High up in Sky

Who knew one could still get excited about free WiFi in this day and age? But, it's the truth! I'm a few thousand feet up on Virgin Atlantic, heading across the country for a little R&R this week, and I have free em-effin WiFi. On an airplane! That is cool, if you ask me.

So, at the risk of sounding redundant... that was a lot of snow. Phew. I have to admit, I didn't appreciate it to its fullest, unlike those who partook in the critical mass snowball/gun fight on 14th Street. Brian and I hibernated, for the most part. But that was still pretty enjoyable. Once, we went to Kavanaugh's. We went to Starbucks. I made a huge omelet and Brian made a "Hawaiian Plate" for breakfast. Lots of rice, fried eggs, veggies and some garbanzo beans. It tasted delish. Not to mention, I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes on my trusty trainer yesterday, which sets some sort of personal record. It wasn't so bad. Chad had me doing some fast cadence drills, which helped break it up a bit. Plus, I watched Julie & Julia, which is a great little flick (and book).

Because I have free WiFi on said Virgin Atlantic flight (google is giving it away for free for the holidays, how glorious is that?), I have been doing a lot of internet browsing. Just for kicks. I've now spent a truly inordinate amount of time on Mark's Daily Apple. This site offers an incredible wealth of knowledge on nutrition. A former marathoner and Ironman triathlete (he came in 4th at Kona one year! not too shabby), he has since eschewed "chronic cardio" and ice cream for a Primal existence. It all makes a whole lotta sense. Granted, I want to win bike races next year, which means I must ride lots... so I won't be going fully Primal anytime soon. However, I have definitely adopted many of his suggestions in my non-processed food eating quest. He's all about lots of good healthy fats, protein and tons of veggies, some fruit (berries are best). It's good stuff. Just beware - you could get sucked in (there literally is a link for everything on there, it's phenomenal) and suddenly find yourself deep into a post about intermittent fasting. Then you're really in for it.

I'm excited for vacay this week. No Super Six until I arrive in Cherry Valley, NY ...which won't be until Friday. But lots of outdoor activities are in store. The brother is training for a half Ironman, so we'll get some good high intensity workouts in for sure. Hiking, some mtb, rock climbing and such. Looking forward to it. It's been a friggin stressful week.

Merry Christmas!

Le Trainer

Up until this past weekend, I have absolutely hated getting on my trainer. Generally, this is how a cold/rainy/snowy day will unfold:

1. Wake up. Think about how much better I will feel if I do trainer session in the morning.

2. Get out of bed. Affirm that I will complete trainer session in the morning.

3. Stare at trainer, give it evil eye. It returns my glare with a similarly daunting stink eye.

4. Eat breakfast.

5. Do everything humanly possible that does not require getting on trainer.

6. Suddenly, it is dark out. EFF. Still have not gotten on trainer.

7. Call cyclist boyfriend and ask him to remind me why I have to get on the trainer. He replies, "do you want to upgrade to a Cat 3 next year or not?"

8. Finally get on trainer. Hate most minutes spent on it.

9. Get off trainer. Feel like I am better than everyone else, at least for a few hours.

10. Think about how I should have done trainer session when I got up that morning.

11. Eat, sleep. Repeat.

Or something like that.

But the good news is...I no longer hate the trainer. As it turns out, somehow I wasn't putting my bike on properly, thus it felt like crap every time I got on it. Brian finally showed me how to do it, and I'm still not sure what the difference is...but the bottom line is that it feels about 9,000 times better. Now I actually don't mind it, not even a bit.

I mean, I still put it off for as long as humanly possible, but at least now I don't hate it anymore.

Two more!

Today, I made two things that were the bomb. So I need to post about 'em.

1. Almond butter banana pancakes, thank you Mark's Daily Apple and people who have gone "Primal." It sounds a tad over the top, but these pancakes are definitely the bomb. They are super easy to make, and taste shocking fabulous. But then again, it's eggs, almond butter and mashed bananers - how could that possibly be bad?

2. Secondly, as an accompaniment for my dindin, I made kale. I have bad memories of kale, unfortunately. While my mom has become a phenomenal cook, she used to make my brothers and me eat only slightly boiled (raw) kale seasoned with a little salt. It was generally paired with liver & onions (which she said was steak) - and altogether, I could not chew a single bite without gagging. Literally. Love ya moms, but MAN. Anywho, tonight I braved kale as an adult, and it is a wondrous veggie. Lots of protein and other goodies, and when you boil it until it is SOFT, it tastes just like any other leafy green. I then stuck it in a sautee pan and cooked it for a few minutes with some tomatos, onions, galirc and some oil & vinegar. Very enjoyable.

