The New Season

So my new season has started. I participated in the Philly Sprint Tri this past weekend and raced my slowest times yet. As DH pointed out, I did not train that much. I am disappointed in my bike time though since I have been biking to work for a while. But I only got out on my road bike twice this season. I was happy with my run. Although painfully slow, 38 minutes slow, it was the first time I ran the entire 5k portion of a triathlon.

Now I am in training for another tri in 3 weeks, a 7 miler in 7 weeks and a half for my birthday. My goals have always been running oriented, so for the big 3-0 it is a running focused year. While I am excited, I am sad that the only biking I will be doing this year is to and from work. But at least I have the opportunity to do that. We'll see how the run training goes and where this leads me for future seasons.

Racing Season is over..

So my tri's and biking are done for the season. It leaves me a little deflated. I always need something to work towards to keep me motivated. I am trying to enjoy the fact that I don't need to stress myself out over a race, but I like that, I feed on it. It probably drives Frank crazy- going to bed by 10 on a Friday and not drinking, but it makes me happy. As I like to say, if the wife isn't happy, the husband is definitely not happy.

Anyway- so my plan for the off-season is to get crazy buff. If I make my workouts a priority I am fine on that end. My hardest part is my diet. I don't necessarily eat bad I just eat too much. Except for certain sweets and pizza, if those are in my view I eat way too much of those. I have some friends who are dietitians who offered to help but I may go a different route. While I do not doubt their ability to help me, I think I may need a different type of push.

So far I have had made some small changes that have helped. I just need to keep doing things that fit into my lifestyle, but that also push me to reach the ultimate goals I would like to reach- all which involve becoming more competitive in races and doing longer races. My dream is to do an Ironman, but with my hip and inability to really run, I need to be thankful that I least I can do the Sprints and maybe I can work my way up to the Olympic.

I am very lucky to have 3 triathlons that all race the same course 5 minutes from my house. No need to worry about travel, forgetting anything or not knowing the course. The last tri I did this summer the run was an out and back (as they usually are), but the mileage wasn't marked. So none of us knew where the turn around was and we were all getting very antsy to get there. We didn't know how much energy we could expend because we didn't know how much more we had to run.

I also want to fit in at least one more bike ride next summer and do the 75 miler for the City-to-Shore. I have to figure out how to train more efficiently and how to fit all of it in.

Here's to cross training in the fall and winter! Frank and I plan to do boxing and hopefully that works out. I had to pull out of the class last year due to plantar fasciitis. But it is an amazing work out and I am trying to prepare myself for the class this time around so I don't have to quit.

It's been a while

So it's been since my last triathlon that I have blogged. Well I just completed my first triathlon of the season, the Philly Insurance Sprint Tri this past weekend. I was nervous about the swim being canceled because we had thunderstorms with hail move through on Friday night, but alas, Saturday was a gorgeous day with a slightly cool Schuylkill. I must say I love using a wetsuit. In parts of the swim it felt restricted, but I knew it was just the way the wetsuit was making me feel and that I was ok. I thought I kicked ass on the bike, but I guess not. The run was the longest three miles ever. My whole lower half was tied up in knots and I was wincing in pain with every step. but yeah I finished! All of my times are a minute to a minute and a half faster than last year (same course) so that's good, just not as well as I would like. So I am going to work extra hard for a triathlon I will be doing in NJ at the end of the summer. It is shorter (except for the run), so we'll see what happens.

She-Rox Finisher!

I did it. Last week I completed the She-Rox Tri and had a blast doing it. It was a gorgeous day adn Frank, my niece and good friends came out to cheer me on, I did the race with my sister who also had a good race. I am definitely doing it again next year! I had no pain until I finished, and then the pain just consumed me, but that's ok, I had no pain during the race. Next up, the MS City-to-Shore ride. I just got to get back on my bike. :)

The pictures are linked here http://picasaweb.google.com/andrea.mannino/Triathlon

1 Week to GO

The SheRox Tri is next Sunday. I am pretty much sh*tting my pants. I am so unready, but then gain, I ma way further along than I thought I could be last year. I am still dealing with tons of orthopedic problems, and they will hold me up next week, but I know I can work through some. I know that sounds bad, but after close to 4 yrs of chronic pain, it's the best I can ask for. I am even starting plans for after the triathlon; I want to do the 45 mile segment of the Shore to City ride in September and the Lupus 5k in October. Having something to work towards and focus on helps me. I don;t do all I can to help myself and I know that, but I am doing more than I have in the last 4 yrs. And that's better than where I have been.

She-Rox Triathlon

It's in two and a half weeks and I am so screwed! I did not train up to the level I wanted to/needed to and my body is not cooperating. On the upside though, I have reached new levels of exercise that I have not been able to get to in the past three years and it is really nice to know that if my body behaves, I can go out for a nice bike ride for an hour or put in a half hour at the pool. The trails here are very scenic so it is very relaxing to be on them.

