I'll never say I'm super-skinny. I won't even say I'm skinny. I'm cool with what I am and I know that I'm a fairly healthy person. I'm a tad curvy and sure if you look at all the books and charts and whatnot I could stand to lose a few but my body is apparently very happy right where it is. I weigh 163lbs....I've weighed between 158 and 163 now since mid-December. Despite marathon training, feast and famine...my body is pleased with right around here. And I'm not too displeased. We all have these insane notions embedded into our heads bred from Barbie childhoods and supermodel America. But you know what? I'm not buying it anymore and I think if I weighed much less I wouldn't look good. I have big bones too, dude! Anyway....point of this paragraph: I'm pretty pleased with where I'm at and I know it isn't too far one way or the other.
But WOW...I look around and all I see are these really big people. BIG people. I mean, whoa, big people. Now, if you live a decent life and you make healthy decisions, I understand that there are things beyond our control. You have babies - your body changes. Your body has a different purpose and that's cool, it adjusts. You get older - your body changes. Your body again has a different purpose (no longer the instinctual mission of being THE hunter/gatherer or protector) and that's cool, it adjusts. But we have an issue here - we reinforce the changes and allow them to happen by reinforcing our poor decisions with bad eating and sedentary lifetstyles. Ever wonder how much of life you're REALLY missing by watching the world go by from the sofa or behind the computer monitor or in front of the PS3? Or how much of the enjoyment is being taken out of food by eating it while we drive constantly and not taking the time to think about it?
I just wonder - with all the shows like Biggest Loser and Ruby and whatever other "Fat People" shows you can imagine - whether we as a society and world are bringing the appropriate light to celebrate people making positive changes, or celebrating the poor decisions that necessitate change in the first place?
I applaud people making any sort of "positive" decision towards their health - be you skinny, chubby, yellow or blue - whatever. A healthy decision is a healthy decision and that's a good thing for any and everyone. But as I stood in the parking garage looking out the window waiting on the elevator (7th floor - shin splints, excuses yes, but also 2/3 of a half-Ironman last weekend, kiss it) after getting chewed out by the 2 "larger" ladies who actually had to walk around the front of my car and step up on the curb with the stroller instead of the handicap ramp, I just saw all these BIG people walking to the office buildings. Every single person was big save for the ONE guy that was jogging down the sidewalk - playing dodge'em with the chubbies.
It's mean and I'm sorry, but come on society - straighten up. Don't bitch about the fat kids if you're not willing to lose a few and make the right decisions yourselves. Go walk with your kids, take a hike, park out in the parking lot further, take the stairs, print to the far printer, stop smoking, drink another glass of water instead of soda, hell - eat a vegetable, PUT DOWN THE FRIED FOOD AND STEP AWAY, maybe even just take a deep breath of fresh air. And about that "pain" of going to the gym and working out? That's your body thanking you for giving it the opportunity to live. Yeah, it hurts or is at least a little uncomfortable to workout sometimes. IT"S SUPPOSED TO BE.
Can you imagine how skinny I would be if I didn't enjoy eating so much? Life doesn't have to be about depravity, just about balance. I'm just sad about it, about losing all of these people. I'm hoping that something changes. If not, survival of the fittest yo.
And if I pissed you off - yeah, I'm rude. Yeah, I'm crass. Yeah, I'm blunt and honest. But you know what? I'm healthy. Go step on a scale or take a look at your workout log and then let's talk.
Picture of the Day
Tri Friends - EC Picnic
July 17, 2009
July 15, 2009
Word of the Day...
Catastrophuck - from ST itself, word used to describe the potential for a NYC IM race and the sure state of affairs as a result of attempting to shuttle ~2k athletes so forth and yon for bikes and whatnot, not to mention traffic and logistics of the rest of the day itself.
Can also be used to describe myriad aspects of my life.
Can also be used to describe myriad aspects of my life.
July 13, 2009
Muncie Endurathon - RR
Preface: Muncie was not to be an "A" race. Muncie was to be a nutrition check and a "systems check" to see how I was feeling at the prescribed HIM distances. Three weeks out from the "A" race I knew that it was just to be a sort of dress rehearsal, smack in the middle of some heavy-ish training (for this year, anyway) and I wouldn't really be that rested. What I didn't plan on, however, was being injured. Talk about a wrench in the gears....
The Freedom Run brought on some interesting pain in my left shin. Where did it come from - this 3in. below my knee on the inside pain - what is it and how do I get it to go away NOW? I started asking people about shin splints - what do they feel like, where are they, "how" do they hurt and how do you get them to go away NOW? Last Thursday's track workout had me worrying about my left shin - the pain while running was a bit more intense (though still not really hurting while walking) and it was hurting on the impact while running. I scaled back the workout a bit, dropped some intensity and distance and went about fretting. Friday did some internet searching - medial shin splints - and how/what to do to get them to go away NOW. Then I set to fretting about Muncie. Do I do it at all? Will I hurt myself more (it's a hilly run...)? What if I just go kinda easy? Is it smart? How quickly can I recover? Had the brilliant idea of wearing my calf sleeves to kinda mediate the problem a bit and just play it by ear. But because I can't locate my uber-cool red ones and was a bit nervous about the 2XU ones in the heat (and my feet popping off if they swelled at all and those dumb things got even TIGHTER) so I wound up purchasing a pair of Zoot socks to put on (and entertain the crowds) in T1. I don't care if I look like a 'tard, if it helps preserve my oh-so-delicate physical and mental state for Aug. 1, ok.
After a night of hilarious mechanical prep - changing my tires (Tangente - zipp tires on H3 wheels...ha...I laugh at the universe shaking it's head), Garvins changing wheels, changing my tube (after changing the tire - we'll try not to blame LG) - and not getting to bed early (of course) - and only marginal sleep (holy snot and headache, batman) - it's off to the race-site at 5:20a.
The good news: they changed the forecast while we (struggled to) sleep. They cleared the early morning of rain and storms, now it only looks sketch after about 10-11a (40%). Good deal, they've even backed down the wind a bit - max looks around 15mph in mid-day. Rock on.
The bad news: the weather people stand blindfolded and throw a dart for each hour. They then throw a dart at a percentage. They combine the two and someone plays "pick a number" and voila! A forecast is made.....Muncie is a bad-weather MAGNET on race day, lest ye ever forget.
Get to race site, get things laid out (remember to turn running shoes upside down in case of rain. Decide against putting them in grocery sack to stay dry - it isn't supposed to rain until later and they shouldn't get THAT wet. Note to self: weather people suck.) and head off to get marked up and find a bathroom. Amazingly, I manage to get all things accomplished - a rare feat on race morning. Some pre-race consultation with some runner-friends (Runner's Forum Rocks) and I decide to play it safe - I'm giving the run a mile or two to feel ok - if it hurts on every impact, or hurts and gets worse, I'm making like a fat kid in dodgeball. Pull the chip and number and spend my trip back to transition cheering on the others. I still plan to charge fairly/kinda hard on the swim and the bike and follow the nutrition plan. (Additional note to self: DO NOT ask LGarvin "trispoke or regular". Response will be - even if you aren't - you'll look fast. This does NO GOOD in a howling wind. Will to live will be sucked from body as shoulders and arms and hips tighten massively while trying to maintain bike position and stay on the road. When in doubt, laugh in LGarvin's face and go regular spokes. The more wind-splitting, swerve-avoiding spokes the freaking better, at least on the front wheel. Looking fast while crying is UTTERLY POINTLESS, and as the old guy cruises by you and you're vociferously cussing all living, breathing things that have conspired against you on this ugly morning, you will take no solace in entertaining the masses at this moment.) So....away we go.
Swim - So it's a tad windier than expected. I like rough water, I'm good in rough water. Who the crap put that buoy on the other side of the lake and WHY? No worries...swim to the sailboat, hang a Ralphie. Got it. Muncie always has a bit of a melee start to me, my wave is always mixed in with the punk-ass boys (and I do mean boys...as they're usually the young punks)that think they can swim (and usually can). So I get elbowed out of the way by all the taller, leaner, younger, triangle-shouldered punks and a lot of chicks and the gun goes off. It's fairly evident fairly early that this is NOT going to go according to the normal plan. The course is flanked by intermittent, small orange buoys (not to be mistaken with the HUGE yellow guy that we're actually swimming toward before we can turn). There's a wind blowing anything and everything diagonal across the course - meaning it's also blowing everyONE diagonal across the swim course. I swim a pretty straight line in most conditions (not sure why/how, it just normally happens) - but when I'm getting pushed back and forth by random people swimming across my bow AND my stern, I get freaked. The chop is pretty heavy and sighting is, well, sighting is a bitch. But plow on like the little tugboat that could I do. I work on my form for awhile, watching the crowd move from one side of me to the other. I take a minute to actually make sure the sailboat IS by the buoy and I chug ahead. I get hit a couple of times, I run into a couple of slow-moving vessels ahead. I take note of the vast distances between the safety groups on pontoons. I also note that the lifeguards standing on the pontoons is kind of a good idea - them being above the water and able to see the people flailing and all....A gazillion years later and a few tacks (my "swimming fairly straight" was all outta whack, but luckily I don't think I went too far...just a bit wonky compared with everyone else...but I still think everyone else swam a really odd course) I found the buoy and made my right turn. Lucky for me, I made this turn with Father Time (I shit you not) on one side of me and Pokey the Puppy (dude seemed content to take in the sights) on the other. Fairly insulated, except after the turn everyone decided to go sideways. Pokey slams into Father Time and my lane disappears. I'm left clawing over two old, hairy guys and just want out of the way. I'm still kind of uneasy, not really breathing that well and all. But this part of the course went great....fairly smooth sailing (seems appropriate, as sailboats line most of the swim course - makes for easy targets to stay between). Hit the other very large yellow buoy and turn towards shore. Somehow, I got the living hell beat out of me at the second buoy. Chicks laying into me, dudes swimming on my legs...weird. As I was debating swinging at ping-pong girl, who had swam into me 3 times in as many breaths, she promptly disappeared....these guys have a great thing about back an ambulance down towards the bank and roaring the lights. Good thing, those are great to swim towards. Not sure if everyone else was getting pushed by the wind/water, or swimming to the little orange buoys, but I wound up about 20 yds inside of everyone else and started to get a little weirded out (maybe swimming straight isn't the best idea?) I came up on another random slow swimmer who pummeled me (seriously dude, two of us in 20 yds and you manage to totally GRAPPLE my boob?) and finally felt like I was making headway. Cruised up to shore where yet ANOTHER poor swimmer decided he was ALL ABOUT swimming to the right - when I was right next to him. Whammo - into me. Finally got my feet under me and started heading uphill - while giving Mr. Cool Wetsuit a really nasty look and debating taking him out.
It was not a good swim for me. The time wasn't bad, the course felt interminable and the waves pummeled me. I didn't ever get settled into a rhythm so I think my form was WAY off. Altogether, not a great way to start the day, but at least it was over and it wasn't raining yet. Off to the bike. Swim: 36:49.81 (out of the water around 35:14...there's a long uphill run to the mat)
T1
Fairly uneventful, despite the hilarity of trying to get the Zoot socks on. Put the R one on the L foot, cussed and had to unroll it and start over. Note to self: check R/L PRIOR to putting on. Slammed my feet in my shoes, a little velcro action and away I go. Had a giggle as I was announced as "The Legendary AW"....did a slow, cautious mount on the bike (I was that stop and step-over person, after all - I'm not in a hurry remember....) and off. T1 - somewhere around two or three minutes...not in a hurry. Socks = slow. Wear sleeves during swim.
Bike
Immediately started chugging right along, feeling pretty good on the bike. Spent some time grappling with my sunglasses but I won the war. Noticed that I was picking some guys off - chicking guys is fun. LGarvin and I climbed on our bikes at the same time - but skull disc man was off like a rocket. Muncie's first few miles are just my dream ride. You have a few little rollers to settle in and warm up, then you turn on the Cardinal Greenway (read: bike path) and it's just awesome. It's slightly downhill and easy to just cruise a good cadence and fly. I caught LGarvin on the path and decided he was smarter than I, so I settled in behind him and just cruised. I could already feel the wind - NOT GOOD - and knew that life would change for the worse once the highway arrived. Reminded myself to not blow up and not go crazy, ride within myself and just "get through it"....hit the highway (and the wind) and just settled back in and kept plowing along. Saddle was already starting to bother me a bit by about 15mi (note to self: find a new damn saddle) - bad sign. Was just cruising along, kept an eye on my speed and my legs, finished the first bottle at 57:00 (right on schedule), grabbed a gel at a few minutes after the hour and just kept humming along. Didn't push the uphills too hard, just stayed aero and kept an eye on my cadence. Green Steve goes cruising by, bunch of other guys mashing along. Wind is picking up. I grabbed a bottle of water at the second aid station, figured it would be good to have on board to mix the new bottle around 1:00. Mixed it up around 1:10, it was weak but whatever. Computer briefly left the building for a few miles very early on, so I just kept an eye on my speed and my watch and guesstimated around where I was. Then the wind went nuts. It was just off my right shoulder and gusty. With the heli rotors for wheels this was NOT a fun ride. Made it to the turnaround after fighting straight into it for a few miles, then turning and REALLY fighting a direct sidewind. (Damn you, LGarvin) Got stoked because the run back has more down that up and if all held would have more tail than head or side wind. Saw a rather nasty-looking cloud standing in my way, but didn't see any lightning and didn't hear thunder. The sprinkles started literally at the turnaround. No worries, as it stayed light for a long time. A little cooling-off, I'm cool with that. Starting to hurt in earnest now, the hoo-ha is NOT happy and the hips are starting to tighten. But I'm headed for the barn. Then it starts to just rain. Not a happy, summer rain, an "I want you off the road" rain. One flash of lightning, one crack of thunder, and a whole lotta rain. I'm past halfway, there's no other way in, I might as well keep going. Fighting gnarly winds and cussing up a storm. I hit an "Ironman-style" low (never happened to me on a ride so "short") and was just struggling, Knew I didn't have a full 13mi in me after the ride, didn't want to quit, didn't have it mentally. Just a shitty day. Kept pedalling, knew my time wasn't going to be great, everything hurt and I just got pissed. Then i hit the rough pavement and I just sunk. I wanted off the bike, I wanted in bed. I wanted away from where I was. Due to the wind and having to fight I didn't get a gel at 2:00, and didn't get the chance to mix the other bottle - prolonged "letting go" of the bars wasn't an option. I was able to grab a gel at some point and the caffeine helped a lot. Thought I might be able to run. I fought through my own self and made it to the line and just literally got through it. I survived, but that's about it. Bike: 3:00:30 (includes T1)
Run
Didn't have it. Knew it from the get-go. Was planning on a 4mi shakeout run. Figured I would "give it a mile" like I told WGarvin I would. My Running Saviour called out as I dropped over the hill and asked how I was feeling - "eh" - and told me to be smart. There's nothing wrong with being smart. I chugged along for about a half mile, the shoulders loosened up, the back and hips loosened up - this was great. My shin wasn't even pounding yet. Still raining, cold, and really windy. Cruising along at a slow, slow pace and just trying to feel it out. Telling myself it's 4mi. If I feel better I can keep going. About 3/4 in my left shin just screams. I walk for a little bit and stretch and breathe and wiggle and just "relax"....I start a little runny run run and then my right shin starts to tighten up. I run through it for apx. 30 seconds then just got pissed and stopped. Pulled my chip and my number off, turned around and started back to the barn. Just didn't have the fight in my dog. Mentally and physicall got my ass kicked by the rain and the wind and my bike and myself. Limped back with the crazy Hawaiian with the HOT wife who was running great and just making an ass outta himself cheering on everyone - he'll never know how much he helps those of us running - but he has an idea. Limped back to the Iron-Umbrella and got some reassurance. My race was over. Hung out and watched a bunch of the finishers and then realized I was getting cold. Still raining, still winding, and I'm getting cold. Then realized I wouldn't have anything dry. GRUMBLE. But I hung out for awhile and watched and cheered and had a good time. Did a lot of stretching and just kept repeating "right decision".
It sucks - I'm not a quitter, but it was the right decision. Muncie is about $160, Steelhead is almost $300. If I'm going to "show up" to play on Aug 1 I want to do so as healthy as possible. That means sacrificing the shitty weather and mediocre race I was delivering. Still hard to say "DNF".....but I realized afterward that I don't have to prove anything to anyone except myself.
I've gotten through much worse. I did what I showed up to do. It's a shame I couldn't do more and I'll live with that, but no one really thinks worse of me, and I know I could do it. I WILL do it, in 3 weeks. Why does it take so long to explain so little?
The Freedom Run brought on some interesting pain in my left shin. Where did it come from - this 3in. below my knee on the inside pain - what is it and how do I get it to go away NOW? I started asking people about shin splints - what do they feel like, where are they, "how" do they hurt and how do you get them to go away NOW? Last Thursday's track workout had me worrying about my left shin - the pain while running was a bit more intense (though still not really hurting while walking) and it was hurting on the impact while running. I scaled back the workout a bit, dropped some intensity and distance and went about fretting. Friday did some internet searching - medial shin splints - and how/what to do to get them to go away NOW. Then I set to fretting about Muncie. Do I do it at all? Will I hurt myself more (it's a hilly run...)? What if I just go kinda easy? Is it smart? How quickly can I recover? Had the brilliant idea of wearing my calf sleeves to kinda mediate the problem a bit and just play it by ear. But because I can't locate my uber-cool red ones and was a bit nervous about the 2XU ones in the heat (and my feet popping off if they swelled at all and those dumb things got even TIGHTER) so I wound up purchasing a pair of Zoot socks to put on (and entertain the crowds) in T1. I don't care if I look like a 'tard, if it helps preserve my oh-so-delicate physical and mental state for Aug. 1, ok.
After a night of hilarious mechanical prep - changing my tires (Tangente - zipp tires on H3 wheels...ha...I laugh at the universe shaking it's head), Garvins changing wheels, changing my tube (after changing the tire - we'll try not to blame LG) - and not getting to bed early (of course) - and only marginal sleep (holy snot and headache, batman) - it's off to the race-site at 5:20a.
The good news: they changed the forecast while we (struggled to) sleep. They cleared the early morning of rain and storms, now it only looks sketch after about 10-11a (40%). Good deal, they've even backed down the wind a bit - max looks around 15mph in mid-day. Rock on.
The bad news: the weather people stand blindfolded and throw a dart for each hour. They then throw a dart at a percentage. They combine the two and someone plays "pick a number" and voila! A forecast is made.....Muncie is a bad-weather MAGNET on race day, lest ye ever forget.
Get to race site, get things laid out (remember to turn running shoes upside down in case of rain. Decide against putting them in grocery sack to stay dry - it isn't supposed to rain until later and they shouldn't get THAT wet. Note to self: weather people suck.) and head off to get marked up and find a bathroom. Amazingly, I manage to get all things accomplished - a rare feat on race morning. Some pre-race consultation with some runner-friends (Runner's Forum Rocks) and I decide to play it safe - I'm giving the run a mile or two to feel ok - if it hurts on every impact, or hurts and gets worse, I'm making like a fat kid in dodgeball. Pull the chip and number and spend my trip back to transition cheering on the others. I still plan to charge fairly/kinda hard on the swim and the bike and follow the nutrition plan. (Additional note to self: DO NOT ask LGarvin "trispoke or regular". Response will be - even if you aren't - you'll look fast. This does NO GOOD in a howling wind. Will to live will be sucked from body as shoulders and arms and hips tighten massively while trying to maintain bike position and stay on the road. When in doubt, laugh in LGarvin's face and go regular spokes. The more wind-splitting, swerve-avoiding spokes the freaking better, at least on the front wheel. Looking fast while crying is UTTERLY POINTLESS, and as the old guy cruises by you and you're vociferously cussing all living, breathing things that have conspired against you on this ugly morning, you will take no solace in entertaining the masses at this moment.) So....away we go.
