Goodbye July

Bike Miles : 36

Swim - 80 laps/about 55 mins

Ending July on a humid note! About 7 miles into my ride, I got sprinkled on for about 1o minutes.  The shower was on the southeast end of my circuit. It wasn't significant and when I passed that area later, the water had evaporated from the pavement. The best kind of shower. Enough to cool you off but not get you, your bike, or the ground wet. Met a guy leaving for work, headed out to his parked car. I saw him a couple other mornings this week, since I altered my route to avoid the "scooter intersection."  He was very friendly.  Brian went running when I got home so I had to tend to the girls while eating breakfast. 

Work was such a snore. I had one thing to do---took 5 minutes. The high points of the day were going to the gym (upper body blast-machines) and deciding to leave an hour early.  Of course, the minute I walked out the door, it started sprinkling and it was blowing like a mofo.  It had rained previously, must have been a downpour, on the Toll Road but I encountered that dreaded standing water. Hit a little bit of rain but it stopped by the time I got to Arlington County. 

I got to the pool early and was surprised to find it more crowded than my usual time. I ended up getting a lane to myself until some guy just decided he wanted to split the lane w/me (didn't ask me, just jumped in).  After about 10 minutes, the lane next to me freed up and I was able to have a lane to myself for the rest of my swim. It was pretty neat because a storm blew in while I was swimming and I could see the angry clouds through the sky lights. Had a good swim.  

Came home to puppy induced chaos. We need to work on "down" and surfing every blessed surface.  And barking. I think it would have been worth it to send her to Turtle Creek for puppy training!  Margot is wreaking havoc.

Last Thursday in July

Bike Miles: 36

Swim: 70 laps/50 minutes

A nice clear sky but pretty darn humid during my bike ride. A light prevailing wind kept it bearable, so I wasn't as drenched as I was the last two days. Saw several foxes, a raccoon, and the usual unpredictable rabbits. 

The boss was away, so the mice played today. Actually, I'm back to having very little to do again.

Had an excellent swim. Really focused on technique, particularly my breathing. There was a lady in the lane next to me who really couldn't swim and didn't get her head wet.  Before she got out of the pool, she dunked herself under a couple times, next to the pool edge. God love her for doing some laps, though. 

Light Show

Bike miles: 36

Swim: 60 laps/45 minutes

There were some storms off to the southeast and southwest on the radar, but far enough away that I didn't have to worry about them impacting my bike ride. The one to the southeast must have been something because I was treated to flashes of lightning--bright---in the clouds in that direction much of the ride. No thunder. It was steamy humid and hands down, the warmest ride of the year thus far.  I couldn't tell if I was more soaked w/sweat or humidity. 

I took it slow and easy during my after-work swim.  I have some annoying post-nasal drip that was making my windpipe tickly during my swim. Not fun. I think it's from all the mold, the result of the rainy spring.  Maeve and Fiona are really suffering from skin allergies. 

28 July

Bike Miles: 36

Swim:  70 laps/50 mins

A humid and very warm ride before work---feels like "normal" summer weather around here for a change. Uneventful, thank goodness. Peaceful. I was soaked in humidity induced sweat by the time I rolled home.

I swam at the high school after work, which was relaxing.  Swimming in deeper water seems more challenging.

27 July Missing Mom

Bike Miles: 36

Swim: 70 laps/about an hour

I woke up just before the alarm, which is a little unusual. Must have really needed the sleep. Anyway, I was expecting rain, and sure enough, there was some on the radar. Nothing major looking.  A small cell of what looked like light rain headed my way, with more significant rain south and east.  So I decided to ride outside, and just as I'm leaving the house, it starts to drizzle.  I resigned myself to getting wet, hopefully, not too wet.  It ended up alternating between drizzle and very light rain for about 20-25 minutes, then it stopped. While the pavement south and east got wet, it wasn't soaked and the pavement northwest stayed dry. Not enough to muck up my bike, thank goodness.  My legs were still really fried so I didn't push it.

I really didn't want to be at work today, particularly when I got in and discovered that I was assigned an immediate that was due at COB (assigned after I left Friday).  I got that out and closed it. In addition, I was pretty productive, getting other things finished.

Had a decent commute home, so I got to the pool a tad early. Decided to slog out a longer swim, even though my legs were tired from my weight session at lunch time. It was nice to do some yoga after dinner and just relax a bit. 

