Saturday, July 5, 2008

1 Hour Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

05:33:50 AM: First snag of the day: Kendy's pool has a new gate code. First time in years and it happened in last four days. So onto the bike a little after 5am.

05:35:44 AM: Morning duke out at mile zero on the comet.

07:39:57 AM: Out at tunnel, mile 31. And what's this? A good ride?!? Unseen for half a season, owing itself to wonderdrug capital C... Caffeine. Thank you chemistry.

08:05:12 AM: And let's not forget Big P... Pacing.

08:05:41 AM: Or little m... modesty.

08:06:35 AM: At halfway point... the old school end of the trail at mile 39.5. Wet, drizzly, humid and warming up.

10:25:00 AM: Off bike. 80 miles @ 18.6mph avg hr 136 with 15 min break. Legs roasted.

12:26:06 PM: 10 mile run done.

0 Comments | 8 Images

Coyote in the Back Yard

Yesterday | Posted to: Random Stuff

I stepped out onto the deck a few minutes ago and a coyote was walking down the stream. Bigger than a fox. About the size of a medium dog. But definitely not a dog. I got a good 20 second look at him. Called Terp out who barely caught the back of his head. When we moved into the house they told us coyotes were in the area. Too cool. A straight-up predator animal lurking around the house. Aves, sorry kiddo... no alone time in the back yard. YouTube vid of another coyote in suburban Atlanta. This is exactly what I saw.

1 Comments | 0 Images

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Yesterday | Posted to: Random Stuff

0 Comments | 2 Images

35 Min Swim, 20 Mile Ride

2 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

I was up at 5am but distracted by work. By 8:15 I had sauntered into the pool with a couple hours of good work under my belt. My swim was basic... back and forth slowly but consistently for a half hour. I'm starting to feel some strength near the end of my second week of, well, swimming. Imagine that, eh? But I'm holding back so that I don't fall into the trap of anaerobic work too soon.

A short but hard weights workout. And then out to the comet for a ride. After some elbow pad tweaks my steed felt manageable and I did a comfortable 20 miles at 18.6mph. Still not yet training with heart rate. Saw Blair Folkes out there... she ended up doing 13 miles on the run. Good stuff.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

3 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

0 Comments | 2 Images

50 Min Morning Swim and 30 Min Comet Ride

3 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

Another boring but necessary and fulfilling LSD swim. For some reason I woke up at 4:44am and just went with it. The alarm was going off in 15 minutes anyway. Little core workout after the swim. Then off to The Comet for my first ride there in a while.

You know how I've said about 80 times that I've got my aerobar fit "dialed in" or "perfect"? It's not. Cups aren't cupping my elbows. Will work on it.

Cool morning. Extra layers and numb hands. But the sunrise was spectacular.

0 Comments | 2 Images

Silver Comet Assaults Update

3 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

It's been a couple weeks since I heard anything about the assaults on the Silver Comet. The original info was passed through the cyclist email grapevine. A cyclist reported his rather scary attack. So today I called the Cobb Police Department and got the updated scoop from Sgt. Dana Pierce. He's working closely with the detectives working the case and knows everything that's happening.

Quick summary: On March 13th a person reported two men coming out of the woods by the comet with what looked like a gun but they didn't get close enough to verify... no crime. On June 10th there was an assult. On June 16th a cyclist was knocked down and 4 suspects took the contents of his pockets before returning them... this is still a robbery and was the incident that triggered the email thread. On June 17th a cyclist spotted 4 men coming out of the treeline near the Spicewood Townhomes (anybody know what mile marker that's at?) and turned around, as he should have... no crime.

So, there are four incidents and two crimes for all of 2008. Overall makes me feel a lot better about comet safety. I called wanting to know whether there had been more attacks... whether this was becoming a common occurrence, etc. Apparently it isn't and is a small cadre of knuckleheads doing this stuff.

There's also stuff happening that should make you feel more comfortable about riding on the comet. But Sgt. Pierce asked me to not disclose it for a couple days. Which makes me awesome for having top secret info. Deal with it... lol.

Apparently tonight there will be a story on Channel 5 by Denise Dillon who talked to Sgt. Pierce earlier in the day. And she's going to interview one of the victims... my guess is that it'll be the one who made the email report to the cycling community.

Sgt. Pierce told me that most of the crime is in cars parked at the comet. GPS devices, cell phones, etc.

Still, be careful out there. Use common sense. Report anything suspicious. Ride with a buddy. If you're hot in spandex, ride with me. No, Marc, not you.

4 Comments | 0 Images

Meeting at Booze | Allen | Hamilton

4 Days Ago | Posted to: dNeero

0 Comments | 1 Images

30 Min Swim

4 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

Body's feelin' it. Not the low speed aerobic fitness work. The squats I did on Sunday. With the weight vest. I knew I should have done them on Friday afternoon. But I kept thinking that maybe I'd get a weekend workout in. Yesterday they got very sore. Today they're killing me. I had a bike planned but I'm abandoning. Need to get the legs somewhat recovered.

One win on the swim. I'm getting that feel of fitness backed by aerobic depth. For the early part of the season I was gaining speed and strength. But it wasn't backed by aerobic depth. Not really an issue for a half ironman or less. But at the full distance I need to be backed. Today I felt the smooth, lung comfort of a little acceleration with aerobic backing. It's snuggly. Something I felt for my first few seasons but haven't felt in a while now.

Mod hard core weights workout following the swim.

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P Double Oh with the Fam

4 Days Ago | Posted to: Ava, Our Daughter

We spell out "pool" as "p double oh" when we want to talk about going to the pool without Ava knowing what's up. Today I ran and Heather drove to Matt and Kendy's pool for some good family time. Knox, Matt and Kendy swam too. Ava swam on her own in her floaty vest. It was the first time she had to kick or go under a little and so she kicked. She was scared at first when I stepped away from her but she kicked hard and smiled when she stayed up. Then she'd say "I can't swim." But I stayed at it and after a while she said "I can swim." Which is all pretty cute. Emme sat by the side of the pool with mom until I got out and mom got in. Aves mini melted when it was time to get out, of course. She loves the p double oh.

The most amazing part of the experience was seeing Ava's emotions. When she was afraid I wanted more than anything to help her, but I didn't because I knew she could do it. When she looked at me for help I felt like a daddy. When she started to smile it felt great. I was proud of her. When she finally made it to me and clung to me I felt her love.

1 Comments | 3 Images

50 Min Swim, 30 Min Spin, 40 Min Run

5 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

I took the weekend off. While everybody else turned out great mileage. Swim this morning felt good. I continue to be amazed at how much work low speed can be and how additive it is. I can't really claim that I feel much faster but I do feel better in the water. Morning bike was a bust... legs sore. Afternoon bike was a bust... just wasn't into it. So when we decided to take Aves and Emme to the pool I decided I'd run there. On the hills around the neighborhood. In the heat.

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Terp Tatted

6 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

Ok, not permanently.

0 Comments | 1 Images

45 Min Swim, 1hr15min Run

7 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

Nothing special here. Swim felt fine. Run felt fine. This concludes my week goal of getting back onto the horse with a ten hours week. Not sure what next week holds. Maybe an incremental increase. Maybe none. At this low intensity and given the time until the race I should be turning out closer to 17-20hrs but given where I've been recently, I'll take 10. Met Jim in the pool who's apparently a mad man because after I got out, did a 30 min weights session and my run he was still swimming. He's training for the Chattanooga Oly. Still no heart rate monitors in my life these days. Nice change.

0 Comments | 0 Images

45 Min Swim, 1hr15min CompuTrainer

9 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

Amazing how three days of actually slowing it down and hitting the aerobic zones works. Today's swim felt great. The Austell LA Fitness morning swim couple was there. They're a cute couple and swim their laps in sync, although I've seen her mini-resting at the wall as I think she's a bit faster than him... that's dedication! Anyhow, they were there and it was nice having some company in the pool, even though I've never spoken to them. At one point we had four people in the pool turning laps. Four swimmers. Almost unheard of for the early morning. I kept the workout slow and it felt good.

Then back home for the bike. Low hr. Not as fun but I listened to an audiobook and cranked it out.

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

9 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

0 Comments | 4 Images

45 Min Swim, 8 Mi Run

10 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

Odd how the body works. Yesterday the swim was miserable. Today it felt great. Mental? Water temp? Actual body difference? Who knows, I just enjoyed it. Solid core weights workout and a nice little 6.5mph treadmill ditty, like Jack and Diane. Resisted the temptation to go overboard with more speed... and the desire to show off for the spandexed blonde nearby. Ah, restraint.

1 Comments | 0 Images

45 Min Swim, 1hr15min CompuTrainer

10 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

This was a hard day to continue the goal of 2hrs/day this week. Swim felt rough, sore muscles, weak rhythm. But I muscled through without stopping. A solid, if slow, 45 min. Then onto the bike. Where nothing worked so I cut the workout short. All day I stewed on it, hating that I had abandoned again and blew the week's goal. The stewing worked and this evening I got a nice 45 min on the bike to bring me to two hours for the day. Working way too hard for it but at least I'm working.

0 Comments | 0 Images

45 Min Swim, 8 Mi Run

12 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

I got my two hours in this morning by getting up and to the gym by 5:20. I took it easy on the swim and got a non-stop 45 minutes done. Then a core weights workout. And a run. I need to get better at letting go of my fast paces when I have a dip in fitness. That's just beating my head against a wall. Today I turned the treadmill to 6.5 mph and cruised. I wanted to go faster. But more than that I wanted to not abandon this workout. I finished with a desire to do more and go faster. That's a good thing and at this early stage of the week it's how I need to be ending workouts. One day down... four to go. Goal is two hours each day.

1 Comments | 0 Images

40 Min CompuTrainer

13 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

I'll spare you the whining. Another crappy workout. Just can't seem to pull myself into the game. I'm well-rested. I want to get these workouts done. More than anything I just feel like it's way too high a hill to climb. I know, of course, that if I could string together a 10hr week and a 15hr week I'd be back at it, have momentum, etc. But nothin's poppin' right now.

1 Comments | 0 Images

Golf with Lee and Andy

15 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

Haven't seen Lee in years. He was the class president in high school. I was the vice president. Good guy. He brought his business partner, Andy. Another nice guy. We golfed the par 3 at River Pines. Andy managed a solid last hole and couple double bogeys. I didn't injure anybody. As it was warming up we hit Waffle House and then went to see one of Lee and Andy's properties. Long story made short: exotic dancer, window climbing, a cat that jumped 18+ feet to the ground and a fox in the rafters (no, really, a fox.) Looking forward to catching up with Lee. He's living in Lawrenceville and as recently as six months ago he was living about four miles from me but I had no idea.

1 Comments | 2 Images

1 Hr CompuTrainer

15 Days Ago | Posted to: Triathlon

Low power still got the heart racing. I have no power... where hath it gone?

0 Comments | 0 Images

Thursday, June 19, 2008

15 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

0 Comments | 4 Images

Yoga with Bitzel

16 Days Ago | Posted to: Yoga, Pilates, Plyos, P90X, etc

My best yoga session ever! Aves came down to the subden to do yoga. It was too cute. She watched the guy on screen and made her best attempt to mimic him. She came pretty close and is a heck of a lot more flexible than I am, that's for sure.

Flexibility is becoming an issue. I always feel tight. So I need to get some yoga flexibility sessions in. I've got a Power Yoga DVD which has a flexibility workout. I can barely do any of the moves because everything's so tight. I'll get there though.

1 Comments | 0 Images

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

16 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

0 Comments | 6 Images

New Phone: Palm Centro

16 Days Ago | Posted to: Random Stuff

Verizon finally launched the Centro. Cost me $5 to get the phone... rebate and new phone discount since I hadn't gotten one in years. Thing's ugly in navy but it's smaller than the Treo so I'm happy.

1 Comments | 2 Images