Swim - So it's a tad windier than expected. I like rough water, I'm good in rough water. Who the crap put that buoy on the other side of the lake and WHY? No worries...swim to the sailboat, hang a Ralphie. Got it. Muncie always has a bit of a melee start to me, my wave is always mixed in with the punk-ass boys (and I do mean boys...as they're usually the young punks)that think they can swim (and usually can). So I get elbowed out of the way by all the taller, leaner, younger, triangle-shouldered punks and a lot of chicks and the gun goes off. It's fairly evident fairly early that this is NOT going to go according to the normal plan. The course is flanked by intermittent, small orange buoys (not to be mistaken with the HUGE yellow guy that we're actually swimming toward before we can turn). There's a wind blowing anything and everything diagonal across the course - meaning it's also blowing everyONE diagonal across the swim course. I swim a pretty straight line in most conditions (not sure why/how, it just normally happens) - but when I'm getting pushed back and forth by random people swimming across my bow AND my stern, I get freaked. The chop is pretty heavy and sighting is, well, sighting is a bitch. But plow on like the little tugboat that could I do. I work on my form for awhile, watching the crowd move from one side of me to the other. I take a minute to actually make sure the sailboat IS by the buoy and I chug ahead. I get hit a couple of times, I run into a couple of slow-moving vessels ahead. I take note of the vast distances between the safety groups on pontoons. I also note that the lifeguards standing on the pontoons is kind of a good idea - them being above the water and able to see the people flailing and all....A gazillion years later and a few tacks (my "swimming fairly straight" was all outta whack, but luckily I don't think I went too far...just a bit wonky compared with everyone else...but I still think everyone else swam a really odd course) I found the buoy and made my right turn. Lucky for me, I made this turn with Father Time (I shit you not) on one side of me and Pokey the Puppy (dude seemed content to take in the sights) on the other. Fairly insulated, except after the turn everyone decided to go sideways. Pokey slams into Father Time and my lane disappears. I'm left clawing over two old, hairy guys and just want out of the way. I'm still kind of uneasy, not really breathing that well and all. But this part of the course went great....fairly smooth sailing (seems appropriate, as sailboats line most of the swim course - makes for easy targets to stay between). Hit the other very large yellow buoy and turn towards shore. Somehow, I got the living hell beat out of me at the second buoy. Chicks laying into me, dudes swimming on my legs...weird. As I was debating swinging at ping-pong girl, who had swam into me 3 times in as many breaths, she promptly disappeared....these guys have a great thing about back an ambulance down towards the bank and roaring the lights. Good thing, those are great to swim towards. Not sure if everyone else was getting pushed by the wind/water, or swimming to the little orange buoys, but I wound up about 20 yds inside of everyone else and started to get a little weirded out (maybe swimming straight isn't the best idea?) I came up on another random slow swimmer who pummeled me (seriously dude, two of us in 20 yds and you manage to totally GRAPPLE my boob?) and finally felt like I was making headway. Cruised up to shore where yet ANOTHER poor swimmer decided he was ALL ABOUT swimming to the right - when I was right next to him. Whammo - into me. Finally got my feet under me and started heading uphill - while giving Mr. Cool Wetsuit a really nasty look and debating taking him out.
It was not a good swim for me. The time wasn't bad, the course felt interminable and the waves pummeled me. I didn't ever get settled into a rhythm so I think my form was WAY off. Altogether, not a great way to start the day, but at least it was over and it wasn't raining yet. Off to the bike. Swim: 36:49.81 (out of the water around 35:14...there's a long uphill run to the mat)
T1
Fairly uneventful, despite the hilarity of trying to get the Zoot socks on. Put the R one on the L foot, cussed and had to unroll it and start over. Note to self: check R/L PRIOR to putting on. Slammed my feet in my shoes, a little velcro action and away I go. Had a giggle as I was announced as "The Legendary AW"....did a slow, cautious mount on the bike (I was that stop and step-over person, after all - I'm not in a hurry remember....) and off. T1 - somewhere around two or three minutes...not in a hurry. Socks = slow. Wear sleeves during swim.
Bike
Immediately started chugging right along, feeling pretty good on the bike. Spent some time grappling with my sunglasses but I won the war. Noticed that I was picking some guys off - chicking guys is fun. LGarvin and I climbed on our bikes at the same time - but skull disc man was off like a rocket. Muncie's first few miles are just my dream ride. You have a few little rollers to settle in and warm up, then you turn on the Cardinal Greenway (read: bike path) and it's just awesome. It's slightly downhill and easy to just cruise a good cadence and fly. I caught LGarvin on the path and decided he was smarter than I, so I settled in behind him and just cruised. I could already feel the wind - NOT GOOD - and knew that life would change for the worse once the highway arrived. Reminded myself to not blow up and not go crazy, ride within myself and just "get through it"....hit the highway (and the wind) and just settled back in and kept plowing along. Saddle was already starting to bother me a bit by about 15mi (note to self: find a new damn saddle) - bad sign. Was just cruising along, kept an eye on my speed and my legs, finished the first bottle at 57:00 (right on schedule), grabbed a gel at a few minutes after the hour and just kept humming along. Didn't push the uphills too hard, just stayed aero and kept an eye on my cadence. Green Steve goes cruising by, bunch of other guys mashing along. Wind is picking up. I grabbed a bottle of water at the second aid station, figured it would be good to have on board to mix the new bottle around 1:00. Mixed it up around 1:10, it was weak but whatever. Computer briefly left the building for a few miles very early on, so I just kept an eye on my speed and my watch and guesstimated around where I was. Then the wind went nuts. It was just off my right shoulder and gusty. With the heli rotors for wheels this was NOT a fun ride. Made it to the turnaround after fighting straight into it for a few miles, then turning and REALLY fighting a direct sidewind. (Damn you, LGarvin) Got stoked because the run back has more down that up and if all held would have more tail than head or side wind. Saw a rather nasty-looking cloud standing in my way, but didn't see any lightning and didn't hear thunder. The sprinkles started literally at the turnaround. No worries, as it stayed light for a long time. A little cooling-off, I'm cool with that. Starting to hurt in earnest now, the hoo-ha is NOT happy and the hips are starting to tighten. But I'm headed for the barn. Then it starts to just rain. Not a happy, summer rain, an "I want you off the road" rain. One flash of lightning, one crack of thunder, and a whole lotta rain. I'm past halfway, there's no other way in, I might as well keep going. Fighting gnarly winds and cussing up a storm. I hit an "Ironman-style" low (never happened to me on a ride so "short") and was just struggling, Knew I didn't have a full 13mi in me after the ride, didn't want to quit, didn't have it mentally. Just a shitty day. Kept pedalling, knew my time wasn't going to be great, everything hurt and I just got pissed. Then i hit the rough pavement and I just sunk. I wanted off the bike, I wanted in bed. I wanted away from where I was. Due to the wind and having to fight I didn't get a gel at 2:00, and didn't get the chance to mix the other bottle - prolonged "letting go" of the bars wasn't an option. I was able to grab a gel at some point and the caffeine helped a lot. Thought I might be able to run. I fought through my own self and made it to the line and just literally got through it. I survived, but that's about it. Bike: 3:00:30 (includes T1)
Run
Didn't have it. Knew it from the get-go. Was planning on a 4mi shakeout run. Figured I would "give it a mile" like I told WGarvin I would. My Running Saviour called out as I dropped over the hill and asked how I was feeling - "eh" - and told me to be smart. There's nothing wrong with being smart. I chugged along for about a half mile, the shoulders loosened up, the back and hips loosened up - this was great. My shin wasn't even pounding yet. Still raining, cold, and really windy. Cruising along at a slow, slow pace and just trying to feel it out. Telling myself it's 4mi. If I feel better I can keep going. About 3/4 in my left shin just screams. I walk for a little bit and stretch and breathe and wiggle and just "relax"....I start a little runny run run and then my right shin starts to tighten up. I run through it for apx. 30 seconds then just got pissed and stopped. Pulled my chip and my number off, turned around and started back to the barn. Just didn't have the fight in my dog. Mentally and physicall got my ass kicked by the rain and the wind and my bike and myself. Limped back with the crazy Hawaiian with the HOT wife who was running great and just making an ass outta himself cheering on everyone - he'll never know how much he helps those of us running - but he has an idea. Limped back to the Iron-Umbrella and got some reassurance. My race was over. Hung out and watched a bunch of the finishers and then realized I was getting cold. Still raining, still winding, and I'm getting cold. Then realized I wouldn't have anything dry. GRUMBLE. But I hung out for awhile and watched and cheered and had a good time. Did a lot of stretching and just kept repeating "right decision".
It sucks - I'm not a quitter, but it was the right decision. Muncie is about $160, Steelhead is almost $300. If I'm going to "show up" to play on Aug 1 I want to do so as healthy as possible. That means sacrificing the shitty weather and mediocre race I was delivering. Still hard to say "DNF".....but I realized afterward that I don't have to prove anything to anyone except myself.
I've gotten through much worse. I did what I showed up to do. It's a shame I couldn't do more and I'll live with that, but no one really thinks worse of me, and I know I could do it. I WILL do it, in 3 weeks. Why does it take so long to explain so little?
July 9, 2009
Congratulations!!!
It's a fucking hate your job kind of day. Just hang in there, little guy, and you too could be dismissed and brushed off like the annoying and ever-present "dog-pecker gnat". For after all, since you're young and you've never "done this" before your opinion clearly doesn't matter and you didn't REALLY hear the client say anything significant.Take yourself back to your meager little spreadsheets and data entry and have a jolly old time. I'll be over here plotting world domination while I half listen to what everyone is saying and plan my next vacation.
Fan-friggin-tastic. Happy Thursday!
CatchUp Ketchup...
maintaining, in essence, three training logs is a bit hectic! I log all of my stuff (or have started since mid-last month) on RunningAhead. I have previously used the ST log, and am not sure why I switched outside of the information being more readily available and easy to manipulate. Not sure if that's a bogus reason or not but it's what I'm going with - plus I like giggling at the runner's forums. I maintain once again - runners are bleeping crazy.
So...the catching up of the long, holiday weekend. I think I took Friday off, was just feeling a bit rundown, plus I wanted to run hard on Saturday in the Freedom Run. Nailed it - sort of. I ran faster than I've ever run, had an overall pace of right at 8:45. Started out with an 8:06 (oh hell)....took a full minute to walk in the 3rd mile (9:03) just to pull my HR down a little bit. Overall it felt pretty good. Had some shin issues just before it, left leg, upper 1/3 of the inside of my shinbone. Not a great thing...but didn't bother me during the run. Pleased with the effort and the time.
Took Sunday off to actually spend some time with Dan! Had a great afternoon/evening.
Monday was supposed to be a super brick (2x30 bike, 2x10 run) but I just turned into a 1:30 ride to ride off a crappy attitude and some frustration. Covered a little over 26 miles in 1:27. Helped quite a bit and felt a little better about the world. Wasn't entirely comfortable the entire time, pushed my legs a bit.
Tuesday morning SHOULD have been a run - but I bailed. Thinking as I woke up that - with the weather really heating up at the end of this week, some other hard workouts planned and the long race, it would do me better to just go with the flow and save some energy.
Wednesday we did the "girl's ride" - all 4 of us were a little "less than zesty" at the beginning, but riding together always seems to help us feel better and get things out. W says riding with us has made her a better rider. That's a good thing.
Tonight's track workout could be the most interesting thing yet. T's in charge of coming up with the workout for tonight to shake things up...the current drizzly, wet weather makes me think it could be more painful than normal!! Stay tuned....
So...the catching up of the long, holiday weekend. I think I took Friday off, was just feeling a bit rundown, plus I wanted to run hard on Saturday in the Freedom Run. Nailed it - sort of. I ran faster than I've ever run, had an overall pace of right at 8:45. Started out with an 8:06 (oh hell)....took a full minute to walk in the 3rd mile (9:03) just to pull my HR down a little bit. Overall it felt pretty good. Had some shin issues just before it, left leg, upper 1/3 of the inside of my shinbone. Not a great thing...but didn't bother me during the run. Pleased with the effort and the time.
Took Sunday off to actually spend some time with Dan! Had a great afternoon/evening.
Monday was supposed to be a super brick (2x30 bike, 2x10 run) but I just turned into a 1:30 ride to ride off a crappy attitude and some frustration. Covered a little over 26 miles in 1:27. Helped quite a bit and felt a little better about the world. Wasn't entirely comfortable the entire time, pushed my legs a bit.
Tuesday morning SHOULD have been a run - but I bailed. Thinking as I woke up that - with the weather really heating up at the end of this week, some other hard workouts planned and the long race, it would do me better to just go with the flow and save some energy.
Wednesday we did the "girl's ride" - all 4 of us were a little "less than zesty" at the beginning, but riding together always seems to help us feel better and get things out. W says riding with us has made her a better rider. That's a good thing.
Tonight's track workout could be the most interesting thing yet. T's in charge of coming up with the workout for tonight to shake things up...the current drizzly, wet weather makes me think it could be more painful than normal!! Stay tuned....
July 2, 2009
The Little Headache that Could
I've had a headache for 3 days...have managed to keep it relatively subdued for 2.5 of them...unfortuantely, this thing seems to be slipping slightly out of control at the moment and might just kill anyone within a 10ft radius. I decided to not do the workout last night in hopes of outsmarting this thing....alas I think I just pissed it off.
Should be an entertaining track workout. Really, I'll run in circles and my head will pop off and roll alongside....
Should be an entertaining track workout. Really, I'll run in circles and my head will pop off and roll alongside....
June 29, 2009
Weekend Update
Saturday we managed to turn a 65mi ride into 6.75hrs of hilarity in the heat. Opened the day with a 1.87mi open water swim @ Lake Clearwater. Still have OW panic issues in lakes...date all the way back to being a wee little one swimming in lakes CONSTANTLY with seaweed and whatnot...for some reason I developed a FREAKOUT reaction to lake-
swimming when it's clear enough to see things and/or there are weeds. Clearwater is an amazing lake...snorkel-like clear...you can see clearly down about 8 ft (insert FREAKOUT here) and there really aren't that many weeds. I just have a funny reaction to them when I let my mind wander to snakes and sticks and weird fish and other things that live in lakes. The swim itself went great...my shoulders got a tiny bit tired, but it was still nice to just go swim for a long time and not have to turn at a wall. And I got to grab some golf balls off the bottom...ha!
swimming when it's clear enough to see things and/or there are weeds. Clearwater is an amazing lake...snorkel-like clear...you can see clearly down about 8 ft (insert FREAKOUT here) and there really aren't that many weeds. I just have a funny reaction to them when I let my mind wander to snakes and sticks and weird fish and other things that live in lakes. The swim itself went great...my shoulders got a tiny bit tired, but it was still nice to just go swim for a long time and not have to turn at a wall. And I got to grab some golf balls off the bottom...ha!N and I bribed ourselves with the long ride...not feeling too great after inhaling the CRAP food that I ate and the swim...we said we'd go out for a couple of hours and ride all serious-like and then cruise the Monon down to BRip and grab some food and cruise home. Turned into a 6+ hour adventure. It was HOT...hot..hot. Despite the amount of water we naturally swallow while swimming, after a lengthy swim, a sprint to Zionsville and some crap food, I burned through my hydration stores pretty quickly while riding (probably wearing the black top - even though it doesn't cover much - wasn't a great idea) and was trying to be really conservative with the fluid I had on the bike (2 lg. bottles) but sheesh. I burned through that fairly quickly as well and made the mistake of riding in the middle of cornfields. So....I suffered a bit. Got a little light-headed as we were headed back for a brief time and we had to stop at the CVS in Westfield to grab some Gatorade and water...I was able to bounce back enough fairly quickly to keep going - but not a fan of the light-headed riding thing...following the middle of the 3 lines I see...not a fan!
Cruised by the house and down to BRip...still made decent time even on the Monon leg of the ride...quality saddle-time. After the meal, however, COMPLETELY different story. Angry stomachs don't like the aero position OR pedalling...so we cruised around 13 - 15 home. Turned out to be a decent day....schlepped around the evening and ate some more crap.
Sunday was volunteering at the JCC Kids Tri..entirely too much fun. Kids are HILARIOUS..parents are SCARY. It was, once again, fairly warm. Stomach was still rather unhappy and was just feeling poo-ish. Run-down feeling big-time. Bailed on the long run and napped on the couch, then hit the poolside with N and managed to Lobsterfy myself (AGAIN...CRAP) on my stomach and upper legs...might look decent in a few days but right now clothes HURT.
Monday morning - still feeling like dog crap and EXHAUSTED. Not sure what's up with that...stomach still a bit topsy-turvy and just sinusy and whiny. URGGGGG. Going to run some tonight, hopefully.
June 25, 2009
Thursday Thirteen
1. Track workouts aren't fun, but they are productive as hell!
2. I'm stoked that the boy comes back tonight, or tomorrow...or something really soon.
3. Today was the last day of the Prednisone!
4. I wish I could get to sleep early and stay asleep - this is an issue for me apparently
5. I'll have 4 dogs for the weekend and am not sure how it'll work
6. Brickyard tickets are secure - yay
7. Laundry is my nemesis.
8. There should be more transition between not-too-hot-rainy-as-hell-spring and hot-as-balls-summer
9. I'm annoyed with having people around me constantly
10. Dishes and trash are close in line behind laundry
11. I'm apparently a lily-growing guru
12. I've got to figure out a way to get up earlier to get more done
13. But right now - I'm going to bed.
2. I'm stoked that the boy comes back tonight, or tomorrow...or something really soon.
3. Today was the last day of the Prednisone!
4. I wish I could get to sleep early and stay asleep - this is an issue for me apparently
5. I'll have 4 dogs for the weekend and am not sure how it'll work
6. Brickyard tickets are secure - yay
7. Laundry is my nemesis.
8. There should be more transition between not-too-hot-rainy-as-hell-spring and hot-as-balls-summer
9. I'm annoyed with having people around me constantly
10. Dishes and trash are close in line behind laundry
11. I'm apparently a lily-growing guru
12. I've got to figure out a way to get up earlier to get more done
13. But right now - I'm going to bed.
Track Workout
Holy Humidity Batman! I like sweating and suffering as much as the next chick (ask my boyfriend, my boss, my coworkers, my training partners....I'm good for some suffering..) but holy moly it's a bit excessive out there right now. The true thermometer says around 90 or so...heat index says it's more like 96 or so. So anyway....onward with the suffering.
Track Workout #2 in the books....and it didn't feel too awfully evil and bad. Don't get me wrong - doesn't mean running EVER feels great, but this hard work stuff at least makes it feel a bit more productive and functional. So yeah, I'm still not a "supafast" runner or anything, but T keeps saying this'll have an impact and I'm going to trust the runnah...and keep suffering on Thursdays.
