25 October, 2012

Whew Buddy... The Chronicles of a Bike Wreck.

I was feeling a lot better yesterday. I think? Today I feel like I just wrecked my bicycle. I'm assuming I did too much. Then the Hobbes-it wouldn't get into his car seat, as I'm telling him that I can't handle this right now. Like he understands that... By any means, I feel like run over aluminum cans on the side of the road. I also thought it was a good idea to wear a bandaid (I ran out of gauze squares...), and woke up to an inflamed bunch of road rash :P

On a brighter note, one of my favorite friends is having her Halloween party Saturday. Hobbes-free night for me, with dress-up time and general merriment. Yippee!

24 October, 2012

Ridiculously Thankful

I got a call earlier.

From the doctor's office.

I'm going to be alright!

I have a chronic sprain and tendinitis, prescribed treatment being physical therapy, orthotics, and a brace. This I can handle. Much better than surgery, and even better than never running again.

I'm relieved. And so thankful, for my health and excellent medical care, and for the prayers raised in my name. I can't fully express what is in my heart.

23 October, 2012

Partial Answers... The Cliffhanger

I went to the doctor today.

Not Achilles Tendinitis. I wish it was.

Some stage of Posterior Tibular Tendon stress, whether it's tendinitis or an actual tear is yet to be determined.

I had my first ever MRI today. It's strange, this diagnostic system, in a cold room, wrapped in a blanket in a fake-recliner-like chair, watching The Natural, while a very, very, very kind man gets me cozy and runs a machine that will tell me whether or not my foot will function normally again. I love The Natural.

Mistake made: Googling the prognosis of this problem. I see these pictures of surgeries, post-surgical x-rays of people with screws in their heels and arches. And I wonder why genetics threw me this curveball.

I've worked so hard to get to where I am. First in my age group once on the bike this year, second in another race. My run times were getting better too. Even my swims.

I'm afraid of getting old and fat. I'm afraid of losing something that has become so engrained in who I am, my identity as a triathlete. I've done things people told me I couldn't and wouldn't do, racing four months after delivery by c-section, doing my first half Ironman five months after that. I feel lost and set adrift.

Sorry for the negativity here. I shoot for positivity, but tonight I feel a little emotionally beat.

22 October, 2012

Musings: The Wrecks, on many accounts.

I had my first bike wreck yesterday. Paul and I concurred that there's rarely a good story behind a wreck; mostly, they revolve around stupid mistakes. Paul, our friend Marie, and I were riding together, sticking in a paceline. We were staying close together for the first few miles, but then began spreading apart as we rode through some small rollers. I glanced back occasionally to ensure I wasn't dropping Marie since she was the one in back and didn't know the route. I looked back, and remember something not feeling right, and when I looked back around, I was rolling into the grass. Moving at normal riding speed. My last thought was that maybe if I cut my wheel left, I might be able to recover. Like the teenager trying to drag their car out of the ditch they're already in, I only caused more problems. Instead of just rolling off and tipping over into the grass, I catapulted myself onto the road surface at high speed. I didn't hit my head... in fact, nothing is injured other than my left arm. I have two huge gashes on my elbow, in the center of road rash. My inner elbow, my shoulder, and the outside of my hand are pretty painful, but I think I'll pull through :D I just feel like I got in a fight.

I had had the worst sense of "impending doom" about this ride, but had assumed I was just nervous about riding up Crystal Ridge again. Something didn't feel right. I almost wish I had listened. But the bike is fine. I'll be fine. I'm waiting, listening, doing whatever happens in this in between time. The bad part is that Paul leaves for a trip soon. I'll be stuck parenting on my own with a hurt arm... good times.

Appointment with the doctor tomorrow for my foot. I'm a little concerned he will have a hard time taking my foot injury seriously when I walk in bandaged up like I am. Hopefully he can get me on track with that. I currently feel like I need a doctor on hand at all times like a professional athlete...

Speaking of professional athletes...

Lance was stripped of all his titles today. It's a sad day. I don't understand crucifying one man for the sins of the many. His competitors hadn't woken up and just eaten their Wheaties... so who do those titles go to? Everyone was doping... everyone.

I don't condone doping. No athlete should feel under pressure to do so. But I can imagine the young Armstrong realizing he had to get a leg up on the competition to continue doing what he loved at a higher level.

