Grabbing at exercise wherever I can find it

So, it was rainy in L.A. last week. Really rainy on Thursday, when I decided that, rain or shine, I would run to work. It's about 5k to work, and between the rain, the traffic lights and the detours due to flooding, I didn't get it done very quick. But I was looking forward to the opportunity to run in torrential rain and, as it doesn't happen too often in SoCal, I was obliged to get wet.

Fast forward to Sunday, I got this last minute invite to join a 75 mile bike ride from Irvine to Solana Beach. (map is absolutely not too scale, I kind of wasn't paying attention to where we were going. but I'm promised we went 75 miles. I think that map misses all of Camp Pendleton, which we did ride through.)

Muscle memory is a funny thing; I haven't been training much on a bike, but those bygone years of constant training and racing are hard to forget. We cruised down the coast pretty quick, followed by pizza (Pepperoni, Pineapple and Jalapeno, thanks Mark!) and a few pitchers of Green Flash (thanks West Coast Ale!), and then the train-ride back up to Irvine, where we started. I had a blast riding with that crew (check out Mai's blog, Velo Angels, for the real dirt)

photo courtesy of Olivia Cao

Taken up figure skating... er, couples ice ballet.

After spending the whole day feeling like a fat ass (although, I did miss lunch due to an all-day inventory session at the shop...) and having my run cut short by coastal flooding, I took up couples ice ballet. Thanks for making me look good, Lina!

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Running gear I love, and can't afford

Why is it that everytime I use the last of the coffee, I save the coffee can? It just seems like something worth saving, and I know the best way to make homemade ice cream is using two different size coffee cans, but...

...which segues brilliantly into today's PIP post; technology. I won't write about shoes today, as that probably deserves a post of its own (short version: my shoes are too big, and they hurt), but I do want to write about compression garments. I use 2Xu compression recovery socks, and I'm looking to buy some race socks of the same brand before the 10k next month. "Compression" is such a buzz-word in athletics, but I recently had the opportunity to talk with my 2Xu rep at Cynergy (where I work) and demystify some of the details.

It breaks down like this: when you were a kid, and you got hurt , you applied pressure to your "ouchie part" . Yes, you did. Pansie-ass. BUT, your bitch ass was being brilliant; you might not have known it then, but you were helping your body return de-oxygenated blood to your heart. It's called venous return. And it really makes a difference. Basically, you are helping to hasten the removal of lactic acid build-up. Which I hate. Compression garments that go all the way to your ankles (or wrists) have a "graduated fit", which basically means it squeezes your limbs like a toothpaste tube, to get things moving. And healthy.

I raise my post-run PBR to toast...

... my first blog entry. I should probably read someone else's running blog first, to see how it's done, before subjecting anyone to my own. Truth is, I thought of the name while running this morning, and had to snatch it before someone else did. (I can't believe it was available! It sounds so dirty...)

Today's run was my second 4-miler in, um, years. Yesterday was the first, and I did it in 35 minutes. I usually run along Speedway, from my apartment in Venice, south to Marina del Rey, and back. There's all kinds of obstacles and craziness to keep me on my toes. Today's run was a little slower, about 36 minutes, or 9 minute miles. This PBR will give me the carbs to make tomorrow's run hella fast.

I'm trying to get in shape for the Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10k, and I'm feeling good so far. My goal is a modest one; I want to finish in under an hour. It shouldn't be too difficult, but I also haven't done a damn thing to actively get in or stay in shape for several years, so this will be a nice litmus test.

Well, I've secured the name (I'm already thinking of a logo, kinda like the Nine Inch Nails logo, seen right, but with PIP, Pronating in Public... oh God, I already know I'm going to take this way too far... I should have shirts available for purchase next week) I'm told my buddy Ben has a blog where he writes about running, as well as cycling and beer. Sounds epic, so I'll probably check that out to see how it's done, and find out what I'm supposed to be writing about.