Weekend
I'll be traveling this weekend, so posting will be difficult. Training will be interesting; I'm going north to join in the deep freeze fun...can't wait...We've got a lot planned, so it should be a blast whatever the thermometer says. Great swim on Wed. with coach Jen. We had as she put it an "IM day" 1200 warm-up then 10x75 IMs. My backstroke has improved lately, but the butterfly is basically non-existent; she really got a kick out of watching me splash around. Ran on Thurs. with co-worker Brett. Super partner and funny guy. We don't go too fast, so the runs are always "base".
Have great weekend!
Freud Where Are You?
Last night I dreamt I was in an olympic distance tri. While on the bike leg, my bike suddenly grew until I was high enough to see the entire course. I was flying past everyone, screaming up and down hills; it was very cool. I usually don't have dreams that I remember; they fade as soon as I wake up, so this must be different. But, what does it mean?
I blew off my run clinic yesterday morning and ran last night. I don't like running at night; not sure why. Maybe because all of my cold weather gear is black and I'm worried about not being seen. While getting ready my wife said I looked like a cat burglar.
The family schedule on Sunday left me with no choice but to put off the underground spin class. It will remain a myth for another two weeks. I was able to get in a 2600 yd swim. After a 600 yd warm-up, I did 10 x 200s (3rd 50 in each 200 breathing every 5 strokes, all else breathe every 3). I was tired at the end. Overcoming the panic to breathe near the end of the 3rd 50 was a challenge, and according to Jen it will pay dividends.
I did a quick weight session this morning and I have lunch-time spin class at work with Stanly. He's a dynamic trainer and does a good class. The weather is cooperating (highs in the 50s to low 60s) and a southern spring is right around the corner. Later y'all.
Recent itunes downloads: She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult, Get your Geek On #5 - Tri-Geek Kahuna & Iron Wil. (great stuff!)
Updates
Well, its sleeting here in central North Cackalacky, so I may not run outside today. I'm a little bummed about missing the morning swim workout with the tri-club. After a really great workout (10 x 200 or something like that) they pulled three of the lane ropes aside and played water polo! I stopped by to say hi, and really had to fight the urge to jump in.
I'm not too bummed though. My 6 year old had his last basketball game of the season at the same time. My boys' time receives priority on the weekends. He scored two baskets to boot!
The weather promises more of the same tomorrow, so I may seek out this super secret legendary 2 hour spinning class at the Y. Its taught by outrageously fit, endurance athlete, Lance. Apparently he rides to the coast of NC on a regular basis just for fun (120 miles). The class is never on the schedule; so its underground, and attended only by triathletes and cyclists. I hope my legs are feeling more normal by tomorrow. On Thursday, I did 2 sets of lunges as part of a weight routine, and that afternoon did a 4.5 mile run. Friday and today, my legs have been screaming. Not the dull ache from a long run, mind you, but the fire burning, walk down the stairs without bending your knees kind of sore. I guess the week off set me up for that.
Have a great Saturday!
AM Swim
I have a new swim coach for this portion of the tri club, and her name is Jen. I've told you about assassin Steve, but Jen has yet to earn a nickname. Personally she is nice and sweet, but as a coach she is tough. Today's workout consisted of 1200 warm up (400 swim, 400 kick and 400 pull), then 5 X 500 (first, third and 5th 500 was breathe every 5 strokes on the odd 100s and breathe every 3 strokes on the even 100s). Second and fourth 500 was swim 75 then sprint 25 choice.
After my slow warm up, I only got 2 500s in before I had to leave (45 minutes total), but I plan on doing this entire workout this weekend. It was a killer and more than once I got a mouth full of water instead of air. Another thing I noticed by breathing less often was how much my hips dropped when rolling to breathe. I was able to concentrate on maintaining a straight line.
Lovin the GSCs
I'm trying to be good with nutrition; really. I got a steamed veggie plate for lunch today and dumped the spinach into my keyboard, but thats another story. Lets forget that its girl scout cookie season. Lets also forget the little beauties lined up in front of every grocery store from here to Mexico; and the girls are cute too...Lets pretend, for the sake of argument, I have the willpower to avoid the tempting flavors of Samoas, Tagalongs, and Thin Mints. I would be a much better person, right? Wrong! I might be considered some will-powered, dietary Obi-Wan Kenobi, but I would be one cranky s.o.b. Besides its for a good cause...
Zeitgeist
OK Folks,
I know all of what they say about training when you get sick, but I'm coming to my own, separate conclusions. My approach for both of them have been totally opposite. I completely trained through the November cold with maybe an afternoon workout missed; even with the antibiotics. This cold, I've been off training for 5 days resting, taking vitamins and thinking good thoughts. Well, I've got another sinus infection. I've never had one in my life until now, so I need to evaluate my training limits, or some other factor because this totally sucks!
