I love to socialize with a few people so when they make a call about a "status meeting at Stratos" at 3:30 late in the week, I'm usually in. Dangit if it wasn't my run/swim day. Did I do the right thing and go run? Nope. Sabotage.
I've been eating badly as well. I do well at work during the day for the most part, but now that I'm home quite a bit in the evenings doing schoolwork, I end up chowing down a lot. It's not pretty. I keep sabotaging my weight. Frustrating.
The past week or so has been really wet and windy. While the wet is great for my new lawn, it's not so good for the bike riding.
Fortunately today was a perfect day for riding. A few neighbor friends and I went down to Cedar Hill (south Dallas) for the organized ride down there. We did 42 miles and it was perfect. A few hills, perfect cool weather, lots of energy, and a big burger at the end. I love these organized rides. Thousands show up and it's such a great sense of camraderie. The legs are tired. I probably could've forced my way through the 60 miler, but it wouldn't have been fun. Next month.
Oh, I got a new pair of cycling shorts at REI yesterday. http://www.rei.com/product/765087 They were on sale and man, they were exactly what I needed. Lots of padding and very comfortable. They'll be great for RAGBRAI in July!
Update -
Friday bit the bullet and swam 2000yds strong.
100 warmup
5x200 x 4mins (these all went faster than usual...3:05-:08 most times!)
1x500 x 10 mins
6x50 x 1 min
100 cool down
Hey T if you're reading this, I hear the water at the lake is just about warm enough to swim now. If you're home Memorial Day weekend we should get you out there...
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The war is over!
"Get up! Get up!" General Katz yowled as she sat on my chest. "It's time to finish off the war!"
It was only 6:30 on a Saturday morning and it surely wasn't time to start the day. Unfortunately, the little general wasn't backing off. Reluctantly, I waddled out of bed to get her breakfast and get her off my back. Or rather, my chest.
But it was time. She was right. I looked outside to get my bearings on the day ahead. The ground was soft from a nice rain the night before. Clouds filled the day. Yes, this was the day to end the war that had been waging in my own backyard.
The war on crabgrass.
For years, I was resigned to the war. Hated the backyard because it was just so dull. I'd neglected it and paid for it heavily as the years took their toll. As the years passed, I was mowing less Bermuda and more of the crabgrass. It hit my knees at times it got so tall. Finally this spring I decided to attack.
In early March, after what was supposed to be the last freeze, I hit the backyard with roundup. Hit it hard. There was a bit of St Augustine grass that had been trying to move its allied forces in from neighboring lands, but it could never take hold of much but the edges. Where it stood, it stood firm. I allowed it to continue. But the nasty crabgrass got a full napalm-like explosion to kill it all. It worked. In a matter of weeks, it was crippled and dying.
But even in death, the crabgrass held onto its territory. Never letting go or relenting. I needed to get new reinforcements in to help the fringe army from next door. But to do this, I had to remove the decaying army still holding ground.
It took me 3 days of battle to finally pull the last of the dead crabgrass from the ground, all by hand and most of it holding tight in its roots. I took away 10, 30-gallon sized bags from the yard and sent it along to the trash. All the while General Katz was watching from a distance. It was exhausting but the war is over.
It was only 6:30 on a Saturday morning and it surely wasn't time to start the day. Unfortunately, the little general wasn't backing off. Reluctantly, I waddled out of bed to get her breakfast and get her off my back. Or rather, my chest.
But it was time. She was right. I looked outside to get my bearings on the day ahead. The ground was soft from a nice rain the night before. Clouds filled the day. Yes, this was the day to end the war that had been waging in my own backyard.
The war on crabgrass.
For years, I was resigned to the war. Hated the backyard because it was just so dull. I'd neglected it and paid for it heavily as the years took their toll. As the years passed, I was mowing less Bermuda and more of the crabgrass. It hit my knees at times it got so tall. Finally this spring I decided to attack.
