Organization and Failing at Normalcy

First off, I have to say "Wow!" to all the comments I've been getting from people glad to see me blogging daily. This blog is supposed to just be to list shows and their contents, but hey, why not throw in some dailies? Thanks, guys, and I hope this stuff is interesting.

We in the tri-geekdom know we have too much crap. I've got 3 HR monitors, 4 bike computers, 3 sets of arm warmers, about 12 beanies, and a whole lot of other junk. I get PISSED when I can't find something. What drives me nuts is that I'll have 3 of something and can't find the one I'm looking for. When a workout or bike commute gets delayed because I can't find what I'm looking for, I go ballistic. And it's not like I want all this crap. I just have it. It shows up in my life and it just roosts here. I'm giving away a HRM and a bike computer tomorrow just to dig out from under the heap.

I spend a good bit of time trying to organize this stuff. Having a second person in the house who believes she knows where stuff goes just makes it worse. You see, MY system of finding things depends on me being the one putting it away. I think "where did I put that?" and then I go there and... it's not there... because Huck thought it should either go in drawer B or the trash.

Have I told you how many of my silicone dashboard grippy-anti-sliding-cell phone-paddy-thingies Huck has thrown away because she thought they were trash? Three.

So, I have to organize things or 1. I risk spending two hours looking for something and blowing a workout or 2. Huckster the Chuckster will mistakenly misread something that says "SUUNTO" or "NIKE" or "PHILMONT" and in her non-workout dyslexic fit thinks it actually says "Throw me away without asking Brett first!"

I had a great system of drawers that functioned perfectly until Huck decided we needed new bedroom furniture. In female-ese, new furniture = everything that was functional but doesn't match exactly has to go.

Putting the drawers within the new furniture just isn't working. I was trying to find a HRM to give a friend and found everything but. And I'm missing my ultra cool tattoo print primal wear arm warmers. I told her via cell phone today that I was going to the hardware store to buy a system of hooks and very small shelves to put in the garage so I can have some peace of mind and put my most commonly used stuff in one EASY TO FIND place again. She yelled at me that I better not buy anything, I pretended I agreed, and then I bought some stuff.

I just installed what looks to be some sort of tie rack and then a small double basket rack in the garage. I'm using them to hang helmets, armwarmers, gloves, HRMs, mp3 player arm bands, a headlamp, goggles, GPSs, and various other often used tri gear. Soon, Huck will get "the talk." This is where I point at my hideous construct and ominously demand "Put all that stuff there from now on!" She will pretend to care and then continue going about doing what she does.

Speaking of that, I couldn't do my swim workout today because she suddenly decided that she needed to go "walking" (chatting) with our new neighbor. It's not too terrible since my body could use a rest from yesterday. Still, I need to get her using Google calendar so we can straighten some of this crap out. The woman uses no fewer than 5 analog calendars but says Google is too difficult. Huh? Somebody email her at erhodes at rocketmail dot com and tell her to start using google calendar. I'm dying here!

It has begun!

I'm high as a kite right now and I'll get to why later...

I always wait until January 1 to get serious about training. Everything between my last 2007 race and today has just been casual or for kicks. As the new year approached, I could tell I was putting things into more order.

I drank too much last night. I love microbrew beer, so I drank about 5 of those and also squeezed in some Mojitos. Those mojitos are some sneaky bastards. Otherwise, I ate really well and kept the calories down. Found stuff like salmon and crab to snack on instead of just stuffing my gaping maw with chips.

Woke up this morning later than usual and feeling like kag. I have a bad habit of wanting to cook eggs on mornings after I've drank to much and then regretting the eggs more than the drinking. Today was a repeat of that. Bleah.

Slept in a little longer than then went for a bike ride and brick run. I was supposed to bike with a buddy, but he failed to return my call. I've learned to not count on other people too much for workouts - you'll never get done what you need to do if you depend on others to be there. I loaded up my iPod Shuffle and my singlespeed and went out for a two hour ride.

It was crazy windy. I love the wind. I grin when I hear other people complain about it. It's usually roadies that ride in their little wind-cheating clusters that bitch the worst. It's funny, because those are the guys that are the best cyclists. Triathletes end up training and racing a lot alone (or the should be), so we tend to not care as much about the wind. I get annoyed when I'm riding with the wind to my back because I feel like I'm being cheated out of a workout. Triathletes have a lot of sh*t to do. Taking the difficulty out of a ride isn't worth the time wasted on the bike.

It was also sort of cold. Nothing too bad there.

I got a new helmet and rode with it for the first time. Specialized Propero. Seems nice. I like that it has a detachable visor on it. Good ventilation, nice colors. Thanks Mom and Dad!

I have a weird neuroma issue and plantar fasciatis in my left foot, so I was having to keep an eye on that. Seemed to do ok.

Got home and threw on the running gear. No distance measuring stuff, just a watch. Took along my greyhound, Roxy, and had a nice run. Probably only ran 5 miles in that hour. I get a weird tightness and pain at the bottom of my shins and in front of my ankles. It went away after a while.

