Centenni-AL

A few things to report...

First, the back injury is really progressing. The pain is mostly gone. I've still got some ache and some tingling down the leg at times, but none of the real agony I had after the injury. And much of my flexibility and strength has returned. I'm walking, swimming, biking, stretching, and doing light weight training to rehab and strengthen the body.

Second, I've broken 100 on the new bike. I'm happy to report that in 2 weeks I've logged 125 miles on the Sampson. These are not big miles, but I'm pretty happy with my progress. My standard ride is a 15 miler now, and I am moving along pretty well through a mix of hills and flats. Next week, I'm going to bump up to 20 mile rides and see how I feel.

Third, Monday I go for my (hopefully) last round of epidur-AL steroids. I really hope it is my last!!! I can't begin to tell you how rough these are on the system. Maybe it is just me but I have been majorly side-effected (as I've mentione before):

My resting heart rate (usually at 48 bpm) is now about 74. I get these heart racing moments where, inexplicably, I feel like I've just run up a flight of stairs. I have trouble falling asleep, and I wake up, frequently, with my heart pounding away. I get hot flashes (to accompany the heart racing) where I'm suddenly bathed in sweat. And I am one moody motherfucker! Right now (at the end of a cycle of 'roids) I'm so edgy and irritable. And, frequently, I'm in these black moods. (I think of them as my "grrrrrr, FUCK OFF!" moods.) I'm willing to bet that after Monday (next set of injections) the emotional roller coaster will level for a while, and I'll feel great again...for a while. SUCKS! BUT...it's better than back surgery and better than the pain and debilitation I was going through.

I'm a doper. What can I do?



And speaking of dopers, how 'bout that TDF? What fun!



Here's an interesting essay that suggests that maybe the TDF should say au revoir for a while.

All for now...

chemic-AL

In which AL says, "Roids are rough."

I've got more chemicals flowing through me than the Festina team in '98. I've gone through 2 rounds or oral steroids and 2 epidural roid injections in the spine. The bad news is I am seriously side effected: irritable as hell, insomniac-AL, hot flashing all the time, anxious and jumpy. The good news is my back is doing much better. My symptoms now are intermittent light ache that travels down the leg, some weakness on the left side, and periodic numbness and tingling. This is a MAJOR IMPROVEMENT. 3 weeks ago I was essentially crippled on the left side and in agony. I've even started to get out and about a bit. I walked for a 1/2 hour yesterday. I swam a bit the other day (floundering mostly). And......

TODAY I HAD MY FIRST ROAD RIDE SINCE THE INJURY!!!! And I am psyched.

Like a kid on Christmas morning, I unpacked my new Sampson Road Racing Bike this morning.





Now I must thank Freddy for his help with customizing the build kit for me and with the wheel build specs. He advised me well, and I absolutely love the build:

The bike is a Ti frame with a Campy Centaur group (except Chorus brake/shifters). The wheels: Mavic Open Pros, Centaur hubs, 14-15 DB spokes.

It took me about an hour to put it together. I had a wee bit of trouble with a USE Alien seatpost. These big clumsy fingers weren't working well with the rail clamps. Anyway, got 'er done:





I got out for a nice easy 10 mile ride. WHAT A DREAM!!! I've just never ridden anything like it. Responsive, smooth, absolutely plush, but still rigid and really light. Just unreal road feel and control and response. I'm ecstatic. And, even more importantly, my body responded well. I had only some back fatigue afterward but no pain or numbness or return of symptoms.(I left the steerer long and stacked the stem up a bit. I am going to take it as easy as I can on the back for a while. I can always cut and remove the spacers.) I'm very psyched. a home run...er...yellow shirt...all the way around.

The game plan from here: in two weeks I will get another shot in the spine. If the symptoms continue to diminish or remain as they are, no surgery. If they return/get worse, we'll re-evaluate. The good thing is I can start back to modified activity and muscle rehab.

Hey...anyone ever do any pool running? Not deep water running. I'm talking about the shallow water stuff. Any info appreciated.

--AL

Word Fun

From the Washington Post:

>>>>>>
The American Family Association obviously didn't foresee the problems that might arise with its strict policy to always replace the word "gay" with "homosexual" on the Web site of its Christian news outlet, OneNewsNow. The group's automated system for changing the forbidden word wound up publishing a story about a world-class sprinter named "Tyson Homosexual" who qualified this week for the Beijing Olympics.

The problem: Tyson's real last name is Gay. Therefore, OneNewsNow's reliable software changed the Associated Press story about Tyson Gay's amazing Olympic qualifying trial to read this way:

Tyson Homosexual was a blur in blue, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has.
His time of 9.68 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials Sunday doesn't count as a world record, because it was run with the help of a too-strong tailwind. Here's what does matter: Homosexual qualified for his first Summer Games team and served notice he's certainly someone to watch in Beijing.

