July 2019 – Page 4 – Life of an old goat

Full speed ahead

I finally seem to be all-but-fully-recovered. Sleep helps.
Workout notes: rotator cuff, pull ups: 2 sets of 15, 2 of 10 (went well), bench: 10 x 135, 3 x 185, incline: 10 x 135, decline: 10 x 165, military: 10 x 50 standing, 10 x 45, 10 x 85 (barbell), rows: 3 sets of 10 x 110, plank, side plank (much better with the adjustment of getting my arm under me), some knee stretches.

2 mile run: on 2: 5.2-5.6, then 6.7 to 1.25, then up to 7.1 to finish in 19:41 (8:45 second mile). Not the best, but, I think that I can take on a 5K next weekend.

Weight: 186, but that is a nonsense weight due to my brief illness. But I felt it on the pull ups, which went very well.

Denial of reality as a political tactic

Ok, it is true that Trump lies constantly and weaponizes his dishonesty. But today, I am going to talk about my party (I have nowhere else to go…I like the “you are stronger than you think” that the best of the rank-and-file Republicans believe but their leadership is just crazy; I cannot swallow lies)

First, consider this:

Speaker Pelosi says ⁦⁦@AOC⁩, ⁦@IlhanMN⁩, ⁦@AyannaPressley⁩ and ⁦⁦@RashidaTlaib “have their public whatever and their Twitter world. But they didn’t have any following. They’re four people and that’s how many votes they got.” https://t.co/PJk8nS63OG

— Josh Jamerson (@joshjame) July 6, 2019

Of course, this is correct. The bottom line is that in 2016, Trump won 230 Congressional districts; Clinton won 205. Now, the Democrats have 235. Ergo, the shift came from winning Trump Congressional districts, and these were won by MODERATES. The high profile liberals were “Democratic holds”, no matter how you spin it. They had zero to do with the House changing hands, no matter how they spin it:

That public “whatever” is called public sentiment.

And wielding the power to shift it is how we actually achieve meaningful change in this country. https://t.co/u6JtgwwRsk

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 7, 2019

No, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, you do NOT have public sentiment on your side. Tiwtter does not represent the Democratic base, at all.

What I am seeing is a lot of “group-think” and, at times, a denial of reality. (Yes, I know that Republicans deny the reality of climate change, the effectiveness of demand side economics, etc, but I am talking about Democrats here)

Take our immigration/asylum seeking crisis. Our asylum rules ARE in desperate need of revision; fact is that many are using asylum as an end run to becoming a legal immigrant. Our situation is unsustainable.

Yes, for all his lies and faults, President Trump does have a point.

But in our current political culture, to admit that the other side has a point is political suicide, at least in the primary. And think about the debate over the Kamala Harris attacks on Joe Biden over busing and his relationship with the segregationists in the US Senate in the 1970’s: it really is asking too much of today’s voters (especially the younger ones) to put themselves in Biden’s place in the US Senate at that time. To do so would be to deny one’s “woke” credentials.

In this day in age, at least in some circles, mental flexibility is seen as a fault, not as a desirable asset. We demand a “Princess and the Pea” level of being able to find offense of today’s politicians, at least on OUR side (yes, this holds for Republicans too..but they get offended by different things).

This is one reason I like Amy Klobuchar so much, and probably at least one reason she has virtually no chance in the Democratic primary.

Facing Facts (walking)

I walked 4.3 with Pat (maybe 17 mpm-ish pace) then 8.26 on my own (15:48 pace). It was a pleasant morning. I feel much, much better, but it felt good to not have the fanny pack (belly does not like the pressure)

I felt like my old self during my 8 mile segment.

Reality: there was a time in my life where I was a “fast” walker..not “racewalker” fast but “reasonably fast”; my marathon powerwask PR is 4:44:34 (10:51 pace) and my judged 5K PR is 30:42 (9:53 pace)
Training was somewhat slower than that; 11-14 mpm was typical. But when I went to a trail, bike path, or just walked around the neighborhood, I was usually, by far, faster than anyone else who was walking.

That is no longer true. Though I sometimes dip into the 11 mpm range during interval work, my training is typically 14-17 mpm, with 15-16 more typical. And yes, I sometimes get caught and passed by other walkers, and sometimes walkers can hang with me for at least a little while.

And that will get worse. Savor every walk; one day, one of them will be my last. Probably not today’s though. 🙂

How much is too much?

Feeling better still…gradually moving from my BRAC diet. No pain upon eating; tummy is still a bit tender though.

