Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Upswing in Training.....Buccos at halfway point

The training's back on the rise this past week. My 'official' training for the Philly marathon in November begins in another week or two, but I should be ready for it to start.

Saturday, I 'only' did 50 miles on the bike while Beth did some crazy bike workout during her 70 or 80 mile ride. Yikes! I'm such a slacker....As a side note, last week I flatted when Beth and I were out on a ride. She was (of course) a little ahead of me. I yelled 'BEEEEEEETH!!' but she didn't hear me and kept riding. I texted her to let her know and she figured it out. Of course, at this point it starts POURING. However, after 20 or 30 minutes, I managed to change my flat and pump it back up with a CO2 cartridge. I had never used a CO2 cartridge (or changed a flat) before and all I could keep thinking about was Chrissy Wellington's cartridge discharging at Kona before she had it in the tire and she was stranded until a good Samaritan gave her another one. Fortunately, it worked out for me.

Sunday, we ran 14 miles on the Butler-Freeport trail. Monday, I did an easy 4 miles before my summer program. I took Tuesday off. Today Beth and I did this crazy interval run with a 12 minute 'hard' part. Ouch. Later this week, I'm going to do a run with a former student who now runs in college and was looking for someone to run 10 miles with. We'll see how that goes.

This weekend's a big wedding. Ben (who sometimes trains with Beth and I) is getting married. It's another chance for us to go back to the Oakmont Country Club (home of several US Opens) and hopefully Beth won't be asked to take her jean jacket out to the car again!

This past weekend brought about the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. I'm impressed with what they eat! But, I think my favorite part of the telecast is the introductions and hearing what their various 'resumes' entail for these competitors in the International Federation of Competitive Eating. Things like beef brisket, rice, asparagus, pulled pork, and ramen noodles. Where do they get these? I would like to some day enter either a pizza eating contest or a Hoss's eating contest.

Believe it or not, the Pirates are now past the halfway point of their season. Where did that go? After losing this afternoon, they are now 9 games under .500. Not great but they are building a solid foundation for the future. I'm still not all that hopeful for 2010, but I think 2011 could be the start of something special where the minor league system is ready to supply a constant stream of major-league talent. Here's my hopeful lineup for April 2011

1. McCutchen CF
2. Sanchez 2B (please sign him to an extension--nobody's ready for a few years)
3. Jose Tabata LF
4. Pedro Alvarez 1B (too many errors at 3B plus they have Andy LaRoche)
5. Ryan Doumit RF
6. Andy LaRoche 3B
7. Jason Jaramillo C (what a pickup he was!!!)
8. Jack Wilson SS (see Freddy Sanchez)

Bench: Moss, Millege, Pearce, G Jones (what an impression he's making!), Friday, Bixler, Diaz, T Sanchez, G Hernandez, Walker, .... some of these guys have to work out

Pitchers: Maholm, Morton, Duke, Lincoln, Snell (maybe), Ohlendorf, Gorzelanny,....

I'm hopefull........

3 comments:

Beth said...

You are such a slacker - only 50 miles on Saturday??? HAHAHA!!! Your dad might fall over if he heard how far you rode...

By the way, good job changing that flat. ;)

runningyankee said...

you should get at job with the pirates front office.. seems you know whats better for them than they do!

m said...

Oscar, I don't think I have done a 50 mile ride all year!