Why Do I Futz So Much

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Planned to ride today but I waited too long and there just wasn't enough time before I had to meet the bus. Bundling up adds so much time to the whole process. It takes me like 30 minutes just to get going. So I went to the gym instead and ran the 5k profile. I swore I felt like I was going to be fast but then soon found that running post windy day on bike is like running with a 2 inch too long prosthetic leg. So needless to say I was 30 seconds slower than my PR on that profile. I am so G-A-Y. Like who cares? I also did weights. I am easing into the weight program so I do not get sore. So far so good. I didn't have much time but did:

4 sets of 10x30 on the leg extension
3 sets of 10x15 per leg on the standing leg curl
3 sets of 10x110 on the leg press
3 sets of 10x50 on the hack squat

3 sets of 10x50 on the seated row

Betty hates the hack squat. Going real light on that one until my legs get used to the range of motion. Right now they only go so far before they tell me to STOP! I am going to add in squats with the bar/free weights...I think...my knees are usually not real happy with that and my form usually sucks. I would love to have a trainer follow me around and correct all my form miscues and tell me what to do. Not in the budget. Anyway will keep adding stuff and weight as I plan on doing year-round now...because I am old and a certain cycling trainer says I should. Sob. Would I jump off a bridge if he told me to? Probably.

ViNtAgE BiTs - 1982ish

Summer vacation. I invited my girlfriend Julie (far left) that year. My parents rented a cottage on Lake Cobbesse (Maine) every year. What a great way to spend a vacation. We had some good times that is for sure. I got into a lot of trouble that year though. There was a camp of lumberjacks nearby -- the younger guys (college students) used to go swimming in the lake after work. We used to get a lot of attention. We also met some prep-school boys while we were boating on the lake and hit a few parties. My Father wasn't too happy. Here we were in front of my Grandmother's house. She had a fantastic old house. That's her with the basket on her head. My Mother is front center with the goofy hat. My little brother peaking through and my Father. That leaves me and my little sister.

A Warm Day?

Monday, December 01, 2008

Well, 48 sure does seem warm after the batch of weather we have had. I did an 1:20 today under wind duress - that cussed WSW wind that blasts you from the side and head-on. I don't know the mph but it was strong! On a flat section that I normally fly on I was fighting to hold 15 and found myself almost in zone 5. Yuk! I did catch a tail-wind in a few short sections on the way back. That was nice and fun but like I said short! I had planned to go longer but figured I would save the effort for another better riding day.

I did have a funny moment. I should really carry a camera or get one that attaches to my helmet or something. Today I had a billy goat...I guess that is the correct term for a big goat with horns...come running out of the woods into the road just in front of my bike. At first when I caught him in my peripheral vision I thought it was a deer. He ran for about 400 yards just in front of me before he veered off the road back into a field. Ever draft off a goat?



Help Fight Cancer!

LIVESTRONG - PLEASE DONATE

Join us for the LIVESTRONG Challenge Philadelphia August 23, 2009 and pick a fight with cancer.

The LIVESTRONG Challenge is the Lance Armstrong Foundation's signature fundraising event inspired by the hope, courage and determination that exist in all of us. We take to the streets on bikes and on our feet, uniting individuals to stand together to fight cancer.

Through the dollars and awareness that we raise, we will inspire and empower individuals, and we will make life better for the more than 12 million Americans living with cancer. We look forward to having you unite with us as a partner in our fight.

Join the Fight. Take the Challenge.

This is a message to all my readers to help me in my goal of raising money for the 2009 Livestrong Challenge that I will be participating in August 2009. I joined this fund raising cause as a member of Team Fatty (www.fatcyclist.com)to help Elden in his support of his wife Susan who is battling cancer and also in memory of my Father who passed away from lung cancer in 2005. Your support would mean a lot to me and to Team Fatty. Please donate by following the link on my sidebar or by following this link.

Thank You!

