Asphalt Junkies Spring 2013 - Closed (Page 104)

The above highlighted text is exactly why I tweeted last Tuesday............

The day we give into these cowards and change our lifestyle is the day they win.  I will not let them win as long as I have breath.

Your run sounds like an amazing run.  Congrats on a PR!

I hope you continue to have these good days.  Keeping that positive outlook will help build the base you need to stay active and happy.  Consider training your mind to be as positive as possible too.  You know what it is to train your body, you've done it before, now begin to train your mind.  There's always going to be work, just try to direct in the right place.

I am so glad you're posting back in the group and I hope we can continue to motivate you to achieve your objectives.

Yesterday was a threshold run. 2 mile warmup at 7:30 pace, did 5k in 20:30 for my workout, ran 3 back at about 8:00 pace. That 5k is a PR for me, the day after a bike race, in the afternoon after a swim workout. I am beyond ecstatic. If anyone is looking for a way to amp up their running I am now a full advocate of the BarryP Plan. Consistent milage at mostly easy pace has completely transformed my running. Now I'm starting to add the tempo and speedwork and its just the icing on the cake.

I was able to make it to the gym today. I did a group fitness class and ran/walked on the treadmill for 20 mins. I think the group classes and time on the elliptical machine might be a good idea right now to get in some cardio since I will only be run/walking for 20-30 mins for the next few weeks. 

I know everyone has different opinions about taking meds and I respect that. In my case, I was dealing with more than just not managing stress well. I was really starting to not take care of myself and was having some really scary negative thoughts. I had resisted trying meds, but wish I had gotten myself help sooner. The past 2 weeks have been VERY different for me in a positive way. Getting on the meds is proving to be a real game changer for me and I just hope it keeps going this well. 

Hey friends, just checking in.  I had a couple great WO's last week... one was a swim (2 miles non-stop in the pool) and the other was a 65 mile bike ride w/ some decent hills.  

Thinking about doing 100K ride this Saturday to support missions work.

Baby update: she's one month old!  Hope you all are getting more sleep than me... ha!

Only 7 days left in April, so get some good work in and finish the month strong!  

God gave us doctors to help treat us, so I for one am not an opponent of taking meds.  I do however think at times docs placebo us to death and so many people don't really know they are taking placebos.  (Which BTW, don't think you are taking placebos.)  I certainly don't doubt what you are saying about your condition.  Only you can know for sure the problems you've been having.  Stay on track with the meds and practice the positive mental attitude I spoke of yesterday.

I think your plan to do some group exercising then escalating to solo training is a great plan.  You'll have some people to kind of help you stay accountable and likely meet some new friends in the process.

mambos - 2013-04-22 9:03 PM

trigal38 - 2013-04-21 9:09 PMHad a fun ride tonight. It started off rough as I was chased by a hound dog right from the start. I mean not 2 min into the ride he comes out after me. I was not warmed up AT ALL and going straight into the wind. Talking nice did not keep him home, blasting my air horn - nothing. Finally I just forced the issue and hammered down as hard as I could - 19, 20, 21 mph and he was still hanging on. I didn't even know I could hit those speeds going into the wind. Amazing what a little fear and adrenaline can do! I just kept at it and eventually he gave up but that was a heck of a way to start the ride. It took a while after that to get control of my HR and shake off that feeling of fear with every oncoming house. But that was the only chase so the rest of the ride I was able to work hard and enjoy the quiet country roads. The ride ended really fun with the wind at my back for a long stretch where I worked my speed up to 24.5 mph . WHEEEE

ahh DOGS! Must have been in the air, Saturday I had a similar experience, almost to the point I pooped my pants. Went out for a run and since the weather was decent I went to the rural roads instead of the park. Running along and come across this property that has several signs posted along the road that state "CAUTION" Guard Dogs on Premises! Thought to myself "huh, must be some MEAN dogs! This a country yard so probably over a football in length, I am about 3/4 of way past when I start to hearing a lot of barking. Didn't really want to look but peaked anyway..... 2 very LARGE Doberman's at a full sprint coming from the garage of this house directly towards me! 1st thing that I notice was, no restraints, so these beasts had a free hand to take me down. They get within 15ft of me growling, snorting barking and what ever else dogs do when you enter their territory then......they just stop! Stupid underground fences! Who puts up crazy warning signs and then let's their dogs loose on an underground fence, You know as I think about this, I think we started a similar trend on this topic last year. So everyone be careful as the weather warms up and we enter the dog territory, it can be frightening!

