Triathlon Training and How I Almost Fell on the Dance Floor Because of It

On the one hand, I feel like I’m in the best shape of my post-college life. In college it just sort of happened… from playing intramural sports, bicycling to class, and working at the university’s gym. Now it takes more effort because I’m not bicycling to anywhere specific, I’m not working at a gym, and the last sport I played was pick-up volleyball at a local rec gym.

But then there’s the triathlon training.

Actually at this moment in time I’m training for a duathlon, which is a triathlon without the swimming. Remember how I pretty much stink at swimming? For the upcoming race near Orlando, Florida, it will consist of a 2 mile run, a 12 mile bike, and another 2 mile run. I set up a whole calendar for my training and I think I’ve only had to rearrange a couple of days due to weather and schedule conflicts. The people who say the training is the best part are totally right. Of course, doing the race is quite a feeling, too, but the training for this one has been especially fun. And by fun I will repeat a line a coworker said about me once, “You pride yourself on depriving yourself.” It’s true. Instead of comfort, I go ride my bike or run or do an outdoor workout. It’s tough but I like the suffering when it comes to workouts. Plus, I want to see what my body is capable of without my mind getting in the way.

But then there was that one time I was doing a square dance. During a move called “the gypsy” which has been updated to “right shoulder round,” my right knee buckled and I nearly fell to the ground. How embarrassing! My partner Jenny didn’t seem to judge me too harshly and I proceeded to make fun of myself, anyway.

So in summary, the training is going well. My body is paying the price but in the best way I can think of. Tired. Worn out. But hopefully ready for the day of the race. Here’s the last cycling course from yesterday’s workout.

-Out of the Wilderness

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” 2023 – Not As Hot As I Thought

I’ll admit that when I first heard this song, I thought it was pretty cool. A list of events that happened in my lifetime that I could recall and sometimes even remember where I was when they happened. I listened along, practically pointing at the radio saying, “Yep!” at the mention of some of the crazier things this song covers from 1989 to 2023.

But after hearing it a few times, I began to wonder more about it. Shouldn’t it be in chronological order? Wouldn’t that help follow along? Then I made the fortunate mistake of reading a Slate article that points out 33 things wrong with the song, and now I rather hear their list as a song than listen to the Fall Out Boy version again!

Other comments about the song, questioning why certain things weren’t included like: No mention of Bitcoin, Covid, Kobe Bryant, American Idol, and the biggest blunder of them all, where’s the mention of my children’s books!? What an embarrassing oversight by Fall Out Boy. How easy would it have been to say something like this:

Hanging chads in the fall, Big and Small, God Made Them All.

It flows right off the tongue, right? Or how about this one…

OJ Simpson, killer mood, should have read The Brave Bamboo.

I forgive Fall Out Boy… this time. But whoever composes the next iteration of this song in 2050 better remember to give me a shout out for my podcast that I’m sure I’ll have started by then.

-Out of the Wilderness

Connor Price – Kid Actor, Adult Rapper, or Trendsetter?

If you sat down to try and figure out if Connor Price is a kid actor, adult rapper, or trendsetter you might be in for a surprise. There’s always a secret option and in this case it’s d. all of the above. Yep, Connor was a kid actor who’s making a name for himself as an adult rapper (while still acting, too). I can’t authoritatively say if he’s a trendsetter by the dictionary definition of the word (I still wear clothes from high school so what do I know about trends?) but he DOES have a song called “Trendsetter” soooooo there’s that. Before we get to the new music video though, he’s taken the time to help us understand more of his story.

Eat Play Your Veggies. You might have seen a snippet of the video with him and a carrot flute, right? Those short TikTok style videos were my first introduction to Connor and the one below is both hilarious and impressive. Who knew a carrot could carry a tune?

Trendy. His most recent video is for a song called “Trendsetter.” I was planning on not liking it (because I’m not a huge fan of new rap music) but I reckon he proved me wrong with this one. I found myself really enjoying the performance and the lyrics, thinking he’d go one way with the rhymes and he pulls out a phrase or sentence I didn’t expect, and didn’t expect to like! I’m a fan. Here’s “Trendsetter.”

-Out of the Wilderness

Honda and Bishop Briggs “Triumph”

I want to be like Bishop Briggs when I grow up. She’s so weird in the best way possible. I first encountered her and her music with the music video for “Wild Horses,” which has my favorite style of editing. Then there’s the “River” music video, which is edited in a similar style. Quirky, weird, unique. All the qualities I admire in a video and a person. She seems to embody those characteristics and then some! Here’s her latest music video called “Triumph” and if this doesn’t make you want to climb the highest wall, you’re dead inside.

I’m totally picking on Peloton when I say that this Bishop Briggs song is better than any motivational Peloton commercial I’ve ever seen. They’re commercials, well, they suck. Yet they keep making them.

The “Triumph” video opens with a horse in the very first shot which drew me in right away. But then Bishop Briggs became the focus with her passionate performance alongside said horse. I love horses, so here are a few photos I’ve taken of the awesome creatures.

You may have also heard the song in a new Honda commercial called “Chasing Greatness,” narrated by John Cena (who’s not on this list of famous voices behind well-known ads).

I’ll wrap this post up with the two videos mentioned earlier. Here’s Bishop Briggs with “Wild Horses” and “River.”

-Out of the Wilderness

The Heineken Commercial – The French Music, Joey from Friends, and More

I had no idea people were having a hard time saying the word “Heineken” but now there’s a commercial about it so it must be true. High-nih-ken. Oh wait, we can’t say “ken” because of the Barbie Oscar snub. The movie (I watched it so you don’t have to) is all about female empowerment and no woman got an award, just Ken. The irony. Anyway, let’s watch the Heinebarbie commercial together…

How you doin’? Is this not exactly like the “Friends” episode where Joey is trying to learn French? Well, trying is a stretch, but he sort of said some French things, I guess. One of the least funny scenes in all of “Friends” history.

The Music. I’m sensing a theme and the theme is French. The track in the commercial is a title in French called “Ca Plane Pour Moi” by Plastic Bertrand. Here’s the full song from 1977.

Moi. I’m sure there are plenty of other versions of this song but I found one from France’s version of “The Voice” and I guess every French person knows this song? Watch the judges sing along. I’m impressed because I don’t parlez-vous Francais. The contestant might not have amazing vocals but her entertainment value is through the roof. Judges should’ve kept her around!

-Out of the Wilderness