Lots of stuff happened this week

There was lots of other stuff besides training and VO2 testing. Work has been going pretty great too. This week was really just a very productive week. I got a lot done and I felt like I was able to help quite a few people out this week too.

I got a house project done on Wednesday. We had been watching the mildew get worse in our shower.  Wednesday, I decided to tackle it.  I took a few before and after pics.  When I pulled the caulk, I realized that there was at least two previous attempts at sealing the shower.  Most of my time was spent removed the existing caulk from the shower.  I bought a special tool, but ended up using a razor blade on over half of the shower.  It ended up being almost a 5 hour job.  Luckily, I had my buddy Aris on speed dial to answer my questions.

Thursday, Jillian and I had a date.  We went to “Fugo de Chao” for dinner first.  It was great.  It was totally different than any dinning experience I have ever had.  I tried two new foods, without knowing what they were before I put them in my mouth.  Heart of Palm and avocado bottom.  At least that is what I think they said.  After dinner, we had tickets to see Avicii.  One of my favorite songs right now is “Levels” see the video below.

Anyway, the show started at 8:45, but Avicii didn’t go on until 11:30. Jillian actually dozed off during the openers. There just hasn’t been that much energy after 9pm in our house. Perhaps, we should have known better. (We had pretty much the same results in 2009 when we tried to see Morgan Page in DC.) After three songs, including “Fade Into Darkness” we were ready to go.  We were in bed by 12:30.

Saturday was family fun day.  I had a great morning with Elizabeth.  We let Jillian sleep in, picked her up some breakfast and did some grocery shopping.  Grocery shopping was a learning experience for me.  I actually carried Elizabeth in my arms most of the time we were there.  We did some stunts and I just let her look around whenever she wanted.  It was great.  After breakfast, we went to “Cute Nails” where Jillian and I got pedicures.  Elizabeth sat on my lap.  She liked it because the massage chair gave her just enough motion to keep her both relaxed and entertained.

My parents came over in the afternoon too.  My mom got to feed Elizabeth for the first time!  I made one of my favorite dinners while they were here and we got started on a quilting project using Jillian’s old cheerleading t-shirts.

After dinner, we went to visit baby Brayden.  I haven’t mentioned much of him here, but he is my new nephew.  He came to us last week a little bit premature, so he is still in the hospital.  While we were visiting, he told me “You can leave when I stop holding your finger” so I stuck around.  We talked about how he handles the paparazzi.

Today I got some quality time with my niece Whitney.  We were supposed to go swimming, but the swimming lanes were only open for adults.  So we went for a little bike ride.

She told me that she will teach me how to do “flip turns” in the pool next time we go swimming.  I’m pretty excited about that!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-15

  • I did 17 miles in my neighborhood. I thought it would get boring, but it didn't. I stopped at home every 2.5 miles. Zone 1. Felt great! #
  • http://t.co/xyt7aOvl My 2009 in review. #
  • Had a good lunch workout. Needed to clear my head. 17+ miles on the bike. I've lost all of the "holiday" weight I put on, and 2# more. #
  • Reminded how much I don't miss highway 71 traffic. #
  • 118 over 65 this morning. My BP continues to improve. #
  • Fitness test, part one, complete. I will get a new VO2 max on Thursday. #
  • http://t.co/YcaOzaXh Exercise can help reduce risk of Alzheimer's according to a recent study. #
  • http://t.co/Vb0vgPuA Harvard declares dairy NOT a part of a healthy diet and suggests healthier ways to get calcium. #
  • Join me & change your profile picture to protest SOPA: http://t.co/5dmHafDo #BlackoutSOPA #
  • http://t.co/EbeqcXJw Starting 2012 with some high quality data. #VO2max #EKG #
  • Winter Ride: Christophe Le Mével and Garmin Edge 800 :http://t.co/levPpbyJ Who wants to get out and ride!!!! #
  • If you need ANY motivation to train this winter, start here: http://t.co/90VS9fDG
    All I can say is "Wow" I need to go get in my miles. #
  • #WinterTraining Last week's record is this weeks motivation http://t.co/P29AuNKv #
  • I just had a great day of collaboration, knowledge-share and productivity. Problem solving is a little addictive. #
  • Weird, I upset my wife for starting a project she has been concerned about for weeks. Recaulking the shower because of mildew. #
  • Shower. Done. #
  • The numbers are all in: 42.4 #
  • I'm not sure how this guy gets to open for @avicii #hotmess #

VO2 Max (Submax) Fitness Test – Part 2

This part wasn’t nearly as cool. I sat in a machine and tried to keep a consistent RPM while they increased the resistance and measured my heart rate. It felt easy, but I guess my heart was saying something different.