The problem - we get faster as we run...even if it's only a few seconds, the faster intervals coming at the end of the workout makes me question my own sanity.
1mi WU
2x200 (47.45, 45.35)
2x400 (1:50.36, 1:52.83)
2x800 (3:58.52, 3:39.88)
2x400 (1:46.69, 1:44.47)
2x200 (47.13, 44.15)
1 mi CD
Track Workout #2 in the books....and it didn't feel too awfully evil and bad. Don't get me wrong - doesn't mean running EVER feels great, but this hard work stuff at least makes it feel a bit more productive and functional. So yeah, I'm still not a "supafast" runner or anything, but T keeps saying this'll have an impact and I'm going to trust the runnah...and keep suffering on Thursdays.
The problem - we get faster as we run...even if it's only a few seconds, the faster intervals coming at the end of the workout makes me question my own sanity.
1mi WU
2x200 (47.45, 45.35)
2x400 (1:50.36, 1:52.83)
2x800 (3:58.52, 3:39.88)
2x400 (1:46.69, 1:44.47)
2x200 (47.13, 44.15)
1 mi CD
June 24, 2009
Wednesday Sweater
It's so unbelievably hot here....John said it best earlier today, "If it there had been some transition between cold and balls hot it would've been great, but there wasn't....it was rain, rain rain, blah, blah, hot as hell." So 90 degrees and a gazillion percent humidity....annoyed.
30 mile bike ride, 1:52. Comfortably paced, not too hard, not easy though. Pushed a bit from time-to-time but a good, solid effort. Feel fairly good on the bike but still might be losing a bit of power...not sure if the legs are tired or if I'm a bit off....I suppose more time will tell...
30 mile bike ride, 1:52. Comfortably paced, not too hard, not easy though. Pushed a bit from time-to-time but a good, solid effort. Feel fairly good on the bike but still might be losing a bit of power...not sure if the legs are tired or if I'm a bit off....I suppose more time will tell...
Brick House...
Good brick workout last night.
1:19 on the bike w/N & T. Solid, comfortable efforts. Slight headwind on way out. Good conversation. (Note to self: if wearing tri shorts, chamois butter. Still finding the "happy spots" with the bike/saddle/shorts combo...moving target) Think we went 24 miles.
21min run, 2.31mi....Solid, comfortable run effort. Faster than intended I think, but comfy nonethless. Blister/wound from last weekend still bothersome - hoping that goes away soon.
Softball game from about 10:15 to 11:30....won by landslide. So exhausted could barely put sentences together by the time I got home at midnight. Bribed myself out of bed this morning with coffee.
Comfy dress = Good. Creeper underwear = BAD. (Note to VS - it shouldn't be a hard concept. Note to self - find smaller ass)
1:19 on the bike w/N & T. Solid, comfortable efforts. Slight headwind on way out. Good conversation. (Note to self: if wearing tri shorts, chamois butter. Still finding the "happy spots" with the bike/saddle/shorts combo...moving target) Think we went 24 miles.
21min run, 2.31mi....Solid, comfortable run effort. Faster than intended I think, but comfy nonethless. Blister/wound from last weekend still bothersome - hoping that goes away soon.
Softball game from about 10:15 to 11:30....won by landslide. So exhausted could barely put sentences together by the time I got home at midnight. Bribed myself out of bed this morning with coffee.
Comfy dress = Good. Creeper underwear = BAD. (Note to VS - it shouldn't be a hard concept. Note to self - find smaller ass)
June 22, 2009
Monday
(Steroids + PMS + Humidity)*Fatigue/too much sodium = (Me making people around me miserable)*chubby
Ugh. Three days of Prednisone left and while the poison ivy has gone away, a little more of me just keeps showing up bit by bit. And that I get to dovetail the prednisone with PMS AND a super-hot week of weather?? Well, that's just awesome.
I'd like to tell the boy I'm sorry for positively LASHING out at him on Friday morning but he's in another country and that's not possible. I fought like a girl, I fought dirty and I really was just pushing until I got a reaction. It wasn't right and I even knew it at the time, but it didn't stop me. So yeah, lest there was any doubt, from time-to-time I am 100% bitchy female and I can't really apologize for that. But jeez....sometimes I even impress myself.
Ugh. Three days of Prednisone left and while the poison ivy has gone away, a little more of me just keeps showing up bit by bit. And that I get to dovetail the prednisone with PMS AND a super-hot week of weather?? Well, that's just awesome.
I'd like to tell the boy I'm sorry for positively LASHING out at him on Friday morning but he's in another country and that's not possible. I fought like a girl, I fought dirty and I really was just pushing until I got a reaction. It wasn't right and I even knew it at the time, but it didn't stop me. So yeah, lest there was any doubt, from time-to-time I am 100% bitchy female and I can't really apologize for that. But jeez....sometimes I even impress myself.
June 21, 2009
Sunday of the mug...
Holy cow it was muggy today. Wanted to run 12 or 13...managed to eek out 9.5. Legs were heavy from the get-go and the wounds from yesterday's "no sock" adventure just did me in. There was just no air moving and I paid for it. Just got hot and down and struggled. But...we did get through it so it counts. Even popped in the pool afterward and slugged through about 1200 yds.
It counts as decent training for slogging through the heat. A half is going to have me on my own feet around noon-ish and in July, hellllloooooo, it's hot and muggy in Indiana and Michigan. So, it's a good objective, even if it does piss me off during. Last quarter ran at about 8:30 pace. Urgggg...again - all in the name of training and getting the job done. Tanya's determined to make me a better runner, if she doesn't kill me first!
A good weekend. I'm stoked to take tomorrow off - MAYBE swim if I feel like it.
It counts as decent training for slogging through the heat. A half is going to have me on my own feet around noon-ish and in July, hellllloooooo, it's hot and muggy in Indiana and Michigan. So, it's a good objective, even if it does piss me off during. Last quarter ran at about 8:30 pace. Urgggg...again - all in the name of training and getting the job done. Tanya's determined to make me a better runner, if she doesn't kill me first!
A good weekend. I'm stoked to take tomorrow off - MAYBE swim if I feel like it.
June 20, 2009
Short Race - Long Report....
Indianapolis Sprint Triathlon - Eagle Creek Park
500M Sw, 10mi Bike, 3mi Run
High 70's, sunny, no wind, muggy
Overall A/G Sex Swim (rank) Trans1 (rank) Bike Time (avg mph/rank)
-------------------------------
166/577 5/28 25/174 09:14.9 ( 56/1/10) 01:10.0 ( 52) 28:54.7 (20.8 mph/136/1/14)
Trans2 (rank) Run time (pace/rank) FINAL TIME
-------------------------------
02:01.2 (435) 0:24:59.5 (08:19.8/355/13/80) 1:06:20.3
(bike - 20.35mph on 9.8mi course) (run – 8:38.7min/mi on 2.89mi course)
I was due a good race at Eagle Creek. Being one built more for “the long haul” than the sprints, I usually don’t even feel human during the run until about halfway through. This leads to a fairly ugly sprint race. With all the other mental struggles I’ve had this year, I decided to take any and all pressure off and wanted to focus on the swim and the run and cheering on the rest of the CCMSC folks. Friday’s storm and the debris and wet roads only reinforced my “just for show” opinion. I’m still skittery from the bike wreck a month ago and wasn’t about to push hard on the new bike with sketch roads AND dealing with the usual EC Sprint traffic. I was stoked about the time-trial swim starts though….spread out that chaos and let the swimmers weave through the madness.
Swim was decent – although I like the time trial aspect, I thought it was really unorganized. I spent a lot of time weaving around people. While it was nice to not be all bunched up elbowing and kicking, it makes it a bit tougher as you’re CONSTANTLY dealing with traffic, instead of reaching the potential lull between waves. My swim was uneventful (aside from getting a handful of some guy’s crotch – sorry dude, you just appeared out of nowhere – I WAS swimming straight) and stretched out. Temperature was perfect, was able to stay relaxed. Did get bunched into a group of blue caps at the second buoy – but swam through it.
T1 felt faster than usual - Feet in shoes, sunglasses on and helmet and away I went. Those of us that do a flying mount at a full run (the one time I’ll be glad there’s a bit of “stuff” on the ground…traction for bike shoes) have a REALLY hard time navigating the stopped folks and picking a line that allows us to jump on AND have enough space (without taking out a bystander as I almost did – sorry pink shirt) to get clipped in while rolling. Was able to clear the bottle with my leg (good sign) and didn’t slip, had a bit of trouble clipping in, but could be attributed to the panic of finding a line and jumping without falling!
Bike was also uneventful – THANK GOD. I was a total pansy – if there was ANY doubt in my mind or I felt sketch at ALL I was sitting up and on my brakes. Again – new bike, sketch roads, hybrids and mountain bikes abound….AND a new course. So…better safe than sorry. Launched a bottle halfway through after one drink (bummer). New course has some chaos of having to ride on left - I would feel much safer trying to pass someone with another 6 – 8 feet of road on my right than me getting pushed toward the swamp as the faster rider. That was my only concern though. Traffic flowed well, the course felt really fast and not quite so bumpy. More turns than the old one and….well, I just liked it better. Felt I had some good power on the bike – maybe my lower back has loosened up a bit – and was able to just spin and pound on certain parts of the course. I Love, love, love passing guys that are all tricked out. Love even more passing them like they’re standing still…CHICKED. Got to do that a couple of times. Just kind of felt like things were going…legs were loose. Might need a bit more work still on the position – just for some additional power on ascents. Didn’t slide at all – but was definitely riding like a pansy. Finished fairly strong. Would feel much better with a little knowledge of the course AND dry roads. It was short of the 10mi though, have mostly heard 9.8. I’ll still take it.
T2 – always feels somewhat slow. Shouldn’t be…put bike down, take off shoes, put on shoes, put on hat, grab number, go. But I find reason to dawdle apparently somewhere in there. Usually in grabbing a gel, or taking an extra few seconds with the shoes, or taking extra drinks of water. Still haven’t mastered leaving shoes on bike- not sure if I will for this race ever given the amount of crud on ground. But whatever. Could stand to get a few seconds faster but not sure how.
Run – Trying to embrace the pain of a sprint. Worried about a side stitch (the ever-present agony I encounter). Running without socks (note: give this idea up, forever). This course, outside of that initial hill out of Transition – is pretty flat. I was a bit waylaid by the lack of air moving, got a bit warm, but was able to keep pushing. I was able to engage in what Tanya calls a “hard push off” and really could tell the difference when my knees were high, my hands low and my head up. Had a few moments of tough breathing – was just pushing harder than my body is used to. Still had the golden moment around 1.25 where my body just finally starts running right – but was able to push through it early too. Key for me might be easing into the run a bit but staying VERY steady in pushing that pace up a bit immediately. Had a couple of minutes where I lollygagged back into my comfort zone, but was able to push through most of it. Sub-9 pace….Hell, sub 8:45 pace. I’m stoked about that and pleased with the effort. Grabbed water at every chance during the run (out of transition and at both aid stations – figuring that I was pretty low since the one-gulp bike leg. I had the gel with me but didn’t take it. Could I have had a little more pep through the last 1.5 if I had inhaled that gel? Maybe.
Overall – Racing on perception (without gizmos) seems to be going well for me. I’ve been able to keep a fairly close eye on my body and while I could feel myself losing steam over the last ½ of the run, I was still able to pick it up and finish strong. I MUST RUN WITH SOCKS – EVEN IF IT”S SHORT. Make up the time somewhere else. I was able to be “comfortable” within the pain of this sprint race – pushing hard and steady – but not beyond my limits. I think there’s potential for a bit more speed there…still have some ways to go with the run footspeed though…and need to feel a bit more spent at the end of it…..dig deeper and hurt more in a sprint race.
500M Sw, 10mi Bike, 3mi Run
High 70's, sunny, no wind, muggy
Overall A/G Sex Swim (rank) Trans1 (rank) Bike Time (avg mph/rank)
-------------------------------
166/577 5/28 25/174 09:14.9 ( 56/1/10) 01:10.0 ( 52) 28:54.7 (20.8 mph/136/1/14)
Trans2 (rank) Run time (pace/rank) FINAL TIME
-------------------------------
02:01.2 (435) 0:24:59.5 (08:19.8/355/13/80) 1:06:20.3
(bike - 20.35mph on 9.8mi course) (run – 8:38.7min/mi on 2.89mi course)
I was due a good race at Eagle Creek. Being one built more for “the long haul” than the sprints, I usually don’t even feel human during the run until about halfway through. This leads to a fairly ugly sprint race. With all the other mental struggles I’ve had this year, I decided to take any and all pressure off and wanted to focus on the swim and the run and cheering on the rest of the CCMSC folks. Friday’s storm and the debris and wet roads only reinforced my “just for show” opinion. I’m still skittery from the bike wreck a month ago and wasn’t about to push hard on the new bike with sketch roads AND dealing with the usual EC Sprint traffic. I was stoked about the time-trial swim starts though….spread out that chaos and let the swimmers weave through the madness.
Swim was decent – although I like the time trial aspect, I thought it was really unorganized. I spent a lot of time weaving around people. While it was nice to not be all bunched up elbowing and kicking, it makes it a bit tougher as you’re CONSTANTLY dealing with traffic, instead of reaching the potential lull between waves. My swim was uneventful (aside from getting a handful of some guy’s crotch – sorry dude, you just appeared out of nowhere – I WAS swimming straight) and stretched out. Temperature was perfect, was able to stay relaxed. Did get bunched into a group of blue caps at the second buoy – but swam through it.
T1 felt faster than usual - Feet in shoes, sunglasses on and helmet and away I went. Those of us that do a flying mount at a full run (the one time I’ll be glad there’s a bit of “stuff” on the ground…traction for bike shoes) have a REALLY hard time navigating the stopped folks and picking a line that allows us to jump on AND have enough space (without taking out a bystander as I almost did – sorry pink shirt) to get clipped in while rolling. Was able to clear the bottle with my leg (good sign) and didn’t slip, had a bit of trouble clipping in, but could be attributed to the panic of finding a line and jumping without falling!
Bike was also uneventful – THANK GOD. I was a total pansy – if there was ANY doubt in my mind or I felt sketch at ALL I was sitting up and on my brakes. Again – new bike, sketch roads, hybrids and mountain bikes abound….AND a new course. So…better safe than sorry. Launched a bottle halfway through after one drink (bummer). New course has some chaos of having to ride on left - I would feel much safer trying to pass someone with another 6 – 8 feet of road on my right than me getting pushed toward the swamp as the faster rider. That was my only concern though. Traffic flowed well, the course felt really fast and not quite so bumpy. More turns than the old one and….well, I just liked it better. Felt I had some good power on the bike – maybe my lower back has loosened up a bit – and was able to just spin and pound on certain parts of the course. I Love, love, love passing guys that are all tricked out. Love even more passing them like they’re standing still…CHICKED. Got to do that a couple of times. Just kind of felt like things were going…legs were loose. Might need a bit more work still on the position – just for some additional power on ascents. Didn’t slide at all – but was definitely riding like a pansy. Finished fairly strong. Would feel much better with a little knowledge of the course AND dry roads. It was short of the 10mi though, have mostly heard 9.8. I’ll still take it.
T2 – always feels somewhat slow. Shouldn’t be…put bike down, take off shoes, put on shoes, put on hat, grab number, go. But I find reason to dawdle apparently somewhere in there. Usually in grabbing a gel, or taking an extra few seconds with the shoes, or taking extra drinks of water. Still haven’t mastered leaving shoes on bike- not sure if I will for this race ever given the amount of crud on ground. But whatever. Could stand to get a few seconds faster but not sure how.
Run – Trying to embrace the pain of a sprint. Worried about a side stitch (the ever-present agony I encounter). Running without socks (note: give this idea up, forever). This course, outside of that initial hill out of Transition – is pretty flat. I was a bit waylaid by the lack of air moving, got a bit warm, but was able to keep pushing. I was able to engage in what Tanya calls a “hard push off” and really could tell the difference when my knees were high, my hands low and my head up. Had a few moments of tough breathing – was just pushing harder than my body is used to. Still had the golden moment around 1.25 where my body just finally starts running right – but was able to push through it early too. Key for me might be easing into the run a bit but staying VERY steady in pushing that pace up a bit immediately. Had a couple of minutes where I lollygagged back into my comfort zone, but was able to push through most of it. Sub-9 pace….Hell, sub 8:45 pace. I’m stoked about that and pleased with the effort. Grabbed water at every chance during the run (out of transition and at both aid stations – figuring that I was pretty low since the one-gulp bike leg. I had the gel with me but didn’t take it. Could I have had a little more pep through the last 1.5 if I had inhaled that gel? Maybe.
Overall – Racing on perception (without gizmos) seems to be going well for me. I’ve been able to keep a fairly close eye on my body and while I could feel myself losing steam over the last ½ of the run, I was still able to pick it up and finish strong. I MUST RUN WITH SOCKS – EVEN IF IT”S SHORT. Make up the time somewhere else. I was able to be “comfortable” within the pain of this sprint race – pushing hard and steady – but not beyond my limits. I think there’s potential for a bit more speed there…still have some ways to go with the run footspeed though…and need to feel a bit more spent at the end of it…..dig deeper and hurt more in a sprint race.
June 18, 2009
My 1st Track Workout
And I ran like hell!!! I actually put my head down and ran. I also spent considerable time during this suffer-fest trying to figure out HOW exactly one runs well. Tanya says my run form doesn't look back - but every now and then my arms come up or my leg goes wonky. And let's not forget that I have this weird spot on both feet where my shoes hit each other?! And add to that apparently when I run fast the little chubby spots on the inside of my knees hit every now and then....I'm just a running mess. But I did the darn track workout!
And the shock of it is that it didn't feel that bad. I suffered a bit on the last couple of intervals, but ran the whole thing at the goal pace or faster. Tanya says the form looked ok (as she wheezes and gasps and leaves the inhaler at home) and solid, so I'll take it. She also is working on beating it into my head that I'm stronger than I think I am as a runner - I just have to learn to fight through it a little bit more. Embrace the running pain....blah...sort of like shooting myself in the foot to forget that my back hurts....but it was a positive experience, this track workout.
Originally designed to be 6x800 - we tweaked it around a bit in mind of the sprint race coming up. We walked equal distance between the intervals (or 400 b/w the 800's) as well. All intervals were done at 8:00/mi pace.
1mi WU
2x200 (200 walk)
2x400 (400 walk)
2x800 (400 walk)
2x400 (400 walk)
2x200 (200 walk)
1 mi CD (this was the most painful part....)
The whole experience took like 1:15 or something, so we weren't exactly blazing, but it did feel good, it was muggy as HELL and we did suffer duly. And there was a nice boy there that was entertaining, as well as some kicking practice, and a father/daughter training session. Fun stuff. Back at it next Thurs for Version 2.
And the shock of it is that it didn't feel that bad. I suffered a bit on the last couple of intervals, but ran the whole thing at the goal pace or faster. Tanya says the form looked ok (as she wheezes and gasps and leaves the inhaler at home) and solid, so I'll take it. She also is working on beating it into my head that I'm stronger than I think I am as a runner - I just have to learn to fight through it a little bit more. Embrace the running pain....blah...sort of like shooting myself in the foot to forget that my back hurts....but it was a positive experience, this track workout.
Originally designed to be 6x800 - we tweaked it around a bit in mind of the sprint race coming up. We walked equal distance between the intervals (or 400 b/w the 800's) as well. All intervals were done at 8:00/mi pace.
