What a busy few weeks it has been. With the sudden decision to move, the previously planned trips and trying to settle in at my new place I've been quite busy. Working out has been tough lately but I manage to get a few workouts, most notably the 40 miler last weekend.
My girlfriend and I decided that we'd go help our friends in their continued effort to renovate their house. Our friends live about 30 minute drive away. The drive is pretty quick and easy but I said 'hey what about biking there?'. I'd considered this once before on Memorial Day weekend when they had a house warming but changed my mind due to the weather. This past Sunday however the weather was nice and I decided to go for it.
I started out early, around 8:30, and got my bike on. I packed some food, 2 bottles of water and set out. I took a combination of side roads a bike path and eventually found myself on Montauk Highway, which isn't really a highway like you would normally think of it. It's the 'main' street of many different villages running along the south shore of Long Island. I fought a decent headwind the whole way east on Montauk Highway but managed a decent speed and completed the 40 mile trip in about 2 hours and 10 minutes. I started feeling it at the end of the run but was happy with the result.
I haven't been running at all lately. I've gotten a few runs in since the marathon but I haven't committed to running regularly again. I suppose I should with a marathon on October 10th and the need to develop a base prior to starting training. I will be doing more cross training this year, and doing my best to keep my calves in working order by not overdoing the running. In the same vein I hope to have some more success in my new choice of shoe, the Saucony Kinvara. I hope that some added stiffness and support while being a minimalist shoe will help me through my training. I still plan to run in my Nike Free 4.0 as well, but will be mixing in the Kinvaras a lot.
In other news I've also been participating in a recreation beach volleyball league. It's a fun time on Thursday nights and I've met some cool people. I've also found I'm not half bad at playing either. It offers some nice cross training working my legs in a different way than usual and the sand definitely gives my calves a workout.
Tomorrow morning I attempt to get myself running agian. I ant to start getting serious about working out more often. I think I am going to start 2-a-days. Runs in the AM and biking in the PM, except on Thursdays. I won't be running everyday but I will certainly try to bike as often as possible. I want my endurance up in the clouds even if my running game is pretty lame.
I should also note that I went ahead and bought a Rudy Project Sterling Helmet. It's a nice helmet and like the dork I am, I've been wearing it around the house occasionally. It fits nicely on my head and has A LOT of air vents. Perfect for me, the guy who sweats just standing in the shade on a hot and humid day. I also bought a pair of RP Zyon shades. I already had a pair of the Nyoz that I use for biking and running. If you hadn't heard of Rudy Project before I highly recommend checking them out. They frequently offer discounts on most merchandise and offer a nice variety of casual and racing helmets, athletic, and recreational shades and some other cool stuff. Check out the gear deal for some really big savings.
/plug
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
The End (of an epic series)
I felt compelled to blog about the experience of the series finale. So here goes.
SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE SERIES FINALE OF LOST STOP READING NOW! You've been warned.
LOST is a profound show. It's a one in a million series. The pilot itself was something not typically seen on network TV; so grand and epic. The series has been a large part of my life and its no secret that this finale season has been on the top of my priority list since even before it started to air. My Facebook account is evidence of that, much to the dismay of some friends who can't stand LOST. They're those who don't want to be bothered with the deeper meaning behind it. They just don't get it.
I on the other hand have loved the series, for its mysteries and for the characters. It's an emotionally gripping show. You find yourself loving and hating characters. Find yourself missing those characters you previously disliked, and really missing those characters you've loved but were no longer on the show. Season 6 has found us reuniting with those we had lost in previous years so it stood to reason that the finale would be the pinnacle of reunions.
I sit here now continuing to write this after watching the series finale for a 2nd time, and watching the last 10 minutes 3 more times after that. I'll be honest. I cried this time. I was close last night but I held it back. Tonight, I couldn't. Charlie and Claire, Sawyer and Juliet, Jack and Kate, Jacks island death and his spiritual transfer to the 'place they made together'. It was an emotional overload and it made me love the series for what it was and always had been about: the characters. Whether it was their 'issues' or the 'coincidental' (read fate) connections that each character shared with the other. The End brought the circle to a close, with those same people I'd come to love over 6 season. They'd found the happiness they truly wanted, whether it was through redemption (Jack) or love (Sawyer). It was a beautiful end.
At first I couldn't decide how I felt. There are those who argue the show was pointless. That the unanswered questions and never ending mystery took away from the show as a whole. They feel that by not answering those questions they, the viewers have wasted their time over the last few season. I beg to differ. Did I want some of those answers these people wanted? Sure I did. How could I not want to know why Walt was special, why women who got pregnant on the Island couldn't come to full term while there. Why THOSE numbers? Why time travel?
