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View albumSpeed Kills.
August 2
August 1
- 2h 01m 07s
- 37.46 miles
- 18.61 Mi/hr
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
So hot. So humid. So muggy. So.... much fun!
Despite the fact that I've got a whole hell of a lot of miles in my legs, I was able to do this ride and keep up for the most part. I'm getting much better at hanging on. I don't get shot off the back quite as often.
I feel my bike fitness coming around.
It's about time. ;)
So. Tired.
Riding tonight. Help me. Help me.
My car has been transformed into a mobile transition area.
Front Seat... notice towel, coffee, banana, running shoes behind the seat:
Backseat... notice swim bag, transition bag, bike helmet, lunch, snacks, Sport Beans, bike shoes:
Of course, Old Faithful Lucy riding on the back:
As you can see, I'm barely keeping it together here, kids. I've got all my workout gear loaded in the car for the next several workouts. If I've got it with me, I figure I can't forget it. Also, though, if I've got it with me, I can lose it, which might be our next problem. Stay tuned.
July 31
- 1h 23m 22s
- 4200.00 yards
- 01m 58s /100 yards
200 swim/200 drill/ 200 pull
3 x 100 IM (I was all over the pool with the backstroke. Pathetic)
200 pull
500 swim
(8:14, 1:38/100)
500 pull
(8:03, 1:36/100)
2 x 250 on 4:30
5 x 100 descending
1) 1:36
2) 1:37
3) 1:37
4) 1:36
5) 1:37 (Ok, those didn't descend. But at least they didn't really ascend, either)
500 swim
No time, forgot to hit start
10 x 50 sprint on :55
100 cool down
--------------
4200
Got to the pool right as my pal Steve Tayler was arriving. We started out doing separate workouts, but then he asked me if we could just do mine together. This was awesome. :) So nice to have someone to slug this out with me. His original plan was only to swim for about 40 min... so he ended up swimming about twice as long and twice as far as he intended.
One irritating thing... HBFC rented the pool for a kids party! Right during adult swim time! At 10:30 all of these kids jumped in the water and just took over the pool. I asked the lifeguard what was going on and he said "it's a private party". WTF is that? I swim at a Health Club, not Chuckee Cheese.
Luckily, we were almost done so it didn't really bother us much... Or let's say it didn't bother Steve much... I was really quite irritated. (!!!)
No matter, it's done. In the books. TaaaaaDaaaaaa!
- 52m 16s
- 4.00 miles
- 13m 03s /Mi
Treadmill inside. I couldn't bring myself to be outside for another moment. It was so hot. Not quite as humid today, but blazing, sweltering, hot.
I can't believe I voluntarily used a treadmill in the summer. I just couldn't expose myself to the out-of-doors any longer!
Pathetic slog on dead legs. Although I have to say it went better than I expected. Was expecting to be curled up in a fetal position after the first 12 steps or so!
July 30
- 6h 27m 48s
- 106.00 miles
- 16.40 Mi/hr
Started off with a pretty big group from Wheel Werks at 5:30 in the morning. Who knew that many people wanted to ride their bikes at the crack of doom?
Many of the riders weren't doing the whole ride, so they hammered off the front, raising the pace for the first 30 miles or so to about 19 mph.
I refused to participate in this kind of play. I knew today was going to be a long day, and I wanted to pace it correctly so I didn't wind up in a heap on the side of the road someplace between Lake Geneva and the parking lot of Wheel Werks.
So, I just sort of hung off the back. On purpose this time. I raised the seat on Spartacus and it is much more comfortable. It makes me a completely different person on that bike. Where I once felt sort of weird and uncomfortable, I felt strong and natural. I think the seat was just too damn low. I wasn't getting a good extension while pedaling and I wasn't able to use the entire pedal stroke effectively.
Now, however, I feel great on the bike. I might even raise the seat a smidge HIGHER! Or maybe lower the handlebars a spacer or two.
Anyway, took different routes this time around. Up the back way to LG, around LG 2x, then back to Big Foot to collect a couple of our friends that didn't want to go around again, then back home by way of Big Foot and County H.
It got hot out there today. I absolutely got barbecued as I failed to put sunscreen on myself before going out this morning. I was in such a rush. I completely forgot.
Made a couple of new friends. All is well.
I want to post a map of the route... with my favorite red line... but I can't get it to upload to Garmin Connect. I shall try again. It uploaded to here so it's clearly upload-able.
Hahahaha!I win! I win! I have defeated the technology and I have emerged victorious with my map and my red line. Hah. So there. Take that, Garmin!
I'm HUNGRY! Let's EAT everything!
July 29
- 25m
- 2.00 miles
- 12m 30s /Mi
Hah. Nice round numbers. Look at that. So hot. Still. Humid. But I was only going 2 miles so I had a good mindset. :)
14 miles in 2 days. Go me.
8:01 AM: I could not get out of bed. Body said no. No. No. No. No. STAY.IN.BED. So I obliged. Now, I have to figure out how I'm going to swim and do a very small run today. Figure I'll get this show on the road now and get to work at a decent hour. Work diligently and try to leave at a reasonable and decent hour so I can swim after work. Might scrap the run, depending on how the legs feel. Huge ride planned for tomorrow, so I don't want to blow my whole wad today on a stupid 2 mile run.
