Recently I've been filling out applications for playwriting fellowships. A lot of them ask the same questions over and over again. The downside is answering a lot of the same questions, the upside has been being forced to answer a lot of tough questions about myself.
Similarly, I was on a plane recently headed to the Southeastern Theatre Conference (for my work at an acting school in NYC). I was reading a collection of early Adam Rapp plays. The man seated next to me if I was in theatre, we got to talking and sure enough we were both headed to the same place. He was the Technical Director for The Santa Fe Opera. He asked me about what I was reading and I told him the truth. A bad collection of plays which felt like they were written by a very young in craft playwright. (Sorry Adam, but it's true.)
Then he asked me about my own work. (I'll sometimes see this on playwright's websites, their aesthetic or what their plays themes are commonly about.) And the only way I could describe it was, "If the plays of Tracy Letts and Sam Shepard had a really angry baby." Or, "A white trash Terrence McNally with a drug and alcohol problem mixed with a lot of self hatred." (No one ever finds the last one funny.)
The example I use is, if I wrote LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART the pool would have been empty (except for beer cans), the couples would have beaten the crap out of each other and they all would have hard core gay sex with each other and guys next door. How about that for a Fourth of July weekend Terrence?
But I digress.
When I was a little kid people asked me what I wanted to be. I was strange and said a writer. (What 6 year old does that?)
I then spent the next 30 years in denial of that fact. Sure I wrote plays as an undergrad, but they were full of sturm & drang and were badly written. But the seeds of what I write about were planted. Not much has changed. Misplaced love, family, outsiders, misfits, broken hearts and the disenfranchised: that's what I write about.
I didn't start writing again until recently. During the last writer's strike my agent asked me if I wrote. Well I did write. I was even on scholarship for it at The University of Iowa. (They didn't give out acting scholarships then.) Then I spent a long time in denial of being a writer. Years spent improvising and acting (which I'm not too shabby at), an MFA in Acting at Rutgers were I was told I wasn't really allowed to write and should just be an actor (screw that). But ultimately, after all of this time, I have come around to being a writer.
Of course I started writing again, but it was television (which I love), and grudgingly, against my will and better judgement did I go back to writing plays.
The funny thing is, I was calling myself a playwright before I actually accepted that I was a playwright. It's only been in the last year and a half that I have truly embraced writing theatre.
The theatre is my home. It's where I first cut my teeth as a writer. It's the first place that I started telling stories with people who I loved and enjoyed telling stories with.
I think that's the key. Telling stories with others who I love and respect.
Let's face it, no one is really going to make any money doing theatre. It's just isn't going to happen. Not today. Not when the regional theatre movement is dying and producers are afraid to take a chance. But I can tell cool stories with my friends.
I'm also no longer out to change the world. My stories come to me through the characters in my head. They take on a life of their own and grow deep roots into my soul and the only way to get them out is to put them on paper and turn them loose.
Are my plays political? No. But my characters have politics, as well as hopes, dreams, wishes, love, hate and rage.
As long as I have friends to tell stories with I'm going to keep telling my stories about misplaced love, family, outsiders, misfits, broken hearts and the disenfranchised.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Travel Tales
For those of you who may not know it, I travel. A lot.
My life is a bit like George Clooney in UP IN THE AIR, except I don't fire people. (I find talented young people for an acting conservatory.)
Since July I manged to hit Silver Elite status with Continental two months ago.
Believe me membership does have it's privileges.
Continental and United take wonderful care of me.
American Airlines can crawl into a hole and die. Every time I fly them there are mechanical delays and of course basic essentials (such as running water in the bathroom) don't work or are absent.
US Airways, while being a terrible airline, upgrade me if I get a hangnail so I can't complain. In fact they actually take pretty good care of me. Maybe I'm lucky. Sure there are problems but they are really quick to make me happy so I they have grown on me and I don't mind flying them that much.
Delta, I just hate them because I always seem to get stranded in Minneapolis overnight and they have been downright rude and unhelpful and are quick to pass the buck.
You might be reading this and thinking, why would I care?
Well I care. I fly every week for work. Every week a different city. This month alone I have been on the road more than I have been home. It's the 24th of the month and I've been on the road for 16 days. (And now I'm heading for Arkansas!) While there is an aspect of cool to this I don't necessarily go to cool places. I have often thought about revamping my blog into a travel blog of ordinary destinations. In fact it might evolve into that. Who knows what the future will bring or the blogger app on my iphone?
At some point I will have to start my evaluation of hotels and which chains are the best. (I will say the Hilton in New Orleans, right next to French Quarter in the CBD has one of the nicest staffs I've ever had contact with. And these people work in tourism in NOLA so they have the right to be angry but they are amazing and sweet as pecan pie.)
