Cliffs and Chips

Great Ireland pics over at intomysixties. I'm hankerin' for fish and chips and a pint.

Earlier this week I heard this on NPR.
And went on to read this. The first time I've actually read anything in The Atlantic. Is that good or bad?

My heart and mind are nearing convergence: Obama. Don't know if it'll stick.
Maybe the heart/hope/yes-the-glass-can-be-half-full spirit is pulling harder just now in the internal tug of war. The ticker has been on the O. bandwagon since his Convention speech.

Okay, on to the usual sport material, here's a little some cycling humor.

Cyclists are the biggest sandbaggers and secret trainers around. They'll say anything to soften up a fellow rider. Such as:

"I'm out of shape"
Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford administration. I replace my 11-tooth cog more often than you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.

"I'm not into competition. I'm just riding to stay in shape"
Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the line sprint if I have to force you into oncoming traffic. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post, and spray energy drink in your eyes.

"I'm on my beater bike"
Translation: I had this baby custom-made in Tuscany using titanium blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a fart and costs more than a divorce.

"It's not that hilly"
Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over -- backward. You have a 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.

"You're doing great, honey"
Translation: Yo, lard ass, I'd like to get home before midnight. This is what you get for spending the winter decorating and eating chocolate. I shoulda married that cute Cat 1 racer when I had the chance.

"This is a no-drop ride"
Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search-and-rescue dogs.

"It's not that far"
Translation: Bring your passport.

Pubbers land

The Pubbers are back safely.

Spoke to them briefly last night at 8p.m. our time, so 1a.m. to them. Customs let them through and the cats welcomed them home. Will get out to Gaithersburg over the weekend to see some of the many pics and get some stories.

Initial impression shared with me was Ireland has lots and lots of stone architecture and amazingly old structures. Rained briefly once during the whole trip.
Old stone stuff, pubs, fish, potato, bread. All in large quantities, repeatedly. Oh, and beer. Literally a few pubs per block I'm told.

Snow up in the Western Tier of NY I hear. Yikes.

******************
Wed. 11-7 Bike

QR Trainer. Warmup; 4 x 10min blocks (as 7min hard/3min easy); cool
Entire workout (177 watts):
Duration: 1:06:14
Work: 703 kJ
Distance: 22.07 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 305 177 watts
Heart rate: 76 167 138 bpm
Cadence: 34 96 87 rpm

Thur. 11-8 S, R
Swim 6a-7a
Filled the hour pretty well, call it 60mins of workout.
400 warmup free
Vertical kick and twist - 3x
Kickboard - 6 x 50
400 continuous with zoomers as 4 x (25 side swim switching sides half way, 75 free at 8.5 intensity)
400 continuous no zoomers as 4 x (25 stroke and glide, 75 free hard)
100 all out (~1:43)
200 free easy cool down

Total: 1700 + vertical kick

Run in the eve.
51mins again, ~6.7mi, maybe 40F, brrr.

Pubbers preparing to return

The pub crawlers made it full circle back to Dublin.

We made it back to Dublin in record time! We got here by 1pm and had lunch and toured the castle and St. Patricks church and are now having a Guiness, wine and Irish coffee. Headed to our favorite restaurant - Hugo's - for dinner later.

No damage to the rental car!! And no accidents!!

Luck of the Irish, eh?

*************************

Mon. 11-5
Off

Tue. 11-6 S, R
Swim 6a-7a, ~50mins
v 2x50 drills: Side swim ; 1-arm ; Fist ; Stroke & glide
v 10x100yds w/:10 RI (splits ranged 1:52 - 1:55)
v 2x50 w/1min+ RI (:49, :47)
v 100 S&G cool

Run 51mins, ~6.7mi

Weekend wrap 11-4-07

Another tidbit from Ireland via blackberry:

Drove to galway today. Saw the cliffs of moher.
Having dinner at a wine bar on high Steet in galway city.
Very cold and a few thousand round a-bouts
B.

*************
I'm looking forward to pics and tales after they all get back and recover.

Meanwhile, I crossed the border into foreign territory today. Ventured into VA and had a nice enjoy-the-day ride on roads that were all new to me, which was very nice. Thanks to Lawrence and Mike for joining in and navigating the Mt. Weather loop.

All I had to do was get up and down the hills and get a few pics. Passed wineries and fields lined with stonewalls, reminded me of Gettysburg battlefield areas.


Country roads, turning leaves, 50+ temps, sun and cloud mix... about as good as it gets in November.



It's so hard to look suave in cycling gear, esp cold weather gear. Okay, it's impossible.

<- M & L

Moi ->



************

Sat. 11-3 R, S
Run 77mins, beach Dr. Twinge in right groin few miles from home.
Swim 25mins very easy easy recovery.

Sun. 11-4 B, S
Mount Weather ride.
Fuji, hi 50's, mix clouds/sun, low winds
Smell the Roses ride, but some steep climbs and rollers mixed in.
Almost zero groin "thereness," went ahead on the ride and had no problems at all.

Duration: 3:32:26 (3:54:56)
Work: 1864 kJ
TSS: 246.3 (intensity factor 0.836)
Norm Power: 192
VI: 1.31
Distance: 56.225 mi

Min Max Avg
Heart rate: 74 174 132 bpm
Cadence: 21 96 67 rpm
Speed: 0 39.9 15.9 mph

Swim
Easy swim 30mins, drills, and free, after Mt Weather ride.