Taking the Bar

All across the country, recently graduated law students and relocated attorneys will be taking the bar exam this week (mine starts tomorrow). Hooray for us. I’m trying really hard here not to take myself too seriously. (Maybe some bar jokes would help.) Say what you want, but it sure feels like a game or a hoop or a right of passage. I will admit that I did learn a lot to prepare for taking the bar, but I would argue the utility of a lot of what I learned and more importantly, everything I learned is easy to look up.

The Bar: Last of the flaming hoops for a while?

Personally, I’m ready to jump the last flaming hoop between me and an esquire signature. Plus, I’m really sick of seeing bar takers in every coffee shop I frequent. This is one case were communal misery really doesn’t love company.

I can’t wait until Wednesday at 5. Champagne is already chilling. Here’s to climbing the mountain.

View Comments by Julie on July 25, 2010

filed in law

tagged bar exam, bar jokes

Lord Helmet and the Organ Donors

I was running on Rattlesnake Drive this morning, minding my own business when I was passed by a biker. She was riding herroad bike at an appropriate speed. She was 30 feet in front of me when out of nowhere her tires came out from under her and she skidded and scraped to a stop down a steep curb. It was like the rug was pulled out from under her, and it was scary because there was nothing that seemingly caused the crash.

She was bleeding from her head.

She was ok, shaken and bleeding, but ok. She would have been better if she’d been wearing a helmet. Call me paranoid, but the older I get, the less willing I am to ride without one. She could very easily have scrambled her brain. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway safety, in 2008, 91% of bicycle deaths were those who weren’t wearing helmets.

I have a pretty pricey brain to take care of at this point, it would be a real shame to scramble it now, especially if easily prevented by wearing a helmet. Shockingly, it appears I am in the minority. According to a national survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, half (50%) of bicyclists wear a helmet for at least some trips, with 35 percent using them for all or most trips.

An experience rider I know put it this way, if my brain is smart enough to protect itself, shouldn’t I let it? Or something to that effect. So I counted riders without helmets riding down the tight street. There were at least a half dozen. And I thought about what my friend John calls people who don’t wear helmets: organ donors. It’s the only way for me to think about all those helmetless riders and not get irritated.

In closing, you don’t need one like Rick Moranis in Spaceballs, but please save the scramble and wear a helmet. (By the way, the cheap ones will protect you about the same as the pricey ones.)

View Comments by Julie on July 24, 2010

filed in advice, rants

tagged bicyclist deaths, bike helmet, crash, dark helmet, organ donors, rick moranis, statistics, survey

I Promise, I Won’t Cry If You Give Me a “B”

If I’d gone to law school in the future, I’d have straight A’s (like everyone else).

This crap makes me crazy. The top law schools in the country are inflating their grades (they say they are following suit- but I think they’re leading the charge). This one hit home. My very own alma mater, University of Colorado School of Law, voted in April that they are moving from a strict curve pegged at an 84 (and an A really meant something) to the amorphous “B+” average, which equates to an 87 by the old standard by the way (scroll down to Grading).

They’ll give anyone a law degree these days:

That’s terrific. So my transcript in twenty years will look like I’m a dunce. Perhaps sooner. Thanks CU for changing the rules and knuckling under like the rest of the grade puffers.

News flash: law school is supposed to be tough. We all knew when we started that not everyone can be in the top 10% of the class. This is a problem not just in grad school, my undergrad alma mater has been grade inflating for a while now, along with the rest of the Ivies.

I think it’s dangerous to rely on reputation alone, and it completely destroys incentives to work hard and perform well. Yet another case where law school is broken. So go on, give me a B, I can take it (I am not defined by the grades I get- that’s pathetic). I won’t melt. But I will judge if you give everyone As.

View Comments by Julie on July 21, 2010

filed in law, rants

tagged curve, grade inflation, grading, law school, reputation, University of Colorado

Balancing Crazy

For the past 2-3 months, I’ve been balancing two big parallel endeavors: running a marathon and taking the bar exam. Each of them are a challenge, each take months of training, each is a feat. Next week I’ll sit for the bar for three days, Monday though Wednesday, and then run my first marathon on Saturday. Do you think I’m crazy?

Maybe you think, one or the other I could do, but both? the same week? I would never do that to myself.

Balancing Crazy; if you knew these two, you would know this an apt representation for the phrase:

Here’s what I think: I’d recommend this strategy to anyone because it has created so much balance in my life. A feat of strength balances a feat of intellect. One doesn’t look quite as crazy from the point of view of the other one. In other words, the only thing that balances an extreme is something different but equally as extreme; like a teeter-totter (by the way I’d love to see the etymology on that particular playground equipment). It’s an analogy I can easily extend. If one is going poorly, many times the other is going well. If you’re sick of training for one, switch to the other. Let me tell you how running 20 miles will make it easier to sit around for a few days.