This travel season I have been in the following places and many of them two or three times: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Cincinnati, Phoenix AZ, New Orleans, Fort Wayne Indiana, Memphis and Wichita KS.
Right now though, I'm going to post tips for the frequent traveler to stay healthy and sane . . .
1.) You can take non-gel deodorant and your razor in your carry on. And no they don't need to be in a plastic bag.
2.) You can bring those flat packets of anti-bacterial wipes with you on the plane. In fact you should. Airline trays are some of the dirtiest, filthiest things in existence. Plus 1/3 of all of my flights lack running H2O in the bathroom. ( I wouldn't trust that water anyway.) So I always carry anti-bacterial wipes to use on objects and my hands.
3.)Wash hands frequently.
4.) Drink tons of water. Stay hydrated when traveling. It fights jet lag and all sorts of issues.
5.) When traveling I only eat soups and salads. It keeps me from over indulging in crappy airport comfort food and the fiber and hydration helps.
6.) Podcasts are your friend.
7.) Read every local newspaper you can. It gives one an insight into the community in which one is visiting and traveling though.
8.) Always pack running shoes and a set of workout clothes.
9.) Workout. My only hotel stipulation is that they have a gym. Why? Working out for me beats jet lag and travel stress. It also keeps me out of the bar and it helps reset and de-stress during tough travel days. When the weather is nice, running the streets of where you are at can be an incredible way to learn about a place. FYI by the San Francisco Airport, if you are staying at one of the hotels over there, there is an amazing trail that takes you North along the bay and it is gorgeous. Just don't give up, keep looking for it. I had to work my way through more than one parking lot in the dark, but it was worth it. Beautiful.
10.) Pack very, very light. Only bring what you need. I wash my work out clothes after every workout in the hotel sink and hang them to dry. I always pack socks, underwear and undershirts. Everything else is negotiable. With unexpected layovers I have been known to wash things in hotel sinks and hot iron them dry. (Don't you judge me!)
11.) Always bring your vitamins. I do. I also take Emergen-C when I fly. I find it helps keep sickness at bay as well as the vitamin boost helps beat the jet lag. Exercise, hydration and vitamins I attribute to keeping me healthy. I haven't been sick this whole travel season.
12.) Men, travel in a tie. I do. (Or one of my Doctor Who t-shirts.) The tie automatically makes people nicer to you and respect you more. The Doctor Who t-shirts are great conversation starters and everyone loves and is nicer to a fellow geek. We have to look after our own. (Do you know how many free upgrades and free cups of coffee I've gotten because of the Doctor Who t-shirts? I'm convinced Doctor Who fans make the world go round.) I've had people on the street and on planes stand up and yell things at me because of my Doctor Who shirts.
13.) Learn to give up shoelaces. If you travel like I do you your running shoes will be the only thing you own that has laces. It really does save time at security.
14.) Bring a pen and notebook. Don't ask me why but some of my best thoughts happen on planes and in restaurants.
15.) This is my girliest point: bring your own body wash, lotion and face wash. Yes this outs me as being very metro . . . but changing water and products all the time can lead to break outs. Hence why I bring my own products. It keeps break outs at bay and it helps you miss home a little less when you always smell like you. It sounds strange but it matters to me. Smell matters. I use Jack Black products. I love 'em. And you can buy all of the products in 3 oz size containers. I refill my stuff off of my bigger containers I keep at home. It's also vegan, non-cruel and no crazy chemicals. Plus they have a face wash and toner in one. Love it. The body wash you can use as a shampoo. Yes this is horribly metro of me. But it makes me happier and I don't get acne break outs. So there.
16.) Text and send photos of stupid stuff to loved ones. It helps them (and you) feel connected. Traveling can be hell on relationships. So put in the effort. Even if you aren't home you can still make them feel like they are a part of your life by texting and sending them photos of stuff you are seeing/experiencing. Remember it goes both ways. Yes traveling is hard on the traveler, but you are on the road working while they are at home trying to figure out how to have a life without you in it. Keep them a part of things.
17.) Learn PATIENCE. Seriously. The only thing that gets me riled up anymore when traveling is when there is a complete and utter disregard for customer satisfaction. (American Airlines I'm talking about you.) You can't change the weather or most mechanical problems (be happy that they caught them) or traffic or most anything. When you travel as much as I do you discover that you are at the mercy of the universe. Your best best is to, if I may quote a jiu-jitsu term, "flow with the go." And don't be afraid to turn to the person next to you and strike up a conversation.
Until next time True Believers . . .
My life is a bit like George Clooney in UP IN THE AIR, except I don't fire people. (I find talented young people for an acting conservatory.)
Since July I manged to hit Silver Elite status with Continental two months ago.
Believe me membership does have it's privileges.
Continental and United take wonderful care of me.
