These videos make me happy.
aguynamedlogan: Michelob Ultra Grand Prix of Cyclocross #1

so last night was my first night of training in the "intensity phase". of course it was raining, so back on the trainer, i went. actually, i was up at 530am to go running & did a few of my hill sprints that way. so anyways, i destroyed myself last night with high intensity stuff. i got off the bike 2hrs later & felt like i had just got run over. i woke up this morning and felt worse. ha. so this is what actual training is like, huh? i got 4 weeks of this stuff. then i should at least be in ok shape to start racing.

i love 'cross.

i cant wait.

you must go see this movie.

I downloaded the new Peaches cd. man is this good! probably my favorite of her 3 albums. check it out.

anyways, i was back on the bike yesterday & this morning. I'm feeling good. really good. like - i cant wait to start racing - good. i still am having some back & neck pain, but im hoping my tolerance will be building up the more im outside... plus im now getting weekly messages :) Of course im getting them at the school - so they aint the greatest, but at $20/hr, you cant beat it!! Anyways, im finished with my rest week, and will start my intensity phase tomorrow. 4 hard weeks. just 4 weeks to really get me in shape for cross. yikes. i feel like a good a 1/2 way decent base to work with, so i might be alright.

the yaris is kicking ass. i filled up last sunday, and today i just hit the 1/2 way point on the fuel gauge. thats insane. i used to fill up twice a week with the snaab. im definatelly happy with my decision. i saw a red yaris one in the parking lot to Panera yesterday... i tried to take a quick picture without looking like a dorkis. here's all i got. :)

I had such a good ride yesterday! As i mentioned, my first ride back, on tuesday, was pretty nerve-racking...and i was really timid. I went out last night, and forced myself to ride thru traffic like i used to.. not as aggressive as i used to be, but i certainly wasnt as timid as tuesday. in areas that i used to fly thru turns, i forced myself to do it again. it felt great. i feel much better about things than i did on tuesday. much. it was only a recovery ride of about 1hr, but still a good indication.
i hope to do most of my training starting next week outside.

still debating on the roof or hatch rack for the yaaaris.

yesterday was my first day back on the bike since my crash. i noticed a couple things:


me or bike: one of use is kinda twitchy & cant hold a straight line

my shoulder felt pretty good, but my back & neck were killing after 2 miles

im scared of going fast

im scared of cars

i still have alot of work to do to be fast again.

all that aside it was nice to get back out there..even if it was only for 20mins. its my 'rest' week, so im taking it easy & just building up some tolerance again.

i started some strength training at PT this week... ill be huge in no time :)

Sucker Brook Cross

Sucker Brook Cross
Originally uploaded by argylesocks.

2006 Race Poster



designed by Allie

So after my 8 week followup, there was still no signs of bone-knitting, which really bummed me up. yesterday was my 12 week appointment, which was really the fork in the road. either things were going to heal, or i would need surgury to remove the small piece of bone, and then reconstruct the ligaments to the remaining bone.... essentially leaving the collarbone to float, as its wouldnt be connected to my shoulder anymore.

Well GOOD NEWS!! it is finally showing signs of healing. I still got a ways to go before its solid, but there is definate evidence on the xrays that the bones are knitting. Additionally, all the hardware is still in place - another good sign.

So get this: I can start riding outside again next week! "no mountain biking, dont get hit by a car, and dont do anything crazy like 20miles" haha. I just nodded. My physical therapist told me to "adjust accordingly" :) Next week is my rest week, so it works out nicely...i can just get out there and have fun and get used to riding outside again... shouldnt be an issue, but i dont want to have to do threshold intervals on my first day out!

Racing in about 2 months... but i explained the importance of the Gloucester races and most likely it will be ok, but i need to see him in 4 weeks to see if im ready.

oh, and i can start running again :) sweet. so i got up at 5am and of course it was raining..but i didnt care, i suited up and ran 1 mile. well, i ran/walked 1 mile. my back was cramping up and my shoulder was achey..but it felt good to get out there.

I think i may actually be in ok shape for october. yesterday was a total moral boost. it sucks riding inside when its 90degrees in there, when i wasnt even sure i would be able to race.. but this totally motivates me.

amazing to think that they said my spine injuries would keep me from doing ANY EXERCISE for 6 months! its been 3 months, and im already getting back on the road. sweet.

well allie is finally officially back in NH. We headed down EARLY sat morning to get stuff done before the movers came @ 8am. I was hoping i could make it a multi-use trip & pick up my Pegoretti at the same time, but it wasnt ready...anyways, back to NH. Everything was back up in her new place by noon... then i headed back to my place for my training ride (inside) and some cleaning of my own.

There is the BEST Vietnamese restaurant on Elm St. that is soo good and they have great veggie options - we went there saturday night, followed by some yummy soy ice cream. umm. no wonder why i cant loose weight.

Sunday was more moving of allie's stuff from my house to hers... its nice to have my living room back. Back to my place for 2hrs on the trainer (with 2x15mins of threshold blocks). Training is going well and i think i should be in 'ok shape' for some october racing. I guess i cant expect too much from myself this year, which is frustrating. I had some pretty big goals for this season and I hate to give up on them - but i know it just may not be realistic to keep them.

I am headed to the docs in a few hours for more x-rays. This will be an important meeting. If things are showing healing, he may let me start riding outside again. That would be sooo sweet. Therapy is going well & I have probably about 80% of my motion back in most respects. A few areas are still lacking, and my strength is pathetic. Hopefully this week i can start strength training to get things back to normal. Again, it all depends on what the xray shows (fingers crossed).

I am loving the new Yaris.

Yaris

Yay! I bought me a Yaris!! 40mpg baby!

Friday, i drove down to Allston to pick up allie and about 10% of her stuff... filled up my back seat and headed back to manch, where all of her stuff is now in my living room :)
Saturday was pretty low key... went grocery shopping and i was trying to take some of Mark's advise on how to have a $16 grocery bill. then we headed to target to get a rice cooker / veggie steamer...this thing is cooool. it cooks everything at once...
Sunday we headed up to Bow for the Central NH road race... we walked quite a bit and i thought i was going to die, i was soo tired/thirsty/hungry.

i decided i want a silver yaris. u likey?

this is the funniest part of the story... im glad that this moron mentioned it:

Angler speared by a giant fish | the Daily Mail: "But Mr Card eventually surfaced 50ft behind the boat. 'Once we got Ian up, I cut the fish loose,' said his father. 'My main concern was not the tournament.'"

maybe i shouldnt enjoy these stories as much as I do..... eh. whatever.