"It means a lot to me," the 25-year-old Homosexual said. "I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me."
<<<<<<<<<

This reminds Moveitfred of the time The Modesto Star Express ran a story on Heywood. Something about Woody single-handedly pulling a driver and his mistress to safety from a horrific I-5 raisin truck explosion.

Tired of jr. high pranksters always making light of "potty words" that appeared in hard news copy, the editors installed a similar software program that flagged the "blo" in our hero's name and turned it into JaFellatiome.

You go to Heywood's house these days and you'll see copies of the story framed all over the walls with the "fellatio" carefully struck out and the word "blo" neatly written in underneath.

Test 'Em

Boys, Moveitfred knows you two're still struggling to shed that off-season weight.

You might want to consider this, just as an approach to solving that annoying bounce (until, you know, you get it all taken care of).

Moveitfred suggests going big and hard, if you know what he means.

biblic-AL

The new Sampson I'm having built up. Doing it with a Centaur/Chorus group. (Fuck you, I refuse to say "gruppo." And I don't go to Starbucks, but if i did, I'd only say "large." )

herniat-AL

In which Al says, "OW! FUCK!"

I have fucked myself good and hard. 2 weeks ago, while ripping up flooring, carrying in wallboard, moving in and out cabinets, moving appliances, I severely herneated 2 discs in my back. This caused severe impingement on the nerve and essentially crippled me.

I'm doing a lot better now. I'm still in a good deal of pain and am not moving well. I still have a lot of limitation on movement and numbness/tingling down my left side. My tri season is over. BUT...The good news is that I am responding well to steroid therapy (2nd round of oral right now). Next week, I'll probably have a process where a specialist will use a fluoroscope and go in and inject 'roids right into the herneation. This is supposed to be very effective. Then we shall see. I've got a lot of impingement on the nerve which is causing the numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. This is problematic as it can cause permanent damage. If the 'roids don't improve this, then I'll need at least one surgery. I'm hoping the AH-NOLD approach will work, and I won't need the cut job.

To make myself feel better, I just bought a nice Sampson Ti road frame, and I'm having it built up with a SRAM build kit. Pics shortly. I'm selling off the TT bike. Fuck it. My plan is to be well enough to ride in the RAC (Ride Around the College) with Fred at Summer's end.

Friday Night Fiasco

Just a few fotogs from the friday night racing out on the beautiful east end of the island paradise.













Oh, and this is what happens when you "make boo-boo" at the end of the race. Free night in the ER, stunning neck brace, and a stiff bed. This is how Moveitfred's race ended, but Moveitfred was nowhere near the pavement dance. Moveitfred peeled off early because God told him something like this might happen.



And Moveitfred is going to keep his opinions to himself about that whole thing.

Apples and Als

Gwad recently asked the intriguing question: whatever happened to Fiona Apple?

Moveitfred believes the answer can be found in the catacombs and secret spots of Al's home reno project.

Recently Al has taken on the affectation of a disturbed criminal mind. Before leaving the factory he will often shuffle up to Moveitfred and quip: "Time to go home now and have a bite of my apple...." He'll then punch the clock and hump it out to his rusted-out, circa 1977 Dodge van.

It's all very creepy.

Moveitfred believes that if Ms. Apple is not spotted soon someone needs to call the authorities.

individu-AL

Al here, you there. al is feeling very battered from several weeks of labor on the home reno project. We're coming along. Pics soon.

Al has the Long Island Goldcoast tri this weekend, Father's Day. This is a Sprint Tri, and, after the week we're having here, I doubt the water temp will be an issue. 90s and 909% humidity for several days. Nice training weather...NOT!

Anyway, here's a little something for Yogi Fred. (Off to class tonight, Fred-o?) I Think I'm beginning to understand what motivates you...

Pigs around Heywood's House

It has been a while since I have been on the road bike with the Chef. He has the pesky knee pain ever since Super Bowl Sunday which has greatly reduced the types of rides he is capable of doing. Yes, that is approaching four months ago and it still bugs him. An occasional ride with the local ladies club is about all he can handle without causing severe pain. By the way, all the girls in this club have a similar riding position to Al B so this should explain why they go so leisurely down the road.

Finally the two of us were able to get out on the bike together for a beautiful ride in the hills around town. First I should explain to the readers of this fine blog that we each were riding our own bike. For some reason with partners like Al and Fred, I feel I have to explain this. Anyway, I was planning to ride for 4-5 hours while the Chef only had a few hours before his shift started at the factory. After an hour or so, the Chef turned around and headed for home.

