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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Captain Americas

George Hincapie looks good in Stars and Stripes, or not, but he got pipped on the line by Matthew Busche of RadioShack. Busche just came off a Tour of California ride that put his teammates on the top 2 steps of the podium. He's young (only 26) and from Wisconsin AND he got 3rd in the Time Trial two days before. You may not know him know, but someday you will....when I get my picture taken with him.
Now, Dave "crazy legs" Zabriskie, everybody knows him and he's back as Cap't America...for the SIXTH TIME. He's a crazy maniac. Emphasis on the crazy.
-Star

Monday, May 30, 2011

Giro finale

Alberto Contador totally Lance'd* the Giro this year. This makes him 6 for 6 on Grand Tours entered and won. The real competion was for 2nd.
Hats off: To David Millar, who won the last stage of the Giro.
Also to Peter Stetina, a young and up-and-coming US rider. In his first Grand Tour his job was to help Christophe LaMavel. He ended up getting 22nd overall and 3rd in the Young Rider competition. And he's only 23....remeber that name.
*rode away with a Grand Tour win while under suspision of doping.

-Star

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Tennis on Clay

Who plays that? Well, professional tennis players, but most of them not very good. We are in the first week of the French Open, I bet most of you didn't even know that. And I've got a get a post in while there are still some Americans playing. Mardy Fish is the last American man. The women's draw has Vania King and Bethanie Mattek-Sand. The Bryans Bros are still in as the #1 seed, but no one pays attention to doubles.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Post Tour of Cali

boo and I survived the southern CA traffic and got to see some great racing. The first stage we were at finished in Paso Robles and not only did Thor Hoshovd drop out within first 20 K (crap), but Gustov Larsson crashed and had to be taken to the hospital (he survived). That's 2 of my top 10. At least we saw Jens Voigt finish....what did you say boo? He broke his wrist 2 stages before and just got an x-ray and now is heading back to Europe? **big frowny face and thumbs down** But there is Bob Roll, in I believe women's skinny jeans...that's something. And here's Oscar Freire.












The next day was the Individual Time Trial in Solvang. Our good friend that drives Garmin-Cervelo's bus confirmed that yes, David Zabriskie is pretty strange, Ryder Hesjedal is nice, and Christian Vande Velde is the most mature of the Garmen riders there. And I could see for myself that Johan Van Summeren is really tall. ***I'm standing on a curb to give me an extra 5 inches.










But the highlight of the ITT was meeting the voices of cycling Phil "Suitcase of Courage" Liggett and Paul "Wheelhouse to Engine Room: More Power" Sherwin. They like their fans.










Chris Horner, as winner of the whole shebang, got to pick supper. I have to say, excellent choice. I bet he got the 4x4, with animal fries and a large shake.



-Star

Tour of Cali - Stage 4+

Well done Chris Horner for stomping your authority all over this race. You made even your own teammate (Levi Leiphemer) look old and slow. Ironic that Chris the oldest rider in the race after Jen Voigt. Then holding off Levi again in the time trial in Solvang.
Yes, Chris does look like a old, bald man in person. More on that that later in the next episode of boo & Star Meet Cyclists!!
-Star

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tour of Cali stage 3

The British are coming!! The British are coming!!
Wait, Greg Henderson is from New Zealand, but that's close to Australia and he does ride for Sky, so we're going to just call him British. And he won today's stage and took the leaders jersey from teammate and fellow countryman Ben Swift. Now wake up Americans and win some stages in out biggest cycling race!!! Seventh is not good enough Taylor Phinney!
Thor Hoshovd if you do win, I'm totally claiming that as an American win. You ride of Gamin and I actually wish we had riders as cool as you, that goes for you too Jen Voigt (I hope you are feeling better).
I'm sorry to Nic Hamilton who rides for Jelly Belly, our Lanton Rouge. Yes, the ToC is officially recognizing the rider in last place. That's what you get when riding with just jelly beans as fuel.
-Star

Monday, May 16, 2011

Tour of Cali stage 2

More Dave z.
Twelve-year-old Brit Ben Swift won today's shortened stage, no Donner pass. He rides for Sky and won the finishing sprint. Ok, he's not 12, but really he looks like it.
When Dave Z wakes up in the morning he pisses excellence.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Cycling update

I know, the Giro started last weekend and I haven't updated. Well, that's because the first stage I was going to update was stage 3, the same stage that saw the first rider die racing in the Grand Tour in 16 years. So, I didn't really know Wouter Weylandt, but watching stage 4 was the saddest stage I've ever seen. It's been tough to get into the mood of racing. Going into the first rest day we have Alberto Contador about a minute lead on the peloton.
The Tour of Califonia was to start today, but it's snowing around Lake Tahoe, so they've cancelled the stage. It's a good thing they moved the ToC from February to May 2 years ago to avoid inclement weather. Heavy sigh. But Dave Z was happy. Oh and tomorrow the route goes over Donner Pass, I hope cycling has had enough tragedy for now.
-Star

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

"Thank God it's not my vomit": A half-marathon PR

Thanks to our sister Frankie for this guest post:

Pre run: Rational Running Frankie (RRF): Goal 1:40, so 7:47 splits, I can do this, that's only taking 4 min off my PR. Just go out slow, don't kill yourself the first 4 miles. Weather is perfect, no rain. It will be a great day.
Irrational Running Frankie (IRF): OMG, it's so cold, 1:40, what am I thinking. I can't do that, it is way too fast. My planter facistic hurts, I didn't poop that much, I gained 4 lbs, so that's an extra 20 lbs on impact on my joints at each step, no way I can do 1:40. What was I thinking, why did I tell people my goal? So stupid, stupid, stupid.
"RS" (annoying girl that I teach at bootcamp, who also weights as much as me without my legs and arms) told me before the start, "So I'm going to run with you, because I want to do it in 1:40". I say ok, but think I'm going to make sure your scrawny little butt isn't in front of me at the finish line.

