Too much

I could give this type of info, but I spare you all the details. You are welcome. But some dude whose blog I won't be reading anymore gives about 4 charts and a week's worth of workout details.
OK OK I cannot resist giving you another example of this guy's obsessiveness. (Mario, Italian, now lives in Cupertino and works in the tech sector.... ya think ?) (he's been charting since 2003) And you all should be happy I don't blog how he does about my injuries. He has more info on his blog about his achilles injury than I could shake a willow stick at.

"According to my measurements, the road is 3.37 miles long (from the bridge to the stop sign), and gains 1290 feet. Due to its twisting nature and constantly changing grades, the local gradiometer readings should be considered approximate. Even though I measured the grade every 30-50 yards, I still did not capture all the bumps and undulations in the climb. I did a lot of guesswork to try to pick a sample that was representative of each segment.Altimeter altitude (Altitude linearly interpolated from altimeter samples, and smoothed with a 0.04mi gaussian.) Each horizontal line is 100 feet. Each vertical line is 0.2 miles.Gradiometer grade (Grade linearly interpolated from gradiometer samples, and smoothed with a 0.04mi gaussian.) Each horizontal line is 2% grade. Each vertical line is 0.2 miles.Altimeter grade (Grade linearly interpolated from altimeter samples, and smoothed with a 0.20mi gaussian.) Each horizontal line is 2% grade. Each vertical line is 0.2 miles.Comparison of grades (Green grade is from the gradiometer, magenta grade is from the altimeter, and white is where they overlap.) Each horizontal line is 2% grade. Each vertical line is 0.2 miles. Overall (averaging my first 20 hills), the gradiometer grade averages 0.63 (% grade) higher than the altimeter grade, with a standard deviation of 4.5 (% grade per road). This error may be due to:Uneven sampling -- I take more samples when the hill gets steep.Calibration error (of the gradiometer or altimeter). In the end, though, I think that each individual sample is accurate to within about 2% for that instantaneous segment of road. My results may not always agree with my altimeter, but they are generally repeatable within 1%. I think that I just need to take more samples to generate more accurate graphs"

Yes, Mario, exactly. I have been so disgusted by those inaccurate graphs, I could PUKE.

http://trimario.blogspot.com/ just in case you love the data

NUMB ers

Here is the week's data, but the NUMB refers to my butt. Today we spun the bikes for another 2:40. The spin bikes at the gym are easy to ride standing up but on our real bikes on the trainers it's not so easy, so way more time "in the saddle".

I made up a new spinning playlist on the iPod, using music that Gina likes, so we listened to that while watching basketball games. Perfect.

Week 9 Totals : Mar 24 - Mar 30
Swim Time = 1hr. 0 min. (2500 yards)
Bike Time = 5hr. 20 min. (85 miles)
Run Time = 4hr. 3 min. (26.5 miles)

Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 12hr. 7 min. (34500 yards)
Bike Miles = 28hr. 3 min. (427 miles)
Run Miles = 27hr. 6 min. (168.3 miles)

Santa Barbara Scenery

It's halftime of the games so here goes some photo fun.

Madness = Happiness

Well, I gladly forfeited watching tons of basketball games last weekend to celebrate Traci's 50th. B U T next year? nope, do not plan anything for me, do not even call me. anyone. no, not even you, Mom.

I am right now (well, not right now cuz it's halftime and I'm blogging) watching the WSU game on my tv, AND watching the Xavier game on my computer (free). AND could be watching another game on Gina's computer, if there was another game on at the moment. AND I could buy a laptop and watch yet another game.

SO, next year I am going to be here in front of my screens on the first weekend of the tournament. AND yes, my phones will all be OFF.

I could only be happier if WSU was winning. But I think the cutest coach in the league will come up with something to make the 2nd half exciting. A hot shooting hand would help.