1mi WU
2x200 (200 walk)
2x400 (400 walk)
2x800 (400 walk)
2x400 (400 walk)
2x200 (200 walk)
1 mi CD (this was the most painful part....)
The whole experience took like 1:15 or something, so we weren't exactly blazing, but it did feel good, it was muggy as HELL and we did suffer duly. And there was a nice boy there that was entertaining, as well as some kicking practice, and a father/daughter training session. Fun stuff. Back at it next Thurs for Version 2.
June 17, 2009
This is me....
...beating my head against the wall. I would just like for one answer, ONE answer or solution that I provide to be enough in and of itself. No follow-up issues, or anything else to be added, or "just one more thing".
I take pride in my quality of work (most of the time) and do try to go above and beyond expectations the vast majority of the time. I try to anticipate the next question and answer it at the same time as the first.
Some days you're Sisyphus, some days you're the rock. I'm having a rock day. And the steriods have finally started to make me "puff"....grumble!
(Rest assured, I will return to my overwhelming attempts at a positive attitude shortly...as long as no one touches the "reply to all" button. Then all bets are off!! HA!)
I take pride in my quality of work (most of the time) and do try to go above and beyond expectations the vast majority of the time. I try to anticipate the next question and answer it at the same time as the first.
Some days you're Sisyphus, some days you're the rock. I'm having a rock day. And the steriods have finally started to make me "puff"....grumble!
(Rest assured, I will return to my overwhelming attempts at a positive attitude shortly...as long as no one touches the "reply to all" button. Then all bets are off!! HA!)
June 16, 2009
Morning Run
Well, it felt good, anyway. Or at least kinda good. So maybe it didn't feel all that good, but I got it done!
Ran 4.6 this morning - didn't think it was that far - in about 47 minutes and some change. I really like running in the morning - just wish I could pry my lazy ass out of bed and get it done more often. It's a good start to the day and gets part of the "working out chaos" feeling out of the way. Lessens some of the guilt, if you will. I didn't sleep good again last night (too warm despite a freezing house and still friggin itching) but when the alarms went off I guilted myself up. I'm hoping that makes me CRASH HARD tonight after swimming. The route was easy, the run was easy and pressure-free. The new iPod arm band gizmo worked fine and I wasn't too opinionated on the new headphones - I will say though that if I mash them too far in my ears and they cut off all outside sound I FREAK out - hearing my own raspy breath and the sound of the cord bumping my back is instantly nauseating. Think I lose my equilibrium or something...just weird.
All in all, a good way to start the day. Now if I can just figure out my stomach and get it to cooperate on the schedule too, it'll all be fine!
EDIT: I also swam 3500yd in the evening. Didn't break any speed records, in fact have gained a small bit of time since I've not been swimming and have definitely switched the stroke into open water mode, but I did it and it's done. So there....that counts too.
Ran 4.6 this morning - didn't think it was that far - in about 47 minutes and some change. I really like running in the morning - just wish I could pry my lazy ass out of bed and get it done more often. It's a good start to the day and gets part of the "working out chaos" feeling out of the way. Lessens some of the guilt, if you will. I didn't sleep good again last night (too warm despite a freezing house and still friggin itching) but when the alarms went off I guilted myself up. I'm hoping that makes me CRASH HARD tonight after swimming. The route was easy, the run was easy and pressure-free. The new iPod arm band gizmo worked fine and I wasn't too opinionated on the new headphones - I will say though that if I mash them too far in my ears and they cut off all outside sound I FREAK out - hearing my own raspy breath and the sound of the cord bumping my back is instantly nauseating. Think I lose my equilibrium or something...just weird.
All in all, a good way to start the day. Now if I can just figure out my stomach and get it to cooperate on the schedule too, it'll all be fine!
EDIT: I also swam 3500yd in the evening. Didn't break any speed records, in fact have gained a small bit of time since I've not been swimming and have definitely switched the stroke into open water mode, but I did it and it's done. So there....that counts too.
June 15, 2009
Solid Weekend....
Good training stuffies. I was a tad bit of a slacker late last week, but old habits die hard. I'm trying to turn the bus around....
Friday - 5x800 - that's a bit of a misnomer to say it that way, because it wasn't a track workout. I just took my normal 6miler from my house to the north end of the Monon and back and put the intervals in it - figuring if I usually run about 10min/mile, to run an 800 would put me at about a 5:00 effort, with about 2:30 rest jog in between. If it clocks correctly, I'd have about .5mi leftover on the way home to cruise. The good news: it worked out just about perfectly and I took the extra time to schlep a bit. I did all the intervals and put in some solid efforts. The bad news: it didn't feel that spunky. In fact, it kinda hurt. Day 1 of the prednisone had my heart rate WAY high (combined with the lack of running activity/effort in awhile) so that was a bit tough to deal with, plus it was a tad muggy and just a tough run. Got a side stitch that almost brought me to my knees. Note to self: figure out why in the hell I get those with high effort levels!!!
Saturday - 3:38 ride, 62 miles. The Tour de Cure ride for the Amer. Diabetes Assoc. Turned out to be a blast. Started at the Speedway, went up to and through Z'ville then back down. Had a couple of decent little rollers in it and way too many SAG stops. We took two quick breaks at the SIHO supported stop to say hit to Cheryl and chat for a bit. The overall pace was pretty chill and we were having fun. Rode with Tanya and raised a little bit of money. Good times. Nothing too overwhelming.
Sunday - 10mi run - 1:51, 2k yd Swim - :36. Long run in mega humidity. We ran AROUND a rainstorm (north as it came in, south as it was leaving) and managed to get a little damp for the last few miles, which helped keep it a bit cool and clear some of the muggy out of the air. Run felt kinda wonky - not really settled until about 3-4mi in. But the pace was super easy. I can tell I haven't been running much, legs are heavy and things are creaky, but that'll come back fairly well I suppose. Need to keep an eye on the left achilles - it was hurting almost all the way through the run yesterday, not sure if that's attributable to Sat bike or Fri run, but it wasn't that comfy. Did seem to loosen up a bit, or other things just started to hurt too. Need to also figure out the stomach again....not happy. Altogether - not a bad deal. Finished with little pressure and had a good time. Saw Dan and another on bike patrol - didn't even recognize us....putz. But they did look quite crisp in their little shorts and polos. Went to the gym (outdoor pool was closed due to the storm) and just glided through 2k, nice and easy just stretching and staying conscious of form and stroke. Catch still feels good and rotation, but I may be a little too long and stretched out when it comes to game time. Need to get out in the OW to judge. Need to get back to practice, too. LAZY!!!!
This upcoming wknd is the EC sprint. I despise the race but it's usually fun. Cookout afterward. Maybe I can just let loose and actually run. Should be some fun people there at least! Would like to focus on the swim and the run - just get through the bike and not wreck and avoid the crazies. Track workout on Thursday, too. Tanya's going to slave-drive me through it....I'm sure I'll cry for Mommy.
Friday - 5x800 - that's a bit of a misnomer to say it that way, because it wasn't a track workout. I just took my normal 6miler from my house to the north end of the Monon and back and put the intervals in it - figuring if I usually run about 10min/mile, to run an 800 would put me at about a 5:00 effort, with about 2:30 rest jog in between. If it clocks correctly, I'd have about .5mi leftover on the way home to cruise. The good news: it worked out just about perfectly and I took the extra time to schlep a bit. I did all the intervals and put in some solid efforts. The bad news: it didn't feel that spunky. In fact, it kinda hurt. Day 1 of the prednisone had my heart rate WAY high (combined with the lack of running activity/effort in awhile) so that was a bit tough to deal with, plus it was a tad muggy and just a tough run. Got a side stitch that almost brought me to my knees. Note to self: figure out why in the hell I get those with high effort levels!!!
Saturday - 3:38 ride, 62 miles. The Tour de Cure ride for the Amer. Diabetes Assoc. Turned out to be a blast. Started at the Speedway, went up to and through Z'ville then back down. Had a couple of decent little rollers in it and way too many SAG stops. We took two quick breaks at the SIHO supported stop to say hit to Cheryl and chat for a bit. The overall pace was pretty chill and we were having fun. Rode with Tanya and raised a little bit of money. Good times. Nothing too overwhelming.
Sunday - 10mi run - 1:51, 2k yd Swim - :36. Long run in mega humidity. We ran AROUND a rainstorm (north as it came in, south as it was leaving) and managed to get a little damp for the last few miles, which helped keep it a bit cool and clear some of the muggy out of the air. Run felt kinda wonky - not really settled until about 3-4mi in. But the pace was super easy. I can tell I haven't been running much, legs are heavy and things are creaky, but that'll come back fairly well I suppose. Need to keep an eye on the left achilles - it was hurting almost all the way through the run yesterday, not sure if that's attributable to Sat bike or Fri run, but it wasn't that comfy. Did seem to loosen up a bit, or other things just started to hurt too. Need to also figure out the stomach again....not happy. Altogether - not a bad deal. Finished with little pressure and had a good time. Saw Dan and another on bike patrol - didn't even recognize us....putz. But they did look quite crisp in their little shorts and polos. Went to the gym (outdoor pool was closed due to the storm) and just glided through 2k, nice and easy just stretching and staying conscious of form and stroke. Catch still feels good and rotation, but I may be a little too long and stretched out when it comes to game time. Need to get out in the OW to judge. Need to get back to practice, too. LAZY!!!!
This upcoming wknd is the EC sprint. I despise the race but it's usually fun. Cookout afterward. Maybe I can just let loose and actually run. Should be some fun people there at least! Would like to focus on the swim and the run - just get through the bike and not wreck and avoid the crazies. Track workout on Thursday, too. Tanya's going to slave-drive me through it....I'm sure I'll cry for Mommy.
June 12, 2009
Hmmm..me thinks I have it wrong
I've got this "sensible eating" thing a little off-kilter. Had to eat breakfast in order to be able to take the Prednisone to get right of the itching (poison ivy - LOOOOONG story there). I try to eat something for breakfast every day. I also try to get a snack in around 10-10:30a just to keep things going. Inhaled the breakfast (cereal) around 8:15, popped the pills and ate the banana in the car. Got to work and we had a new vendor-guy in here today and he brought us some treats while speaking of his product. So....the Paradise Bakery Cinnamon Roll "snack" at about 9:30 didn't really follow the protocol.
I'm sure the few beers I'm planning on drinking this evening won't exactly help the cause either. But it's Game 7 of the Cup finals. GO WINGS!
I also plan to throw in yesterday's skipped run between work and hockey as well. At least I'll be earning my beer, even if it is a day late. I'll throw in some extra swimming this weekend (as that's what I'll be "missing" today). Jeebus I need to pull my head outta my ass as far as this "training" thing goes. I start out with the best of intentions and then right when the season starts I always seem to jump (not fall - a headlong, sprinting LEAP) off the wagon and just screw up the rest of the season by being lazy. GRUMBLE. I'm sick of being a 'tard when it comes to this stuff. I can tell other people how to get in shape and what to do and how to be sensible, but I can't follow my own plans. URGGGG. Need to make some slight lifestyle changes to BE the person I WANT to be. (I'm such a broken record...I've been saying this for about 5 years now.)
Oh, and I graduated high school over 10 years ago. Comparatively, I'm not doing bad. SO....it's the little victories. GO WINGS.
I'm sure the few beers I'm planning on drinking this evening won't exactly help the cause either. But it's Game 7 of the Cup finals. GO WINGS!
I also plan to throw in yesterday's skipped run between work and hockey as well. At least I'll be earning my beer, even if it is a day late. I'll throw in some extra swimming this weekend (as that's what I'll be "missing" today). Jeebus I need to pull my head outta my ass as far as this "training" thing goes. I start out with the best of intentions and then right when the season starts I always seem to jump (not fall - a headlong, sprinting LEAP) off the wagon and just screw up the rest of the season by being lazy. GRUMBLE. I'm sick of being a 'tard when it comes to this stuff. I can tell other people how to get in shape and what to do and how to be sensible, but I can't follow my own plans. URGGGG. Need to make some slight lifestyle changes to BE the person I WANT to be. (I'm such a broken record...I've been saying this for about 5 years now.)
Oh, and I graduated high school over 10 years ago. Comparatively, I'm not doing bad. SO....it's the little victories. GO WINGS.
June 1, 2009
This is your ass being handed to you...
...when you don't do much training on a really consistent basis and then expect to go ride with some folks all diligently training for an IM. (PS - it doesn't matter what you think of their training, their aerobic engines are a bit more primed than yours...)
Went down to LOU with KS and NB to meet up with some folks from Traverse City, MI (GREAT GROUP) for a ride on the course. Feeling like I might have a slight advantage over a couple in our group - I DID ride the course last year, after all..so what if I got my ass handed to me then, too - we managed to finally find a place to park and get ready to head out. The goal was about 60 - 65 miles. We figured leaving from where River Rd. turns onto 42 would be a good spot, parked at a cute coffee house and away we went. (We'll just glaze over the speeding ticket I got on the way down and the appx. hour we spent trying to navigate to a place to park - KS sucks at directions)
First few miles were ok - feeling a bit of fatigue or lack of conditioning in my legs as we started uphill. Pacing was a big wonky - we'd slack going downhill and then power uphill with a faster pace. (This quickly frustrates the heavier riders that absolutely need to gather as much momentum as possible on the downhill portions to survive the uphills in mediocre fashion) This continued all day, for the record.
It just took the life out of me - completely demoralized me by the end of the day. We finally made the turn back towards the barn and I just gave up. I'm not doing the damn race, I'm not training for anything aggressive, I'm not 100% setup on Luc yet, let them motor uphill and I'll see them later. I had the damn keys so they couldn't go far. (Did I mention I was driving??)
Anyway, the ride totally took the life out of me. No fun. I'm missing power on the bike, not sure what needs to change for that but something sure as hell does fairly quickly. Not even feeling like I've got any fight in the dog anymore. It's not fun to me. Seriously contemplating hanging it all up.
Yeah, it was a bad day. Maybe it'll get better with a little distance (and rest and medication) but if I can't find the fun again, I'm not going to continue to push this rock uphill.
Went down to LOU with KS and NB to meet up with some folks from Traverse City, MI (GREAT GROUP) for a ride on the course. Feeling like I might have a slight advantage over a couple in our group - I DID ride the course last year, after all..so what if I got my ass handed to me then, too - we managed to finally find a place to park and get ready to head out. The goal was about 60 - 65 miles. We figured leaving from where River Rd. turns onto 42 would be a good spot, parked at a cute coffee house and away we went. (We'll just glaze over the speeding ticket I got on the way down and the appx. hour we spent trying to navigate to a place to park - KS sucks at directions)
First few miles were ok - feeling a bit of fatigue or lack of conditioning in my legs as we started uphill. Pacing was a big wonky - we'd slack going downhill and then power uphill with a faster pace. (This quickly frustrates the heavier riders that absolutely need to gather as much momentum as possible on the downhill portions to survive the uphills in mediocre fashion) This continued all day, for the record.
It just took the life out of me - completely demoralized me by the end of the day. We finally made the turn back towards the barn and I just gave up. I'm not doing the damn race, I'm not training for anything aggressive, I'm not 100% setup on Luc yet, let them motor uphill and I'll see them later. I had the damn keys so they couldn't go far. (Did I mention I was driving??)
Anyway, the ride totally took the life out of me. No fun. I'm missing power on the bike, not sure what needs to change for that but something sure as hell does fairly quickly. Not even feeling like I've got any fight in the dog anymore. It's not fun to me. Seriously contemplating hanging it all up.
Yeah, it was a bad day. Maybe it'll get better with a little distance (and rest and medication) but if I can't find the fun again, I'm not going to continue to push this rock uphill.
May 29, 2009
A great place for a RR...
...but too bad I didn't get signed up for the race!
Thought I registered about 3 months ago for Terre Haute and never, in fact, registered. So I won't be attending - even after a last-minute plea to the RD. I feel much more of a need for a "me" day - some quality yard work, a little bit of actual sleep and some time not spent worrying about anything athletic. Just time to relax.
It's time to keep remembering that this is supposed to be fun and NOT supposed to feel like a job. I have been moving a bit from time-to-time, a 5 mile run here, a short swim there, a bit of a ride whenever I feel like it. Just spending some time trying to get my head in the game.
Thought I registered about 3 months ago for Terre Haute and never, in fact, registered. So I won't be attending - even after a last-minute plea to the RD. I feel much more of a need for a "me" day - some quality yard work, a little bit of actual sleep and some time not spent worrying about anything athletic. Just time to relax.
It's time to keep remembering that this is supposed to be fun and NOT supposed to feel like a job. I have been moving a bit from time-to-time, a 5 mile run here, a short swim there, a bit of a ride whenever I feel like it. Just spending some time trying to get my head in the game.
May 22, 2009
Left Foot, Right Foot, Breathe...Repeat
So I ran 3.25 mi last night...it was not fun. Was right around 30 - 35 minutes, so I don't think my pace was that bad, but I was falling apart towards the end. Not sure if my back has tightened up more or if it's the loss of run fitness, but I just didn't feel good. Had to walk quite a bit in the last mile, not really happy with that, but am fairly ok with the fact that I got out and did run a bit.
Brick on Saturday morning...that should be interesting.
Brick on Saturday morning...that should be interesting.
May 21, 2009
2nd Verse...Same as the First
Along the same lines as my little mini-rant yetserday....I'm a bit frustrated @ my current situation this very minute.
If we consistently allow ourselves and our expectations of the world to be dictated and driven by the expectations and talents of others then there is no possible way we will ever become the person we were meant to be, nor will we ever find satisfaction in our abilities and accomplishments.
If we always allow another's name (whether it may be based on our own efforts) to "shine" rather than our own, does it lessen our own experiences and expectations of our own work?
Further, if that person(s) should happen to make egregious errors, is your name also sullied simply by association? "You are the company you keep...."
Is it wrong to expect others and their performance to rise to my standards and my expectations? Granted that there are always exceptions and "the best" that a person has is ALWAYS acceptable and that IS what the expectation is based upon. But if I continually allow myself to "get by" with what others expect by not pushing myself to always give the best then I feel that I am actually cheating myself. And if I allow myself to lower my expectations for others - not expecting that they fully deliver and fully commit to an effort - then am I really lowering my expectations for myself as well?
READ the emails/letters put before you. LISTEN to the people that are speaking. PERFORM to the best of your ability. ANSWER the questions that are asked. HELP others fully when it is requested.
If we consistently allow ourselves and our expectations of the world to be dictated and driven by the expectations and talents of others then there is no possible way we will ever become the person we were meant to be, nor will we ever find satisfaction in our abilities and accomplishments.
If we always allow another's name (whether it may be based on our own efforts) to "shine" rather than our own, does it lessen our own experiences and expectations of our own work?
Further, if that person(s) should happen to make egregious errors, is your name also sullied simply by association? "You are the company you keep...."
Is it wrong to expect others and their performance to rise to my standards and my expectations? Granted that there are always exceptions and "the best" that a person has is ALWAYS acceptable and that IS what the expectation is based upon. But if I continually allow myself to "get by" with what others expect by not pushing myself to always give the best then I feel that I am actually cheating myself. And if I allow myself to lower my expectations for others - not expecting that they fully deliver and fully commit to an effort - then am I really lowering my expectations for myself as well?