Hitting the Town

Frank and I have not been out in Center City and what feels like forever. Friday we are hitting the town. I am very excited. Now if only I get to choose where we go...

SheRox Triathlon

So I have committed to something I am not even sure my body will allow, but psychologically, I need it.

I have signed up for the SheRox Triathlon here in Philly in August. The all women Sprint Triathlon along West River Drive will help me prove to myself, maybe my body doesn't actually hate me, and maybe I can work towards a positive goal.

To help get me psyched I bought a brand new kick ass road bike. Who knew that on a road bike, (vs. my ten year old hybrid) that I am always afraid of going over the handle bars. I am so high up and flying and I feel like that the smallest uneveness in pavement is my enemy.

Also my enemy are people who do not follow trail rules. People don't stay to the right (I do tell people I am passing but half can't hear me because of their IPods), other bikers don't tell you they are passing, and bikers and runners with their friends take up the entire trail going in one direction. It's just dangerous and inconsiderate. What I have also noticed over the years is that runners are way more friendly than bikers. Two runners coming at each other will usually at least nod or smile. Bikers totally ignore each other, bitch when cars don't see them, but bikers don't follow the rules of the road either, so why should the cars respect them? I am excited for myself to be biking a lot now, but am anxious of getting into this biking subculture that I don't care for, again, rude, dangerous and inconsiderate.

Enough ranting aside. I am very excited to be doing the triathlon. I just need all of my body parts to get excited too. Right now I can't walk so biking is good. Swimming is the hardest thing for me to get into. It actually aggravates some of my injuries and I find it takes a lot more motivation (and planning) for me to get into the pool.

I want this triathlon to go well because I want to be able to do at least one a year. Sprint triathlons should hopefully less stress on my body than some other activities since you spread out the pain to using all muscle groups at different points.

So we shall see what will come of all this. My hope is proof that I can get back into all physical activity without being in pain or injured every other day.

Center City Pub Crawl

So Frank and I did our own pub crawl of Center City this past Saturday. We actually started at the Rangers v. Flyers game in the afternoon. We very graciously had our tickets changed to the club boxes because by accident they had us seated in the all you can eat section and if you don’t purchase the all you can eat plan you can’t sit there, so they moved us to very expensive seats with a private bar, bathroom and waitress. Pretty kick ass, as was the game. Rangers handed the Flyers another shutout. It’s been fun going to the games lately. The last game here the Rangers beat the Flyers 4-0.

From there we headed To Tria’s Wine Bar at 18th and Spruce. It is definitely smaller than their other location. I started off my wine drinking with a nice relaxing glass of Cabernet.

Next we went to NoddingHead where I was very disappointed with the wine. I know I am coming from Tria’s, but it was still sucky Shiraz, I didn’t even finish the entire glass.

After the disappointment we went to Mahogany, which is a scotch and cigar bar. I picture places like these all around the Capitol building in DC with Senators making back door deals. It was pretty cool. I sat in a big chair in front of a fire. I had a good glass of Cabernet and I want to go back and try some of their port.

After all of that drinking we needed food. We went to Jose Pistola’s. We were smart and sat at the upstairs bar where we watched G4’s imports of crazy Japanese game shows with some of the other patrons and manager. I did not drink here, but had a very tasty and filling spicy meatloaf dinner. As one of the patrons was leaving the bar he said “Go Flyers,” well I countered with a “Go Rangers” and he came back up the stairs saying, “Who said that.” So we got into an interesting hockey conversation.

After the food and fun we headed towards Chick’s Café and stopped at a random bar on South Street where the prices were way too high for a dive bar. We got to Chick’s wine bar and I enjoyed a nice, oaked, Chardonnay. Chick’s was small and the man behind me had way too much cologne on, but other than that, it was fun.

So next on our stop was to be O’Neal’s Pub which I have wanted to try. We walked in and it looked like your run of the mill crappy bar. Not many people were there and I was getting tired so we left two seconds later and went to Beneluxx. Beneluxx is a bar where they allow you to buy wine, beer, chocolate and cheeses in small portions so you can sample many things. I decided to sample a Barbera D'Asti and knowing this was my last drink of the night, I lived it up and ordered a $14 glass of this oh so yummy wine and some dark chocolate.

Frank and I had a lovely time on our pub crawl. And for all of the wine I drank Frank had many strong beers and a cask strength scotch. There is always something for everyone.