In early March, after what was supposed to be the last freeze, I hit the backyard with roundup. Hit it hard. There was a bit of St Augustine grass that had been trying to move its allied forces in from neighboring lands, but it could never take hold of much but the edges. Where it stood, it stood firm. I allowed it to continue. But the nasty crabgrass got a full napalm-like explosion to kill it all. It worked. In a matter of weeks, it was crippled and dying.
But even in death, the crabgrass held onto its territory. Never letting go or relenting. I needed to get new reinforcements in to help the fringe army from next door. But to do this, I had to remove the decaying army still holding ground.
It took me 3 days of battle to finally pull the last of the dead crabgrass from the ground, all by hand and most of it holding tight in its roots. I took away 10, 30-gallon sized bags from the yard and sent it along to the trash. All the while General Katz was watching from a distance. It was exhausting but the war is over.
As the final hours of the battle were waged and the reinforcements brought in in waves (the transporters only held about 60 sheets of sod at a time), Katz patrolled the new territory, surveying the land, and sniffing it all out to make sure it was just right. She sighed, then as any good general, laid down in the sun, blissfully snoring in the sun.
All is good in the backyard lands these days. The new troops are standing tall and holding steady. As time goes on, these troops should propagate and take over the rest of the land.
Freedom reigns in St Augustine!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Swim
Wow, I can't believe how much I'm enjoying the swimming lately. It's coming so amazingly easy so far it almost feels effortless. Now I'm not saying that to boast or anything, but I'm just so surprised.
This morning I set out to get in 1500 before going to work. I normally have an idea of how much I want to get done and roughly how I'll break up the effort. This was this morning's plan:
1oo warmup
5x200 at 4 min intervals
6x50 at 1 min intervals
100 cooldown
The 200's were consistently at 3:15, which gave me about 45 seconds to recover between sets. The 50's were between 43-45 seconds. I like doing these at the end of the workout when you're a little more tired so it sort of simulates having one last push to the end as hard as you can. This whole set took me 32 minutes. Wow! If only the other 2 tri-sports were going as well. LOL!
Had a few problems with my goggles seeping water. I can't find the pair Deeann gave me last year, though I know I've seen 'em recently. May need to hit REI on the way home to get another set.
I think Friday I'm going to try for 2000 and maybe get a ladder workout in. Hmm...
On a side note, yesterday I did an awful 3 miles on the dreadmill. Tiring. Need to work on the speed and distance considerably. Thursday I'll do 4.
Have a great hump day!
This morning I set out to get in 1500 before going to work. I normally have an idea of how much I want to get done and roughly how I'll break up the effort. This was this morning's plan:
1oo warmup
5x200 at 4 min intervals
6x50 at 1 min intervals
100 cooldown
The 200's were consistently at 3:15, which gave me about 45 seconds to recover between sets. The 50's were between 43-45 seconds. I like doing these at the end of the workout when you're a little more tired so it sort of simulates having one last push to the end as hard as you can. This whole set took me 32 minutes. Wow! If only the other 2 tri-sports were going as well. LOL!
Had a few problems with my goggles seeping water. I can't find the pair Deeann gave me last year, though I know I've seen 'em recently. May need to hit REI on the way home to get another set.
I think Friday I'm going to try for 2000 and maybe get a ladder workout in. Hmm...
On a side note, yesterday I did an awful 3 miles on the dreadmill. Tiring. Need to work on the speed and distance considerably. Thursday I'll do 4.
Have a great hump day!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Friday workout
Tuesday I rode my bike to/from work and man, I was wiped out after that. I'd planned to swim the next day but still was pretty beat, so I blew it off. As it turned out, I wouldn't have been able to make it anyway as I got stuck in traffic and wasn't going to be able to squeak in a workout before a dinner party anyway.
Thursday I was "sick" but managed to work on my backyard quite a bit. Nice! It's making great progress (and I have a whole blog in my head about this...to come later).
