3rd Degree Black Belt

I passed my test! I passed I passed WOO I’m a 3rd black belt I did it!!  Yay!!!

The promotion ceremony will be on Wednesday 6/24.  When I got out of the studio I screamed and jumped up and down I was so happy.  Yay!!

Unrelated

Bike to Work, day 111

Today the struggle was to get going.  I managed to get out of  bed, albeit late, but then couldn’t seem to get my act together and get out the door.  Today was one of those mornings where I thought to myself i don’t want to be cold so i wore a thicker shirt under the space windbreaker.

That wasn’t enough.

I didn’t wear the giant sunglasses either, and the area around my eyes stung in the wind.  My eyes themselves seem slow when there is cold air blowing on them, drying them out.

0:26′27, 6.74mi (33.79 week)
avg 15.3mph, max 23.8mph
34ºF, Odo 2686.8mi
Cadence: Whatever.

I made it, and that weekly milage was my only grudging motivation.

Now then, maybe I have a reason to be so tired this morning:  Last night I passed my step exam at the karate studio.  Yes!  In the next few months I’ll be testing for 3rd degree black belt.  YAY!

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Today was the kind of day where it may have been a better idea to stay in bed.

The ride home was late with late dressing and some late on the side with an appetizer of late followed by late for dessert.  Hence dinner at 10pm, and why I am writing this post at 11:38pm

0:23′30, 6.77mi (40.57 week)
avg 17.2mph, max 26.4mph
42ºF, Odo 2693.5mi
Cadence: not bad.

It felt much, much colder on the ride home.  It certainly was darker.

And now to bed with me.  Hopefully I’ll get up in time to bike to work tomorrow.  Wish me luck, I’ll need it!

Bike to Work, day 100!

And what a beautiful day for it.  54F, high 70s no complains!

0:24′18, 6.74mi
avg 16.6mph, max 26.3mph
54ºF, Odo 2507.8mi
Cadence 67-100rpm

More later, including karate promotion.

–

What a wonderful, warm and productive day.

0:21′15, 6.76mi (total 13.51)
avg 19.1mph, max 29.9mph
71ºF, Odo 2514.6mi
Cadence 78-110rpm

At the karate studio, there are several levels of teachers.  In order to progress from ‘Teacher’ to ‘Full Instructor’ you must write out, in detail, all of the material.  Every form and every technique.  Some people excel at physical motion and have to struggle with words (myself).  Some people struggle with physical motion and excel with words (my aunt).  Last night, after years of working on this certification, I passed! I’m now a First Level Instructor of Kenpo!  Yay!

Bike to Work, day 74: Ouch

I was just shy of shattering my record this morning:

26:14, 6.5mi
67ºF, Odo 1954mi
avg 14.9mph,  max 25.2mph

My Kenpo uniform is quite heavy.  I’ll be carrying it up to Manchester after work today.

–

Extra weight, probably not enough real food or water, and a strong headwind made today’s ride to Manchester brutal.  Oh wait, I forgot 100 miles Saturday, 45 Monday, and then today’s 31.  My legs were not strong today.

1:38:44, 24.7mi
78ºF, Odo 1979mi
avg 15.0mph, max 32.3mph

Half way home my back tire flattened out.  You could think this was the cap on a bad day, but no.  No, this was a great moment in my day, because I just kept walking.  I don’t even know why at first.  But then I saw a beautiful thing: a farm stand.  I bought some fresh fruit (a peach and some chopped pineapple) and then sat down to tackle my flat.  I set to fixing it slowly, without letting myself get frustrated.  So the wind was constantly in my face, so my legs had nothing in them, so the traffic is heavy, so what?  This I can control, and it will be relaxed and enjoyable.

It was the best pineapple I’ve ever tasted.  Ever.  I ate chunks between each step, keeping my spirits up and the work easy.  What a wonderful way to turn a bad experience into the best part of my day.

Though this is not my first flat, it is the first time I’ve used my CO2 pump.  The stem frosted over and the tire was inflated in seconds.  So cool!

The rest of the ride was painful, and painfuly slow.  I threw in the towel at 25 miles to use the bathroom and grab a bite to eat and a ride back to my car (about 5 more miles across town).  Thank God for family.

Tomorrow morning we’ll see how badly my leg hurts and judge weather or not I ride to work.  We sparred at karate, and took a full on kick to the shin.  If it’s just sore but not injured I’ll ride on it.