Thursday, September 29, 2011

If every one else jumped off a cliff....

I can hear my Mother's voice now...

I read a few other blogs on a pretty consistent basis - http://www.priorfatgirl.com/ and http://dooce.com/ - both ladies are doing some impressive running. So the bug to get on the road again has hit. And hard. I did a 4 mile run on the treadmill tonight, and realized I need to give myself the OK to go run a road race - even though I have not ran the distance (6.2 miles) yet in my training. Cross training, to be exact. Cycling still comes first!

Sunday the bike will take a back seat to the running shoes. I'm lacing them up to run:



I was thinking the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving would be my first "official" race (more run than race for me I'm sure!) - but there is no guarantee I will be off that day. And IBM is advertised as the fastest course in Austin - which usually means flat. There are some "rolling hills" which I know, since it's going to start near The Domain, Megan's fav shopping center in town. I'll probably have to bribe her somehow to come and take some pictures! The rumors are that this is the last year IBM will be ran on this course, and I never ran this before back in my "serious" running days (2007-2008).

I have a pretty simple goal - run my own race at my own pace. To finish, and to be gentle with myself. I don't weigh 180 like I did back in 2007.  I have not trained like I did back then, and I have a different outlook on running now. I want to take it easy on the knees - more than likely only at most 2 races a month on pavement - and just concentrate on enjoying the experience. I always loved the nervous butterflies at the start of a race, and finding someone to "shadow" that was running my pace. Preferably something in pigtails and pink. And female, cuz that is how I roll. The feeling after a race was always what I loved most, the sense of accomplishment heightened by the flood of endorphins. And bananas! After a race I crave them, and at no other time does that EVER happen.

I'm already excited!

Oh, and if everyone else jumped off a cliff, yeah I probably would too. If there was water below.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Stuck in Cubicle Hell....




<Insert a hypothetical rant about hypothetical jerks that surround my cube>


Not that any of these ass clowns would recognize themselves:

  • Mr "Hmmmmmmmmmmmm" who says only that - over, and over, and over, while on phone calls with someone. It appears to be the wife he comes here early and stays late to avoid. Seriously, try listening to this for 15 minutes at a pop, 3-4 times in the span of the 2 hours that his shift overlaps yours. He makes me pro death penalty some days, and suicidal others. Lucky for me I haven't hit homicidal yet. 
  • Mr Sports Dude. I watch enough ESPN that I really do not need a complete replay of every sporting event with the possible exceptions of curling and dodge ball. Your voice makes me long for the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard. Ok, we get it. You obviously have a small penis and are over compensating with your supposed knowledge of sports. Many times verbatim of what I just saw on SportsCenter last night. (Excuse me while I turn up my Vevo playlist to drown him out. The Cowboys won last night. Ugh)
  • Mr Know-it-the-fuck-all. Your delusions of IT glory might be pretty amusing, if I understood a fucking thing you are talking about. I never hear anyone else respond, so thanks for the soliloquies. The least you could do is learn something about sports and try to get a word in with Mr Sports Dude. Get off Mashable once in a while and take an interest in something human and you might even get laid.
  • Mr Foul Mouth. Yeah, I say fuck now and then, but I don't do it anymore at work. It's 2011, we have female guests here, and that will be your undoing. I hope. Oh, and FYI, no one with an ounce of maturity really wants to recreate the high school locker room at work. Really.
  • Mr Political Activist. I cannot even begin to express how retarded your spewing about politics sounds to me. Especially when I hear the same diatribes several times every month. 
Phew. Thanks. A special (non solicited and non compensated) thanks to Bose for these headphones that have done nothing less than help me keep my fucking job today.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Sunday's Ride....



Above is the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. Occasionally I join the Austin Cycling Meetup group for their ride on the last Sunday of the month. The ride is sponsored by Jack and Adam's Bike shop, and several other clubs join in. Often there are over 100 riders, so it's easy to find cyclists of your ability - whatever that is. The route is a out-and-back of just over 30 miles if you include the monster hill at the turn-around point. Always nice to have the option of turning around if you want, although I have never been able to resist the challenge of climbing it. I just stick it in the lowest gear I have and spin it out. 

Sunday I was feeling a little sore in the right hamstring, so I opted out of the Lifetime Cycling Club ride that was set to climb Lime Creek Road. I decided to ride with the intermediate group on the Steiner ride, and had one of my best rides ever. I felt strong, the hammie never acted up, and I just kept going faster until I was leading the intermediate group at the turnaround point. Not racing, just riding the pace that felt best. Some days you have it, some days you don't....but that day I had it. One guy blew past me climbing the big hill, but I was expecting that. The lighter guys can out climb me pretty easily, I envy those guys sometimes! 

On the ride back to the steakhouse, I just felt stronger and stronger and pulled a big group of riders into a headwind. I block wind well, and I like to help other riders. Some people really suffer on hills, some suffer in the wind. Every ride has one or the other, often both here in Central Texas. I averaged 17.0 mph, much more than my normal 15-16 mph. That one mph average increase takes a LOT of work!

A long soak in the hot tub at LifeTime (I must sound like a commercial for them but I love my club!) and I was good for the day. 

Watched some college football, did laundry and some cleaning. 

Still bummed about missing Pan-Am, I'll try to find it online. I watched about 5 minutes of "Revenge" and it really did not do anything for me.  After Mad Men, it will take something to hook me into watching a new show. So many of the ones I loved were cancelled (Lie to Me, etc) that it's hard to make an investment. That, and I don't have much time for TV between work, sleep, working out, and my Facebook addiction!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

4.2 miles of bliss....