Friday morning, I was wide awake at 4 so at 4:30 I just decided to get up and go work out. I hit the gym as it opened at 5. Ran a slow, tough 3 miles on the dreadmill. The legs were still pretty beat from the bike, amazingly enough. I didn't want to hit them too much more as I'd planned to go cycling again on Saturday (cancelled for wind).
Right after running, I changed into my suit and swam for 30-ish minutes and got in 1300m. Yay! Each time going, I've tried to up the distance by 100m (including warm/cooldown). This time instead of doing 100's and 50's, I did 4 sets of 150 on the 2 minute intervals, then did 8 50's on the 1 minute interval. I'm trying to leave the shorter, faster intervals at the end to help get the body ready to really produce speed at the end of the race. I hope it works out.
This was a nice way to get the body cooled down after running and before heading to work. I might do these a bit more often.
Still gotta get the bod ready for when I meet dreamy Jeff Probst in a few weeks. Sigh...
Thursday I was "sick" but managed to work on my backyard quite a bit. Nice! It's making great progress (and I have a whole blog in my head about this...to come later).
Friday morning, I was wide awake at 4 so at 4:30 I just decided to get up and go work out. I hit the gym as it opened at 5. Ran a slow, tough 3 miles on the dreadmill. The legs were still pretty beat from the bike, amazingly enough. I didn't want to hit them too much more as I'd planned to go cycling again on Saturday (cancelled for wind).
Right after running, I changed into my suit and swam for 30-ish minutes and got in 1300m. Yay! Each time going, I've tried to up the distance by 100m (including warm/cooldown). This time instead of doing 100's and 50's, I did 4 sets of 150 on the 2 minute intervals, then did 8 50's on the 1 minute interval. I'm trying to leave the shorter, faster intervals at the end to help get the body ready to really produce speed at the end of the race. I hope it works out.
This was a nice way to get the body cooled down after running and before heading to work. I might do these a bit more often.
Still gotta get the bod ready for when I meet dreamy Jeff Probst in a few weeks. Sigh...
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
It's in the air
One of the pure enjoyments of riding is being able to appreciate the air and sights around me as I wander through the neighborhoods. Yesterday, it seemed like my sense of smell was heightened for some reason. I probably looked like a happy dog hanging out a car window, sniffing the air as I pass by.
The morning part of the ride, I enjoy the quietness of most of it. There aren't as many cars on the road. I didn't smell as much going as I did coming home. Here are a few from the day...
Watering lawns - that wonderful smell of wet dirt and grass
Bacon frying
Onions sauteeing in butter (reminds me of Germany)
Barbequed meat - couldn't figure out exactly what was grilling, but it smelled fantastic
Car fumes - ugh. Not my favorite, but definitely something I get to encounter
Old Spice - I swear I could smell a guy's cologne or deodorant from across the street while I was waiting for a light.
Roses - intoxicating!
Honeysuckle-like smell, probably the last vestiges of the red-tips blooming
Dog poop - someone needs to clean up their back yard
Laundry detergent - passing by a laundromat
Sweat - the sign of a great workout!
The morning part of the ride, I enjoy the quietness of most of it. There aren't as many cars on the road. I didn't smell as much going as I did coming home. Here are a few from the day...
Watering lawns - that wonderful smell of wet dirt and grass
Bacon frying
Onions sauteeing in butter (reminds me of Germany)
Barbequed meat - couldn't figure out exactly what was grilling, but it smelled fantastic
Car fumes - ugh. Not my favorite, but definitely something I get to encounter
Old Spice - I swear I could smell a guy's cologne or deodorant from across the street while I was waiting for a light.
Roses - intoxicating!
Honeysuckle-like smell, probably the last vestiges of the red-tips blooming
Dog poop - someone needs to clean up their back yard
Laundry detergent - passing by a laundromat
Sweat - the sign of a great workout!
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