Girl the Olympian

It's been TWO whole weeks since I last posted! I don't really have an excuse. I would like to say it's been because I've been busy doing more important things than keeping my readership (N=3) abreast of my daily activities, but misleading journalism is unethical, indeed.

There has been one theme that's defined the last two weeks of my life, though: a feeling of Physical Inadequacy

While some people call it delusional thinking - I call it the Mindset of Champions! It's the voice in the back of your head that convinces you while you sit on your couch watching Tiger Woods win the US Open, Boston win the NBA Finals and some 5'2" girl land a twisting back flip on a balance beam @ the Olympic trials that -- "HEY!! You can do that!"

Yeah. What can I say. I'm a natural born delusional thinker champion.

Well, the past two weeks have been complete sensory overload for people like me. In addition to the aforementioned sporting occurrences - the Euro Cup soccer tournament is in its final stages, Wimbledon started a couple days ago, and worst of all: The US Track & Field Olympic Trials start this weekend. What makes the trials so bad is that I've actually competed against and with a large portion of the people who I'll be watching on TV (including my best friend!!!). As if I needed any more convincing that I am not living up to my sporting potential!

We're still about a month away from the Olympic Games, but I am being cautious & taking measures to prevent myself from spiraling into a deep depression, as the last two weeks have been only a taste of what's to come in August. Preparation has been as follows:

1) 3 hour stint in Sports Authority. Everyone knows that in order to be a world class athlete, you have to have the gear. In my case - I spent two hours trying on sporty clothes to see if I could at least look like a world class athlete if I were in fact able to afford said sporty clothes. Left the store with running socks, soccer socks, basketball shorts, power bars and soccer cleats. These will all aid in my rise to athletic greatness.

2) Play a recreational game of capture the flag. This was important. I had to test my skills. If I couldn't outrun the average 24 year old human being - there's no way I could compete in any sport on a national/international level. Although my team lost - I had one very successful jail run (i.e. freed our people from jail AND made it back to our side without getting tagged). Mission Accomplished.

3) Join a team. Organized sports provide much needed structure. I needed somewhere to wear my new cleats - so I joined a soccer team. I played my 1st game with them Sunday and was more help than hindrance! Check out the evidence: http://golerosteam.blogspot.com/2008/06/shootout.html

4) Conditioning. So, as a former track athlete, I have some sense of how to get into good running shape. I've thrown that sense out the window - as I need to be in top shape by August so I can blow off steam after watching others go for Olympic Gold. I plan to do this by running long distances at respectable speeds after particularly inspiring performances. Just finished my 2nd week of running between 4-6 miles a day. We'll see if I can walk come August.

5) Long Term Goals. Signed up to run a 190 mile relay race [split between 12 people] in September. That sounds healthy.

With all these precautions in place, I think I may be able to watch the Olympic Games in August. Last Summer Olympics I dislocated my shoulder in an expression of sheer excitement over the Games (that ended with me tumbling down a flight of stairs). SO - here's to hoping I can keep my cool this year!

Lightning

Lightning has struck within 50 meters of me twice within the last two weeks. Today's episode was a little more noteworthy though 'cause 1) it was closer, and 2) it was silly! I'm guessing that by the end of this summer, I'll have a keener sense of nature since I'll be traversing the city, MD and VA for the next three months in the elements without a car. So far, however, I think I've been stranded outside and improperly equipped during every thunderstorm and heat wave we've had since giving my car away.

I was actually doing better than normal today. About 30 minutes before the 1st raindrop fell, I could tell the weather was changing and started to make my way back home. 20 minutes before the rain I was on a shuttle from Georgetown to Dupont Circle and heard thunder. I was all excited because I managed to "predict" the arrival of the storm and it sounded like it was far away - so I managed to beat it!

5 minutes before the rain I was about half a mile from my apartment and it was pretty clear the storm was closer than I thought. The thunder was loud, but the sky still looked clear. Then out of nowhere, the most ridiculous thing happened! I had just crossed an intersection & the guy who was walking in front of me had just started to walk under a tree on the corner. All the sudden the entire sky was bright white and noise was everywhere (i dunno how else to explain it!! it was the loudest noise ever, but the origin was undetectable) . I think everyone was just startled and confused 'cause all the people in the area stopped walking and looked in my direction, and then a huge branch from the tree in front of me fell and almost hit the guy that was in front of me. Car alarms went off - the traffic lights we had just passed went out - people started running - and it started pouring!

