What a relaxing day, albeit - stayed up waaaay too late last night and stupidly started this year's cookbook (organizational only, assembling recipes, photos and roughly laying out the paper version for printing).

Woke up in the late morning/afternoon, piddled around the house then went out on a very short 32 mile stretch ride in preparation for tomorrow's Reston Century. Ran a few errands then stopped by for a brief appearance at my community's "end of summer luau" party. Was kinda lame - lotta people in makeup and just trying too hard to "hook up". They all looked like they spent 2 hours primping for this defining moment in the community calendar. I had a beer while gawking at the stupidity then eventually just rolled my eyes and left.

Came home and made a huge pasta dinner - woofed it down and decided to take a nap. I took what was supposed to be a short nap, but then found myself waking up at midnight - in a mad dash to assemble stuff to get prepared for the morning en route to the Reston Century:

• put race number on jersey
  
• lay out jersey, shorts, socks + cover shorts & t-shirt
  
• fill water bottles with a mix of 1/2 gatorade and 1/2 bottled water
  
• grab 5 GU carb packets
  
• charge cell phone & camera battery
  
• get ziplock bags for cell phone, cue sheet and wallet
  
• load bike and toolkit into car

Well, I'm looking forward to the Century tomorrow - I'll be a little tired, but it's a tame Century - some rolling hills, a few tough climbs - but alot of my buddies will be there - it will be fun.

Ahhh...thank freekin goodness it's Friday!

I have been waiting for this day for almost 3 weeks. Now I'm just brutally tired and giddy.

I headed into the office early to await the wrath of the succintity of office drama - but was welcomed to a strangely casual day. The ways that Fridays need to be. It was odd. I was able to casually get my work done and drive over to hand deliver a huge box of proposals, then followed by a few errands. The weather was very calm, just a little cloudy and warm. On my way back i got a call from the office - they were going to shut the office early (cool!) but I still had a few last minute things to follow up on. I managed to leave the office at 5pm as the last person standing - suited up and headed out on a really nice 2+ hour casual training ride out to Purcellville and back totalling 44 miles. The weather was exceptional and I had no worries of coming home in the dark.

Finished up and drove to the bike shop - my new master link tool was in, good timing - I needed to clean my bike. Swung by the grocery store to get a few provisions for the weekend - bananas, gatorade, deli meat, salad stuff, some shrimp and a case of beer (hee hee!).

Came home unloaded car, watered the garden and then cleaned/lubed my bike - sparkling clean. You could use my rear cog as silverware. FInished up and started on laundry (gee what an exciting Friday night) and cooked some shrimp over fettuccini with a basil lime butter sauce - oh sooo good. I gotta pack in the carbs for Sunday for the Reston Century. My cycling buddies and I are going to try to time trial & paceline the entire thing, including the "more hillier" 4 extra miles in under 5 hours. That's gonna be tough. I predict we'll finish in about 5 hours and 25 minutes. I know the route too well. This is gonna be just like a training ride - but stepped up, teamed with a few quick breaks. The weather has shifted with Hurricane Katrina down in Florida - we may have thunderstorms. Will see. I'm used to all of it.

Let's get this party started (whips out my checkbook to pay bills). Gotta love Friday evenings.

Comments: Post a Comment

Uh!...what a day. And a week. I'll be glad this week is over. Work has been utter hell....the only saving grace is that the workday just flies by...before I know it..it's past 6pm - I think it's only noon or 2pm.

Had a huge presentation we gave this morn to a great client - and it seemed to go well. Tons of preparation and stress over all the details (it's a 1/2 million dollar thing) - suits n ties, interactive powerpoint presentation, handouts, the whole 9 yards. We threw this whole thing together in less than a day and presented it this morn. I'm glad it's over - but now the real work comes.

photo by d. scott gregory Sunset 08252005 over deck click on photo to enlarge

I got off too late from work to meet up with my bike club (again) in Herndon - but I managed to bike out to Ashburn and meet up with them to finish the last 2 loops. Was PERFECT cycling weather - not hot, almost too nice. 38 miles all told.

Came home and went out on my deck to witness a really pretty sunset (pictured - click for a nice enlargement) and watered the garden. Just sat out there and chilled out until the sun went to bed while sipping an ice cold beer.

Tomorrow is Friday and it will be less stressful - even though my plat is full at work. I'll do a nice training ride afterwards and clean the bike to rear up for the Reston Century on Sunday. Will spend time at the pool (there's a community pool party on Saturday) - and just relax before Sunday.

Comments: Post a Comment

i am so farking tired.

work was a disgusting mess of stress - worked way too late.

had a nice training ride - but too short because it's now starting to get dark at 8pm.

Tomorrow will be equally horrid.

I cannot wait for the reston century this weekend to work off some stress.

fuckers.

Comments: Post a Comment

This was a great gem I found today, a map and elevation map of the Bridge to Bridge 2005 that I'm doing on September 18th - looks ....iono....a little intimidating. I look forward to the challenge.

Even though it was a beautiful day, it was hellish at work...but I had to break away for a frustrating afternoon at DMV...I hate that place...spent 2 hours waiting to finally get up to the desk to have my address changed on my drivers license (new pic too)...and registration renewal and address change on that too....took 10 mins...but sheesh..I hate DMV. Only one person was taking care of licensing - and this old cow with strained eyes took a 1/2 hour break between customers. No wonder those people have the stereotypes that they represents. Next time - will do it ONLINE. Screw them.

Reston Century 2005 cue sheet click on photo to enlarge

After work, I did a 44 miler out to Shirlington and back - perfect cycling weather. I stopped by Performance on the way back to pick up some new bike gloves (I have several...but I toggle between 3 pairs to allow them to properly dry between rides - big problem is that sweat makes them deteriorate) for my Reston Century this Sunday. The dude in the bike shop looked at my old gloves (sopping with sweat...falling apart...) and asked..."should I toss those?" I said, "naw...they have a few more days of life".

Finished up and came home after a few quick errands and dealt with domestic stuff. Time to relax and look forward to another stressful day at work. The map pictured (click to enlarge) is the cue sheet for the Reston Century this Sunday....you may be able to see the names of the places that I ordinarilly train at. I'll be doing the "more hilly" route - because I'm "the goat".

Comments: Post a Comment

photo by d. scott gregory Sunset 08052005 click on photo to enlarge

What a beautiful day. Was pleasant all day - both work, and training ride. Zero complaints here. I wanna just wrap my arms around mother nature and give her a huge ass hug.

For a monday, work went suprizingly smooth. No drama, no yelling, no hyperstress. Just a good day to catch up on things and be productive. I even managed to leave on time to go on a training ride. It was in the high 80s and just beaming outside to have me come sweat on the asphalt and wooded trailine. Saddled up with a buddy of mine from my cycling club, we headed out to Purcellville and back swapping stories and whatnot. He recently got married and was describing that it's taken a toll on his training - because his wife doesn't bike (yet understands the "lifestyle" of cycling - she resents it). Was sad to hear such a tale.

photo by d. scott gregory Flowerboxes and Sunset 08052005 click on photo to enlarge

Finished up and drove home to witness a beautiful sunset pictured (click to see full splendor) off my deck. Watered the garden and just sat out there planning what chores I need to tackle. I avoided the tasks and called one of my training buddies to see if she and her beau were planning to do the Reston Century this upcoming weekend. We chatted for about an hour swapping stories of training crap (she and her beau are both triatheletes), and was sad to hear that they won't be doing the RBC but will meet up later next month for a casual training ride.

photo by d. scott gregory Rider 18, Reston Century click on photo to enlarge

Got my Reston Century race packet yesterday - as I mentioned in yesterday's blog, I'm #18 (pictured). I feel like I'm 18 (in a 37 year old body).

Time to cook dinner and try to relax before another work day. Chores can wait.

Comments: Post a Comment

Woke up late this morning completely sore from yesterday's century. Popped 5 Advil and milled around the house doing domestic crap, paying bills and then prepped for a quick 34 mile stretchout ride.

photo by d. scott gregory Praying Mantis click on photo to enlarge

It was quite beautiful out - sunny and hot. Managed to take the leisurely enuff spin then come home for a quick dip in the pool. Showered and headed out to my parents house to help them unload the car from their weeklong trip to their vacation house. Then my dad and I tag teamed to mow the jungle of a lawn. It was needing a serious haircut. Saw this really cool praying mantis (pictured) on one of the flowered plants on the side of the house - it was 6" long. They are strange graceful creatures.

We both finished up, hot n sweaty - came in and I made them a quick dinner. Homemade gazpacho and some turkey pastrami, red onion, red & yellow pepper & feta wraps. Very healthy. We chatted for a long while and then I got a big bag of basil & tomatos from their garden. Yum!

I finally got my Reston Century ride packet - for next weekend. I'm rider #18. How funny - #18 in about prolly 4,000 people that will ride (only about 1,500 will do the full Century, some will do the metric (63 miles) and half metric century (31 miles). I hope we have good weather. The route will be the same as last year - a route I'm far too familiar with.

Sunday night anxiety settles in - gonna be a difficult work week.