Restaurant Week

So Frank and I participated in restaurant week. We went to Mercato http://www.mercatobyob.com/. For our appetizer we got a plate of Italian meats, sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and crostini. Our kind of food. The problem with it was that the meats were a plain salami and a prosciutto that was not sliced thin.Frank's meal was not properly described. What sounded like meat with a side of pasta, was more of stew with meat and pasta. I got a flavored pasta but it turns out the pasta with Franks dish was more flavorful. But after all is said and done we enjoyed ourselves and the food very much. After Mercato we continued on the town and went somewhere I have been wanting to go to for a while, Tria's. We went to the location at 12th & Spruce. I am in love. If Tria expanded to Manayunk, we'd be broke. Frank and I had contests to see who could order the better tasting wine. We split. And since they have good beer there too, if I drag Frank there a lot, he won't get overloaded on wine. We joined their club and I am eager to try 25 different wines so I can win my club prize.

New Year's Resolution Day 3

Flossing and the gym are going very well. My eating habits are not, but that may be why I did not make a New Year's resolution about them.

New Year's Resolutions Day 2

So yesterday I went to the gym, I cleaned my closet, did laundry and put all of the clothes away, flossed, am looking into joining a wine class, and may be interested in volunteering at a hospice. So not to shabby for my first day.

Today I got into work at 8:30. I went to bed too late to wake up any earlier, I need to work on that tonight.

Yesterday we went to the Mummer's Day Parade. It was packed and it was impossible to see the performance at City Hall which kind of sucked because that is the thing to see. I believe when we were there the Comics were going by. Next year I want to see the Brigades and I want to go to the Fancy's show at the Convention center. That way I can see some of the actual performances. It was mobbed and Frank and I bumped into the Police Commissioner by accident. Some of the groups we saw go by were sad. Unorganized, talking on their cell phones and not interacting with the crowd in anyway, whether it be shaking hands or exuding enthusiasm for the crowd. I am excited about the parade for next year, but will go with a better game plan.

New Year's Resolutions

So yes, it is the time of empty self promises and I shall make mine too. I am going to make my promises more action oriented instead of results oriented, that way they are more easily attained and if the actions are performed than results should come.

So here goes nothing:
1) Become a gym rat. Go to the gym at least 6 days a week. If I can't make it to the gym I must do my pilates DVD.
2) Pick up one room of the house every night
3) Floss every night
4) Join a new social organization like a book club, sports (if permissible), etc.
5) Get into work at 8am. I know I hate getting up early but my day seems to drag less if I get in earlier. I know I spend the same amount of time there, it's just some weird mental thing.
6) Go to the gym during lunch

Cape Cod Style

So I am here in Cape Cod a few weeks earlier than planned but here none the less. I had chose a more eventful Friday night initially but this whopper of a headache is keeping me in and making me head for bed shortly. So today I got to enjoy a walk along the Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth. It's one of my most favorite places here. There's a place of it where it meets a small beach. At the beach I was greeted by a large crane and found out later that slightly further down the trail a sewer pipe burst. I went to the beach and skipped rocks and every rock I threw skipped. It was kind of crazy. It was a beautiful day out. Sunny and seasonably warm. For dinner we went to Eli's. I love Eli's and it was my choice to go. They had so many good choices that I actually ended up going with the special. It was penne in olive oil with cappicola, prosciutto, salami, eggplant and onions. It was yummy. The wine prices were not great, but after they poured me a glass, I was very happy. It was a HUGE glass of wine. I wanted just a little more wine, knowing I had to drive so my dad said, just don't drink all of it. I had two sips and then my mom had the rest. I ended up not needing to drive in the end, but oh well. So tomorrow I plan on spending time at the hospital and then my dad and I will go and see Charlie Wilson's War. I don't know hat the rest of my short trip will hold, we'll see.

Shopping

I am looking to buy a nice, new winter coat. The wool pea coat I now have is not long enough and is missing half of its buttons. I went to Kohl's where they had a coat I like but not in my size, Ross- who had nothing, Burlington Coat Factory where I bought a nice fall coat, but no winter coats I liked and yesterday Macy's, where I realized that I must have the broadest shoulders out there and most of the nice coats run smaller than my dress size. I had coupons, coats were on sale, I was ready to drop some money for a nice coat. I tried on so many coats and was pissed that I couldn't find anything. There was only one coat I liked, but didn't try on, it's was over $400. I don't need to know that that's the coat for me since I can't afford it. One coat I like had these flimsy clasps to close the coat that kept coming apart even as I just stood in front of the mirror. I tried on one puffy coat and it made me look puffy. Only super skinny girls can where those and still look good.

After looking at coats, I now know exactly what type of coat I want. I want a calf length wool coat with a hood that has a belt for the waist. I like the plaid type designs on coats but could go black or gray if that's all there were. Most brown coats look like a lovely shade of dog poop after a while. Anyone know where I can find my coat?

