Warp Speed

While I was out of work, one day felt like 4. Now 4 hours feel like 1. I LOVE IT!

Update on the job front: I was officially given the written "we want you" request and I said “WHOOT WHOOT!!! I’m on board.” We work hard but we have fun. The other day I was hazed into the company. They opened a new can of spam dug out the middle and had me do a shot of tequila. Hormel/Spam is one of the clients. The tequila took out the taste of the Spam and the Spam took the bite off the tequila.

I love the craziness of life. I love to be doing something each moment of the day and when it feel like it’s not enough—I add more. It’s almost like spinning. After a couple of minutes you get used to the speed and add more resistance. Every few minutes you add more and more resistance until you look down and see the knob is a full turn and you’re still feeling strong.

I’m getting used to this resistance (i.e. my new job) and will add more once it feels like I can handle more. I’ve been asked to do freelance work for two companies and there is the ever looming marathon training that still seems ridiculous. I start on Tuesday and this idea of completing a marathon already doesn’t sound like a good idea.

Last Sunday Joe and I did a 3 hour class. ½ hour warm-up, 1 hour with Chris, ½ hour recovery, 1 hour with Angie. In both classes I burned a 1000 calories!!! Although, when I came home I ate at 3000.

Monday and Wednesday I made it to spin. Since I had a work party on Thursday night I missed Matt’s class.

Saturday I skipped the gym entirely because I got an iPhone and spent the entire day playing with the damn thing.

Today I went to Matt’s 2 hour class. I ran for a while before class. First hour was Alpe d'Huez—21 switch backs of pure climbing with no left turn of the resistance. Second hour was Firehouse 50. Each class as a stand alone is hard enough, but when you put them together you end up in the fetal position on the couch for the rest of the day.

Which reminds me my iphone and couch are calling me.

It's a girl!

oooooohhh....Madone has a girllllfrieeennddd....Her name is Kilo.

She's young only 250 miles but the wheels have seen the world.

The bike was Diamond Dave’s and the wheels were Jay's RAAM race wheels from '08. I have high expectations for this race year! I spotted rockets in the back detailer. Dave, your the best!!

Vacation is over

I’m going to break one of my blogging rules and talk about work for just a second. After 6 months to the date I finally landed myself a job (sort-of). It’s contract for a couple weeks and then hopefully I get hired on fulltime. Think of it as a test run. It’s one of those dream jobs. Mine has always been to work for a big ad agency. You know the type where you see the commercials on national TV and say "I worked on that one." Although, I won't be working on any commercials. I'll be strictly an Interactive Project Manager (all things web related). Which now a days is where a lot of companies are putting their marketing budget.

The reason why I bring this up is because everything cycling and fitness related has been at a stand still. Since I'm not sponsored, shocking I know, all of my needs (i.e. new shoes, tires, shorts, bike) have been on hold. Now I can relax a bit and start chipping at that need list again.

After 24 hours on the job they moved me to the “Penthouse” (36th floor). I still can’t get over the view! I even stayed late one day to see the city in lights...AMAZING!

That's the metrodomn at night.

You got to love a job that has a sign that greets me each time you come into my cube that says: "Last Call Martini Bar" Along with 4 assorted bottles of liquor and a bottle opener.

The downside is getting back onto a schedule and missing the mid-day spin classes. The new gig is downtown so taking the bus has been an adventure alone. I'm taking the week off from the gym until I can recalibrate my body to this new schedule. Next week I'll be back to my morning spin classes and evening runs. Believe it or not, I'm excited to have a full schedule again. I feel like I have purpose.

I received my training marathon schedule the other day. There is only one word to describe it: Intense. There are no 2-3 miles runs twice a week. First day (Feb 2nd) says: "Training Day Starts Today! 6 miles w/ 5 min @ tempo pace" What the hell does that mean? 6 miles on the first training day? You should see April and May's schedule. I'm going to have to have a chat with my friend that put the schedule together...a girl has to be on her bike sometime! And when I mean “sometime” I mean at least 3-4 days a week!!

His comment to me before I saw the schedule was: "We’re going to make you a runner." My response: "That's like trying to make a miracle happen."

The Trainer

Yesterday I thought I would convince myself that this was going to be the season I start to like the trainer! I moved all the crap out of my second bedroom. Pulled in a TV and DVD player. Set up the trainer. Popped in a movie and…nope it didn’t work. After 15 minutes everything hurt and I was ready to get off. 30 minutes I thankfully got a phone call and got a break. I stuck it out for another 30 minutes but was frustrated that all I accomplished was a sore seat and only broke a 120 bpm heart rate. I went downstairs make myself popcorn and watched Oprah.