The area we were riding is not very populated. Most would call it rural. Few people, less cars, and even fewer cyclists. While the Chef is coming down the hill towards a three-way intersection, he glances around for the rare car and sees none. He then proceeds to run the intersection. What he didn’t see was the pig (California Highway Patrol) parked under a tree a few hundred feet away from the corner. What he did see was the lights of the pig’s car that were turned on instantaneously after he ran the stop sign. That cock sucker (the CHP guy, not the Chef) whipped out his ticket book and filled it out. Actually gave the Chef a ticket for running a stop sign in the middle of nowhere. What a freaking joke. No cars, no pedestrians, and he still got a $300 ticket.

In California, this ticket goes on the driving record just as if you were driving a car. What a crock of SHIT. His insurance will go up now plus he will pay the fine. One does not even need a license to ride a bike but if one possesses a CA driver’s license, all moving violations in a motorized vehicle or not are attached to it. BULL SHIT! I personally have not had too many bad experiences with the law but it sure is understandable why they are despised of by so many.

therm-AL

FUCK! It was cold.

Al completed the Ironclad Triathlon this morning.(Sprint tri: The swim course was .5, the bike 13.5, the run a 5k.) Al jumped in the fucking LI Sound (55 degrees, fuck burr!) at 7:30 this AM. This was my first open water of the season. The new wetsuit was great. My trunk was fine; head, hands, feet iced over quickly and went numb, so there wasn't much pain there after the first minute or so. So all went pretty well with this leg. There were about 150-200 people in my swim wave. Things were a bit hectic at the start. I decided (since it was the first of the season) to be low key. I hung back and got in after about 1/2-3/4 were gone. This proved a bit ill-advosed. Conditions were awesome (not including the floating ice sheets), without chop or current, Al was cooking. I was up the ass of the group in front of me. It wasn't until about 1/2 way through the swim that I found clear water (after much pushing, shoving, jostling and passing) and a comfortable spot out ahead of the group I jumped in with.

T 1 was interesting. There was a STEEP hill up to the T area along sand then grass then pavement. Everyone was bitching about this because it really was a long steep haul (3/8ths of a mile, I'd guess). Al expeditiously got out of the wetsuit but had some trouble using hands and feet. This T was definitely slowed by numbness. C'est la..

Bike route was 2 loops of a rather uniform almost 7 mile course--downhill out, uphill back. I moved better on the second loop. First loop was all about getting some warmth back in the bod. (And this is not done easily when you're in a skimpy shirt and shorts and biking quickly in 60 degree temps). Only one really interesting note. Al did go down. Right before the last turn into the T area, Al was pumping hard and out ahead of a pack. The douchebag copper who was supposed to be working the intersection was yapping on his cell phone. Al came into the turn hard and found a car coming in from the other direction. Dick-head cop was supposed to stop traffic. Al assumed he would. He did not. He was too busy with, "can you hear me now?" Anyway, Al went full lock to stay clear of the motorist. I stopped with room to spare, but my shoes slid on the pave when I foot dabbed, and I went down. No harm though. I popped up and went on (with a yell over the shoulder of, "thanks asshole" to Johnny-Law). Al, after-all, is a rebel.

T2 was better for Al: the transition run up in bike shoes was short and on grass--easier than paved run up. I slapped on a cap, stamped into the kicks, and I was outta there.

The run was powerful cool. It was a trail 5k through Wellwyn preserve in Glen Cove. This is a lush foresty setting with a good deal of twisty-turny up and down. Big old or second growth trees abound, and there is plenty of shade. (Just so you know: Al is middle pack in the agua and mediocre, at best, on the bike, and marginally respectable on the run.) The tight trail run made passing interesting, but Al made it happen. I slammed through the run holding, I believe, sub 7:30s through the trails. The finish was a bit crowded, but Al pulled down a 1:38 hi and finished 13th in his age group.

Some pics:

refus-AL

Al cannot take the blame for Fred's problems. Fred is paranoid.

And gay.

The gay thing I completely support. I understand that Fred wants to keep it "in the closet." And I'm ok with that. (I don't like the ass slaps, the 'hey big fella's, the crying 'hold me's, and the curtains he hung up on the office window, but I support his rights, man.)




The paranoia is a whole other thing, though. Fred. Fred. Listen to me...


I'm not Mr. Lebowski; you're Mr.
Lebowski. I'm the Dude. So that's
what you call me. That, or Duder.
His Dudeness. Or El Duderino, if,
you know, you're not into the whole
brevity thing...

Al Is Persecuting Moveitfred

This is a public service announcement. Al Bangorhard is persecuting Moveitfred. Al is relentless, cunning, and deceptive. This is premeditated madness.

Al is not to be trusted.