I tried to do something resembling a workout: weights at the Riverplex followed by a 2 mile treadmill run (21:52) and a 1 mile walk outside (HOT…was thinking about 3 but changed my mind)

rotator cuff, pull ups: 5 sets of 10 (sub par, but got ’em all), bench: 10 x 135, 6 x 160 (shoulders), incline: 10 x 135, military; 10 x 45, 2 sets of 10 x 40 (50 wasn’t going to go up), 3 sets of 10 x 100 row (machine), plank (2:30), side plank (better), head stand.

The “run”: it felt ok, but I tired easily. I’ll have to gradually get back into it. Weight: 187.

Later: 3 miles with Pat (ok, about 2.62, but I had 3.34 this morning, so that makes 6 for the day..just about)

Getting better (TMI)

Though others can read this blog, I sometimes put some YUCK stuff on it.

Today: much better; far less cramping and NO PINK BISMUTH. But my lower digestive system is taking a beating from so much use…a bit of soreness and bleeding (and slime)

BRAC diet continues…with more drinking..and I managed 5 miles of easy walking in the warmth. I do need to move SOME.

Just shoot me

My GI stuff…well, today was a bit like colonoscopy prep day. Bought a lot of pink bismuth and SOFT TP. Oh boy..almost immediate discomfort and bloating after eating a meal; it has gotten worse from last night (did not sleep well…and cancelled my planned 5K race).

I should be ok, eventually. “Down there” is raw…

So it was mostly sleeping.

Yesterday: I was able to work out, eat meals, socialize (though I would not have had I realized my GI stuff was not just my eating too much yogurt.

I watched a couple of ball games: Tuesday and Wednesday and the Chiefs lost both to Kane County, the best team in the division.

Tuesday: I went to this one solo.

The Cougars took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and scored at least one run in every inning, EXCEPT for the 7th. The Chiefs did get a solo home run in the bottom of the 9’th but it was already 11-2.

This one was taken by the Chiefs…lovely sky.

Hopeful early on.

But the scoreboard really tells the story. Note the hits: this was batting practice for them. 6 hits in the fist inning: 3 singles, 2 doubles, HR.

But this Chief batter hit a home run just after I took this.

Wednesday’s game In this one, an early rally put the Chiefs up 4-2. But Kane got 1 run in the 8’th and 2 in the 9’th to take the lead. The better team won, but on this night, the Chiefs fought.

Socially: I had a great time with Lynn: we ate at Jerusalem Restaurant beforehand and socialized with Vickie and her nephew Vic. The crowd was better for this one.

Some Chiefs games ..and a skid

First things first: workouts. Sunday: social walk with Pat; took her on the Cornstalk course. It took us about 1:10 for 4.3. Monday: weights plus a 2 mile run (10:45/8:53 (19:38, lane 2), then goblet squats 6 x 30, 50, leg presses 10 x 210, plank. usual PT, pull ups 15-15-10-10, then 5, bench: 10 x 135, 3 x 185, 7 x 165, 10 x 50 standing, 10 x 45, 10 x 40, rows: 3 sets of 10 x 110, then various Hammer pressing machines: 10 reps for shoulder, decline, incline (45 + 25 on each side). Today: yoga, then HOT run (84, 67 percent)…jogged 1:06 and called it 5 (took walk breaks with water..suffocating). Weight: 189 yesterday, 187 today.

Games: Saturday night: the crew went and stayed for 10 innings, as they were leaving the next day. Of course, the Chiefs won in the 11’th. But it was exciting: it was 1-1 going into the top of the 9’th; both teams scored on solo home runs. Then came the 9’th: though the Chiefs reliever didn’t pitch that poorly, there were two errors and a dropped ball (good effort by 1B to get to the ball, but he dropped it..so it was a hit), and the new reliever gave up an extra base hit with the bases loaded…so now it was 5-1. But in the bottom: the Chiefs rallied, aided by the Bees pitcher having control issues (sound familiar?) and so the Chiefs tied the game!!!

In the bottom of the 10’th the Chiefs got the ghost runner to 3’rd with 1 out…but popped it up and ended up with no runs. They later won.

Sunday night: it was similar to Saturday; 3-2 in the 5’th when a massive storm moved in, giving the Bees a weather shortened 3-2 win.

Monday night: HOT, but dry..but the Chiefs bats went cold and lost 4-1. One bad inning was the difference. Lots of walks too…the game went on for 3:20.

Photos: