The ancient Greeks used a modal system of harmony, i.e. a system based on different sets of scales. This is in opposition to the classical western theory of harmony, in which music could be understood via progressions of triads - simple chords. The ancient Greeks believed that each mode evokes certain emotions and it was through emotion that sense could be made of music. While modal music fell out of use during the baroque era, it has re-emerged in modern music from Debussy, to jazz, and even some of modern rock music. That is not to say modal music was not extinct for some several hundred years - folk music has always been based on modes. Today, I finally sat down and played every mode in every key on the piano, and I realized that what has ended up being the biggest discriminator for my enjoyment of music is how many modal harmonies it uses. Pop tunes with canned ever-fresh harmonies are typically more classically based. Classical harmony is smooth and easy to listen to (particularly that in major tonalities). If you were going to make a song that was agreeable to the most number of people possible, why stray from classical western harmonies?
But the ancient Greeks, they had it right. Modal harmonies couples music to emotion. When you listen to "Impressions" by Coltrane - in the Dorian mode, you feel unbridled freedom. When you listen to "L.A. Woman" by the Doors, in A mixolydian, you can feel the restlessness and playfulness so much so that you don't even need to know the lyrics to figure out what kind of energy is being conveyed, although "driving down your freeway" is pretty clear. For me, there is no other reason to listen to music. I've recently run into a problem where I cannot hardly listen to any of my favorite songs anymore. Many of them are so strongly correlated with particular periods in my life, that I fear that over listening to them will destroy this correlation. For instance, when I listen the the Talking Heads' Once in a Lifetime, memories of Fall of 2009 come to my head so strongly, I feel transported back to that time in an instant. I can remember watching "stop making sense" with Jordan in the shed on midterm movie night, I can remember Ed and I working on Stat Mech sets in the afternoon a few hours before they were due, I can remember doing laps at Central Park for 3 on- 2 off workouts, and for some reason, driving down a stretch of Western Del Mar Ave. with the most distinct and bright autumn-in-Pasadena smell in the air. When I listen to Dancing Days by Led Zeppelin, I am transported back to a fall of my senior year of high school, while if I listen to Radiohead's lucky, I can feel my life falling to pieces just as it felt on the afternoon of one June 12th 2010. As far as I can tell, the only solution is to simply find more music to listen to so that I can associate this radically different period of time in my life with something a bit more concrete. In the mean time:
9/2/2010 - Last day of the heat wave. I give up, it's too hot to run. You win this one Boston.
Miles: 0
9/3/2010 - Hurricane Earl moving in, to not much effect. Ran to Fresh Pond and around Danehy Park with Rosen (!! :) :) ). Started at 8:00 pace and down to 7:30 pace at times, feeling pretty good. What was I saying about feeling distant from being in shape?? Rather taxing but felt great.
Miles: 6
9/4/2010 - Various wanderings around the Charles with Jeff Lee and Kevin Ma (downstairs). Started slow, felt great at the end. Finally did 2 barefoot laps around the grass field next to my dorm - Conant. Had dim sum in downtown Boston today none other than 8 tech alums, followed by exploring a bit of downtown Boston and Boston commons.
Miles: 4.5
9/5/2010 - A bit tired. An easy 3 miles up to and past Porter square on Mass Ave. A nice day, although the sun seemed worryingly low in the sky for this time of year. Watched Dr. Stangelove for the first time. Great movie!
Miles: 3
Weekly Miles: 25
9/6/2010 - Lost my ID and was locked out of everything all day. No run. IT band felt a bit tweaked near the knee. "It is atoms and stars. It is the nakedness of earth before the first human being, and the burnt cinder after that last." Any guesses to what this beautiful poem is describing?
Miles: 0
9/7/2010 - Relaxed nighttime run to the Charles and west. Nagging static contraction in my right Soleus, but still felt ok. Ran in progression with slow early pace and finished around 8 flat pace. Also, I used "via orthochronality" in a proof today. My life is pretty much complete.
Miles: 4.5
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
I'd start with the manual
Research and classes started, faces are starting to become familiar, names are becoming etched in memory, I can find my way around campus and Harvard square, and things might be settling into a rhythm.