It was actually pretty cool. The noise was the best part. I'm not gonna pretend like I wasn't scared though, 'cause I had my running shoes on and ran the fastest 800 meters I think I've ever clocked. If only the start of races at track meets were signaled with an uncomfortably close crash of lightning... I coulda been a contender!

Anyway - when lightning strikes your general vicinity twice, it's a sign. [That is a saying, right?!] I've got a final exam tomorrow that I don't feel like studying for. So, I'm taking it as a signal from above that I'll be fine and should spend tonight mentally preparing by relaxing to a movie to instead of hitting the books.

I know how to take hints.

UPDATE: Got an "A" on that final and subsequently the class... Lightning is great.

An XXX-treme Experiment!

While in Boston over Memorial Day Weekend, my Brother and I took a day trip down to Brown to partake in an hour or two of commencement activities. Providence, RI may not have a lot of things going for it, but after 3 years removed - I still wake up some nights craving the food the city offers! On our walk down Thayer Street (think a way smaller, more providence-y version of Harvard Square for you Bostonites or M Street for the DC folks), I made it a point to pick up a sample of all my old favorites (and then eat them on the spot). So, for dinner that night I consumed a plate-sized Meeting Street chocolate chip cookie, an apple and brown sugar crepe, a bite of Antonio's pizza and hot apple cider. It was only because I was way overstuffed that I didn't stop in to say hey to the workers at my favorite Indian restaurant and get a huge piece of the best naan in the world. On the ride back to Boston I pondered the nutritional value of the "meal" I had pieced together... I came to the very optimistic conclusion that I'm normally a pretty healthy eater, so one night of extreme carb/sugar overload was not only excused - it was necessary! I then made the unfortunate mistake of paying attention to what I ate/drank over the next 24 hours (pancakes, fruit, pasta, bread, pizza, popeye's biscuit, cannoli, water, Blue Moon!) in a failed effort to validate my justification.

Well, to my knowledge I'm not training for a marathon, nor am I an 8 year old kid with free reign of the kitchen for a day. I'm pretty sure those would be the only two excuses for my diet to consist almost solely of empty carbs and sugar (and beer?). Now, I'm not usually quite that bad - but carbohydrates, sugar and I have a very strong, complicated long-term relationship going.

Earlier this morning, I read the following two tidbits about low-carb diets:

* During the late 1990s and early 2000s low-carbohydrate diets became some of the most popular diets in the U.S. These were, in fact, noted by some food manufacturers and restaurant chains as substantially affecting their businesses (notably Krispy Kreme).

* A recent study from Stanford University ('07) comparing Atkins (low-carb), Zone (moderately low-carb), LEARN (low in fat and high in carbohydrates), and Ornish (very high in carbohydrates and extremely low in fat) diets found that "of the more than 300 women in the study, those randomly assigned to follow the Atkins diet for a year not only lost more weight than the other participants, but also experienced the most benefits in terms of cholesterol and blood pressure."

Now, as clearly demonstrated through the picture above, any enemy of Krispy Kreme is an enemy of mine. And, sure, the diet seems to have some benefits for the average American woman. BUT! What would happen if a chronic carb-o-holic like myself were to go on one of these no/low carb diets? Would I go through withdrawal symptoms? Would I starve to death?? [the only dishes I know how to cook are pasta, pancakes, oatmeal and microwave popcorn] Does the grocery store even sell anything but flour-based products?? Would it be the breakthrough I need as a Tour de France hopeful? * see below Well, I really just want to see if I'll feel any different. With my experimental history, though (which includes such backfires as the infamous "wooden rake to the face" incident) I'll probably slip into some sort of carb-deprived coma. The 1st of it's kind.

I don't really care what any studies say - I'm pretty sure carbs are a vital source of energy, especially if you're physically active. So, I'm only willing to stretch my experiment over a month's time (from today tomorrow til July 3rd). I'll do my best to stick to it, and report back with results/cooking mishaps along the way.

UPDATE: I made it one day, but was so carb-deprived I made blueberry pancakes the next morning. Conclusion: Stanford researchers are not to be trusted.

In other news: The Dragonboat Festival went well this weekend (check us out in our team's video!).