Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend's weather was perfect here in North Carolina.  It was mid 60's the entire weekend.  Not a cloud in the sky.  Perfect Spring weather a little early.

This weekend I was supposed to do a group ride on Saturday with a Tour De Cure Team, but I ended up having a fundraising car wash to attend so I didn't make it to the group.  But I did not allow that to keep me from riding.  I went out on my own.  I almost never go riding without a plan already, but since this was thrown together at the last minute I decided to go and expand on routes I already knew and make them work.  So I  did a little ad-lib in the route. 

It all worked out pretty good.  Seemed like every turn was going into the wind.  I really need to work on my cycling.  The ride was slower than I wanted.  I know that I took it easy but geez, I thought I was faster than that. 

On Sunday, I had a long run.  For this I did prepare a route.  I also programmed in several turns so I would not get bored from running on the same street for miles and miles.  I used Mapmyrun.com.  It does a great job of mapping runs.  But for some reason, I didn't look at the elevation changes on this run.  It felt like every turn was up hill.  My legs were jello.  I could barely maintain a decent pace.  Then as I was running I started doubting the distance on route.  I felt like I would be over by about a mile so I started adjusting my route on the fly.  I know, I know. The tired brain doesn't work too well.  So my adjustments in my route took up more hills.  

But the good news is that I finished the run at 19.94 miles.  The bad news is I was totally whipped.  Oh well I will do better next time.  

Finally Friday

This has been a pretty good week considering.  Yeah considering its my first week back from vacation.  I was able to get all my training in and that included a couple of sessions on the trainer.  

This weekend I am planning a long run and long ride.  They are both scheduled for Sunday, but I think I may do the ride tomorrow.  We will see how the weather and my schedule works out.  

My Routines

I am very much a routine person.  I try to stick to my routines.  I recently changed to a new training plan that changes my routines.  I am really trying to work through it.  I must say that its really difficult.  

I recently read Chris "Mecca" McCormack's "I am here to Win" and he talks about being to set in your routines.  And he stressed that we need too vary our routines in case at an event we are not upset if something alters or varies our routine. While I understand what he is saying about getting off your "game" due to the change I think my routine is part of what drives me.  

Maybe it because I am not a pro.  But after I get moving, my head clears and I just put one foot in front of the other.  

Friend Making Monday

Decided that I would join in on the fun.  Help me to blog more often.

FMM: Short Answers

1. Mac or PC?  I am a PC.  
2. Do you paint your own nails? No. 
3. Beach or mountains?  Definitely the Beach!
4. What’s the title of the book you’re currently reading?  Tom Clancy - Locked On
5. Do you dance?  I try.  But I do not have any rhythm.  
6. CNN or Fox News?  CNN.
7. Do you ride a bicycle? As much as possible. 
8. Do you get a yearly flu shot?  Yes, but only because they come to my office and give them for free.
9. Best movie you’ve seen in 2012?  Finally saw The Help.  Very good movie.  
10. Do you prefer to workout at home or at the gym?  Home
11. Last airport you were in?  Raleigh-Durham International returning from our Cruise
12. Married or single?  Married :-)
13. iPhone or Android? iPhone
14. Do you prefer to be in pictures or taking pictures?  I love taking pics
15. Favorite brand of sneakers? I am a Nike fan for comfort and affordability.  But for running I prefer my Brook Gylcerins.
16. Do you like snow?  In pictures.
17. Do you have/want to have kids? Yes I have them.  Now getting grand's
18. Summer or Winter? Summer!
19. Do you know how to swim?  Yes*  * - not very well. 
20. Do you prefer to shop in store or online?  Neither.  Not my favorite past time. 

Happy Monday

Good morning.  Yes it is a great Monday morning.  Just back from a very relaxing 7 day cruise in the Eastern Caribbean.  I guess I do not need to say much more than that.  

The Cruise itself was great.  We had rough seas the first couple of days.  The ship was rocking and rolling.  I am fortunate that I do not have issues with sea sickness.  But you can only complain so much when you are laying around all day.  

I did get in a couple of runs.  They were treadmill runs.  Not very exciting.  Actually quite painful.  I would have rather ran around the ship 50 times than spend an hour on a treadmill.  I was scheduled for 3 seven mile runs last week.  But it ended up being 2 four and 1 seven mile.  I know vacation right?  Too much food.  Too many late nights.  

