Summer of Dan

If Cartman played soccer

My cousin Melissa texted me and said our indoor soccer game got bounced (no pun intended...ok maybe a small one) from 7pm to 11pm. I wasn't planning on playing with my torn calf and all but with the time bump we'll be down a number of players. It's shown a lot of progress in the last week and I was about to do some hills on the treadmill last night at the gym.

Quick background info: my cousin and I are super close, even our DNA is a bit closer than normal cousins. My dad is her dad's brother, my mom is her mom's sister. We look alike a bit, just like her older sister looks like my brother. A lot actually. 

And the GD? Our team name is the Gryffendorks. Yes, I came up with it. And hell yes the first goal I ever score I will scream Stupify! It's ok if you defriend me now or never talk to me again. I get it.

The sport is completely foreign to me, I'm used to running full speed at people with a complete reckless abandon and not thinking twice about it. Melissa told me she'll have me standing in front of the opposing net to be a wall and cherry pick when the ball comes to me. Less running, less chance of reinjuring I guess, but I'm hoping the compression sleeve I will have will help the healing process as well as protect it. Fingers crossed. 

 

And so it begins...

I have to hand it to the early gymmers. You know, the people that are deciding to get back on the wagon, start working out again, buy new sneakers, and start their new years resolution before the new year. Major props to those people.

But seriously man - why did you show up today reeking of Fritos? Do you work at Frito Lay? Did you lose a bet and have to swim in a pool of Fritos? Were you a giant Frito for Halloween and covered yourself in corn oil and salt and haven't been able to wash it off? 

And the woman wearing the dressy sequin shirt. Honestly. Best choice of clothing? You almost blinded me when I was on the treadmill. Did you come from a dinner party and just think to yourself, "Geez, I REALLY should workout LIKE RIGHT NOW" and you didn't have time to go home to change? Because that's pretty much the only logical explanation for that.

I really am happy to see people taking an active change in their lives and their health. It takes a lot to make that conscious decision to sign up and take action. But it takes a lot to also decide whether you should smell like a giant Frito or dress up like Neil Diamond when you go to the gym.

Just saying.

 

The best part of waking up...

is definitely not going to the gym and working out. Granted, I love getting it out of the way. I love having my afternoons and evenings free. I love having the sense of accomplishment early on in my day.

But...

I hate getting tired at 10:30am and then at 2:00pm. I hate feeling like I'm walking through a dream. 

And above all...

I hate people that say that working out in the morning gives you energy. Because they lie. A LOT. Sure, running on a treadmill will wake you up in the morning and so will lifting heavy. In the moment it does wake you up.

BUT YOU DON'T GET ENERGY.

Lies!!! Anyone that tells you that you should punch them right in the throat and drop them into a river. Never believe anyone that tells you that. Ever. Especially from that moment going forward. They are untrustworthy, evil, lying human beings.

The dog days are not over

I'm not sure what possessed me to go running today in 85 degree weather with close to 100% humidity, but I learned a few things:

Things I Hate

• People randomly beep/swerve at you to scare you
• People that randomly throw things at you (ie: cigarettes, soda cans, Slurpees)
• People that don't know what side of the road to ride their bikes on
• Having your hamstring ball up on you when you are doing your post-run stretch

 

Things I Love

• Running through sprinklers
• Good music to run to
• An awesome song coming on at the right time to help you when you are struggling
• Running as the sun goes down

It felt good to run 3.5 miles, not during it of course, but after all was said and done. I didn't think I would be able to pull it off, when I started and I was stiff and achey from football practice yesterday but sometimes good things happen when you least expect them.

This crazy ass sport

A few months back, the Niff got into cycling. We invested in a bike for her that she can both grow with and at the same time is considered a top notch bike that she can learn on and not have to fret about the small stuff. What people might not know about the Niff is when she is interested in something, she goes all out - she spends hours researching about a subject, learning as much as she can, forming her own opinions about it, and creating her own. This goes for anything she is interested in. No one I know does it like her. She did it before she started running, she did it before she started lifting, hell, she even does it when she hears about a new healthy yogurt that is as thick as ice cream. 

Seriously.

We bought her bike, pedals, shoes, helmet, gloves, bike shorts, jersey, water bottles, pump, tools, everything you can imagine and then some. 

But she had no one to ride regularly with. And this is a sport you want someone to have your back at all possible times, because something can go wrong at any moment when you are out there - blown tire, mechanical failure, getting lost.

About a month and a half ago it was like the Godfather himself singled me out and made me an offer I couldn't refuse - if I was ever to get a bike, now was the time, a deal would be made that would save me a shitload of money. I had a bunch of money squirreled away for a camera I have been pining for for as long as I can remember, so I did the logical thing.

I bought the bike.

The camera would have to wait, the Niff needed someone to drag ass well behind her, fall over in front of her to make her laugh, almost die when my pedal shot off, and most recently, have a squirrel literally run up my leg while riding (only harm done was psychological, to both myself and the furry little guy).

 
 

Best investment ever.

Twenty

The Niff and I went for the maiden voyage of my new road bike this weekend. It's way lighter than my old 10 speed I passed down to my sister. I love it. It's a challenge for me, but still is fun because let's face it, who doesn't like flying down a street as fast as they can go?