8/27/2010 - Run at night, easy, heading west along the Charles. Got a bit disoriented and ended up turning around and retracing. The river at night is peaceful and pretty, illuminated by various soft lights along the banks. Met Rosen for beer at John Harvard's afterwards.
Miles: 4.5
8/28/2010 - Afternoon run out towards fresh pond. Hot but windy. I was trying to find Duhaney Park, a rumored land with miles of grass fields, but visions of shimmering sun off the lake water drew me to the loop around fresh pond. The path around the lake is mostly asphalt with options for up to 50% on dirt trail. Did a lap and came back. The route there/back, while on brick and concrete sidewalk the whole way, is actually somewhat charming. The heat and distance got to me though! Being in shape never felt further away, especially when I remember night time winter runs along the Huntington median in December of 2009- cruising along at 7:30 pace, mist in the air, grass between my toes, and the moonlit shadow of a snowy Mt. Baldy in the distance.
Miles: 6
8/29/2010 - Off. Hot and bored(!). Watched arrested development on Hulu. One of the little muscles nestled deep against the outer edge of my left shin was pretty sad. I guess my ankle still has fundamental biomechanical problems.I will try to be more careful.
Weekly Miles: 23
8/30/2010 - Quite Hot, afternoon run with Jeff Lee (across the hall) and Helen Hou (down the hall) to the Charles and east. Very relaxed. Being out of shape means I can go for jogs with fitness runners, enjoy it, and get something out of it athletically.
Miles: 4
8/31/2010 - Midnight laps around Cambridge commons. Bums and black guys on single speed bikes laughing and cheering me on, running by cannons and revolutionary war barracks. The main statue in the center is surrounded by trees filled with those white Christmas lights that are also on the trees on Green street.
Miles: 3.5
9/1/2010. Very hot - 98 degrees today. Miserable evening run with Jeff along the Charles. Felt like hurling the whole way. I can't wait until the heat wave is over.
Miles: 4
8/27/2010 - Run at night, easy, heading west along the Charles. Got a bit disoriented and ended up turning around and retracing. The river at night is peaceful and pretty, illuminated by various soft lights along the banks. Met Rosen for beer at John Harvard's afterwards.
Miles: 4.5
8/28/2010 - Afternoon run out towards fresh pond. Hot but windy. I was trying to find Duhaney Park, a rumored land with miles of grass fields, but visions of shimmering sun off the lake water drew me to the loop around fresh pond. The path around the lake is mostly asphalt with options for up to 50% on dirt trail. Did a lap and came back. The route there/back, while on brick and concrete sidewalk the whole way, is actually somewhat charming. The heat and distance got to me though! Being in shape never felt further away, especially when I remember night time winter runs along the Huntington median in December of 2009- cruising along at 7:30 pace, mist in the air, grass between my toes, and the moonlit shadow of a snowy Mt. Baldy in the distance.
Miles: 6
8/29/2010 - Off. Hot and bored(!). Watched arrested development on Hulu. One of the little muscles nestled deep against the outer edge of my left shin was pretty sad. I guess my ankle still has fundamental biomechanical problems.I will try to be more careful.
Weekly Miles: 23
8/30/2010 - Quite Hot, afternoon run with Jeff Lee (across the hall) and Helen Hou (down the hall) to the Charles and east. Very relaxed. Being out of shape means I can go for jogs with fitness runners, enjoy it, and get something out of it athletically.
Miles: 4
8/31/2010 - Midnight laps around Cambridge commons. Bums and black guys on single speed bikes laughing and cheering me on, running by cannons and revolutionary war barracks. The main statue in the center is surrounded by trees filled with those white Christmas lights that are also on the trees on Green street.
Miles: 3.5
9/1/2010. Very hot - 98 degrees today. Miserable evening run with Jeff along the Charles. Felt like hurling the whole way. I can't wait until the heat wave is over.
Miles: 4
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Cambridge is a pretty funky town.