You don't ride bikes if you don't love it. You don't want to excel at cycling if you don't love it. Some of his story is nothing like it has been portrayed. I can accept that. That doesn't change the fact that he is an exceptional athlete with an exceptional story of recovery and hope. It saddens me that his story is tainted with this... his personal witness (not in the Christian sense of the word... just public perception of his integrity) has been damaged.

Part of me will always see it as doing a great deal of bad to do an even greater deal of good.

I just feel conflicted. And I'm not really even an Armstrong fangirl.

19 October, 2012

One Small Step for a Yogi...

This morning, for the first time ever, I performed the kickback from Lolasana to Plank. I've been strong enough for a long time, but I don't always trust myself like I should.

I went from here:


To plank, by kicking my legs out. Seems like nothing probably... but this was a huge step for me.

I didn't complete the sequence because of the level of the class. (Only two of my pupils tried the jump back.) I want to improve on m technique from here. However, I'm proud to be able to do what I can with this; it's one of the hardest sequences in yoga, really.

AAAAnd... in other news.

I'm going to the doctor Tuesday. I'm impatient to find out what is going on with my ankle, for sure, and have reassurance about it. For once, I have no apprehension about going to the doctor. I want my condition to improve so I can comfortably bike and run again. I feel a little lost without those things. Like part of me is missing.

As a last hurrah, I'm giving Crystal Ridge a full attempt on Sunday afternoon, hopefully with some friends along to shame me into no wimping out and walking the bike up. I think that if I can climb the long Alto climb up Sewanee Mountain, surely I can make it up Crystal Ridge. That's what I'm telling myself.

Tomorrow morning, I have CPR training class. Another first, and important since I currently teach fitness classes. I'm interested to see what I learn.

I'm four drinks in, as of now. That's a good stopping point; I never, ever drink this much. 

I watched an interesting documentary today, about three guys Running the Sahara. They were the first to ever do it, running 111 days to cross from the coast of Senegal to the Red Sea. Crazy, inspiring, awesome. I want to do something unbelievable, painful, bonkers. I want to take myself to the brink, mentally and physically, and come out on the other side. I want to be who I am on the other side of such endurance. (This is challenging... maybe the real challenge is emotional endurance.) I never thought I would be who I am, where I am today. But when I think about who I thought I was going to be, I realize that I'm much better, much more multi-dimensional, much more complex. Somehow, I'm better than I thought I could be. I look at the person I would have been if things had proceeded the way I planned a few years ago, and I realize I'm where I'm supposed to be, not resting on a single event in my life (the "right" job/career) as my laurels, but pushing through things I'd never imagined to find out who I really am when things don't go as planned, when I press in the clutch. I'm making plans that are better than the ones I'd ever imagined for myself, because I really believe Someone has something better planned for me.

That being said, I want to do something crazy.

16 October, 2012

A Few Days Away

I disappeared again. Accidentally. Intentionally.

I didn't do a few days of Spartan WOD... Friday, I taught yoga. Saturday, I went on a bike ride (and danced at a wedding). Sunday, I went hiking. Monday, I taught two yoga classes...

Saturday morning, I did my first bike ride on the Natchez Trace. As it turns out, I rode the hilliest part. I suck at hills. I need to come to terms with this, so I can deal with being slow on them more often so I can get better! It was a pretty ride, though. The sun was shining down on the changing leaves through the dissipating fog. The weather was ideal; slightly chilly for the first couple miles, but fantastic after that. The ride was organized by Trace Bikes, and is a nation(or world, maybe... I don't know.)wide ride to promote breast cancer awareness, as a part of the TrekWomen series of rides. A good ride, with good swag. Our friend Keena told Paul about it earlier in the week, saying she and her daughter were doing it together. Her daughter is new to cycling, and had a great time. I did the 25 mile route, luckily falling in with a gal named Heather and riding together a large portion of the way. It was fun to ride with someone near the same skill level. I have a hard time finding that around here; most people either slaughter me with speed or fall back quickly.

Saturday night, I went to my friend's wedding in Sewanee, at Abbo's Alley, followed by a reception at the now defunct Shenanigans, complete with bluegrass music, beer, and burritos. So, so fun, and I'm so happy to see their story continue into its next chapter.

Paul, Hobbes and I went hiking with friends on Sunday afternoon at Fall Creek Falls. We had a mahvelous time :)

Today, I started back to Spartan 30 WOD (modified).

The Planned Workout:
1 Mile Run
100 Pull Ups
200 Pushups
300 Squats
1 Mile Run

What I Did:
9:00 Row
100 Assisted Pull Ups
200 Crunches
300 Squats
5:00 Row

Why no pushups, you may ask? I'm not sure if it's the 465 pushups from last week or the ridiculous chest workout from yoga yesterday afternoon... but my right pec was just not having it with the pushups. I wanted to do something, though, and settled on crunches. My abs can always use some extra targeted work.

What I want you guys to know is that anyone can do these workouts. Anyone can do anything they set their mind to. You can be strong. You can do ANYTHING.

I had a major A-Ha moment this morning. I was flipping through the little Trek WSD book that came in my ride packet. There was a quote from Susan B. Anthony in the back.


"
Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance."

This sudden realization brought my life and dreams full circle.If you believe in fate, in serendipity, in destiny, or in anything of the sort, you understand that feeling when everything leading up to that moment makes sense. I can't wait to see where this path leads. 

11 October, 2012

WOD Day 7

Nothing spectacular today.

As per WOD Blog:

CrossFit: The Nicole
400 m and max rep pull-ups
As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes.
c/d 10 minute jog
Note number of pull-ups completed for each round.

No running, sooooo...

Here's my modification:

Crossfit, The Jessie

As many rounds in 20 minutes:
Row two minutes
Max Pullups (Assisted - machine)
Row two minutes cool
Note number of pullups 

So... I ended up making it through five rounds.

First set, 10 pullups.
Second set, 21 pullups
Third set, 24 pullups
Fourth set, 18 pullups
Fifth set, 20 pullups.

Okay workout. Didn't slaughter me, but wasn't easy, per se.

Tonight, we're heading to Murfreesboro to see my mother at the horse show there, then picking up my race packet for the Middle Half, which will go unused :(

Tomorrow, yoga, and possibly skipping my WOD. Depends on time restrictions.
 

10 October, 2012

WOD Day Six: Where There's a Will... Or a Wheel.

"Greatness isn't given. Greatness is taken." - Gatorade commercial 

(The most ridiculous source for an inspirational quote ever...)

The Aftermath

I hurt today. As badly, albeit in different places, as I did after the first workout. My entire upper body is rebelling. Ouch go my arms, chest, back, abs... goodness, yesterday was harder than I realized.

But onto today.

Getting Creative

Spartan's WOD blog called for running hill repeats. 4-10 repetitions, 45-60 seconds each, sprinting in the recovery.

As we all know, I'm out for any running right now. But I still wanted to do a related and appropriately painful workout. I saw hill repeats, and I immediately thought, "Oh, what a great way to make myself uncomfortable on the trainer in the pain cave." I toted my bike up the steps (a workout in and of itself, with my arms feeling like rocks...), popped it on the trainer, turned on the MTV, and cranked out the following:

Highest tension via magnet on the trainer
20 minute high cadence warmup (90 rpm or above)
5x1 minute heavy geared "climbs" (keep cadence as high as humanly possible)
                        *sprint on light gear to recover (I heard you... sprint... recover? Oxymorons. I know.)
10 minute cool down

I just laid down on the bed to type this out, and could barely make it without wincing as I came to resting, hehe. So, so sore.


09 October, 2012

Spartan WOD Day Five

Today's workout ridiculousness, brought to you by Spartan 30 Day Challenge.

"WOD: How many push-ups can you consistently do each minute for one hour?
Easy to start doing 10 a minute…but can your finish? 600?"

I had a little voice in my head telling me that five reps per minute would be far too easy. I'm not doing this to do what I already know I am capable of. I'm doing this challenge to see what I'm not capable of, and doing even more.

So I started out at ten per minute. I made it to 33:00 doing ten reps, but had to cut it down to five. I would get to about five and not be able to make it back up.

My grand total of pushups was 465. A week ago, even a day ago, if someone had told me I would come anywhere near being able to do 500 pushups, I'd have laughed in their face.

I enjoyed this workout. I liked the pain/shakiness that came with each new set, each time the minute popped up on my watch. I'm reminded how masochistic working out can be. Kill yourself. Show yourself something new.

08 October, 2012

Spartan Challenge: Day Four

I didn't even attempt the day three fartlek, which was disappointing. Fartleks are, hands down, a favorite run for me. I like intervals, and love the way the different lengths break it up. Oh well... I'll have plenty of intervals to run in a few months.

