American football

The subjet came up over the weekend. You know I must admit my willingness to make time to watch the game has gone down incredibly.
It started 2 seasons ago when training for the first RR. I found that cycling later in the afternoon on Sunday at the Greenway was the perfect time to hit the trails. Others were still getting together in groups to watch but I added cycling to the mix.
Unfortunately there is rarely a time when that trail is quiet enough to peacefully ride 12miles.
Last year the local season was pathetic. And the Giants didn't do all that well either. I gave up on the season all together.
This year I thought I may be better scheduled to get into the games but it hasn't really happened.
Which is why or how I got myself up on the bike again today in over a month. OK that and maybe some other motivators.
I went to the little greenway and rode 10 miles. I was impressed with my pace and energy level. Hope the weather keeps up so I can try again.

Bike Ride

I was struggling with the idea of riding my bike this morning.  My throat is just not cooperating.  It is very sore.  So I did a lot of mental prep for today and the week.  Realising that I need to get some hill work in I decided I would YUCK the bike over to KPs and ride around her neighborhood.  I doubt that it is the same distance as the back and forth at the park but the hills are VITAL at this point in the game.
So I ended up with 45 minutes around the neighborhood and that included the 4 main hills, 5 of the back hill and 5 of the medium hill.  So I am gald for the hill workout.  I have left my bike there to work in some hill rides the rest of the week as well... um havent quite shared that with KP yet.
BUT given the work travel schedule, leaving the bike there for Monday/Tuesday and Thursday is a good bet.
I am not sure what I will do next weekend with the bike thing.
That is a whole other story of stuff to tell.  Will share later.

Lone Workout

KP wasnt feeling well today and decided to sit it out to try to kick whatever it is.  I left my bike over there from yesterday so decided I may as well take advantage of their hills while I am over there.

If my pace is consistent - and it generally is.  And MMR is close to being correct - which is hard to say as not all Prescott roads are included.  It was close to a 7 mile workout.  The focal point being the hills.
OK - I know they may not be the same grade as hills others choose to ride OR have the opportunity to ride...  but there were hills none the less.  I did a series of loops...  it made me a bit dizzy on the MMR site.
And the hills got sequentially flatter as I moved my way into the neighborhood.  Four hills in all for the main part of the neighborhood... and the back hill that I mentioned yesterday was included in every loop.  It was a good workout.

From there I decided I would go for a walk.  The lack of humidity all of a sudden has been reaking havoc on my sinus and breathing.  I actually felt PARCHED when I came in from the bike ride.  So I took it easy on the run and mainly walked a mile towards town and then back again.

I figured after yesterday's workout that was sufficient.
And as a treat to myself - caesar salad, broiled shrimp in a garlic white wine sauce and  hot bath.
Tomorrow will try the 12 mile BRICK again.
Plus dinner/cookout plans with friends.

Snake in the pool

So Friday night's attempt to train did not happen.  I did manage to wash the dishes that were building up in the kitchen.  One of the downfalls of making lots of food from scratch when home for a week.  All tasty stuff however.  Scrubbed some countertops.  And vacuumed up an equivalent of a whole other pug from the house.  I have gotten somewhat obsessed with what other type of flooring I can put down that will minimize the work of collecting the pug hair.  Decided tile in the back room, hardwoods elsewhere.  A girl casn dream :)  So that was the friday workout. 
The intent was to do a mini-tri simulation this morning.  And it wa accomplished. 
It is nice to get in the water in an outside pool at 730am... Kind of peaceful.  We opted to snake the pool.  This similar to the way the race will be run.  You go up one lane and back down the next.  The best approach is to plan the switch back as soon as yo push off the wall.  Hence you swim somewhat diagnally down the lane.  And when you get to the end you push off diagnally into the other lane.  This has proved to be a major time saver in a crowded pool.  A lot of swimmers touch the wall - go under the ropes and then push off again.  This way you ensure better placement next to the ropes and easier push off bypassing those huddled at the wall.  We did this 3 times at 250 yards each.  That's the most either of us have swam in quite some time.  I will admit it has taken its toll. 
So there was no real snake in the pool - but there was a frog.  Just as an FYI.
From there we hopped on our bikes and did 30 minutes around the neighborhood.  The one hill in the neighborhood runs pretty close to parallel to the road/hill that I ride when I do my Pine Oak loop.  Last year this hill used to give me so much trouble.  Glad to say this year - not as much.  HOWEVER the hill that runs parallel to the HT loop I have yet to attempt is killing me.  I could hear myself starting to hyperventilate - well I think that's what it was.  It was rather unnerving for me.  And then I think that exasperates even more...  I start thinking about race day etc etc.  I really think it has more to do with pre-training prep than anything else.  But I left the bike there to tackle it some more over the next week.
Then we did a loop around the neighborhood on foot.  Not a great showing in a run but OK for the whole scheme of things.
Now my one ear and sinus are acting up.  Spent a good amount of time on the couch this afternoon - trying to figure out how best to get it to drain.  LOVELY I know.  Change of seasons and all.  Gonna give the sudafed a try...
Off to make some homemade hummus.  All in an effort to not go to Five Guys and eat an unreasonable burger.