Toss

Moveitfred knows that every cycling brain donor in blogosphere is linking this clip of Millar tossing one off in the Giro, yet what's yawking Moveitfred's chain (so to speak)is all the douchebags splurking on and on about their "disappointment" and "outrage" at the dopey Brit.

Moveitfred would love to see these douches pecking away at the keyboards in their little cubicles. "Millar has no respect for the sport or his sponsors...."

Bwaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Moveitfred once tossed his Davidson across the yard and against a tree because the fucking brake pads were rubbing. Moveitfred is such a badass! Moveitfred wanted to toss the piece of shit up into the tree and let it rot, but the combination of old-school steel (circa 1980's) and his limp-wristed physique left the bike kind of skittering across the grass and into the maple's root system.

Moveitfred, however, made his point loud and clear.

Crimanimalz

Kicking some ass in Los Angeles last week.

Moveitfred pussed out riding his bike around the secretary's desk at the factory. Sheeet. Al, we's got some work to do.

indestructib-AL etc.

This is one of those posts that has a lot of shit in it. I'm sitting in a Greenwich, CT hotel lobby drinking a pot of coffee while the mrs. does a spa treatment. (Weekend away for Mother's day, y'all.) So I've got some time on my hands...

1) Al K. accompanied me the other day to Runner's Edge for our new Wetsuits. We both got QR Ultrafull's. Cold water training will commense ASAP.

2) Related to #1, I've got the Ironclad Tri in Glen Cove on the 24th. This is a sprint tri, so the swim is only a 1/2 mile. BUT current avg. water temp is 56 degrees. I'm told it will climb a degree or so over the next 2 weeks. Awesome! I'm very glad I've invested in a full suit. prior to this, I only had a John (sleeveless) suit. No way a big pussy like me could do this tri in a cut suit.

3)I just finished kitting out my commuter bike. My trip to work is from a park and ride that's about 1/2 way to the factory. The trip is about 17 miles each way. HOWEVER...the roads SUCK. Pitted, potted, debris strewn etc. So I converted my MTB to a bomber commuter. I slapped on a Surly rigid fork and some killer armadillo slicks. A few other tweeks here and there completed the project. I'll put up pics at some point.

4) Fred staged a duathlon out East yesterday. I missed this, being away. But Al K told me it was a kick ass success. I'm looking forward to the next one. Fred makes things happen. He's a do-er. In that spirit...this vids for you, Freddy.

canc-AL

Al intervenes...

Sorry Fred. But the image of that big bastards balls blinding that poor chick was causing me to taste bile every time I entered the blog. I had to take it down.

Please forgive me.

nob-AL?

To be, or not to be, that is the question...

Al has some thinking to do...

So, today I did a little research. and what I found sent my mind spinning a bit.

First, a little background: as I told you in a recent post, I'm back to (or close to) my best 1/2 marathon times. Though my best times were 10 years old (when I was 29), I'm matching those now. This got me thinking and looking about. Like any marathoner, I'd love to run Boston. Many people run it (they just jump in and run in the mix unofficial or they buy a number from an injured party or they do a fund raiser and get special access). Only a select number qualify and run it "officially." It is considered the premier marathon event.

Now back in the day, my marathon PR was a 3:16 and change. I wanted to do Boston, but my qualifying time then was 3:10. I just couldn't get there. But, on the next running of the Boston (4/09), I'll be 40. My qualifying time for that is 3:20. Back in the day, I ran a number of marathons at sub 3:20. I ran 7 or 8 in the 3:17-3:19 range.

So here is what I'm asking myself: self, if you can get yourself back to almost PR time for your 1/2 marathon...can't you do the same for your marathon time? If I do that, or even close, I'll qualify for Boston. Wouldn't it be cool to do Boston on your 40th? The voice says.

Here are the problems with that thought line:

• I'm jumping into the tri season with both feet this year. I'm booked up for tris through late August. I'll need to qualify for Boston in a Fall marathon, if I hope to do it in my 40th year. That doesn't leave me much time.
• Even if I decide to cut short my tri season (say...skip the last tri I'm signed up for?) I have no way of knowing if I can whip these bones back into my past-best marathon shape.
• I'm in the NYC marathon lottery. If I get into that one, I'll be psyched. I haven't gotten into NYC since 02, though I've done the lottery each year. BUT...NYC is not a fast course. I'm thinking that I might need every bit of help I can get. One usually chooses a flat/fast course to try and bag a PR. But the little voice says, grow a bag. Think how great it would be to qualify in a tough marathon on your home turf.

Oh decisions, decisions...

Tea

Al is very healthy. He is very into tea. Especially in the office.

Good for Al.

Just keep your used teabags off Fred's desk, m'kay buddy?

comic-AL

If you ain't laughin', you cryin'...