Burn my sweet effigy
I'm a road runner
Spill my guts on a wheel
I wanna taste uh-huh
And I'm on fire
And I'm on fire
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sun, Sweet Potato Fries, and IPA
It does not get any better than that does it? Now being the generous soul that I am, it is time to share best practices to my male buddies that may read this blog. You see, in order to do what a man wants to do, for example spend all weekend cycling and exhausted from cycling, a man needs a little bit of cooperation on the home front, eg the wife in my case.
A foolproof method was skillfully executed by yours truly today. First take the lovely for a one hour hike in the mountains. Then relax in a meadow, preferably near a mountain stream. Take out of your backpack the book of poetry that you brought along. Read a poem that is sure to touch your mate's soul.
I'm good to go for the next few weeks.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Boulder Time
Back in Colorado. Ran the Bolder Boulder for the fourth time. My slowest result yet but that is becaused I paced my wife to a PR! The nice thing was I could enjoy the sights along the way, got up close to the belly dancers, drank some beer, had a piece of vegan bacon (YUK!), checked out all the bands, and very nearly did the water slide....it was just a bit too chilly for me.
Next up is a bike ride on Wednesday, and crossing fingers, a Gogol Bordello concert on Thursday night (sold out but got some via Stubhub....I hope).
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Happenings
The problem with not blogging that often is that one's thoughts are all a jumble from the variety of the past several weeks. So let's start with a list.
Family - Dear spouse has become a non-competitive fitness junkie. Our new rowing machine is a big success. She either does 90 minutes of yoga, 30 to 60 minutes of treadmill running or 30 minutes on the rowing machine every day. She is looking pretty buff. Son is handling landlordhood just fine in Colorado. Daughter is with the National Park Service as an intern archivist in the Upper Penisula of Michigan. Crosstrain is content with all the above.
Work - Going well, got new responsibilities and apparently I am pretty competent. Going to travel some more again.
Running Injury - Nearly 2.5 years and counting. I do therapy every day and see the chiro a lot. Not getting worse. I'll take it.
Running - Am actually doing some at the behest of my chiro. I am running 3 to 4 miles every third day (eg two days off between runs). I raced the LP run and the Bayou Bash relay. Tomorrow I will run the Bolder Boulder 10k, but I will not be racing....pacing duties with my wife.
Cycling - Going great. Nearly back to top form, can sustain long distances at 20 mph average pace with the club peloton. Really thinking hard about doing a triathlon this summer.
Clubs - BARC has put together a great leadership team for the coming year. I only need to continue to do the eBARCer. The team is so strong that I actually expect to give HARRA a bit more of my time. I volunteered for the Space Race with the Space City Cycling Club, but am not involved in any leadership or ongoing volunteer activities currently.
Social - Spend too much time on Facebook. They say having friends is one of the healthiest things for you. I don't know, sometimes I long for the days when I was in my own little bubble and did not have to deal with you lot. Maybe my next reinvention will be Crosstrain the hermit. :P
Family - Dear spouse has become a non-competitive fitness junkie. Our new rowing machine is a big success. She either does 90 minutes of yoga, 30 to 60 minutes of treadmill running or 30 minutes on the rowing machine every day. She is looking pretty buff. Son is handling landlordhood just fine in Colorado. Daughter is with the National Park Service as an intern archivist in the Upper Penisula of Michigan. Crosstrain is content with all the above.
Work - Going well, got new responsibilities and apparently I am pretty competent. Going to travel some more again.
Running Injury - Nearly 2.5 years and counting. I do therapy every day and see the chiro a lot. Not getting worse. I'll take it.
Running - Am actually doing some at the behest of my chiro. I am running 3 to 4 miles every third day (eg two days off between runs). I raced the LP run and the Bayou Bash relay. Tomorrow I will run the Bolder Boulder 10k, but I will not be racing....pacing duties with my wife.
Cycling - Going great. Nearly back to top form, can sustain long distances at 20 mph average pace with the club peloton. Really thinking hard about doing a triathlon this summer.
Clubs - BARC has put together a great leadership team for the coming year. I only need to continue to do the eBARCer. The team is so strong that I actually expect to give HARRA a bit more of my time. I volunteered for the Space Race with the Space City Cycling Club, but am not involved in any leadership or ongoing volunteer activities currently.
Social - Spend too much time on Facebook. They say having friends is one of the healthiest things for you. I don't know, sometimes I long for the days when I was in my own little bubble and did not have to deal with you lot. Maybe my next reinvention will be Crosstrain the hermit. :P
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Unsettled Weather
The last few weeks in Houston has seen some of the most beautiful weather of the year as well as some of the most fearsome outside of a hurricane. Several inches of rain in an hour or two on two separate occassions hit Clear Lake. Cars stranded on medians. Hail, wind and lightening. Brilliant sunny days with low humidity.
And so it is in life. The good, the bad and the ugly.
