Hump Day Miscellany is taking a break just like my training took a break today. Can you belive that??!! It just skipped out on me. Rude, much?

Actually, getting jilted has its advantages. Had my training shown up as scheduled I’d have to write about how every muscle in my body is sore. About how when I walk my legs hurt. When I lift a mug of tea to my lips my arms hurt. When I carry my computer bag my shoulders hurt. When I pull myself up out of a chair my abs hurt. In fact, the only pain free option open to me for most of the day was standing still with my arms at my side.

Now that my training took a powder and I missed out on 90 minutes of strength training I feel pretty good.

YOU CAN’T DO THIS EVERY DAY, TRAINING!! I’VE GOT YOUR NUMBER AND I’M COMING AFTER YOU!

Tomorrow is 1 hour swim, 30 minutes bike. There will be no escape.

I didn’t get tagged for this one but due to circumstance I’m doing it anyhow. The meme in question is the one where you reach for the book nearest you, turn to page 123, find the 5th sentence and then copy out the next 3. That is because sitting right by my monitor is
Training Plans for Multisport Athletes by Gale Barnhardt.

Page 123, sentences 6,7,8 read:

Maybe you’d like to lift weights, too. How do you blend everything together with limited training time and without doing the same boring routine for weeks on end? And one more thing: You’d like to feel fast and strong for some of the workouts, races or sporting events.

That is correct. It is all correct. I’m going to read the rest of the sentences and the rest of the book and come up with a good plan. A plan that fits my life. That means I can’t use the ‘canned’ plan for “Faster Olympic Distance Performance” because there isn’t enough swimming on that plan. She has you swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I like swimming M, W, F. I will follow the general pattern and guidelines, though and will be setting some time goals for each leg of WildFlower soon.

I think I’m finally training now. I went for a 20 mile bike ride this morning in spite of the cold. I learned something valuable, too. I don’t like large group rides.

This was a women’s ride put on by the very wonderful Luna Chix who deserve considerable kudos for doing this. It just wasn’t for me. First of all it is really hard to negotiate some space with a huge group like that (there were about 50 women) especially when many of them are new to cycling. Second of all we went too slow. I was looking forward to some speed work and I found myself going 12 – 13 mph which was frustrating. I finally peeled off and took off on my own but not without thanking the woman who was leading our group.

Hats off to the Luna Chix for doing this – you are fab. They also host various clinics on bike maintenance and safety. They gave out free mini Luna Bars and water bottles today so thanks! Thanks again. If you are a woman and a cyclist you might want to see if there is a Luna Chix team in your area and connect with them. So far I’ve learned how to change a tire and I expect to learn much more in their clinics and if they do some harder training rides later in the season I may join them. They are training for the Cinderella Classic which I’m not riding this year as I am hosting a wedding but I don’t think they mind if I tag along.

And look at this! I just clicked the dropdown again and noticed that they have a local triathlon team and that they host a triathlon. Woo Hoo! I loves the Internets. Learn something new every day! They will be at WildFlower so be sure to say Hi if you are there.

In addition to promoting and supporting women’s sports, Team Luna Chix raises money and awareness to fight breast cancer. Their corporate sponsor makes great nutrition bars, too.

Welcome to Training Season. I hope I can focus my training better than I focused this post!

1). The Swim – when I take a shower I often find it difficult to turn off the water and get out. I love the feel of hot water and steam and I can stand in there all day just day dreaming until I look like a human prune. This morning in the pool I had that same experience when it was really time to get out and get on with the day. In spite of having a hard set involving swimming repeat hypoxic laps (where you breath as few times as you can stand) and then doing sprints I just didn’t want to get out so I kept going. It’s hard to believe that a couple months ago I skipped masters on a regular basis. I can hardly wait to get in the water now.

2). The Ride – I have recently discovered the joys of riding on the trainer while watching a movie. I love multi-tasking like that. Too many things to do and too few hours in which to do them. This is a perfect solution. I’m in the middle of a very good movie so I can hardly wait to get back on the trainer that I have been shirking for weeks and weeks.