That's what I've decided recently. It has street performers, it has hecklers like those from the third world - except selling bank accounts, and it has a vibrant air to it that draws from more cultures than I expected. It also has a lot of runners. Most of them seem to be recreational, although I probably haven't yet found the spots where the Harvard XC team work out. Today, the rain broke for the first time in 4 days. I awoke to a sunshine filling my room reminiscent of California. On my short little run today, I passed over 50 other runners enjoying the cloudless blue sky. While it lacked the humidity of MD - enough so for the sky to be blue - you couldn't quite feel the wind rippling across your body, cooling as it spirals around your legs and arms. I think that's something I won't ever quite get here. But for now, today was pretty nice.
8/24/2010 - 4.5 miles (time unknown) in the heavy rain. Ran south along JFK to the river, across to the Harvard athletic facilities. Ran by the large and industrial looking stadium and around some deserted and water logged fields before returning. Stopped at a small park on the N side, but it's too small for workouts. Reminded me of miserable east coast winter runs where I zone out and dream about being fast the whole time. CCB orientation was today. I think I'm the only person going to work in the physics department with funding from chemistry in my year. A little awkward, until my host G2 (Chem Ph.D. student in the Walsworth group[physics]) explained to me that it wasn't so bad at all and that it's win win for both sides.
8/25/2010 - Forced Day off. GSAS orientation today, in the pouring rain. Felt rather collegiate and scholarly. Went to the HMC and found journals from 1979 with my Dad's name all over it. Kinda neat.
8/26/2010 - First blue sky sighting since I left Pasadena. Nice 40 or so minute run along the Charles heading towards MIT. Was pushing a bit too much. Didn't quite make it to MIT but turning around at a nice vista of the river. The grass there isn't that bad, even the use trail is arroyo quality. It lacks, however, mountains, dry western air, coyotes, and techers.
8/24/2010 - 4.5 miles (time unknown) in the heavy rain. Ran south along JFK to the river, across to the Harvard athletic facilities. Ran by the large and industrial looking stadium and around some deserted and water logged fields before returning. Stopped at a small park on the N side, but it's too small for workouts. Reminded me of miserable east coast winter runs where I zone out and dream about being fast the whole time. CCB orientation was today. I think I'm the only person going to work in the physics department with funding from chemistry in my year. A little awkward, until my host G2 (Chem Ph.D. student in the Walsworth group[physics]) explained to me that it wasn't so bad at all and that it's win win for both sides.
8/25/2010 - Forced Day off. GSAS orientation today, in the pouring rain. Felt rather collegiate and scholarly. Went to the HMC and found journals from 1979 with my Dad's name all over it. Kinda neat.
8/26/2010 - First blue sky sighting since I left Pasadena. Nice 40 or so minute run along the Charles heading towards MIT. Was pushing a bit too much. Didn't quite make it to MIT but turning around at a nice vista of the river. The grass there isn't that bad, even the use trail is arroyo quality. It lacks, however, mountains, dry western air, coyotes, and techers.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I can run barefoot laps on grass 30 seconds from my front door.
Moving into grad school is nothing like moving into college. For one thing, the 8 moves I did at Caltech have really streamlined the process, even when you have to buy new stuff. More so, most of the things that were really tough about going to college, like finding friends - and yourself- are already sorta taken care of. Cambridge, despite a somewhat foreboding drive in, has, in a few hours, turned out to be much nicer than expected, despite the constant rain for the last two days. What struck me most, was the 400-500m perimeter grass field right next to Conant hall, my dorm, and the 1000m perimeter grass field of cambridge commons a 1/2 mile away. Things don't look so bad after all...
8/22/2010 - Long drive to Boston. 12 hours, made worse by the constant rain and continual accidents. No run.
8/23/2010 - Obligatory run around campus after spending an hour effortlessly moving in. Ran with Vadim for some nice, familiar company. First we ran through Harvard yard, then through the law school, then a lap around the beautiful cambridge commons - home of many future tempo runs -, and then through harvard square. Dinner and drinking with 4 techers afterwards. I'm actually really looking forward to this place, so long as I can say radical, tubular, far out, or gnarly once a day without forcing it. 25 minutes.
8/22/2010 - Long drive to Boston. 12 hours, made worse by the constant rain and continual accidents. No run.
