Monthly Archives: February 2012

Meme about me me me me me

Posted on February 13, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Because Jamie loves blog memes and tagged me.

Here is how we play the game.

  1. Post these rules
  2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
  3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
  4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
  5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
  6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

Random things about me:

  1. When I panic, or am waiting for something to happen (and whose outcome I am nervous about), I am frozen by inaction
  2. When I was you, I fell of a diving board onto the pool deck, landing on my head. Some would say this explains…
  4. When I was a junior in high school, I got hit by a car while crossing the street (to get to the other side)
  5. I am an anglophile. I watch the BBC probably more than I should. It’s all I talk about with British people
  6. I have played all of the major sports. I was decent at some, but not good enough at any of them to continue playing them in high school or college
  7. I couldn’t do a handstand until I was in college
  8. I majored in computer science because I found the coding easy and thought that was where the money would be. I then didn’t do anything CS related for 4 years after graduation. This was a mistake
  9. I hate disappointing other people, but I let myself down all the time. I’m great at making excuses for myself. And I have horrible time management skills
  10. I am a horribly messy person, but I am working on that
  11. I am incredibly grateful for all of my friends
  12. This list goes to eleven. I hate making lists about myself

Jamie’s 11 Questions:

  • What is your proudest accomplishment?

    • Finishing Ironman Arizona in 2008. The ironman was the first thing in my life that I had attempted seriously without knowing the outcome

  • What is your biggest regret?

    • Not working harder in school. But I’m not sure that I could (I think I’m wired as a bad student)

  • What was your biggest fear as a child?

    • Heights. And chemical warfare

  • What is your biggest fear as an adult?

    • Heights

  • Your most embarrassing triathlon story, using exactly 11 words.

    • Flatted 1/4 mile from bike finish. Ran the bike to T2

  • What is the one piece of advice you’d give the 10 year old version of yourself.

    • Work harder.

  • What is the best meal that you’ve ever made yourself?

    • Hmmm… probably spicy beef stir fry. Easy but damn delicious

  • In or out?

    • For most things? Outdoors. I assume that’s what’s being asked.

  • What is your dream car?

    • Not sure. I watch Top Gear pretty regularly, and even then… if we are talking super car… the Konigsegg? The Bugatti Veyron is just a bit heavy looking in the nose. Non bank-breaker? Hmm… Lotus. Neither fit my bike in them though…

  • What is the fastest you’ve ever gone on a bike?

    • At IMC I think I hit 50+ over the top of Richter Pass

  • What is your least favorite part of triathlon training/racing?

    • The swim. Only because I’ve gotten so slow lately

    My questions:

    • What book did you last read?
    • What’s your best birthday memory?
    • What’s your favorite race distance?
    • What’s your favorite race?
    • What’s your worst injury ever?
    • What’s your dream job?
    • If you could change one event that happened in your life, what would it be?
    • Chipotle or something else?
    • Five Guys or In and Out Burger?
    • What is your favorite color?
    • What teacher/class inspired you the most?

    Targets:

    1. Ben
    2. Joe V
    3. Frayed Laces
    4. Meg Who Runs
    5. Ryan Oilar
    6. Holly Fraccaro
    7. Tim Andrus
    8. Beth Schwindt
    9. I hate making lists

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    Posted in Random

    The corner

    Posted on February 7, 2012 by | 1 Comment

    The February of Stress continues. Only one more day of being homeless. I have some very patient friends and family…

    Super Sunday 5 Miler
    Yet another race put on by my friends over at RaceMenu and RaceEvents. The race they produced I came in third in my AG, but the competition that day was split with a race across the river in Cambridge. I knew that given the difficulty I’ve had focusing in 2012 and the level of competition meant that I would be a bit farther back than I would like, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to race this and see how well I could do. Stretch goal was sub-30, but I assumed that I’d probably end up running 6:10ish pace the entire way. And as always, there was the fear of the debilitating #(p)oops. My race plan, if I had one, was to go 6:10, 6:08, 6:06, 6:04 and 6:02, but the course wasn’t entirely set up for that, and I knew it: I had prerun the course the previous week with Brendan (of RaceMenu fame), Meg, Julia and other RaceMenu teammates and friends. Not significantly hilly at all, but enough to get my stomach knotted on the uphills when I push too hard. So, like I said, given where everything stood, I didn’t think a 30:00 was in the cards.

    Started off right next to Matt Corr, except I had no idea who he was except for some guy on twitter that I talk trash with. Pretty much immediately ended up in a gap between the lead pack of 20 or so and chasers. By mile 1, I was all alone, chasing the group in front of me and not really catching them quickly/at all. My first mile had been a 6:06ish, so I didn’t think I had spent too much, but in hindsight, perhaps I had. By mile 3 I was coughing pretty violently (to the point where I actually pulled up for a second) trying to clear my mouth of spit or whatever. At this point, I just wanted the race to end. My finishing position was pretty much locked up (one guy behind me probably ran a sub-6 last mile and passed me with .2 miles to go) and I was just kind of hoping to get what I could out of the day.

    Final time was 31 even. Good for 25th. Given how everything has been in January/early February, I’ll take it. Time to get my mojo back and kick this shit into high gear: Rev3 Costa Rica is right around the corner. I’ve got to get my weight back down, got to get back on the bike, got to get focused. Saying that means nothing if I don’t follow through. In the words of Coach Steve: Stop getting in your own way of your stated goals. Observe, PROact, plan, commit, DO.

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    Posted in Race Report

    2012: In like a lion

    Posted on February 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment


    Apparently, I last blogged almost two weeks ago. When I last wrote, my apartment was flooding. This caused me not a small amount of hardship. My training suffered: I’ve gotten in 2 swims in the past two weeks, two bike rides (on the sidewalk, on a trainer), and maybe 4 runs (because the admin time for runs is so low). On Monday, I got distressing news: not only was my apartment still not inhabitable, it would not be so for the next month and all of my belongings would have to be out of the apartment within a week. At this point, my landlord and I came to the agreement that I could break my lease — but that meant I had to find a new apartment, coordinate movers, etc within a couple of days. Fortunately, everything worked out on my end.

    For a lot of people though, things don’t come up roses, and things don’t work out well. I’ve mentioned before that Rev3 staff and athletes are going to be running across the country, raising funds for the Ulman Cancer Fund. If you can, please donate. Links are on the right hand side of the page.

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    Posted in Random