Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Misery Loves Company, when you can find it.

Yesterday I arrived home from work around 4:15pm and after much debating I convinced myself to go for my training run.  The run itself is a 7 mile loop through my extremely hilly neighborhood.  Normally I wouldn't debate with myself so much about going out for a run but at the start there was a light drizzle of rain and it was 30 degrees out. As I got started, it felt colder than 30 degrees.  I'm sure it was due to the light rain.  I dressed warm but there was still a chill that took me about 3 miles to get rid of.

With about 1.5 miles left I started noticing that my feet were slipping a bit.  I thought maybe I stepped in something and lost some traction on my shoes. At the same time I lowered the volume on my mp3 player and heard the very familiar sound that ice rain makes when it hits the pavement.  I knew they were calling for snow, but I heard nothing of ice rain in the forecast.  I started running on the grass, but I knew well that I shouldn't do that.  Folks in my neighborhood have a problem with picking up after their dogs. So I really didn't want to deal with picking dog shit off the bottom of my shoe so I took my chances and got back on the pavement.
Bad move, at about half a mile left on a down hill I went from having traction to non at all.  I hit a thin layer of ice that had already formed and went sliding down the hill. The only thing that saved me from landing on my ass was a tree. I hugged that thing as if I was some tree hugging, granola eating hippie.  So with the last few meters on my run I started doing the run shuffle just to stay upright.
Anyhow, this whole debacle reminded me of an article I just read in Runner's World Magazine titled "Foul Weather Friend, Only your best running buddy would shame you into lacing up for an ice storm."
In the article the author writes "Misery may love company, but stupidity loves it even more." Unfortunately I couldn't shame anyone into coming with me.  The only one stupid enough I know that will join me is Roxy our dog.  She's 6 year's old now, so I don't take her on anything longer than 4 mile runs.

Tonight is a nice hour long session on the rollers.  I may video that and slap it on here in a future posting just for no reason really.

Monday, January 10, 2011

A New Year

I've decided to kick start the blogging thing again. Like the title says, "From Every Angle." Everything from family, multi sport, running, bike racing and other interest will be fair game. With a new year comes a new me. AND I'm not off to a good start as I was reminded this weekend. I have some goals for 2011, but my main goal is to regain my easy going self or at least a modified version.  Somewhere along the 10 years I've been living on the east coast I kicked that easy going vato to the curb.
Goals for 2011 in no particular order:
Teach my boy to ride with no training wheels
Get the kids involved in more extracurricular activities
Run the Marine Corps Marathon under 3 hours
Read more (off to a good start. Just finished Matt Long's "The Long Run.")
Fix things that need fixing around the house
Visit family more
Take a family vacation
Have more date nights with my wife
Ride my motorcycles more for leisure and not just work
Make another baby (JUST KIDDING !!)

The list will grow with time, but for now patience is key.

I have the 2011 racing season upon me.  Racing will include trail running, duathlon, triathlon, bike racing and if all goes well a marathon. I have managed to keep the weight off this holiday season.  Last year I shed off a bunch of extra weight I was carrying around.  I went from 212 lbs to 185 lbs. I'm about 5 lbs over but come march I'll be back at my racing weight.
I'm still on the fence about doing Duathlon Nationals this year.  The race takes place April 30, 2011, in Tucson, AZ.  Last year, nationals was my motivation for the weight loss.  I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of traveling money this year if we want to take a family vacation. Last year they were in Richmond which is only 90 miles south of us.  For now, training is going well.  I'm getting in both my running and riding miles and enjoying it.

Thank you for reading.  I will also try to include some video entries, so check in from time to time. Hasta la otra amigos.