_Boston
2012 goal was to Qualifying for RAAM at The Texas Time Trial.
2010 spring I was forced to choose between work (BofA American Disability Act financial statement project) and long training rides. I kept my job.
My bike training volume never recovered from those 6 months. I felt like a loser every time I saw the overly shiny Ksyrium clinchers.
I considered other previously unanticipated issues:
> knee pain during long trainer rides
> TTTT moved to a less desirable location
> desire to get back to long skates
> long runs are interfering with bike training
> uncertainty of my paying job
My employer actually treats me well--as long as I perform. Changing career is unlikely because I never learn to say "I like your hair; your leadership is excellent, too."
I started to question the wisdom to invest next 2 seasons on a 1-day event given the limited resources. The odds looked unfavorable.
New goals:
1. (by May 2011) run 50 miles under 12 hours--roughly the same pace as Karnazes' 350-mile run.
2. (by February 2012) run a marathon under 3:21. This is not the easiest way to qualify for Boston--waiting 2 years would be easier. Based on last 3 years' progression, 3:21is doable under good race condition.
3. (by March 2014) complete a 100-mile run.
_Body I live with
Spent the holiday with family in Taiwan. Had a wonderful long bike ride with brother. ChihYang also set me up with local group for a long skate to New Bamboo (http://www.wretch.cc/blog/firefly2007/11079746).
Lower back operated within parameters but got pissed off after the long flight back to Texas. Spasm started after I started training for Cowtown. Last spasm was August 2009; I suppose this is an improvement over the semiannual spasms....
_Resuming movie geeking
I became an A/V snob in the mid 1990’s with acquisition of a large screen TV, LD player, and audio system. My annual 400-hour invested watching feature films shaped my social circle and daily schedule.
I reduced my movies time with preparation of Ironman and Montreal 24-hour skate. By this time I finished most classics. There are many great movies not in English and Chinese.
2010 Xmas. I acquired Roku and switched to Netflix. The streaming model enables reviewing first minutes of many movies before investing the full length. Netflix provides bookmarking so I could watch shows in segments. I start spend time watching movies again.
Netflix video quality is not the best. The audio sampling rate is horrible. The subscription allows 2 concurrent devices so my aunt gets to use my account for free. Considering the $8 monthly price tag, it’s an exceptional value.
_Running form
I caught a glimpse of good form at mile-15 of my first marathon. The relay runner glided on the ground while rest of us bounced up and down testing our spines.
I obsessed over running form since that day. What makes these skinny black dudes so much better than rest of us?
Related questions: why are there disproportion number of good runners capable of running with crappy or no shoes? Kenyans, Ethiopians, Tarahumara.
I vowed to improve my technique. I acquired many running shoes--I don't have another mean to learn shoes. I gave away 3 pairs of barely used shoes with $300+ MSRP. I wrote it off as medical expense. I'll put Vibrams into the rotation by mid March.
_PED
It's hard to be a cycling fan since that glorious Floyd Landis Tour de France stage.
I still don't understand the reasoning behind stripping Landis' Tour title when Zabel and Riis stayed in the record book. Why does Contador get 1-year ban when everyone else get 2? His defense suggests cyclists should become vegetarians or--minimally--lawyers.
15 years of Tour's non-positive winners--we're down to Carlos Sastre and Lance Armstrong.
Greg Lemond's reasoning: when power data shows the vast majority is doping, what does that say about the guy who win it 7 times? Marion Jones never had a positive test result either. Lance and Marion both have their shares of non-negative results. To that end, Rassmusen was really clean.
Regardless whether Lance gets indicted, there ain't no way this will turn out OK ....
This makes me worry for Joey Mantia, potentially the last great American Olympic long track skater for a long time to come. I feel I need to drive to Denton and give Jordan a hug.
