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Oh No, Not Again… April 30, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 8 comments

Well, I said I would be spending a lot of time on the couch this weekend and I’m sorry to say that has definitely turned out to be the case. :( I can’t believe it happened. I’m so mad at myself, I could spit! Yesterday, I couldn’t get my butt going for my long ride. I’d planned on going for 4 hours and joining up with one of the local groups to make it more fun. But for some insane reason, I decided to switch out my bottle cages at 7:15 yesterday morning and then I didn’t leave the house until 8. Ok, no prob. I’ll just ride on my own. I decided to take a new route yesterday and just ride out Baseline til it turned into Foothill (Route 66 of the famed song) and then ride out to the Santa Fe Dam and catch that bike trail. All was going well. I was a little nervous being by myself in unfamiliar territory but it was a good morning. Cool and overcast. After 20 miles, I get to Irwindale Blvd and breathe a big sigh of relief. I’d made it safely. Or almost. I let my gaurd down and…CRASH!!!

I’m not kidding. I didn’t even make it across Irwindale Blvd before my wheel caught a groove in the road and I went down. Hard. ARGH!!!! And ow, ow, ow. One minute I was moving along nicely and then next I was stopped and falling over. Yes, on my right side. The same side I hit in the car accident. Jumped up, got me and Hobbes out of the road and limped over to the curb to assess the damage. Let’s see…poor Hobbes had a flat tire, bent handlebars, and many new scratches. Damn. Me - oh I had road rash on my right knee, a bruised left thumb, the beginnings of a headache. And much, much pain in my right shoulder. Ow, ow, ow. Damn, damn, damn!!! But nothing’s broken, I think.

I sat down for a while to get myself together and then pulled out my tube and tire lever to start changing my tire. A big group goes by and about 10 guys ask me if I need help. But I say no because I’m Independent Lisa and I can do it myself. But I can’t get the tire off the rim because my right arm is pretty useless. Another group goes by and again they offer to help. Still I say no! Ok, so I”m stubborn. Ask my mom and my coworkers, I drive them crazy with my need to do stuff on my own. Anyway, by this time, I’m getting frustrated so when another cyclist goes by and offers to help, he doesn’t believe me when I say no and he stops to help me out. His name was Jay. Very nice man. He straightened out my handlebars and changed my tire for me. But then, he’d already had a flat and was out of air and my tire pump wasn’t working (I must have done something to it in the crash) so I ended up taking the bus the 8 miles back to Foothill. Where Ron finished fixing up my tire. And straightening Hobbes’ derailuer which had bent in the crash. A few more adjustments and a new helmet later (I put a nice crack in my old one) and I was back on the road for home. And went so slowly on the 12 miles home. My shoulder was still killing me and every start and stop and bump in the road made me want to cry. :( But I did it. Even though I was a little afraid (!).

When I got home, I laid down on the bed for a while and iced my shoulder for a bit. But when I tried getting up, it hurt so bad to move it and to breathe that I decided I better go to Urgent Care and make sure I didn’t fracture anything. I took a quick shower (not so quick really since I only had the one arm to use) to get the grime off me and clean up the road rash wonds and then rode over to Urgent Care. Luckily, it’s only a few miles from my apartment and it’s all down hill. So they checked me out for a concussion and I had x-rays taken of my shoulder. I totally flashed the x-ray guy because I couldn’t reach behind me to tie the gown I was wearing. Then they scared the beejeezus out of me when they brought in a tray and a little dish to the room I was waiting in. I thought they were going to put one of those temp casts on me like they did when I broke my leg. But no, I guess it wasn’t for me. So nothing was broken and my head wasn’t messed up. She said I just strained or bruised that whole area and I would be fine in a week or so. And she gave me a prescription for motrin. Big, big sigh of relief.