Mile 1: 7:30 split: IRF: Oh crap, that is way too fast. I need to slow down. I can't do this the whole way. What am I thinking?
RRF: Ok so little quick but that's ok. You feel good, You got your grove, and you can do this. Just take your time. Channel Lilly, not Walker or Daryl.
"RS" - She asked what the split is, I say "7:30, too quick, I need to step it back a notch". RS says "Well it feels like we are crawling". I think to myself, go ahead, have a killer 10K time, double dog dare ya.

Mile 2: IRF: Oh crap, way to fast, think Lilly, think Lilly.
RRF: Feel good, weather is great. Hey, there is awesome sister Star, I bet she thinks I look fast.
Where is RS? Oh, there she is, right behind me following my every footsteps.

Mile 3: IRF: Oh crap, I'm going too fast. My legs are going to kill by mile 10. What am I doing?
RRF: Man I love Sheridan BLVD, beautiful homes, wonderful people out cheering everyone on. Oh look, there's Lori, the nurse that poked me in the butt with a steroid shot 2 days ago, cheering me on. I yell at her "man I feel great".
Where is RS? I have no idea and really don't care. I know she is not in front of me, so that's all that matters.
Mile 4: IRF: Going way too fast. Need to slow down. I really have pee. Really, really have to pee. My hands are still cold, crap why didn't I grab gloves.
RRF: DOWNHILL. Relax, run your run, have fun, let your legs carry you, feel GOOD. Oh well, if you pee yourself that is why you have black shorts, no one will know.

Mile 5: IRF: Crap crap crap, I'm hot. I need to get rid of my long sleeve shirt and didn't expect STAR and BOO so soon, and opposite side of the street. Man I hope I don't mess up my Farming and iPod taking off this shirt. Crap crap crap.
RRF: Good job Frankie, you got your long sleeve shirt off, got it to boo, and you are good. Enjoy the weather. You are good, 10 K right around the corner, you got this.

Mile 6: IRF: This bike trail better not be packed or I'm going to run in the wet grass, then that might aggravate my planter fascictic or I'm throwing punches. 46 min 10K HOLY HELL, PR ON 10K, WAY TOO FAST.
RRF: Ok bike trail, just hunker down and it will go fast. Just watch the trucks on Hwy 2. No problem you got your stride, 46 min 10K - awesome and I feel good.

Mile 7: IRF and RRF: Where did mile 7 go?

Mile 8: IRF: Shot Blocks, ok now I need water. Crap, where is the water? Yes, I need water. Oh hell, if I hold these then they will get warm and taste like warm flavored snot. How do I hold them without getting them warm?....Water, I need water.
RRF: Yes, I got my Shot Blocks, water stop and more energy. Man, I'm so lucky to have such great sisters, husband and Dang my kids are ADORABLE, cutest kids that I've seen on the course by far.

Mile 9: IRF: WHAT NO BEER STOP?!?! Oh hell, stupid, stupid, stupid.
RRF: No beer, that's good, I don't need beer in this temple. hey, there's Staci cheering on the runners, probably because she didn't want to get beat by me AGAIN.

Mile 10: IRF: This is so stupid. Who runs this fast? I quit. My left quad kinda hurts. I knew I went out too fast, what the hell was I thinking? That hill sucked, so tired, want to walk, so tired.
RRF: Ok, big hill done, left hip flex is feeling the strain, but nothing bad. I can so run through this, only a 5K to go. So easy, keep up the pase. I can do this, almost done.

Mile 11: IRF: OMG MY LEFT LEG HURTS, MY QUAD MUSCLE IS GOING TO POP ANY MINUTE, MY HIP FLEXOR WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. Maybe I'm compensating for my planter fascitis and messing up my hip crap crap crap.
RRF: Ok, so little sore on the left quad, no biggie, will rest my cold beer on it tonight and call it "ice", Beer, that sounds good, I haven't had 1 for two weeks. I haven't gone that long without a beer since I was pregnant....now that is misery, this is just a little soreness.

Mile 12: IRF: I WANT TO WALK, MY HIP FLEXOR HURTS. I knew I shouldn't have gone out that fast. I have more then 1 mile, stupid RRF said only 1 mile and it's 1.1 miles. She is STUPID.
RRF: Only 1 more mile, you can do this! And guess what, you foot doesn't hurt. I wish IRC wouldn't be so loud.

Mile 13: IRF: That's it, I'm walking. This is so stupid. HATE IT, kick WHAT F#&%ing KICK? I don't have a kick, I did that on mile 1 when I went out too fast, stupid.
RRF: .1 miles, sweet, oh look there is the other instructors from bootcamp yelling at me...hells ya, I just found my kick. Man I love turf fields. Wow, that TV screen in big.

Mile 13.1: Ouchie, so want to sit down but this big National Guard guy is holding me up....wow, there is a lot of vomit on this turf....thank god it's not mine. Big National Guard guy is still holding my up, I told him I just want to lay down, but not in the barf.

Wait, 1:38, that is called smoking it!!!! Where's the beer?