Stormy Start

Bike - 2 hrs, 15 minutes on Trainer

Swim - 80 laps/1 hr

Woke up to rain that morphed into some downpours and full-blown thunderstorms.  While I could have waited to ride outside, I opted for some time with Coach Troy on the trainer. First, I really needed to switch it up and do a true recovery ride. I also didn't want to deal with the muck that inevitably would get sprayed all over my bike, legs, bike, helmet, etc.  And finally, I was up, ready to ride, and had a lot of stuff to do. Therefore, it was more efficient just to get it out of the way.  I ended up doing ABB 1 and Recovery/Technique. 

By the time I walked the dogs, the rain had stopped. The ground was pretty saturated so it was good I didn't wait. In addition, it was very humid/steamy, the kind of humidity that turns glasses opaque. 

Brian went off to work for the morning--what a way to spend a Sunday morning. I took advantage of the quiet time to pack up about ten bags of no-longer worn/too big clothing for a couple charities.  Cathartic.  I also did some boring household chores.

Continued to rain off and on the rest of the morning. I went to the HS to swim, first time on a Sunday. They don't open until mid-day and it's free swim for seniors. It was the most crowded I've seen it.  Most of the old folks would loiter in the ends of the lap lanes, but luckily, I didn't have to worry about that in my lane. Ended up sharing the entire time, but it was OK since I had the wide slow lane by the bulkhead again.  I took it easy, more of a recovery swim.

Here are some photos of the girls.

1 August 09

Bike Miles - 43

Swim - 90 laps/1 hr

I got up a little bit earlier to make sure I'd finish my bike ride in time make it to the pool when they opened. It was a nice ride, as the rain predicted for all evening never materialized. While there were damp patches of pavement, nothing "spray" worthy. Best of all, no sand/sludge in the underpasses.  Peaceful. Stars were out, no one was about but me. Encountered one other cyclist in passing. 

Got home about 35 minutes or so before the pool opening, giving me plenty of time to get a load of laundry in the washer. 

I got to the pool about 10 minutes early and decided to sit in the car. Not much later, two old men arrived, and I joined them, thinking we would be waiting.  They let me know that you could go in early, which was a treat, if someone was there. Got in, discovered a few people had claimed their lanes by standing at the end of them.  I realized that you couldn't get in the water until the lifeguard got in the chair, which didn't take long. I had the slow lane, on the deep end side adjacent to the bulkhead to myself.  Nice. It was a wide lane, 5' on one end going to deep deep in the other (the diving tank side). Shallow enough that I could stand in the one side. For the first time, I wore a bathing cap and it made a huge difference. I felt more buoyant and moved through the water easier. Also, it kept the hair out of my eyes/face.  Definitely will be using one henceforth, the added bonus of which is possibly protecting my expensive hair color.  I had a good swim and felt decently strong. On my freestyle breaths, I occasionally would rotate enough so I could see the morning sky through the skylight.  That end of the pool is definitely more Zen.  I didn't even notice the group of three Master's swimmers in one of the medium speed lanes (they were kind of loud). The female member of that group was doing sloppy flip turns, wetting the deck enough that I slipped on one of her slop-spots on my way to my bag/towel.

The girls got their walks after I got home---I pulled some cherry tomatoes from the plant out front to tide me over. Breakfast sure tasted good, after showering and getting the chlorine off me.

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.