American Airlines can crawl into a hole and die. Every time I fly them there are mechanical delays and of course basic essentials (such as running water in the bathroom) don't work or are absent.
US Airways, while being a terrible airline, upgrade me if I get a hangnail so I can't complain. In fact they actually take pretty good care of me. Maybe I'm lucky. Sure there are problems but they are really quick to make me happy so I they have grown on me and I don't mind flying them that much.
Delta, I just hate them because I always seem to get stranded in Minneapolis overnight and they have been downright rude and unhelpful and are quick to pass the buck.
You might be reading this and thinking, why would I care?
Well I care. I fly every week for work. Every week a different city. This month alone I have been on the road more than I have been home. It's the 24th of the month and I've been on the road for 16 days. (And now I'm heading for Arkansas!) While there is an aspect of cool to this I don't necessarily go to cool places. I have often thought about revamping my blog into a travel blog of ordinary destinations. In fact it might evolve into that. Who knows what the future will bring or the blogger app on my iphone?
At some point I will have to start my evaluation of hotels and which chains are the best. (I will say the Hilton in New Orleans, right next to French Quarter in the CBD has one of the nicest staffs I've ever had contact with. And these people work in tourism in NOLA so they have the right to be angry but they are amazing and sweet as pecan pie.)
This travel season I have been in the following places and many of them two or three times: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Cincinnati, Phoenix AZ, New Orleans, Fort Wayne Indiana, Memphis and Wichita KS.
Right now though, I'm going to post tips for the frequent traveler to stay healthy and sane . . .
1.) You can take non-gel deodorant and your razor in your carry on. And no they don't need to be in a plastic bag.
2.) You can bring those flat packets of anti-bacterial wipes with you on the plane. In fact you should. Airline trays are some of the dirtiest, filthiest things in existence. Plus 1/3 of all of my flights lack running H2O in the bathroom. ( I wouldn't trust that water anyway.) So I always carry anti-bacterial wipes to use on objects and my hands.
3.)Wash hands frequently.
4.) Drink tons of water. Stay hydrated when traveling. It fights jet lag and all sorts of issues.
5.) When traveling I only eat soups and salads. It keeps me from over indulging in crappy airport comfort food and the fiber and hydration helps.
6.) Podcasts are your friend.
7.) Read every local newspaper you can. It gives one an insight into the community in which one is visiting and traveling though.
8.) Always pack running shoes and a set of workout clothes.
9.) Workout. My only hotel stipulation is that they have a gym. Why? Working out for me beats jet lag and travel stress. It also keeps me out of the bar and it helps reset and de-stress during tough travel days. When the weather is nice, running the streets of where you are at can be an incredible way to learn about a place. FYI by the San Francisco Airport, if you are staying at one of the hotels over there, there is an amazing trail that takes you North along the bay and it is gorgeous. Just don't give up, keep looking for it. I had to work my way through more than one parking lot in the dark, but it was worth it. Beautiful.
10.) Pack very, very light. Only bring what you need. I wash my work out clothes after every workout in the hotel sink and hang them to dry. I always pack socks, underwear and undershirts. Everything else is negotiable. With unexpected layovers I have been known to wash things in hotel sinks and hot iron them dry. (Don't you judge me!)
11.) Always bring your vitamins. I do. I also take Emergen-C when I fly. I find it helps keep sickness at bay as well as the vitamin boost helps beat the jet lag. Exercise, hydration and vitamins I attribute to keeping me healthy. I haven't been sick this whole travel season.
12.) Men, travel in a tie. I do. (Or one of my Doctor Who t-shirts.) The tie automatically makes people nicer to you and respect you more. The Doctor Who t-shirts are great conversation starters and everyone loves and is nicer to a fellow geek. We have to look after our own. (Do you know how many free upgrades and free cups of coffee I've gotten because of the Doctor Who t-shirts? I'm convinced Doctor Who fans make the world go round.) I've had people on the street and on planes stand up and yell things at me because of my Doctor Who shirts.
13.) Learn to give up shoelaces. If you travel like I do you your running shoes will be the only thing you own that has laces. It really does save time at security.
14.) Bring a pen and notebook. Don't ask me why but some of my best thoughts happen on planes and in restaurants.
15.) This is my girliest point: bring your own body wash, lotion and face wash. Yes this outs me as being very metro . . . but changing water and products all the time can lead to break outs. Hence why I bring my own products. It keeps break outs at bay and it helps you miss home a little less when you always smell like you. It sounds strange but it matters to me. Smell matters. I use Jack Black products. I love 'em. And you can buy all of the products in 3 oz size containers. I refill my stuff off of my bigger containers I keep at home. It's also vegan, non-cruel and no crazy chemicals. Plus they have a face wash and toner in one. Love it. The body wash you can use as a shampoo. Yes this is horribly metro of me. But it makes me happier and I don't get acne break outs. So there.
16.) Text and send photos of stupid stuff to loved ones. It helps them (and you) feel connected. Traveling can be hell on relationships. So put in the effort. Even if you aren't home you can still make them feel like they are a part of your life by texting and sending them photos of stuff you are seeing/experiencing. Remember it goes both ways. Yes traveling is hard on the traveler, but you are on the road working while they are at home trying to figure out how to have a life without you in it. Keep them a part of things.
17.) Learn PATIENCE. Seriously. The only thing that gets me riled up anymore when traveling is when there is a complete and utter disregard for customer satisfaction. (American Airlines I'm talking about you.) You can't change the weather or most mechanical problems (be happy that they caught them) or traffic or most anything. When you travel as much as I do you discover that you are at the mercy of the universe. Your best best is to, if I may quote a jiu-jitsu term, "flow with the go." And don't be afraid to turn to the person next to you and strike up a conversation.
Until next time True Believers . . .
Marathon Thoughts
I know it's been a while since the ING NYC Marathon drew to a close and I should have written about it before now.
The time just didn't seem right.
When the marathon ended I didn't event want to think about running, let alone talk or write about it. (Although I am a twitter follower of many elite runner.)
I needed a break.
Recently I received my marathon finisher's certificate in the mail. I also need to decide if I am going to qualify for the 2013 ING NYC Marathon.
While I am deciding what to do next here are my thoughts . . .
If you have ever wanted to run a marathon than you must run the ING NYC Marathon. It is an experience that will be hard to match. The neighborhoods, crowds of people cheering you on (if you write your name on your shirt), the camaraderie of your fellow runners and a sense of accomplishment like no other.
Knowing that you have done something that most people wouldn't even dare to attempt does give one's self a certain swagger, a certain sense of "I am superhuman."
Of course with everyone running marathons and ultra-marathons and triathlons and the Iron Man, well it does water down one's sense of self importance.
And no matter what anyone will ever say, it is a group effort. I could not have run it without the support and love of my girlfriend Mandy, the support and patience of my manager Cyd and my sister Sue.
All that being said here is what I learned about running and training for my first marathon.
1.) Don't fly across the country a bunch of times the week before the race.
2.) Stay off your feet the day before the race. (Even if you want to hang with your sister at the expo.)
3.) On race day don't pace around the starting village, lay down and put your feet up no matter how nervous you are.
4.) There are two pacers. Follow the correct one. One pacer runs the first half way fast and then slows down, the other keeps a steady pace. I thought my Garmin was broke since I was running 8:15-8:30 miles when I wanted to run 9's. (But hey I was following the 4 hour pacer!) Only when I started slowing down did I see the other pacer who was running how I trained. (Ugh, you live and learn.)
5.) Carbo loading means carbo loading. Don't think you can cheat it. I tried. That's why at mile 18 I realized I had no glycogen left in my muscles. I still plowed through but life would have been a lot easier if I had really increased my carbs that last week.
6.)Work for negative splits on half marathons during your training. It will make you stronger.
7.) Hills. You don't need to run steep, hard, fast hills. For my next marathon I will run a fast 10K then jump on the treadmill and do mile long hill repeats with the incline on 6 or 7. I ran steep, hard hills and lots of stairs. It's not the same. The bridges are long slow inclines. So hill train the way you need to for your race. (Of course I will still do really hard steep hills as well.)
8.) Don't stop lifting until 2-3 weeks before. (It will make a huge difference.)
9.) Foam rolling and yoga are your friends. Make them a part of your daily life in some fashion, even a little bit.
10.) Drop weight. Cut 10-20 pounds during your base or speed phase of marathon training. (It will be easier during that time. That way when you are doing 20 mile runs (and longer) and need more recovery time etc., you don't have to worry about losing weight or keeping it off, all you have to do is maintain. And quite frankly losing the 10-20 pounds (If you have it to lose) will make your body a lot happier after 26.2 miles.
11.) Marathon distance is a b$t&h to train for. It will consume all of your time and you have to be willing to give up a lot of your life. I prefer the half-marathon distance. I can still run long and train hard, but no run has to be longer than 2 hours. It means I still get to keep my Sundays.
12.) Taper. No really taper. Taper smart. Did I mention you should take tapering seriously?
Until next time true believers.
The time just didn't seem right.
When the marathon ended I didn't event want to think about running, let alone talk or write about it. (Although I am a twitter follower of many elite runner.)
I needed a break.
Recently I received my marathon finisher's certificate in the mail. I also need to decide if I am going to qualify for the 2013 ING NYC Marathon.
While I am deciding what to do next here are my thoughts . . .