On a different note, Friday would have been my father's 67th birthday. He died 5 years ago. He was an interesting guy; incredibly smart engineer (held at least 5 patents); and lived his life like a fraternity party. In the end it was the diabetes and hypertension coupled with fast food twice a day and smoking that overwhelmed him. Along with stroke number 2. I don't miss his habits, but I feel cheated in not having him around as I got older. Needless to say that my monkeys don't have a grandpa. I feel selfish.
I'll close this post with chants of USA! USA! USA! Olympics have been great so far. Bummer about Michelle Kwan pulling out, but its probably the best thing that could have happened. She wasn't going to win; she's competing with girls half her age. Gold was her only answer and failing to medal would have made her a pariah. Now she gets to heal up, do the interviews, enjoy the attention the injury will receive, and then totally cash out with Stars On Ice. She's all set.
Recent iTunes downloads: Pat Travers Band - Boom Boom Out Go the Lights, Eric Johnson_ Cliffs of Dover
I hate this...
Its 5:30 am as I write this and I'm going back to bed. This cold/virus/Bora Bora walking sickness I've had since Monday is really getting on my nerves. Each day it has found a different part of my body to disturb, and today its the lungs. I can't seems to catch a full breath, so no AM swim for me. This will be the 4th full day of no training. I'm getting impatient...
On a lighter note, some recent iTunes downloads: Michael Penn - No Myth, Fear Factory - Cars (Gary Newman cover), The Cult - Wildflower.
Training in Feb
So far in February, training has been light. My tri club ran a time trial last Saturday. I was fairly pleased with the results:
750 yd swim: 15:00 flat
Bike was limited to indoor trainer due to weather, so we all did 1/2 hour.
5K: 23:59
Add the transitions, and my overall time was 1:10:12. The swim has been my biggest area of improvement. In a tri this summer, I did almost 13 minutes for 500 yds, or 6 minutes for 250. My time has dropped to 5 minutes for 250 over the last 6 months. Have I mentioned that I'm a rock?, but I'll take this as an indication that something is working.
I've also been nursing a cold, and have backed way off of training. In November I developed a sinus infection after training through a cold. I want to avoid that this time. My youngest has it too. He woke me up at 3:00 am and promptly threw up.
The half-iron beast has surfaced again (see previous post) in the form of the Duke Liver Half on September 10. My curiosity is too strong to stop me from taking a closer look at the effort required. I'll talk about it with my better 2/3s and get her input.
Stop the Madness
"Work has been crazy!" Of course, everyone says that. "I've been so busy at home!" Everyone says that too, so the last thing you want to read is me whining about how busy my life is, so I won't. I will, however, pass some of the more relevant details.
Its performance review time at work, and I have 9 awesome staff members to who will receive more $ in their paychecks. This is my favorite part of being a boss; recognizing people for their accomplishments. My youngest plays basketball every Saturday morning, and soon soccer season will start for both boys. I coach my oldest's team and the coach for my youngest's team is not coming back, and have already been approached about taking over. My wife has really ramped up her workouts. She loves the classes: step, kickboxing, muscle, 4x4, the list goes on, and I'm very interested in what she does. Its the least I can do since she has to listen to me talk about my "hobby". She does so many different classes and knows so many people that I have a hard time keeping up that I now know all of these people by the way my wife describes them to me. Here's a recent example:
Batman: "How was your workout?"
Wife: "Not that great, Turquoise Thong taught tonight."
Batman: "Wasn't she the one that taught over the weekend?"
Wife: "No, that was Tatoo Butt-Hat"
Batman: "Really? Isn't she a teacher at the school?"
Wife: "No, that's Mrs. Ralston."
My oldest son had just entered the room...He sees her every day and she asks if my wife is coming to her class.
Batman: "Oh, I thought she was the one that did the funny moves"
Wife: "No, that was Lady-in-a-Cage."
Batman: "Huh? Were your friends there tonight?"
Wife: "Not all of them, Spandex-Donna was there, so was Katrina the Vegan. Her husband ran a triathlon, but I think it was a while ago"
Batman: "Who? Wasn't she the one...nevermind". Are you going to an early class tomorrow. Do you need me to pick up the monkeys?
Oldest Son: "I saw Mrs. Ralston today, and she said she was looking for a substitute for her class tomorrow."
Wife: "Really, then I'm not going, I'll pick up the kids."
So you see folks, the workout class thing is very hard to keep up with, and sometimes, no matter how hard I try, it just can't be done. My wife has an easier time keeping up with mine. There is something to be said for running with Paul, swimming with Tom or biking with John.