And yes, I NEED Carolina out of the bracket. (cuz I had Notre Dame beating them)

More birthday weekend photos

Well, Traci put on the pressure, so here are tons of photos.... cuz we had tons o fun !
Can you believe that I'm sippin a lovely cheap pinot grigio as we speak? Blog posting is so much easier with a bit of a buzz on.


sippin glasses

WOW I had a great time !


Adrian explains the willow stick theory to Cindy,
Harlan checks his texts. cuz he's a VIP. whatever.

Adrian asks good questions, gets BS answers about bio dynamics.


Seattlites soakin up the sun. ahhh

This pic is TOO good to not post twice .


T. O. grrlz Rulz !!


Donna must have known I was trying to get a shot of that fab belt she had on.
Jale ignores me.


Kids will be kids.

Ever hear of SPF 30 ?

Hurry and open those divine chocolate fortune cookies.


Janet & Pat listen.

Pat swirls.

Pat gulps it down.
Next he will do his Oliver Twist impression "please sir, may I have more?"

Denise, a very suave looking oenophile.
Or at least a one handed oenophile.

John calculates how much Eric makes per tour to afford that(those) Escalades.


The surprise guests ! oh, just siblings

OK, which cheapskate tipped the $1 bill ?

Is that? Omigod, it is.... Jan Smezek !!

Karen did remember her sunscreen.

That's Frank Frankowski, in the background. Driver extraordinaire.. How he stayed on the 101 with Anne K. whispering in his ear I'll never know. I was distracted 6 rows back.

Did you like my California-speak ?? The 101 ??

Mileage update

Here are some belatedly posted #'s that I know you have been wondering about. I'm sure the biking times will be going up, soon. As soon as Coach Lesley can convince me that it's warm enough to ride outside. But it's barely 40 degrees today so.................

My knee is doing MUCH BETTER, thanks for asking. Not completely healed and back to back long runs make it act up, but overall better. I was a bit worried for a while.

While in Santa B. we swam in a 50 meter pool. Outdoors of course, it is sunny southern California. It was great ! except that wall is so not where you expect it to be. But the distance really allows you to get into a rythm. But back to reality at our Green Lake Pool tomorrow.

Week 7 Totals : Mar 10 - Mar 16
Swim Time = 1hr. 32 min. (4300 yards)
Bike Time = 2hr. 50 min. (39 miles)
Run Time = 3hr. 21 min. (20.7 miles)
Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 10hr. 11 min. (26800 yards)
Bike Miles = 19hr. 51 min. (292 miles)
Run Miles = 19hr. 27 min. (119.3 miles)


Week 8 Totals : Mar 17 - Mar 23
Swim Time = 0hr. 56 min. (5200 yards)
Bike Time = 2hr. 52 min. (50 miles)
Run Time = 3hr. 36 min. (22.5 miles)
Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 11hr. 7 min. (32000 yards)
Bike Miles = 22hr. 43 min. (342 miles)
Run Miles = 23hr. 3 min. (141.8 miles)

Time to Detox

We are back from THE Traci Lyn Brown 50th birthday bash in Santa Barbara. whew ! I'm still working on the photo collection but here's a sampling. Or shall I say "a tasting".


Was the weekend really all about the youthful and playful Traci Lyn Brown ?


Or was it about her buddy ? ME !! It's all about ME !! It's MY BLOG !! It's MY CAMERA !! It's MY GREEN SHIRT !!
I learned this "me" crap from Traci.


Or was it about the wines ? Bio dynamic or not, could I please have a full pour?


Or was this really a Neti Pot User convention?
Hi, My name is Ann, I've known Traci for 27 years and I've had sinus issues for the last 6 years.

McHugh Leprechauns

Krissy. I can't stop smiling seeing this picture.


Eli Manning and Krissy.
I'm loving his shirt.

St. Patty's Day Dress

An annual sighting. This lady wears this beautiful housedress EVERY year to Murphy's Pub. I know this cuz every year I go to Murphy's. I know, I'm in a huge rut. So today I tried to surreptitiously take a photo of it. hence the blur. REALLY, I was only there for 1.5 Guinness's. The lady actually talked to me, she inherited the dress from her mother, but still I could not bring myself to ask for a full photo.