If you have ever wanted to run a marathon than you must run the ING NYC Marathon. It is an experience that will be hard to match. The neighborhoods, crowds of people cheering you on (if you write your name on your shirt), the camaraderie of your fellow runners and a sense of accomplishment like no other.
Knowing that you have done something that most people wouldn't even dare to attempt does give one's self a certain swagger, a certain sense of "I am superhuman."
Of course with everyone running marathons and ultra-marathons and triathlons and the Iron Man, well it does water down one's sense of self importance.
And no matter what anyone will ever say, it is a group effort. I could not have run it without the support and love of my girlfriend Mandy, the support and patience of my manager Cyd and my sister Sue.
All that being said here is what I learned about running and training for my first marathon.
1.) Don't fly across the country a bunch of times the week before the race.
2.) Stay off your feet the day before the race. (Even if you want to hang with your sister at the expo.)
3.) On race day don't pace around the starting village, lay down and put your feet up no matter how nervous you are.
4.) There are two pacers. Follow the correct one. One pacer runs the first half way fast and then slows down, the other keeps a steady pace. I thought my Garmin was broke since I was running 8:15-8:30 miles when I wanted to run 9's. (But hey I was following the 4 hour pacer!) Only when I started slowing down did I see the other pacer who was running how I trained. (Ugh, you live and learn.)
5.) Carbo loading means carbo loading. Don't think you can cheat it. I tried. That's why at mile 18 I realized I had no glycogen left in my muscles. I still plowed through but life would have been a lot easier if I had really increased my carbs that last week.
6.)Work for negative splits on half marathons during your training. It will make you stronger.
7.) Hills. You don't need to run steep, hard, fast hills. For my next marathon I will run a fast 10K then jump on the treadmill and do mile long hill repeats with the incline on 6 or 7. I ran steep, hard hills and lots of stairs. It's not the same. The bridges are long slow inclines. So hill train the way you need to for your race. (Of course I will still do really hard steep hills as well.)
8.) Don't stop lifting until 2-3 weeks before. (It will make a huge difference.)
9.) Foam rolling and yoga are your friends. Make them a part of your daily life in some fashion, even a little bit.
10.) Drop weight. Cut 10-20 pounds during your base or speed phase of marathon training. (It will be easier during that time. That way when you are doing 20 mile runs (and longer) and need more recovery time etc., you don't have to worry about losing weight or keeping it off, all you have to do is maintain. And quite frankly losing the 10-20 pounds (If you have it to lose) will make your body a lot happier after 26.2 miles.
11.) Marathon distance is a b$t&h to train for. It will consume all of your time and you have to be willing to give up a lot of your life. I prefer the half-marathon distance. I can still run long and train hard, but no run has to be longer than 2 hours. It means I still get to keep my Sundays.
12.) Taper. No really taper. Taper smart. Did I mention you should take tapering seriously?
Until next time true believers.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
When the miles cease to matter.
My mileage has been adding up. Two weeks ago I hit just over 46 miles in a week. Last week I only did 36 miles as I felt it was a good idea to de-load since I was feeling the fatigue from the week before. (Actually if you count my hike on Sunday I did just over 40 miles last week. )
Something happened to me due to that 46 mile week. Another mile became simply another mile. I noticed the shift on Saturday when I had a 4 mile race in the morning. In an effort to get more mileage in I came home and ran another 6.5 miles. I just did it. It was easy. It was just more miles.
A year ago when I ran four half marathons and nine other races I never would have felt that way. Due to my heavy mileage everything has become relative. My average run is now 9-10 miles. This weekend I have a long run of 18 miles as a tune up in Central Park. It's just 18 miles. What I care about now is how fast I finish it. How I run it. The miles no longer matter but the quality of the run does.
The biggest worry I have as of late is trying to squeeze in these runs with my work schedule. My travel season for my job is starting to get rolling and the anxiety is building. It's a lot easier to run 20 miles at home rather than on the road in a strange city where all you are doing is hotel and plane hopping. Red eyes where you land at 6 AM are terrible for running.
But there's nothing I can do to change any of that. The first Sunday in November will be upon me and I will have to put my head down, tackle the bridges and maintain my pace. I can't go back redo all of my training . It will either be there or it won't.
Something happened to me due to that 46 mile week. Another mile became simply another mile. I noticed the shift on Saturday when I had a 4 mile race in the morning. In an effort to get more mileage in I came home and ran another 6.5 miles. I just did it. It was easy. It was just more miles.
A year ago when I ran four half marathons and nine other races I never would have felt that way. Due to my heavy mileage everything has become relative. My average run is now 9-10 miles. This weekend I have a long run of 18 miles as a tune up in Central Park. It's just 18 miles. What I care about now is how fast I finish it. How I run it. The miles no longer matter but the quality of the run does.
