It started out like it finished, poorly. I left my apartment this afternoon to overcast skies and brisk temperatures for Spring. One half mile into the 80 min ride the battery died on my 256 Mb mp3 player...just great. After back tracking, resetting the odometer and timer I headed out. Everything was going smoothly. I was cranking out the miles at a high cadence (90+rpm) while still maintaining an 18.6 mph average speed. Then problem two.

Flat tires on bicycles are commonly the result of one or two things. Either the tube gets pinched between the tire and rim, resulting in two small holes on either side and easily patched, or a puncture wound will slowly bleed the air out of the tube. Unfortunately, neither happened to me. Yes, I wish either would have happened. No, I got the not too common, but altogether horrible, tube blowout. Going over an unavoidable pothole (due to redneck drivers not giving me even an inch) my rear tube blew. Yes, it exploded.

You can only imagine the expletives to leave my mouth. So I pulled over, and thankfully I brought my tire shivs, pump and a brand new inner tube. With the bag I strap below the seat I am able to store these on my rides, but enough of that. I repaired the flat in the usual way and way on my way 10 min later. This day couldn't get worse could it? Well, the sun finally came out, and it started to get sunny. Alright! I thought. I could finish the rest of my ride and let that little incident slip my mind. Or so I thought.

Not 6 miles later, guess what? Pffttsssssss. Oh, what the hell? You're kidding right? I mean, April Fools Day is Sunday. This has to be a prank. I just put a brand new tube on! Needless to say, that was the shortest length of time I have had a tube be functional. This time it was a puncture but a slow bleed so that I could pull over every 1/2 mile and refill the tire and slowly make it back to my apartment. Until I was 1.5 miles away when the puncture hole opened up and went completely flat and would hold no more air. For this last 1.5 miles I had to hike my way back. Great. Ever tried walking 1.5 miles in cycling shoes while carrying your bike? It's not fun.

I was as mad as a hornet. It was just not my day. What should have been enjoyable 80 min cycling excursion through the less traveled sections of rural Indiana turned into a walk-a-thon. Maybe next time I will raise money for the distance I walk and donate it to charity. Grrr.

Along the side of the road, propped against a metallic box of some sort. This was after repairing flat #1

Grrrr. The brand new tube is punctured! And, that tire should be rock hard.

I have always been astounded by the body's ability to heal. Common scrapes and cuts as a child turn into small scars as we age. Even after large surgical procedures, such as cardiac or pulmonary, humans recover successfully. Yes, it takes time, but we are functional again. Unlike lizards and snakes, humans cannot regenerate body parts. We may only regenerate cells that link to other cells. Muscle fibers, structural bone material and skin cells all fall into this category, though limbs, ears and other specialized body parts cannot be remade. After an injury it is important to recover in the right manner. This may include physical therapy and rest. Though we do not enjoy being injured, it is important to heal properly.

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It's intriguing that when someone finds a new interest, we recognize that interest more and more each day. Like, when we learn a new word. We recognize this word in our everyday speak more and more. Or, when we are in the market for a new car. The cars we are interested in have always been in the parking lot, but they catch our eye now.

Possible Podcast coming the first week of April.
More to follow.

I heard about The Nation's Triathlon on a podcast today. I am thinking of entering a few races after I know my work schedule for the coming months. The races I plan on entering are:

4.22.07 Poor Farm Spring Trail Tromp: 5k Trail Run
6.3.07 Power Sprint: 300m Swim - 20k Bike - 5k Run
7.1.07 I Heart the Tavern: 750m Swim - 30k Bike - 5k Run
8.26.07 Richmond Sprint Triathlon: 400m Swim - 20k Bike - 5k Run
9.29.07 The Nation's Triathlon: 1.5k Swim - 40k Bike -10k Run
9.30.07 Naylor's Beach Triathlon: 1.5k Swim - 40k Bike -10k Run
10.14.07 Poor Farm Fall Trail Tromp: 5k Trail Run
10.28.07 Marine Corps Marathon: 26.2 mi Run

Assuming I cannot do all due to work/social conflicts, the goal is a race in April, July, an Oly distance in September and a race in October. Currently the MCM is far out-of-reach, but time will tell. These plans may be scraped as well to prepare for MCM.

Today I will run as far as I can and I will not stop until I am spent.
I will run from my fears, and run from the pain.
Today, I will run and I will run without gain.
I will run, today, with a power to live.
I will run with my love and my pride and my hate.
I will run today and no one will know that I am running away and no one said “go.”
When I run today, I will not think, my mind and thoughts will my legs overtake.
My muscles will pump and the blood will flow through, my joints will ache and my body will drain.
But through all of this I will keep running, because when I run, to the road I’ve submit.
My mind will be gone in its own quite place, and no noise will I hear nor smile will I fake.
Today I will run as strong as I can and today I will run with no finish line.

--Laura Muhawesh

My knee hurts. My left knee that is. An acute pain under the patella, which is interesting as last summer my right knee had the same feeling. I will displace my cleat on the left biking shoe outward as to align my knee over my foot.

Running before sunrise is better than any other time of day. The peaceful, crisp air awakens the senses. The purple above the tree line foreshadows what is to come later in the day. Head west to start - run into the darkness, back to where it was safe in a cold, dark room. Finish toward the rising sun that is warm on a cold, March morning.

I am a runner.

Click for supersized (no pun intended) view

Click the image for a supersized view.

Balance

After finding a place to live for the next year, the Mrs. and I attended the Science Museum of Virginia to pass some time on Sunday. One of the rooms dealt with the different systems found in the human body and major exhibits on the cardiovascular, digestive, nervous and endocrine systems were found. Among these though were smaller displays on genes, DNA, eyesight and muscle movement. Now as someone who enjoys winning, at even minute things like FreeCell, during competition, the Balancing Act exhibit proved to satisfy my thirst for success.

The apparatus consisted of a diamond steel plate atop the rounded face of a cylinder with two sensors on the bottom side of the plate. Simply, when tipped the circuit would short and the clock would stop. Visitors to this exhibit were averaging 25-30 seconds of balance before quitting because, hey, they can balance! Well, the Mrs. stepped up and popped off with a 40 second showing before stepping off in the same manner as the others. Not going to be outdone I hopped up, ready to show these people how to balance!

4.88 seconds was my longest time of my three trials.

Subsequently I had the fastest reaction time for the day of all Museum visitors. Boo-ya!