READ the emails/letters put before you. LISTEN to the people that are speaking. PERFORM to the best of your ability. ANSWER the questions that are asked. HELP others fully when it is requested.
May 20, 2009
Bike....
2nd ride on the bike down! Yay! After some epic struggles with the back wheel (trying to run the trispokes on it to get a feel for the beast..except the back wheel is not friendly. Apparently maybe the tire is too big and I need to drop down from 23's to around 20's...which means I have to buy a new tire...grrrr. Noah's bike can run a 23 and I almost told him to put the wheel on his bike and see if it cooperates. My frame is apparently just too small, or the space b/w the frame and tire should be really small...shouldn't be that small though. So we'll see about remedying that problem Friday afternoon...which should only be funny watching me try to change the tire. But alas...if it's not windy on Saturday I might like to see how the wheels feel on a long ride....just to play. But maybe not since I don't know the route and there may be some hills....conundrum.
Anyway...Phil, Wendy and I rode about 27 miles from Casa Ware. It was a nice ride, just the regular out and back. Had a nice little tailwind on the way out (spelling out thoughts of a "character ride" back to the house) and only damaged our average speed a bit on the way home. Think it wound up being around 16.something. But it was a good ride, felt ok.
Do need to probably tweak the machine a bit as I feel relatively powerless on the climbs....not sure what the answer for that is, but it might involve moving around a bit...or just getting used to it again - not sure. But I remember the full fit process did alleviate the issue the first time. As much as I don't want to, it might require a call/consult with T3 to figure out how to adapt my fit on the old machine into the new bike. (I can promise that I will NOT be paying $200+ for a new fit though...GRUMBLE)
So....stay tuned, more to come on that...Saturday could/should be interesting and fun. Nice, low-key shakeout ride.....
Anyway...Phil, Wendy and I rode about 27 miles from Casa Ware. It was a nice ride, just the regular out and back. Had a nice little tailwind on the way out (spelling out thoughts of a "character ride" back to the house) and only damaged our average speed a bit on the way home. Think it wound up being around 16.something. But it was a good ride, felt ok.
Do need to probably tweak the machine a bit as I feel relatively powerless on the climbs....not sure what the answer for that is, but it might involve moving around a bit...or just getting used to it again - not sure. But I remember the full fit process did alleviate the issue the first time. As much as I don't want to, it might require a call/consult with T3 to figure out how to adapt my fit on the old machine into the new bike. (I can promise that I will NOT be paying $200+ for a new fit though...GRUMBLE)
So....stay tuned, more to come on that...Saturday could/should be interesting and fun. Nice, low-key shakeout ride.....
And they wonder...
It makes me laugh that sometimes people wonder why I have a temper. And sometimes people wonder why I just retreat sometimes into my own little world.
I could go on and on. But I'm just tired of a lot of things right now. Coordinating being one of them. I'm sick of coordinating and having to live by the schedule that I coordinate and of not being able to feel like my normal, fairly positive self. (I have to think that there's a damn reason they gave me "Most Enthusiastic" at the tri-club thing....) I feel a bit like the only one stressed about coordination and getting everything and every to and fro w/o pain and suffering.
Slightly dramatic, yes. Hitting a nail on the head as to how I feel right now - absolutely. I just have a desire to be desired, and to be taken care of for a little while. Let someone else make the plans, arrange the packing, transportation, luggage, yards, vets, schedules and workouts. I'm just going to go over here, sit down and read for awhile. Wake me when it's ready, ok?
I could go on and on. But I'm just tired of a lot of things right now. Coordinating being one of them. I'm sick of coordinating and having to live by the schedule that I coordinate and of not being able to feel like my normal, fairly positive self. (I have to think that there's a damn reason they gave me "Most Enthusiastic" at the tri-club thing....) I feel a bit like the only one stressed about coordination and getting everything and every to and fro w/o pain and suffering.
Slightly dramatic, yes. Hitting a nail on the head as to how I feel right now - absolutely. I just have a desire to be desired, and to be taken care of for a little while. Let someone else make the plans, arrange the packing, transportation, luggage, yards, vets, schedules and workouts. I'm just going to go over here, sit down and read for awhile. Wake me when it's ready, ok?
May 18, 2009
Athletic Counts
SO I'm not hitting goals...I'm ok with it. The early-season slump has officially hit me and I'm ok with that, too. I seem to be OK with a lot of things lately. Ok...I can usually survive the madness and don't get the first round of burnout until early June. Not this year.....too much, too fast.
Mullet, Crash, Pig, Dirt...done.
I'm fully extended on patience right now (read: I have none) and I'm looking exert myself at other things like yardwork or golf. Anything to heartily avoid running and swimming.
Spent about an hour and a half last Sunday or Monday on a bike, spent about the same time on the C'Dale the week before. I have not, since the Pig, run at all. At. All. That's bad. Prior to pig, my only run had been the Mulletman. So....I've got to get my head out of my butt on that one. I really would have enjoyed a run this morning, but there were other things that prevented that.
The bike is up and running (thank God) - went for first ride yesterday. As soon as I get all situated, I will like it very much. I do wonder, however, how long the fear of crashing it will last.
Monty is at the vet. He had his teeth cleaned today (yuck) and the bump on his side removed. It was "questionable" and so it's being sent off to a lab to be analyzed. I'm sending up some serious prayers about this one. I love the dog, he's my Prince, my Big Man, my Monster Pain in the Ass, we've been through some crap, I want him to keep living a happy Monty life. So we're staying tuned and staying positive. I'll be picking him and the staples in his side up shortly after 5. We should hear something back in 3-5 days. Fingers crossed and all that jazz. He's getting the special treatment for a few more days. Poor guy. Not sure if I can handle Vivi without Monty (but we're not going to think about that now...). So, it's just kind of not an option. FYI.
Mullet, Crash, Pig, Dirt...done.
I'm fully extended on patience right now (read: I have none) and I'm looking exert myself at other things like yardwork or golf. Anything to heartily avoid running and swimming.
Spent about an hour and a half last Sunday or Monday on a bike, spent about the same time on the C'Dale the week before. I have not, since the Pig, run at all. At. All. That's bad. Prior to pig, my only run had been the Mulletman. So....I've got to get my head out of my butt on that one. I really would have enjoyed a run this morning, but there were other things that prevented that.
The bike is up and running (thank God) - went for first ride yesterday. As soon as I get all situated, I will like it very much. I do wonder, however, how long the fear of crashing it will last.
Monty is at the vet. He had his teeth cleaned today (yuck) and the bump on his side removed. It was "questionable" and so it's being sent off to a lab to be analyzed. I'm sending up some serious prayers about this one. I love the dog, he's my Prince, my Big Man, my Monster Pain in the Ass, we've been through some crap, I want him to keep living a happy Monty life. So we're staying tuned and staying positive. I'll be picking him and the staples in his side up shortly after 5. We should hear something back in 3-5 days. Fingers crossed and all that jazz. He's getting the special treatment for a few more days. Poor guy. Not sure if I can handle Vivi without Monty (but we're not going to think about that now...). So, it's just kind of not an option. FYI.
May 13, 2009
Hello. My Name Is Sloth...
...and I'm totally ok with it. After a month of gogogogogogogo and runrunrunrunrunrunrun with a little bit of CRACKWHAMMOCRASHTHUMP, I am more than accepting of a little quality time off to let my body do whatever the crap it wants - including hurt a little bit. I've got to get some recovery time banked into these muscles, bones and joints or I'm going to seriously hurt something.
That includes drinking plenty of water, getting a decent diet on track, trying to get back into a schedule and sleeping. Hmm...sleeping. Like going to bed at a regular time and trying to relax for a little while ahead of time so that I might sleep through the whole night. Ahh....wouldn't that be nice? So, I'm giving this recovery thing a good
shot and taking a bit of a mini-break from the training and trying to get back into the fun swing of things.
I've slated an 8-10 mile run for this weekend to be super easy. No expectations, just enjoying a run, shaking off my legs and enjoying a morning. If it's raining, all bets are off. Much like today - there will supposedly be a ride leaving from my house this evening. If it's raining - hell no i won't be going (which it's practically guaranteed to be raining, so I'm already saying I'm not going). Instead, I'm going to get some real-world stuff done (like bitching at the Apple people, hopefully picking up the new bike and possibly vacuuming my bedroom, cleaning my bathroom and starting some laundry). Tomorrow I will be looking over the yard with the yard guru and possibly hitting a driving range (hopefully not sending my club out into the driving range this time...). I'm hopeful that I could possibly get a short, easy run in the morning - again ONLY if it's not raining - and possibly taking the pooch to the vet. Who knows....I just would like to get some things done.
On the bright side - I've had too much caffeine so if I could focus on any one thing for more than 30 seconds I could be POUNDING out some projects. Of course, I can't (one of my many side-effects of too much caffeine) so I am ping-ponging around in my brain and not accomplishing anything, but I have a record number of windows and emails open on my computer....
Ahhhh, ADD at it's undiagnosed finest.
That includes drinking plenty of water, getting a decent diet on track, trying to get back into a schedule and sleeping. Hmm...sleeping. Like going to bed at a regular time and trying to relax for a little while ahead of time so that I might sleep through the whole night. Ahh....wouldn't that be nice? So, I'm giving this recovery thing a good
shot and taking a bit of a mini-break from the training and trying to get back into the fun swing of things.I've slated an 8-10 mile run for this weekend to be super easy. No expectations, just enjoying a run, shaking off my legs and enjoying a morning. If it's raining, all bets are off. Much like today - there will supposedly be a ride leaving from my house this evening. If it's raining - hell no i won't be going (which it's practically guaranteed to be raining, so I'm already saying I'm not going). Instead, I'm going to get some real-world stuff done (like bitching at the Apple people, hopefully picking up the new bike and possibly vacuuming my bedroom, cleaning my bathroom and starting some laundry). Tomorrow I will be looking over the yard with the yard guru and possibly hitting a driving range (hopefully not sending my club out into the driving range this time...). I'm hopeful that I could possibly get a short, easy run in the morning - again ONLY if it's not raining - and possibly taking the pooch to the vet. Who knows....I just would like to get some things done.
On the bright side - I've had too much caffeine so if I could focus on any one thing for more than 30 seconds I could be POUNDING out some projects. Of course, I can't (one of my many side-effects of too much caffeine) so I am ping-ponging around in my brain and not accomplishing anything, but I have a record number of windows and emails open on my computer....
Ahhhh, ADD at it's undiagnosed finest.
May 11, 2009
Luc is Coming Home!!!
The new frame is in the town....it's almost home. If it were actually being shipped to me - I would call UPS and ask to pick it up. But alas, I'm stuck working through this bike shop (which I will no longer associate with, nor will I be patronizing in the future. At some point I might write my 
feelings/thoughts on this here, but it might be best to just let sleeping/dead dogs lay...) and am subject to their hours. But at any rate....the new bike - which will probably be named "Luc" (or if I decide it's a girl Lucy - I kinda get skeeved out about riding a girl bike though...seems creeepy, and like it might start rumors...) - is almost home. Will be calling tomorrow to pick him up and drop him off at another shop to get the job done. Might be on a new ride by Wednesday. HOT DAWG.
INDIANAPOLIS,IN, US
05/11/2009
8:35 A.M.
THE BUSINESS WAS CLOSED TODAY. A DELIVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY / PACKAGE WILL BE DELIVERED NEXT BUSINESS DAY-NO SATURDAY GUARANTEE (posted from the UPS website using tracking info provided by QR)
feelings/thoughts on this here, but it might be best to just let sleeping/dead dogs lay...) and am subject to their hours. But at any rate....the new bike - which will probably be named "Luc" (or if I decide it's a girl Lucy - I kinda get skeeved out about riding a girl bike though...seems creeepy, and like it might start rumors...) - is almost home. Will be calling tomorrow to pick him up and drop him off at another shop to get the job done. Might be on a new ride by Wednesday. HOT DAWG.Now....as to how long it might take me to NOT be terrified to go fast on it....that's still up for debate.
INDIANAPOLIS,IN, US
05/11/2009
8:35 A.M.
THE BUSINESS WAS CLOSED TODAY. A DELIVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY / PACKAGE WILL BE DELIVERED NEXT BUSINESS DAY-NO SATURDAY GUARANTEE (posted from the UPS website using tracking info provided by QR)
This piggy flew...Flying Pig RR
So since I'm catching up on the madness that has ensued over the past month of racing, recovery, attempted recovery and more stupid racing....I did run the Pig.
The Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnatti is renown as one of the more fun marathons out there. They don't disappoint - let me tell you. The volunteers are full of energy, the race course is well marked, there's music out there (though they could use more of that) and some of the scenery is gorgeous. The weather even somewhat cooperated.
Having had that whole bike wreck thing a week prior to the marathon certainly made life interesting. I wasn't quite sure I was going to be able to run. Coming down the stairs on race morning with a back that was already pretty sore (and a running partner convinced I needed to go get x-rays on my back) didn't instill much confidence that it was going to be a great day. I figured I was in for some compensation issues at the very least (I didn't disappoint). I'd also realized over the course of the week (and telling the story a thousand times) how lucky I am having gotten out of said bike wreck with no major injuries.....but I've already said that.
Woke up and it was raining lightly and warmer than expected. Neither were great signs. Grabbed a thing of wheat pop-tarts (breakfast of champions) and some water and off we went to find the start line. During the 1/2 hr drive we had plenty of time to debate the weather and our intelligence and my back. I decided to pop 4 tylenol prior to the run, have 4 with me and a vicodin for worst-case scenario. Had my Zensah red calf sleeves on (THANK GOD), a DWD tech T and UA compression shorts. (Funny development - had the WRONG compression shorts - the ones I bought to wear under regular running shorts, NOT the ones I have to wear AS running shorts....so they were a bit shorter than expected) I also had a long-sleeve running shirt with me just in case..it was a tad chilly and it matched (red) so why not. We had our UBER FASHIONABLE trash bags on for the first couple of miles as it was still raining. We kept them with us for most of the race in case the rain came back. I had done most of our long-run training w/o a fuel belt as it was still out in CA from Silverman, so I was used to not having as much fluid as normal. With the back issue, not being sure if I was going to be able to do the full race (I figured if it got too bad I would just turn with the half folks and head back to the barn) and knowing there would be plenty of fluid on the course I didn't even wear my fuel belt. I did, however, wear the super-cool SpiBelt I picked up at the expo.
First few miles were a loosening up and shaking out experience. Keep in mind the most running I did all week was around the car in the Lowe's parking lot on Thursday. Things just hurt. The bruises hurt a bit early on, and we both discovered early on that downhill hurt more than uphill. I figured this wasn't a bad sign.....and away we went.
Still felt fairly good around 6 - 8, chugging along at a decent (albeit slower than anticipated prior to bike smashing) pace, feeling ok. Then we started going uphill....and continued uphill for 2 miles. Saw the first medical incident needed about halfway up said hill - chick out cold - but everyone else was doing ok. At some point we got to the top of the hill and thanked God and kept going. Still felt fairly decent from 8 - 12. Started to hurt a bit around there.
The "start slow and taper" philosophy was holding strong. We didn't get much quicker, but did actually wind up picking it up a bit through the middle few miles of the race. We're weird like that. My wheels started to fall off a bit around 15 - 18, just started to ache all over, my back was hurting and my left knee had decided it no longer wanted to cooperate with the rest of my body. I took the Tylenol just past 15. Had a minor crisis when 3 of them fell on the ground, dove to save them and you bet your ass I still took them. Still had the other magic pill in the belt - was thinking it might be necessary around 20. And we kept chugging along....
We both started to fall apart around 20. It was further than T had ever run, and she was feeling it a bit, but her knee was holding together (much to my chagrin) and still doing ok. We kind of both just fell apart though, and had to start walking quite a bit. Our last full mile of running was around 19 or so....tanks were just running dry. We did a decent job of hydrating though, had to make a potty stop around 9 - i take that as a good sign, and we weren't swelling up too bad. I'm taking most of the credit for that - as T turns into a camel if not reminded to hydrate, then puffs up like a marshmellow. So...we were doing good there.
The Penn State club handing out Gu somewhere around 18 - 20 helped out drastically. They had a great Buffett theme going and we knew we were headed downhill to the barn. Definite pick-me-up there.
Met another inspiring story somewhere around 20-21 - we were walking along and came upon this other chick in a bright yellow shirt limping fairly badly. Walked together for quite awhile, turns out she had torn her miniscus (HOLY CRAP) a few weeks prior to the race - yes she had been to the ortho, no she didn't know exactly how bad it was, yes he knew she was doing the pig, no he wasn't happy about it, yes it was going to need surgery, yes she had her ACL reconstructed a couple of years ago and yes this was her 6th marathon - and it turns out this was supposed to be an even bigger deal - HER REMISSION MARATHON FROM BREAST CANCER - found out officially cancer-gone and in remission earlier that week. We stuck together for about a mile, hobbling along together and swapping stories and keeping each other positive until I got to the point where I had to run, walking was just hurting too bad and I figured if it was going to hurt I might as well run since I'd get there a bit faster. She ran with us for just a bit then had to go back to walking. I know she finished - people like that don't quit - and she was hugely inspiring (and humbling, it was just a bike wreck). Unfortunately, by the time we got to the line we were so mired in our own pain that we didn't get the chance to hang around and see her finish. I didn't even get her name. But she's already won a helluva battle.
The last few miles were uneventful, just chugging along, running when we could, walking when we couldn't. We saw the 25 and T said she was going to run it in. I saw the "One Mile to Go" sign and said I was running it in from THERE...yes, I thought the .2 made a huge difference and would have killed me. And we did. Having not run a full mile in an hour, we both picked up the pace and ran the entire last mile. I'd say we ran it in a fairly decent pace but I don't have a clue. It took much encouragement to get through that, T hit barn mode as soon as she saw the banner - wound up finishing about 10 seconds ahead of me. I tried to "kick" the last little bit, but lost just about all feeling in my left leg a few hundred yards out. Left knee got REALLY painful around 22 and just didn't let go.
Tried to stick to around a Gu an hour. Wasn't too precise on the hydration, either. Just kind of took it when I wanted/thought I needed it. Alternated between Gatorade (Endurance formula, mixed on course, varying strengths, all disgusting) and water. Later in the race took to grabbing a cup of both and mixing them. Didn't really snack on anything except the best damn Baptist Oranges ever (they prayed over them) around 21 and some of the best gummy bears ever somewhere around 23 or 24. If I were to do this again seriously, I might have a more solid nutrition plan. (But the probability of me doing this again is slim...seriously or not) I think we need to give a LOT of credit to Skyline Chili...the planning for that meal got us through many of the 26 miles.
The whole thing hurt, hurt worse than Silverman. really. I'm not lying. I don't think I'll run another marathon unless it's at the end of an Ironman. I've proven I can in not great circumstances twice on tough courses. I've got it in me to push through. That's enough (I think). My finish time was only 4 (FOUR, DAMNIT) minutes faster than the marathon at Silverman. That's pretty disappointing to me, but when I think about the bike wreck, the weather and the lack of long-run training over the last month, I'm not too displeased with the overall outcome. I finished, which is more than a lot of people could/would do. And I did it with a good friend at my side the whole time who wouldn't let me quit (even when I wanted to) and who made the experience so much better.