3). The Run – When I run I listen to audio books on my iPod. I love that. I’m mostly a fiction junkie and just about any contemporary book and quite a few not so contemporary books worth reading are available in downloadable audio format from audible.com. A good book helps a lot with increasing my mileage but not so much right now because…

4). I live in California. We are not supposed to have winter. There is ice on my car every morning and it is supposed to snow at 1,000 ft or maybe even sea level this weekend. I really, really hope this is just a blip. If I wanted cold I’d move to Canada where I could enjoy their excellent sense of humor while freezing my chimichangas off.

Those Canadians make great movies, too!

I’ve been tagged by Juls. I’m not a tagger but I’m not a shirker, either so I will do the deed.

A-B-C meme

A-Available or Single — Both and probably for the rest of my life.
B-Best Friends — My sister and my daughters and my son
C-Cake or Pie — Pie. I only like 2 kinds of Cake – carrot and the band of that name. I loves me some pie, though. Just about any kind.
D-Drink of choice — Mojito! Or a Non-fat latte.
E- Essential Item — My computer, I guess
F-Favorite color — Fuschia
G-Gummi Bears or worms — Either – it’s not about the shape, it’s about the sweet gooey goodness.
H-Hometown — I was born a Buckeye but consider myself to be from Madison Connecticut
I-Indulgence — pedicures
J-January or February — neither. I’m more than ready for May or June
K-Kids & names — Humbly Anne, Small Son, Pookie
L-Life is incomplete without — My family.
M-Marriage Date — hahahaha…. Now that was just mean.
N-Number of siblings — 3. I’m the third in line of 1 sister and 2 brothers.
O-Oranges or Apples — Oranges . I love citrus fruit
P-Phobias/Fears — Getting hit by a car when I’m riding my bike.
Q-Favorite Quote — “Perseverance Furthers” – the I Ching
R-Reason to smile — My kids.
S-Season — Summer.
T-Tag three people – I’m letting you all self-select.
U-Unknown fact about me — I’m cheap – but you might have figured that out.
V-Veggie I hate — Beets. Lovely color but the smell and the taste just gross me out.
W-Worst Habit — Procrastination
X-X-rays you’ve had — Mammograms
Y-Your favorite food — Pizza – the world’s most perfect food
Z-Zodiac — Capricorn.

I got up this morning, made coffee, got the paper and started reading – all per my usual plan when I’m not heading out at 5:45 for a bike ride with my friends (still too dark and too cold to do that).

I was determined to get in at least a little time on the trainer, though because I really need to work those 1 leg drills to help my form. I carried my bike back upstairs (it had been in the living room where I put it after my New Year’s Day Tri) and struggled to get it in the trainer. I had an inordinately difficult time with it but finally managed to screw the turn thingie (technical term!) onto the left spindle end. I put on the shoes, got on the bike, clipped in, started peddling and the next thing I know – BAM! I’m lying on the floor with a bike on top of me. I had neglected to open up the hinge on the trainer completely and that was the result. Grumble.. mutter… mutter… Not my day. I got up, fixed the bike and did my thang.

Later in the day I banged my head on the car door getting out. Not my day.

Later still I banged my head on a beam in the attic as I put the Christmas decorations away. Just not my day.

The afternoon ended with me taking Pookie to the airport so she can return to school. The sun was low in the sky and I couldn’t see and there was a lot of traffic and I got diverted to the wrong lane. We got to the end of the terminal and I decided to pull over in the taxi area and just let her out real quick. I was a little worried but there didn’t seem to be anyone around. Or so I thought. She took off and as I started to drive away I noted a cop walking to the car, ticket book in hand. SO NOT MY DAY! I stopped and rolled down the window and must have looked totally stunned. He asked me did I know I was in a bus area? “Well sort of … I just missed my turn and … stammer, stammer”. He looked me in my very stunned eyes and said, “Did you know it was a $250 fine?”

“No! Of Course Not!” I’m sure stunned turned to dismay.

“I’ve been writing people up all day but… you got lucky. Get out of here and don’t let me see you here again”.

I uttered a meek ‘thanks’ and left.

And then, in a flash , it was my day. It was SO my day.