8/23/2010 - Obligatory run around campus after spending an hour effortlessly moving in. Ran with Vadim for some nice, familiar company. First we ran through Harvard yard, then through the law school, then a lap around the beautiful cambridge commons - home of many future tempo runs -, and then through harvard square. Dinner and drinking with 4 techers afterwards. I'm actually really looking forward to this place, so long as I can say radical, tubular, far out, or gnarly once a day without forcing it. 25 minutes.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A new chapter in my running career.
The first realizations really set in on a 19 hour bus ride from the Malaysian border to Bangkok. No more structured seasons that don't line up with injuries, no more races I don't want to run, and no more workouts I don't want to do await me. On the other hand, no more endless stretches of green grass, no more tan and green mountains, no more consistent blues skies, no more erin and andres, and no more team - no more kids. I think it's pretty unremarkable to have a lot of mixed feelings about a major change in my life, but nothing makes me happier than knowing that I can always use running as a stalwart vehicle of progress and enjoyment in my life. Sure, the humidity, the cold, the wind, and the concrete will make things a bit tougher than the idyllic, almost utopian promised land of the southern California. But to dream once more of being fast not only gives me an optimism I haven't felt in almost two years, but gives me a way of adjusting to a new life. Thoughts of nighttime runs through the snow with boots and a scarf, sunny summertime runs through green forest trails, and thoughts of shattering my PR during a road 5k in the driving spring rain keep alive that little space in my soul created when I first set foot in the Brown Gym. Without further ado, a new chapter in my running career.
8/18/2010 - 24 minutes easy with Chief, barefoot on the south field and then an Arden loop. Saw Kim at the desk, "Aren't you done with this place yet?," and regaled Chief with stories of SE Asia from monkey attacks to crazy beach parties. First run in 2 months.
8/19/2010 - 30 minutes with Stephanie and Ryan Keeley. Around campus, then to Lacey and back. Quite slow. Stephanie and Ryan are in good shape and I forsee good seasons ahead for the two.
8/20/2010 - Off. A very sad trip home to D.C. My last memory of Pasadena is flying over it listening to the first song I listened when I touched down in August of 2006 - Aeroplane by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The smell of eucalyptus trees, Lloyd house, and the morning summer air in Pasadena still all rush to mind when I hear that song. Very sore in calves and groin (I hope that injury isnt still there). Achilles a bit sad, but I think it will pass with careful training.
8/21/2010 - Back home and great to see my friends. 26 minutes, 3 miles easy with Shof around my house and a lap around the circle drive park. Not as miserably muggy as I was expecting. Also, memory of high school acquaintances not as good as I was expecting. Used gmap-pedometer for the first time in what must have been 7 months - it has been too long away from that good friend. www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3980152 . Alas, I remember when the route numbers were in the low 2 millions. What a sentimental old man I am.
More to come, regardless of injury, work, or failure, this blog will continue to be updated for as long as I can.
8/18/2010 - 24 minutes easy with Chief, barefoot on the south field and then an Arden loop. Saw Kim at the desk, "Aren't you done with this place yet?," and regaled Chief with stories of SE Asia from monkey attacks to crazy beach parties. First run in 2 months.
8/19/2010 - 30 minutes with Stephanie and Ryan Keeley. Around campus, then to Lacey and back. Quite slow. Stephanie and Ryan are in good shape and I forsee good seasons ahead for the two.
8/20/2010 - Off. A very sad trip home to D.C. My last memory of Pasadena is flying over it listening to the first song I listened when I touched down in August of 2006 - Aeroplane by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The smell of eucalyptus trees, Lloyd house, and the morning summer air in Pasadena still all rush to mind when I hear that song. Very sore in calves and groin (I hope that injury isnt still there). Achilles a bit sad, but I think it will pass with careful training.
8/21/2010 - Back home and great to see my friends. 26 minutes, 3 miles easy with Shof around my house and a lap around the circle drive park. Not as miserably muggy as I was expecting. Also, memory of high school acquaintances not as good as I was expecting. Used gmap-pedometer for the first time in what must have been 7 months - it has been too long away from that good friend. www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3980152 . Alas, I remember when the route numbers were in the low 2 millions. What a sentimental old man I am.
