Run Like an Antelope

Migration —–>

speedgoat — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:38:37 +0000

Uhhh yeah. I’ve done it again. Last time.

http://www.runlikeanantelope.net

Playin’ Hookie

speedgoat — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:06:28 +0000

Woke up this morning with a funky feeling in my tummy. As I walked through the house to let the dogs out all I could think of were the various random chores I really wanted to get done. And how much I didn’t want to go to work. A phone call was made, and here I am. Comprising a list.

wash both cars
tackle the laundry
organize the bathroom
ebay the misc junk
return cable boxes to the company
clean the floors
setup the new blog*

That’s quite the list. Not all has to be completed today but I’d like to get a jump of most of that. Oh yeah…setup the new blog. I just arrived here at wordpress.com and I love it. So much so, in fact, that I’m graduating to my own domain with it. A friend has offered me a deal I can’t refuse with his hosting company and so I’m migrating. It won’t happen for a day or two due to your standard DNS issues…but it’s in the works.

In other news, my ankle is terribly swollen. I suspect that I was bit by a spider the other day when I was out hiking; in fact, I know I was bit by something. The reaction has been pretty severe, though. My ankle hurts and is a solid 50% larger than normal. This is complete with a loss in range of motion. Bummer, because tonight is a Splash-N-Dash at Tempe Town Lake.

Alright. Time for some coffee to help kickstart this “free day.” Heidi’s back tomorrow and I gotta get this place looking decent.

Flippin’ the Bird

speedgoat — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:28:07 +0000

Went birding today. Let me begin by stating that I am not a birder. I don’t know shit about birds. I know mammals, particularly ungulates, and I know habitat systems. Minus birds. But alas, two of my former colleagues from the Phoenix Zoo called me and wanted me to go out of town with them to look at some birds. I said “what the hell?”

A little riparian zone in the desert.

They were listening for something...

I'm checking our altitude. Among other things.

I don't recall what these are.

Don't touch this.

Don't eat this.

Birders in action.

So I actually had a great time. We spotted a couple of red hawks, a black hawk, some cardinals, a couple of different warbler species, and some monster ravens. Anytime I get out to see wildlife I’m happy. It’s what I wish I could do everyday. It’s what I used to do everyday. Now I make pizzas. Life is funny. Or something like that.

After our little trip we swung back into civilization for a couple of beers and saw a movie…The Watchmen. It was three hours of blue zebra schlong and graphic violence. I’m not saying I hated the movie…but I don’t recommend it. That is, unless CGI blue glowing penis is your thing.

Tomorrow the work week begins. Hell yes.

Going yard.

Solidarity

speedgoat — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:56:54 +0000

We woke up EARLY this morning. 4am. Heidi had to be at the airport at 5am to catch her flight to Pullman, WA. She’s taking care of some business (house shopping, grad school stuff, etc.) while I stay back to take care of the kids. So now I’ve got the week to myself. What’s a guy to do?

I’ve got some chores to take care of. Some running and cycling to do. Should take this opportunity to meet up with the guys and have a beer. We’ll see what transpires.

This morning I had myself a protein shake for breakfast. I’m not a huge fan of protein suppliments…but every once in a while (once a week?) I’ll whip up a shake for myself.

Muscle (soy)milk!

I create my own shake mixes. It’s a little less expensive this way, but more importantly, I know EXACTLY what’s going in my body.

brown rice protein
yellow pea protein
hemp protein
cocoa powder
chia seeds
maca root
cayenne powder
goji berry

I’ll typically throw in a couple scoops of the mix along with a spoonful of peanutbutter, a banana, and some chocolate soymilk or almondmilk. It’s absolutely fantastic. Lots of calories so I’ll typically have one of these shakes for breakfast on a big training day. Like today, I’m planning on a six mile run, some push-ups/sit-ups, and then a mountain bike ride a little later.

Hope everyone has a good Monday. I’m gonna try to make the most of mine.

Tuesday.

speedgoat — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:04:23 +0000

The aim of life is self-development. To realize one’s nature perfectly – that is what each of us is here for. – Oscar Wilde

The past couple of days have been better in terms of what I’ve accomplished. Last week was a bit lazy for me…which is fine. I’ve gone out for two runs and a monster ride between yesterady and today which has my legs feeling “it.”

Parked after eating up some hills.

Refueling for the remainder of the ride home.

Heidi is LOVING her bike. And I’m loving that she’s loving her bike. It’s working out well for me as she wants to ride almost every day but the only rig I currently have that is road worthy is the fixie, and if this continues I should have some rock solid pumpers by the time I get the Fetish finished up. Can we say Coeur d’Alene?

(by the way, I just ordered a rear der for the Fetish. shhh!)

While Heidi swam I went out and did a run this morning. I decided for the helluvit to hop the scale and low and behold, I’m below 180!

My fighting weight.

I can’t remember the last time I was in the 170′s. Probably 2003 but hell, who knows. Now I’m not trying to lose any weight, it’s just happening. I’m still eating and drinking like I normally do but I think that my base training has got the old furnace stoked up. And because of that I just had to head over to my favorite vegan cafe and get myself a “cheesy” chipotle burger and a psoynami. Oh my god. Heaven.

Should I be offended?

After that giant meal, we came home and took a nap. Heidi took off to work her serving job and I took off to fill up the tanks and watch a little NIT.

Rollin.

Keeping her steady.

It's all fun, man!

Fuck that Gatorade shit.

Precious cargo.

Whomever designed that should be fired.

I’m now home alone with the dogs. Got to do some work on the resume’, further research on my struggle between the iPhone and Blackberry, and maybe later I’ll find a good documentary on Netflix to watch.