I did my 4.2 mile loop at Town Lake tonight and loved it! Ok, the first half mile sucked. But only mildly. It was 97 degrees outside, and I was grateful my cycling has me acclimated to exercising in the heat. This is not something to do without easing into it, that's for sure!
The trail was wonderfully empty, and anyone that runs or walks the trail knows that is not often the case. While I don't normally mind dodging and weaving through the dogs, kids, (hot women), bikes and hot women, it was amazing tonight. The sun was setting and sparkling off the lake (actually a part of the Colorado river) and the lighting was so cool. I don't always run with my iPod ( I used to think of myself as a "pure" runner. Snob more like it.), but lately I have. It takes extra awareness - no sudden moves to the left or blind turns - mountain bikers on the trail have a way of coming out of no where! But I find I can get lost in a song, or really fired up and start picking up the pace. Slower songs help me ease up and relax. And tonight I was in that groove. I passed a woman in pink with pigtails - thank you God - and we exchanged that goofy grin you have when you are in the running zone. One of those runs that I hated to get to the end of. I have learned to really stop time in moments like this - because they are the exception to the ordinary. Many times I will curse that last 1/2 mile - but not today. Today I feel alive, serene.
On the drive home I thought to myself "Hmmm, Saturday night and everyone is in such a hurry to get where they are going". I glanced at the speedometer (my 'serenity meter') and saw I was in the middle lane doing 60 in a 65 mph zone. Life is good.

Spinning for Texas Wildfire Victims



Today was fun! Normally I go for a ride with one of several different cycling clubs in the area on Saturdays, but today I opted to do a 2 hour spin class by the outdoor pool at LifeTime Fitness. When I arrived at about 8:30am, I heard rumblings that no one had taken the spin bikes outdoors. Oops. Kinda tough to have an outdoor spin class without spin bikes! 

Along with about 5 others that were there, we jumped in and started rolling the bikes from the upstairs studio to the elevator. A rugby class (indoors!) jumped in to help and before you know it we had moved over 30 bikes outdoors and set up our "studio". Three of the best (IMHO!) spin instructors took turns leading the class, and it was INTENSE! Lucky for us all the temps had cooled off some, it was about 65-70 when we started and it really went up fast. All 3 instructors have different styles and different musical tastes, so we had some great tunes to help motivate us. Knowing we were doing some small thing to help all the local fire victims helped too. After all, they are still rebuilding their lives, and will be for a long time.

I had planned on doing a run outside after the class, but it really took much more out of me than I anticipated. Discretion being the better part of valor, I'm going to wait until the sun starts to set tonight....and see how I feel then. If I were 35, I'd be all over it...53 is a big difference! 


Friday, September 23, 2011

On turning 53 today....

Birthdays are always a big deal to me, and I am not secretive about the fact that I like people making some fuss over mine. I never thought when I was younger - say in my 30's - that I would make it this far. And back then I was living a lifestyle that almost guaranteed I would not. But here I am, 53 today! (Technically, not until 7:15am)

Today I was reading one of my favorite all time books - a (autographed by the author!) copy of  The Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life by Amby Burfoot (Winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon). In the chapter "Materialism" he makes the point very eloquently in the chapter subtitle -  "What I need, I already have". My wants are never met, and my needs are seldom unmet these days. I have a roof over my head. I have food and clothing. I have clean drinking water. I am rich beyond the comprehension of millions of people in this world, and I try to be content. I have high quality problems today. And I'm grateful - most of the time.


I constantly have to remind myself that I don't have to measure my success by what I HAVE, but on what I AM. Many, many men have more possessions than I do, and are not half as happy as I am. It all comes down to being content with what I have and not focusing on what others have. A man in a neighborhood convenience store where I (ironically enough) buy the occasional lottery ticket told me once..."focus on the man who has less than you do and you will be content - focus on the man that has more and you never will be..." or words to that effect. So true.


I recently started running again and have little doubt that like most things I do, I will try to maintain some semblance of sanity and balance with it. And I also have little doubt that I will "fail" at that! Fail is such a fucked up word. Nothing attempted is really failed at all. It's just a matter of perspective. Striving for a goal is to reach a goal in a sense, to not become complacent and uncaring. My main goal is to enjoy the running again, and so far it has wildly exceeded my expectations. To feel my body in motion in the simplest of all physical activity is to return to a part of my nature and my evolutionary DNA. As The Boss (who shares my birthday by the way!) said so wisely..."Tramps like us, baby we were born to run". I will keep cycling also, that is going to remain a passion I'm sure, and so far the running just complements it so well.


My first "goal" organized race will be the 21st Annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot - five miles through downtown Austin on Thanksgiving morning! 




I'm excited about blogging again too - it's so cathartic for me. I have done this many times - and deleted every blog at some point. I have to admit - I really don't write for anyone but myself and the act of writing itself does so much for me. If you enjoy this blog, awesome. At the very least I hope to share a bit of myself with anyone interested....

Ala "Bridget Jone's Diary" - here are the "vital" stats:

Marital status - single 
Sex - M. I haven't "F'd" in quite a while.
Height - 5' 10" 
Weight - 204
Job - Senior Systems Analyst ( AKA Computer DORK) Oracle since 2004
Love life - nonexistent. 
Spirituality - alive and well.
Friends - I have all I need, but willing to accept applications.
Daughter - Happy, healthy and kicking ass in high school.
Bike - 2011 Specialized Tarmac Comp (Compact)
Running shoes - 2010 Asics Kayano Gel 17's