Ermahgerd, it's the hurlidurs agin.
Still fat and thus, still hairy. It is also the holidays, which means it isn't easy to maintain, let alone lose, weight. I have been ebbing and flowing with 5-6 lbs. for some time now. I get close and then my weight creeps back. Still trying, but two years into the beard penance, it is getting old.
No snowboarding yet. But there has been decent enough snow now for what, a week? Promise that I am taking Smarty Pants up on Sunday.
New bikes... new bikes.... they fill my dreams and haunt my waking hours.
Showing posts with label Kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kids. Show all posts
December 29, 2014
July 1, 2011
Pain and a Few Words on Modesty
The last day of June was my first "real" mountain bike ride of the year. How f#@king sad is that?
I'll tell you it's pretty sad coming from a guy that used to live, and I stress live, to mountain bike. I rode, trained and raced. I ate, drank and slept to mountain bike. I even got sorta fast. Sorta.
But last night on the trails above Ogden was just brutal. Buhrootal. My bike is old. I'm too fat for my clothes. My fitness is lacking. Any riding skills I ever had have packed and left. I've been out on a couple of shorter rides this year and last night in the heat really confirmed the aforementioned woes.
Yet, in spite of the pain in my "quads" and back and pride, I still enjoyed myself immensely. Which got me thinking. When I started mountain biking 20 years ago (HOLY SHIT!), a mountain bike was all I had to ride and mountains were pretty much where I rode it. Then I started racing and bought a road bike to train on. Then I started riding more and more on the road, but still had time as a single man to get my mountain bike fix. If I rode five days a week, two or three would be in the dirt.
Then I started really enjoying the road bike. There is something great about mindlessly ticking off the miles, and it is easy to open the garage and just go out for a couple of hours. And I got a new bike I really like riding.
All of the sudden life got all serious with a kid and house and stuff, and I am lucky to ride twice a week. Then along came marathons. Try training for those and riding bikes. Then triathlons. Three sports to train for, four if you count mountain and road biking separately.
What's a guy to do? Day's aren't getting any longer. My life ain't either. I've been tempted to unload the road bike and get back to only riding a mountain bike. But then I lose the ability to grab and go on the road bike. And I do still enjoy the road bike. And why do I sign up for marathons? I need to swim, my back appreciates it, especially when riding.
I guess I need to just learn to embrace mediocrity. Even though my loss of mountain bike skills is a tough pill to swallow, I like the other stuff enough that I need to get used to it.
On a different subject, I hope that modesty comes back into fashion as Smarty Pants grows up. I've had a pair of incidents lately with attractive, long-legged ladies running/hiking in booty shorts with seriously, a one-inch inseam. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from a prude and certainly like looking, but save it for the swimming pools - where you expect to see it.
I hope fashion re-vovles into clothing that keeps ass cheeks covered by the time my daughter is a teenager. I can't follow her everywhere with a loaded assault rifle.
I'll tell you it's pretty sad coming from a guy that used to live, and I stress live, to mountain bike. I rode, trained and raced. I ate, drank and slept to mountain bike. I even got sorta fast. Sorta.
But last night on the trails above Ogden was just brutal. Buhrootal. My bike is old. I'm too fat for my clothes. My fitness is lacking. Any riding skills I ever had have packed and left. I've been out on a couple of shorter rides this year and last night in the heat really confirmed the aforementioned woes.
Yet, in spite of the pain in my "quads" and back and pride, I still enjoyed myself immensely. Which got me thinking. When I started mountain biking 20 years ago (HOLY SHIT!), a mountain bike was all I had to ride and mountains were pretty much where I rode it. Then I started racing and bought a road bike to train on. Then I started riding more and more on the road, but still had time as a single man to get my mountain bike fix. If I rode five days a week, two or three would be in the dirt.
Then I started really enjoying the road bike. There is something great about mindlessly ticking off the miles, and it is easy to open the garage and just go out for a couple of hours. And I got a new bike I really like riding.
All of the sudden life got all serious with a kid and house and stuff, and I am lucky to ride twice a week. Then along came marathons. Try training for those and riding bikes. Then triathlons. Three sports to train for, four if you count mountain and road biking separately.
