I Really REALLY Do Heart Conte's

I just got back from the bike shop after they spent 30 minutes explaining how to change my flat tire. I walked in with cookies so they new right away I needed a favor. After the initial giggling and hazing that I didn't know how to change a flat, the mechanic put Blain on a stand and got started. He explained every detail, gave me pointers and tips to make the process smoother. It's just so great!! I really do "heart" that shop!

This week is a light week so I enjoyed an easy 35 minute run on the treadmill - too hot to go outside. Even thought I had showered twice within 12 hours, I must have smelled because the pregnant lady on the treadmill next to me - she moved over when the one on the other side opened up.
Whatever, I sweat.
Sweat smells.
I showered again when I was done.

That is about it. My parents started their drive back to G-dale today :-( I had a great time with them and it's always so nice to spend time with family.

Does Sweating Count As A Workout??

I didn't hear back from Coach this week about a workouts, so I assume that means I get the day off :-) Or at least that is how I took it... We had talked about this week being an off week so hopefully it's okay that I relaxed a bit. But, even though I relaxed, that does not mean I did not sweat.

Holy buckets! I can't take this heat and humidity!!!!! Seriously!!!

After some cleaning of the apartment with the parents, my dad and I decided to scratch the round of golf because of the heat, Instead, we hit a round of golf balls at the driving range. At one point, I noticed sweat beads around my knees, standing in the shade, swinging a golf club... That's how hot it was today. YUCK!!

Finally tonight, the fam celebrated our swims with watching the Nat's play something similar to baseball. And sweating the entire time.

So did I have a traditional workout, no.
Did I sweat more than a traditional workout, yes!

Well, I Guess That is What Happens When You Skip Swims

What a day.

First of all, it's still around 100 degrees with insanely high humidity. That being said, Merissa, Jess, and Kristin all showed up at Sandy Point State Park bright and early. Dad took Arin and Mom across for his one mile swim and came back to see me off. We relaxed, applied sunblock and played some ladder ball. It's a good warm up for the shoulder.

It was time to get started and we are all corralled into the pen.

At first, it was nice to get into the water. Then I realized I had to keep swimming...
Mile 1 was fast, as it typically is. It took FOREVER to get to mile 2. That is when I realized I am not in swimming shape and skipping all those swims does not make for a pleasant 4.4 miles.
But then I realized that I did not, and am not, training for distance swim races. I am really concentrating on my biking and running so I can't expect to do as well as I did in the past. Once I realized that, things went better. Mile 3 was pretty fast and with 1.4 miles left, that felt like nothing.

I finished and felt it went okay. Not great like last year, not as bad as the first year.

Overall, I was super proud of Arin with his great 1 mile. My parents for seeing me finish. My friends for getting up early. And everyone for being there for me, especially in the heat!!

As for me, I am fried to a crisp! And yes, I did use a lot of sunscreen. But the worst part, I actually have a tan line on my forehead from the swim cap and around my eyes from the goggles. I look a bit ridiculous... I hope it goes away quickly!!

I Have to Learn Sometime

When I headed out for my ride yesterday, I had a pretty low back tire. I thought, no worries, pumped it up before I headed out for the 3 hours and 50 minutes, and all would be fine. When I finished, it was pretty low.

This morning, I had to do a 90 minute ride, and it was flat. Well, here is the deal, I still don't know how to change a flat. I have all the stuff - the tube, levers, the CO2 thing - I just haven't done it in about 3 years. So, I just pumped it up, said a little prayer to keep the tire pumped enough to get the 90 minutes in, and went out my way.

And - It worked!! It is holding air, just has a very VERY slow leak. So, I really need to learn. I am not sure if I should just take it to Conte's (with cookies of course) and have them laugh at me and show me, or try it on my own with the Internet.

Also, the warning today was no longer thunderstorms, but the high heat index. There is a high of 99 with a heat index close to 105. All I know is that I was sweating at 9:15 pumping up my tire. I mean drops off my nose sweating. Thank goodness I am done with my bikes and runs for the next day!

Tomorrow, the 4.4 mile Chesapeake Bay swim. Woo-Hoo!! Please send me your non-drowning thoughts between 10 and 1!!

I Don't Mind That Car in My Spot!!

Today was, again, my longest ride to date! YAY - I guess... It just didn't feel "on", know what I mean?? 53 miles, 3 hours 50 minutes, that is 13.8 mph. Now, if I can double that (plus 6 more miles) at the same speed, I will be fine in 3 months. And I should be happy with this considering I used to bike around 13 mph for 20 miles.

Anyway, the good things were the sun didn't come out until the last hour. I felt my food and liquid intake were good. I stood more (mainly because I just couldn't sit any more - something I really need to work on - can you say saddle sores...). And I manged to keep going even when I convinced my self I will not become an Ironman.
But the best part, I came back to my apartment to see my parents in my parking spot! They arrived a bit early and were waiting my arrival. YAY!

Now the fun has started. Dad fixing stuff and Mom cleaning stuff around the apartment. Love it when they visit!!

Not a great picture but picture CD's from CVS stink

Okay, I guess

I just finished my brick. The good news is that I got out of bed and did it.
The bad news, it was really REALLY slow. I just couldn't get my legs moving. During the bike, my HR was only in my "in" range for 5 minutes (out of 90). I tried to go faster and push a bit, but it wasn't working. But, when I did my 45 minute run, my legs weren't totally shot. I guess that is a good thing about going slow on the bike.

And I think this morning thing is going to have to continue to happen. It was about 75 degrees with 72% humidity, at 9 am. Good times.

The sunrise was pretty that early.

I guess I should go to work now.

Oh, I almost forgot. I saw 3 different people do snot rockets. And NOT bikes or runners either, the park service people cleaning up after yesterdays thunderstorms. It's like they are mocking me!!!

