Wednesday, June 20, 2007

perceptu-AL

Wherein AL Makes It Right By Correcting the "Insensitive" Perception

After receiving correspondances from Fred and Heywood about my last two posts, I realize that, perhaps, they may feel disenfrachised, marginalized, ostracized, maybe even de-humanized. I want to make this right!

Boys, worry not. I accept you as you are. I love you, each and every gay fiber of you. If my posts seemed insensitive, it was just for humor's sake. I'm sorry. Here's something for you both:

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

disgrunt-AL

A Slight Return:

Wherein AL Realizes That Stallone Made Lots of Man on Man Movies

Ok, now I'm getting a bit worried. I mean, growing up, Stallone was the shit. I started pumping iron to look like him in (I think) 1979 or 80. I started running early mornings when I was 12, just hoping a crowd of kids and well wishers would follow me through the streets. I have this picture of me and a friend with our hair blown back "Stallone style" in '82 or so. All this was so I could pick up chicks. Stallone = chick magnet in the early 80s. No? Now, I'm doing a bit of revisit/research and I'm thinking he mighta been half-a-fag. What the fuck. I feel so used, so dirty.



















tri-ALS and tribulations

WHEREIN OUR HERO, AL, PICKS UP THE SLACK FOR THE OTHER TWO DOUCHEBAGS AND ACTUALLY UPLOADS CONTENT


Here I am, one week after my first tri of the season. I spent the last week in active recovery mode. I ran and swam and biked, but everything was at a lowered intensity level. Right now, I feel good and ready to go again. (Earlier in the week, I REALLY felt my almost 40 years. Everything hurt...even things I didn't know I used in the tri--my jaw muscles hurt, and I'm conscious of not tensing my face up.)

I'm doing another Olympic tri on 7/29: Patanella's Lumpy Pancake

So this week, real training begins. I'm training 6 days a week, really. One day--typically Monday--is mostly an off day with just a weight lifting session in the eve. The 6 "on" days feature a variety of doubles: AM and PM workouts. The week is a mix of different types runs, swims, bikes and lifts.

On the weight lifting...I do a full body circuit 3 times a week. I don't use a weight room, just old school moves that build/maintain strength and balance. This circuit involves, push ups, chins, planks, crunches, leg lifts, squats, reverse lunges, and some other dumbbell work. This weight component has really boosted my performance. I never realized (before tri) how much triathlon is a strength sport. I always knew that it was an endurance sport, but strength is a key component too. (This explains why triathletes don't "look" like marathoners though their competitions are often similar in length and, in part, make up.)

On another, somewhat related, note. Raise your hand if you ever watch "sports movies" to get you pumped up, in the mood, in the mindset. We all do, right? Without Limits, American Flyers, Hoosiers, Bull Durham etc etc We've all seen these, maybe gotten a charge out of them as we watch others put themselves through the paces (as we all do). Anyway, there I was last night. It was late-ish (10 PM) and I was having a post workout snack. I was surfing through the tube offerings when I came across Rocky III. "Wow...here's a great sports movie," I thought. I knew it was no cinematic masterpiece ("Rocky" was, though). But I was looking for a hokey, inspirational sport film (you know, little guy does impossible against impossible odds). Now, let me start this by saying that I have not seen Rocky III since the 80s (of that I'm certain). It came out in 1982. I saw it in the theater, and I don't think I've seen it since.

My thoughts on R III: if you're looking for a "pump" this movie can do it.

BUT you'll need to be gay.

Now listen, I've got nothing against a guy taking it in the back door. Look, I'm friends with Fred and Heywood. And I've heard all sort of talk about you bicycle boys and I still ride with some of you. HOWEVER, I think I completely missed all the thinly veiled homoerotica and the completely unveiled man on man action in this film the first time around. (I was 13 or 14 when I saw it, so cut me some slack.)

I may be stating the obvious, something you all knew already, but: THIS FILM IS A FAG FESTIVAL.