In conclusion, if you have some big thing, some hurdle, some feat, don’t whine about it; go all in and find something equally as impressive to balance against it. It’s not as crazy as it sounds.

View Comments by Julie on July 20, 2010

filed in law, running

tagged bar exam, life balance, marathon training, teeter-totter, training

The ‘Thon Song: A lengthy but upbeat playlist

I love music, and I’m completely inspired by it while I’m running. Well, marathon training has afforded increased listening opportunities, let me tell you. I’ve been building up a playlist that works for me as I’ve been completing the requisite long training runs. I’m finally ready to share it (not the actual files, just the list: runningmix). It includes 80 songs and 60 artists and lasts 5 hours (which I’m really hoping will be sufficient). Be forewarned, it’s pretty eclectic, and while most songs are pretty upbeat, I have a few mellow ones for the middle miles. Any additional suggestions are welcome. Thanks to my music gurus who contributed ideas. Without further ado:

View Comments by Julie on July 17, 2010

filed in music, running

Inception: Mind-Bender and Best Movie of the Year?

I don’t blog about movies. Truth be told a lot of movie bother me anymore, too many hole in the plot or too cliche or too ‘sweet’. It’s not hard for me to complain about movies. Plus, all too often the really well done movies are super depressing. So believe me when I tell you that the new movie out this week in theaters, Inception, is worth seeing. It’s worth seeing in the theater too for the awesome action sequences. More than anything, I enjoyed an original story with new ideas. It was so refreshing, and the ending, well, I think it was perfect. Best movie I’ve seen since Slumdog Millionaire and directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Momento). And of course Leo (who I bought as the character Cobb, I had a harder time with Ellen Page in her role). I won’t ramble on, but I will include a trailer.

View Comments by Julie on July 17, 2010

filed in videos

tagged christopher nolan, dark night, inception, new movie

Sleep and Performance: The Night Before the Night Before

I’ve been thinking about sleep and athletic performance a lot lately as I’ve been training for my upcoming marathon. Each of my long runs and my marathon all begin early in the morning, 6am or earlier. I was really worried about sleep before my first early morning 20 miler (notice the start time):

I am NOT a morning person (the sleep community calls those people larks versus an owl or hummingbird).

When I used to run track in high school and we didn’t sleep well the night before a big meet, we used to say it’s the night before the night before that really matters. It always made me feel better, but it’s probably more accurate to say it’s all the nights before the night before, up to a point. I’ll explain.

While the early hour of my runs inhibits a full night of sleep (I usually don’t get to sleep before midnight), my saving grace is my routine habit of getting about 8 hours of sleep. These nights are from late June, around the time I started running double digit mile runs and 40+ miles per week:

In other words, I try hard to get enough sleep most nights and not build up a sleep debt (an aggregated deficit between what you should sleep and what you actually sleep). This is particularly important while training for a marathon because so much of recovery, including naturally produced growth hormone, happens during sleep. Sleep studies have confirmed that athletes that get more sleep have improved performance.

On a related note, high-level athletes are turning more attention to sleep as they try to understand more about its effects on performance. Zeo, my beloved startup, is being used by team Radioshack during this year’s Tour de France:

View Comments by Julie on July 15, 2010

filed in entrepreneurship, running, sleep, videos

tagged athlete, athletic performance, hummingbird, lark, marathon training, night before, owl, routine, sleep, sleep debt, study, tour de france, zeo

Missoula’s Half-Marathon

Tomorrow morning the quiet mountain town I’m staying in the summer will be overrun with, well, runners. Tomorrow Run Wild hosts a popular road race featuring a 10K, half-marathon, marathon, and marathon relay.

I’ll be running the half as part of my marathon prep for two weeks from now in Choteau. This races is very well-organized with aid stations and volunteers everywhere, awesome scenery, and super flat. It was voted best marathon (and thus there is a tremendous influx of people from around the country). So far I’m impressed. They even uploaded a high-speed video of the course on Youtube so I can “run” the course from the comfort of my laptop. It takes about 7 minutes. Wish me luck!

View Comments by Julie on July 10, 2010

filed in Montana, running, videos

tagged flat, half-marathon, marathon, Missoula, Montana, scenic, training, video

I’m So Proud of Uruguay

Understandably, not everyone has a close connection to Uruguay. I do.