What's a guy to do? Day's aren't getting any longer. My life ain't either. I've been tempted to unload the road bike and get back to only riding a mountain bike. But then I lose the ability to grab and go on the road bike. And I do still enjoy the road bike. And why do I sign up for marathons? I need to swim, my back appreciates it, especially when riding.
I guess I need to just learn to embrace mediocrity. Even though my loss of mountain bike skills is a tough pill to swallow, I like the other stuff enough that I need to get used to it.
On a different subject, I hope that modesty comes back into fashion as Smarty Pants grows up. I've had a pair of incidents lately with attractive, long-legged ladies running/hiking in booty shorts with seriously, a one-inch inseam. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from a prude and certainly like looking, but save it for the swimming pools - where you expect to see it.
I hope fashion re-vovles into clothing that keeps ass cheeks covered by the time my daughter is a teenager. I can't follow her everywhere with a loaded assault rifle.
May 2, 2009
NOtivation
Saturday morning and I am writing a blog post. Obviously there ain't much to do because it's raining again. Again. What a spring...
So I am procrastinating getting my training schedule together. Which is bad because I need more direction and must start fine tuning and strengthening my weak spots. I'm swimming pretty good. I feel like I am getting faster. But I really want to get into the lake before I start committing to many more triathlons. I still struggle, wondering if the stress of swimming in open water is worth it. It freaks me out that much. I also need some help running. I need to get a little faster.
We're also all sick, well, Smarty Pants is feeling better after two weeks with some sort of flu. Swine flu? Maybe. My sinuses are barely functioning and Wifey has the worst cough ever.
In retrospect, NOtivation isn't the best title for this post. In spite of it all, I feel rearing to go. Weather peritting, I can't wait to get out more. I want to start looking for my cruiser. I have some great ideas for that if I find one that needs work. Otherwise keep it classic.
Alright nature. How about a little cooperation?
So I am procrastinating getting my training schedule together. Which is bad because I need more direction and must start fine tuning and strengthening my weak spots. I'm swimming pretty good. I feel like I am getting faster. But I really want to get into the lake before I start committing to many more triathlons. I still struggle, wondering if the stress of swimming in open water is worth it. It freaks me out that much. I also need some help running. I need to get a little faster.
We're also all sick, well, Smarty Pants is feeling better after two weeks with some sort of flu. Swine flu? Maybe. My sinuses are barely functioning and Wifey has the worst cough ever.
In retrospect, NOtivation isn't the best title for this post. In spite of it all, I feel rearing to go. Weather peritting, I can't wait to get out more. I want to start looking for my cruiser. I have some great ideas for that if I find one that needs work. Otherwise keep it classic.
Alright nature. How about a little cooperation?
July 17, 2008
Ear We Go!
Of all the shit luck, I have an ear infection.
I don't get ear infections.
So what the F*&#?
Speaking of "what the F*&#," what the F*&#? is it with these idiots in the Tour de France? Three doping positives, with one being a rising star, Ricardo Ricco. I'll just say he seems like a little a-hole anyway and this comes as no surprise. Still, the fact that guys are being nailed, then they do a room search on one and find a pharmacy (amoxicillin to share please?) is very telling. I have been a firm believer in Floyd Landis, but with every positive my faith dims a little.
Sorry, I know neither of my loyal readers gives a warm-water enema about cycling, but it's the only sport I really follow. And I'm a guy and guys need sports, even if the players wear gaudy lycra suits.
Yeah, ear infection, I have never had an ear infection in my limited memory. This is making me nuts. It's frigging July, not exactly ear infection season. I can't decide whether to ride tonight or head to the infirmary to make sure my brain isn't trying to escape through my eustation tube. Still swimming, but wearing earplugs to minimize water entry which is probably a good idea anyway.
On the bright side, Smarty Pants is making headway in potty training. She is getting to where she'll hold it, but doesn't always like to go, so it's a weird thing to have to deal with. But we are headed in the right direction. That direction being the elimination of diapers, specifically smelly one that I need to handle, with my hands.
I don't get ear infections.
So what the F*&#?
Speaking of "what the F*&#," what the F*&#? is it with these idiots in the Tour de France? Three doping positives, with one being a rising star, Ricardo Ricco. I'll just say he seems like a little a-hole anyway and this comes as no surprise. Still, the fact that guys are being nailed, then they do a room search on one and find a pharmacy (amoxicillin to share please?) is very telling. I have been a firm believer in Floyd Landis, but with every positive my faith dims a little.