Overall it was a great experience. Had a good time learning about lacrosse (and scaring parents) Saturday - Steph's team did great. Met a great family in Sue & Mike - meeting us at the finish line was great, letting me stay at your house even better, but being understanding and putting up with the whining/crying afterwards is even better. It's a great race with great swag (I've basically not taken off the jacket or put down the bag since) and a great theme. There were a lot of people that told me I was stupid to do this - thank you to all of them. My stubborn ass probably wouldn't have gritted it out so much without you.
Proving the naysayers wrong, one stupid step at a time.....a pig flew that day.
6.8 time - (clock times) 1:32:51
12 time - 2:36:06 (5.2 mi - 1:04)
13.1 time - 2:36:06 (1.1 mi - 12:01)
19.7 time - 4:08:50 (6.6 mi - 1:20)
25.2 time - 5:27:31 (5.5 mi - 1:19)
26.2 time - (chip time) 5:27:42
Times indicate that we ran miles 13 - 19 faster than we did 1-6. Which would almost make sense given that it's clock time being shown and we were about 12 minutes after gun going over the line - but our last mile in 12 seconds really takes the cake...Tanya has it more precisely but it'll work out to show that 12 - 13.1 was about the same pace as 25 - 26.2. Oddly humorous and so typical of us running.
Pace - 12:31
Finishers - 4,014
Females - 1,633
Average time - 4:29:41 (work to do)
The Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnatti is renown as one of the more fun marathons out there. They don't disappoint - let me tell you. The volunteers are full of energy, the race course is well marked, there's music out there (though they could use more of that) and some of the scenery is gorgeous. The weather even somewhat cooperated.
Having had that whole bike wreck thing a week prior to the marathon certainly made life interesting. I wasn't quite sure I was going to be able to run. Coming down the stairs on race morning with a back that was already pretty sore (and a running partner convinced I needed to go get x-rays on my back) didn't instill much confidence that it was going to be a great day. I figured I was in for some compensation issues at the very least (I didn't disappoint). I'd also realized over the course of the week (and telling the story a thousand times) how lucky I am having gotten out of said bike wreck with no major injuries.....but I've already said that.
Woke up and it was raining lightly and warmer than expected. Neither were great signs. Grabbed a thing of wheat pop-tarts (breakfast of champions) and some water and off we went to find the start line. During the 1/2 hr drive we had plenty of time to debate the weather and our intelligence and my back. I decided to pop 4 tylenol prior to the run, have 4 with me and a vicodin for worst-case scenario. Had my Zensah red calf sleeves on (THANK GOD), a DWD tech T and UA compression shorts. (Funny development - had the WRONG compression shorts - the ones I bought to wear under regular running shorts, NOT the ones I have to wear AS running shorts....so they were a bit shorter than expected) I also had a long-sleeve running shirt with me just in case..it was a tad chilly and it matched (red) so why not. We had our UBER FASHIONABLE trash bags on for the first couple of miles as it was still raining. We kept them with us for most of the race in case the rain came back. I had done most of our long-run training w/o a fuel belt as it was still out in CA from Silverman, so I was used to not having as much fluid as normal. With the back issue, not being sure if I was going to be able to do the full race (I figured if it got too bad I would just turn with the half folks and head back to the barn) and knowing there would be plenty of fluid on the course I didn't even wear my fuel belt. I did, however, wear the super-cool SpiBelt I picked up at the expo.
First few miles were a loosening up and shaking out experience. Keep in mind the most running I did all week was around the car in the Lowe's parking lot on Thursday. Things just hurt. The bruises hurt a bit early on, and we both discovered early on that downhill hurt more than uphill. I figured this wasn't a bad sign.....and away we went.
Still felt fairly good around 6 - 8, chugging along at a decent (albeit slower than anticipated prior to bike smashing) pace, feeling ok. Then we started going uphill....and continued uphill for 2 miles. Saw the first medical incident needed about halfway up said hill - chick out cold - but everyone else was doing ok. At some point we got to the top of the hill and thanked God and kept going. Still felt fairly decent from 8 - 12. Started to hurt a bit around there.
The "start slow and taper" philosophy was holding strong. We didn't get much quicker, but did actually wind up picking it up a bit through the middle few miles of the race. We're weird like that. My wheels started to fall off a bit around 15 - 18, just started to ache all over, my back was hurting and my left knee had decided it no longer wanted to cooperate with the rest of my body. I took the Tylenol just past 15. Had a minor crisis when 3 of them fell on the ground, dove to save them and you bet your ass I still took them. Still had the other magic pill in the belt - was thinking it might be necessary around 20. And we kept chugging along....
We both started to fall apart around 20. It was further than T had ever run, and she was feeling it a bit, but her knee was holding together (much to my chagrin) and still doing ok. We kind of both just fell apart though, and had to start walking quite a bit. Our last full mile of running was around 19 or so....tanks were just running dry. We did a decent job of hydrating though, had to make a potty stop around 9 - i take that as a good sign, and we weren't swelling up too bad. I'm taking most of the credit for that - as T turns into a camel if not reminded to hydrate, then puffs up like a marshmellow. So...we were doing good there.
The Penn State club handing out Gu somewhere around 18 - 20 helped out drastically. They had a great Buffett theme going and we knew we were headed downhill to the barn. Definite pick-me-up there.
Met another inspiring story somewhere around 20-21 - we were walking along and came upon this other chick in a bright yellow shirt limping fairly badly. Walked together for quite awhile, turns out she had torn her miniscus (HOLY CRAP) a few weeks prior to the race - yes she had been to the ortho, no she didn't know exactly how bad it was, yes he knew she was doing the pig, no he wasn't happy about it, yes it was going to need surgery, yes she had her ACL reconstructed a couple of years ago and yes this was her 6th marathon - and it turns out this was supposed to be an even bigger deal - HER REMISSION MARATHON FROM BREAST CANCER - found out officially cancer-gone and in remission earlier that week. We stuck together for about a mile, hobbling along together and swapping stories and keeping each other positive until I got to the point where I had to run, walking was just hurting too bad and I figured if it was going to hurt I might as well run since I'd get there a bit faster. She ran with us for just a bit then had to go back to walking. I know she finished - people like that don't quit - and she was hugely inspiring (and humbling, it was just a bike wreck). Unfortunately, by the time we got to the line we were so mired in our own pain that we didn't get the chance to hang around and see her finish. I didn't even get her name. But she's already won a helluva battle.
The last few miles were uneventful, just chugging along, running when we could, walking when we couldn't. We saw the 25 and T said she was going to run it in. I saw the "One Mile to Go" sign and said I was running it in from THERE...yes, I thought the .2 made a huge difference and would have killed me. And we did. Having not run a full mile in an hour, we both picked up the pace and ran the entire last mile. I'd say we ran it in a fairly decent pace but I don't have a clue. It took much encouragement to get through that, T hit barn mode as soon as she saw the banner - wound up finishing about 10 seconds ahead of me. I tried to "kick" the last little bit, but lost just about all feeling in my left leg a few hundred yards out. Left knee got REALLY painful around 22 and just didn't let go.
Tried to stick to around a Gu an hour. Wasn't too precise on the hydration, either. Just kind of took it when I wanted/thought I needed it. Alternated between Gatorade (Endurance formula, mixed on course, varying strengths, all disgusting) and water. Later in the race took to grabbing a cup of both and mixing them. Didn't really snack on anything except the best damn Baptist Oranges ever (they prayed over them) around 21 and some of the best gummy bears ever somewhere around 23 or 24. If I were to do this again seriously, I might have a more solid nutrition plan. (But the probability of me doing this again is slim...seriously or not) I think we need to give a LOT of credit to Skyline Chili...the planning for that meal got us through many of the 26 miles.
The whole thing hurt, hurt worse than Silverman. really. I'm not lying. I don't think I'll run another marathon unless it's at the end of an Ironman. I've proven I can in not great circumstances twice on tough courses. I've got it in me to push through. That's enough (I think). My finish time was only 4 (FOUR, DAMNIT) minutes faster than the marathon at Silverman. That's pretty disappointing to me, but when I think about the bike wreck, the weather and the lack of long-run training over the last month, I'm not too displeased with the overall outcome. I finished, which is more than a lot of people could/would do. And I did it with a good friend at my side the whole time who wouldn't let me quit (even when I wanted to) and who made the experience so much better.
Overall it was a great experience. Had a good time learning about lacrosse (and scaring parents) Saturday - Steph's team did great. Met a great family in Sue & Mike - meeting us at the finish line was great, letting me stay at your house even better, but being understanding and putting up with the whining/crying afterwards is even better. It's a great race with great swag (I've basically not taken off the jacket or put down the bag since) and a great theme. There were a lot of people that told me I was stupid to do this - thank you to all of them. My stubborn ass probably wouldn't have gritted it out so much without you.
Proving the naysayers wrong, one stupid step at a time.....a pig flew that day.
6.8 time - (clock times) 1:32:51
12 time - 2:36:06 (5.2 mi - 1:04)
13.1 time - 2:36:06 (1.1 mi - 12:01)
19.7 time - 4:08:50 (6.6 mi - 1:20)
25.2 time - 5:27:31 (5.5 mi - 1:19)
26.2 time - (chip time) 5:27:42
Times indicate that we ran miles 13 - 19 faster than we did 1-6. Which would almost make sense given that it's clock time being shown and we were about 12 minutes after gun going over the line - but our last mile in 12 seconds really takes the cake...Tanya has it more precisely but it'll work out to show that 12 - 13.1 was about the same pace as 25 - 26.2. Oddly humorous and so typical of us running.
Pace - 12:31
Finishers - 4,014
Females - 1,633
Average time - 4:29:41 (work to do)
Florabama Tri
The opener of my season...I'm writing this report a bit belated because, well, the past month has been a blur of frantic rushing, racing and whirring about. Just look at the house and the chaos inside it - I have been living like a whirling dervish...no focus or concentration, just moving from one thing to the next putting out fires and doing just what needs to be done in hopes to survive to the next race/heal up enough to race/get everyone TO the race/etc. So...my stint as tour director is now done for awhile. I'm no longer going to be the team mom. I'm going to let my legs heal, try to get my back straightened out and get the new bike up and running and try to get some confidence back. But anyway....the write-up for the MulletMan....a bit belated, so I'm going to miss some of the nuances, but whatever.
It's a long 12-hour drive home. All the nutrition and rest and pre-race lore says the most important time for rest and hydration is actually 2 nights/days before - for a Saturday morning race that means Thursday is THE day. So...when you spend the last half of Wednesday in a car travelling to meetings, all of Thursday morning sitting still in meetings, and all day Thursday afternoon and night in a car driving from the meetings to the rendezvous with the "team car" then driving to Alabama, you're pretty much guaranteed to NOT eat, hydrate or rest right. But whatever...it's a fun race, intended to be a hilarious getaway weekend, not an "A" race for the season. So....we did our best eating ok and hydrating as much as possible. Once at the house (7a on Friday arrival, rest for a few hours) we all kind of locked in a took it easy. Went down to pick up packets and get a first look (for N & N) at the race course and the Florabama. Had a relaxing dinner and readied everything for the early start and went to bed. I've got to say that sleeping on a couch isn't my favorite - but I like my parent's couch. I slept pretty decent the entire time we were there.
Woke up and schlepped around a bit trying to get everything ready and get out the door. Took off, got to the race site and set up. It's been a pretty windy spring down in LA (lower Alabama) and that's been producing rip currents like no other. It's also been driving up some impressive surf. Most of that week had been red flagged (no swimming, rip tides) and this day looked to be no exception. Surf was coming in at an angle. There were rumblings about cancelling the swim (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO- it's all I got, yo!!) but in the end they wound up shortening it. I started to whine, they specifically pointed out that if you freaked, you could stand up and run, then realized that I didn't care at the end of the day - no one should get hurt and the Navy swimmers and lifeguards were really just trying to keep everyone safe. At that point, we all kind of said - screw it - there were a lot of people freaking out. (Having swam a few times in the Pacific out at Malibu, I wasn't worried - it IS Gulf surf after all...easy peasy. But there were plenty of people nervous. It was both N's first ocean swims. I kind of hated to see them start like this....but whatever.) The rip tides really picked up - when you hear a Navy lifeguard come running up and say to the RD - "if they go around that buoy we won't be able to save them," you know it's about to get interesting. But anyway...they pulled the buoys in a bit more (which did no good as the far one just kind of kept getting sucked further down the beach - i'm pretty sure the 1st wave had about 100yd shorter swim altogether) and off we went. Noah looked great starting his wave, one of the bigger guys standing out with no wetsuit and his CCMSC kit on - pounded out into the surf and nailed it. His swim time was quicker than mine! (read above about shorter swims....) The extra time spent swimming over the past year has really paid off - he's a rock star. Our wave started and all of my previous ocean swims just CLICKED. Knowing where the current is going and planning accordingly - I'm one of few women that went around both buoys. Started off to the left, dolphin-dove through/under the surf, popped up and just relaxed into a stroke, breathing to the left to keep and eye on the surf, got carried right out and past the buoy. I knew the run to the other turn buoy would be short with the current and surf - i also knew I would have to swim outward a bit (trying to stay inside the rip though) - NAILED that leg....had a nice, easy cruise, rolling over the crests, staying relaxed. Only had to spot once or twice, just kept pointed in the right direction. Made the turn for home just before I reached the buoy - knew the current wasn't going to magically push me the other way - grazed right by it and threaded through the other girls swimming into my right side having not been able to spot the buoy or judge the current well. Also know to not fight the current - it's much easier to run a few extra yards up the beach than try to swim against the current towards the swim exit. Body surfed a couple of times and hit the beach running. THANK YOU MALIBU! Had a great swim. I also know to not try to kill myself running through that deep sand, stay up on my toes, don't overuse the legs and just chug along.
T1 uneventful, I need to get quicker at these things...but I just don't push too hard in them. I kind of think of it as a point where it's better for me to stay steady than to try to rush - I leave things behind when I do that. It wasn't the quickest, but it wasn't that slow. Took off on the bike.
Did I mention earlier it's been windy down there? Popped out of transition, on the bike and away I went. When I looked down a mile or so in and I was way over 20mph, my first thought was that the return leg was going to SUCK...bad. (I wasn't far off base) Having been down that road before, I know that it's better to just hammer the first half, then spent the second just holding form and chugging along. Watching people fight the wind and try to just hammer through it with bad form kills me. It makes me tired for them. I always remember what John used to tell us about how just focusing on form and getting the job done in the wind would pay off - every time I'm in a windy race or ride I remember those words....they save me and my energy stores. My avg speed on the way out HAD to be over 25mph. I was FLYING. I love my bike and my aero position. It just feels good all the way around. Comfortable and efficient. Came flying down off the bridge over 30mph, passed a couple of guys just rocketing along....then we turned around. The wind was REALLY gusty between the towers, it's nice being able to sort of read that and know when it's coming. I only almost got knocked over once. (Thank you Silverman!) Kept chugging along and did my best to just maintain and spin through it comfortably. Was still holding a pretty decent pace. Was also pulling a chick through most of it - annoying. But whatever. Rest of the bike was uneventful. Saw Noah headed back from the turnaround very close to the front of the race - AWESOME - also saw him early on the run looking strong. He was putting in some great effort and looked solid.
T2 also uneventful. I was worried that I hadn't seen N after the turnaround - was worried she was right behind me so while I still didn't rush through T2 I wasn't exactly taking my time. Popped out on the run and was just putting in some good effort, trying to keep my form in check, not overheat and just run - actually run hard. I started to pay for that about the end of Mile 1...I was maybe running a bit hard and I'm not used to that (training for a marathon doesn't exactly build in much speedwork). Having STILL not seen N I was getting really worried - I even saw Noah headed back in from the run turnaround (form suffering a bit but still was chugging along without too many people in front of him!!!). Finally saw her coming down the bridge as I was headed down for the run turn. She looked like she was in hell and hurting (mechanical - both front & back brakes rubbing). Knowing where she was, that it's such an early season race, I had a marathon coming in two weeks I decided to back off a bit. I wanted a good showing, but with the lack of rest and amount of stress we've been pulling I figured it was more important to have fun.
Finished the run feeling fairly ok. Decent times (though I forget them now) all through the race, though nothing spectacular. Was 4th in age group (again...why does that keep happening?) but at least it was by a few minutes this time. I'll take it. My goal for the race was to go kind of hard - blow off the dust and see if my legs had some "GO" in them. With the weather, it was all skewy, but I think it was a good first race of the season. Took one gel at the beginning of the run - normally would have taken one fairly early in the bike and then also at the beginning of the run, but I don't think that hurt me. I still managed to gulp down some liquid calories (gatorade) and didn't tear up my stomach too much...I did have to pee through most of it - almost tried during the bike but couldn't do it - so I think I still need a bit of work on the morning routines.
So that's that....finally it's done.
It's a long 12-hour drive home. All the nutrition and rest and pre-race lore says the most important time for rest and hydration is actually 2 nights/days before - for a Saturday morning race that means Thursday is THE day. So...when you spend the last half of Wednesday in a car travelling to meetings, all of Thursday morning sitting still in meetings, and all day Thursday afternoon and night in a car driving from the meetings to the rendezvous with the "team car" then driving to Alabama, you're pretty much guaranteed to NOT eat, hydrate or rest right. But whatever...it's a fun race, intended to be a hilarious getaway weekend, not an "A" race for the season. So....we did our best eating ok and hydrating as much as possible. Once at the house (7a on Friday arrival, rest for a few hours) we all kind of locked in a took it easy. Went down to pick up packets and get a first look (for N & N) at the race course and the Florabama. Had a relaxing dinner and readied everything for the early start and went to bed. I've got to say that sleeping on a couch isn't my favorite - but I like my parent's couch. I slept pretty decent the entire time we were there.
Woke up and schlepped around a bit trying to get everything ready and get out the door. Took off, got to the race site and set up. It's been a pretty windy spring down in LA (lower Alabama) and that's been producing rip currents like no other. It's also been driving up some impressive surf. Most of that week had been red flagged (no swimming, rip tides) and this day looked to be no exception. Surf was coming in at an angle. There were rumblings about cancelling the swim (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO- it's all I got, yo!!) but in the end they wound up shortening it. I started to whine, they specifically pointed out that if you freaked, you could stand up and run, then realized that I didn't care at the end of the day - no one should get hurt and the Navy swimmers and lifeguards were really just trying to keep everyone safe. At that point, we all kind of said - screw it - there were a lot of people freaking out. (Having swam a few times in the Pacific out at Malibu, I wasn't worried - it IS Gulf surf after all...easy peasy. But there were plenty of people nervous. It was both N's first ocean swims. I kind of hated to see them start like this....but whatever.) The rip tides really picked up - when you hear a Navy lifeguard come running up and say to the RD - "if they go around that buoy we won't be able to save them," you know it's about to get interesting. But anyway...they pulled the buoys in a bit more (which did no good as the far one just kind of kept getting sucked further down the beach - i'm pretty sure the 1st wave had about 100yd shorter swim altogether) and off we went. Noah looked great starting his wave, one of the bigger guys standing out with no wetsuit and his CCMSC kit on - pounded out into the surf and nailed it. His swim time was quicker than mine! (read above about shorter swims....) The extra time spent swimming over the past year has really paid off - he's a rock star. Our wave started and all of my previous ocean swims just CLICKED. Knowing where the current is going and planning accordingly - I'm one of few women that went around both buoys. Started off to the left, dolphin-dove through/under the surf, popped up and just relaxed into a stroke, breathing to the left to keep and eye on the surf, got carried right out and past the buoy. I knew the run to the other turn buoy would be short with the current and surf - i also knew I would have to swim outward a bit (trying to stay inside the rip though) - NAILED that leg....had a nice, easy cruise, rolling over the crests, staying relaxed. Only had to spot once or twice, just kept pointed in the right direction. Made the turn for home just before I reached the buoy - knew the current wasn't going to magically push me the other way - grazed right by it and threaded through the other girls swimming into my right side having not been able to spot the buoy or judge the current well. Also know to not fight the current - it's much easier to run a few extra yards up the beach than try to swim against the current towards the swim exit. Body surfed a couple of times and hit the beach running. THANK YOU MALIBU! Had a great swim. I also know to not try to kill myself running through that deep sand, stay up on my toes, don't overuse the legs and just chug along.
