Spring Cache abstraction using Ehcache

In this article, we will see how to use EhCahce with Spring Cache abstraction. Refer http://ehcache.org/documentation/recipes/spring-annotations for using EhCache’s own annotations. The advantage of using it with Spring Cache abstraction is that it's easy to change the underlying storage. Say in future if we want to change it to Memcached, then it is just a configuration change and not a code change. 

Let’s look at the Spring configuration steps and common issues that one encounters while using Spring Cache.

1. Add the Ehcache dependency to the project
   

Note: Without adding the dependency you might see the error

org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationException: Error creating bean with name 'org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation.RequestMappingHandlerMapping#0': Invocation of init method failed; nested exception is java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Lnet/sf/ehcache/CacheManager;

2. Include the cache namespace and schema location in the Spring Configuration file.
3. Configure the application to use annotation driven
   
   
4. Define the cacheManager bean
   
   
5. Configure the ehcache.xml
   Defined the caches in the ehcache configuration XML. Below is the sample ehcache xml file to define the caches.
   
   Note: Without defaultCache defined, below error will be thrown

Cannot resolve reference to bean 'cacheManager' while setting bean property 'cacheManager'; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationException: Error creating bean with name 'cacheManager' defined in ServletContext resource [/WEB-INF/servlet-config.xml]: Cannot resolve reference to bean 'ehcache' while setting bean property 'cacheManager'; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationException: Error creating bean with name 'ehcache' defined in ServletContext resource [/WEB-INF/servlet-config.xml]: Invocation of init method failed; nested exception is net.sf.ehcache.CacheException: Illegal configuration. No default cache is configured.

6. Add the @Cacheable annotation to the code
   
   
7. Common issues one might face in using the Spring Cache abstraction
1. Cache key collision:

The default key generator is a simple one and it is easy to get key collisions using this. Refer the DefaultKeyGenerator.java code to see how it works. Also when you have an array as a parameter, the default key generator produces different key for each execution.

It’s better to use your own key generator. Below is the sample one I used

And you can set this as your default key generator in the Spring configuration file like below.

2. Application context is loaded more than once:

Sometimes due to misconfiguration the application context gets loaded twice and due to that you might get the error. Make sure you name the cacheManager in the ehcache.xml and you are not loading the application context twice.

Another unnamed CacheManager already exists in the same VM. 

Please provide unique names for each CacheManager in the config or do one of following:

1. Use one of the CacheManager.create() static factory methods to reuse same CacheManager with same name or create one if necessary

2. Shutdown the earlier cacheManager before creating new one with same name.

The source of the existing CacheManager is: InputStreamConfigurationSource [stream=sun.net.www.protocol.jar.JarURLConnection$JarURLInputStream@47f3ed6]

            Following the above steps will help you to setup the Spring Cache abstraction using Ehcache.

SSH into Ubuntu in Virtual Box

Change the Network Adapter as "Bridge Adapter" and start the Ubuntu VM.

Once logged in get the ip of the machine using ifconfig command, in this case the ip is 159.112.138.46

Then in Cygwin from Windows Host, you should be able to do the SSH.

Overview of Microstrategy features

In my previous blog Microstrategy 9 Installation on a new Windows 2008 server we looked at installing the MSTR. Here let's look at the features we installed. Below is the list of all the features from MSTR.

The below picture will give us the overview of how all these features are related.

Let's look at each one of them in detail

1. Microstrategy Intelligence Server
   Microstrategy Intelligence Server is the architectural foundation for the Microstrategy platform. This communicates to the various data sources, and runs the reports and distributes to MSTR Desktop and Web users. Intelligence server ensures the scalability and fault tolerance required for analysis of terabyte databases and millions of users.
   Below are the sub-features installed as part of MSTR Intelligence server. We will cover these features in detail when we explore the Intelligence server in detail.
   
2. Microstrategy Web universal
   MSTR Web enables the users to create and/or run the reports in web.
   
   Below are the sub-features installed as part of MSTR Web Universal.
   