Sorry, I know neither of my loyal readers gives a warm-water enema about cycling, but it's the only sport I really follow. And I'm a guy and guys need sports, even if the players wear gaudy lycra suits.
Yeah, ear infection, I have never had an ear infection in my limited memory. This is making me nuts. It's frigging July, not exactly ear infection season. I can't decide whether to ride tonight or head to the infirmary to make sure my brain isn't trying to escape through my eustation tube. Still swimming, but wearing earplugs to minimize water entry which is probably a good idea anyway.
On the bright side, Smarty Pants is making headway in potty training. She is getting to where she'll hold it, but doesn't always like to go, so it's a weird thing to have to deal with. But we are headed in the right direction. That direction being the elimination of diapers, specifically smelly one that I need to handle, with my hands.
June 3, 2008
Ooops, I Did it Again.
I'm still trying to get to know some of the neighbors, and last night I met the owner of the one of the last two houses I share a property line with. Nice guy, but really needs mow his lawn. Smarty Pants and Wifey love his two dogs: a bull mastiff and a min pin/chihuahua mix. I digress. I notice he is standing there in a pair of Shimano cycling shoes. So I bring up riding and yada yada and say we should go ride sometime. Great says he. Then he asks where I like to go and what kind of bike I have. And then I see we will never ride written all over his mug. Just like the guy next door and the guy down the street. And the guy that stopped by the house a couple of years ago.
No one wants to ride with me.
As soon as they hear words like titanium or carbon fiber or climbing, they shut right the hell off. Suddenly they think "Whoa, this dude must be fast. I can't ride with him." Here's a tidbit, my days of being fast were over before they began. Let's make a few things clear shall we:
- I'm not a natural athlete.
- I don't have great genes.
- My metabolism has metabolized.
- It's called a ride because it's a ride. A race is something separate. Though a ride can become a race but it's all good fun, right?
A few years ago I was washing my bike at the old house and this guy pulls in the driveway. He lives down the street and saw the bikes in the garage. Turns out he rides and finally saw me out front. Now his original plan was to see if I wanted to go and ride, until he got a good look at "the bike." Then all I heard Captain Twoofy yammer was "Wow, uh yeah it would be fun to go and ride but that's a really nice bike and you are probably way faster than me. Yeah, yeah I'll uh give you a call." Never heard from him.
We had the couple down the street bring us some cookies as a welcome to the 'hood thing a few weeks ago. Same thing. Hubby rides and does some triathlons for fun. "Hey, lets' go ride sometime!" he says. Then the brakes come on. "Is that your bike. Gee, uh, that's an awful lot of carbon fiber there."
And those are just some of the examples. Having nice stuff doesn't make you fast, but apparently it makes people think you might just rip their legs off faster than a combine on a tractor. While this feeling is great for the ego, it's always fun to ride with new people, especially when they are right there, literally next door.
So, when trying to meet new people to ride with, here are a few things not to mention:
- the word "interval"
- your bike, especially if it's nice (even though you really feel like a poseur riding it)
- singlespeed
- XTERRA
- 4-5 hour ride
- detailed knowledge of trails (soil types, rock locations, best places to pee, etc. it shows you go there often)
- long climb
- number of bikes
- XTR
Well, there's always the normal crew I ride with. Here's to y'all. I also have one new riding partner, I promised some video of Smarty Pants and here it be. Not bad for being only two and a half years old I'd say. I'm a proud Daddy, I'll admit it. Sorry for the marginal quality, a new camera is in the werks.
No one wants to ride with me.
As soon as they hear words like titanium or carbon fiber or climbing, they shut right the hell off. Suddenly they think "Whoa, this dude must be fast. I can't ride with him." Here's a tidbit, my days of being fast were over before they began. Let's make a few things clear shall we:
- I'm not a natural athlete.
- I don't have great genes.
- My metabolism has metabolized.
- It's called a ride because it's a ride. A race is something separate. Though a ride can become a race but it's all good fun, right?