The good for me has been continued good fortune at work, a brand new car, a great time at iFest Ireland, a daughter who got the internship she wanted for the summer, a real nice Thursday evening at two separate parties, a sweet 85 mile ride to Austin Texas for the MS150, an awesome group of friends, and more than 4 miles done at the LP run.
The bad for me has been the fact that my leg is still not ready for consistent running, my bike seat collar breaking while riding in Terry Hershey Park(although had it not broken I would not have done the LP run), and the complete loss of my running pace putting me back to square one if I ever do try to compete again.
The ugly was an LP run well below PR pace and as well as a slow 3.6 mile run this morning.
But the LP run was a run with a bib, first individual one since Memorial Day 2008. I will run the relay next weekend and then likely put the running shoes in the closet until further notice. To run again, I'll have to be able to train consistently since it will take several months to regain my running fitness. I do believe my lower leg is slowly getting stronger and more capable, but it may be quite a while yet.
Reading the above the good is much more than the bad and the ugly. One needs to remind oneself that as we can all too often focus just on the bad and the ugly.
And so it is in life. The good, the bad and the ugly.
The good for me has been continued good fortune at work, a brand new car, a great time at iFest Ireland, a daughter who got the internship she wanted for the summer, a real nice Thursday evening at two separate parties, a sweet 85 mile ride to Austin Texas for the MS150, an awesome group of friends, and more than 4 miles done at the LP run.
The bad for me has been the fact that my leg is still not ready for consistent running, my bike seat collar breaking while riding in Terry Hershey Park(although had it not broken I would not have done the LP run), and the complete loss of my running pace putting me back to square one if I ever do try to compete again.
The ugly was an LP run well below PR pace and as well as a slow 3.6 mile run this morning.
But the LP run was a run with a bib, first individual one since Memorial Day 2008. I will run the relay next weekend and then likely put the running shoes in the closet until further notice. To run again, I'll have to be able to train consistently since it will take several months to regain my running fitness. I do believe my lower leg is slowly getting stronger and more capable, but it may be quite a while yet.
Reading the above the good is much more than the bad and the ugly. One needs to remind oneself that as we can all too often focus just on the bad and the ugly.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
iFest To Feature Ireland
Last time Ireland was the feature at Houston's International Festival, we had a marvellous time. Some outstanding traditional Irish music talent performed including, if I recall corrrectly, Sharon Shannon, Danu, Kila and Solas. This year it does not seem that so many big names in Irish music are on tap. However, Beoga looks to be the headliner this year and I can't wait to see them. I've linked a video of their BBC performance.
As for my run today, I ran 3.65 miles with Lee Anne at a 9 min pace, followed by a real easy 10 mile bike ride. I am not happy about the run pace since my heart rate was pretty high. However, my legs felt like bricks, primarily from yesterday's killer workout on the bike. Now I will have to noodle on whether to do the LP run. I won't go unless I think I can run more than 4 miles in 33:20 and I won't aggravate my leg. Both are uncertain in my mind today. It will be a last minute decision since I have a little 180 mile bike ride to complete next weekend.
As for my run today, I ran 3.65 miles with Lee Anne at a 9 min pace, followed by a real easy 10 mile bike ride. I am not happy about the run pace since my heart rate was pretty high. However, my legs felt like bricks, primarily from yesterday's killer workout on the bike. Now I will have to noodle on whether to do the LP run. I won't go unless I think I can run more than 4 miles in 33:20 and I won't aggravate my leg. Both are uncertain in my mind today. It will be a last minute decision since I have a little 180 mile bike ride to complete next weekend.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Jager Bolsters the Spirit
This evening I had the good fortune to spend some time with good friends. A few beers and greek food in Kemah. Followed by a Jager to steady the nerves. Today I had a challenging 76 mile, 19mph, 144 avg HR bike ride. Several of the club members were going 100 miles, but I had to cut it short as I was toast.
But I have indeed achieved a reasonable level of cycling prowess....they did not drop me on the Fred Hartman Bridge nor the Kemah Bridge. And last week I came in second in the final sprint. Today I did not have it.
It is with trepidation I will retire tonight as tomorrow morning, Easter, I shall attempt my first run of 2009. Alas my leg is still tight and sore, so I expect little other than the recognition that I am alive, my heart is strong, my will is undiminished and I shall never surrender. At least as long as there is St Arnolds and Jager nearby.
But I have indeed achieved a reasonable level of cycling prowess....they did not drop me on the Fred Hartman Bridge nor the Kemah Bridge. And last week I came in second in the final sprint. Today I did not have it.
It is with trepidation I will retire tonight as tomorrow morning, Easter, I shall attempt my first run of 2009. Alas my leg is still tight and sore, so I expect little other than the recognition that I am alive, my heart is strong, my will is undiminished and I shall never surrender. At least as long as there is St Arnolds and Jager nearby.
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