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.
Picture of the Day
Vacation Fun
April 30, 2009
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.....
April 5, 2009
I'maschlep
for the record..I'm officially admitting it. I've been worthless for the last little while when it's come to tracking, noting, logging, blogging and just about everything else. And here's the shocking part - it's showing. It's showing on my body, my mental state, my athletic endeavors, and everything else. So...I've acknowledged it and will be working on it.
I'll also be going backwards in the logging process to make sure all of my workouts are noted, including the half-marathon PR of about 3 minutes or so, and the iPhone purchase, which may or may not turn out to be a good thing.
If I keep better track of my life, maybe the overwhelming parts of my life won't feel so overwhelming.
I'll also be going backwards in the logging process to make sure all of my workouts are noted, including the half-marathon PR of about 3 minutes or so, and the iPhone purchase, which may or may not turn out to be a good thing.
If I keep better track of my life, maybe the overwhelming parts of my life won't feel so overwhelming.
April 4, 2009
TO THE BUFFALO
Got to see the buffalo for the first time this year today. GORGEOUS day outside, sunny with what felt like little wind and a high headed up to 60...heck yeah I'll take my bike ride!
The random and extremely chaotic week left me more than exhausted and since the training plan for the Pig technically deemed this week a recovery week, I was totally out on doing a long run. My goal was to sleep until I woke up on saturday and get on my bike at some point or run 7 miles, whichever came first. Since I started receiving text messages about riding at 7a, the ride won.
40 miles total, about 2:30 in time, decent speed and effort. It's a fairly flat ride, so it's usually a good measure of general "how I feel"-ness. Felt pretty ok. I did forget how different my road and tri saddles are, and am paying the price for that.
Perfect morning, too, despite not having milk or any food in the house. Nila brought me Starbucks, I got to sit out on the deck with the poopers and enjoy the sunshine and read my book a bit while the Pandora Radio was serenading me. THAT's the way to start a weekend.
The random and extremely chaotic week left me more than exhausted and since the training plan for the Pig technically deemed this week a recovery week, I was totally out on doing a long run. My goal was to sleep until I woke up on saturday and get on my bike at some point or run 7 miles, whichever came first. Since I started receiving text messages about riding at 7a, the ride won.
40 miles total, about 2:30 in time, decent speed and effort. It's a fairly flat ride, so it's usually a good measure of general "how I feel"-ness. Felt pretty ok. I did forget how different my road and tri saddles are, and am paying the price for that.
Perfect morning, too, despite not having milk or any food in the house. Nila brought me Starbucks, I got to sit out on the deck with the poopers and enjoy the sunshine and read my book a bit while the Pandora Radio was serenading me. THAT's the way to start a weekend.