I rode over to Mondi’s and sat on the couch with Bruiser and that’s where I spent the night. I iced my shoulder, my thumb, and my knee a few times. It helped. I couldn’t really get comfortable and laying flat was worse than sitting up. I think I finally fell asleep around 1:30 but didn’t really sleep at all. This morning, my knee seems to be doing okay, thank god. My thumb is still sore. And my shoulder feels a tiny bit better. As long as I keep my arm next to my body or close to it, it doesn’t hurt so bad. How ironic that the one position that doesn’t hurt is when I’m in bike position? And typing so I guess I have no excuse not to go to work tomorrow. Darn it. Anyway…any movement to the side, behind me, or up and it brings much loud complaining from the shoulder which doesn’t make putting on a bra or a shirt too fun. Ok, yes, I did try a jogging a few feet this morning as a test. Looks like that’s out for a couple of days as well as swimming so the 1:45 min run and 60 min swim I planned for today are a no go. Damn, damn, damn! I can’t believe that I’d just written about how well my training was going and how well my body was feeling and then I go and crash. Argh!!! I’ve been trying not to think about Vineman and falling behind on training again. But just before I fell asleep last night, I have to admit, I had a pity party. I’m over it now and still have great hopes. :) Really. :P

Goody TwoShoes April 28, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 comments

I pulled another great run out of the hat this morning. And I have no idea how I did it! Last night was a weird night for me. I rode home from work feeling okay but when I got home I was shaky. Even after I ate, I felt shaky. It was very weird. I went to bed about 8:30 and then just kept tossing and turning.
tossing
The clock said 9:30, then 10:30, then 11:30, and finally 1:30. At that point, I was thinking I wouldn’t be running this morning because I would be too tired. But the alarm went off at 4:40 and I had to go to the bathroom. And since I was up, I decided to go for a run. So I rode home (more on that later) and changed into my running gear and headed out the door. And I felt amazingly good. :) I ran like a rabbit over the trail. A rabbit with a headlamp, that is. I even threw in 10 30 second intervals in the last couple of miles. It was definitely a good quality run. I also think I’m going to start up with some speedwork again. My knees did fine. I did fine. Total run time was 55 minutes. Woo Hoo! Oh yeah, in my new shoes and new Thorlo socks. It was like I was running on clouds. :) Ah, heaven. The ride in to work was good as well. No tiredness or soreness, a little overcast but 52 degrees. I’m so glad it’s Friday.

So, I’m dogsitting this weekend. Mondi & Buck left for their annual Harley/Laughlin ride yesterday and I am stayin at their house (my vacation home) to watch Bruiser, the killer Chihuahua.
Bruiser
Last night, he and I curled up on the couch and watched Fever Pitch. I never saw it but I was laughing my a$$ off. Loved it. And you know what they say…laughing is like jogging on the inside! My only wish would be that the two dogs I sometimes dog sit were runners. But Bruiser will only go so far before he wants to be carried. And my grandfather’s dog is a 14 yr old dachsund. I would love to have a dog to run with. Anyway, I’m anticipating more couch time this weekend with Bruiser. It’s a good thing I don’t have cable at home, or I’d never leave the house.

One last thing. I haven’t done any quotes in a while and I ran across this Dr. Seuss one the other day. It’s a good reminder…

“Today you are You,
that is truer than true.
There is no one alive
who is Youer than You.”

Dr. Seuss, 1904-1991
American Author and Cartoonist

Thanks for sharing your Youness with me in your blogs. Have a great weekend! :D

How do Tri Girls Flirt? April 27, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 8 comments

Oh. My. God. Yesterday was the best day ever. :) I left work early to pick up Hobbes at Foothill Cyclery. No charge for the tune-up! Woo Hoo! I had planned on riding around Bonelli before heading home but my apartment complex called that I had received a package and it was in the office. They close at 5:30 and I knew it was my new running shoes so I raced home to get there before they left. I’d gotten to the LBS later than expected so I rode home fast. I pushed myself harder than I have since the accident (I’ve been babying my knees). I got there at 5:28. Yeah! Threw my shoes in my apartment, grabbed a gel, and headed back out. This time I headed out into the wind and rode for another 1 hr 18 min. For the second part, I rode a tad easier, but still harder than I have been. So, I rode for a total of 2 hrs last night with just the one short pause to get my shoes and the gel. And you know what, my legs feel great today. I think they liked it. I know I did. :) I had a blast flying down the road.