On tape for tonight is 20 miles around town. Some decent elevation. 

 
 

If the Niff were to ride solo I bet she would finish in a little over an hour. With me dragging her time down, I'm guessing about 2 hours, maybe 2 hours and 15.

With some more riding though I am thinking eventually I won't be just the fat kid chasing down the hot chick on a bike.

Decompression in 3...2...1...

It's been a while since I've had time to write anything of substance here. Between work, the gym, and football, my free time has been a scarce commodity. I'm looking forward to having time to do things I want to do.

• All the work I put in for the Annual Conference at work was not wasted. There was an 11th hour change of venue due to a main water main break at the Mount Washington Hotel but by some miracle the Mountain View Grand was able to accommodate us in every way. Amazing. Gorgeous hotel, gorgeous views, fantastic staff and awesome food.
  
  My session on Social Media went as well as I could have hoped. First time speaking on behalf of our organization and I think for the most part it was well received.
  
• I bought a road bike so I can take off with the Niff at a moment's notice. It's not as light or as fast or as anything as hers really, but it's fantastic. I'm looking forward to strapping a Gorillapod onto the handlebars with our little camera and touring the state on it.
  
• Football is fast approaching. Our first real full game scrimmage is June 19th and I am so stoked. Our offensive line got a huge upgrade when James decided to play and the trenches are what need to be your strength if you want to win a championship and even moreso if you want to repeat.
  
• I just found out the the new mappack for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 drops on June 3rd...what a fantastic 30th birthday present! Thanks Activision!!!
  
• LOST is getting fucking crazy. I am excited, worried, and sad all at the same time. I might need therapy when it's all over.
  
• Do yourself a favor and run to the nearest Hannford's and buy yourself a jar of this. You can thank me later. Just leave me a jar or two please.
  
     
  
• I think I need to ween myself off the 10-12 hours of sleep I get every night so when I can really only manage 5 or 6  I am not a zombie the next day. But dammit, I like a nice warm bed...
  
• Three new stations I am loving right now on Pandora - Pinback, Idiot Pilot, and The Hush Sound. Very unique and interesting artists.
  
• I love my Moleskine. I think when I die the Niff is going to rummage through it and wonder why all I see to write about is food and make To Do lists, accompanied by some awful sketches.
  
  Actually, she won't wonder. 
  
  
   
   
• It's good to be a Boston fan. Sox have been playing well lately, Celtics beatdown LeBron and the Cavs, and if the Bruins win tonight against the Flyers they somehow get home ice advantage against the hated Canadiens. Just need to seal the deal.

Awesome weekend on tap. Time to enjoy it.

Remember

Last year I ran a personal best 5 miler in Boston. I finished faster than I ever could have hoped for, the weather was absolutely perfect and I felt strong. I haven't been able to train as much because I haven't had time to buy new running shoes (this is actually a legit excuse, if you run you know what I am talking about). I've been focused on football and lifting and I figured I will run it next year when I have more time to train. I figured I could just wait for the Niff to finish her half marathon and hang out.

But that won't happen. Because I registered today. 

 

I don't think I'll be able to do it in less than 50 minutes like I did last year and I'm ok with that. It doesn't mean I won't try, it just means I won't be disappointed if I don't get there. It's a fantastic run, there is nothing like it for me: running through downtown Boston, in the streets that carry thousands of people every day around the city, a place where you feel the history when you run through it. It's awesome and I wouldn't pass it up. It's for a fantastic cause as well, for all the fallen police officers in Massachusetts and it's amazing when you are running and along the route you have officers actually thanking you for running. No matter what the weather, no matter what my time, no matter what happens, it will be worth it.

And who knows, maybe I will surprise myself and beat my own PR... 

Look at these nuts

After working out this morning at the gym, I'm pretty sure if I ever forgot my iPod at home I will have no problems driving back to get it.

Aside from SportsCenter, the only thing that was on TV were infomercials.

BAD ONES.

I don't hate on infomericials because without them I wouldn't know who Billy Mays was, what product is linked to "Set it and FORGET IT!!!", and how awesome your nuts are when you use the Slapchop. 

But holy shit. Informercials that are selling books on the secrets to fat loss, a total full body 3 minute workout, or how to keep your dick hard for a month and a half just don't appeal to me, especially when I'm trying to workout.

Redemption in July

I missed my chance to best my 6:58 mile this year in my favorite race of the year. I popped something on the bottom of my foot the day before and it felt like I was running with a severe cramp on the bottom of my foot each and every step. It sucks, it's a fun race that is over in no time at all and it's almost as if it were created for me.

And I'm happy to say I won't have to wait an entire year for another shot at running downhill for a mile to see if I can beat my time.

There is now a sister race in Manchester that will be run in July, barring something football related, that I will be able to run in. Humidity could be a major factor, but that might actually help me. Whenever I run in the cold my EIA (exercise induced asthma) rears it's ugly head. It slows me down bigtime because I can't get enough air in or out, and I really really feel it in my legs, probably because not enough oxygen is getting to them.

Now all I need to do is wait and hope it's early in July and not later.