3. Microstrategy Office
   MSTR Office is a plugin for Microsoft Office and lets the user to run reports from Office tools. I could not show the screen shot for this product, I didn't install this feature as I don't have the MS Office in my VM.
   Below are the sub-features installed as part of MSTR Office.
   
4. Microstrategy Mobile
   MSTR Mobile enables the users to view the reports from mobile devices.
   
   Below are the sub-features installed as part of MSTR Mobile.
   
5. Microstrategy Desktop Products
   MSTR Desktop allows the user to create and/or run the reports in the Desktop.
   
   MSTR Architect helps to map the data model to the business model.
   
   Below are the sub-features installed as part of MSTR Desktop.
   
6. Microstrategy Object Manager
   MSTR Object Manager is used to migrate MSTR objects from one environment to another.
   
7. Microstrategy Command Manager
   Command Manager is used to create scripts to automate common administrative tasks.
   
8. Microstrategy Enterprise Manager
   MSTR Enterprise Manager provides the usage details of the MSTR Intelligence Server. The core of Enterprise Manager is nothing but a MSTR project with set of predefined reports, and the metrics and attributes to create your own reports. You can run reports that help you to:
   • Allocate system resources based on data warehouse usage trends
   • Research efficient aggregation, partitioning, and indexing strategies
   • Profile users based on their system resource usage
   • Determine the optimal time to run scheduled jobs, load data, or perform routine system and database maintenance
   • Determine the most popular reports so you can schedule and cache them, thus increasing their response time and reducing the load on the system
   • Identify unused objects from your metadata repository so they can be deleted later
   • Identify peak usage times and patterns and, if necessary, change your Intelligence Server configuration to respond appropriately
   • Determine whether you need to add more threads to the database connection threads if queue times are long
   • Find which tables are the most used, and create indexes to improve performance
9. Microstrategy Integrity Manager
   MSTR Integrity Manager is used to automate the report testing.
   
   
10. Microstrategy System Manager
    Microstrategy System Manager helps to automate the configuration of MSTR products in larger environments.
    
11. Microstrategy SDK
    MSTR SDK enables the developers to extend and integrate MSTR platform through a set of APIs that exposes all platform functionality. It helps to embed intelligence in any custom application.
12. Microstrategy Narrowcast Sever
    MSTR Narrowcast server delivers the report in mail/phone based on the schedules.
    
    Below are the sub-features installed as part of MSTR Narrowcast Server.
    
13. Other Components
    This installs the drivers to access Cubes from Analysis Servers and Sequelink ODBC Socket server to talk to multiple data sources.
    

We will look into each feature in detail in the upcoming blogs.

Microstrategy 9 Installation on a new Windows 2008 server

Since my customer has decided to go with the Microstrategy(MSTR) as analytics and reporting tool, I got curious about this tool and wanted to know more on its capabilities. I got an opportunity to go for a free training from MSTR, and I got the evaluation CD & a nice notebook J. I thought I will install it and explore it for 30 days… Lets see how far I go!

The installation of actual MSTR seems to be simple, but setting up the windows server for the installtion took more time. It would have been simpler if MSTR gave the VM with MSTR services installed in it. Anyways lets assume we have the Windows Server 2008 ready and let see how to install the MSTR. The prerequites are mentioned in the MSTR website http://www.microstrategy.com/evaluation-edition