Cold/Dark/Snow/Etc. but also Things that are the Bomb

Right, so it's now officially cold. Sigh. It would be a lie if I said I liked it. Because the truth is, I kind of hate it. For some reason my nose is particularly sensitive to the cold, and the second I step outside into sub 40 degree temperatures, my nose freaks out, gets all red and uncomfortably prickly when I attempt to breathe in. I hate walking out of warm places, like my house or a restaurant, and feeling like I've been slapped by a really large hand across my entire body. Not to mention biking in said temperatures. The nose issues escalate, I never really get warm, and my lobster mittens are the only thing that work...but work so well that my hands sweat profusely. Sigh.

On a lighter note, it was nice that the weather gods gave us one more wondrous day to play outside on Thursday .

A few things to point out today:

1. Rice cookers are the bomb. Brian got me one for my birthday, and I now cook my gluten free oatmeal in it every morning and steam a banana at the same time in the same contraption - and then mix 'em together and it tastes glorious. My trainer also told me I need 80g of protein per day, so I've been adding egg whites. It makes the texture of the oatmeal just a touch thicker and adds a nice flavor. Delish. It goes without saying that rice & quinoa are also made perfectly in this thing.

2. SAD lamps are also the bomb. Brian got me one for my birthday (he done real good on my Bday...good work B!) and I use it every day. I don't know that I officially have SAD (seasonal affect disorder...or something like that), but I definitely get a little down/lethargic when the sun only stays out for a few mini hours over the winter. So I turn this thing on at my desk while I'm working, and it is almost like hanging out on my balcony in the sun. Almost. It's still a weird looking light on my desk, after all.

3. Eating non-processed foods is the bomb. I started seeing a new homeopathic doctor (thank you Michelle for the recommendation, Dr. Safayan is tops) and we're on a mission to figure out what the heck is wrong with my stomach all the time. I officially do not have Celiac disease, but there are strong possibilities that I have a gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance and possibly an intolerance to soy. So that's super fun and not limiting at all. The good news is that I am now making much better choices about what I put in my stomach. I am pretty much eliminating all processed foods (except for my GF oatmeal, I think it is okay on the tumtum - although the trainer says to limit it to just around my workouts) - so that means primarily fruits, veggies, meats/fish. I eat a lot of sweet potatoes, have tons of frozen cauliflower and broccoli around, spaghetti and acorn squash, quinoa, chicken on the Forman, and so on. While my stomach still retaliates against me from time to time, things have gotten better. The problem is that I am still super addicted to Yogenfruz (even though sometimes they randomly close for no apparent reason as they did last night and made me highly crabby) or Iceberry frozen yogurt and crave it once a week at least. I think it might just be the mochi topping that is the real addiction. I LOVE that stuff. And none of it meshes well with my innards.

4. Dino in Cleveland Park is the bomb. I've eaten there a few times in the past, but it's been a few years. They do a great job with their menu - it's now primarily local foods with some extremely creative combinations. I had the tuna, which came seared with sweet potatoes and some kind of grapefruit slaw. It was friggin delicious, all of it! I have quite a few places on my list these days, however, so sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be returning to places I've already been. This joint made me forget about that concern.

I finished the Help, which was a great read. Highly recommend it. Probably not going to give it the bomb status, but still really worthwhile.

I think that might be all for now. It is still cold and and I am supposed to ride for 3 hours today. Probs not going to happen, as I am a wuss. Going to be a busy week! I like being busy. I hate being lazy. Lazy is definitely not the bomb. The activenetwork posted this on Twitter today: "Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired." - Jules Renard. Truth!

YES!

First ever podium finish.

Zen

I planned on writing more about DCCX. Really, the bottom line is that I finally finished an effing cross race. Glory! After two totally disastrous attempts at the beginning of the season, I finally took some time off to figure out the sport fundamentally. While I still need a ton of work on my remount, I managed to gain enough confidence practicing on my own (with some stellar help/motivation from Peter, Lindsey, and Jim to name a few) to feel comfortable racing again. The course was perfect - only one dismount - and a few technical-ish sections. The ridiculously rambunctious Coppi cheering section was most definitely the highlight of the race. Here's a pic that Chris Scott posted...I definitely smiled a few times around, but clearly I was in some kind of "zone" for this one:

Awesome. Yes, that sign does read "KILL IT MEG." Love it! Still basking in it, I admit. My teammates rock. And DC-MTB put on a phenomenal race from start to finish.













So, in other news, I'm in a book club with some buddies. We recently finished The History of Love, which was quite good. It reminded me of a more sophisticated version of The Time Traveler's Wife (which I loved) - the quality of writing just seemed a bit better to me. Sections of the book are narrated by different characters entirely, so it takes a few re-reads to get the hang of it at first. But the intricate workings of the storyline reinforce a level of anticipation on behalf of the reader, and I found myself turning the pages expectantly.  I recommend it. Our next book is called The Help. I shall report back.

Meanwhile, I'm slowly plowing through Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. My dad has always raved about this book, saying it's what truly changed the way he approaches obstacles and challenges in life. Without giving too much away, this book is a very personal philosophical journey through rational and irrational thought - neither of which the narrator can ever fully define. He (the narrator) is a true realist - one who views things not for what they are, but for what they are made of or what they represent. The zen of maintaining his motorcycle serves as the pinnacle of his thought process. He compares this way of thinking to the more romantic/classical approach - those who are content to perceive things as a whole, at face value.

As I've been reading, I've found more than one example of how incredibly classical in thought I lean. I am trying to ammend this a bit, particularly as it relates to fixing my road bike. For years, my old Giant never saw a bit of TLC unless I sent it to the shop for a tune up. I never understood anything about how it worked, why something would break...even how to change a flat tire. One could also call this lazy. But it was truly more of an unwillingness or lack of desire to learn about it - I just want the thing to work as it was intended to.

This book has motivated me to spend a little time getting to know the inner-workings of my bike. As has Brian. Talk about a realist. When he and my dad get together, they go around just trying to find something to fix. Really so they can take it apart, and learn how it works. Meanwhile, my mom and I just watch and exclaim "how romantic!" Or something like that.

Anywho, this is a book you really need to sit down and READ. And reread. Passages and sentences. Truly absorb and understand what this man is saying. It's fascinating, eye-opening, life altering stuff.

And I'm going to pick it back up now.

DCCX

Right, so I do need to post a little something about DCCX...and I shall later today. But in the meantime, the bottom line...I finished! And here is a picture Bruce Buckley took to showcase how intent I was on finishing. ACK!

Luckily, I am actually still normal(ish), which is a smidgen better depicted here, post race:

Go Do List

Thank the lord that weather is over with. What a horribly rude/unnecessary awakening to the fact that it's not summer anymore. In any case, this week looks like it's going to be glorious, and I think I've emerged from my funk thanks to the Shenandoah air. As such...my go do list for the week:


Monday:

• The Sartorialist is here! He's signing his book at the most recent 14th Street addition, Masa 14.
  

Tuesday:

•  I must see Where the Wild Things Are.
  

Wednesday:

•  So this looks kind of cool. All week it's Design Week in DC - I never knew this existed.  In any case, at 8 am on Wednesday, Teaism is hosting a discussion on online branding. Says it's for AIGA members only, but I don't buy it.
  

Thursday: 

• Race Across the Sky - looks like it could either be really good...or really predictable (it's a feature on this year's Leadville 100. If you'll recall, Lance kicked everyone's ass). Either way, if it features bikes on a big screen, I'll gladly partake.

Friday:

• Athlete: The Sports Illustrated Photography of Walter looss. At the Newseum!
  

Saturday: Two fun female cycling shindigs to choose from!

• Women, Wheels, Wellness at Blue Ridge in Glover Park.
• DCChix women's-only cross clinic, located on the DCCX course (race is Sunday).
  
• Design Week lecture series in Caddy's Alley. Cool.
  

Sunday:

• DCCX! Wrangle up some cowbells and come drink beer and eat frites while heckling those of us on two wheels.
  

Sometimes, it's all you need.

Nothing like a few cold, brisk days in the country to bring things back into perspective.

Like most outdoor enthusiasts in the DC area, I came down with a gnarly cold this past week as soon as the weather turned. That, coupled with some overarching feelings of inadequecy in life, job and training - I took to my warm condo and relatively uncomfortable couch and hardly moved for four days straight. No bike, no gym, no random adventures. For anyone who knows me, this is...unheard of. But, it's what I felt I needed.

Turns out, I was wrong.

I've been in the mountains for less than 24 hours now, and I already feel completely rejuvenated. Brian and I packed up some warm clothes and our cross bikes and got the hell out of the city Friday night. As soon as we exited 66, the rain stopped. By the time we reached the Shenandoahs, you could actually see stars.

