Last week in review

Here's how triathlon training went for the week:

Monday:

Goal: 16 minute swim, 28 minute bike

Accomplished: Neither (oops...but it was the 4th of July. I floated on the aforementioned floatie)

Tuesday:

Goal: Rest/Yoga

Accomplished: Yoga/Biked about ten miles with all of my bike commuting that day

Wednesday:

Goal: 26 minute swim, 45 minute bike

Accomplished: 35 minute swim in the morning, 9 mile bike ride in the evening

Thursday:

Goal: 16 minute run, weights

Accomplished: 65 minute mountain bike ride on my Sanction, which is so heavy it is kind of like lifting weights.

Friday:

Goal: 53 minute bike ride

Accomplished: 10 mile bike ride, 35 minute swim

Saturday:

Goal: Rest day

Accomplished: "open water swim"

Sunday:

Goal: 26 minute run

Accomplished: Laundry, napping

I feel pretty good about last week, other than the fact that I didn't run at all. I enjoy biking and swimming so much more that it's difficult to get myself to run. I am off to a good start this week, as I went for a trail run yesterday with Katie and my roommate Allison. We pushed each other, and it was a perfect night for a run, other than the mosquito swarms.

CAMPING

After the craziness that is 4th of July weekend in Tahoe:

I needed to do something a little more low key. Sleeping in a tent and swimming at a (slightly) deserted beach were exactly what my body required. Luckily, a couple of Katie's friends were visiting from the Bay Area, and they had scored a coveted summer site at the campground at Sugar Pine Point State Park.

We left early (too early) Saturday morning for the West Shore, and we ended up arriving something like 4 hours before we could check in. We were more than happy to hang out on the beach until we could set up camp.

Secret Beach:
I need to try stand up paddle boarding. It looks like so much fun.

These pictures don't do justice to the color of the water in person. It is seriously turquoise. Like tropical ocean turquoise. Except not warm:

Perhaps Katie and I have acclimated to Lake Taco, but we definitely didn't think that the water was that cold. We spent a lot of time in the water, practicing our "open water swimming" for the triathlon.

Better than our last "open water swim" which involved pool floaties and cans of beer.

Reading by the campfire.

It's a little early for headlamps, but we wanted to be prepared. Katie may or may not have whiskey in her orange plastic cup. Hint: she does.

I'm just eating a Tofurky sausage (#2 of the night) out of a plastic cup. No big deal.

Three Things Thursday

1.) I know, I'm late to the game, but I just finished watching season one of True Blood, and I am hooked. It has a compelling plot and really attractive people in various stages of nakedness. That's all I'm looking for in a show.

Forget Edward, I am totally Team Eric. (from here)

2. I desperately need to do laundry right now. I am completely out of athletic socks, I only have uncomfortable/"sexy" underwear left, and I have been using my Dick Towel for showering, instead of hilarity.

3. Triathlon training has been going really well. I've been hitting all my work outs this week, and I am so sore. Especially between my shoulders (from swimming?). Due to the tightness in my back, I finally went to yoga in the first time in forever. This winter, I was really good about going weekly, and my doctor and chiropractor told me that I should definitely go for my back. Sadly, I haven't been since April or so. Because the schedule at my gym hasn't been updated, I didn't realize that there's someone new teaching the Tuesday night class. It was definitely more of a power/flow type than the more low-key type I was expecting. It was faster paced and more difficult, but probably really good for me. And now I have a new goal- headstands!

(from here)

Missed Connection?

To the guy in the truck who yelled. “Hey, bitch!” at me as I was biking home from the gym.

You: Male, late twenties to early thirties, black sleeveless shirt, tribal armband tattoo obviously dating from the time when your bicep muscle to fat ratio favored the muscle side of things, lip bulging with fresh chew.

Me: Female, late twenties, riding an awesome green and yellow Cannondale and wearing a white bike helmet (safety first!) waiting to cross the street at the corner of Lake Tahoe Blvd and Al Tahoe.

I considered your outburst during the rest of my ride home. While I first thought that I had unknowingly offended you – perhaps I strongly resemble an ex-girlfriend; maybe I had beaten you at bar trivia – I quickly realized what your exclamation must have been.