System Requirements

• x86 or x64 compatible CPU
• 4 GB RAM
• Minimum storage space required: Three times the amount of RAM available to Intelligence Server. For example, an Intelligence Server that is provided 4 GB of RAM requires 12 GB of hard drive space.
• Windows 2003 Standard Edition SP2 (on x86 or x64) ,Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition SP2 (on x86 or x64) ,Windows 2003 Standard Edition R2 SP2 (on x86 or x64) ,Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition R2 SP2 (on x86 or x64) ,Windows Vista Business Edition SP2 (on x86 or x64), Windows Vista Enterprise Edition SP2 (on x86 or x64) ,Windows 7 Professional Edition SP1(on x86 or x64), Windows 7 Enterprise Edition SP1 (on x86 or x64) ,Windows 8 all editions (on x86 or x64) ,Windows 2008 Standard Edition SP2 on x64 ,Windows 2008 Enterprise Edition SP2 on x64 ,Windows 2008 Standard Edition R2 SP1 on x64 ,Windows 2008 Enterprise Edition R2 SP1 on x64 ,Windows Server 2012 Standard (on x64)
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 6.x, 7.0.x, 7.5.x, or 8.x.
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 or 4.5. This must be installed prior to installing MicroStrategy.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, or 10.x.
• Adobe® Reader® version 9.x, 10.x or 11.x.
• Adobe® Flash® Player version 10.1.x, 10.3.x, or 11.x.
• 16-bit color display or higher
• Windows fonts display set to small fonts (96 dpi)

Insert the DVD and double click on the DVD, it will open the below window, click on "Begin Microstrategy Platform Installation".

Select the language and click "Ok"

Click "Next"

Accept the license agreements and click "Next"

The license kay can be obtained form http://www.microstrategy.com/LicenseKey. Promo code is required to get the license key. I got one with the evaluation DVD pack. License ley will be sent to your registered email address. Yes, you will have to register to get the license key.

Change the installation folders if needed. I prefer it to have the default installation path.

Select the features you want to install. Since I am evaluating I installed all the features except the "Microstrategy office" as it required MS Office to be installed in the server, and I don't have one on my server.

After this I got an error saying "Adobe Acrobat Reader 7 or greater" is needed. I downloaded and installed the acrobat reader. Then I got the below errors

MicroStrategy Common Files requirements:MISSING: Microsoft .Net Framework v4.0
MicroStrategy Desktop Products requirements:MISSING: Microsoft .Net Framework v4.0
MicroStrategy Object Manager requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Command Manager requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Enterprise Manager requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Intelligence Server requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Web Universal requirements:

MISSING: Microsoft Internet Information Server Version 5.0 or greater.

MISSING: Microsoft .Net Framework v4.0
MicroStrategy Web Services requirements:

MISSING: Microsoft Internet Information Server Version 5.0 or greater.

MISSING: Microsoft .Net Framework v4.0
MicroStrategy Mobile Server (ASP .NET) requirements:

MISSING: Microsoft Internet Information Server Version 5.0 or greater.

MISSING: Microsoft .Net Framework v4.0
MicroStrategy SDK requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Integrity Manager requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Office requirements:

MISSING: Microsoft .Net Framework v4.0

MISSING: Microsoft Office XP or higher.

MISSING: Windows Installer 4.5 or higher.

(Windows Installer 4.5 redistributables can be found in

..\Utilities\3rdParty\WindowsInstaller45 folder

on the MicroStrategy product installation media.)
SequeLink ODBC Socket Server requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Narrowcast Administrator requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Delivery Engine requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Subscription Portal requirements:

MISSING: Microsoft Internet Information Server Version 5.0 or greater.
MicroStrategy Tutorial - Reporting requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy Analytics Modules requirements:

OK
MicroStrategy MDX Cube Provider requirements:

MISSING: Microsoft Internet Information Server Version 5.0 or greater.

MISSING: Microsoft .Net Framework v4.0

I got below message after installing Microsoft .Net 4.0 and IIS.

MicroStrategy Mobile Server (ASP .NET) requirements:

MISSING Web Server feature: Security\Windows Authentication

MISSING Web Server feature: Application Development\ASP

I had to enable the ASP & Windows Authentication services for the IIS as shown below.

Since it's the new server, I didn't get a chance to enable the ASP and ASP.Net extensions in the IIS. Good that MSTR installation recognizes that and showed me the below pop up.