Dan Maher, the blind guy from Spokane, sang all the same Irish tunes as he does every year. Same jokes. And I hung out with Dave, yet another blind guy. Does Guinness have an effect on the eyes?

Road Trip ? Boat Trip? Zoo Trip?

What? oh, OK, so the blog allah wants me to only upload one or 2 photos at a time.. Like I've got nothin else to do ! :) So as usual, there is no order, rhyme or reason to these pictures. But really great captions.


The eagle has landed.

Obligatory lighthouse photo.

The ONLY whale we spotted. darn

let's back up the car a half mile to take a photo of this for Gina.


Just before I make them take the "shortcut".


There MUST be a whale out there somewhere. But really, how do you like my Boston Marathon Jacket? Did I tell you I ran that race last year? I did tell you? ok, well, it was really something.. oh never mind.

On golden pond, AKA the view from our lodge.

You would have thunk we made her hike up and across Deception Pass or something.


Mona looks for cookies.

Gina sure attracts the cutest animals.

Kathy's chums. We horned in on opening night party. Thanks Patty. (for the fun, free food & drinks)

Lodge night. Don't even ask us for the secret password.


That's Mt.Baker in the background. And a couple of 'swells' in the foreground.

Who are these movie stars?

Allah forbid we get out of the car to look at the eagle.

Mangiest fox we ever did see. He came to the car for his close up, though. Gina spotted him(her?) way across the prairie. Good eye, mate.

San Juans

Well, I'm trying to add photos but Google seems to be having server problems today. Stay tuned.

The most I can offer tonight are the #'s and I can't even look at 'em. Knee still sucks. Seems worse. How can that be?


Week 6 Totals : Mar 3 - Mar 9
Swim Time = 0hr. 59 min. (2700 yards)
Bike Time = 2hr. 57 min. (44 miles)
Run Time = 2hr. 37 min. (15.75 miles)

Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 8hr. 39 min. (22500 yards)
Bike Miles = 17hr. 1 min. (253 miles)
Run Miles = 16hr. 6 min. (98.6 miles)

Why bother?

Why do I bother posting this week's #'s ?
Because I can.


Week 5 Totals : Feb 25 - Mar 2
Swim Time = 0hr. 45 min. (1800 yards)
Bike Time = 1hr. 30 min. (25 miles)
Run Time = 0hr. 56 min. (6 miles)

Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 7hr. 40 min. (19800 yards)
Bike Miles = 14hr. 4 min. (209 miles)
Run Miles = 13hr. 29 min. (82.85 miles)

Thirdgill's 40th

Last night we went to Traci's 40th birthday party. She and I worked together at Queen Anne Rec. She put on a great party! If you want something done right, do it yourself. It was at some pub in Lynnwood. She had friends from her playing days at UW (Karen Bryant, Lisa Oriard, Yvette Cole, Jackie Meyers) (and they look like they could still put a hurtin on the current UW team), family members, and old and current park dept. friends. It was a great mix of people.

Her brother Troy is a professional comedian. No, really, he has been making a living at it for many years. We last saw him at a club downtown, Gina thinks it was 15 years ago or more. I, as usual, have no memory of it. :) Anyway, Troy did a performance of mostly his routine but threw in some good Traci roasts. Jackie had the best line tho.. She said she and Traci went to the UW women's game on Friday night, thinking they were "all that"... imagine their shock when no one recognized them as they strolled thru Hec Ed. Those days of giving autographs are OVAH.

And then there was karaoke. That's when some of the bar's regulars stepped in. Very odd scene. Nope, Gina and I did not do our duet. Although Troy and his wife Amy did a great Sonny & Cher, "I've Got You Babe".


Thirdgill and Rinehart

Jackie TTT and Yvette together again !

Just to prove that Traci does not ALWAYS take a good photo. But that smile is always beautiful.

She made the signs, and little table dec's, all with photos of herself...
which gave Troy just the material he needed for a few jokes.