More to come, regardless of injury, work, or failure, this blog will continue to be updated for as long as I can.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Track Week 2
1/11/10 – Huntingson nice and easy with the team. I gathered a large following telling my stories of drunken debauchery from ski trip. Abs, and light upper body lifting – shoulder a bit sore, we’ll see how it feels tomorrow. Late so no icing.
Miles: 7.5
1/12/10 – 40 minutes at Lacey. Felt pretty crummy actually. I had to TA and it was pretty draining, as was Monday. 50 minutes total, drills at the end.
Miles: 5.5
1/13/10 – Huntington Reverse with Chieffers. Felt okay, pushed it a bit going up, not too tired.
Miles: 6.75
1/14/10 – Great day of running. 2 mile tempo at Garfield. Felt good during the warm-up, felt good during the workout (skeptical at first but I’m glad we did it). 4 laps in Garfield in 14:10. Decent run back. Felt really good all evening.
Miles: 8
1/15/10 – Late from group meeting, did variation on Huntington up Virginia reverse. Felt not too bad.
Miles: 5
1/16/10 – Cool Trail run for N. end of the Rose Bowl up to the beginning of the Brown Mountain Fire Road with Chief and DChun. Felt pretty good, started out nice and chill, speeding up a bit on the way down at times. Legs okay, but still a bit tired. Too bad the road up to the waterfall is completely trashed. Ran around all the drainage ponds south of JPL for a cool effect. A good run, legs could benefit from a good day off. 64 minutes.
Miles: 7.2
1/17/10 – Despite awesome rain, no run. Got new pair of Brooks Defyance from run with us for too much money. Did the first round of shoulder exercises and stretched it. That’s about. I also had a really disgusting but delicious dinner at popeyes.
Miles: 0
Weekly Miles: 40
Miles: 7.5
1/12/10 – 40 minutes at Lacey. Felt pretty crummy actually. I had to TA and it was pretty draining, as was Monday. 50 minutes total, drills at the end.
Miles: 5.5
1/13/10 – Huntington Reverse with Chieffers. Felt okay, pushed it a bit going up, not too tired.
Miles: 6.75
1/14/10 – Great day of running. 2 mile tempo at Garfield. Felt good during the warm-up, felt good during the workout (skeptical at first but I’m glad we did it). 4 laps in Garfield in 14:10. Decent run back. Felt really good all evening.
Miles: 8
1/15/10 – Late from group meeting, did variation on Huntington up Virginia reverse. Felt not too bad.
Miles: 5
1/16/10 – Cool Trail run for N. end of the Rose Bowl up to the beginning of the Brown Mountain Fire Road with Chief and DChun. Felt pretty good, started out nice and chill, speeding up a bit on the way down at times. Legs okay, but still a bit tired. Too bad the road up to the waterfall is completely trashed. Ran around all the drainage ponds south of JPL for a cool effect. A good run, legs could benefit from a good day off. 64 minutes.
Miles: 7.2
1/17/10 – Despite awesome rain, no run. Got new pair of Brooks Defyance from run with us for too much money. Did the first round of shoulder exercises and stretched it. That’s about. I also had a really disgusting but delicious dinner at popeyes.
Miles: 0
Weekly Miles: 40
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Winter Training Week 6 and first days of track
12/28/09 – Feeling muuuch better today. 1 hour on the trails behind the nature center. The water has receded much and all frozen up. Temperatures were around 35 F with 10-15 mph winds in the woods. Felt okay, but my left anterior compartment swelled shut between minutes 20 and 45 of the run. Loosened up later. Ended up being 60:17.
Miles: Around 7
12/29/09 – Very cold and windy today, wind chills near 10 degrees F. Ran Frost Loops plus some exploring by the stream trails by Wotton. Very slow start but felt surprisingly good after about 25 minutes. 57 minutes total.
Miles: 6.6
12/30/09 – Still quiet cold today. Wind chills in the low 20s. I made the mistake of running with my chin exposed. Oh well. Churchill to CJ Trail to river and back . The last 2 miles of the trail was pretty unrunable, solid ice with old footprints in it, turned around just before the last hill as I wasn’t going to make it up it without crampons. Felt okay, dehydrated. R knee a bit tight things holding together otherwise just fine. 82 minutes.
