Monday, October 17, 2011

Fun Trip!

I didn't talk about this new job much when I took it a few months ago, but I really do like it. They really like me too, which is nice. I am actually working from home again, and I'm based out of their Balt/Wash office in DC. So sometimes I will get brought up to the office. This time it was really cool.

I worked at home all day thursday then drove up to DC thursday night. I picked a hotel in Alexandria VA that was just a few blocks from the client's office so I could walk there for meetings friday morning. The meetings were great, client loves me. Back to my office in McLean VA and I got a few more tasks buttoned up tight. Very productive morning.

Then the fun started. A bunch of us from the office threw a crab crackin', which I believe is kind of the northern version of a pig pickin' down here. All you can eat Maryland blue crabs from this place in Arlington VA called The Quarterdeck. These crabs were amazing. Everyone else was an old hand at those things and knew exactly how to tear into them, and I had no clue. But once the head of the office showed me how to get in there, I got lots of practice.

I'm not saying Ironman training leaves you hungry. Well, actually, I am. Most people finished up after 24-30 crabs. I got closer to 50. Of course we were also getting pitchers of beer so I couldn't keep an accurate count. Needless to say a good time was had by all, and I got a ride back to the hotel a fat and happy drunk. Then it was time to meet up with my friend Shawn for dinner.

His GF grew up in the area, and I hadn't seen Shawn since march, so she picked the place. I got there late as hell but as quickly as possible. We had some fun times, went to a bar after that, it was good all the way around. The new GF is really a lot of fun. I hope she sticks around for a while.

Saturday I got up and was supposed to get in a nice run before heading back to NC, but the pitchers of beer from the night before didn't agree to those terms. I did find the Mt Vernon Trail a few blocks from the hotel, it's a really long greenway that runs along the Potomac river and George Washington Parkway that was filled with plenty of bikers, runners, and walkers. I walked it for about an hour. Completely amazing. The trail goes all the way into DC but I didn't get that far. Just walked for a while and came back.

I got checked out of the hotel in time and was back in Raleigh in good shape. The last time I went to DC I flew up and the airline lost my luggage, then some items were stolen out of my suitcase including the small point and shoot camera that I like to carry on these trips. I still haven't replaced the camera, so I have no pictures from the trip at all damnit. Not cool. And I found out at the crab crackin that they expected me to stay saturday night as well, which means I could have tried to setup more social activities and gotten tickets to the Clemson vs Maryland football game which turned out to be a great win for the Tigers. I have so many friends in the DC area I really wanted to be more social. I'm also surprised how many people that I went to high school and college with ended up in the area. At least I got to see Shawn this trip. More next time.

All that left me with Sunday to get in a long brick workout to make up for the 30 lbs of crabs I ate on Friday. I hit 40 miles on the bike and followed with a 12 mile run. I guess that will do. Still burned about 3000 calories. Towards the end of the run my quads started feeling fatigued.

Today starts the last week of the build phase. Get through this one and it's only 2 weeks of taper to go. I'm ready to see that starting line, and ready to see that finish line.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

One last week of build then taper? Ironman is almost here! Keep on keepin' on!

Heather @ Side of Sneakers said...

I grew up there and we had crab feasts for just about every celebration. Glad you got to experience one! :)

Wes said...

pickin crab is good stuff! well, as long as they are blue crab ;-)

Unknown said...

The crab crack'n kind of sounds like a crawfish boil (which I LOVE). YUM!

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

I love the taste of crab, but the effort involved in getting at the meat?

Not worth it.

Katie said...

I'm so sad I didn't know you were here! It sounds like you were basically in my backyard. And only one week left? Wow!

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

Oh yum! I think I would love to go to a crab pickin! Yum. Impressed that you ate 50! You have earned every single one of those, though. You work hard, you deserve some fun.

Glad you had a great trip & that you are happy at this job!

Unknown said...

Sounds like you had a great trip! :)

Al's CL Reviews said...

MMM. I love MD crabs. D doesn't know how to eat them since he was allergic to shellfish as a child (I don't know why he isn't anymore).

And depending on the size, you can eat lots!

Jess said...

I'm sorry I didn't get to see you this time around! But I am sooooo glad you got to experience Maryland crabs!!! Seriously aren't they the best thing ever.

(Ok in all honesty I love them but I get bored with them after about five and need to eat food that will actually fill me up!)

Calyx Meredith said...

Oh man - I miss those crab boils! You know that's my old turf, right? I LOVED living in the DC area after college at U of MD. Glad you had a good time.

Sophie @ threetimesf said...

50 crabs?!! Wowzer! Sounds like a great trip - it's nice to mix business and pleasure sometimes :)