Granted, we're not roughing it. I am extremely lucky in that my parents own a place out here, and are kind enough to let us come relax every once and awhile. Today, we took to mapping out a solid cross course on their property - excellent varying terrain and some challenging grade here and there. After a nice hiatus from the bike, it felt great to get back out there and just play around for a bit.

So...I suppose my point to this post is this: don't give in to the weather, to the stresses of everyday life. Well, maybe give in for a few days, but then find your druthers and drag your butt out of bed, and find a mountain or two to stare at. Breathe in some deep, fresh breaths of good clean air...and think about something other than yourself for a few minutes. It's remarkably energizing.

Pilar

I'm not quite sure what it is about Bar Pilar that I love so much. A few things it potentially could be:

- They have cold Woodchuck Cider (not to mention an incredibly diverse and creative drink menu)
- It is just dimly lit enough that you can still see everything, yet feel comfortably serene and quite warm & cozy
- It's never super crowded and you can 9 times out of 10 find a table or seat at the bar
- The food is fantastic. Small plates, which I love, all very creative and extremely delightful. Most recently, I enjoyed their grilled calamari with red sauce (wow) and a handful of mussels in a delectible white wine and garlic sauce. Everything I've tried there, however, has been quite tasty, so I'm fairly certain you can't go wrong.
- Their website is simple yet effective - just like their drinks, food and atmosphere. Winning combination.
- It's on 14th Street, and as a rule things on 14th Street are cool

I think that sums it up for the time being. If you haven't been, you should. It's around the T St. block.

In other news, Red Bull Art of Can exhibits today through the 19th at Union Station. I'm excited to get down there to check out our local artists ability to manipulate a Red Bull can (or cans), and the new Bike Station.

HP at 5 - see you (me) there!

Of Note

1. Today, I changed my work blackberry signature. Where it once read, "Sent from blackberry while driving with knees," it now reads, "I stopped blackberrying while driving, and so should you."

Let's face it. It is incredibly stupid to text or email while you are driving a vehicle. It's almost like you black out for a few minutes while you're either reading or typing...and then suddenly, you're back to the task at hand: driving a vehicle that weighs approximately a ton or so that you, and only you, are controlling with two hands and one pair of eyes. Not to mention the folks in the lane(s) next to you. They're also texting and not paying any attention to you or the road.

Granted, I'm a hypocrite, and it's not like I haven't been doing this for many, many years. But I am lucky nothing has happened. Except for that one time, when I was entering an address into Garmin, and I rear-ended "Queen" in the middle of Southeast DC. I paid her $1000 for her "bumper" - it wasn't in tip-top shape to begin with, I can assure you. But since I was the a-hole who ran into her, such was the price I had to pay. STOP TEXTING AND DRIVING! Obama says so.

2. Something else to add to my to-do list for this week:

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2009/09/google-dc-talk-oct-9-lolcats.html

It's going to be interesting and probably a bit of a hoot, if I had to guess.

Ruminations

Generally speaking and via my own observation, most folks can be separated into one of two very distinct camps.

1. Those who incessantly try to lose 5 pounds.
2. Those who have never thought for a moment about losing 5 pounds.

The reason I bring this up is multi-faceted.

First, there are so many disturbing myths about how one can go about losing weight. I recently read another blogger's post about a 10-day cleansing diet they tested out. This blogger lost 8 lbs in about two weeks. Two weeks later, they'd gained it all back and then some.

Authors and "doctors" have made millions of dollars off of fad diets and quick fixes. Every time I see a commercial for the next version of ephedrine to hit the market, I can't help but feel really sorry for anyone who actually gives it a whirl. Human beings are actually supposed to eat. Like, real life food. Even food that tastes good! Shocking, but true.

Here's the story. I, for some reason, have a minor obsession with reading about nutrition, health foods, calories and so on. I've read so many articles, sometimes I can hardly keep them all straight. But I find it incredibly interesting and enlightening, and it's helped me keep my head (somewhat) when it comes to weight and weight loss.

Just for kicks, I'm going to tell you (even if "you" just happens to be...well...me) what I know to be true. The body is an amazingly intelligent, rather self-sufficient entity. We've been around for a long time, us humans. Over the years, we've grown less and less active. It's not really our fault. Cars came 'round, the internets, the cell phone, the Metro, the Segway...and so on. That, plus we no longer have to forage for food. (Although some still do, and I hope I get to try it out some time!). Add all of these factors up, and you have a lot of people who barely get out of their chairs each day.

Of course, there are those of us who spend hours in the gym or on the bike. These folks should, in theory, be able to stay lean. However, I'm sure you've noticed that this isn't always the case. I've seen many a large marathon runner cross the finish line. They're burning thousands of calories a week while training. How can this be?

Here's the bottom line, people. It's been said before, and I'm going to say it again. You eat too much.

Yes, I know, it's hard to hear it. But it's undeniably true. Whenever I complain to my trainer that my butt won't fit into my jeans, she reminds me how easy it is to losen them up a bit. You simply have to do three things. Just three. Three easy steps! No diet pills included.

First, figure out your basil metabolic rate (BMR). This will tell you the number of calories your body burns when it is doing nothing. Literally, nothing. Just doing it's thang.

Second, using this BMR, find out what your daily caloric intake should be to maintain your current weight. Chances are, you're not doing nothing all day. You either walk to work, ride your bike, brush your teeth...or at least get your butt out of bed to make breakfast. So, the daily caloric intake calculator takes into account how much activity you get each day.

Step three. Subtract 500 calories per day from the daily caloric intake number you just discovered. If you eat 500 fewer calories per day for a week, you will lose one pound (there are about 3500 calories in a pound of stored body fat) in said week.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? The truth is, it is. It's simple science. Math, even. Grade school math.

Of course, I get that sometimes it's very hard to say no to the chocolate bacon cupcake craving. Of course it is. But here's the deal - you can eat that cupcake...you just might have to have it for dinner! I wouldn't advise this, of course. But if you really, truly want to lose the 5 pounds, then for 5 weeks, eat 500 fewer calories every day.


Now, some of you (again, possibly just me, depending on whether or not I'm the only one who reads my blog) may have never thought about losing 5 pounds, let alone a pound, in your life. Chances are, you are a male. And males, let me just say this - you are frigging lucky.

Happy calorie counting!

LSD

What an incredibly perfect, beautiful, slightly autumnal weekend. Autumnal! I don't mind it so much when it feels a bit like fall, as long as jackie's aren't required. I abhor wearing jackets for cold-weather purposes, because it means I am likely frigid straight to my core. I hate it.

At any rate, back to the beautiful, slightly autumnal season. While some may spend hours in front of football games watching teams that have sucked for 20+ years, others begin to log many a mile on their bikes. I, for one, plan to be a part of the latter group. Not that I've ever really been a part of the former...my attention span is quite brief, and watching similar looking plays occur repetitively for hours on end...only to result in a loss by the home team... sounds rather like a nightmare to me. So the mileage it has been, and the mileage it will be.

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on where you're coming from, I've recently spent most of my hours on my cross bike, trying to figure out how the hell to get on and off the thing without mounting the rear wheel. Some might find this amusing. Others, like myself, find it quite humbling and bruise-inducing. I feel quite sorry for my inner right thigh and ego.

Last weekend was Ed Sanders. I fell on my front wheel as soon as I hit the mud on my warmup lap. Busted a spoke with my knee and then proceeded to flat a few yards later. Walked the long way with head down back to the pit. Did not race.

Brian and Fader lined up  - Brian broke a chain in the first minute and a half, his first race back in a few years. He put in a great effort today at Kelly Acres, as did Fader.

Enough about cross for the time being, and back to the point of this post. This weekend, I decided it was time to bring the LSD back. Long, steady distance. On Saturday, I rode with the two leg-breaking C's (Christie and Christian) on a lovely route in Poolesville, MD. I've copied a link to the cue sheet below (courtesy of Potomac Peddlers) because this route is really worth doing. We ended up logging about 74 miles, while the actual route is only around 68 (who knew the miles were cumulative?? Certainly not us). We even stopped at Homestead Farm, and I was briefly reminded of my childhood pumpkin picking days. But then I forgot about them because way too many folks have discovered Homestead Farm. It was like being in an overcrowded water park. Too many people, too close together. Ick.

Back to the ride. I really regret not bringing my camera. We rode along wheat fields (I think?) that stretched for miles - enchanting, really. I wanted to frolic in all of them. Alas, the C's were a force to be reckoned with and I had to keep up as best I could. The route even included a nice long gravel stretch, and I finally got ahead of the two of them for a few minutes and tested my cross bravery. It felt good. All in all, we had a phenomenal time, and I'm truly looking forward to getting out with the gals more often this off-season.

Do yourself a favor: golden field Poolesville ride cue sheet!

Today, I did the team ride, and had my ass handed to me before we even made it close to the rollers. I suppose road cycling can be as humbling as cross, at times. Today in particular. Brutal. However, even as I rode by my lonesome all the way back from Falls road, I felt reenergized and ready to spend some good QT on the Cannondale over the next few months. And ideally learn how to climb in the process.

In other news, it's Sunday night! Which means it's time to plan the week(end). On the list:

- Interrogation with the Fojol Brothers. More to come on that, stay tuned. Excited.

- Teasim. Time to get to know tea. Brian bought me a fabulous little tea contraption from Teaism (thanks Michelle and Jose!), and I'm ready to get educated. When I quit coffee a few weeks ago, I had planned to allow myself a cup on the weekends, particularly post-team ride if I felt so inclined. Curiously, I haven't even wanted it! I love me some tea.

- Seagull Century. Maybe. Only if it's rain-free and pull-free.

- Green Festival DC. I have missed this the past few years and WILL be going this year. By bike, of course. You should too! We are lucky this comes to our town.

- Taste of Georgetown. Maybe. I have mentioned my dislike for all things crowded, so either on the early or late side to avoid the creepy masses.

There is also Hyattsville CX...a maybe if I don't do Seagull.

Alrighty folks. Have a great week!

My (current) favorite things

I fully understand that Oprah's favorite things pull a tad more weight than Margit's favorite things, but this will not deter me from putting mine on paper/digitized blog space. Today, I offer you four different "things" in which I enjoy partaking. Perhaps you will, too.


1. Playing cyclocross at Gravelly Point.

This is fun, and it doesn't feel like training so much. It's amazing how good a workout one can get simply jumping on and off your bike. And if you try to chase around a really fast pair of Cat 1 males, this too assists in challenging your cardiovascular system quite nicely. It's easy to get there (just off the Mt. Vernon trail) about 10 minutes from Key Bridge. You'll know when you're there because every 5 minutes or so, you'll be deafened by the Boeing 757s soaring overhead.


2. Riding bikes to various coffee shops around the city.

Ironically, I recently gave up coffee. Kinda. I only drink it on the weekends these days, if that. So I've discovered tea, which is really enjoyable - particularly with a dollop of soy milk. Yes, I said dollop. Now, depending on my mood, I'll select a shop that caters to my immediate needs.

- Tryst (Adams Morgan): I feel lazy, so I don't want to bike far, and primarily downhill if possible. I feel like talking to people I don't know. (www.trystdc.com)

- Baked & Wired (Georgetown): I feel like eating a massively huge, rich, scrumptious cupcake. Done. (www.bakedandwired.com)

- Big Bear Cafe (Ledroit Park): I'm up for a tasty sandwich, lively atmosphere and excellent tunes. I'm meeting a buddy (SG, perhaps - look, SG, I'm writing a new blog!) and want to act like I'm a hipster for a few hours. (www.bigbearcafe-dc.com)

- Java Green (Dupont): I'm in a vegan kind of a mood. I've also kind of (sort of) given up dairy and heavier meat products (and will only eat grass fed beef, usually...). The meals here are so shockingly delicious, considering everything is derived from some variation on soy. I think. (www.javagreencafe.com)

- Greenberrys (Arlington): I admit that I rarely actually bike here. But I have to meet up with my employees somewhere, and it's a great spot to foster creativity and conversation (sans sweaty kit). Sometimes said employees even listen to me. (www.greenberrys.com)

- Java Shack (Arlington): Any given Sunday, you'll find me and the rest of the Coppi cycling team here discussing the consistency of muffins, and bird watching. Some of us, anyway. If you are not a Coppi, I recommend not going to Java Shack on a Sunday between 11:30 and 1 pm. (Sorry Dale). (www.javashack.com)

One last little tidbit. I came across this gem in my endless search for places to work that are NOT in my living room: www.delocator.net. Just visit.

3. Drinking cider and reading books at Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe.

This is an excellent way to spend a weeknight evening - if you like hard cider and reading books, that is. Brian and I recently arrived there at around 6:30 and didn't leave until almost 10 - the time just flew by. The food is quite tasty (he had mac & cheese, I had the miso salmon salad...and then we demolished a brownie sunday, woops) and the atmosphere is energetic and refreshing.


4. Going to speak easys.

I really, really, REALLY abhor crowded bars. They ruin a perfectly good evening. My current solution to this problem is to go to bars that are purposefully NOT crowded, and are far more entertaining (given you have the right company in tow). My two best nights out on the town of late (truth be told...I have very few "nights out on the town," but if I do have one...) were both at speak easys.


- PX7s (Alexandria). I should preface this with one quick note - Alexandria is NOT a very happening place from 9 pm on. Which is fine by me, but just be aware you'll feel like you're in a deserted retirement community after dark once you exit the bar. In any case, PX7s. It's a neat little speak easy owned by the proprietors of Restaurant Eve (also high on my list). The bartender, Clinton, is a riot. Very mild mannered and soft spoken - but stick a cocktail shaker in hand, and he lights up the room.

- Gibson (14th & U). I've been to Gibson twice, and on both (very different) occasions, I had a fabulous time. The first was a low-key evening with just a few folks, and I was introduced to the beauty of a really carefully created cocktail. The second was for one of Eric HIlton's very exclusive events - a pig roast in the back yard of Gibson. No, I wasn't invited, but I have friends in high places. The pig and accompaniments were delicious (a masterpiece of one of the chef's from Marvin next door), and the event featured an open bar. An open bar - at Gibson - is truly priceless. Drinks here are definitely not cheap (but worth the money and experience).

Note that you must make a reservation for both places, or they will turn you away at the door. I think they're on to something.

So that is all for my first installment of my current favorite things. More to come on another time (if you haven't seen I Love You, Man, you will think I've made a grammatical error).

Cycling & corn addictions

I suppose can think of worse things to be addicted to. But I really am addicted to bikes (specifically my new Cannondale SuperSix) and corn (specifically on the cob).

Reston was this past weekend and marked my first race on the new bike. Holy crap, what a difference. I'd already noticed how much "easier" it was to keep up on the team ride, not lose the group entirely on the Tuesday night hill ride, and my new-found ability to punch it on a flat. But during this race, I learned how much more fun cornering and sprinting are on a bike that's built for racing. Night & day from my old Giant (sorry buddy).

Bruce Buckley captured some amazingly cool shots during this race.

Kinda wish I had muscles like that in real life. Or, perhaps not. Then I'd look rather dude-like.

Unfortunately, Reston will be my last race for awhile. I'll be traveling/vacationing for pretty much every weekend in July. Beach, Nantucket and Brazil. No, I am not complaining. But I shall miss racing my bike.

In other news, corn rocks right now and I eat it once or twice a day. Becoming a bit of a problem.

Syn Fit, Bunny Hop and Ft. Ritchie...

So, there appears to be some sort of pattern forming here. Apparently I like to race bikes. A lot.

Anywho, I will make this post relatively short and sweet as it's now somewhat outdated information.




Syn Fit was a good course with some relatively tight corners. Lots of sketchy turns, myself included. We had a total blast, however, as there were a record number of Coppi gals in attendance! Me, Christine, A, Bean and Christie. Super fun. Ended up 12th, not realizing where I needed to be nor that it was the last lap. Sigh.


Bunny Hop wasn't unlike Syn Fit, although the weather was total shat. I felt far more confident through the corners and felt most of the gals up front held their line well...much better than syn fit. Maybe they weren't as tight, but the slippery conditions made it a bit sketchier...and for me, more of a rush! What can I say, I like a little bit of uncertainty.



They announced a prime lap with maybe 3 or 4 to go and I found myself at the front...totally thought I had it all alone, but Rhonda from Evo (who went on to win the race) pulled up next to me...and I slowed up, not realizing where the effing line was. Dropped a loud f-bomb for good measure. She beat me by a hair, but it was a 2-place prime, so I still got a massage. Yippee.

Sprinting for the prime was fun and all, but it left me a little tired for the final laps and I finished 14th, also behind the crash on the final turn. Apparently, one of the junior artemis girls came unclipped and blindly crossed the field, causing the evo rider to slip. Sketchy stuff.


Fort Ritchie is probably now the most fun I've had in a race. Lindsey and I headed up bright and early on Saturday morning, both a bit tired from a long week (and a relatively fast muffin ride...wtf?). We started out at a nice pace, and after a few laps a group of about 5-6 began to pull away (Rhonda, Cat and another Evo gal as well as Dana). Lindsey and I realized it, and before it was too late I took off with her on my wheel (and two others behind her). I made it about a half a lap, and then by the finish line Lindsey took over to bring us all the way. My favorite part of the race, by far. It was a tough pull, but so worth and a total rush when we finally reconnected with the group. Once again I didn't realize we were on our last lap (how does one miss that???) and wasn't in good position coming through the last turn. I took it WAY wide. Blech. Lindsey did great, finishing 4th...I ended up 8th. Good times.

This weekend is BikeJam. Yes, I've officially opted out of Columbia. Sorry triathlon, but I think we have broken up.

my first crit!!!

...was a total blast. tysons crit, on sunday, april 5.

the morning of.
one of my favorite things in the world is waking up early without an alarm. it's like your body just knows you've had enough sleep, and you're up and at 'em without NPR blaring in your ear. it's a rarity for me, but this past sunday i awoke just after 7 in just this manner.

i had a killer bowl of oatmeal. i have a killer bowl of oatmeal every day. and i killed the wapo crossoword. i'm a huge nerd. feeling glorious, i was ready to hit the road.

i don't think i've ever felt so prepared for a race (and i'm not talking training-wise). i am so used to packing for a triathlon, and i ALWAYS feel like i've left some crucial item at home, since each leg of the race requires various elements, all of equal importance. for a bike race? helmet. bike. shoes. sunglasses. kit. food. water bottles. ahhh, so much easier.

arrival and warm up.
i got there with plenty of time to spare - 2 hours - and got dressed, all the while trying to look and act like i was a seasoned veteran and not a total fred. i mainly needed to fool myself, in that regard. brian showed up to help me warm up & put my number on, and some of the boy coppis gave me advice as they'd already completed their races. it was a beautiful day with some wind, but hardly a cloud in the sky. perfect day for my first race.

the course was nice and friendly. about a mile, with a nice downhill and an uphill climb to the finish. even on the warmups, my legs and lungs felt it on the uphill (i blame my windy columbia brick from saturday, but i also like to make excuses). uh oh. i decided not to worry about it. i was pretty nervous before warming up, but as i rounded the course a few times, i calmed down quite a bit.

race.
the women's cat 4 race was delayed due to a few ugly crashes during the men's 4/5. oy. we got a few more laps in (and christian joined me!) and then lined up. i was in the wrong gear, and tried to fix it while waiting for the gun...knocking the gals around me a few times. sorry peeps. newbie. i didn't end up getting it right, but luckily i didn't drop my chain and shifted easily into place.

i started out pretty strong, at the front with christian. i hung with her for the first few laps, and then on one of the uphills i lost her as the field strung out a bit. she ended up pulling one of the climbs (the fastest one!)...she's super strong. i settled in (kind of) but had trouble finding a wheel to hang on to. i sped through the descents and then struggled up the hill.

to be honest, most of the race was a total blur. i just tried to stay with people, making up gaps on the downhill and flats. when they finally rang the last lap bell, i was pretty relieved. i tried to make up some time on the last lap...but at the final climb i sat and cranked away at the pedals without even a hint of a sprint. something to work on.

results.
i finished in the second pack, 17th out of 29. i had an incredible time. i was tired and in pain for the majority of the race - but i know i could have done better. hang on christian's wheel. hang on anyone's wheel, for that matter. get out of the saddle to sprint. drink more. eat something. the list goes on. but it was a phenomenal first experience and i can't wait for the next one.

some parting thoughts.
i wish triathlon were more like bike racing. one thing's for sure - i race bikes like i'm in a triathlon...i'm like that even on group rides, in that i totally tune out what's going on around me. bad habit. i need to start paying closer attention to the entire field and be a bit more strategic. i also wish i were an amazing swimmer. little brother just signed up for the 2010 NOLA half-ironman, and i'm clearly going to have to do it. maybe once the summer comes i'll be more motivated about the pool. i do really like swimming at HP. in the meantime, need to focus on getting my butt ready to kill columbia. my brick on saturday was brutal. BRUTAL. but i enjoyed it, and am ready for the race.

-margit

huh.

it would appear that i did NOT, in fact, hold myself accountable to that weekly posting goal i had set for myself. problematic, also quite symptomatic. sigh.

at any rate, i am back. and my focus has changed. life is funny in that way - my primary focus when i first started this blog was my job. i kind of chuckle at that notion now. of course my job is still important to me, but in a very different way (it used to be my life). ah well. shat happens, and usually for the better. so now my goals at work are to make lemonade out of the lemons i've been handed, and all is right in the world.

however, on the bright side, this means my focus has broadened and i have more time (mentally) to give to my other priorities in life. last year, the end of my race season last year was derailed by a bout of mono (wtf? who gets mono at 27?). it sucked. i got fat and tired. but then i met a rad dude named buttzilla, got my ass back in gear and have since have joined two glorious teams to help fuel my training and racing habit (squadra coppi and team luna chix). life is good, as they say.

now i face a weekly internal debate between how much time i should spend training for triathlon and how much i spend training on the bike. the thing is, all of my goals for this year were based on triathlon. but then coppi came along and made me realize that i really heart riding a bike, riding a bike with a wondrous group of people, and possibly racing against other women (yet to be determined - check back on april 4 after my first crit). it's just a completely different animal, and the competitive spirit in me is digging it. a little more than triathlon. please don't tell my coach.

at any rate, we shall see how it all plays out.