It was a declaration of affection. While you yelled, “Hey, bitch!” what you actually meant was “Oh, hey girl, I think you’re smoking hot in those extremely flattering gym clothes and that face-obscuring helmet. I’d like to take you out for beers and then try to get in your pants.”

I have to admit, “Hey, bitch!” is a lot quicker to say.

Though I am extremely sad I did not realize the true intent of your message immediately, I’m glad that I finally figured it out. While I am flattered by your interest in me, your truck is size “Overcompensating for Something”, so I’m going to have to turn you down.

Thanks though, and maybe work on your pick up lines. Other women might not be so perceptive, and just think that you’re a huge asshole.

Ultimate Break Up Mix

One thing that I am good at is making themed mix cd's. A good mix has just the right combination of classics and current hits, and hits a certain tone just right.

While some people think that break ups are a good time to wallow*, I personally think that a break up mix needs to be mainly upbeat, bouncy, fun, and sing-alongable.

I made this mix a couple of weeks ago for a friend, but as I've recently encountered some relationship upheaval, I have been blasting this in Strawberry as I drive with the windows down, or during my workouts or while I'm cooking, etc., etc.

So here it is, my Ultimate Break Up Summer 2011 Mix:

1. Fuck You by Cee Lo Green. Obviously the unedited version.

2. We R Who We R by Ke$ha.

3. Goodies by Ciara.

4. None of Your Business by Salt n' Pepa. Because if you don't want your Goodies to stay in the jar, it's None of Their Business.

5. Bottoms Up by Trey Songz featuring Nicki Minaj. Trey Songz can be my alcohol hero any time.

6. Fuck the Pain Away by Peaches. Break Up Mixes should not be appropriate for children.

7. Maneater by Hall & Oates. Just thinking about John Oates's mustache makes me feel better.

8. I Don't Feel Like Dancing by the Scissor Sisters.

9. How Many Licks? by Lil' Kim featuring Sisqo.

10. Tightrope by Janelle Monae featuring Big Boi. I can't embed, but do yourself a favor and go watch the video!

11. Everybody Get Up by Pitbull.

12. Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. Also a wonderful 80s movie featuring Sarah Jessica Parker in her best role.

13. Raining Men by Rhianna featuring Nicki Minaj. How was S&M a single, and this not?

14. We Run This by Missy Elliot.

15. I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston.

16. Hey Baby by Pitbull featuring T-Pain.

17. I'm the Best by Nicki Minaj. Can you tell that I love myself some Nicki?

18. Freakum Dress by Beyonce. This is what I always think about when I listen to this song.

I love America's Best Dance Crew an unreasonable amount. Especially the first few seasons.

19. A Toast to Men by Willa Ford. I don't know why this song isn't a more well known girl power/man bashing anthem.

*Sometimes, though, you do just need to wallow. And when it is that time, the perfect soundtrack is, of course, the entirety of Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morrisette. Oh, Alanis...how I love you...even when Jodi makes fun of me for it.

Scenes from this weekend

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Mine consisted of a lot of sun, Sweet Tea Vodka, biking, beer, too many tourists, and swimming in Lake Taco.

I finally took my new full suspension bike onto Corral/Sidewinder trail. It's definitely noticeably heavier for the 2 mile ride up to the trail head.

Halfway up!

I'm excited to finally be at the top. I had to get off and push uphill twice with my heavier bike.

The view towards the end of Corral Trail

The very end of the trail, before it intersects with a gravel road that dumps you back at the parking area.

Enjoying beers in the sun at the new outdoor bar at MacDuff's.

My sweet 4th of July outfit

Katie's awesome outfit.

We are so serious about our patriotism.

Katie works in a building with a private beach and balcony overlooking the lake, (My office looks at a trailer park and a dumpster. I am so jealous.) so we headed there for 4th of July festivities. I spent a lot of time on a floatie in Lake Taco, drinking my beer, only coming to shore to eat more Smart Food. Eventually, more of Katie's coworkers and friends showed up, and we had a nice little beach party going on. Eventually, we moved inside and watched one of "the top 5 fireworks shows in the US" from their office balcony. I don't know who votes on the top fireworks shows in the nation, but the Lake Tahoe one was pretty impressive.

Then I walked home and laughed at all the cars stuck in the horrible traffic along Hwy 50.

Change of plans

I'm not going to Santa Barbara this weekend, because Dan and I broke up.