Better than sex

And it better be, because if I'm seen in this getup, I'm never getting any again. :P

The find of the day was a pair of sewn elastic knee support thingies -- I scooted one on my left knee and my eyes just about crossed -- you know that feeling you get when suddenly the low-level achy pain that's been with you for ages suddenly disappears? Yeah, that.

So now I'm all about the "C" in the RICE strategy.

My other dorkalicious find today was a long-visor cap, with the motto subtly emblazoned on the band "dam if i no". Although practical, it reminds me of the Billy Bass, or the jokes that my uncles send in email.

However, having adoped the geriatric over-glasses a number of years back (making me look either like Robocop or a fat Olson Twin, take your pick), I'm used to looking like a doof. And my face has been getting fried out on the water, so I'm thinking the brimmed hat is in order. Never mind that this brim is about twice as long as your standard fashion baseball cap. But whatever.

I think I'm turning into an old man. Stop me if I start wearing dark dress socks with shorts. Unless they're compression socks, because that's practical.

Soy slacker

Well, I've actually been busy and active, but just haven't been updating the blog. I'm hoping to remedy that, as it should keep me somewhat honest.

I'm fully moved into the Solana Beach apartment and loving it -- I've gotten used to the trains, and really enjoy not having loads of crap weighing me down. As it is, I still have a few boxes of stuff, and things are scattered, but it's a total of 12 boxes. And that's it. It kind of feels like a wierd window on how regular people live -- "You mean that you don't have a room stacked full of crap in preparation for any eventuality? And you don't have 5 of the same thing?"

Who knew.

In any case, I finished the AFC half -- not as fast as I would have liked, but faster than I've done before -- and this was done all walking, not a stitch of running (except for the short sprint to the finish line). 15:24 pace for the duration, 14:59 pace for the 10k. As my pace for the Seattle half was 16:17 and pace for the running section of Lavaman was 16:34, I'm pretty pleased with the improvement.

Courtesy of Veek's invite, I'm going to do the Silicon Valley Half (hoping to break 15:00 for the duration), and then also doing the Seattle Half (see how close to 14:00 I can get). I figure it's a good benchmark test -- the 10k is a distance that I can easily wrap my head around, but the half pushes me, so I figure it's good to get a few of these in. Also by sticking with the half, I'm not going to get all crazy on distance, and I can continue to ramp up -- my body has been pretty temperamental the last couple of weeks what with a congested-feeling knee (bursitis?), my back going out, and my shoulder impingement coming back for a short spell yesterday.

It was like the injuries of training's past, or something.

The one event that I'll probably push myself a little too hard for is Rosarito-Ensenada -- I haven't been getting the bike miles in, and although I know I can do 30 without a problem, this is 50. So will be buckling down and getting the commutes in.

Last but not least is surfing time, and I always have time for that -- and if the back isn't in the mood, I just sit on the beach. Doesn't suck. And I've managed to hook up with a nice group of folks that do a lot of stuff in north county, so that's doubly good.

So here's a total goober picture of me, for your viewing pleasure. Ahm so PURDY. I look like a freaking muppet.