Need a Power Boost

Sunday, November 30, 2008

After the CX races yesterday I crawled into bed just get warm. I was so cold. I ended up falling asleep and basically stayed in bed until 9:00 at night. The races were fine...long....but fine. Good god almighty could there be more categories....Kids, Juniors, Cat 3,4,5 Masters, 45+, 55+, 35+, Women CAT 1,2, Cat 3,4, CAT 1,2,3, U19, U23 and dual awards for each because it was State Championships. Sheesh. I helped with setting up the course, registration and awarding medals. I spent time by the sand pit to see how its done. Heard a lot of "shit", "fuck", "goddammit" etc. etc. and saw lots of people go down or give up and run through it. The mountain bikers have a definite advantage getting through it quickly. I also spent time near one obstacle and saw a few crashes there as well. Lots of tentative hops over but was impressed with the people that could do the one,two,three,four with no hesitation. Actually saw a lot of crashes. On corners mostly. Watched the women (only 6 or so deep) and then got off the course and headed back to command central (sitting in the back of a local bike shops trailer in front of the heater). All and all I thought the races were kinda boring. Cross races around here do not get a big spectator turn out. After the first lap they were very strung out so there wasn't any bunching up or tight finishes and was just a bunch of people riding a course. The riders did look exhausted and were breathing hard as the course had a couple of decent hills. I thought the most shocking thing was when one of the Junior riders rode by and his Mother cheered him on with a normal and enthusiastic "keep pedaling" and he replied with "shut your mouth" for all to hear. Whoa!

Anyway, no buyers for the bike so I am thinking that I will strip it down and put the components on a different frame.

My Black Friday

Friday, November 28, 2008

No shopping for me today. boo hoo. Instead I futzed around the house until almost noon and then I headed outside. I finally finally cleaned up all the garden areas. Cut down all the plant stalks and stuff and hauled into the woods. I also took care of all the planters and put those away. Next I pruned a few bushes and our Japanese Maple that has taken over the sidewalk. I don't think I am supposed to prune now..but whatever. Finally, I dumped the bird bath and put it away and then planted a bunch of bulbs (worst job ever). After that I made lunch for the kids cuz they were staaarrvving. I then vacuumed out my car because it was borderline disgusting...okay it was disgusting. Next I washed my car and then our commuter car. About that time the kids were getting a little nuts outside so that is when I headed inside. We have a storage room in the basement that was so disorganized and just a mess. I decided to tackle that. I have no idea where this energy was coming from since I spent the entire previous day cooking and messing with dishes. Technically I should be a total couch potato today but I just went with it and completely organized the room. Wee! Have a bunch of stuff to donate. Went for a 5 mile run and then finally planted my ass in the bedroom, while the kids entertained their cousins, and watched about 2 hours of Cesar Millan. Tomorrow morning I am off to help set up for the NJ State Cross Championships (my club is hosting)and hopefully find a buyer for my bike. I really do not feel like going. I am so over the cross thing for this year. Suck it up Betty suck.it.up.

This Making the Rounds Again

I am sure everyone has seen this by now but maybe not....


The Mom Song from Northland Video on Vimeo.

This Happens Every Year

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

-Anxiously await the annual pre-T day call from the MnL asking for Christmas gift ideas for kids
-Receive first of several calls aimed at getting said list
-Finally respond to a call and after a flurry of calls back and forth we come to an agreement on what she will get kids - there done - not!
-Receive first call clarifying the items already discussed
-Receive second call asking me to search on-line for gifts
-Receive third call asking me to go to a store to select one of the gifts
-Receive fourth call asking me to go on-line to order some gifts to ship to her
-Receive fifth call asking me to go to another store and select an item and have clerk call her for credit card information
-Receive sixth call to determine whether I have accomplished aforementioned tasks
-Receive seventh call asking if I shipped priority because she hasn't received yet

Every year I end up doing her shopping after she chases me around for a list. This is not a feeble old lady - she is in the stores all the time and has more energy than me. She hangs Christmas lights on her wealthy niece's house while the spoiled niece is at work. 78 years old and up on a ladder. Hopefully this won't go like last year where her items did not show up until like the day before Xmas and she called me daily implying that perhaps I placed the order wrong. So how is my morning of peace before the kids come home on half day to be spent? Why going to the skateboard store to select a skateboard for MnL to give to Kid 2. On top of that she nailed me down to a time so she would be home to give the credit card info to the clerk. Grrrrr.