Now back to reality.  Left Fort Lauderdale with the temps in the seventy's and returned to NC and the temps in the 30's.  I know it could have been worse.  I could have been going to NE and the temps in the 20's or below, but that is what they signed up for.  I didn't, lol.  

Wait, am I still rocking.  

Swimming Success

As many of you who have read my blog I have made a commitment to improving my swimming.  It has been a really long road for me.  Going from someone who couldn't float to being able to swim has been an adventure.

As I said earlier, hiring a coach and gaining that confidence has moved me in the right direction and now just swimming is getting me over the hump.  It still hasn't totally click yet but I am getting closer.  

My swim time is really improving mostly due to not having to stop after each hundred and catch my breath.  I have been working my way through 0 to 1650 and can tell the impact of it in my swimming.  One last swim left.  Swimming one set of 1650.

I must admit that early on I would swim 25 stop, swim 25 stop.  This mad swimming a chore and a bore.  Being winded each lap or half lap is no fun.  I would struggle through a 300 yard workout and feel like I had been tortured.

It now be able to swim not only 300 but 1200 without stopping is huge for me.  I am super excited.

Trainer Torture

Living here in NC I have been totally spoiled.  I am able to exercise outside almost year round.  Well yesterday  was one of those days were going outside wasn't very exciting, so I setup my trainer and started spinning.

I do not know how people do it.  I was dying about 5 minutes into the ride.  I could never get comfortable in the saddle.  I didn't couldn't gauge how fast or slow I was riding.  

I really have to do better.  It I am going to stick with my training regiment, I am going to have to spend time spinning.  

Ok, my rant is over. 

Weekend Wrapup

Along this journey as a triathele you learn that the weekends become your long days.  Fortunately in an attempt to maintain a happy home life, I decided to make Saturday my rest day.   This way, the honey do list is not neglected and we get to spend some free time together.

I am going into a recovery week this week so my "long" run this week was 7 miles and my ride was 25 miles.  So Sunday also ended up being a shorter workout day.  I rode with a friend on a new route and it was pretty challenging.  I love riding with others.  Not only the drafting help, but also the push you recieve.  I am still thinking about either getting a new bike or re-installing my aerobars on my road bike. 

Speaking of recovery, I am searching for a good recovery drink. I have tried the Gatorade G3 and its a little thick.  I have now moved over to Chocolate milk.  But now I am running into those GI issues that accompanies diary products.  I have to find something. I know how important recovery is but I must find something that I will enjoy. 

New Year, New perspective

This year I am going to make a concerted effort to blog more.  Even if its just a workout summary, I am going to start putting pen to paper as they say.

In the time since I last posted, I have been re-assessing my career as a triathlete and I have come to the conclusion that I am in.  I am totally addicted and will not be satisfied until I have a M-Dot tat.

With that being said, I recently hired a swim coach.  This was a great decision on  my part.  In the past month, I have gone from swimming a lap and being too winded to swim much more, to being able to currently swim 1000 yrds without stopping.  I can physically feel myself relax in the pool.  This is a major accomplishment.

One thing that I have learned from my brief golf addition is doing is the best teacher.  Once I found out that my technique wasn't too flawed and with minor tweaks I would be good, I decided to swim 3 times a week without fail.

I have been able to accomplish it for almost 5 straight weeks and as I said earlier, I can tell the difference.  This is totally building my confidence.  It is reinforcing that I can do this.

When I was writing my goals for this years, I really wanted to challenge myself.  I basically took 6 months off from swimming and had really long periods of very little riding so this year my challenge is going to be consistency.  Have a plan and stick to it.  With that being said:

                      2011                               2012
Swim             17 miles                           72 miles
Cycling          1881 miles                       3360 miles
Running         1222 miles                       1200 miles

I feel like each goal is completely obtainable.  They break down to swimming 6 miles per month, biking 280 miles and running 100 miles per month.  I should be able to do that without changing my routines.  I will just have to commit to the pool.  Swimming is really going to be the challenge.  But that is what this is supposed to be.  A challenge.

Oh by the way, my "A" event for this year is going to be a Half Ironman in October.  Yes, a half.  1.2 mile swim in open water.  Okay, I am more than a little freaked out about it, but there it is.  My promise to myself.  Git er dun.