Yeah the dogs are out n full force!  I was on a ride yesterday and one came from the side of the road at me.  I had seen the dog ahead of me and came off the aero bars and onto the horns to allow more control if the dog actually decided to chase me.  I have ridden by this house possibly a hundred times or more.  It is on one of my primary routes.  I use this road for 80% of my riding and I have never had an issue here.  At All!

As the dog came across the road it wasn't charging me.  It kind of meandered across and then began to bolt as I got closer.  As I approach with in a few feet of it, the dog had to kind of turn to make an adjustment to be able to stay with me but as it did one of its rear feet went under my rear wheel.  It kicked my bike a little sideways but I was able to control the bike just fine and kept rolling.  I looked back at the dog after I had hit it and it was slightly trotting off the road appearing a little defeated I guess.  After I hit it he gave up the chase.........Close call.

Dina, Matt, & Dirk -

Dogs, dogs, dogs.... be careful out there.

Last fall I started carry law enforcement grade pepper spray on my bikes and runs. People think I am a little ridiculous for it, but I was charged by a dog in a neighborhood a couple of months ago and if I wouldn't have sprayed the dog, he definitely would've gotten hold of my ankles. Then, a few weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon run, I was charged by two chihuahuas, one of them bit my shoe and I flung the sucker as hard as I could kick him. The owner's were sitting on the front porch and proceeded to yell at me for kicking their dog.

My community is not cyclist or runner friendly.

At the HM I did in mid-February, extra law enforcement had to come out just to sit in front of houses that had low fences and large dogs. I recall a specific and rather large Rottweiler pacing back and forth along the fence line as I ran past. The Sheriff was standing outside of his car ready to handle the dog had he decided to jump over the fence.

Dogs are a serious danger, but it is their fault, it is their owners. I love dogs, especially large dogs and hope to have a dog for a companion and running partner once my youngest child is potty trained. I will always carry pepper spray now and am ready to use it. I also carry dog treats too.   

As a point of information:

 BT will be starting a new mentor session in May.  Currently there is no start date or roll out for the new session given but I thought I should make everyone aware that there could be some changes coming soon.  I would imagine we (the 4 mentors) will keep this rolling as the Asphalt Junkies.  The numbers of "new" mentees will be discussed via PM by the 4 of us.  We had several people drop off fairly early this session so we'll probably try to pick up some other newer people when the group opens.

Dirk thanks for the heads up and count me in for another round.

I'll want to be included, as well, if there is room. 

Matt I'm sure I brought the dog topic up last year since I am chased on almost every ride or run unless I go the state park.

Jenn I'd love a link to the pepper spray you are carrying. I saw some spray at PetSmart when I was in there the last time. I don't know why I didn't buy it then but I'm ready now. It occurred to me on Sunday that if a dog takes me down when I am by myself I really have no means to protect myself. Not good.

Yep, count me in too.

This is great news and I'm so happy for you that you are finding something to help! Your fitness goals sound solid. Keep at it

Count me in as well..... my dream of tackling a 70.3 is getting closer closer, starting to think it might happen next April.

Jackie way to go and glad to see you able to get your workouts in. Enjoy the ball games with your kids.

Jen and Karl that's great to hear that you both may be doing the same 70.3. If you guys are serious about doing it and have one in mind I'd start thinking about planning for it now. I'm not saying you should be training for it now, all the work you guys are doing now will help get you there for sure but I'd really be thinking about what you need to do now to help you get ready for it. I planned a year in advance to do the one I did last season. It may seem a long way out but a year goes by pretty quickly. The more time you give yourself to get ready for it the better off you'll be.