The biggest worry I have as of late is trying to squeeze in these runs with my work schedule. My travel season for my job is starting to get rolling and the anxiety is building. It's a lot easier to run 20 miles at home rather than on the road in a strange city where all you are doing is hotel and plane hopping. Red eyes where you land at 6 AM are terrible for running.
But there's nothing I can do to change any of that. The first Sunday in November will be upon me and I will have to put my head down, tackle the bridges and maintain my pace. I can't go back redo all of my training . It will either be there or it won't.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
9 Weeks out - 7 till my taper.
I'm nine weeks away from the ING NYC Marathon.
Well, actually it's more like 8, but I'm coming into the end of my 9th week.
This is also going to be my first over 40 mile week.
For a lot of runners that's not a lot of mileage, but for me it is a milestone. I'm also making a huge jump in my mileage. (I'm passing 40 by A LOT.) I have another long run scheduled for Sunday AM (which is also the 9/11 anniversary). I'm anticipating route changes since 6-7 miles of my run happen in Liberty State Park and I expect most of it to be closed off due to the events that will be taking place.
Hopefully I will be able to get out and about early before things get crazy. But I am determined to get in at least 16 miles on Sunday.
For the next 5-6 weeks before I start my taper it's only going to get tougher and pile on from here.
Looking to do my last big long run October 16-18th. Then I will be on the road for work. What's lovely is that I will be traveling to the Pacific Northwest! I will have the amazing opportunity to run out there during the beginning of my taper. New scenery and unknown routes - how exciting! I will be spending a couple of days in Portland, so I hope to find a running group or two to head out with while I'm there.
With the marathon looming I've had to really focus. Jiu Jitsu sadly has taken a back seat to running. But that's the way it has to be. There's no way I could consistently train both and recover enough to do well at running.
Post marathon I'm looking forward to putting running on the back burner for a few months. Of being able to take all of the energy, focus and drive that's been my running and put it into Jiu Jitsu.
I've also been consumed on the writing front.
Adapting my teen/supernatural pilot into a YA novel series. (Which has been A LOT of work.)
I'm also hard at work on a web series that I'm in pre-production on. Slowly putting those bits together piece by piece and I'm hoping to have an episode or two up and running this Fall.
I write so much original material that I am finally working on spec scripts. I'm grinding away on a CASTLE spec and on a COUGAR TOWN spec.
If only I didn't have to have a "day job" and could only write, run and train jiu jitsu with the odd acting job thrown in for fun!
Believe or not but RUNNER'S WORLD has been really helpful in the training plan department. I've been adopting workouts that, I feel, have been making a big difference.
This week I did a 3 X 2, 20 seconds faster than MRP with a 1/4 mile recovery between repeats.
Next week will be 2 X 4, 20 seconds faster than MRP. Then 3 X 3 capping out at a 5 x 2.
My remaining races are: Mind/Body/Spirit Games (Sept. 17th), 5th Avenue Mile (Sept. 24th), 18 Miler Marathon Tune Up (Sept. 25th), Staten Island 1/2 Marathon (October 9th).
I'm also doing something new. Starting this week I'm doing Alternating Long Runs. Where one week I will do a long, slow, steady run longer than two hours and the next week I will do a Fast Finish long run. With the later, I begin the run 1-2 minutes per mile slower than race pace. Half way to three quarters through I hit my MRP. Then I finish the last segment FASTER than race pace. I'm hoping that 2-3 of these before the marathon will ensure a solid sub four hour finish time.
I got this idea from mcmillanrunning.com. It' s a great site and I recommend it to everyone.
Until next time true believers!
Well, actually it's more like 8, but I'm coming into the end of my 9th week.
This is also going to be my first over 40 mile week.
For a lot of runners that's not a lot of mileage, but for me it is a milestone. I'm also making a huge jump in my mileage. (I'm passing 40 by A LOT.) I have another long run scheduled for Sunday AM (which is also the 9/11 anniversary). I'm anticipating route changes since 6-7 miles of my run happen in Liberty State Park and I expect most of it to be closed off due to the events that will be taking place.
Hopefully I will be able to get out and about early before things get crazy. But I am determined to get in at least 16 miles on Sunday.
For the next 5-6 weeks before I start my taper it's only going to get tougher and pile on from here.
Looking to do my last big long run October 16-18th. Then I will be on the road for work. What's lovely is that I will be traveling to the Pacific Northwest! I will have the amazing opportunity to run out there during the beginning of my taper. New scenery and unknown routes - how exciting! I will be spending a couple of days in Portland, so I hope to find a running group or two to head out with while I'm there.
With the marathon looming I've had to really focus. Jiu Jitsu sadly has taken a back seat to running. But that's the way it has to be. There's no way I could consistently train both and recover enough to do well at running.
Post marathon I'm looking forward to putting running on the back burner for a few months. Of being able to take all of the energy, focus and drive that's been my running and put it into Jiu Jitsu.
