because bjorn.com wasn't available
Following a long period of writing, re-writing, editing and more editing, my novel is finally out and available for purchase. First off, it’s available for those of you with either a Kindle device or owners of phones or tablets that have the Kindle app installed. The book is a work of fiction, the story of a son and his estranged father and their redemption. Purchase here.
“The marathon is like a bullfight. There are two ways to kill a bull, for instance. There is the easy way, for one. But all the great matadors end up either dead or mauled because for them killing the bull is not nearly as important as how they kill the bull. They always approach the bull at the greatest risk to themselves, and I admire that. In the marathon, likewise, there are two ways to win. There’s the easy way if all you care about is winning. You hang back and risk nothing. Then kick and try to nip the leaders at the end. Or you can push, challenge the others, make it an exciting race, risking everything. Maybe you lose, but as for me, I’d rather run a gutsy race, pushing all the way and lose, then run a conservative, easy race only for a win.” Alberto Salazar
So I ran to work this morning - a little over 10 miles. It was a beautiful morning and since I missed out on my long weekend run (I volunteered at the NYC Half-Marathon instead), I thought it was a good idea to get a longish run in this Monday morning. I always track my runs using Nike+GPS app on my iPhone, so here is a short little video of the whole experience.
The year has started with more and more running. I am hoping to qualify for the New York Marathon in 2013 by running the New York Road Runner’s 9+1 series (nine races + volunteer at one race).
So far I have raced the Joe Kleinerman 10K at 44:20 minutes and last weekend I ran the snowy and slushy Manhattan Half Marathon in 1:42:20. Both times were PR’s, but I had hoped for a faster time in the half – still plenty of time till the Brooklyn Half on May 19th.
I have started reading Hal Higdon’s book on Marathon training like half-a-million people before me, which gives good advice on tempo runs, long-runs and rest days. Hopefully I can remain injury free this year after last years knee problems.
And hopefully I’ll post some new music soon too
Peace
Hurrah for me. I ran my first ever marathon – the inaugural Brooklyn Marathon on November 20th. After 3 months of training, battles with knee and hip injuries and late nights on the NYU treadmills, I finally got to the finish line. I had been training for a 9 minute mile, but as most first-timers – I went out too fast and ran the first mile at 8:13. So I slowed myself down, but felt comfortable running around the 8:30/mile time and had no problems keeping up with the unofficial 3:45 finish time pacer – in fact I lost him around the half way mark. I kept up my intake of Gatorade and GU gel until I got to 17 miles and ran out. My wife refilled my hand-held bottle, so I didn’t have to go without for too long. At the 21 mile mark, I got back and stomach cramps that slowed me down completely. At that point like most marathoners, I knew I had hit the “wall” and just had to keep going. My pace for the last 5 miles slowed down to over 10 minutes/mile, but my average pace stayed below 9 minutes. In the end I crossed the finish line at 3:58:46 – my new/first marathon PR! I also beat my previous half-marathon PR by 5 minutes. So what’s next? I’m going to do a lot of speed training and do workouts that support my back throughout the winter and focus on running some 10k’s and half-marathons until the next Brooklyn Marathon – November 21, 2012. Bjorn 2 Run!
I made this piece based on Philip K Dick’s short story of the same name for a surround sound design project. A rather eerie story of human consumption…Enjoy and download:
Beyond Lies The Wub by Bjorn Arntsen
Been doing some housekeeping…So found this “new” song recorded in New Zealand in June 2010. Last track recorded there. Some New York stuff coming soon.
All The Way Down by Bjorn Arntsen
Hell Yes!
So this past week, I have been coming down with all sorts of crazy things, and not only am I finding nut traces in pretty much anything apart from fresh fruit – hey you never know – and vegetables. I am totally zapped from all forms of energy and the nausea is killing me. I am now pretty sure that allergy of my teenage years – chocolate- has resurfaced, I was allergic to it from age 13 to 19, and it wasn’t much fun, although I am not a big eater of sweets of any kind.
Rain
All is wet. Land and sea, river, marsh, clothes in the dryer and no appetite for redemption. So we, The Arntsen Family, are moving. Enough is more than enough. New York’s loud hum is once again calling us, singing to us, beckoning. I’ve been listening to Apparatjik this week, which reminds me of home – or the home I knew in the 1980′s. It seems strange that now, 30 years later, we are embracing 8-bit drums once again; something we laughed at back in the 1990′s. Anyway you can them out at the rather cryptic website. Stay warm and dry. I looking forward to the oppressing heat and incredibly loud fire engines in old New York.
I have also been wondering about the seasonality of music, and more specifically music releases related to the psychological state of the listener. Having recently purchased the latest release by The National (High Violet) – this album sounds very wintry to me. I have enjoyed it, but it does sit very well with the rainy season here in New Zealand. Obviously the majority the Brooklyn band’s fanbase will be in the summery northern hemisphere, and will connote a bipolar point of difference. Any thoughts?
B
Hamilton Record Club’s second outing, recreating Beck’s 2002 classic “Sea Change” in a mere 12 hours and 3 minutes. This wonderfully melancholic work, documenting the fall-out of the end of Beck’s relationship to his then long-term girlfriend. Produced by Nigel Godrich and with string arrangements by Beck’s father, David Campbell, “Sea Change” has a wonderful sincerity, rarely heard on the usually eclectic Beck’s songs. Sitting in with the record club in Hamilton, apart from myself on bass, was Dan Edgar Reese on acoustic guitar, LeyRoss Steynway on Fender Rhodes VX1000, synths and vocals, Nick Johnston on upright piano and Emanuel Comer on drums, percussion and lead vocals. Head over to the record club blogsite to have a listen.