Came home and went with the fam and a neighbor to grab some chinese food. I pulled a couple of tricks from peertrainer.com - I got spring rolls (not fried) for an appetizer and asked for my main course (thai red curry tofu and rice) to come with a doggy bag. As soon as it hit the table, I scooped half of it into the doggie bag. They say that's a good trick to keep from eating too much food. Bonus - my lunch for tomorrow is already made!

Huck said I looked really tired. I told her I was, but really I just felt very mellow. Almost high. Why? I got in three solid hours of continuous aerobic workout today. Not very intense, just great base training. I feel like I did something with my life.

The cool thing is, it's really not all that hard. I am so happy that I'm at a fitness level where I can go forth for 3 hours and have such a nice time. I think all my training last year has really set the stage for me to be a much more balanced and capable triathlete this year. I've warmed up to the idea of lots and lots of running. I told Huck and another friend recently that running is great because it burns the most calories, it is cheap, is super convenient, and very safe.

Well, that's enough for now. I caught a little chill while running in the cold. Gonna have some hot half-caff to warm up. Laters.

Day Off

I usually take mondays off after a loaded weekend.  My workouts have started increasing in length as the new year approaches, so today is a nice time for a break.  Coulda/shoulda ridden my bike to work today, but I was tired from the weekend's travel (6 hours of driving total).

Left laptop power cord in Pert.  No computer for a few days.  Kinda nice...

Told Huck last night that I kinda feel like Cleo is partially my dog since she's running with me now.  She's a community/farm dog, so I think I have a 10% share.  I need to remember to bring her a treat on my next visit.

Will use day off tomorrow to catch up on posting blogs and updating tech stuff for the three podcasts I'm involved in.  That and a nice long bike ride.

Breakfast - cereal

Snack - half of a pb and j sandwich before lunch, half after

Lunch - Asian salad at Micky D's

Dinner - Dunno yet.

Will try to not drink too much at New Year's parties tonight. Both parties are within a walk home, so no worries.  I thought it would be funny to show up at the one that is about 1.5 miles from my house on my bike.

"Where can I park my bike?"

"What?  You rode your bike?"

"Yup!  No DWIs, ride the sidewalk home so I stay off the street, and I got two cup holders!" (hiccup!)

Gained a Running Buddy this Weekend

I've started following a few blogs of pro trail runners that blog their workouts on a daily basis. It looks like a lot of fun and made me a bit envious, so I'm going to try to blog my workouts for a while. We'll see if it works out. I also want to write a book soon. I've heard that writing a lot helps you become a better writer, so this is great practice.

Spent both days of the past weekend running. Actually, been running a lot lately. I learned to do things by time instead of by distance, just like the pros do, while being trained by a coach all last year. We went to the training farm near Tyler, TX and I left my bike behind, planning on running 2 hours both days. Distance is secondary to time. This is how things panned out:

Saturday - 12.0 miles at just a fraction under a 10 minute mile, 1:58:+. I was on hilly asphalt roads, deep in the woods and one car length wide. Started hurting a little at the end.

Sunday - 10.6 miles on an abandoned logging road, 2:00:00. Haven't figured out the pace, was just doing it as a recovery run. Most of the run was on sand covered with a bed of pine needles. I think it was the softest yet most stable surface I've ever encountered. It was an absolute dream to run on.

One of the farm dogs ran with me the entire day Sunday. Cleo is a Golden Retriever and was enjoying the romp. I usually don't run with a dog that distance and especially off the leash, but this trail was crazy close to the farm and very safe, so I let her tag along. I've got two great running dogs of my own, but after running with Cleo, I feel like I've got a third. She's my new running buddy!

I'm shocked that my legs aren't beat up worse than they are. I'm taking tomorrow off and will try for a long bike ride on New Year's Day. Out.

Trail Running at Night!

Join me and Chris as we flaunt the law and run on closed trails AT NIGHT! I also play some cool music, go over some gear, and we decide exactly what and who is wrong with the world today. Come along for the run and don't forget your flashlight!

SHOWNOTES

• Swimming at pool in the AM before work.


• First time in the pool since IM Wisconsin


• Mix in some pushups with your workout.


• Dodging trash.


• They've fixed the locker rooms.


• Resident coach started yelling at me.


• Should I swim in the Distance Lane?


• We go trail running at night in secret.


• Slow pace - 2 min walk, 2 min run. Needed some adventure.


• Recording with mic clipped to visor.


• Use LED lights, people!


• Hold your flashlight low to highlight roots and holes.


• Gear - visor, regular jogging clothes, Inov8 trail shoes, Petzl head lamp, Tectite flashlights.


• Gear Highlight - Chris's Green Teclite  and Amphipod pack.


• Holding your flashlight still is a skill.


• Green light is easier on the eyes.


• Are we going to be attacked by a boar?


• What's wrong with America? People who won't let us work in flip-flops, that's what!


• Don't let your guard down while running at night.


• I hate technology.


• Still hating technology.


• Sample guitar from DethChatter


• Run the trail in the day a few times before you do it at night.


• Chris almost dies.


• When will we Tripalooza?


• Running with NO LIGHTS.


• Comments on Calicos in the Cosmos.


• I am NOT peeing in the woods.


• Should I get a Mac? Leave a comment on this blog (password is BMC).


• Do I have plantar fasciatis? How should I treat it?


• I get lost.


• Send me audio to play on the show at texafornia at gmail dot com.