said to be ready to march 1.5 miles, with an additional 1-2 miles in walking -- in any weather condition (they ain't gonna postpone the Inauguration). Transportation, housing, and uniform are on-your-own. Be sure that you can actually play the instrument you've signed up for.
I'm so excited just to get in, but I gotta get ready. I need to buy a uniform jacket and arrange housing. Four others from our band are going, so I need to collaborate on transportation also. And it occurred to me last night that three out of the five of us are woefully out of shape. I'm not worried about instruments -- we can all play what we've committed to -- but more about actually getting down the parade route.
For me, this is an historic occassion. I don't even know anyone who has marched in an Inaugural Parade -- or Rose Bowl, or Macy's, or anything big like that. I want to really enjoy it. I don't want to be begging for an ambulance halfway through, and I don't want to be so exhausted that I can't actually bask in the experience. I was the parade to be easy. So I'd better get myself ready.
That's where you come in. I need some encouragement. Getting in shape is hard for anyone; add in the time pressure and it's pretty scary for me. Helpful comments would be much appreciated.
I'm so excited just to get in, but I gotta get ready. I need to buy a uniform jacket and arrange housing. Four others from our band are going, so I need to collaborate on transportation also. And it occurred to me last night that three out of the five of us are woefully out of shape. I'm not worried about instruments -- we can all play what we've committed to -- but more about actually getting down the parade route.
For me, this is an historic occassion. I don't even know anyone who has marched in an Inaugural Parade -- or Rose Bowl, or Macy's, or anything big like that. I want to really enjoy it. I don't want to be begging for an ambulance halfway through, and I don't want to be so exhausted that I can't actually bask in the experience. I was the parade to be easy. So I'd better get myself ready.
That's where you come in. I need some encouragement. Getting in shape is hard for anyone; add in the time pressure and it's pretty scary for me. Helpful comments would be much appreciated.
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