Mad Manatee Mentors 2013: CLOSED (exc/ Pop Tart bribes) (Page 26)

I think I have the record for the number of times I went to swim and realized that there was no bathing suit in the bag.  The lifeguard on duty offered to let me wear hers, Ummm that's like sharing underwear.  No thanks.  

Went to 2 classes instead, Body Attack and Bootcamp.  I will be feeling these tomorrow. (when I have to get up at dawn for the swim class with the instructor I don't like much since I couldn't swim tonight)

Renee

I have never used a 50 meter pool, I am SURE that if I was swimming and got to 21-22 I would be freaking out cause it wasn't time to flip yet.

Hoooo boy, do I know that feeling.  My first race was in a 50m pool too.  Mistake to have never swum in one before!  Not too long later I was at a conference and the local pool was set up for 50m.  I just went out and did it--and once I had done it once, I could do it.  Totally mental.  Very much harder to manage the mind.  That's why I have found it is a good thing to push myself in the pool--cause I can always do more than I think I can.

Ok, got a little behind today.

Erin--good on you for speaking with the mother.  If the kids think they got away with it, they will keep doing it.  Chances are they are good boys with a bad influence--nip it in the bud now.

Yanti--I'm so very sorry for your loss.  Again.  Continued prayers.

Joanne--sorry your leg is so sore.  I know that when I have knots and hold the pressure on that spot, it feels like he!!.  Never got a hematoma though.  Ice is your friend I think.

For the swim questioners: swim.  Lots.  Four times a week if you can, even if a couple of the sessions are shorter.  I was doing two 75min swims with a masters group and two swims about 30-45min on my own for several weeks--that's when I really noticed improvements.  I've been swimming regularly for about 16months and have gotten about 15sec/100m off my time.  And I don't think I am 'there' yet.

Feeling better today.  I did a brief run last evening, just 1km.  I slept/rested most of the day and felt a fair bit better this am.  Just went out and did my run today--felt good, pace was pretty quick, surprisingly.  I often find that running kinda sweats it out and I feel better. 

25 miles on a cruiser in two hours?? Heck yeah. I count the time I spend hauling my 6 year old around on my hybrid. He is a slave driver, too. We have this set up:

jogo - 2013-05-08 8:12 PM

Shoe Porn!!  Got these today!  

Love that blue. They say, "Good morning! Wake up! It's time to run."

Since I don't flip turn (hangs head in shame), I love the 50m pool. I agree, though, that first 50 is a little shocking and seems incredibly long. lol

Ha, I don't flip turn either.  I try every now and again, but I just look like a dork so I quit

So forgot to mention this about my run today.  I was on my way home from work, when I noticed a bald eagle soaring near my house.  This is a little odd--I have seen them in the park about 3km from my house fishing, but not this close.  Maybe flying over, but not soaring.  Anyway, had a smile and kept driving.  So I am out on my run, about halfway through, and I see two balds and two either golden or immature balds.  All soaring.  One of the golden/immature was antagonizing one of the balds, they were twisting and turning in the air.  I stopped my run to watch for several minutes.  So cool. 

Well, I had two good workouts today. I wasn't sure how the day was going to go because I didn't sleep a lot last night. 1) Worried about hubby who's having a rough time teaching this week 2) Reading The Road for class and had a hard time putting it down, even though I've read it many times.

Anyway. Biked a little over 17 miles this afternoon in decent (for me) time. Did the church dinner thing and came back home with the little guy while #2 son was at youth group, and fell asleep. (!!!!) The 6 year old woke me up at 7:00 because we had a poetry reading to go to. We were a couple minutes late, but no biggy. Thank goodness it was about three minutes from home. At 8:00, we pick up #2 son from youth group and a storm is rolling in. But I haven't run yet. . .

So I decided to do a .65 loop I do sometimes when I'm running short of time and I had time to do it 5 times before the thunder shower started. We still haven't gotten the actual storm, but it is windy and rainy out there and the lights keep flickering.

I love storms. :-)

Ahhh. I love eagles. We have primarily golden eagles here, but every once in a while, we'll see a bald eagle. They are breath taking.

I cringed at first when reading The Road.  It took a while before I could get used to the lack of grammar.   It is a disturbing story though it does make one think.  Clever that he never gave a reason  why the disaster happened.   Even with the "uplifting ending" the book leaves one in a dark place. 

I much prefer his other books:  No Country For Old Men and Suttree.

I can't get into Suttree although I know a lot of McCarthy-ites cite it as their favorite book. I love The Crossing. Especially the first 100 or so pages. That whole thing with the wolf just kills me.

I also love No Country for Old Men. I use sections out of it to illustrate the use of a strong narrative voice -- I love the sheriff.

Regarding the disaster in The Road. I asked my students if they thought when the world is actually ending CNN will be standing on the corner reporting what happened? We agreed that in all likelihood, we wouldn't have any idea what actually happened because all communication would be disrupted, I mean in a true world-wide, apocalyptic event. And that McCarthy portrays the end that way, just makes me love the book even more.

" This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper."

T. S. Elliot,  The Hollow Men

That's awesome. I want one.  

I like tri suits. I have a long torso, and they can pull a bit, but at least I don't end up with an exposed stomach.