When I got home, I ate a burrito and opened up the package from Road Runner Sports. Yeah for new shoes! Don’t you just love the way new shoes smell? They look so pretty. I tried them on last night and walked around in them until bed time. :) I also got some new socks. And a free duffel bag. I can’t believe that I ordered them Tuesday morning and got them yesterday. Man, that was fast.

I also had a great, great swim this morning - 45 minutes, no breaks. I felt great in the pool. Faster, definitely too. No aches anywhere. I am so happy that my training is going so well right now. Big relief. :) It sprinkled a little on the ride to the gym and then to work, but not bad. I’m just glad it didn’t rain last night.

One other thing…when I was riding home from the LBS yesterday, I was just a few miles from home when a truck pulled up to me at a light. I looked over and it was my cute neighbor. Waved. Light turned green and we both took off. I kept up with him the rest of the way home (he had a little traffic) and he beat me into the parking lot by just a few seconds. He came over and told me that he couldn’t believe how fast I was and that he was impressed I’d kept up with him. He he. So how do tri girls flirt? They kick a$$ on the bike, that’s how! :D

The Things We Do For Love April 26, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 5 comments

This morning I ran for 45 min. In the dark and in the rain and in the mud. Because it was on the schedule. When I finished, there was someone walking by who said he couldn’t believe I was running in this weather. But you know what? I love running in the rain. And it wasn’t a pouring rain. Just nice and refreshing. I ran at a slightly quicker pace this morning (to the Black Eyed Peas)…while still taking care not to trip or slip. I got soaked and felt great. Once again, I was Lisa, Runner Girl. And when I was done, I was still raring to go.

I didn’t ride in to work today but took the bus and then walked the last mile to work. It had mostly stopped raining and there was just a little drizzle. I took the bus so I can go pick up Hobbes after work today. He’s ready. I hope the rain is done by the time I pick him up. I may leave early so I can get a 2 hour ride in. Cross your fingers. You should have seen how stylish I was on the bus this morning. I was wearing my bike shoes, blue/yellow cycling socks, a mellon colored dress (with my cycling shorts underneath), and my flourescent yellow cycling jacket. :P Quite a sight, I’m telling you. And then to top it off, I was stretching at the bus stop. It’s a good thing I’m used to getting strange stares from people. The things we do for love… :D

Singing Out Loud April 25, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 5 comments

I was bad today. I sang at the gym with total disregard for those around me. :P Actually, there were a couple of women on the treadmills next to me going on and on and on about their soap opera lives. I figured if I had to listen to them, then they could listen to me. Evil, eh? However, it made for a quite enjoyable treadmill run this morning. But…my alarm didn’t go off! I’d forgot to set it last night. Doh! And I woke up at 5:18 so once again there was a mad rush to the gym. Rode hard, ran easy (30 min), swam easy (30 min). The run felt really, really good this morning. I almost felt like my old self again. Almost light on my feet. Almost. :) The swim was all drills and very relaxing.

I got my toes done last night. They are now a beautiful shade of emerald green. Every other week, I treat myself to a pedicure with an extra long massage on my feet. Oh, was it heaven. I figure I deserve a treat like that every now and then. Who else am I going to spend my money on? I’m also going to order some new running shoes today. A new pair of Brooks, I think. I like them better than the Asics. Then I can start rotating my shoes again.

Happy Tuesday!