A few years ago I was washing my bike at the old house and this guy pulls in the driveway. He lives down the street and saw the bikes in the garage. Turns out he rides and finally saw me out front. Now his original plan was to see if I wanted to go and ride, until he got a good look at "the bike." Then all I heard Captain Twoofy yammer was "Wow, uh yeah it would be fun to go and ride but that's a really nice bike and you are probably way faster than me. Yeah, yeah I'll uh give you a call." Never heard from him.
We had the couple down the street bring us some cookies as a welcome to the 'hood thing a few weeks ago. Same thing. Hubby rides and does some triathlons for fun. "Hey, lets' go ride sometime!" he says. Then the brakes come on. "Is that your bike. Gee, uh, that's an awful lot of carbon fiber there."
And those are just some of the examples. Having nice stuff doesn't make you fast, but apparently it makes people think you might just rip their legs off faster than a combine on a tractor. While this feeling is great for the ego, it's always fun to ride with new people, especially when they are right there, literally next door.
So, when trying to meet new people to ride with, here are a few things not to mention:
- the word "interval"
- your bike, especially if it's nice (even though you really feel like a poseur riding it)
- singlespeed
- XTERRA
- 4-5 hour ride
- detailed knowledge of trails (soil types, rock locations, best places to pee, etc. it shows you go there often)
- long climb
- number of bikes
- XTR
Well, there's always the normal crew I ride with. Here's to y'all. I also have one new riding partner, I promised some video of Smarty Pants and here it be. Not bad for being only two and a half years old I'd say. I'm a proud Daddy, I'll admit it. Sorry for the marginal quality, a new camera is in the werks.
May 28, 2008
Fall Out
Last night I lost my first toenail. This, of course, is a result of the Ogden Marathon. Now, it's a small price to pay for meeting my goals of finishing and going sub-4 but I gotta say it feels weird not having a nail. Wearing a sock is driving me crazy. Walking is painless, just creepy.
I meant to get into the pool this morning but didn't quite make it. I set the alarm for 5, but unconsciously beat the alarm for nearly an hour and barely managed a 6 wake-up. I'm bad. This time of year is the worst when it comes to waking up, the air is cool and the bed is warm.
I have not been in the pool since March and since my skills and confidence in the water are deplorable, so I'm really reconsidering my triathlon goals for the year. I promise a "race" schedule this week, once I decide how much time I'm really willing to put in this year. I need to have some goals or nothing will get done, except the ever growing honey-do list.
As for recent activity, Sunday was a great day and I got out for 50 miles on the road bike with Katie and Damy (married couple Dave and Amy). I had a mountain bike ride planned for Monday morning but would have needed an Ark to find a trail. Just a little run yesterday at lunch which confirmed what I knew: my knees still hurt. I'll be taking it easy for a while, at least until I figure out where I am taking this summer.
Smarty Pants is putting more miles on her bike lately than I am. She does great for only being 2.5. She rides up and down the sidewalk with her pink helmet, jumping off to look at bugs. Jumping off is much easier now that she uses the coaster brakes instead of literally jumping off the bike while it's moving.
I'll see if I can get some video up for all to see.
I meant to get into the pool this morning but didn't quite make it. I set the alarm for 5, but unconsciously beat the alarm for nearly an hour and barely managed a 6 wake-up. I'm bad. This time of year is the worst when it comes to waking up, the air is cool and the bed is warm.
I have not been in the pool since March and since my skills and confidence in the water are deplorable, so I'm really reconsidering my triathlon goals for the year. I promise a "race" schedule this week, once I decide how much time I'm really willing to put in this year. I need to have some goals or nothing will get done, except the ever growing honey-do list.
As for recent activity, Sunday was a great day and I got out for 50 miles on the road bike with Katie and Damy (married couple Dave and Amy). I had a mountain bike ride planned for Monday morning but would have needed an Ark to find a trail. Just a little run yesterday at lunch which confirmed what I knew: my knees still hurt. I'll be taking it easy for a while, at least until I figure out where I am taking this summer.
Smarty Pants is putting more miles on her bike lately than I am. She does great for only being 2.5. She rides up and down the sidewalk with her pink helmet, jumping off to look at bugs. Jumping off is much easier now that she uses the coaster brakes instead of literally jumping off the bike while it's moving.
I'll see if I can get some video up for all to see.
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