I did an exchange to Uruguay when I was in high school, and it remains one of the most formative experiences of my life. I have nothing but fondness and love for the country, in no small part to my wonderful host family. This is Gustavo, me, and Marla at Las Termas de Arapey last January:

So it was a special sense of pride I felt when Uruguay, rather than their gigantic neighbors to the north and south made it in to the semifinals of the World Cup. (Indeed, Uruguay missed a shot that would have tied Germany in the consolation game with the most heart-wrenching kick that hit the crossbar.) Uruguay also apparently hosted the first World Cup back in 1930. Uruguay is home to only 3.5 million people (Germany has 20X the people). It’s also largely looked over between Argentina and Brazil, both in soccer and in tourism. Like this year’s team, Uruguay shouldn’t be under-estimated; it has so much to offer from the picturesque Colonia or the peaceful capital of Montevideo (where you might catch a soccer match with Nacional or Penarol), to the beachcomber haven of Punta del Este (or Casapueblo below) or the north country with its hot springs, vinyards, ranches, and open country. If you’re planning a trip to the area, I highly recommend adding it as a stop, you won’t regret meeting a few friendly Uruguayan faces.

View Comments by Julie on July 10, 2010

filed in geography, photos, travel

tagged Argentina, Brazil, casapueblo, colonia, Germany, montevideo, nacional, penarol, punta del este, semifinals, soccer, termas de arapey, uruguay, world cup

You Can Teach a 3YR Old to Shoot an SLR Camera

You might not think a 3 year old could even hold up an SLR camera. You would be wrong. I got this idea from my friend Monique (who’s awesome and moving to Boulder!) She gave a little cannon point and shoot to a 3 year old she knew and let them take pictures for a while. The results were surprising, a lot of them were pretty good! (Proving once and for all that they’ve pretty much made digital cameras idiot proof). So I tried it with my nephew, and he had fun with it, but I never gave up control of my fancy SLR camera, until now. Now I have two nephews, they’re 3 and a half and almost 5. I gave them each a camera. See the results for yourself:

This one is my favorite, Isaiah (who is 3) took this picture of his brother Isaac:

Sure, it’s an artistic shot, which wasn’t on purpose, but I still think it’s a great capture. You should have seen that little monkey trying to hold up a camera this size:

Now, I know you might be thinking; that’s a nice camera, what if they drop it? I didn’t let my nephews stray with my nice SLR. Instead, I let them wander with my canon powershot, which is a nice camera, much more likely to survive a beating (I’ve beat up on three of them over the years) and only cost me about $100. This is a shot Isaac took with my SLR or his brother who was using my powershot (note that Isaiah covered one eye with his fingers):

The boys also took these photos of my family. Not bad for beginners. So, I encourage you to turn over your camera, set to automatic of course, to a budding photographer you know and be prepared to be amazed.

View Comments by Julie on July 8, 2010

filed in photos

tagged canon, photography, pictures, powershot, SLR, teach 3 year old

Marathon Training: Pacing

I just finished reading a really good article on marathon pacing. As I get closer to my marathon date (July 31), I’m thinking more and more about race day. I found this active.com article quite helpful. The bottom line: start slow for the first 3-6 miles. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the start line, but going too fast in the beginning can have real consequences in the end.

After my 22 mile run this weekend, I’m not as concerned about actually finishing as I am about finishing and feeling good. I’ve made the decision to walk water stops and stretch as needed for the first 20 miles with a quick hamstring stretch each mile for the last 6. I’m also planning to have a Hammer energy gel at the halfway point and at mile 20 to keep my energy up. Below is an excerpt from the pacing article:

“If you’re a savvy pace athlete, start off slightly slower, pegging a lower HR. You can build your effort into your race pace, not doing anything crazy to your muscles/body early on. Knowing the marathon will get hard on its own, there’s no need to make things more complicated.

After the initial six mile period where focus is on building an effort from very easy to slightly faster than goal average pace, you can settle into a steady state mode. All the rabbits are long gone, and you can use the next 14 miles to chip away at the extra time that smart early pacing “cost.”

Thanks to early pacing and now resultant lower heart rate, you can better process the critical calories and fluids that will help you through the latter stages of the day. Just as your body starts to hurt around mile 20, you can wrap her head around “just” doing a 10K. After all, you’ve only really been running for 14 miles — those first few easy miles are mentally “free.” It also helps that your are now passing lots of other folks, which helps you stay focused and motivated.

Run to the Line; Race to the Finish

It’s the Marathon Nation motto, a value we work on instilling from the outset. Regardless of your speed or experience, you can have a great race if you execute well. The power of proper pacing is not in a killer last few miles of your race, but by conserving early energy to make the “meat” of your race–those middle miles–very consistent and powerful. When a race is executed properly, the finishing kick is a function of your fitness and mental fortitude; both of which are much greater supply since you aren’t running hard from the gun and crossing your fingers.”

