Monday Notebook

Disclaimer: This post has 3 photos of me in it.  Though they are intended solely to assist in the illustration of bigger point(s), I will completely understand if any readers decide to forge reading this post because they are sick of looking at me.  For those who pass on today's post, I'm working on a 12 point argument on why Pluto should be reinstated as a planet.  Look for that tomorrow.

PART 1 - DON'T FORGET THAT THINGS TAKE TIME.
 
I'm just over 2 years into the new lifestyle now.  From a weight loss perspective that's 75 pounds.  The first 50 or so were (relatively) easy.  It's funny what happens when getting off your ass and doing something meets giving up drinking.  I lost 50 pounds in the first year.  The picture below is from the 2009 Long Beach Triathlon.  I weigh about 230 here.  Though in retrospect wearing a skin tight tri-top was an extremely bad fashion decision, I hope I can turn a negative into a positive by deeming this photo exhibit "A".

Exhibit "A" - Long Beach Triathlon 2009 - Chunky and stressed.

In the last year,  the weight loss slowed down - I've lost about 25 pounds.  But on the flip side, I've become faster and stronger than I ever imagined possible, and my body composition has changed quite a bit.  Exhibit "B" is from last weekend.

Exhibit "B" - Long Beach Triathlon 2010.  A bit less chunky and a lot less stressed.

Above and beyond the weight loss, what strikes me the most is that after a year I look more calm and composed, experienced and confident.  Call me crazy, but in some ways I'm more excited by that.

I'm not looking for "way to go!!" or "kick some more ass!!" comments.  Don't get me wrong, I love and appreciate every single comment I get.  But as it relates to getting from there to here, the pleasure is all mine.  Rather, I just wanted to put out a visual reminder that the realization of great things always take time.  Some of you started your journey earlier, some started later.  But in the end, we'll all get to the same place.  By the way, I've still got a ways to go, but I'm totally up for it.  How could I not be?

PART 2 - WE DIDN'T HAVE A SUMMER - UNTIL NOW.

Totally baked.

Southern California is baking.  I'm not just talking about the Inland Empire or the Valley, I'm talking about the coast too.  It was close to 100 degrees in Huntington Beach today.  I'm not sure it's ever been this hot in the 7 years I've lived here.

But if Jeff from Dangle The Carrot can endure a Texas summer, I can endure a few days of a California anomaly.  So there was no way I wasn't riding today.

When it gets hot here, it's usually because the winds are coming in from the desert.  So when I hit the road today I was surprised to discover that the wind was still coming in over the ocean from the southwest.  Except the wind was super heated.  How does this happen when the water temps have barely reached 62 degrees this year?

Once I got past the initial shock of the heat, the ride wasn't so bad.  I told myself that this was probably how it was going to feel at Ironman Hawaii 70.3 so I might as well take it where I can get it.  Besides, any chance to get some mileage on Pacific Coast Highway in the aero position is tough to pass up.

That said, I look a little more grimy in the post ride photo than usual.

They say we have a week of heat this left....

A mad crazy shout-out to all runners (except those who live in the coastal areas of California, Oregon and Washington)

 Of course, choosing to run in a place with zero shade doesn't help...

I've been reading a whole bunch of your posts about the heat, and more specifically how you have been dealing with it on your runs.  Some run early, some run late.  Some just power through it.  And some run on a treadmill, which to me is akin to having your eyes removed with a white hot knife.

In Southern California, we have this weather condition known as "June Gloom",  which is the formation of a marine cloud layer over the coast due to the hot desert air hitting the colder air coming in from off shore.  I think this happens to a certain degree all the way up the coast.  Essentially, this means that May and June tend to be cloudy and cool.  This year, it didn't really start getting sunny and warm until this past week.

So today I headed out for a trail run with a temperature of 82 degrees (I know EMZ, I should just quit complaining, right about.....now).  This is hot for me.  And though I'd feel OK running into the wind, the minute I turned around I knew it was gonna get steamy.

On the second half of the run I was suffering.  I'm just not used to the heat anymore.  I grew up in Massachusetts and lived through it all - heat, humidity and cold.  But when you move to a meteorlogically compressed place like California you loose your tolerance fast.

At least I can bust out the sleeveless jerseys and equalize the "bike jersey" tan lines...

This is actually a competitive disadvantage.  If I ever want to race somewhere with harsher weather or at altitude, it's going to be tough.  Severe weather is something that rarely think about.  When I was talking to Riley today (who lives in New Jersey), he was saying that he's going to have to start looking for cold weather cycling gear soon, (yes, here comes the shameless plug du jour) so it looks like EAP will have to work on this sooner than later.  Maybe 2012.

So to all you runners out there with exception of those who live in the coastal areas of the West Coast, I just want you to know that I know that you guys roll extremely hardcore in the summer.  Keep up the good work.  And if you ever see me at one of your local races during the summer, just know you are about smoke me out on the course.

Post run.  One of my feet, two of Ian's.