I got up this morning, made coffee, got the paper and started reading – all per my usual plan when I’m not heading out at 5:45 for a bike ride with my friends (still too dark and too cold to do that).

I was determined to get in at least a little time on the trainer, though because I really need to work those 1 leg drills to help my form. I carried my bike back upstairs (it had been in the living room where I put it after my New Year’s Day Tri) and struggled to get it in the trainer. I had an inordinately difficult time with it but finally managed to screw the turn thingie (technical term!) onto the left spindle end. I put on the shoes, got on the bike, clipped in, started peddling and the next thing I know – BAM! I’m lying on the floor with a bike on top of me. I had neglected to open up the hinge on the trainer completely and that was the result. Grumble.. mutter… mutter… Not my day. I got up, fixed the bike and did my thang.

Later in the day I banged my head on the car door getting out. Not my day.

Later still I banged my head on a beam in the attic as I put the Christmas decorations away. Just not my day.

The afternoon ended with me taking Pookie to the airport so she can return to school. The sun was low in the sky and I couldn’t see and there was a lot of traffic and I got diverted to the wrong lane. We got to the end of the terminal and I decided to pull over in the taxi area and just let her out real quick. I was a little worried but there didn’t seem to be anyone around. Or so I thought. She took off and as I started to drive away I noted a cop walking to the car, ticket book in hand. SO NOT MY DAY! I stopped and rolled down the window and must have looked totally stunned. He asked me did I know I was in a bus area? “Well sort of … I just missed my turn and … stammer, stammer”. He looked me in my very stunned eyes and said, “Did you know it was a $250 fine?”

“No! Of Course Not!” I’m sure stunned turned to dismay.

“I’ve been writing people up all day but… you got lucky. Get out of here and don’t let me see you here again”.

I uttered a meek ‘thanks’ and left.

And then, in a flash , it was my day. It was SO my day.

Yes it is. I still have that shiney bright and new feeling – how about you?

1). Open Letter to Blogger Beta –
YES! I really, really mean it. I honestly do want to show the secure and non-secure items on the page. EVERY TIME! Please stop asking me that question!

2). Why can’t I do a crappy job and walk away with millions like the Home Depot guy? This Nardelli guy got Home Depot an SEC investigation for options violations and allowed the price per share to drop 15% and he walks away $119.5 million dollars richer with a severance package of an additional $210 million dollars. Absurd.

3). So what? I got my swim on this morning and I’m feeling good. I’m almost ready to fix my nutrtion intake from 8 billion calories in chocolate and fat to lots of wholesome grains and fruits and vegetables. I can really feel it coming on!

4). I should be receiving my copy of Gale Bernhardt’s Training Plans for Multisport Athletes soon and when I do I will put together a training plan.

Hear those trumpets? It’s the sound of the start of training season. Train Hard! Train Smart!

5). Here is my swim year in review – it’s my favorite review story. I have to add the disclaimer that the times are not quite accurate as they depend on the workout and who I’m swimming with which determines how much socializing we do between sets. The trend is awesome, though! As you can see, just putting in the distance improves the times. I’m all about improving my times this year and I’m very excited about that.

Yes it is. I still have that shiney bright and new feeling – how about you?

1). Open Letter to Blogger Beta –
YES! I really, really mean it. I honestly do want to show the secure and non-secure items on the page. EVERY TIME! Please stop asking me that question!

2). Why can’t I do a crappy job and walk away with millions like the Home Depot guy? This Nardelli guy got Home Depot an SEC investigation for options violations and allowed the price per share to drop 15% and he walks away $119.5 million dollars richer with a severance package of an additional $210 million dollars. Absurd.

3). So what? I got my swim on this morning and I’m feeling good. I’m almost ready to fix my nutrtion intake from 8 billion calories in chocolate and fat to lots of wholesome grains and fruits and vegetables. I can really feel it coming on!

4). I should be receiving my copy of Gale Bernhardt’s Training Plans for Multisport Athletes soon and when I do I will put together a training plan.

Hear those trumpets? It’s the sound of the start of training season. Train Hard! Train Smart!