I've also been consumed on the writing front.
Adapting my teen/supernatural pilot into a YA novel series. (Which has been A LOT of work.)
I'm also hard at work on a web series that I'm in pre-production on. Slowly putting those bits together piece by piece and I'm hoping to have an episode or two up and running this Fall.
I write so much original material that I am finally working on spec scripts. I'm grinding away on a CASTLE spec and on a COUGAR TOWN spec.
If only I didn't have to have a "day job" and could only write, run and train jiu jitsu with the odd acting job thrown in for fun!
Believe or not but RUNNER'S WORLD has been really helpful in the training plan department. I've been adopting workouts that, I feel, have been making a big difference.
This week I did a 3 X 2, 20 seconds faster than MRP with a 1/4 mile recovery between repeats.
Next week will be 2 X 4, 20 seconds faster than MRP. Then 3 X 3 capping out at a 5 x 2.
My remaining races are: Mind/Body/Spirit Games (Sept. 17th), 5th Avenue Mile (Sept. 24th), 18 Miler Marathon Tune Up (Sept. 25th), Staten Island 1/2 Marathon (October 9th).
I'm also doing something new. Starting this week I'm doing Alternating Long Runs. Where one week I will do a long, slow, steady run longer than two hours and the next week I will do a Fast Finish long run. With the later, I begin the run 1-2 minutes per mile slower than race pace. Half way to three quarters through I hit my MRP. Then I finish the last segment FASTER than race pace. I'm hoping that 2-3 of these before the marathon will ensure a solid sub four hour finish time.
I got this idea from mcmillanrunning.com. It' s a great site and I recommend it to everyone.
Until next time true believers!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Dammit Mamet, You Are Right.
I know this is going to be a strange post after a long lay-off. But in my defense I have been busy. I recently had two of my plays go up Off-off Broadway here in NYC. In addition to writing them I also had a cameo in one and the other play was a two-hander. (I was one of the two hands.) Lights go up, forty-two minutes later the lights come down, two actors.
I hadn't been on stage that much since I played Petruchio.
But now that the dust has settled and I've had some time to think and reflect on this recent experience and I have an important observation . . . David Mamet is right.
I want to make it clear, I am not someone who thinks everything Mamet writes is brilliant, quite the opposite actually. Do I like his plays? Sure, some of them. His movies? Some, I will watch UNTOUCHABLES or RED BELT any day. What about his essays? Actually, yes, I admit I am a nonfiction junkie and reading a Mamet essay about pocketknives is a great joy of mine. In regards to his theatre essays . . . I almost always walk away angry at his oversimplification of everyone's craft. Specifically the actor's craft and process.
This brings me to the point of this post.
I stand corrected and Mr. Mamet, Sir, you are right.
I hang my head in shame over the years I've spent saying, "Read, TRUE AND FALSE, but be careful, it can be dangerous for a young actor to read."
Well, I'm wrong.
After working on two of my plays at the same time, with a diverse group of actors and yes, I even had to direct a bit on one of them. I have walked away from the experience with this . . .
What is the actor's job?
Learn your lines, learn your blocking, find an appropriate action and speak out clearly even though frightened, scared, insecure etc. That is true bravery in one's art and that is the actor's job.
Some actor's never got their lines right. Now let me be clear. It's one thing to do what I call kerfuffle the line. Sometimes as an actor you learn something wrong and it just sticks in your mouth and brain. That's not what I'm talking about. That would be consistency. While Emerson may call that the, "hobgoblin of little minds," I call it an actor doing their job and what they need to do.
No, some of these actors felt the need to embellish, to add, paraphrase to which I say, "I'm the dramatist can we please at least try it my way? Just once?"
Nope, they never did. Not even at the table with no pressure to perform and the script in front of them.
In performance their embellishments, their insecurity and hubris grew to such epic proportions that they felt they needed to make it better or they needed to get a laugh. (Again, without ever trying it as written.)
They did this at the expense of other actors onstage. They did this at the expense of scripted jokes and laugh lines that belonged to other people. (These same actors never learned their blocking and couldn't physically do the same things night to night.)
In short, they were not serving the play. They were selfish and are unable to work simply, truthfully and as asked by the playwright and director.
I wonder to myself if they had actually learned the lines as written and performed them as such what would have happened?
I think their work would have been like the actors who did their job. It would have grown every night and deepened. They would have been considered giving by their fellow actors and they would have served the play and the production.
I'm not perfect. But between educational and professional theatre I've worked on well over 200 plays and I work enough to be in and maintain membership in all three actor unions, so I do feel like I know what I am talking about. Whenever this has happened to me (lines jumbled or a jump in the script) I am horrified and I immediately go to my script to uncover what went wrong and then I work to correct it and make sure it never happens again. What I don't do is walk off-stage and blame other people in the dressing room. If it's a huge issue I go to the other actor and ask we run lines on that section because I think I messed something up. (I find that works best, blame yourself and not get defensive.)