T1 uneventful, I need to get quicker at these things...but I just don't push too hard in them. I kind of think of it as a point where it's better for me to stay steady than to try to rush - I leave things behind when I do that. It wasn't the quickest, but it wasn't that slow. Took off on the bike.
Did I mention earlier it's been windy down there? Popped out of transition, on the bike and away I went. When I looked down a mile or so in and I was way over 20mph, my first thought was that the return leg was going to SUCK...bad. (I wasn't far off base) Having been down that road before, I know that it's better to just hammer the first half, then spent the second just holding form and chugging along. Watching people fight the wind and try to just hammer through it with bad form kills me. It makes me tired for them. I always remember what John used to tell us about how just focusing on form and getting the job done in the wind would pay off - every time I'm in a windy race or ride I remember those words....they save me and my energy stores. My avg speed on the way out HAD to be over 25mph. I was FLYING. I love my bike and my aero position. It just feels good all the way around. Comfortable and efficient. Came flying down off the bridge over 30mph, passed a couple of guys just rocketing along....then we turned around. The wind was REALLY gusty between the towers, it's nice being able to sort of read that and know when it's coming. I only almost got knocked over once. (Thank you Silverman!) Kept chugging along and did my best to just maintain and spin through it comfortably. Was still holding a pretty decent pace. Was also pulling a chick through most of it - annoying. But whatever. Rest of the bike was uneventful. Saw Noah headed back from the turnaround very close to the front of the race - AWESOME - also saw him early on the run looking strong. He was putting in some great effort and looked solid.
T2 also uneventful. I was worried that I hadn't seen N after the turnaround - was worried she was right behind me so while I still didn't rush through T2 I wasn't exactly taking my time. Popped out on the run and was just putting in some good effort, trying to keep my form in check, not overheat and just run - actually run hard. I started to pay for that about the end of Mile 1...I was maybe running a bit hard and I'm not used to that (training for a marathon doesn't exactly build in much speedwork). Having STILL not seen N I was getting really worried - I even saw Noah headed back in from the run turnaround (form suffering a bit but still was chugging along without too many people in front of him!!!). Finally saw her coming down the bridge as I was headed down for the run turn. She looked like she was in hell and hurting (mechanical - both front & back brakes rubbing). Knowing where she was, that it's such an early season race, I had a marathon coming in two weeks I decided to back off a bit. I wanted a good showing, but with the lack of rest and amount of stress we've been pulling I figured it was more important to have fun.
Finished the run feeling fairly ok. Decent times (though I forget them now) all through the race, though nothing spectacular. Was 4th in age group (again...why does that keep happening?) but at least it was by a few minutes this time. I'll take it. My goal for the race was to go kind of hard - blow off the dust and see if my legs had some "GO" in them. With the weather, it was all skewy, but I think it was a good first race of the season. Took one gel at the beginning of the run - normally would have taken one fairly early in the bike and then also at the beginning of the run, but I don't think that hurt me. I still managed to gulp down some liquid calories (gatorade) and didn't tear up my stomach too much...I did have to pee through most of it - almost tried during the bike but couldn't do it - so I think I still need a bit of work on the morning routines.
So that's that....finally it's done.
May 1, 2009
Flying Pig...Swine Flew...
Bad jokes abound about this. Let me just say for the record - I laugh so hard (secretly) that I almost snort at each and every one of them. However, they are bad. Bad. Bad. And my Dad should never be allowed to tell them.
That said, the Flying Pig marathon is Sunday. As in 2 days from now Sunday. I'm still having a bit of trouble with getting in and out of cars successfully without pain, let alone standing and sitting. Basically, I'm nervous as hell that I'm going to try it and it's going to hurt. Bad. As bad as those stupid jokes hurt normal people without retardedly bad senses of humor.
I'm equally scared NOT to try this thing, as I HAVE spent quite a few hours running in preparation for it. Granted, not nearly the amount of hours I SHOULD have spent prepping for it, but I DID do a 16 miler and I DID do that whole Ironman thing last year. I know just how bad it CAN suck. The question is, will this hurt THAT bad? And will I be able to justify pushing through the pain OR giving in to the pain? What's the likelihood that this could cause more damage to the rest of my season? (Couldn't cause any more damage than flipping and snapping the bike, in all reality..still working on that whole replacement thing...from multiple angles. Someone's probably going to wind up mad at some point - I just hope it's not me)
So....we're driving over tonight. I'm going to pack all of my running stuff and all the compression gear and Ace bandages I own and all the painkillers I can get my hands on.
I was scared before Silverman. It was an odd feeling to be scared that I couldn't do something. (I'm apparently a fairly confident person....) Somewhere, deep down, I knew I could do it by just keeping going. There wasn't any injury or voodooscarycrap that was inside my head telling me I couldn't. I just had to deal with it. I'm not feeling so peppy about this ordeal right now. I'm scared I can't do it - not that I mentally can't but that my body will physically not let me. Or that I will try and fail. Or that I will try and hurt myself. Or that I will not try and regret that.
Rock, meet hard place. Let's do this thing and prove again that I can do any damn thing I set my mind to. I'm not going to qualify for Boston. I'm not even sure I can beat my Silverman time....but I'm pretty sure that, to me, finishing this thing might be a bigger accomplishment than that whole Ironman in a thunderstorm and hail thing....
That said, the Flying Pig marathon is Sunday. As in 2 days from now Sunday. I'm still having a bit of trouble with getting in and out of cars successfully without pain, let alone standing and sitting. Basically, I'm nervous as hell that I'm going to try it and it's going to hurt. Bad. As bad as those stupid jokes hurt normal people without retardedly bad senses of humor.
I'm equally scared NOT to try this thing, as I HAVE spent quite a few hours running in preparation for it. Granted, not nearly the amount of hours I SHOULD have spent prepping for it, but I DID do a 16 miler and I DID do that whole Ironman thing last year. I know just how bad it CAN suck. The question is, will this hurt THAT bad? And will I be able to justify pushing through the pain OR giving in to the pain? What's the likelihood that this could cause more damage to the rest of my season? (Couldn't cause any more damage than flipping and snapping the bike, in all reality..still working on that whole replacement thing...from multiple angles. Someone's probably going to wind up mad at some point - I just hope it's not me)
So....we're driving over tonight. I'm going to pack all of my running stuff and all the compression gear and Ace bandages I own and all the painkillers I can get my hands on.
I was scared before Silverman. It was an odd feeling to be scared that I couldn't do something. (I'm apparently a fairly confident person....) Somewhere, deep down, I knew I could do it by just keeping going. There wasn't any injury or voodooscarycrap that was inside my head telling me I couldn't. I just had to deal with it. I'm not feeling so peppy about this ordeal right now. I'm scared I can't do it - not that I mentally can't but that my body will physically not let me. Or that I will try and fail. Or that I will try and hurt myself. Or that I will not try and regret that.
Rock, meet hard place. Let's do this thing and prove again that I can do any damn thing I set my mind to. I'm not going to qualify for Boston. I'm not even sure I can beat my Silverman time....but I'm pretty sure that, to me, finishing this thing might be a bigger accomplishment than that whole Ironman in a thunderstorm and hail thing....
April 30, 2009
Positive Outcomes
Good news: There's not a single hole in the tri top. (Further evidence that I did NOT skid very far at all upon impact.) There is one small hole and a few scuffs on the bike shorts - they can be worn again (though company should be chosen carefully). I'm moving better than I have been - but I'm still sore, don't get me wrong. The bike replacement wheels are turning rapidly. All wounds are almost healed and the bruises have started fading. I will probably have a couple small scars (forearm and shoulder) but they will be minimal.
Recommendations: Anyone in the area needs a good massage therapist, you call me. AB used to work with Roomie and is on her own now. I went to see her Wednesday afternoon and got noodled all up and down my back. I cussed at her elbow as she really ground down into "ground zero" trying to loosen up the crap. I think she lessened the time that I will hurt drastically. (I think she did that by making me hurt MORE in the interim, but I'm ok with that.) And she was just funny. So....you wanna get noodled and get some of the crap worked out - you lemmeno.
Recommendations: Anyone in the area needs a good massage therapist, you call me. AB used to work with Roomie and is on her own now. I went to see her Wednesday afternoon and got noodled all up and down my back. I cussed at her elbow as she really ground down into "ground zero" trying to loosen up the crap. I think she lessened the time that I will hurt drastically. (I think she did that by making me hurt MORE in the interim, but I'm ok with that.) And she was just funny. So....you wanna get noodled and get some of the crap worked out - you lemmeno.
Self-Pity Tour 2009
It continues for one more day. I've pretty much been a slug this week. I pushed a bit too hard on Monday, leaving me in tears by the time I got home around 9:15p. I could hardly move and everything just hurt. Making Dan tell me that I wasn't going to hurt that bad forever was a bit of a news flash. So...I backed down a bit. I swam a tad on Tuesday evening, which felt good. Had a few quality minutes in the hot tub after the short swim and felt even better. Was actually moving fairly fluid yesterday and feeling somewhat normal (despite the fact that I'm still in a sports bra and soft cotton shirts) and even was able to wear pants!! (Anything with a tight waistband or pockets on the butt was bad news....and yesterday was still a bit painful at times..)
Today is pants AND a normal shirt (no more wife-beater!!!) but still no normal bra. My shoulder is still a bit raw - I didn't really do a good job last night of keeping it "moist". I tried to go sans-Tylenol this morning and have already pumped 2000mg into my body after having a bit of a rough morning. Got a massage yesterday afternoon and think that might have loosened some of the crap up, but has left me more sore. If it shortens the overall pain period, i'm ok with it but sheesh. I'm just a bit tired of hurting, feeling like I shouldn't work out and not being able to be normal.
I've gotten starbucks 3x this week and basically not cooked a single meal. That has to stop pronto. I will quit feeling sorry for myself and indulging today. I don't think I'm going to be able to run tonight, maybe a quick test jaunt around the block to see how things shake out, but nothing ambitious. To bed early and a decent dinner. That's about the extent of my plans.
The good news: the ball is rolling on the frame replacement. I've dropped the 'duza at DG and am hoping the QR folks let me roll that route. I know what I want and what I'm willing to pay, I'm hoping they come through. I've been impressed thus far with the response times and whatnot. It's good to have direction. I'm still feeling bad about the poor baby though.
Oh, and a quick trip to Dick's and/or Target to take inventory on the "uniforms" for DWD. Also need to inquire about shelter reservations for CCMSC's picnic after the June race, and camping space for DWD, send my DeSoto shorts back (and hope all goes well) and line up dog care for this weekend and next. Sheesh...the 'todo' list is a bit overwhelming.
Today is pants AND a normal shirt (no more wife-beater!!!) but still no normal bra. My shoulder is still a bit raw - I didn't really do a good job last night of keeping it "moist". I tried to go sans-Tylenol this morning and have already pumped 2000mg into my body after having a bit of a rough morning. Got a massage yesterday afternoon and think that might have loosened some of the crap up, but has left me more sore. If it shortens the overall pain period, i'm ok with it but sheesh. I'm just a bit tired of hurting, feeling like I shouldn't work out and not being able to be normal.
I've gotten starbucks 3x this week and basically not cooked a single meal. That has to stop pronto. I will quit feeling sorry for myself and indulging today. I don't think I'm going to be able to run tonight, maybe a quick test jaunt around the block to see how things shake out, but nothing ambitious. To bed early and a decent dinner. That's about the extent of my plans.
The good news: the ball is rolling on the frame replacement. I've dropped the 'duza at DG and am hoping the QR folks let me roll that route. I know what I want and what I'm willing to pay, I'm hoping they come through. I've been impressed thus far with the response times and whatnot. It's good to have direction. I'm still feeling bad about the poor baby though.
Oh, and a quick trip to Dick's and/or Target to take inventory on the "uniforms" for DWD. Also need to inquire about shelter reservations for CCMSC's picnic after the June race, and camping space for DWD, send my DeSoto shorts back (and hope all goes well) and line up dog care for this weekend and next. Sheesh...the 'todo' list is a bit overwhelming.
April 27, 2009
(Wo)MAN DOWN!!!
Holy hell. I've been doing this bike riding thing for a LOOOOOOONg time now..technically since I was around 5 or 6 or so. Since I lived in the hilliest area on earth (not really, but for a kid there were some whoppers there) it seems like someone was always catapulting down hills on bikes (or on the various body parts that contacted the pavement/chip'n'seal when they left said bike). I'm practically a PRO at this falling down a hill on a bike thing. (Slight road rash on the forearm and the "raspberry" on the forehead - which isn't quite as swollen now and isn't a surface wound, just a bruise...this was Sunday around noon.)But hell, when you get older, the pavement gets harder and your body doesn't quite bounce as well upon impact. That's right kids, I bit the big one on the QR this weekend. (May he rest in peace....) In all reality, I'm EXTREMELY lucky that I'm not more injured and even though I feel like HELL I do recognize that. It could be much, much worse. Hell, it SHOULD be worse. Thank God for all of those "practice" runs since I was a kid.
Going down a hill with a late-apex turn in it (Right is a profile of the hill - the bright blue is about a 16% grade, according to mapmyrun.com), realizing I was going a little too fast a little too late. Back brake - wheel slide, front brake - wheel slide. Well, tuck 'er in boys, this could be interesting. Decided to bleed as much speed as possible, grabbed both brakes and hung on, went off into the weeds - still trying to drop speed, stay upright and avoid the guardrail (with the big telephone pole behind it DIRECTLY in my trajectory). Avoided the end of the guardrail, that's good, but hit a HELLUVA divot as the banked roadway turns away and the shoulder drops off to the cross-road meeting. 
Divot effectively changed the direction of travel for both me and the bike. The force of the hit buckled and cracked my downtube, dropped my handlebars straight down and sent both me and the bike flipping into the air. (NOTE: Any time you are in the air long enough to have a series of conscious thoughts - you are in the air TOO LONG. My thoughts: tuck your head and let momentum roll me, relax my body, F*CK this is going to hurt...thump) Noah says I was quite high in the air, I got a good shot of the bike as I landed a good 3 or 4 feet higher than I was (and also upside down at that moment). I flew about 10 ft. laterally, bike went another 8-10 past me, landing in the brush (and taking a good lateral hit on the downtube). (Left is a "diagram" of the action - the green "dirt" sign is where I left the road, the red cross is the divot from hell, the "end" is where I hit and the red line is apx. where the bike landed, though it might have been a bit more in the woods)
Divot effectively changed the direction of travel for both me and the bike. The force of the hit buckled and cracked my downtube, dropped my handlebars straight down and sent both me and the bike flipping into the air. (NOTE: Any time you are in the air long enough to have a series of conscious thoughts - you are in the air TOO LONG. My thoughts: tuck your head and let momentum roll me, relax my body, F*CK this is going to hurt...thump) Noah says I was quite high in the air, I got a good shot of the bike as I landed a good 3 or 4 feet higher than I was (and also upside down at that moment). I flew about 10 ft. laterally, bike went another 8-10 past me, landing in the brush (and taking a good lateral hit on the downtube). (Left is a "diagram" of the action - the green "dirt" sign is where I left the road, the red cross is the divot from hell, the "end" is where I hit and the red line is apx. where the bike landed, though it might have been a bit more in the woods)I landed with a good thwack and turned my head to see Andre and Noah slowing down. I did a quick fingers, toes, ankles, head, knees check to see if anything was hurting (or missing feeling).
When all of the requisite parts let me know they were present and accounted for (and pissed off and hurting where applicable) I started to sit up. Now I know that's not the best idea usually, but my back was hurting MORE THAN ENOUGH to let me know that I hadn't broken it - I still had feeling, after all, and the pain was all lateral across my back and more in my ass than anything else. I took these as all good signs. (You can't see them, but there are 2 clean cracks all the way through the foam on the bottom of this helmet. There are also marks on the front, the top and enough gravel inside it to not surprise me that I keep finding it in my hair...) I also started running through the checklists internally - I knew what had happened, could run through it step-by-step, knew my name, who the guys were, were I was (or a good idea of about where I was) and that I was still upset about who the President was. Took the helmet off and took a look at it, same with the glasses. Asked the boys if I had any cuts on my face (I had started crying at this point and wanted to kinda start wiping off...). I also asked them to check if I cracked my frame. I knew I had done major damage, and I know I don't EVER want to hear the sound of carbon fiber snapping again, WOW that's a freaky sound. There's NEVER anything good about to happen when you hear that crackling and pop.
When all of the requisite parts let me know they were present and accounted for (and pissed off and hurting where applicable) I started to sit up. Now I know that's not the best idea usually, but my back was hurting MORE THAN ENOUGH to let me know that I hadn't broken it - I still had feeling, after all, and the pain was all lateral across my back and more in my ass than anything else. I took these as all good signs. (You can't see them, but there are 2 clean cracks all the way through the foam on the bottom of this helmet. There are also marks on the front, the top and enough gravel inside it to not surprise me that I keep finding it in my hair...) I also started running through the checklists internally - I knew what had happened, could run through it step-by-step, knew my name, who the guys were, were I was (or a good idea of about where I was) and that I was still upset about who the President was. Took the helmet off and took a look at it, same with the glasses. Asked the boys if I had any cuts on my face (I had started crying at this point and wanted to kinda start wiping off...). I also asked them to check if I cracked my frame. I knew I had done major damage, and I know I don't EVER want to hear the sound of carbon fiber snapping again, WOW that's a freaky sound. There's NEVER anything good about to happen when you hear that crackling and pop. My back hurt, but I was crying much harder for my beloved bike than for myself. Sure I was scared and figured that I had more than a couple bloody spots on me - but my poor little guy all 
broken was way more distressing, still is.
broken was way more distressing, still is.In reality, I'm lucky AS HELL. Knowing how to fall helped a lot. Knowing that crashing a bike is NOT the end of the world, it's going to happen if you ride long enough - helped me a lot. But knowing to stay calm and stay present through the process and try to affect the outcome and travel the best line possible was my biggest bonus. Noah says we were going about or at least 35. (My computer and tool bag were in the garage at the house) I know I bled quite a bit of speed before the shit hit the fan, but to fly that high, that far and land that hard (just ask my ass) I was still traveling at a good clip. Objects in motion...blah blah...unless acted upon by another force....divots suck. But to come out of it with ONLY a BUNCH of bumps and bruises, some gravel in my hair, ears, butt crack and shoes - no concussion, found both water bottles, all the components on the bike are salvageable, and I don't think I'll even have to trash the tri-top....I've already sent more than a few "thank you" prayers upstairs.