After than I did a stair-step test. Basically go up and down steps 20 times, then they measure your heart rate.

The best part of the day was that I got the results. According to the first 2 tests, my VO2 Max is 42.4 m/kg/min.

The third, stair-step test, suggested an even lower result, 41.7.

I think the point of this research study was to see how accurate the formula for the 2nd test was in comparison to the first test. The first test being the most accurate since its actually measuring the amount of oxygen uptake and not a prediction. I guess the good thing is (for the research) that, for me, the first and second test actually matched exactly.

I also got some additional information regarding my tests too. It was a cool process overall. I’m glad I could be a part of it. The organizer also said that the lab will be open, to the public, in the future, for VO2 max testing.

The bottom line for me is that this VO2Max calculation gets balance out by the “per kilogram” part of the function. which means that if I were 14 pounds lighter, my score would be over 3 points higher. So with the 2-year goal of being 205 instead of 234, perhaps I can dramatically improve my VO2 Max by then.

I tried to find my VO2Max results from my NewLeaf test last year, but couldn’t seem to find it.

VO2 Max Fitness Test – Part 1

This is the second study I’ve participated in at KU.  Today was almost as cool as the first one.

I got strapped to an EKG.

I got a real breathing tube for measuring VO2.

Then I started running on a treadmill.  3 minute intervals with increased incline and pace each interval.

I was smiling for most of the 15 minutes.  I’m pretty positive there was nothing but fear and anxiety during the last 30 seconds.

That was in the morning. At lunch, I still did my regular workout, but it didn’t go as well as I had hoped it would.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-08

  • 16 miles done to start 2012. Only 1486 more to go. #running #
  • I've got 6 more 1U rack servers that I need to offload, cheap. Great for recording studio, gaming server, media server or home automation. #
  • What are we doing for @babydoll9074 birthday this weekend? #
  • I know I haven't mentioned it lately, but I really really enjoy going to work and the team that I'm working with! #
  • Ahh, #hiltonmagic can be felt all the way in Kansas City. Great job beating Texas tonight #ISU #Cyclones #
  • One hundred percent quality time with @babyeac this morning! #dadlife #
  • http://t.co/C2QMXcsZ @babyeac likes to hold on to that toy in the car seat. Even when she is sleeping. #dadlife #
  • My car is so small that if I don't empty my pockets, I will have bruises or cuts by the end of my daily commute.#prius #mpg #
  • Had a wonderful morning with @babyeac Skipped my swim, I wonder if I can find a pool still? #
  • http://t.co/C72YRreI @babyeac and Daddy stunting #dadlife #
  • http://t.co/xz0kD7LL @swimmer_whitney reminded me that it's 2012. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-01

  • Unpacked a couple boxes that have been packed since 1995. It feels like I've made good on a lot of promises to myself. #emotional #
  • Same boxes remind me of how many opportunities I squandered along the way. I wouldn't change anything though. Life is good! #
  • The #1 problem with running at night is getting calmed down enough to fall asleep. I don't miss this routine. Morning runs here I come. #
  • My buddy @runner_steve got some cool new gear and I'm a big #runner_steve_fanboy so now I want that cool new gear too. #
  • Let's see how we operate on four hours of sleep today! #
  • I know I've got a cold when my hair hurts. #
  • Thanks to @ChristianVDV and @garmin I've got a cool new autographed picture for my office! #
  • Morning run, afternoon ride on the trainer, now I'm beat and Tyson wants to go for a run. I'll take him in the morning. #
  • http://t.co/o25MFw2e Motivated? #
  • Eating healthy isn't cheap, I suppose that's a big contributor to our nation's health issues. #
  • I wonder if Heinrich Haussler or Dan Martin will start using twitter this year? @Ride_Argyle #
  • I've got some great momentum going into 2012, had a great run today and I've lost 10 pounds since Thanksgiving!!! Let's do this! #
  • http://t.co/70xIXCOW 9am Saturday, MTC Resolution Run! "Free" 5k/10k event accepting canned goods and coats for City Union Mission. #
  • MTC – Kansas City's Triathlon Coach: 5th Annual Resolution Run http://t.co/70xIXCOW SUNDAY not Saturday, free, 5k/10k #
  • I splash on 'em, check the stroke if you don't know. (@ Lee's Summit R-7 School District Aquatic Center) http://t.co/73iH17O0 #
  • I just unlocked the "Hot Tamale" badge on @foursquare! ¡Ay, caramba! http://t.co/g0AiBtWH #
  • Its 8pm. I'm not pre-partying. No party to speak of. The baby is asleep. I will be soon. Looking forward to the AM "Resolution Run," 16. #
  • Sometimes, when you give away something on craigslist, it goes to exactly the right family. #