Monday, August 29, 2011

Born To Run

Book Recommendation:

Born To Run by Christopher McDougall.

Really interesting book thats basis is about endurance running but includes so much more about modern day exercise and the physical makeup of our bodies and how we are quite literally born to run.

To borrow from Amazon:
"Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.

Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.

With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. Born to Run is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run."

If you have any interest in running and/or exercise check this book out.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, stepped down yesterday.  He built a computer empire, with Apple, as well as started Pixar Animation Studios.  He is an incredibly successful and intelligent man.

Check out this speech from Stanford's Commencement a couple years ago about education and following your heart...good stuff.


Stay hungry, stay foolish.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Creeper Trail

Went and rode the Creeper Trail with Mom, Dad, and Sara on Saturday.  It was Sara's first time to go.  It was a beautiful day for riding.  Very comfortable in the shade of the tree canopy.  We started in Damascus, VA and rode out about 10 miles and then came back.  It's nice to see how many people use the trail every time I go.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

AT . Nolichucky River

Went hiking with mom on Friday.  We went to the Appalachian Trail where it crosses the Nolichucky River in Erwin.  Some beautiful views of the river as we climbed the mountain...

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Rome Studio

It's time to show off the work that our studio did while in Rome this summer.  This studio was a little different in that all of our work was done in groups.  For the final project, we were split into two groups of ten to work on two different project sites with Parco Monti Simbruini.

As a studio, the first part of our final project was to put together a set of design guidelines for our two design sites within the Park.  The goal of these specific design guidelines was to put together a package that could be used by any design group or organization for potential future design work use.  This document was put together by all twenty students in our studio.

LSU Summer 2011 Booklet

The second half our project, was to put together a potential design solution for our site using the design guidelines that were previously setup.  This was done in a group of ten students.  Our site was the Sanctuary of the Holy Trinity just outside of Vallepietra in the Park.  It is a very fragile religious site with specific design parameters defined by the very steep local topography.  We focused our work on the parking/entry area to the pathway and funneling pilgrims to the Sanctuary site in a comfortable, efficient way.

LSU Rome Program . Sanctuary Group Booklet

ENJOY

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

INTERNSHIP!

After searching for months, I have finally lined up an internship for the fall.  It came down to the wire with the fall semester starting next Monday.  I will be working for the Landscape Architecture/Planning/Civil Engineering firm HadenStanziale in Durham, NC for the fall semester.  Here is their website if you are interested:

HADEN STANZIALE

I have got a lot of questions about interning as a graduate student.  This is not a requirement.  I am actually the only one in my class doing it.  The hours that I got this summer in Rome (12) allowed me to have the option to intern for a semester.  I have 15 hours left to complete my degree.  I could have went back to school this fall and finished up, graduating early.  I decided that it was more important for me to get some experience and intern this semester.  Thus, I will go back to Baton Rouge in the spring and finish up the rest of my hours.

So seven years, three internships, a study abroad in Rome, and two degrees later, I will finally be done with school.

Almost there...

Monday, August 15, 2011

OAR . KING

New music Monday...

O.A.R.'s new album "King" came out about two weeks ago.  I purchased it and have successfully listened to it about 15 times all the way through since.
It is a must get.  Great album.  5 out of 5 stars.