Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Sprintavals with visiting dog, Lulu. Was trying to get her to stop pulling, but I gave up and let her run as long as I could, then I would catch my breath and repeat. Beautiful day.

Event: QOC Hemlock Overlook
 

Brain shut off on the way to 10...coincided with blister forming on back of heel. Wearing cute socks isn't always the way to go...too thin.

Brown - Splits

Event: QOC Hemlock Night-O
 

My sister died today.

So, when looking back at my old logs at the end of August, I failed to properly recognize the fact that October and November are also historically hard months for me. I was a bit successful in early October, after my stellar September, not by doing any standard exercise, but with feeling like I had made good use of my time with the home repair projects. But, then nothing, except a bit of feeling like I couldn't make any decisions to finalize some things that needed to be resolved. In a sense, I was stuck in concrete shoes.

The last few days have been more productive, and I managed to get a swim in, which I hope is just the boost I need to continue on an upward trend. November - bring it on!

Out of swim shape, so I did 800 with 1 minute rest in between:
829
803
913 like to think I did an extra 50, and wasn't this slow, but I can't say for sure :)
823

Finished laps when locker room was still closed to adults while the school kids are coming in. Instead of going to the family changing room, I tred (treaded?) water, legs only, until the locker room was open again.

Event: QOC Patuxent
 

Y - EX2 FBYB #2 - Riverbend - 9 AM

Brown - Splits

Event: Mid-Atlantic Championships
 

Y - EX2 FBYB #1 - Lake Fairfax - 9 AM

Ride home from work since Roger had my car while his got two new tires. A bit pokey, but so happy to be outside.

I haven't been totally slacking off since I logged last...besides the kitchen faucet, I finished replacing the flange in Roger's bathroom, along with the toilet. Then I moved onto the guest bathroom - new toilet, vanity, top, and faucet. Not without numerous lunchtime trips to HD for this and that, or to return things. Like the window shades - I nailed the right width, but I never thought about the length, and they were too short. Oops.

All this because I have arranged to get the master bathroom redone, and I was getting these other projects done as well. Since the tile for the shower is about 2 weeks overdue, I decided to tackle some of the smaller jobs myself. Well, exercise would have been easier. My knees ache, and I have some interesting bruises, but I have been enjoying the results, and I like feeling the pride.

C • Home improvement... 2

Event: QOC Fountainhead
 

Par for the course at Fountainhead, I started badly, having to come back to the Start to reset...split to 1st control was 22:22. After some more adventures in between, the last split was 2:22. Then I uploaded to AP, and I see that I won a split in 2:22 - obviously 2 was my number today.

And, it was an excellent day, even if I hadn't won a split - great turn out with 180 starts, excellent meet staff, good weather, and lots more.

Yup, a good day.

I'm blaming it on the compass - there was likely a reason that it was relegated to the bottom of my meet bag...

C • Made my day 1

Brown - Splits

Yesterday, I took the day off, and I spent a good part of the day replacing the kitchen faucet. Success! Only blood drawn wasn't from that project, but from unpacking the new shower door from the shipping crate. OK, I didn't take off with the intention of replacing the kitchen faucet, but after discovering water damage below the sink, it was the right thing to do. Sadly, the old sink looks quite shabby compared to the new, very glamorous faucet, but I will walk away from that for now.

Today, I intended to work in the basement, printing maps, doing laundry, and organizing. Well, it is now after 7:30, and I am just starting the map printing, and the only laundry I did was throw a load from last night into the dryer, and I haven't organized one single thing!

So, what did I do with my time instead, you ask? Feeling quite proud of my plumbing prowess yesterday, despite the colorful bruising on my breast bone, I decided to replace the toilet in the basement, since it was horribly stained, and it was rocking quite a bit...well, after three trips to HD, besides the initial one to a plumbing store, I don't have the toilet in. It was a series of This Old House scenes - shut off valve to toilet doesn't turn, vintage flange is broken, new flange doesn't have anything to be screwed to, etc.

My brother, Claude, helped me sort out using Sharkbite to redo the shut off valve, after even my best effort didn't loosen it for traditional replacement. Flange was easy, but then I needed something to hold the new flange in place, and this required drilling into the concrete floor. Last trip to HD was the best (to Duke St location vs. Seven Corners) perhaps since it was after the witching hour, and a wonderful gentleman escorted me through getting something to keep the sewer gases and/or rats out of the house until the new toilet is FINALLY installed, and also took me several aisles over to review my concrete anchor choices.

Back home...need to drill into the concrete...a job for another day, and after purchasing the proper drill. Still less then a plumber (barely), and I enjoyed the experience of figuring things out.

C • Impressive. 1