Gar says I've joined the elite group of people that have cracked a frame. While not a group I really WANTED to join, if I means the outcome I've had, I'll take it. That blessed little frame probably saved me quite a bit of pain. And as the boys keep saying every time I start crying, "Bike frames can be replaced, you can't." Good news: I didn't hurt Gar's new Rudy Project photocromatic glasses (I still think the one spot was snot) and my RUDY PROJECT Slinger helmet kept my brains in. (I would recommend they put just a smidge more foam at the very front - my forehead has the same request.) I will, from here on out, only be buying Rudy Project helmets. The Slinger's their new helmet in 2009 and one of the entry-level helmets. I'm probably going to upgrade a bit to the next level, but I will forever be thankful for that helmet. I know my head slammed into the ground hard 
(it took 2 showers to get out all the gravel in my hair - and to have the impact mark on my forehead from the SECOND thump it took...) and, well, enough gushing, I'm just a fan. A big fan. Good stuff. Other positives: as of Monday morning, almost all wounds have stopped oozing (one small spot on shoulder) and started healing, we got a helluva 25 or 26 miles in BEFORE I made it interesting, no concussion, the socks and the top washed clean of Gu (chocolate mint sacrifice in the back pocket of the top - scared the hell out of Noah when I sat up, looked like blood, but provided a snack while waiting for Gar and the car - also ensured that the paper towel "seat protector" didn't move in the car), never riding alone and always having good friends around to take care of me. 
(it took 2 showers to get out all the gravel in my hair - and to have the impact mark on my forehead from the SECOND thump it took...) and, well, enough gushing, I'm just a fan. A big fan. Good stuff. Other positives: as of Monday morning, almost all wounds have stopped oozing (one small spot on shoulder) and started healing, we got a helluva 25 or 26 miles in BEFORE I made it interesting, no concussion, the socks and the top washed clean of Gu (chocolate mint sacrifice in the back pocket of the top - scared the hell out of Noah when I sat up, looked like blood, but provided a snack while waiting for Gar and the car - also ensured that the paper towel "seat protector" didn't move in the car), never riding alone and always having good friends around to take care of me. 
The bad news: sQekR has bit the big one (Bike frames can be replaced)...the bike was one of my most prized posessions....so it still sucks and I'm still crying about it...but it took the hit and the impact and i didn't....my shorts are probably toast (they, too, took the brunt of the impact and are a bit stretched out) - I can't say enough about my Pearl Izumi shorts....minimized road rash taking the impact of 160lbs travelling downward at a HIGH rate of speed onto gravel....no gashes deep enough to even cause concern, more good stuff....HELL MY ASS HURTS...as does my shoulder, my back, my thigh and my hand. (We'll just not mention where this bruise is, other than to say it hurts..taken Monday morning.)
Looks like I'm eating Ramen for the next few months as I try to replace my bike ASAP. Anyone know where I can find a 2006 QR Seduza, size Small frame?
April 23, 2009
Geeeeezzz...I suck.
Yes, I do. Obviously neglectful of the things that matter, like KEEPING TRACK OF MY LIFE!
Heard a story on the Today show the other day about our increasing narcissism (yeah, I had to look it up) as a world-society. And here I write on a blog....but I don't really think anyone reads it all that much, so it's more a record of myself to myself. But I totally buy in - why do we all think we're so important that EVERYONE needs to hear something about exactly what we're doing every time we're doing it? I'm on Facebook, I check it quite often, but that's far more to blame on my ADD tendencies and being easily bored than any notions of narcissism and thinking that people WANT/NEED to keep track of me. Anyway....I just thought that interesting, and wanted to make a note of it.
That does not, however, explain or excuse the lack of dedication that I've had in tracking and logging. For that, I think I should blame the iPhone. Yes, i have one, I'm totally geeked out and connected and accessoried and "app"d. I'm "one of them". Currently reading a book that was dropped on my desk "The Blind Writer" about faith and Christianity and the subculture thereof and how it relates and some other interesting topics. (Side note: highly recommend the first part of the book, currently halfway through the second portion and am in jeopardy of losing my "like" for the book..) Writer makes a reference to a girl with her "Venti Starbucks and her iPhone". Pissed me off. I may or may not have been drinking a Venti Starbucks latte at that very moment with my iPhone in the car door next to me. I've not quite discerned the point he was trying to make at that particular juncture (other than ripping on the chick for her track suit - which ruined the panache and impression that he had of her for some reason or another that relates back to her faith and the image that she was exuding). I'm sure I can discover the point, as I keep reading, but I'm struggling to disconnect the author from his particular church anyway - then he throws out a shitty reference trashing someone ELSE for SBUX and iPhone? Pot, I'd like you to meet my friend Kettle. Anyway....I love my iPhone and I love my Starbucks. And those of you that think it makes me "one of thoooooooose people" can go to hell. I'm about as real as it gets.
Stay tuned for more opinions on this book as it evolves in my brain. I thought he had the right idea. I'm not sure right now if I still agree with myself. He is entertaining though.
BACK TO MY ORIGINAL POINT - the iPhone has made life easier for me, but between it and the travel I haven't had nearly as much quality computer time as I did. And I've been lazy and schlepping on the workouts. No workouts means no need to LOG the workouts. No need to log the workouts means a lack of dedication to BLOG about the life surrounding the workouts.
See where I'm going here?
Anyway. Had a fantabulous run last night. Was dreading it, after 6 hours in a car (36 hours in the past week) my legs aren't really that happy with me and I'm frigging tired. But, I needed to run (this little thing called a MARATHON in TWO, 2, 1+1, weekend after this, TWO weeks is going to SUUUUUUUUCK) about as bad as I need to sleep at the end of the day. So....ignoring the hellacious headwind and paying attention to the happy sun in the sky, the great temperature and the spring things starting to be springy things around...off I went on what the plan wanted to be a 5 mile run with 3 miles of tempo in there @ 9min/mi pace. First 1.5 directly into the wind....what a great idea this was.....got to the Monon and turned north - figured the easy way would be to "tempo" the time I was on the Monon...it's about 3 miles or so, right?? Sure...go for it. SO I run up, putting a consolidated effort into increased turnover, driving with my legs and arms, good posture and decent breathing. The good news: the chest pain from the first mile (WEIRD) had stopped and the legs were responding. Hit the end of the path and turned back, still feeling ok but like I'd been running pretty hard. Walked for about a minute to try to bring my heart rate out of the stratosphere. Then picked it back up. Saw the guy turn around about 1/4 in front of me and figured he was as good a goal as any....(side note: I rarely get to pass people when running. The thought of getting to 'chick' a guy on a run is IRRESISTABLE.) I continued the drive, paying some attention to my breathing and my form and repeating "Thou shalt not die" and "quit stomping" in my head. It took a bit longer to get him than I thought (he had tattoos....'chicking' a guy with ink - even more gratifying) but I finally went ripping by him doing my best impression of a runner completely in control of the situation. About 1/2 mi later when I got to the stoplight (i.e. where the tempo death-run portion of today's broadcast stopped) I looked back and the dude was EASILY 1/4mi back.....so THAT'S what happened....jackass back there had to have nearly doubled his pace to stay that far ahead of me for that long....then must have nearly fallen off the earth when I passed him to be that far back. (Note to self: even more gratifying. Not only did I chick him...I TOTALLY chicked him AND wasted him.)
But enough about the ridiculously competitive portion of my brain that took over for about 1.5 miles there.....I slapped on the Clay Terrace lap and flopped on home. After the tempo I slowed way down and just cruised the rest of it - trying to keep my feet lined up and the form ok. Wound up going further AND faster than necessary, but felt pretty good at the end of it, all-in-all. I'd totally do it again if I got to run past someone....
7.3 miles total
~1:14:05 (I stopped my watch at one point for a light and forgot to restart it, so I'm using what I know I usually run that area in)
3 miles tempo (almost exactly)
~26 minutes. (works out to be about an 8:40 pace)
Totally pleased with that effort. The marathon is still going to suck.
Heard a story on the Today show the other day about our increasing narcissism (yeah, I had to look it up) as a world-society. And here I write on a blog....but I don't really think anyone reads it all that much, so it's more a record of myself to myself. But I totally buy in - why do we all think we're so important that EVERYONE needs to hear something about exactly what we're doing every time we're doing it? I'm on Facebook, I check it quite often, but that's far more to blame on my ADD tendencies and being easily bored than any notions of narcissism and thinking that people WANT/NEED to keep track of me. Anyway....I just thought that interesting, and wanted to make a note of it.
That does not, however, explain or excuse the lack of dedication that I've had in tracking and logging. For that, I think I should blame the iPhone. Yes, i have one, I'm totally geeked out and connected and accessoried and "app"d. I'm "one of them". Currently reading a book that was dropped on my desk "The Blind Writer" about faith and Christianity and the subculture thereof and how it relates and some other interesting topics. (Side note: highly recommend the first part of the book, currently halfway through the second portion and am in jeopardy of losing my "like" for the book..) Writer makes a reference to a girl with her "Venti Starbucks and her iPhone". Pissed me off. I may or may not have been drinking a Venti Starbucks latte at that very moment with my iPhone in the car door next to me. I've not quite discerned the point he was trying to make at that particular juncture (other than ripping on the chick for her track suit - which ruined the panache and impression that he had of her for some reason or another that relates back to her faith and the image that she was exuding). I'm sure I can discover the point, as I keep reading, but I'm struggling to disconnect the author from his particular church anyway - then he throws out a shitty reference trashing someone ELSE for SBUX and iPhone? Pot, I'd like you to meet my friend Kettle. Anyway....I love my iPhone and I love my Starbucks. And those of you that think it makes me "one of thoooooooose people" can go to hell. I'm about as real as it gets.
Stay tuned for more opinions on this book as it evolves in my brain. I thought he had the right idea. I'm not sure right now if I still agree with myself. He is entertaining though.
BACK TO MY ORIGINAL POINT - the iPhone has made life easier for me, but between it and the travel I haven't had nearly as much quality computer time as I did. And I've been lazy and schlepping on the workouts. No workouts means no need to LOG the workouts. No need to log the workouts means a lack of dedication to BLOG about the life surrounding the workouts.
See where I'm going here?
Anyway. Had a fantabulous run last night. Was dreading it, after 6 hours in a car (36 hours in the past week) my legs aren't really that happy with me and I'm frigging tired. But, I needed to run (this little thing called a MARATHON in TWO, 2, 1+1, weekend after this, TWO weeks is going to SUUUUUUUUCK) about as bad as I need to sleep at the end of the day. So....ignoring the hellacious headwind and paying attention to the happy sun in the sky, the great temperature and the spring things starting to be springy things around...off I went on what the plan wanted to be a 5 mile run with 3 miles of tempo in there @ 9min/mi pace. First 1.5 directly into the wind....what a great idea this was.....got to the Monon and turned north - figured the easy way would be to "tempo" the time I was on the Monon...it's about 3 miles or so, right?? Sure...go for it. SO I run up, putting a consolidated effort into increased turnover, driving with my legs and arms, good posture and decent breathing. The good news: the chest pain from the first mile (WEIRD) had stopped and the legs were responding. Hit the end of the path and turned back, still feeling ok but like I'd been running pretty hard. Walked for about a minute to try to bring my heart rate out of the stratosphere. Then picked it back up. Saw the guy turn around about 1/4 in front of me and figured he was as good a goal as any....(side note: I rarely get to pass people when running. The thought of getting to 'chick' a guy on a run is IRRESISTABLE.) I continued the drive, paying some attention to my breathing and my form and repeating "Thou shalt not die" and "quit stomping" in my head. It took a bit longer to get him than I thought (he had tattoos....'chicking' a guy with ink - even more gratifying) but I finally went ripping by him doing my best impression of a runner completely in control of the situation. About 1/2 mi later when I got to the stoplight (i.e. where the tempo death-run portion of today's broadcast stopped) I looked back and the dude was EASILY 1/4mi back.....so THAT'S what happened....jackass back there had to have nearly doubled his pace to stay that far ahead of me for that long....then must have nearly fallen off the earth when I passed him to be that far back. (Note to self: even more gratifying. Not only did I chick him...I TOTALLY chicked him AND wasted him.)
But enough about the ridiculously competitive portion of my brain that took over for about 1.5 miles there.....I slapped on the Clay Terrace lap and flopped on home. After the tempo I slowed way down and just cruised the rest of it - trying to keep my feet lined up and the form ok. Wound up going further AND faster than necessary, but felt pretty good at the end of it, all-in-all. I'd totally do it again if I got to run past someone....
7.3 miles total
~1:14:05 (I stopped my watch at one point for a light and forgot to restart it, so I'm using what I know I usually run that area in)
3 miles tempo (almost exactly)
~26 minutes. (works out to be about an 8:40 pace)
Totally pleased with that effort. The marathon is still going to suck.
April 10, 2009
My Morning Pooch...
Totally not related to training or racing, but a hilarious observation about my life. First, my dogs shed - A LOT. This is disgusting to Dan. It's not very appealing to me, but it comes with the dogs and they DO appeal to me. It's getting a bit warmer now and they're starting to drop some of their winter coats. Given that they're also FILTHY, it's quite the combo of ickiness in and around my house right now. I smell a spring cleaning day where things get quite destroyed in the ultimate goal of getting better.Second - I have opposite personalities in my opposite dogs. Monty - Mr. Know-It-All will stay in bed as long as I am, he won't make a noise about getting up and getting out, but once I'm up and moving around, he moves around too. He'll grab his ball and push it around the room a bit, look out the window, "check" on me in the bathroom, and basically just let me know he's ready when I'm ready. He's fairly chipper and awake as soon as I'm up. This is maybe the ONE time of day he allows Vivi - if she's up and moving - to get near him 
or bump into him w/o threatening to rip her head off. Vivi, on the other hand - Ms. Lazy-Butt, will stay in bed as long as possible. Not only will she not make a noise about getting up, she doesn't move if she doesn't have to. I get up, move around, shower, get dressed, whatever - she's not moving unless I bump into her or start putting on my shoes. She'll open one eye, curl into a tighter ball and go back to sleep. Further, when she DOES wake up, she's clearly groggy and slow-moving (the ONLY time she's slow-moving) and just wants to cuddle and lay around. It's absolutely hilarious - she's SOOOOOO not a morning-doggy. When we come in at night it's basically the same thing - only it's Monty who's grumpy. And he's not grumpy in a very nice and
cuddly way - he's just an ass. He takes his time getting situated and just-so before he falls asleep, she heads straight in, hits her bed however and is out within a minute or two.
or bump into him w/o threatening to rip her head off. Vivi, on the other hand - Ms. Lazy-Butt, will stay in bed as long as possible. Not only will she not make a noise about getting up, she doesn't move if she doesn't have to. I get up, move around, shower, get dressed, whatever - she's not moving unless I bump into her or start putting on my shoes. She'll open one eye, curl into a tighter ball and go back to sleep. Further, when she DOES wake up, she's clearly groggy and slow-moving (the ONLY time she's slow-moving) and just wants to cuddle and lay around. It's absolutely hilarious - she's SOOOOOO not a morning-doggy. When we come in at night it's basically the same thing - only it's Monty who's grumpy. And he's not grumpy in a very nice and
cuddly way - he's just an ass. He takes his time getting situated and just-so before he falls asleep, she heads straight in, hits her bed however and is out within a minute or two. It's very funny how they have very funny, very separate personalities that are so definitive. And that hair thing? Yeah, he's pretty contained to his bed, she tends to splay all over the floor during the night and as a result I have a fan-shaped aura of black/grey on the carpet where she lays. Maybe his fur just blends into the carpet? Either way, it's absolutely disgusting and I have to vacuum my bedroom once every few days.
Dogs are work.
April 9, 2009
Swimming like a tank...
So Tuesday was my first swim in a little over a week....and it felt positively awful. That might've had something to do with the RAGING PMS, but I'm not sure, so I'm chocking it up to me just being out of whack. So it comes to Thursday...swim #2 of the week...and the SAME THING HAPPENS. Granted, I ran 5.25 mi. earlier today during lunch, so I was undoubtedly tired, and I've been sleeping like absolute crap, but STILL!!!!
Swim was a bit excruciating, but I did get through it with ok times. I still feel like my two halves are disconnected, leading me to snake all over the lane and my catch is all outta whack and I'm having to constantly remind myself to go "over the barrel" and to not fling my arm around in recovery. So, not normal stuff for me at all in the water. The swim is supposed to be the easy part. (The potential upside to that dilemma: the 5.25 felt super-great and easy and refreshing. I did deal with a bit of IT irritability towards the end and my right post-tib was getting annoyed, but overall the run felt good. It was slower than I would probably have run on my own - which is most likely a good thing as well.) While I'm glad the run felt good, it disturbs me that the swim felt so weird. I'm not willing to trade the thing I was really good at for the thing that I'm never going to be really good at - but could feel ok at. I'd rather have one of the three sports where I can totally slash most people, I don't care if they run by me later on, I'm still working on that part too. So, stay tuned, that part of life could continue to be interesting.
400WU
4x50 on 1:15 K (IM order)
1x100 on 2:00 K (IM)
4x100 on 2:00 P (IM/B/Br/Fr)
3x set: R :15 b/w
(200 on 3:30 - 90%, 100 on 1:45 recovery, 200 on 3:30 - 90%)
2x200 on 3:40 - :10 b/w 50's
300CD - 50dr/50sw
3100 total
Short workout - I bailed on part of the WU and the CD. Ridiculous, but I was tired. Not sure what's going on with the workouts (two days before the state meet we did about 3600 HARD yards, a week after and we're doing 3100 fairly short w/tons of rest?) but I hope Eileen's just not gotten bored. It's got to be hard writing stuff for the broad spectrum, but I might have to start tweaking them if it continues.....
Swim was a bit excruciating, but I did get through it with ok times. I still feel like my two halves are disconnected, leading me to snake all over the lane and my catch is all outta whack and I'm having to constantly remind myself to go "over the barrel" and to not fling my arm around in recovery. So, not normal stuff for me at all in the water. The swim is supposed to be the easy part. (The potential upside to that dilemma: the 5.25 felt super-great and easy and refreshing. I did deal with a bit of IT irritability towards the end and my right post-tib was getting annoyed, but overall the run felt good. It was slower than I would probably have run on my own - which is most likely a good thing as well.) While I'm glad the run felt good, it disturbs me that the swim felt so weird. I'm not willing to trade the thing I was really good at for the thing that I'm never going to be really good at - but could feel ok at. I'd rather have one of the three sports where I can totally slash most people, I don't care if they run by me later on, I'm still working on that part too. So, stay tuned, that part of life could continue to be interesting.
400WU
4x50 on 1:15 K (IM order)
1x100 on 2:00 K (IM)
4x100 on 2:00 P (IM/B/Br/Fr)
3x set: R :15 b/w
(200 on 3:30 - 90%, 100 on 1:45 recovery, 200 on 3:30 - 90%)
2x200 on 3:40 - :10 b/w 50's
300CD - 50dr/50sw
3100 total
Short workout - I bailed on part of the WU and the CD. Ridiculous, but I was tired. Not sure what's going on with the workouts (two days before the state meet we did about 3600 HARD yards, a week after and we're doing 3100 fairly short w/tons of rest?) but I hope Eileen's just not gotten bored. It's got to be hard writing stuff for the broad spectrum, but I might have to start tweaking them if it continues.....
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