Leave the default and click "Next"

 This is to just an information that you will get the activation key in the mail.

 Enter the instance name, location, use and click "Next"

Enter your information and click "Next".. In case if you select "I am not an employee…" option then it will prompt you an one more window where it will ask you to entert one of the Employee's information associated with this project.

The installation will start now. It took me hours to finish the installation as my VM's processor and memory are under the required specifications.  Select to get the activation code in email. You need to activate the software within 7 days from the installation.

The installed components and it details are listed once the installation is complete.

Component Install:

- MicroStrategy Desktop Analyst

- MicroStrategy Desktop Designer

- MicroStrategy Architect

- MicroStrategy Server Administrator

- MicroStrategy Object Manager

- MicroStrategy Command Manager

- MicroStrategy Enterprise Manager

- MicroStrategy System Manager

- MicroStrategy Intelligence Server

- MicroStrategy Report Services

- MicroStrategy OLAP Services

- MicroStrategy Distribution Services

- MicroStrategy Transaction Services

- MicroStrategy Web Universal - MicroStrategy Web Server (ASP .NET)

- MicroStrategy Web Universal - MicroStrategy Web Server (JSP)

- MicroStrategy Web Universal Analyst

- MicroStrategy Web Universal Professional

- MicroStrategy Web Universal Reporter

- MicroStrategy Mobile - BlackBerry® Device Client Application

- MicroStrategy Mobile - MicroStrategy Mobile Server (ASP .NET)

- MicroStrategy Mobile - MicroStrategy Mobile Server (JSP)

- MicroStrategy Portlets

- MicroStrategy GIS Connectors

- MicroStrategy SDK

- MicroStrategy Integrity Manager

- MicroStrategy Tutorial - Reporting

- MicroStrategy Analytics Modules

- MicroStrategy Narrowcast Administrator

- MicroStrategy Delivery Engine

- MicroStrategy Subscription Portal

- MicroStrategy Tutorial - Delivery

- SequeLink ODBC Socket Server

- MicroStrategy MDX Cube Provider

Target Directories:

- MicroStrategy Desktop Products: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Desktop

- MicroStrategy Object Manager: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Object Manager

- MicroStrategy Command Manager: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Command Manager

- MicroStrategy Enterprise Manager: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Enterprise Manager

- MicroStrategy System Manager: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\System Manager

- MicroStrategy Intelligence Server: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Intelligence Server

- MicroStrategy Web Universal - MicroStrategy Web Server (ASP .NET): C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Web ASPx

- MicroStrategy Web Universal - MicroStrategy Web Server (JSP): C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Web JSP

- MicroStrategy Mobile - BlackBerry® Device Client Application: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Mobile Clients

- MicroStrategy Mobile Server - MicroStrategy Mobile Server (ASP .NET): C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Mobile Server ASPx

- MicroStrategy Mobile Server - MicroStrategy Mobile Server (JSP): C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Mobile Server JSP

- MicroStrategy SDK: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\SDK

- MicroStrategy Portlets: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Portlets

- MicroStrategy GIS Connectors: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\GISConnectors

- MicroStrategy Integrity Manager: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Integrity Manager

- MicroStrategy Tutorial - Reporting: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Tutorial Reporting

- MicroStrategy Analytics Modules: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Analytics Modules

- MicroStrategy Narrowcast Administrator: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Narrowcast Server\Delivery Engine

- MicroStrategy Tutorial - Delivery: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Narrowcast Server\Tutorial

- MicroStrategy Subscription Portal: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\Narrowcast Server\Subscription Portal

- MicroStrategy Health Center: C:\Program Files\Common Files\MicroStrategy\HealthCenter

- MicroStrategy MDX Cube Provider: C:\Program Files\MicroStrategy\MDX Cube Provider

- MicroStrategy Common Files: C:\Program Files\Common Files\MicroStrategy

Program Folder: MicroStrategy

Log file:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\MicroStrategy\install.log

