Yesterday: no run in the morning = grumpy day.
Today: run up and down the same hill 4 times, plus a longer climb for good measure = chipper day
Lesson learned: skipping the scamper may result in the day going downhill (not in the good way). Life’s ups and downs can be best faced with more practice ups and downs.
(And I thought I hated hill training.)
I just worked out with a new trainer here. (You knew we had a gym here, right?) It was the first time I’ve exerted myself more than resisting a certain French bulldog’s tugging at the leash since Labor day. That was my last run. And I haven’t swum in, um, forever. So much for Run-a-go-go, eh?
A two or so mile warm-up on the treadmill and a series of stability ball squats and lunges and core stabalizations and planks and some bi- and triceps thrown in for good measure. I can only imagine how I’m going to feel tomorrow. A surefire way to make it hurt less would be to get out and go for a little 3-mile jaunt with the ol’ iPod at 7am. The stress of my workday usually keeps me from making time for a workout. But, as I’ve said before, these are the times I need it most. And tomorrow, I’ll need it mentally AND physically.
Think I can do it?
For the past two Sundays (as well as Monday the 16th), I’ve given up hours of my life for a friend of a friend’s art project. He’s making a feature-length movie for his MFA that has no dialogue, is shot in HD, and uses synchronized swimming both as content and metaphor. I don’t pretend to understand, I just look good in a swimsuit. (Or better than pasty art school kids who don’t know how to swim.)
A handful of us from the swim team are playing a swim team in the movie and we practice, walk, swim laps, perform and ignore the main characters. Pretty much true to life. It was fun the first day, as there were two elite-level swimmers from the Aquanuts. Monday night ran late, with just me swimming laps in the background. (Out past 12:30 on a school night, oh my!)
This past Sunday was supposed to be 8 hours of shooting, but my time at the pool was cut short. In practicing a lift, where we raise and then throw the main character (a non-synchro swimmer) out of the water, the guy came down on my head, snapping my chin into chest and neck down. When I realized it wasn’t a simple injury (and when no one came over to see if I was OK), I changed in the locker room and walked off the set. Every bump of the road hurt as I drove myself home.
Today, three days later, all that remains is the stiffness. I’ve recovered my range of motion, albeit slower and not “normal.” My mid-back still aches, probably from holding my shoulders up to protect and support my neck. There’s a dull ache at the base of my spine, but it’s not like the initial hurt. Tomorrow I’m seeing an accupuncturist to see if getting my Qi flowing helps. It’s my first time, but, hey, I work in Berkeley, so when in Rome… besides, I don’t want a chiropractor to adjust me, nor a body worker to squeeze and wring out the area, nor a “regular” doctor to tell me to rest.
Needless to say, I won’t be going to swim practice tonight.
After much futzing around on YouTube, I finally uploaded the video from yesterday. Enjoy!
No, my team isn’t this good. Not yet.
There’s something I never imagined I’d be typing… Not being the overly patriotic type, and mostly vegetarian, the 4th of July holiday doesn’t do much for me. I don’t really want to celebrate our government’s actions, our country’s reputation in the world or the alleged independence and democracy our president it spreading.
That said, what could be more American than spending the day with the US Olympic team, as they prepare to go to the Pan Am Games in Rio? My swim team was invited to their practice this morning and got to watch our country’s best synchronized swimmers do their thing. It’s beyond inspirational.
For all the joking about the sport, the make up and the Martin Short SNL skit, these are incredible athletes who I admire. To see them live is breath-taking. Swim high, hard and in formation!
More photos on my flickr page. Video removed 7/5 and will be reposted once YouTube has finished processing it.
Here’s what you missed, Mel and Isela.
Both watershow performances went off without a hitch. My synchro team is ready to go kick some Parisian butt next week. But before, I head off to start an international conflict, I want to thank some wonderful peeps for coming to see me practically naked:
It’s a joy to have people see what I spend hours preparing for at the pool. For my many local friends who didn’t hear about this, I apologize for not being on top of it. The SF show almost didn’t go off because of pool closure and my work life has been so filled with work, not leaving much time for emails to y’all. There will be another show in the late summer/early fall before Nationals in Tuscon… and I’ll be doing a solo at that one. I’m really, really sorry for not letting people know about this personally.
Hey, Paris Aquatique! We’re gonna get Namaste on your ass at IGLA.
Speaking of which, I’m all ears if you have any Paris suggestions for food, wine, yarn, art, running, more food, shopping, urban exploring and stuff. I’ll even visit your friends, if you know people there…
My swim team is having two performances before we head to compete in Paris at the end of the month.
If you’re in San Francisco or the Bay Area this week, come on by!
It’s a sliding scale of $5-20, to benefit the team and help cover pool rental and coaching costs.
(Pardon the reposted photo of Knucks made for my coach.)
An update on my whereabouts and the past week’s activities will have to wait a few more days. While I had planned on writing an account of recent adventures, I hadn’t planned on spending 4+ hours in the emergency room tonight.
What we have here is an example of the dangers of synchronized swimming. My front tooth punctured my lower lip (entering and exiting) against the shin of a teammate. So far, the highlight of my 34th year…
This is what happens to naughty knitting. After finishing the second sock, I noticed the first toe was knit obviously while unconscious or oblivious to the pattern as written. It was a crazy pyramid from decreasing every other round. Fine for fine-toed, pointy-shoe-wearing peeps, but not for me. Now it’s re-knit and looks handsome on the fabulous sock blockers from Scout.
Other highlights on the fine Sunday:
I was also discovered online by my upstairs neighbor. She, too, is a knitter and has a lovely blog. Her chunky tunics and dresses are further proof that guys get the short end of the stick when it comes to design. They look gorgeous on her! Here’s hoping we get to knit together before she moves to NYC in the summer.
In her honor, I leave you with a photo (by the Man) that made me think of her. Happy Q2, all.
… no yarn for me! I didn’t go to Stitches West this weekend.
Not that I “deserved” to go. I sign up for Runagogo, and then I never run. Or post. Or cheer. For most of this month! I have a lot of miles to get through in the next five or six weeks. I think I’ll have to bust out the bike for some big distance. My knees won’t be able to handle the sudden increase in mileage. The runs will have to be walk/runs to ease me back into activity. If I get to 100 miles, I’ll reward myself with some cashmere yarn from that sweater.
However, there was plenty of swimming this weekend. Too bad I’m not counting that yardage. I was at the pool on Saturday from 8:30 until 3:00; four of those hours in the water. Due to missing mid-week practices (thank you, work stress), I considered dropping my solo for the Paris competition, if not Nationals. I was feeling all kinds of behind and my free routine barely has an opening hybrid. Saturday’s afternoon swim boosted my confidence, as I locked down my tech routine. I practiced more today, during our five hours of land and water time.
Only other interesting highlights of this weekend were seeing The Lives of Others (which I just read wonthe Oscar for best foriegn film), more jeans shopping (that deserves a post or two) and completing the first Lisa Souza sock. Oh, there was another first… right after I turned the heel earlier this week, I decided to start up another sock—different yarn, needles and pattern—just so I don’t get bored. We’ll see if I can avoid second sock syndrome. So far, with all of the socks I’ve made, so good.
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