The day four workout:

CrossFit "The Mary"

Max reps of sets for 20 minutes:

5 Handstand Pushups
10 Single Leg Squats (5 each leg)
15 Pull Ups

Modifications abound in this workout. I ended up doing the simplest modification I found for the pushups, performing pushups in Downward Facing Dog. I increased the repetitions to ten to account for the ease. I performed the squats with a handhold on the door facing. (Sometimes my wobbliness belies the fact that I'm a yoga instructor with a good mastery of balance postures.) Finally, I ended up doing Aussie pullups using the dining table. I didn't want to go to the gym...

11 and a half times through :)

Not the hardest workout I've ever done. My quads are a little sore, but nothing significant. (Probably a result of two days off...) The pullups kill me every time. The table wore sore spots on my hands. I guess that's what happens when you lift your body weight while holding onto a molded edge with sharp corners 150 times. Yes, 150 times. I had to double check to make sure that was correct.

Tomorrow is a fun workout. I'll give you a small preview. If you had to do anything on the minute for a whole hour, how many reps could you do per minute? I think I'll also head to visit my evil, watery master, the pool. He's a cruel, unforgiving one...

Then tomorrow night, Shenanigans for dinner. Yessss!

SAG Wagon fun and Lazy Time

As already mentioned, the MS Ride to Jack and Back was this weekend.

Paul rode with our friend Stephen on Saturday. (My cousin, Pam, and Stephen both have MS, so BIKE MS is a special charity.) They were the first ones across the finish line for the long course. I, of course, was out combing the course for folks in need of assistance in the Support and Gear (SAG) wagon. I'm pretty handy at changing a tire and minor mechanical issues, enjoy chatting with people, and wanted to be able to spend time with Paul this weekend, so I felt like I should give it a shot. Saturday was a little slow and uneventful, particularly late into the afternoon. I called Paul and didn't reach him at first. He was setting up our tent (which we ended up not using) and missed my calls. When he called me back, he told me he would ride with me when I made it back up to the end of the course.

The slowest riders were coming through the zones I was working (the last sections of the ride) by the time I got him in the car. We spent the afternoon cheering people up hills and pushing them on to reach the end. I didn't want any of them to fail. I'd already taken two people abandoning the ride to the finish line, and didn't want anyone else who was riding to fall to the war of attrition that the ride seemed to be becoming. I was watching one girl in particular named Stacy work so hard, in a deeper, darker place than I've ever been in any race. She was digging deep on the last hill, and we continued to come past, giving her momentary encouragement. She made me tear up; if only I'd work half that hard and be willing to dig that deep. She was giving it her all!

Saturday was much busier. I started out at the head of the course, helped a girl change her tire, and dropped her off with a mechanic when I realized she needed a new tire very badly. The plan was for me to begin leap-frogging down the course. I continued past the next two aid stations to the lunch stop, when I began shuttling riders who decided to abandon to the Sunday finish. That's how I spent my day yesterday, and it was pretty enjoyable.

I met some interesting folks along the way, as they worked alongside me to shuttle riders around and help them at rest stops. One tried to convince me I should do Ironman Louisville next year. He pointed out that all the horror stories I hear aren't necessarily horror stories, and that you'll hear bad things about any race. I always feel like it's my job to sift through those stories and decide how I feel about the course I'd be racing. There are races I won't do, ever, because I hear repeatedly how dangerous they are. Louisville, on the other hand, is just a challenging race. Heat and hills... but I guess if I'm going to do a race, why not make it tough? I doubt I'll be doing it this coming year, but maybe in a couple years...

I also met the owner of R.B.'s Cycles. Exceptionally nice guy! If you're looking at bikes in the Nashville or Memphis areas, at least drop by his shop :)

Paul and I signed up to ride next year. Hopefully, with another half Iron distance race under my belt, it won't slaughter me.

I skipped my Spartan WODs this weekend... I'll pick back up today. I'm skipping the larger majority of the running henceforth. My ankle was very, very angry with me. After suggestions from many parties, I'll be contacting a doctor sometime this week to get it checked out. I've had enough of this...


