Deep in My Head

So far this has been a good week of workouts.   I have gotten in workouts every day and even some two-a-day workouts.  This afternoon it is back in the pool.  Tomorrow morning I have an easy 4 mile run and I may even try to get in a bike ride when I get home.  It is suppose to be in the 70s on Friday.  Plus the Bride and I are heading to Philly  to do the tourist thing.  I haven’t spent much time in Philly and I am looking forward to seeing some of the historic sites that led to the founding of this country.  Call me a nerd, but I do enjoy it.   Plus I can get a good Philly Cheesesteak!!

Before we head out on Saturday, we have to do our annual phone/computer attempt to get Jimmy Buffett tickets.  We do this every year.  One of us is on the computer and the other one is speed dialing.  One year we actually both got tickets.  If you have never been to one of his shows I highly recommend them.   The tail gating is awesome!!!  It is the only during the year that I get drunk. 

When I workout (especially swim), I really get  into my own head.  I tend to think deep thoughts, things that confuse me, irritate me, or anger me.   When I was swimming on Tuesday I started thinking about Fukushima 50.  I had read a little about them online during the day and some of us had discussed them at work.  A couple of people could not understand why these people would risk their lives, if they are killed outright then they will slowly and painfully die of radiation poisoning.  One of the guys shocked me.  Call me sexist, call me old fashioned, but I expect men to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of their world.   To me, a man should want to be John Wayne.  Do the right thing regardless of the consequences.  But more and more males (especially younger ones) are not what I would call a man. 

So as I was swimming I started replaying that conversation back in my head and I got more and more angry (my 100 splits also got faster).  In the world I grew up in as child, adolescent, and adult just did not tolerate this type of thinking.  I have known many firemen, policemen, and soldiers who would (and have) laid down their lives for others.  It is just a code of honor that I have come to expect, maybe even demand.   We need others who will take the proverbial bullet for the greater good; that man or woman who quietly sacrifices so that others may live.  The US Air Force Pararescue Force has the motto – That Others May Live.   In my humble opinion, that sums up the type of life we should all lead. 

Strange Things afoot in the weight room

We all have our weird people (Whiskey Foxtrots as DC Rainmaker calls them) at the gym or pool that we frequent.  In the last couple of months I have going to one of the Fairfax Co Rec Centers near my house.  I have noticed that the men in the locker room are not as fit, nor as friendly as the ones at the YMCA I had been visiting .  The Bride and told me about some of the WFs using the weight machines and using the cardio equipment.  It was not that I did not believe her, but I had to experience these WFs for myself. 

WF #1 was fully dressed and using the weight machines.  He is fully dressed in an outdated button down shirt and khaki pants.  He is balding, thin (with a little gut), wears wire rimmed glasses, and reads a magazine between sets.  He also does not like to share the machine as he rests between sets. 

WF#2 was dressed in a dingy old yellow shirt and royal purple running shorts.  The Bride informed me that he has used the weight machines in nothing but a Speedo (banana hammock type).  So the two “gentlemen” start up a conversation.  I am not listening until they start talking about guns.  This piqued my interest, so I started to listen a little more.  The guns in question were of Civil War vintage which led to a talking about Civil War reenactments and re-enactors.  We all have our own hobbies and I am not one to question hobbies.  Then dingy yellow shirt guy stated the reason he was opposed to Civil War reenactments is…wait for it….wait for it…wait for it….the people in the 1860s had no fashion sense.  I almost lost it. 

What a strange bunch of people using the weight machines.  I will not even say anything about the lady who could give Tom Selleck lessons on growing a mustache. 

I would love to hear about your Whiskey Foxtrots!

Weekend Update

This weekend was a long weekend and unfortunately it was a not filled with long runs and bike rides.  This was more a recovery weekend.  I try to schedule my recovery weeks on the weeks that I have my Reserve Weekends.  I am up and out of the house before the sun and it usually about 7 when I get home.  I could workout after I get home, but I have made a deal with the Bride to do something with her when I get home.  It is only fair.

Today, I hit the pool and did 2000 meters in 45:20.  It was a strange workout:

4x200 (Swim, Kick, Drill, Swim), 4x150 (Swim, Kick, Drill, Swim), 4x100 (Swim, Kick, Drill, Swim), 4x50 (fast) 100 cool down.  I had a good swim.  I don’t think I went that hard on a lot of the sets.  My time was within 2 minutes or so of my normal time, but I did not feel worn out.   Tomorrow is a morning ride with Crockett and Tubbs. 

The house is coming along nicely.  We are set to received the dining room set on Friday.   Today we had first cleaning with a new cleaning service and she did a great job.  The

lady who had been cleaning our other house wanted shit load (that is a financial term) of money and when we had her clean the house prior to us moving in, she did not do a very good job.  This new lady did a great job.  To the left is the front of the house.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The downstairs Den

Another View of the Den.  The reason I am only showing the downstairs den is that is the only common room that is finished. 

I hope that everyone had a great weekend and keep working hard. 

Is it Friday again?

Once again I am living up to my name.  I have been working out, but I haven’t been blogging.   In the past week I have had five really good workouts.  I can feel the endurance coming back, especially in the swimming and running.  Once I get the bike out on the road I will let you know how my trainer workouts have worked. 

I have had some contract issues at work.  So Tuesday and Wednesday I had to work from home.   I did bunch of CPE classes since I don’t have much vacation time since I have returned from military leave.   I also dismantled a shed, moved a desk, tried to do some plumbing, and bought a new part for the sink all over at the “old” house.   On Tuesday I had a 2000 meter total swim with the main set being 10 x 100.  I really hate 10 x anything (especially 100s).  However, I was happy with my times.  I got slower over the course of the set, but I started at about 1:40 and ended at 1:48s.  For a non-swimmer like me I have no complaints.  

I swam two days in a row and on Wednesday the main set was  4 x50 (constant pace),  3x300,  and  4x50 (finish strong).  Again my 300s were in the 1:48 to 1:50/100 pace.  I was pretty happy and rather tired.   Thursday morning was a run day.  After a nice warm Wednesday afternoon (low 60s), it was a blustery 25.  Where is spring?   As cold as it was, I still had a very good run.   I can tell the fitness is coming back.  I maintained or was a little faster over miles than I have been and my HR was about 7 bpm less. 

On the house front;  I started painting the shed, but I still haven’t finished the trim.   I got a new Weber Grill which I used for the first time last night.  Sorry no photos.  Finally, we ordered a new dining room table set.  It is suppose to be delivered on Saturday.   The house is slowly coming together. 

I will be playing soldier this weekend, so no hard training.  I hope everyone has a great weekend.