Okay, now I am off to work.

It Was Bound to Happen

I think I use this title a lot... There are a lot of things that are bound to happen.

Today, the heat got to me.

I checked with my boss to see if I could take an early lunch for my 2 hour run. He was fine with it, and as I have said before, extremely understanding with my workouts.
Anyway, I wanted to get the run in before the thunderstorms hit. What I didn't expect was the 80 degree temperature and 70% humidity. At 10:30 in the morning. Yup, spring is over and summer has arrived here in DC.

So, how did the run go???
This picture explains it allI hope the rain stops by 5:30 tomorrow morning so I can have a decent brick

People at Work Make Me Laugh

After I got up at 5:30 this morning to go biking- yes, you read that right, I got out of bed!!, I made it to work on time. When I got there, I started going through my e-mails. Coffee almost come out of my nose when I read this e-mail. It's from a co-worker from Iowa who I really enjoy working with. He always shares is opinion, something I highly value. Anyway, I sent out a message with a deadline of Thursday, as my parents are coming into town for the 4.4 mile swim on Sunday. I signed off this e-mail asking for happy and non-drowning thoughts on Sunday. This was the reply.

Things to remember when distance swimming

• Do not put your pet rock collection in your pocket for luck.
• If the water is cold do not wear you winter coat, gloves, and boots.
• If you passing the one mile mark cause you to remember you forgot something. Do not go back for it.
• Do not answer you cell phone.
• Breathe when you head is above the water. Shaving your head may reduce drag, but it may not be worth it.
• Do not send out for Pasta.
• Avoid swimming upstream if possible.
• Do not pick up hitchhikers. If you hit your head on a cement wall say, "dam."

People are great. I am very lucky to have a boss who is extremely understanding of this goal, and co-workers who care and have a sense of humor.

It's That Time of Year

Yes, there are tourists, uncontrollable kids running on the mall, heat, humidity - all things I have complained about, will complain about, and/or will continue to complain about. One item I have left off this list I was reminded about today.

INTERNS!!!

I was bookin' it down the metro station to get to my area closest to the exit for the Y (yes, I finally did a swim). I am pretty good at navigating around suitcases, people reading signs, and the occasional seeing eye dog. However, the interns are back and stupider than ever!

From my favorite DC website, here is an idea of what I (and all the others in DC) have to deal with for the next few months.

How Not To Be That Intern

1. Your underwear is no one else's business. Seriously, no one wants to see the top of your thong or your boxers or, God forbid, your be-pantied crotch. Invest in a belt, learn to keep your knees together in a skirt and master the art of exiting a cab with your legs together. The day your boss sees your underwear is the day your recommendation gets less effusive.
2. You are never going to out-drink a Hill staffer or a lobbyist Yes, we're sure you're hot shit on campus in your flip cup league, and you can throw back a dozen shots and a couple of beers, boot and then rally and come back for more. Everyone drinks in D.C., and they drink for a living, which means that they, in many cases, can drink to excess and still work (hell, I'm drinking right now). So not only should you not try to keep up because you likely can't, but, additionally, no one is going to care about your drunk tales or your hangovers.
3. Don't hook up with co-workers or fellow interns We all understand that, in college, you have sex with your classmates and the people on your dormitory floor and the people you're in clubs with, and it's cool. But, do not be boinking the other interns in your office. Hang out, meet their other friends, meet other interns, but don't screw the girl or boy in the next cube. Everyone's going to know, and you never know on whose side the opprobrium will fall.
4. Shut up Everyone here is smart, and probably smarter than you. If you keep your mouth shut, you won't be able to make the fatal error of bragging about how great your Hah-vard education is to someone that went to the JFK School and had a dual-degree with the law school.
5. Avoid gawking Yeah, you've probably seen that guy on TV. So has everyone else, and you're the only one looking.
6. Get out of my way If I'm on the street, I'm trying to get somewhere, and so is everyone else. There are, like, actual places to get to here, and some of us are trying to get to them and you are getting in our way so stop standing in the middle of the sidewalk.
7. Khakis make you look like a kid Throw away the pleated pants and the navy blazers, please. There's a Marshall's in Pentagon City. Call your mom. Look into a real suit.
8. Use a condom We're not kidding, definitely use them. Look at the stats. This is not a small college town and you don't know everyone else that person has slept with, so stock up.
9. Don't attend Senator Coburn's sex ed lecture No, seriously. Just don't.
10. Don't sleep with anyone important I hear that power is an aphrodisiac, though I've never felt its effects myself. But, seriously, don't be the next Monica, Jessica or Julia. You might find infamy, but the sex will probably suck and you'll never get a job here again.

A Little Better...

Once I got out of bed - which took forever. I was going to head up to Columbia, but did not get moving fast enough so I just went back to MacArthur boulevard loop with and the Great Falls entrance for 3 hours. Right when I started, I still wasn't feeling it. After 5 minutes, I figured I was 1/36 of my way done. After 10 minutes - 1/18, 15 minutes - 1/12. Not a good sign, but I kept going.

I am thinking about what I would say to Coach about a short bike. And I missed one earlier in the week.

Then I realized, it's June 1. JUNE 1!!! That is 3 months and 6 days I have. That is not a lot of time and I need to get my head in the game and pedal my butt off! Okay, maybe not pedal that hard, but at least keep going. So I did my full 3 hours, followed by a 20 min run. It wasn't amazing, I didn't have that "I feel GREAT" feeling, but I finished.

Oh, and I got back and my spot was taken, again(!!), by the same people moving. I pulled in behind and started to unload my car, again. I was in a much better mood and they were very nice so, whatever. It happens and I just appreciate having my parking spot even more.