It’s been a solid weekend. Let’s hope these vibes spill over into the work week.

Lay-Z-Boy Docking Station

speedgoat — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 07:22:38 +0000

I’ve been using it a lot lately, as though it seems. That gnarly cut on my finger has curbed any mountain biking or swimming I could have been doing this past week. The finger is looking really good which releives me, since I didn’t go to the dr (prob should have).

Fucking deep.

It may not look like much but believe me when I tell you that it was a solid slice. Almost took off a measureable amount of flesh.

Anyhow. I did my taxes the other night and discovered that I owe this great nation of ours about $750. That SUCKS. Granted, I must have been out of my gourd when I filled out my W-4 for work at Whole Foods which, at the time, was just my part-time job. Boy howdy do I regret that oversight and you can bet your sweet ass that the problem has since been fixed.

It sucks being damn near 30 and dirt poor. I spent my 4 (ahem, 5 1/2) years in college and got my paperwork. Now, I make pizzas at Whole Foods and earned the least amount of money in 2008 since my college days several years ago. Ain’t life grand?

coping mechanism.

It’s all good. It’s all a part of the experience, right? Without this path I “chose” I wouldn’t have met the great girl I’m with now. I wouldn’t be looking forward to moving to Washington state to go back to school. I wouldn’t have the rip-roaring pedantic sense of sarcastic humor that has fermented within me over these past few years of gratification-dejection-gratifcation-dejection cycling.

In the most difficult times, often all we have is our sense of humor. And cheap booze.

At work today the store was having a used book sale with proceeds benefitting the Whole Planet Foundation. I perused the selection and got myself a few interesting reads along with a couple of interesting anarchist/conspirist-type documentary dvds. Fifteen bucks will get you five books, three videos, and a soydog. Deal. Done.

Entertainment for the next month.

This upcoming week is getting a boost. Beginning with a long uphill road ride tomorrow after work. More running and road riding will ensue until this finger gets to a more resiliant point of recovery and I can risk taking a spill on the trail.

That’s it. It’s about midnight on a Saturday evening and I’m listening to Wu-Tang with dogs snoring and planes flying overhead in the background. I’m calling it.

Nowhere Fast

speedgoat — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:17:27 +0000

I’m bout to change the way I’m livin homey
I’m eatin vegan, no ham or baloney
I’m startin off my day with yoga stretches
I’m bout to master self to study lessons
I’m swearin off the weed and alcohol
I won’t be affected by doubts at all
The sky’s the limit, watch I’m bout to ball

I’m spendin every single dollar wisely
I’m writin songs that’s bumpin like the Eisleys
I’ll have the answers you can all confide in me
Nothin the day could bring that will surprise me
I’m buildin to the fullest every minute
I’m through talkin the talk, I’m bout to live it
Ain’t even started yet, I’m at the finish line

Blackalicious – Nowhere Fast

Stubborn Little Irish Boy

speedgoat — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:58:51 +0000

The last day of our weekend. We got some fantastic deals on bike gear for Heidi this morning, then took to the streets for a nice hour spin. She flatted when we were almost home and I didn’t have the right tools on me so I had to race back to the truck and swing around to pick her up. Beers followed. And yeah, what a bummer to flat on your first ride ever on your first road bike ever?! Lame. At least up until that point everything was smooth and gravy. She was even rocking clipless (eggbeaters) pedals for the first time!

Santa Maria!

Light Rail: The Silent Killer

Over the shoulder.

Mesquite repair stand.

Beer and bikes. Wish that one was in my stable.

By the way, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! and Happy Shave Yer Man Legs Day! (for all you tri-geeks). With a name like Mackey it’s a safe assumption that I’m Irish…not like all the posers that go out drinking their shitty green-colored swill this one day of the year. Real Irishmen drink whiskey and that’s what happens to be in the cup that I’m firmly grasping at the moment. Drive safe you mofos.

Felt Up in Tucson

speedgoat — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:37:21 +0000

Made the trek down to the Old Pueblo today to pick up Heidi’s new Felt. She was quite excited and rightfully so, it is a sexy rig. The guys at TriSports.com were extremely friendly and did a great job fitting her.

Lust in the parking lot.

Because this is her first “real” bike, she doesn’t have any of the accrutements. We stopped at REI on the way home and picked her up a new helmet and some cycling gloves. Tomorrow we’ll grab some flat pedals (for use until she’s ready to fall over) and the riding will begin! All I have to road ride with her is my fixie so it will probably work out to be some great training for the both of us.

Newest member of the Argyle Armada!

All dorked out.

I'm jealous.

Bike Parts and Dog Farts

speedgoat — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:53:36 +0000

The story of my life summed up in one quick, witty, rhyme. Runner up titles included:

Sweaty Socks and Punchin’ Clocks
Empty Beers and Fixed Gears
Clocking Miles and a Weak Writing Style

It’s been a fairly slow weekend. I cut my finger pretty f’ing badly the other night. Probably should’ve gone to the urgent care but you know how boys are. A buddy helped me bandage it up, I got home, starting drinking some scotch to help ease the pain, and then it was told late to do anything. Good on me for boycotting western medicine. (riiiiiiiight)

Anyways that wound has stopped my training for the moment. I’ll be getting back into it tomorrow, though. By the way, tomorrow Heidi and I are driving down to Tucson to pick up her new bike. She’s super excited (as am I)…I’ll throw some pictures up on the blog in the next day or two.

In other news, work is launching a challenge to bike, run, commute, and multi-sport our way towards prizing including a trip to Hawaii. Hells yes. This was designed for me. I’m going to try to blow everyone out of the water and get some free schwag and better yet, bragging rights. This shit begins April 15 and goes through July 5. I can’t wait.