Wasn't it really nice...

how during the Oscars last night, John Stewart brought Marketa Irglova back out so she could say her thank yous. I watched this years awards show in it's entirety, which might have been the first time I did so. I did this primarily because I wanted to see how Glenn Hansard and Marketa Irglova would do. Much as I dislike the Frames, (Hansard's band, overwrought, all dynamics and no melody), "Falling Slowly" is a great song, and I loved the movie. It really hit home to me. I spent a chunk of my late teens and early twenties busking on the streets of various Irish cities and like Hansard's character, at night if things were slow, I'd try out my own songs. However I never had a cute Czech girl come up and flirt with me. Lots of drunks and ne'er do wells though...

Tri Training

I am fried today. This triathlon lark has burned me out. I cycled 40k on Friday and for shits and giggles ran 3 miles afterwards. Just to see how it feels like. It felt downright weird; my legs were jelly, although aerobically I was fine, if a little tired. I then rode 52k on Sunday, and today I couldn’t even crawl across the room, even with a gun pointed at my head. I my have overdone it slightly. A wine soaked dinner at a friend’s house until 1:30am on Saturday night didn't help. If I am serious about this (and I am), I may have to trim back my social life a tad. The ride was worth it though; yesterday was gorgeous, 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky and no wind. Perfect cycling weather. My hangover gave up the ghost after the first hill climb.

The good thing is that my indoor wattage training on the stationary bike is paying off, I am feeling much stronger, and was easily able to keep up with the folks I was riding with, all of whom race and ride more often than I do. A few weeks back I would fall behind on the climbs, last weekend I felt strong and instead of being completely shagged when I got to the top, I recovered almost instantly, a sure sign of increasing fitness. Still, I can barely lift my head off my desk today. Part of the problem is I didn’t refuel properly, 2 slices of pizza does not a triathlete's diet make! I have a carb drink for the ride, but I really should get a carb / protein drink for immediately afterwards. I have been told that I will feel much better faster if I do this.

This week, I going to work on a training schedule with a friend, who up to recently ran a company that trained endurance athletes, and I will hit the pool for my first swim session. Swimming is my strong suit, I swam competitively for years, and most people doing a first triathlon haven't ever swam in competition before, so I expect I should be able to do the 1500 meters without too much training.

Until then, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Super Tuesday

For the first time in a long time, California counts in primary season. It seems ridiculous that a up to now a small state like New Hampshire should have such importance attached to the outcome of it's primary election, but that the most populous, diverse, economically successful state was an after thought. Anyhow, that's an argument for another day. Today I am in a political pickle. I'm normally very decisive, it is both my great strength and my great weakness. However, as of this morning I have turned into vacillating fence sitter, unable to make up my mind: Hillary or Barack, Obama or Clinton. It's a good choice to have. It is thrilling to think that regardless of who wins the Dem's nomination, there will be a strong candidate fighting to be the next president. However, I am torn. Obama is intoxicating, hope is strong stuff. I love the idea of a change. But, I am worried about his lack of experience. I also feel that the world is in a precarious position, and Clinton's experience is comforting. I think she could do great things, her gumption through all that has been thrown at her is truly impressive. She has been a great Senator. But the bile that she generates could also hamstring her ability to accomplish important goals, and the I am worried about oligarchic overtones of another political family yet again taking the White house. I think I will be weighing things up right until to the moment I put my tick beside one of their names this evening. Bob Herbert wrote in the New York Times today, that there are few things more powerful than the winds of history. I'll be mulling that over all day.