I am an open-minded writer. If a line doesn't work, let's talk about it. Let's change it. Especially on a new play. But the time for that is in rehearsal. Not performance.
This idea of what are the basics, the bare minimum of an actor's job has been sticking in my brain for weeks and I need to get it out.
So what are the basics of an actor's job? To learn their lines, learn their blocking, find an appropriate action and speak out even though frightened.
Dammit Mamet, you are right.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Trial of Miles . . .
My marathon training has begun and my body is paying the price.
This past weekend I did over 14 miles on Saturday and then on Sunday ran a five mile race in Central Park. Not the brightest of ideas. (My mileage is over 30 miles a week now.)
My legs are crispy, my feet hurt (they are swollen & blistered) and in general I've been wiped out.
I'm finding it very hard to qualify for next year's ING New York Marathon while training for this year's.
I have to learn to let my times go and accept that I will not be setting PR's at any of these races from here on out. I have to check my ego and my hubris at the door.
I also have to learn to train and recover smarter. Now that I am entering heavier mileage I have to pay much more attention to my body. I will no longer be running on consecutive days if I can help it.
Additionally I am in desperate need of yoga. I used to have a very consistent and dedicated practice. (Of course I worked at a yoga studio.) As of late I've been plagued with nagging injuries. My outer hamstring simply won't heal and has been acting up all the time. I think it's time to bring myself back to my mat.
Speaking of "mat time."
I've also been neglecting my jiu jitsu.
As I've been increasing my mileage I've simply needed more recovery time. I'm hoping my body will adapt so I can resume my cross training activity of choice (BJJ) and add some yoga to the mix.
I hope this is just a phase. I've been wondering lately if part of it might not be psychological. I started getting nagging injuries and feeling burnt out when I was in Iowa for my mother's last days and her funeral. Perhaps there is a greater mind/body connection than I realize? It's certainly food for thought. If that is the case and my poor training quality and injuries are connected to my emotional life, how do I break through this plateau? Is it simply a matter of digging deep and training through it?
While my training has been crappy my artistic life has been exploding. I've been retooling some of my writing with amazing results. A crazy growth period if you will. I've also inherited the artistic director position with Dark Luna. I have so many writing projects going at once right now that I feel creatively blessed. A lot of really good work is being done and every time I put my fingers to my keyboard I have a story to tell (or an old one to reinvent.)
More posts to come. I actually have a few that I've written but haven't posted. Perhaps this weekend I will get to it. But for the time being it's time to dig deep, do the work and go on my own, "Trial of Miles."
This past weekend I did over 14 miles on Saturday and then on Sunday ran a five mile race in Central Park. Not the brightest of ideas. (My mileage is over 30 miles a week now.)
My legs are crispy, my feet hurt (they are swollen & blistered) and in general I've been wiped out.
I'm finding it very hard to qualify for next year's ING New York Marathon while training for this year's.
I have to learn to let my times go and accept that I will not be setting PR's at any of these races from here on out. I have to check my ego and my hubris at the door.
I also have to learn to train and recover smarter. Now that I am entering heavier mileage I have to pay much more attention to my body. I will no longer be running on consecutive days if I can help it.
Additionally I am in desperate need of yoga. I used to have a very consistent and dedicated practice. (Of course I worked at a yoga studio.) As of late I've been plagued with nagging injuries. My outer hamstring simply won't heal and has been acting up all the time. I think it's time to bring myself back to my mat.
Speaking of "mat time."
I've also been neglecting my jiu jitsu.
As I've been increasing my mileage I've simply needed more recovery time. I'm hoping my body will adapt so I can resume my cross training activity of choice (BJJ) and add some yoga to the mix.
I hope this is just a phase. I've been wondering lately if part of it might not be psychological. I started getting nagging injuries and feeling burnt out when I was in Iowa for my mother's last days and her funeral. Perhaps there is a greater mind/body connection than I realize? It's certainly food for thought. If that is the case and my poor training quality and injuries are connected to my emotional life, how do I break through this plateau? Is it simply a matter of digging deep and training through it?
While my training has been crappy my artistic life has been exploding. I've been retooling some of my writing with amazing results. A crazy growth period if you will. I've also inherited the artistic director position with Dark Luna. I have so many writing projects going at once right now that I feel creatively blessed. A lot of really good work is being done and every time I put my fingers to my keyboard I have a story to tell (or an old one to reinvent.)
More posts to come. I actually have a few that I've written but haven't posted. Perhaps this weekend I will get to it. But for the time being it's time to dig deep, do the work and go on my own, "Trial of Miles."
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