Miles: ~9
12/31/09 – Fresh snow on the ground, cold light rain, 33 F. Another Frost loop with different explorations. Felt okay, very slow start, picking up to a decent pace at the end. Not a bad run over all. 57 minutes.
Miles: 6.6
1/1/09 – Kinda hungover, also cold again. 45 minutes nice and slow.
Miles: 4.7
1/2/09 – Way too cold to run, wind chills near 5 F.
Miles: 0
1/3/09 – Traveling.
Miles: 0
Weekly Miles: 34
1/4/10 – Warm up too fast around the track for 3 laps. Then to Lacy via the long way too fast (7:30 pace). My left anterior two compartments both locked up. Had to message them out. Then came back at a more reasonable pace (8:15s) along Monterrey to Garfield and back. Total between 55 and 60 minutes. We have a big group of guys, we’ll see how things pan out. One thing is for certain, Ian will be missed.
Miles: 7.5
1/5/10 – Late from Ph 6 OM and missed warm up. Moderately tough to Garfield, then more chill but still moderate long long way back around Huntington gardens. Light drills and strechting and icing. Felt a bit tired, especially after today. R Achilles a bit achey and stiff. Will need to take care of that one.
Miles: 7.2
1/6/10 – Quite tired and feeling banged up. Achilles a bit better, heated before hand. IT band a bit sore before run. Nice Tu Madre with Anton and Justine. Went plenty slow (830 pace avg), but was decently tired by the end. IT pretty painful after I stopped, I will def have to work on that. 56 minutes total including warmup. I also need to sleep more. Rolled out, did one set of Anton core, iced.
Miles: 6.5
Miles: Around 7
12/29/09 – Very cold and windy today, wind chills near 10 degrees F. Ran Frost Loops plus some exploring by the stream trails by Wotton. Very slow start but felt surprisingly good after about 25 minutes. 57 minutes total.
Miles: 6.6
12/30/09 – Still quiet cold today. Wind chills in the low 20s. I made the mistake of running with my chin exposed. Oh well. Churchill to CJ Trail to river and back . The last 2 miles of the trail was pretty unrunable, solid ice with old footprints in it, turned around just before the last hill as I wasn’t going to make it up it without crampons. Felt okay, dehydrated. R knee a bit tight things holding together otherwise just fine. 82 minutes.
Miles: ~9
12/31/09 – Fresh snow on the ground, cold light rain, 33 F. Another Frost loop with different explorations. Felt okay, very slow start, picking up to a decent pace at the end. Not a bad run over all. 57 minutes.
Miles: 6.6
1/1/09 – Kinda hungover, also cold again. 45 minutes nice and slow.
Miles: 4.7
1/2/09 – Way too cold to run, wind chills near 5 F.
Miles: 0
1/3/09 – Traveling.
Miles: 0
Weekly Miles: 34
1/4/10 – Warm up too fast around the track for 3 laps. Then to Lacy via the long way too fast (7:30 pace). My left anterior two compartments both locked up. Had to message them out. Then came back at a more reasonable pace (8:15s) along Monterrey to Garfield and back. Total between 55 and 60 minutes. We have a big group of guys, we’ll see how things pan out. One thing is for certain, Ian will be missed.
Miles: 7.5
1/5/10 – Late from Ph 6 OM and missed warm up. Moderately tough to Garfield, then more chill but still moderate long long way back around Huntington gardens. Light drills and strechting and icing. Felt a bit tired, especially after today. R Achilles a bit achey and stiff. Will need to take care of that one.
Miles: 7.2
1/6/10 – Quite tired and feeling banged up. Achilles a bit better, heated before hand. IT band a bit sore before run. Nice Tu Madre with Anton and Justine. Went plenty slow (830 pace avg), but was decently tired by the end. IT pretty painful after I stopped, I will def have to work on that. 56 minutes total including warmup. I also need to sleep more. Rolled out, did one set of Anton core, iced.
Miles: 6.5
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