04 October, 2012

Day Two

Day two workout:

5x800 run
5x15 Australian Pull Up
5x15 Jump Squat
5x15 Upright Row

I did all the above... for some reason I was thinking this would be an "easy" workout. The pull ups were fun/challenging. Squats are pretty run of the mill to me, and don't really require much comment. The upright row wasn't bad, with five pound free weights.

The run portion reminded me that I am hurt, and it's not getting better. As per a couple recommendations today, I'll be seeking a doctor's attention for this nagging pain that keeps sticking with me. Henceforth, I'll stick with non-running workouts, working swimming or biking into the Spartan plan, or just doing the plyo and weights work. I'm disappointed I can't fully participate, but I want to be better so I can train for racing next year.

After a discussion today on Facebook, I was reminded about how screwed up our two-party system really is. As exemplified in this Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode.

This is also the episode where Bart has an evil Twin. At one point, they're searching for him, and Homer says, "Lets be sure to look in all the places... misfits would hide." (paraphrased) Lisa responds, "I'll go look at RadioShack!"

Inspiration

I've been feeling very inspired lately. Not artistically, though sometimes I wish that were the case. I think I forgot all too long ago how to harness my sense of inspiration into something other than an academic paper. No, now my inspiration is harnessed into activity. It's just an evolution in my character; see the beauty in the world, grow inside, gain new understanding, do something crazy.

Growth comes with growing pains, right? It's like that commercial for the ridiculously expensive Tour de France stationary cycle where they talk about change being painful. Joy in the suffering. But don't let me fool you. I don't think life is all pain and anguish. Where's the fun in that?

I feel a new adventure in my encroaching future. I can't wait to see what it is :)


In other news, it took me a long while to get interested in The Avett Brothers. But good grief, this song is gooooood. I wish I could play guitar well... I'd sit in front of Paul and sing it to him, like John Mayer singing to that girl in "Your Body Is a Wonderland."


This weekend is the Jack and Back ride. Fun times aheeeead :D

03 October, 2012

Day UNO, Part DOS


Here I am, on the other side of my first workout. I won't lie; it was hard. But I know hard work pays off.

4 x 100 lunges ( 50 each leg) 
2 x 50 crunches 
7×10 push-ups 
2 x 50 crunches 
4 x 50 b/w squats 
2 x 50 crunches 
25 chin ups

The lunges were, hands down, the hardest part of the workout. Of course, they came at the beginning... I could complain, but on a positive note, that can only drive up my endurance. I, like Lana, switched up styles on lunges and crunches. I was thankful to not have to do any modified pushups, which I'd fully expected. My pre-workout efforts to do a single unassisted chin up were completely futile, though. Due to this, I used the assisted weight machine, probably with too much weight assistance. But I'll take it. My right quad feels angry, but it'll be happy to have been on the receiving end of the red hot slap stick of pain when I'm cruising along on the bike soon with better muscular endurance.

Chad and Wes were upstairs lifting, so I hung out and chatted with them while they finished their circuit. I tried unassisted chin ups a couple more times with Chad coaching, to no avail. If I accomplish nothing, I want to be able to do one stinking pull up/chin up by the end of this experience.

Concerns about my ability to do the workouts still plague me. But isn't that part of it? Pushing my known limits, getting better. Fighting to find greatness.

"It's a moment to live, it's a moment to die, it's a moment to fight..."

Day UNO, Part UNO


Paul is going to the Shoot Out tonight, which changed my plans to be in the gym early this morning. Which has given me more time to try to convince myself that the challenge that lies ahead for me is really not for me. I keep telling myself that really, thirty days of yoga would be better for me. Or a monthly commitment to getting into the pool three times a week. Or making sure I get on the bike every other morning before Paul leaves for work. I won't lie. The string of excuses are endless.

Because I'm afraid. I'm afraid of embarrassing myself in failure. Most of all, I'm afraid of inflaming this ridiculous tendinitis that has been following me around for about three months now. I learned my lesson about overtraining.

And I worry a little that what I'm about to undertake is going to fall into the same bucket of sour apples.

But my fear and trepidation make me realize that maybe this challenge is what I need to do. I should do it. I should see if I can do it. The problem is that I no longer know where my hard limits are. I don't know if I should stop when something hurts, or run through the pain. I don't know where the easy button is anymore; and I worry I'm going to end up injured.

As I go into this, I know it's what I need to do. It isn't my first choice, but it's in line with where I'm headed. I'll never know if I don't try, anyway.