5). Here is my swim year in review – it’s my favorite review story. I have to add the disclaimer that the times are not quite accurate as they depend on the workout and who I’m swimming with which determines how much socializing we do between sets. The trend is awesome, though! As you can see, just putting in the distance improves the times. I’m all about improving my times this year and I’m very excited about that.

My GYGO New Year’s Day Triathlon looked like this:

Swim 2800 yds – 1:15:00
T1 – 22 hours
Bike – 12.5 miles 1:00:56
T2 – 2.5 hours
Run – 3.9 miles 1:05:00

Let’s deconstruct that, shall we?

Swim – 2800 yards 1:15:00 My masters team has a tradition of celebrating the year with x number of y distance laps. For 2007 that meant 107 somethings. I was in a lane with 4 other women and we might have done a bit of chatting as we did our 107 25s and I added a few to make it 2800 yards even.

T1 – 22 hours – really. The pool was closed today so I had to do the swim yesterday along with the rest of my masters team.

Bike – 12.5 miles in 1:00:56 – I was a little astonished at my lack of speed but in keeping with my New Year’s Resolution I’d like to say Hooray for me! I did it!

T2 – 2.5 hours. I got home, got some food, read some blogs, visited with the kids and then noticed that Humbly Anne seemed a little blue. She was feeling sad because she goes back to the mid-west tomorrow and because getting married is a little overwhelming.

I changed my plans a bit and invited her to walk around the resevoir with me. It was a stunningly beautiful day and I figured the fresh air and sunshine would do her good and it gave me a chance for more visiting time.

Run – this turned into a lovely walk with the very lovely Ms. Humbly Anne, my first born child. It was a brisk walk and we covered 3.91 miles (gotta love that Garmin!) in a little over an hour and had a great time doing it.

A great start for what I expect will be a great year.

Now – a word about age. I JUST turned 52 the other day. For some reason I show up as 54 in the GYGO triathlon site. I must have clicked the wrong line on DOB. What’s more interesting is that USAT has decided that everyone gets ‘aged’ according to your age on 12/31. That means that as far as USAT is concerned I am 53 all year long. I have mixed feelings about that (I’ll age up almost a whole year early!) but it doesn’t matter how I feel because that’s the way it is.

My GYGO New Year’s Day Triathlon looked like this:

Swim 2800 yds – 1:15:00
T1 – 22 hours
Bike – 12.5 miles 1:00:56
T2 – 2.5 hours
Run – 3.9 miles 1:05:00

Let’s deconstruct that, shall we?

Swim – 2800 yards 1:15:00 My masters team has a tradition of celebrating the year with x number of y distance laps. For 2007 that meant 107 somethings. I was in a lane with 4 other women and we might have done a bit of chatting as we did our 107 25s and I added a few to make it 2800 yards even.

T1 – 22 hours – really. The pool was closed today so I had to do the swim yesterday along with the rest of my masters team.

Bike – 12.5 miles in 1:00:56 – I was a little astonished at my lack of speed but in keeping with my New Year’s Resolution I’d like to say Hooray for me! I did it!

T2 – 2.5 hours. I got home, got some food, read some blogs, visited with the kids and then noticed that Humbly Anne seemed a little blue. She was feeling sad because she goes back to the mid-west tomorrow and because getting married is a little overwhelming.

I changed my plans a bit and invited her to walk around the resevoir with me. It was a stunningly beautiful day and I figured the fresh air and sunshine would do her good and it gave me a chance for more visiting time.

Run – this turned into a lovely walk with the very lovely Ms. Humbly Anne, my first born child. It was a brisk walk and we covered 3.91 miles (gotta love that Garmin!) in a little over an hour and had a great time doing it.

A great start for what I expect will be a great year.

Now – a word about age. I JUST turned 52 the other day. For some reason I show up as 54 in the GYGO triathlon site. I must have clicked the wrong line on DOB. What’s more interesting is that USAT has decided that everyone gets ‘aged’ according to your age on 12/31. That means that as far as USAT is concerned I am 53 all year long. I have mixed feelings about that (I’ll age up almost a whole year early!) but it doesn’t matter how I feel because that’s the way it is.