Today marked 8 years since mom died.  I thought about her all day and felt like going off for a good cry. I miss her and suspect, I always will. 

1,000 Miles

Bike Miles:  43

Swim: 80 laps/70 minutes

Finally, a month where I made 1,000 outdoor miles. July's weather cooperated, which has not been the case for most of 2009.

While there was rain on the radar, it looked like it was going to bypass us. I rode the beater bike, just in case, and wore my Gore bike cap, instead of a Buff, under my helmet.  The brim keeps the rain off my glasses.  Thus prepared, I set off, hoping that I'd encounter neither rain nor early weekend morning freaks/drunks/nuts.  Have to admit that Saturday's scare made me a little wary, so I altered my route to avoid that intersection. Worked like a champ, as the ride was uneventful.  It started to drizzle very lightly for about 15 minutes near the end of the ride. Just enough to spot the pavement but not really wet it.  That was ok because I felt vindicated, having worn that cap (it is close fitting and presses into my big head after about an hour. annoying but worth it to be able to see).  It obviously had rained overnight because there were wet patches, puddles, and some tree debris on the trail. After about 2 hours, my legs were feeling fried. No doubt a result of Saturday morning's "brick" workout!  I took it easy for the rest of the ride.

I was able to walk all three beasts, despite threatening deep blue, angry clouds in the distance. Maeve and Fiona were extra good. Even though she saw a number of rabbits, Maeve didn't pull too hard and listened to my emphatic "leave it."  Margot wore her new "medium" harness and had her walk extended by a block.  She was thrilled to be out there. I think Jan really erred by not keeping her for a Show Pick because she moves like the wind and is a natural walker (no stopping to sniff, keeps her line and goes!).

We went to the pool at noon, and I got right down to business. Even though it was in the upper 80s and only partly cloudy, the place was relatively calm. As a result, I didn't have to share the lap area with multiple folks or kids. I think I prefer swimming inside---the water is calmer, warmer, and cleaner, and things are less chaotic all around. Came home and had crusts from Brian's big pizza. I more than earned it, after this busy weekend. I'll cap the day off with some yoga later on.

Scooter Scare

Saturday, 25 July

Bike Miles: 43

Swim:  82 laps/1 hr

I woke up feeling pretty good and got right out on the bike. Unfortunately, I had a disturbing encounter.  As I was turning around to start another circuit, I saw a car and then a scooter got through the green light on the road ahead of me.  Weirdly, the scooter turned around a little ways down the road and headed back east. I got a bad feeling, which was confirmed when I could both hear the motor and see the headlight down the trail behind me. I didn't want to take a chance and turned off into an adjacent neighborhood (unknown to me, a really steep climb which I was unprepared to ride up). The scooter went down the trail just a little further, turned around, and headed back to the roadway. Even though they are verboten on the trail, I've encountered scooters every so often and have had them pass by in peace.  The rest of the ride was uneventful, thank goodness.  Earlier, I saw a person--gender unknown---dressed in a black leotard (long sleeves) and what appeared to be black patterned hose "running" down the trail.  Long black hair that looked like a wig.  Just passed s/him--we were headed in the same direction---but I didn't see s/him again!  

After I got home, I headed to the High School to swim. There were a good many people there, but they had the lanes marked -- slow, medium, and fast. Everyone was polite, there to do their business and orderly. I had a "slow" lane to myself for the entire swim, but the men in the adjacent lanes were messy/splashy swimmers. Tolerable and not annoying, since I was so fortunate to have a lane to myself. Despite having just logged a long bike ride and done a long swim the previous afternoon, I felt decently strong in the pool.  

To torture myself more, I walked all three dogs when I got home. I felt a little guilty about not walking them right after my ride, so I decided to delay my shower/breakfast to get them out. Also, it's going to be a hot/sunny day, possibly humid, so an early morning walk is required for fluffy golden retrievers!  All three did amazing well, and Margot really is the best behaved on the leash. No sniffing/lollygagging (Fiona) or pulling when something interesting passes by (Maeve).  I simply give Margot her leash to "hold" and off she goes, strutting, tail wagging, happy as can be!

I plan to get in a nap and some yoga between doing chores for the rest of the day.