Off to a good start

Over the weekend, I got in two fabulous outdoor rides and two longish runs. I also moved back to my old 'hood and made lots of food. It was a damn near fantastic.

Firday was so gloriously sunny and warm, with just a little crazy wind. I mean, shorts on the bike on December 31st?!? Yowza.

I had planned to start the year with a 5 mile race....but I woke to rain, which didn't scare me...but then my buddy called and told me it was $35 registration. And I just got my first real paycheck the day before. I think living like a miser cheapened me up. $7 a mile, or more than $1 a minute just seemed to rich for my blood. So, I bagged it. Instead, I got myself settled into my new digs. And that's when I discovered that I may have a clothes addiction. Half my clothes are still in storage and I have 32 tank tops. I also have about 14 pairs of jeans, 7 pairs of black tights, two huge drawers full of winter training clothes... just at this location! And I've downsized every time I've moved (which was more than a few times this year) and I haven't bought much of anything in the last six months.

But whatever. I waited 'til the sun decided to shine and went out for a nice 10 miles at a brisk pace. It was sooo nice to go out and run an old familiar course. Again, in shorts and a sports bra. The temps were dropping, but I was taking full advantage of the warmness that was.

Sunday morning was a scheduled run with a buddy of mine. Unfortunately, he bailed without really letting me know (hence the word: bailed). Fortunately, I recruited a cyclist buddy that signed up for IM St George so I was not alone. It was a coldish run. I went from wearing shorts and a sports bra on Saturday to tights, sleeves, jackets, gloves, hat on Sunday. I wasn't planning to go fast or hard, but I think the pace ended up fairly spirited.

After 13 miles, I arrived home to a text from Judi asking if I wanted to ride. I had just enough time to down a smoothie, a coffee and warm myself up before piling on riding layers and hitting some good hills for a couple hours. Let me just say that 30 degrees in crazy heavy wind is not the most fun riding I've ever had. And it's much more exhausting than you might think, but we had some good laughs and we're building back our friendship in a good way.

By the time I got home, I was ready to scarf some homemade black beans and rice, thaw in a hot shower and cuddle up with Clubber.

I think the only good thing about Monday is that I got to make the two mile trek to work and then again after work. The legs are feeling a little trashed as we acclimate back into base training, so the active recovery is a nice bonus. Plus, not fighting traffic and paying exorbitant parking fees, not to mention getting to watch the sun rise AND set is pretty cool.

Here goes...

 Tomorrow afternoon, I depart for CT!!
But only for a visit. I'm coming back for 6 short days before moving out for good.
The last week has been full of fun and training and hanging out with friends and talking on the phone and sharing and packing. It's been exhausting, honestly.

I put in my resignation at work last Thursday and left work early to hang out with the girls. Left work early again on Friday to ride with Ackerman in the stifling heat. Seriously, it's just HOT here in Cincinnati right now. The humidity is disgusting. I took a huge gulp of ice cold water after that ride and it actually hurt going down. I thought I might actually be dropping my core temp too quickly.

Saturday started with an amazing two hour massage...and some good therapy before starting Project: Pack. Oh, how I hate packing. I've been doing more purging than packing, really. If it hasn't been used in the last year, it's goes in the garbage or to charity. Plain and simple.

Sunday, I awoke to thunderstorms....which wasn't a good outlook for Ride Cincinnati. But I was all about riding it, whether we got rained on or not. I needed that last long ride with my friends and teammates. And wouldn't ya know, the rain stopped just before the 6:30am start, I was interviewed by the local news station and we all got caked in mud. A few of us went off course to get in some extra miles and some hill climbs before returning to the after party. All in all, four hours of riding. And then eating. And the most amazing shower. And more packing.

I didn't get my long run in over the weekend. And getting to work pre-9am isn't exactly a priority right now, so I went for a long run before work yesterday. I was jammin' to my iPod, lost in my thoughts when I realized how far away from home I was...and just how long I'd been running...and just how few calories I had on hand...and just how drenched in sweat I was. My shoes seriously gained a pound of sweat weight from that dripping off my legs and feet. And I was a little loopy by the time I arrived home. Note to self: One bottle of low calorie G2 is probably NOT sufficient fuel for a 16 mile run first thing in the morning. But it will give you an incredible endorphin high. Or low blood glucose high.

Good thing I've been hydrating today...and that I had Dewey's for lunch. Great recovery post-masters and pre-group ride outta Reser's.