Ugly Duckling April 24, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 8 comments

I hit all my planned workouts this weekend! Yes! Saturday after the brick, I went to work and worked til 4. On the ride home, I was pooped and I went to bed early. On Sunday, I had scheduled a 60 min run and a 45 min swim along with the ride to/from the gym. One Sunday out of the month, I take my grandfather to a meeting at 9 in the morning and on those days, I usually borrow my mom’s car to take him. I rode over to my mom’s to pick it up - a 45 min ride. :) I pushed it a little because I was late leaving the house and was amazed that my legs felt so good. After the meeting, I went to breakfast with my grandfather and then dropped Hobbes off at the LBS for a tune-up. I am hopeless at adjusting/fixing him so I took him for some professional care. Then I got a ride home.

I got home about noon and still had 2 1/2 hours of working out to do. By this time, I was a little tired but took myself by the collar and hauled myself out the door. :P I rode over to one of the Middle schools and ran around their .25 mile track for 63 minutes. Made me feel a little loopy. :P Then I rode to the gym and swam for 45 minutes. Then rode home! And you know what? It was all GOOD. A good run - at a little quicker pace than expected to Beth Orton. The swim was great. No cramps, no sea sickness, with just a one minute break for some water. And there were moments where it felt exactly right. I lost that feeling a few times when I tired, but then concentrated really hard to get it back. All in all, a successful day w/ a total workout time of 3 hrs 18 min. And that was supposed to be an easy day. Oh well. I feel great today. I had way more energy than expected for the ride in to work and had to tell myself many times to slow it down because today is an ACTIVE REST DAY. Sorry, I’m lecturing myself a little so I’ll remember that on the way home. :)

Anyway, yesterday at the pool, there was this young guy - probably 17 yrs old - and he was obscenely fast. I watched him a little and he made it look so easy. I’m always amazed at how graceful someone is when they are doing their thing. Like Lance on a bike. Or Michael Jordan playing basketball. Or Meb running. Like it’s a ballet for them. When I got home from the gym yesterday, I had planned to take a nap but made the mistake of turning on the tv and Swan Lake was on PBS. I love the ballet. I am in awe of how graceful and effortless the ballerinas make it look. I think when you are really good at something, that’s how it seems to others - smooth, graceful, effortless. I hope to be that way some day. Right now, especially in the pool, I feel like an ugly duckling. But I will be a swan someday. I hope.

Solitary Confinement April 22, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 2 comments

You know…there was a time in my life when I didn’t like to be alone. You could almost say I was afraid of being alone. I had too many self destructive habits and they seemed to rear their ugly heads when I was by myself. Not to mention that I didn’t like myself for the longest time. It’s funny that I’ve picked such a solitary sport, don’t you think? This morning I rode Hobbes for 2 1/2 hours and I didn’t ride with a group or any other cyclists. No mp3 player either. I never use it on the bike. Oh, there was the occasional hello from another cyclist or runner or dog walking it’s owner. But for the most part, it’s just me and my bike. And I was thinking about how much things had changed in the past few years. How weird it was that I actually liked being alone now and am much more comfortable with myself. Dare I say…I even like myself? Hey, I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. Who doesn’t? But that’s okay. :) I’m not sure when it happened, this switch. But now, my mind is much calmer at night, as are my legs. I have that Restless Leg thing and if I don’t work out, they get jumpy at night. It’s probably all those endorphins that kick in when we’re working out, right? Whatever, it is, I am thankful for the change.

Today’s workout was a 2 1/2 hour ride followed by a 15 min brick. I felt good on the bike. It was a nice day, cloudy and cool, but no rain. A nice temp for riding. I didn’t push the brick because I was a little tired. So I just did 15 min. The legs weren’t noodle like or anything. But that’s the longest I’ve ridden before a run so I don’t think I did too bad. I did end up running last night for 35 minutes when I got home. The wind was blowing like crazy and so, so tiring. Last night, my legs were noodles and when I finished the run, they were shaking. But otherwise, a good run to the sounds of Audioslave. I went to bed early and my eyes were closed as soon as my head hit the pillow. More sleep is on the agenda for tonight.

Friday Funnies April 21, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 9 comments

Well, not much to report today. The forcast calls for an unexpected Active Rest Day with the possibility of a flurry of running in the evening, however it is highly unlikely. Woke up this morning at 3:30 with stomach issues of the female variety and couldn’t go back to sleep. Still, just after 5, I put on my running stuff. As I was hunched over to put on my shoes, I decided it I was insane and went back to bed. If things take a turn for the better, I will try to run this afternoon. If not, I’ll just run tomorrow morning instead. Maybe, I’ll do a brick tomorrow? I have a 2 1/2 hour ride scheduled so maybe it would be a good idea to go for a run after. I’m sure you’re thinking, why doesn’t she do both. Hmmm…maybe I will. :) I am crazy, you know. Just ask my friends. :P

So, I thought since today’s post was short, I would post a couple of comics that I liked this week…
(more…)

Cheers April 20, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 8 comments

Sometimes it’s nice to have a place where everybody knows your name. This morning at the gym, I was greeted with “Good Morning, Lisa, have a great workout” before I’d even handed over my gym pass. :) I guess it’s hard to forget the girl in the bright, obnoxious jacket. :P At least it’s the gym that knows me, it used to be the donut shop, the Chinese food place, McDonalds. It’s much more fun to be known at the gym or the lbs. Speaking of that jacket…it’s almost getting too warm to wear it now. I’m going to have to buy a vest this weekend because I seem to have lost my old one. People are always telling me that they see me riding all over town and I know it’s because they recognize the jacket. :)

It was 70 degrees when I got home last night. I’d faded in the afternoon at work yesterday and thought about bailing on the intervals with Hobbes. But I had a mini bagel and banana and that helped a little. Then I had a handful of jelly beans and that was the kicker. I was in. The ride was good last night. There was a killer headwind for the first half but I didn’t fight it and it wasn’t bad. The intervals were nice and speedy. At one point, I had to look down to make sure I wasn’t going over the speed limit! I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I was only going 26 mph. Ah…speed. There’s nothing like it, eh?

This morning, I swam for 45 min at the gym. All drills and it felt pretty good. The water was cold and felt good. My back has been hurting me since yesterday. In the mid back, under my shoulder bone on the right side. I think it’s because I’ve been carrying everything but the kitchen sink with me to the gym & work. I should look for a better bag. But I like my messenger bag. It’s just as obnoxious as my jacket. The better to see you with, my dear…. hehe :D

Spreading Like Wildflowers April 19, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 comments

I was still a little irritable this morning. I just can’t seem to get it together this week for some reason. This morning, I forgot my hrm, but at least I remembered by mp3 player and my Zoot hat. :) Hey, my curls spring out like Bozo the Clown if I don’t keep them under a hat. It’s scary. Really. :P Anyway…I ran for 42 minutes on the treadmill at the gym. A good run that left me feeling better than when I started. Today’s run was brought to you by Sheryl Crow’s Wildflower. I like her music and it seems appropriate right now since flowers are blooming all over the place. :)

As an added bonus, one of my coworkers showed up to work out as well. I’ve been talking to her about going to the gym. Her boyfriend had given her a membership but she hadn’t used it yet. I told her to just come this morning and go from there. All she needed to do was take the first step and go from there. And she did! Woo Hoo! AND W, another coworker, had his wife drive him to work with his bike so he could ride it home. AND he wore a helmet! Success. Now, I’m working on K - she’s already a swimmer and she just started running for a boot camp series so I’m trying to talk her into signing up for the Danskin in June. She’s thinking about it because…gasp…I can’t breathe…she doesn’t like the bike!!! Can you believe it? That’s like…unAmerican. But I think I can bring her around. I think she’s scared of the bike. It probably didn’t help her to hear about my “run-in” with a car. So now we have 4 triathletes, 4 marathoners and quite a few potential athletes in the making. Woo Hoo!