Fat Lip

Independence Valley 2009, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

So I remember when I was a kid, and I wasn't happy about things exactly going my way... I would show my parents a fat lower, pouty lip. It was to suggest that I was sad or the event(s) didn't meet my expectations.

Today didn't go as planned; but then again I didn't make plans - other than to get in my car, visit with a team mate and travel to a race south of Olympia, Washington (about a 70 mile commute one way). The weather was horrid and got worse the further south we drove.

In the end, after 40 minutes of watching popsicle team mates stroll in one, by one.... then going inside to view the shivers, shaking and general palsy of those attempting to find warmth... martha and I got back in the car and headed NORTH for Seattle. Saying something like "we shall live to fight another day!"

Yes. Indeed.
This was our experience. We enjoyed ourselves and made plans for other days.

No fat lips here.

Foodloging

Seattle Shooting#2, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

So I just created the new term of foodloging. For the past 60 days I've been entering all my food data to create my own accountability for getting myself on a training nutrition; making sure I eat foods that heal me, recovery me faster. The public display of this data is HERE.

Wow, what people know about me...maybe more than what I know about myself.

I decided to make this public because I think I've been feeling superior forms of recovery after racing. What my foodlogging doesn't cover is KEY supplementations and techniques.

Here are my secret daily routines AND the post race recovery info:

AM - routine
a) VSL#3 (medical grade probiotics - to process all the good stuff in gut)
b) E3 Enzyme Supreme (because we don't have enough enzymes to break down nutrients)
c) H-Minus (Active Hydrogen - super antiox)
d) E3Live (AFA Superfood to feel like Superman - buzzzzzz) - 1 Shot
e) Omega-Cure (High Grade Fish Oil - awesome anti-inflamatory & lubicates jointes) 1 TBL
f) 50K Vitamin D (1 capsule every 10 Days - 10 known cancers are linked to deficiency)

PM - routine
a) VSL#3 (same as above)
b) Triphala (digestive support)
c) Trace Minerals (to repair muscles you need trace elements)

POST WORKOUTS - routine
a) Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice (anthocyanins for anti-anflam and healing)
b) Whey Protein (add banana or with Agave nectar)
c) Compression Tights (hard race days)
d) Soaking Bath with Himalayan Rock Salt and Ayuvedic Anti-inflammatory Oil

Just in case you wanted to know...

Creating Space

Mason#3, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

I officially finished my first CAT 3 race of the season; a boost of confidence for the possible; not just the possible of what my body can do, but what all of me can do.

I wrote a letter to a friend from high school today who recently lost her mother at the age of 40. I lost mine at 24. I told her that I gained much and learned much from my mother's passing. Intrigued, she bravely asked what could that gain be. I wrote her the following:

I learned that the future is NEVER as good as the present, because we never get the future right and our mind likes to dabble in all the anxious options. My future has become superlative once I realized LOSS = GAIN. When we allow us to leave/let go of the LOSS it create space for things we NEVER imagined.

My parents leaving me created space for me to find myself (true self) - not the ones I thought they wanted me to be; it created space for me to feel and be open to other kinds of love; it created space for me to explore places when my parents would have thought otherwise; it created amazing space that has allowed me to be who I am today. I can't imagine my life without going through the loss... because the gain continues to be marvelous.

We all need to (gradually) know that letting go allows us to have more space for the exact things we need in this life/in this experience. Its not detachment, but rather not becoming attached to things that eventually leave us; parents, relationships, health, iPods, money, etc.

That was and is my BIG lesson. I live it and love it every day.

Ballard Shooting

Seattle Shooting#2, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

Murphy, Fin and me did a good ol' Sunday shoot um up. We decided we'd go to Ballard Sunday Market as it would be a target rich environment. WOW. Even Finlay was giddy about all the cool foodie foods at the market -as it had been a while for me. I can tell this will be a regular Sunday affair as the elements in this Sunday market are truly artisan, careful of craft and worthy of praise.

It was fun to use Fin as a decoy for us to take cool pictures. He would look so cute walking up to things taking pictures that we could naturally follow. Its amazing how people feel comfortable with the photo inquisitions of a child rather than those of a full grown kid (me). I guess we all know that the intentions of a child are innocent. As for me... we never know.

Xanax

Tour de Dung, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

Xanax (not to be confused with Zana pictured here) is habit forming (per the drug dictionary website). You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the medication. Withdrawal effects may occur if Xanax is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use.

Kinda like bike racing. I realize its addictive. The community, the ritual, the efforts to test oneself on a crappy rainy day.

This weekend started this season's Xanx, and I took this picture of Zana at Tour de Dung in Sequim Washington. It reminded me of a drug advertisement.

Diggin' this Shot

Ice Breaker TT, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

I took this picture of Guy last weekend. I'm really diggin it.

a start

Ice TT, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

This is a shot by Brian Snyder (my teammate). This is where I was looking fast, but not fast enough to get to the race's start line in time to hit my scheduled departure.

Net result was that my tardiness added a raw 20-30 seconds to my overall time, not to mention just being "off" through the entire race. I also didn't have time to remove my jacket or the dragging water bottle in my back pocket. I can say it was a good ride, I liked my new fast position, until the last 2-3 miles where the saddle nose was digging into my frontal area. I'm still feeling that pressure this morning.

So...
I need more work. I can't be discouraged, because this is my journey. I must experience some greater intensities to get stronger. Again, this is synonymous with life - eh?