My masseuse

I was driving home yesterday when my phone rang. I recognized the number, but couldn't exactly place it. I, master of call screening, decided to answer, knowing I could cut the convo short because I had to get ready for a ride.

me: Hello?
Caller: "Amanda! Hello! This is Suzanne! How are you doing?"
me: "HI!!!! I'm great!"
Suzanne: "I was just looking for someone's number and I saw your name and number right next to their's...and I just got the feeling I should give you a ring".

[Suzanne is my very intuitive English masseuse that also doubles a somewhat of a spiritual guide. She just knows stuff. I also have not seen her since before Australia, which was late October.]

Suzanne: "Goodness! Australia must seem like eons ago! Are you going back? To stay perhaps? I have this feeling you're going away".
me: [as chills run down my spine...sometimes I forget just how intuitive she is.] "um. No...but I am moving to Connecticut at the end of the month."
Suzanne: "AHA!! That's it! Well, i'm certainly glad I called then!"

So, I'm going to go see her next weekend.
And, yes, I'm moving northeast at the end of June.
And I'm quite excited...though I will miss all my crazy training partners and friends here. It's just time to start a new chapter.

late to bed, early to rise

Wow. I can be so dramatic!
I got to Dayton last night and Paul had actually done quite a bit of work on that place in the previous 3 days. We loaded up his couch, chair, antler lamp (yeah. an antler lamp) after we dined and cleaned up. It was a fabulous evening, really.

I debated on whether to stay the night and make the drive back to Cincy in the morning or turn around and sleep in my own bed and try to make it to Master's practice on 5 hours of slumber. I chose the latter. I'd told myself long ago (after learning the hard way) that I wasn't going to let any boy, no matter how amazing, get in the way of my goals and being the person I want to be. So, while 4:30 am came wayyyyy too soon this morning, practice was well worth rising from the warm covers and a snuggley Clubber.

We started with 6x75 drill on 1:30. And when Aaron said "Thursday will be a distance day" I didn't really imagine I'd be doing 5x300 (with every 4th 25 non-free) on 5:00. This was meant to just be an easy aerobic set, so I treated it as such. He let us know the next set would be harder. And it was. Strap on paddles. Buoy between thighs. 7x100. First three and last three on 1:20. Middle on 2:00. And, let the lat burning begin!

It's about 10:30am and I already feel that I'll be napping over my lunch break.

Only in Ohio..

...is it 78 degrees one day and 39 the next.

Monday was a beautiful day, albeit a little cloudy. My alarm buzzed at 5am. I nixed that and reset it for 6, which meant just a quick 4 mile run before work to loosen the legs after Sunday's rest. I watched the clock tick down to 5pm when I could change into my tri shorts and get out on my bike. It was nearly 60 degrees and crazy windy, but being back out on the road, well....there's just nothing like it!

Tuesday morning's swim practice came quick! And it was a sprint workout. Not what I'm particularly good at doing - going fast for short stints, but it was fun.

I couldn't quite get into "work mode" yesterday so I went home for lunch to visit with mom. It was already 75 degrees, so we walked Clubber around the pond behind our place. She only did two fake pees, where she might actually squeeze out some urine, but she definitely is just trying to stop for a bit because she's tired. It was difficult going back to my cubicle and office lighting after that...but I got busy and before I knew, it was time to down some yogurt and granola to fuel my 10 mile run at the regional airport!!!

Did a 5 mile loop on my own and I waited for the group to arrive for another 5 mile loop. I stopped at the toilet just as they took off, so I played catch-up for the first mile or so. Fun stuff! I got to go chase down the fastest group...and then I settled into their 8 min pace. Beautiful run and I got to chat with my buds, Shannon and Tim, and meet some other new folks.

Last night was a full moon, so I was well aware craziness could ensue.
And it did.
Paul has exactly six days to be out of his apartment. That apartment is still full of stuff. And by "stuff", I mean bed, couch, chairs, a deep freezer, lamps, swim gear galore, clothes...the cabinets and closets are still full... And during one of his freak outs the other night regarding the situation, I offered to go up and help him on Wednesday night (tonight). I did not know this would mean he would do all the things he wanted to do (swim, lift, WATCH MOVIES, go Tanning!?!) in the meantime. I'm rearranging my schedule to accomodate his while he his schedule accomodates all he wants. Yeah. I'm frustrated. I swear, men can be so fucking selfish! And stupid me...I'm playing into it! Ugh.

So, I awoke to 30 degree temps and rain this morning. I got on the trainer for a sweaty hour (15 min WU, 12x30" @110 RPM every 3', 90 RPM otherwise, CD) and a walk with the pup and some band work....and packing my bag for this evening and work tomorrow (just in case I decide to stay). I'm headed to Dayton right after work. This evening could end very badly. We shall see.