Oh wow

So Saturday night I met up with a S.S.S.M.J. do celebrate S.s birthday. We went to Tonic on Main Street. I've only been to Tonic once or twice early on calm evenings. I got to Tonic a little after 11. So the girls were ahead of me in drinking so I tied to catch up (and I needed a little loosening up). I had two drinks and could only afford one more probably. There was one annoying/sketchy/scary guy downstairs who would not leave us alone so we went upstairs to the dance floor. When we go up there S. started talking to someone and he eventually left. The waitress came by and said a guy wanted to buy a bottle of Grey Goose for us and she would come back for us. Very cool. In all this time scary guy from downstairs came back and another scary guy came over but luckily in the back room we only had to deal with one scary guy who the bartenders kicked out for us and then sat watch over the area for us for the rest of the night.

So we hung out in the back room (that had a bed in it, severely limiting dance space) with Steve and Maurice, childhood friends. They were very nice guys who just wanted to have a good time and choose us for their benevolence. Maurice's brother is Marvin Harrison of the Colts so Maurice kept saying his brother was paying the tab (two bottles of grey goose, mixers and a round of shots). So we danced, talked and drank. I think I drank about 1/2 a bottle of Grey Goose (and lot's of Red Bull).

When we left I called Frank to meet me outside of Castle Roxx. I had him walk me around town for about 15 minutes because I felt I was to drunk to go home. I remember bits and pieces of the walk and two seconds at home and nothing else. Apparently I wrote something about snow on Frank's car, changed myself for bed and got into bed by myself, and kept spitting into the garbage thinking I was going to be sick (I wish I had been).

I woke up with my blanket on the floor. I was wired when I woke up. Off the walls. We went to Mugshots for my after drinking muffin and that's when it all started hitting me. For the rest of the entire day I didn't leave the couch. I was nauseas until 6pm. It was horrible. I had a forever to-do list on Sunday and none of it got done obviously. I just need to learn to drink less. When someone says, who wants more. I need to say no! At one point I was drinking straight vodka. That's Bad.

Philly Pictures

So Frank and I took the camera with us around Center City in late summer. Here is our photo tour of some areas of center. My favorites are Frank's shots of the game pieces outside the MSB.

Canal's

I love Canal's in Pennsauken. Every time I go I have 5 people helping me and last time I got to have samples of wine whilst shopping (yes, that's whilst!). They are also very accommodating about ordering wines and liquors that they don't carry. Every time we go to Canal's it tends to be a bank buster, but that's why we only go about once every three months. With PA's horrendous liquor laws, I don't shop for wine or liquor here. The taxes make things more expensive than they are elsewhere and the selection sucks (especially for wine). Hopefully, maybe PA will overcome it's stupidity one day, but I know that day is no time soon.

Election

So the Mayoral election is tomorrow in Philly. We are voting on Mayor, City Council, Sheriff and ten million different judges. I have been seeking out election info and info on candidates and can find next to nothing. I only found one place that said what time the polls were open. The two best sites so far are www.thenextmayor.com and www.seventy.org/hot-topics/-2007-election-information/.
These only scratch the surface though. It seems near impossible to make an informed decision on most of these positions that will affect how our City is run and the criminal justice system in a City where crime is the most concerning issue. I want to vote for the best candidates, not party lines or incumbents. (Please for people who vote party lines, stop and make an informed decision based on the qualities and qualifications of candidates. I was standing in line to vote in the 2004 presidential election and a child asked her father who he was going to vote for and he said, "Whoever is in my party." Welcome to the degradation of democracy people! I almost turned around and slapped the man for being ignorant and teaching his child how to ruin a country.) It just baffles me. So obviously the first position that needs to be replaced in Philly are those who are responsible for getting information out about the election and candidates. Then citizens can be registered, informed, passionate, and make the changes needed in Philadelphia.

My Voting Experience
So I went to vote at 7:05 am this morning. My polling place wasn't ready and they didn't expect to be ready soon so I left and went back after work. At that point they screwed up the count of voters and spent ten minutes bickering amongst themselves in a little 10-by-10 room while I and another girl waited for them to stop bickering and get their act together. The girl in front of me was getting very pissed and I didn't blame her. I was only voter #154 at 6pm and they couldn't work their system. Also Philadelphia encourages voter fraud. They don't check ids or ask you any personal information before you sign the voter book. Also on the Philly election site there is more information in Spanish than in English. I understand the whole fairness in voting for immigrants but give me a fucking break! And as of now, the stupid people in charge of this are being re-elected. Loving Fucking election system Philadelphia has. As if we don't have enough problems already.

Manayunk

So C. asked for more pics of the City. For now though, I did a little picture tour of bar and restaurant signs in Manayunk. I know I am missing a bunch (Dawson's, CJ & Ecks, Ugly Moose) but I think I have all of Main Street. So enjoy Yunkers!