9:58 AM: Insects of every variety love to bite the Whizzer. It's... itchy. And infuriating. I have several large bites on my shoulders and legs from the flies that were circling my head and body as I ran yesterday. A few of them apparently landed and had their way with me. I love running @ MHSP, but the flies are seriously out of control. Or maybe it's just me. It's impossible to tell. 
5:20 PM: Stuck. At. Work.
And look what's on my computer home screen. Each time I sign onto my computer at work I am treated to this:
Love. ♥
July 28
- 2h 40m 48s
- 12.00 miles
- 13m 24s /Mi
Holy Sweatbox, Batman.
Did this run @ MHSP. Started very conservatively and tried to hold the pace. Also shortened the run intervals to .34 and lengthened the walk intervals to .16.
It was very very very very very humid. VERY humid. VERY HUMID! And very buggy. But it's in the books and compared to my last couple of long runs, this went fairly well.
Nice low AHR, too.
8:40 AM: Took today as a vacation day from work. I have a long run to do, various household tasks and errands, and a very short bike.
Out to dinner last night with my HS girlfriends, the same group that all went to Mexico. Tried this new place called Seasons 52... it was great. Everything on the menu is 475 calories or less, and is seasonal, organic, and sustainable. I had the filet, on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes with asparagus and carrots. It was fabulous, and just the right size. Desserts were teeny tiny and in these little shot glasses. More than enough to give you a taste of something sweet but not add 1000 calories to the meal. Also indulged in some very nice wine.
Took cute photos, but they are not on my camera. Took 4 of them, and we reviewed them while sitting at the bar. I know they WERE on the camera last night. This morning, when I plugged the camera into the computer, they're no where to be found. I'm at a loss. Rachael took some photos too, but I'm perplexed as to why mine did not stick to my memory card. WTF happened?
Anyway, drove home in the WORST electrical storm I've ever had the pleasure of navigating. It was terrible. Lightning everywhere, and such heavy rain that it was like driving through Niagara Falls. I couldn't see more than 3 feet in front of me, and even that was questionable. Rachael and I were continuing our conversation on the phone on the drive home, and she was vehemently telling me how I needed to become a writer and she was not going to let me off the hook... She was all charged up and giving me ideas of how I should pursue this venture when I had to tell her that I needed to concentrate on driving or I'd never live to become a writer. And with that, I hung up the phone, turned my hazard lights on and inched along the road, through the accumulating water, the flashing lightning and the crashing thunder. It was a little frightening, but I have to say, I've become quite the all-conditions-all-terrain-all-the-time commuter/driver. Not that I would miss it a bit if I had to give it up. Took me over an hour to get home to a sleeping Chris. 
11:24 AM: Set out on my long run only to discover my Garmin was UNCHARGED. Turned around and marched right back inside. Garmin is charging. Not about to attempt 3 hours of running without some sort of pacing. When I do that, things turn ugly. Things turn ugly usually anyway... I don't want to have it happen right off the bat.
5:28 PM: I'm scrapping the bike ride. It was only supposed to be about a half hour or so. No harm, no foul.
If you want to be inspired a bit, listen to THIS podcast. Julie Moss talking about the limitations of her body during IM 1982. Interesting. It goes on to talk about an energy drink experiment... I didn't listen to all of that part... but it talks about our internal energy governor lying to us. Also interesting, but the Julie Moss interview is really inspirational. Keep. Moving. Forward. There are no limits to what we can do.
Long run today (+ a little bike ride) swim on Friday + very short run after work, long ride Saturday (100+) and med. run + swim on Sunday.
July 27
Rest today. Long run on Thursday (+ a little bike ride) swim on Friday + short run after work, long ride Saturday (100+) and med. run + swim on Sunday.
7:00 AM: More ominous looking storms Yay. Please let my power stay on... please let my power stay on... please let my power stay on...
- Health data: Hours slept: 8
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400 swim
300 pull
200 kick
100 easy
8 x 100 (4 on 2:00/4 on 1:55)
6 x 100 pull (3 on 1:50/3 on 1:45)
50 easy
4 x 100 (2 on 1:45/2 on 1:40) ACK! SPRINT! ACK!
50 easy
100 cool down
-----------
3000
Swimmy with Trudy.
I was a lane Nazi. I kept us on the intervals. Chop Chop.
Felt pretty good in the water today, despite the fact that I could barely pry myself out from under the covers this morning.
The 100's were all consistently 1:30-1:35. Don't ask me how.
Very hot and muggy outside. Not a big deal whilst submerged in water, but will probably be quite miserable whilst running this evening.
We shall see.
9:01 AM: Still feeling full of vim and vigor. I wonder if this will last past 10 AM?
2:31 PM: I just got back from the bank. I cashed in $112.18 worth of change! Yay!
(P.S. Still feeling vim-filled and vigorous!)
7:19 PM: Drove home in yet another thunderstorm. Not running tonight. Will run tomorrow morning, and hope the weather breaks so it's not such a sauna.
PHOTO FLIPPER YESTERDAY:
My friend April and me, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago. Of note, my skinny studded pink belt, my star earrings and star miniskirt, my Swatch, and April's Hard Rock London T-shirt. Rock on, 1987! ROCK ON!