View Comments by Julie on July 7, 2010

filed in advice, running

tagged marathon training, pacing, race day, running, strategy

Grizzly Marathon FAQ – Good Fun

I may not be training for the biggest marathon, but it does have spunk. I had to copy parts of the FAQ, it’s just too entertaining:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Why Should I Choose the Grizzly Marathon?
Choteau’s Grizzly Marathon is pure old-fashioned marathon. No hoopla – no bands, no crowds, no fuss. It is your chance to test your mettle in a beautiful setting. Sure there might be gravel and hills but you have trained hard, you’re tough!

Method of Course Measurement:
2007 Ford F150 Pickup. Got in and drove. Chances are your Garmin will not calibrate.

Number of Bands on Route:
0. Unless you count Hank’s truck radio.

Course Record:
Now that is a tough question!
This will be the third (?) route since the dawn of Grizzly Marathon times.
(We are just as happy about the first entrant to cross the finish line as we are the last!)

Spectators:
Do gophers count?

Can We Drive Out to Watch Our Friend?
Only if you don’t like them. [Due to dust it causes.]

Average temperature on race day:
Chilly to downright toasty. That about covers it. Dress like an onion and be prepared to peel!

Character of the Course:
This is a mirror image of the people and countryside of Choteau:

tough and no-nonsense but a beautiful soul. If you are afraid you will break a fingernail, this course may not be for you. The course is mostly gravel, which can vary in kindness depending upon the weather and travel. There are hills.

Marathoners, be prepared to ROCK & ROLL (gravel and hills, get it?)

What are the age group awards?
Pride. That is all our budget will allow for.

View Comments by Julie on July 6, 2010

filed in Montana, running

tagged FAQ, frequently asked questions, funny, grizzly marathon, montana choteau

Marathon Training: 22 Miles in Kalispell

I now have a better appreciation for the statement my dad made about running more than 20 miles, “You just gotta gut it out.” For my longest training run before the marathon, I chose a route similar to my 20 mile path that travels from the foothills of the Swans into Kalispell and then north toward Whitefish. See a few photos.

After a few miles in on Foothills, I headed west on Bachelor Grade, a gravel road with a number of ponds and some beautiful fields. At the top of one rise, I saw a group of whitetail deer milling around in the middle of the road, as if it were a water cooler. Eventually the same road turns into Mennonite Church Road and continues west, paralleling highway 35. At some point the same road becomes Holt Stage road as it nears the bridge into Kalispell. Just after Woodland Park, I made a right turn heading north until I reached 7th ave which becomes whitefish stage road. There’s a nice path beside the road for at least two miles. I stayed on Whitefish stage to the end, but if I had to do it again, I would have turned at Reserve street and finished the run on a road with a wider shoulder. It did have some good views though. Overall, it’s a nice run with lots of open views and not a lot of cars. It’s all downhill from here to the marathon!

View Comments by Julie on July 4, 2010

filed in Montana, running

tagged bachelor grade, foothills, holt stage, kalispell, marathon training, Mennonite church, path, route, run, trail, whitefish stage, woodland park

Marathon Training: Grub-a-dub-dub

The last three months of training have afforded numerous opportunities to try different mixes, chews, gels, bars, powder, and other calorie delivery systems. It’s hard enough to get 100 calories per hour in your system without getting a stomach cramp, they aren’t all created equal. I thought I’d share my thoughts:

I start with oatmeal before a run. It’s easy on the stomach, instant is easy, and something solid.

Powders: I’m a believer in gatorade, they’ve done a lot of research (at the sports science institute) on hydration and athletic performance (I like orange and the blue one). I buy the powder, it’s more efficient. I also use recoverite mix by Hammer Nutrition after workouts for recovery (I’ve had the subtle citrus).

Chews: My favorites are the honey stingers (scroll down to the chews). I’m not alone, they were an Backpacker’s editor’s choice last year. They are a little smaller than other chews and so easy to eat. I’ve also tried every flavor of clif’s shot bloks. They’re a good second choice, and I like the black cherry the best. Oh, and the chews by GU I think taste like tea, definitely third on my list.

Gels: I hate gooey crap. Hate hate. But they work, so I kept trying them until I found one that was tolerable. It’s the chocolate espresso from Hammer Nutrition (a Montana-based company by the way). It was actually quite pleasant, and I recommend. The Montana Huckleberry was good in theory, hard to eat in practice.