Comments: Post a Comment

03/07/2004 - 03/14/2004 ::: 03/14/2004 - 03/21/2004 ::: 03/21/2004 - 03/28/2004 ::: 03/28/2004 - 04/04/2004 ::: 04/04/2004 - 04/11/2004 ::: 04/11/2004 - 04/18/2004 ::: 04/18/2004 - 04/25/2004 ::: 04/25/2004 - 05/02/2004 ::: 05/02/2004 - 05/09/2004 ::: 05/09/2004 - 05/16/2004 ::: 05/16/2004 - 05/23/2004 ::: 05/23/2004 - 05/30/2004 ::: 05/30/2004 - 06/06/2004 ::: 06/06/2004 - 06/13/2004 ::: 06/13/2004 - 06/20/2004 ::: 06/20/2004 - 06/27/2004 ::: 06/27/2004 - 07/04/2004 ::: 07/04/2004 - 07/11/2004 ::: 07/11/2004 - 07/18/2004 ::: 07/18/2004 - 07/25/2004 ::: 07/25/2004 - 08/01/2004 ::: 08/01/2004 - 08/08/2004 ::: 08/08/2004 - 08/15/2004 ::: 08/15/2004 - 08/22/2004 ::: 08/22/2004 - 08/29/2004 ::: 08/29/2004 - 09/05/2004 ::: 09/05/2004 - 09/12/2004 ::: 09/12/2004 - 09/19/2004 ::: 09/19/2004 - 09/26/2004 ::: 09/26/2004 - 10/03/2004 ::: 10/03/2004 - 10/10/2004 ::: 10/10/2004 - 10/17/2004 ::: 10/17/2004 - 10/24/2004 ::: 10/24/2004 - 10/31/2004 ::: 10/31/2004 - 11/07/2004 ::: 11/07/2004 - 11/14/2004 ::: 11/14/2004 - 11/21/2004 ::: 11/21/2004 - 11/28/2004 ::: 11/28/2004 - 12/05/2004 ::: 12/05/2004 - 12/12/2004 ::: 12/12/2004 - 12/19/2004 ::: 12/19/2004 - 12/26/2004 ::: 12/26/2004 - 01/02/2005 ::: 01/02/2005 - 01/09/2005 ::: 01/09/2005 - 01/16/2005 ::: 01/16/2005 - 01/23/2005 ::: 01/23/2005 - 01/30/2005 ::: 01/30/2005 - 02/06/2005 ::: 02/06/2005 - 02/13/2005 ::: 02/13/2005 - 02/20/2005 ::: 02/20/2005 - 02/27/2005 ::: 02/27/2005 - 03/06/2005 ::: 03/06/2005 - 03/13/2005 ::: 03/13/2005 - 03/20/2005 ::: 03/20/2005 - 03/27/2005 ::: 03/27/2005 - 04/03/2005 ::: 04/03/2005 - 04/10/2005 ::: 04/10/2005 - 04/17/2005 ::: 04/17/2005 - 04/24/2005 ::: 04/24/2005 - 05/01/2005 ::: 05/01/2005 - 05/08/2005 ::: 05/08/2005 - 05/15/2005 ::: 05/15/2005 - 05/22/2005 ::: 05/22/2005 - 05/29/2005 ::: 05/29/2005 - 06/05/2005 ::: 06/05/2005 - 06/12/2005 ::: 06/12/2005 - 06/19/2005 ::: 06/19/2005 - 06/26/2005 ::: 06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005 ::: 07/03/2005 - 07/10/2005 ::: 07/10/2005 - 07/17/2005 ::: 07/17/2005 - 07/24/2005 ::: 07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005 ::: 07/31/2005 - 08/07/2005 ::: 08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005 ::: 08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005 ::: 08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005 ::: 08/28/2005 - 09/04/2005 ::: 09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005 ::: 09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005 ::: 09/18/2005 - 09/25/2005 ::: 09/25/2005 - 10/02/2005 ::: 10/02/2005 - 10/09/2005 ::: 10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005 ::: 10/16/2005 - 10/23/2005 ::: 10/23/2005 - 10/30/2005 ::: 10/30/2005 - 11/06/2005 ::: 11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005 ::: 11/13/2005 - 11/20/2005 ::: 11/20/2005 - 11/27/2005 ::: 11/27/2005 - 12/04/2005 ::: 12/04/2005 - 12/11/2005 ::: 12/11/2005 - 12/18/2005 ::: 12/18/2005 - 12/25/2005 ::: 12/25/2005 - 01/01/2006 ::: 01/01/2006 - 01/08/2006 ::: 01/08/2006 - 01/15/2006 ::: 01/15/2006 - 01/22/2006 ::: 01/22/2006 - 01/29/2006 ::: 01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006 ::: 02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006 ::: 02/12/2006 - 02/19/2006 ::: 02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006 ::: 02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006 ::: 03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006 ::: 03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006 ::: 03/19/2006 - 03/26/2006 ::: 03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006 ::: 04/02/2006 - 04/09/2006 ::: 04/09/2006 - 04/16/2006 ::: 04/16/2006 - 04/23/2006 ::: 04/23/2006 - 04/30/2006 ::: 04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006 ::: 05/07/2006 - 05/14/2006 ::: 05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006 ::: 05/21/2006 - 05/28/2006 ::: 05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006 ::: 06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006 ::: 06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006 ::: 06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006 ::: 06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006 ::: 07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006 ::: 07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006 ::: 07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006 ::: 07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006 ::: 07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006 ::: 08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006 ::: 08/13/2006 - 08/20/2006 ::: 08/20/2006 - 08/27/2006 ::: 08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006 ::: 09/03/2006 - 09/10/2006 ::: 09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006 ::: 09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006 ::: 09/24/2006 - 10/01/2006 ::: 10/01/2006 - 10/08/2006 ::: 10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006 ::: 10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006 ::: 12/31/2006 - 01/07/2007 ::: 10/03/2010 - 10/10/2010 :::