MicroStrategy Web Server (ASP .NET) Virtual Directory: MicroStrategy

MicroStrategy Mobile Server (ASP .NET) Virtual Directory: MicroStrategyMobile

MicroStrategy Subscription Portal Virtual Directory: NarrowcastServer

MicroStrategy MDX Cube Provider Virtual Directory: MicroStrategyMDX

License Details:

Contract ID: 76053

License Key Group: 1

License Key Issue Date: 7/18/2012

GA installation

MicroStrategy Intelligence Server Module

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Intelligence Server Universal Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Narrowcast Server Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Report Services Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy OLAP Services Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Distribution Services Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Transaction Services Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Intelligence Server Clustering Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Intelligence Server MultiSource Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

Maximum number of Concurrent Users allowed: 50

MicroStrategy Web Reporter Module

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Web Universal Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Web Analyst Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Web Professional Option

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Desktop Products

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

MicroStrategy Desktop Analyst Module

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Desktop Designer Option

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Architect

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Server Administrator

MicroStrategy Command Manager

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

Maximum number of Managed Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Enterprise Manager

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

Maximum number of Managed Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Object Manager

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

Maximum number of Managed Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy SDK

Production Version

MicroStrategy Analytics Modules

Evaluation Version

MicroStrategy Integrity Manager

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 1

Maximum number of Managed Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy Mobile

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

MicroStrategy System Manager

Evaluation Version

Evaluation period: 1

Evaluation duration: 30 day(s)

License based on Named Users

Maximum number of Named Users allowed: 500

Maximum number of Managed Named Users allowed: 500

 Restart the server to complete the installation

Activate the server using Start à Microstrategy à License Manager

Enter the activation key that you got in the mail.

This completes the Microstrategy Server installation.

The installation should be easy if you have a good server to install it in. I had to struggle to get the VM ready and install MSTR on top of that. That too my VM was about micro in size. Took 3 hours to complete my installation. Better to use a larger VM for quicker installation.

Looking back at 2012

New year party

Started the year 2012 with a party at Minneapolis, MN. I drove to the cities, two day before the new year, from La Crosse-WI where I used to live then. And I stayed at my friends place. I was determined to go to a party with fully dressed up. Its an inspiration from "Barney" :-), an awesome character in the series "How I met your Mother". I convinced my friends also. We all suited up & went to the new year party in EPIC event center. It was snowing on the midnight & its the first snow of the year. The night was very beautiful, people were all dressed up & looking nice. I had many drinks, didn't keep the count of it after couple of drinks, or actually couldn't keep the count :-), danced with strangers. When I think about it now, it was little heavy on the wallet :-) but definitely a fun night to remember.

  

Birthday

I am not big fan of celebrating birthdays. One of my friend, living in twin cities then, invited me for the Monster Jam event. I was reluctant in the beginning and said no to him. But later I realized it's my birthday as well on that day, then I thought why not go to cities & have fun.  So again I came to the cities to party with my friends for my birthday and went to the Monster Jam event as well. It was at Vikings stadium, liked it very much. The music and truck engine noises were so loud initially and later got used to it. I have seen these programs in TV when I was in school, got excited to see these live; big trucks, stunts, loud music and big engine noise. It was fun.

 

Came back to La Crosse on Sunday night and my wonderful friends were ready with a cake to celebrate my birthday. I was really happy that they came over to my place to celebrate it. They might have came to take revenge on me too :-) Happy to have them as friends.