Some people have issues just accepting things for what they are. Those people are the same ones that are having a hard time digesting the finale. Not accepting the core values of the show, the people. The emotions, the love, loss, awakenings. I was right there with the characters last night. I realized I don't care about the mysteries. I cared about the people. Seeing the looks of joy on their faces, the happiness they all finally found...it was enough. Jack with Kate, Jacks reconciliation with his father, the eye closing in a poignant reversal of the scene that started the series off. I'm about to get emotional again....
The show I've invested many hours of time into is over now. I feel like I've lost (no pun intended) a part of myself. I've never felt this level of emotional bond to a TV show and frankly feel kind of weird about that. LOST will be with me and many others for a long time. It's a pop culture icon. Something you can't get through life without encountering once, whether you loved it or hated it.
That's all I've got for now.
Time to got watch the ending agian
Monday, May 17, 2010
The first time is always the hardest...and most painful (until the second...)
I finally got out on my bike this weekend for a short 'get to know you' ride. I rode with a friend, Dave, from my volunteer fire department who has done a few shorter triathlons so that I could feel a bit more comfortable. It was nice of Dave to ride with me but I could tell by 3 miles in that I might be a bit too fast for him. I don't know if he was holding back for me, but I found myself not peddling as much as I believe I should have been. Even getting into an easy gear and barely putting any pressure on the peddles at a high cadence led to me almost overtaking him. I'll ride with him again, but maybe I'll lead.
The ride was easier than I thought it would be. My legs seemed to be feeling good, my heart rate was low, and I felt I could push it a bit more. I started feeling tight in my neck, my lower back and my undercarriage started to get sore. My feet also fell asleep for a bit but that was not a huge deal. I enjoyed the ride. It was nice to get working out again. I definitely needed it.
I didn't get back out on the bike again until this evening. It's going to rain the next 2 days so I figured today was the best chance before Thursday. I was a bit nervous about getting out there on the roads during rush hour but I chose roads that weren't too busy. I did almost the same route as Saturdays ride except I started off heading into town so I could tackle a long gradual hill. I wanted to avoid a certain intersection so I elected to take a right up a VERY steep hill to cut through.
Bad. Decision.
I didn't think about the gear I was in and before I knew it I was coming to a grinding halt, unable to get my left shoe unclipped and was tipping over. I managed to unclip as I was falling and did a fantastic reverse somersault down the hill and back onto my feet. I tore some of the handlebar tape a bit, and some leaves got stuck in my left brake/shifter. I recovered, walked up the remainder of the hill and got back on my way. A mild abrasion on my left butt cheek and a scrape on my wrist.
I settled back into my ride and started chugging along. I was pushing it pretty hard per my heart rate. My Garmin was off a bit at the beginning and skewed my average heart rate. My breathing was difficult, but I think that was due to the high pollen count today. I ground through the ride and ended up riding 14 miles in about 47 minutes. I forgot to start my Garmin until I was about 1/4 mile in. Not a bad increase in speed from Saturdays ride. By the end of the workout I felt like I had really pushed it. My lungs were burning and I had that "I just worked my ass off" feeling. I haven't really worked these muscles in a long while so I'm expecting the first few rides to be tough.
Now where are those cookies?
The ride was easier than I thought it would be. My legs seemed to be feeling good, my heart rate was low, and I felt I could push it a bit more. I started feeling tight in my neck, my lower back and my undercarriage started to get sore. My feet also fell asleep for a bit but that was not a huge deal. I enjoyed the ride. It was nice to get working out again. I definitely needed it.
I didn't get back out on the bike again until this evening. It's going to rain the next 2 days so I figured today was the best chance before Thursday. I was a bit nervous about getting out there on the roads during rush hour but I chose roads that weren't too busy. I did almost the same route as Saturdays ride except I started off heading into town so I could tackle a long gradual hill. I wanted to avoid a certain intersection so I elected to take a right up a VERY steep hill to cut through.
Bad. Decision.
I didn't think about the gear I was in and before I knew it I was coming to a grinding halt, unable to get my left shoe unclipped and was tipping over. I managed to unclip as I was falling and did a fantastic reverse somersault down the hill and back onto my feet. I tore some of the handlebar tape a bit, and some leaves got stuck in my left brake/shifter. I recovered, walked up the remainder of the hill and got back on my way. A mild abrasion on my left butt cheek and a scrape on my wrist.
I settled back into my ride and started chugging along. I was pushing it pretty hard per my heart rate. My Garmin was off a bit at the beginning and skewed my average heart rate. My breathing was difficult, but I think that was due to the high pollen count today. I ground through the ride and ended up riding 14 miles in about 47 minutes. I forgot to start my Garmin until I was about 1/4 mile in. Not a bad increase in speed from Saturdays ride. By the end of the workout I felt like I had really pushed it. My lungs were burning and I had that "I just worked my ass off" feeling. I haven't really worked these muscles in a long while so I'm expecting the first few rides to be tough.
Now where are those cookies?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)