02 October, 2012

A Snap Decision

I've decided it's time for a new challenge. In the spirit of keeping things fresh and interesting, if not a little crazy, I'm going to undertake the Spartan 30 Day Challenge. Thirty days straight of insane training sessions. No rest days. I want to see what I'm made of. I want to be faster on the bike, in the water, and on foot. Doing something completely different should do that for me in the long run.

This venture is also founded in my desire to keep seeking my ever changing, constantly distilled sense of self. I know I was placed where I am in my life, with my family and friends, geographically, intellectually, and with my physical strengths and weaknesses to do something in particular. I feel this is a step along the path to where I'm headed, even though I am all too aware that where I am headed is merely another trailhead in my traversing of the world and life. You find yourself when you're broken; if thirty days straight of working out doesn't tear it down to build it all back up, mentally/spiritually/emotionally and physically, I don't know for sure if anything can.
So where am I today, physically? A month or so off of any serious training. I haven't been in the pool in a month, and haven't run any real distance, either. I've been on the bike a couple of times. So, other than the nagging (but healing) pain in my ankle, I'm really pretty fresh. I'm about five pounds up from race weight, which I'll plunge back down to when I start training for my April race, if not during the next thirty days. I'm generally fine with being five up, and feel like I can probably drive my race weight a little lower the coming year. You should know, I'm a stickler for my physical appearance. For me to say I'm okay with being a smidge heavier is a big step for me.
Mentally, I faced a poor A-level race this season. My swim at that race was better than I've ever done. My bike went downhill, though, and I failed to fuel well. I started cramping on the run. Additionally, my ankle pain was more than just a little tinge when I hopped off the bike. It took me over an hour to run a 10K. I'll do better next year. If I don't fail, I won't improve. My final race of the season, I took second in my age group, a mere week later. So, that's where I am mentally; a little afraid of failure (as always... if I weren't such a perfectionist, my life would be easier.), yet aware of my improved ability, particularly on the bike.
I'll come here throughout the thirty days to let you guys know what is going on and how things are proceeding. Challenge starts tomorrow.

01 October, 2012

I'm pretty sure Einstein was on the money, on so many levels.

I feel under pressure sometimes to conform to societal  expectations of how my life should work. I should go to church, live my life a certain way, believe certain things. For a while, I bought into those things. But lately, I feel like following all the so-called rules keeps you from learning and viewing new horizons of thought and understanding, and blocks intellectual and physical ability.


We need to begin to push the limits of what is acceptable to ourselves and what we think we can handle. Success is found in the extremities, not in the mundane.

All Aboard.

Welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

I've come here to talk... sometimes Facebook is not enough. I don't find pleasure in telling my life's story on such a medium; it always feels like showing off, when really I'm just showing up.

I have lots of free time right now, because I'm just not training for anything. Which, I won't lie, has become a foreign concept. It feels strange to be taking time away from a regimented workout schedule. My ankle is feeling better for it, though. However, my waist line is not. I'll start hopping back on the bike and into the pool soon. And I've been lifting weights and doing yoga. I want to mix it up and do some fun stuff... so, there will be the occasional Crossfit sessions thrown in.

Today and Wednesday, I'll be teaching a Plyo class at the gym, in addition to my regular Friday yoga class. Which should be interesting; I've never taken the class. My knowledge is next to nonexistant. The only thing I really know is that it is a yoga-based system. I plan to mix it up a little with a warmup built from my running plyo drills and then go from there with stationary plyo with yoga-inspired work. We'll see. If no one comes to the Wednesday class, I'll know how well it was received.

Paul is going to do the Jack and Back ride for Bike MS this weekend. I'll be riding around as a SAG driver. I hadn't planned to do the ride because it was going to interfere with my very limited training time for the Middle Half, which I opted not to do in light of my gimpy ankle. Oh well.

Tomorrow night, we'll head to Nashville to see St. Vincent and David Byrne at the Ryman. (SqueeeeeEEE!) I've been a huge Byrne fan for ages, since I discovered True Stories in my early adolescent years. And St. Vincent... gosh, I don't even know where to start.

That's what's going on in the neighborhood. Things will get more interesting as I begin to ramp up training around November for the Ochsner 70.3 in New Orleans in April. I may even *gasp* go to Master's Swim.

But, for now, I bid you a fond farewell. Housework beckons.

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