  

32 mile bike tour

I was reading an article about the TCS CEO Chandrasekar, and in that he said he trained himself to run full Marathon at the age of around 45. I decided then and there, that I will have to run a marathon one day. So I decided to start with Half Marathon. I participated in a beginner  triathlon before and I know my training was not good as I was training alone. So this time I decided to train with friends and colleagues  Persuaded 4-5 guys to register for Half Marathon with me. Though its little selfish here :-), its a win win for everyone. We all registered for May event in Jan. Started training, created a Facebook event page and started posting the training progress. Since it was my first time, I didn't know how to train myself. Didn't know I need a good pair of running shoes. I bought a bare foot experience running shoe, trained hard, without proper rest and damaged my shins. I didn't even know what shin splints mean that time. Only after getting hurt came to know I needed a good running shoes that fits my running style and rest is equally important as training. I gave rest for couple of weeks and trained back again, but I couldn't recover from the damage in short time. Gave rest again for couple of weeks, but didn't help at all. So I decided to switch to 32 mile biking event. That's how I ended up doing 32 mile biking. Started training for it. I go to gym on weekdays and bike in the trails on weekends. On weekends I used to do 20-22 miles in my mountain bike @ 10 miles/hour pace. Meanwhile I moved to twin cities for other Job opportunity. But I came back to La Crosse for the event. All my friends who registered with me completed their first Half marathon and I completed my 32 mile biking. It was a good experience and fun to train with friends.

         

Moved to St. Paul, MN from La Crosse, WI

I was bored with my project, it was not technically challenging. Also I wanted to move to a big city. But that thought become stronger when I went to Salt Lake City on the way to yellow stone national park in Sep 2011. Though its not a big city like NY, its a good city. It has few sky scrappers. Then after few weeks the thought become weaker. Then I visited twin cities couple of times for new year & birthday. Liked the city very much. I decided firmly this time that I want to move out to a bigger city. I went and told my manager to release me, and luckily we got an opportunity in twin cities itself. Everything worked out well and I moved to St. paul. Though I was happy on one side that I am moving to a new city, new technical project; I was sad that I am going to miss the La Crosse gang. We had a booz party on a weekend before I left, & we had great fun on that night. La Crosse guys gave me a nice send off lunch, everyone was there that day. I was happy to see everyone on that day. Few of my close friends gifted me a unique funny tequila.

After moving to the cities, I really enjoyed working in the new project, had lots of  parties, made new friends, perspective on technology has changed. Definitely this is one of the top decisions of the year.

         

Half Marathon

Though I could not complete my first Half Marathon, I was determined to do a half marathon before 2012 ends. Luckily I found the Monster Dash half marathon in twin cities and registered for it. Came to know about the Lake Calhoun from friends, that it is a good place for running and biking. I am glad I found this place. I should say that this lake has contributed a lot on my half marathon training. Also slowly I started liking running outdoors, felt like that's my yoga time. But I kinda over did my training. Its enough if you were able to do 10 mile once in your training. I did 10 mile 5 - 6 times every weekend and I got my knee injured just 2 weeks before the event. I was scared that I will not be able to run this time also. I didn't run for the next two weeks. On the day of the event, my knees started giving pain after 10 min of run itself. I thought I will quit and walk out, but little part of my heart said to keep it going. I kept limping from mile 2 till the end but some how finished it. I was so happy that I completed the race.

45 mile bike ride
This happened just like that. I didn't have any plan for a long weekend. So I decided I will bike the grand rounds, a 50 mile scenic byway around twin cities. I took the bile rental and just did that. I was tough at the end. Once again a great experience to be remebered.

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyFitness

Motor Cycle ride to Duluth

Long time wish to ride a motor cycle in US highways. Took my motor cycle license in 2011 summer itself but couldn't ride in 2011. Again I was so determined to tick this off from my bucket list by 2012. Once my customer invited me for a group ride, but I could not get the motor cycle rental for my size that day. I got Harley Road King, which is big for me. The Honda Shadow 750 cc is the right for me but it was fully booked almost all the weekends. After many attempts I got it in fall, as the temperature dropped to 50F and no was riding. Phew! a shivering experience to ride in 50F. But still enjoyed as it was my first time in US and moreover I was riding after a long time. I drove around 400 mile in one day :-)

When I look back the year 2012, I feel happy that I have few experiences to remember. Hope 2013 will be more interesting. Wish you all a happy new year!