Why is it that I have no problem sitting on that same bike/saddle outside for several hours but I cannot do the same indoors? The only way I can get a true workout is to go to the gym for spin class. (Bill, if I too had a new Pugsley with 80 mm rims I would be outside also.)

Speaking of spin class, I missed Chris’s class today for what I hope will be well worth the skip—more on that next week, I hope—and ran hills for 40 minutes on the treadmill. I know, not the same as outdoors, but its -25 degrees outside and I would rather spend it indoors when it’s that cold.

Tomorrow I hope to get in two spin classes, Chris’s class on Saturday and Matt’s 2 hour on Sunday. Along with a couple more runs and lifting. Wow, I’m going to need a stiff drink after my crazy schedule. Feel free to join me!!

Oh Jody—you make me laugh!

I love this photo!

This is Jody. The spin instructor I talk about often. Someone who has a zest for life and will kick your butt with a smile. Jody is also an amazing Triathlete on the short course—tends to win often.

What I love best is her side of the story about this photo. She had no idea that her helmet was on backwards. As she tells the story she goes on and on about how excited she was to have so many people cheering her on—i.e. laughing and clapping. She didn't realize until after the race why she got so much cheering.

Jody, Your the best!

Six Weeks

Go to the gym after New Years and no matter the time of day there is a sea of people. How many times do we have to hear people say they are going to lose weight and get fit as their new years resolution only to break that promise. Ask any trainer or regular and they will say in six weeks it will be back to normal—and it always is. I’ve been going to the gym on a regular basis for about 10 years and it is the same deal. I say, if you need to make a change in your life why wait until January 1 to start the change?

I went to the gym today for spin class. Tina was subbing for Kristen—a good alternative. I went early to run 2-3 miles before class but wasn’t sure how I would feel—at 11am I had to fight to get one of the 20 treadmills that was already taken. Sunday I stayed in a low heart rate zone for spin and took Monday off. My run outside on Saturday really did a number on me. To my surprise I was feeling pretty good so I kept bumping up the speed. I’ve never ran that fast for that long!

Noon spin class was completely full—normally there are a number of bikes still open. Tina made sure we got our typical hour into a 45 minutes class—today we did some ridiculously long and steep hills. I opted out of some of the crazy moves I’ve discussed before and just did my own thing, but for the most part the class was good. With a bit of energy still left I lifted for about 30 minutes. I don’t make New Years resolutions but mixing in weights is something I think I’ll try to fit in. It’s hard to believe sometimes that at one time I was as obsessed with lifting heavy weights as I now am with cycling. Now 10 lbs can be a challenge.

Winter Running

I told myself once I got back from my week in North Dakota, where I spent most of the time indoors, that I would immediately start my marathon training. I had full intentions to run while I was there but a 2 day blizzard dropped 25 inches of blowing snow. Apparently people don’t run in subzero conditions up there because there is no need to remove the snow in the walk way intersections—which was chest high.

While most runners give themselves 16 weeks to train for a marathon—I, on the other hand, need a full 20 weeks (100 days) of training. Extra time for base training.

I did a few miles indoors, but yesterday I wanted to get out even though it was a high of -5. Once you’re moving it doesn’t matter how cold the temperature is, the trick is to have wick-away base layers and to never stop running until you get home. A good motivator.

The best part of winter running is that you get to dress-up as a Ninja!

The worst part is fracturing in 30 minutes just to get dressed. Two layers on the bottom, three on the top, two on the head, two pairs of gloves (remove one once your warm), a pair of glasses if your running during the day and the thickest pair of socks you own.

I purchased a pair of YakTrax snow grips for my shoes and tried them out on my run yesterday. Next to my super thick Smartwool socks the YakTrax is the best improvement to my winter running gear! 90% of my run was on snow/ice. Not once did I have to change my footing or slow down!!

I got a call from my friend who is putting together my marathon training program wondering what type of cycling obstacles does he need to be aware of while he puts together my plan. I thought with a smile, “Well, ANY day that is remotely nice I’ll be on my bike—will that be an issue?” My real answer was a bit longer then it should’ve been, but I agreed to make it work and not miss a mile of his program. He didn’t give me much to go on yet other then “You'll start in Febuary. You will be doing one ½ marathon in April and I’ve got you down for 3-20 milers (to be exact one of those 20 milers is 23 miles).” My response, “THREE 20 milers! That’s like you doing 3 centuries on the bike.” His response, “That’s true. I’ve never done a century.” My response, “I’ve never ran 20 miles.” That ½ marathon falls on the same day as the Durand Road Race—I guess I’ll be running.