Monday, March 23, 2009

Thank God I'm stuffed with fluff and other non breakables.

Interesting update

I was finishing up a decent training block this last Friday and I went out for an easy 20 mile bike. It was going fine and was a leisurely romp around the greater calabasas area. I was about 1 mile away from home and headed through a green light. A car turned right into me and tossed me over the hood and into the street.
Summary of the thrashing
I was thrown 15 ft into the cross walk
A small chunk was taken out of my helmet
Expected road rash ensued
Knees the size of melons
Black thumb due to smashing it on something or other
Annihilated bike (second bike trashed in three weeks which brings the grand total of destroyed bikes to around $9-10k)

I popped up after getting tossed and thought immediately "Wow you should be crushed. Maybe you are in shock and your leg is actually broken." I layed back down and looked at my leg. No noticeable protrusion so I got back up. The driver said lay down and I'll call an ambulance. I said, "I'm quite fine thank you. There's no need." I wept silent tears for my bike and watched as my knees ballooned.

Needless to say, I am so blessed to be alive and intact. I was laughing afterwards while I was icing my bruises and thinking, " I absolutely should be in the hospital right now." I wish I had a youtube video of the crash because it really is laughable that I am as ok as I am.

My training is curtailed and I am trying to get a bike before a race this weekend in Santa Barbara (probably won't race because my knees can't take a whole lot of pressure and range of motion is kinda non existent) and before New Orleans 70.3 at the latest.

Be safe. Wear your helmet.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Vanity. Isn't that what blogging is about?

Hey Chorizos.

A few things worth noting.

-Saw a vanity plate that read "HOUSELF" which I can only take to be in reference to the magical little creatures from Harry Potter. This is amazing on several levels. The first being the creativity of putting this on a vanity plate. I don't think I would have come up with HOUSELF as a potential license plate if given 4 months. Second, the driver looked like a swollen ZZ Top. Incredible red beard and incredible girth. Third, ZZ top is so stupid to pay for this.

-I think I just got a job with godiva. Pretty dope but I think I am going to leave the country. You may be asking "BUT JP....what's cooler than free chocolate for an undetermined amount of time?" ME... that's what. Mr. Rooney has been after me ever since he figure out that I'm so cool I make Ferris Bueller look like the kid who stays near the bathroom at school dances. Kidding bros. Ferris Bueller is a righteous dude.

-Finally, go read a CS Lewis book. He is a bit of a writer. That's going to be my vanity plate CSLEWIS. I wish I could include INTHEHOUSE because he so is. Too many letters.

Adios Sausages.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Revisiting my unhappy place…

Last year, I participated in a study for Gatorade where they pushed my limits in a ways make me a bit sick thinking back on it. Essentially the goal of the study was to cement the fact that gatorade is more precious than holy water even though it is colored sugar water. The structure of the workout was to ride at 30 min race pace for 2 hours. You may be saying, "LOL! BUT JP, that sounds like fuzzy math." Despite your annoying tweenage text jargon, you're right. Physically you can maintain this pace for 1.5 hrs as it uses all your glycogen. After that, it is a level of hell that is reserved for the war criminals and car salesmen. I did this workout 7 times in 2 months and it left me so overtrained that I was sleeping 14 hrs a day for nearly a month and I barely could manage a run pace I could have smoked when I was in second grade.
Anyway, I was told to do this workout again to kind of stamp the accelerator on the fitness. Naturally I was thrilled. Anyway, I got through it despite feeling like my brains were turning into scrambled eggs. Caitlin, my girlfriend, can attest to that. I talked to her after and I was about as coherent as an eggplant or a throw rug.

Also, I am trying a new thing lately. I have sworn off processed foods as a lead up to racing. I am feeling really good so far although ditching peanut butter and cereal has been the equivalent of cutting my favorite and most delicious arm off. I think it will help shed a few pounds as well which is helpful as I can't be dragging flab all over god's green earth.

My training is going really good right now and I am hoping I can really let it rip starting in April.

Things I am enjoying…
Oatmeal with brown sugar and butter
Chris McCormack
Training very hard

Things I am despising…
David Beckham underwear ads
People making jokes about "The View"