Tri Pics

Head Games

Being my first sports type event in more than I care to remember I'm trying to wrap my mind around what I need to do yet...last night I kept thinking that today is the morning I need to be ready. The next hours will be fluid...work today, pick up wheels, go home, pack gear, clean bike chain, check bike, swim/bike/jog tonight followed by training review tonight in EL, home eat sleep, tomorrow work 1/2 day...prep all my stuff and do another once over and have it ready to go....clean up and back out to EL to pick up info, hit the Tri meeting, go over transion arears and then hit a wedding in EL...home early sleep...up and then back out for the Tri...

Bday Girl Sun and Fun

Training tonight...full swim, full bike, short run

Catching up

Quick recap -
Friday very tired from Wed/Thurs...
SMBRide small group nice weather/first time back in awhile
Numbers: 53.9 miles/18.1 ave/2:57:54 hrs/905 odo
DaveUsa's after for some beer and sun and fun, Tori showed after work and made it even better
Sun...Tori's Bday!...I screwed up w/ timing of course but made things right. She got a cool antiuqe looking bike that has planter baskets.
Sun nite Tor's parents for pizza, cake, ice cream...perfect training food
Monday tired from Sat/Sun.
Chiro tonight and maybe a nice little bike ride or jog.
6 days til big event

Leave it alone

On my way in this morn I was watching my speedometer too closely and thought it was tweaking out a little so I stopped and adjusted the fork mounted sensor...took off and then I didn't get anything. Stopped again and adjusted it's position, spun the wheel and it started reading again. Ride in numbers reflect me screwing around w/ it this morn...

7.2 miles/15.9 ave/27:17 min/30.8 max/835 odo

Last nights Tri training was fun. There was a big reception of some sort going on w/ a steel drum band, large food spread and a bar all beach side at the resort. We were part of the entertainment for all the good folks as we walked past them to get in the water and ran by them to get to our transition stations. Good stuff. Posing in our wetsuits before the swim for pictures.

Also last night we rode the true course. Really different then what we've been training on which is kind of beat cause I was really getting used to the course we were doing, knowing where and when to hammer down and when to rest....not so much anymore. We'll to the true course tonight to get more acclimated to the situation...may have to go out Sat morn to do it again...plus the extra swimming practice will not hurt one bit.

Ride to work week day 3

Riding in this early morn (5:30 am) started a bit chilly but I was plenty warm 1/2 way into my morning commute.

Ride in numbers: 7.7 mi/26:23 min/17.5 ave/31.6 max/804 odo

196 miles til I break 1k for the LeMond. Pot Holes and road cracks are wreaking havoc on my wheels and the bike in general. I'll have to get my wheels trued again (just did the rear 2 weeks or so ago) before the Tri.

Tri training tonight...Swim/Bike course.

Cut 1/2 the grass last night and afterwards I looked like this guy...

6 degrees of Bacon

Quicksilver came out around the time of Rad, both in 1986, and I'd say that they both were very influential films my me. I was 9 this year and my mind must have been like a sponge...taking everything in.
Well sometimes when I'm flyin around on my bike I think of this flick.
Ride in numbers for today...nice out.
7.7 miles/25:36 min/18 ave/28 max/786 odo
Took the long way home last night and may do so again tonight due to wind and major road being so busy. Depends what kinda mood I'm in.

Bummer

I just got done w/ a post...go to publish and I get an error. Gone.
Ride in to work week. Today's ride in numbers:
7.7 miles/24:49 min/18.6 ave/37.3 max/768 odo
Good Busy weekend wore me out.
Tiger is pretty incredible.
Dad's day was good...ride in stang.
Tor and I at Falls dam...intense...pic soon hopefully
Rental Property Management and maintenance.
Looking forward to putting some miles on the bike this week.

Getting it done

Purple....felt like trying something new.

1/2 day of work...lbs for pa's day gift...superduuperpooper shopping center to get food for tomorrow (today reminded me why I hated this store...people everywhere and kids yelling, whining and crying and shit - school must be out) I did finally notice a slight saving but I'm no longer sure it'll be worth it....we'll see.....came home and cut some wet grass.

Was about to do the trimmin and thought a ride was in order.

Quick loop around the neighboring block....6 miles....enough to make my legs feel a bit better.

Tomorrow morning we're doing a mock tri at the events start time....fun

Later on we're having family over for what's turning out to be an annual cookout thing out here. Should be good.

I'll really try to snap a few pics....Dad said he's gonna be rolling big shooter style in the stang.

Later gators

Rain Rain Go Away

Looks like it's going to start raining again tonight so training is called off til Sat early morn. Might have to hit the gym to maintain.

Yesterday - bike 20 miles, swim at lake two rounds1/2 mile total?, came home at took the ol'boy for another run...a lot short distance this time...2 miles. Still feel like I could be doing more but don't seem to have the energy or skill to do so. This will hopefully improve in the near future.

I'll try to get a little yard chopped today if the rains can off til early eve but I doubt it.

A little better

Today was the first ride in since June 2nd....a week and a half ago. A little rough since I had to take a diff route due to a road being out by my house. 45 degrees F w/ a NNE wind at 12 mph. Of course I was headed NE so I had to fight it all the way. Ride in numbers:

9.8 miles/16.8 mph ave/35 min/25.6 max mph/733 odo. I can forsurely tell it's been awhile.

Last night I was going to go for a bike ride but Shermann gave me "the look" and made me feel bad so I said ok, I'm feeling tubby and you're looking tubby so you and I are going for a run (more like walk/jog/walk/jog/walk). And that's what we did. I was dragging him at the end but after in was done we both felt better. Oh what fresh air can do.

Tonights Tri Training have me Swimming at the lake and I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I'll remember my camera but I doubt it.

Negative

How and why do I feel all negative on a sunny day? It has to be lack of riding. I don't like feeling like a time bomb...I wanted to throw my chair before cause I sliced my finger w/ a scalpel. I haven't rode my bike since Wed/Thurs of last week and then the Mon before that. I started pulling my gear out today to ride in but have to stop at the Home Depot on the way home to pick up a board to finish installing can lights in the office.
I'm going to ride tonight. I need fresh air and exercise.

Work - Fun - Crap

Friday Worked 1/2 day at work then worked at home on home. Picked up Moped from DDD
Sat Morn - Cleaned up home from working and took a lot o crap to dump
Sat Aft - Road America for bike races w/ Bill...snuck in....used moped to fly around...very fun.
Sat Later....storms...Sat Night....rain....Sunday morn...grocery shopping...then home to work on home....Rain....
CRaP...roof on garage leaks like crazy...spent Some of Sunday cleaning that...Crap...gutters are clogged....crap....still trying to work on house....
Monday morn...crap...come to work to find puddles in my area and the thick air of dampness all over. My mouse pad is almost soaked...crap

Sprint

Did the tri last night in training...felt good. I think I finally figured out what to do for the swim that will work for me - 1 or 3 strokes then breathe...not 5 to 7 and then get a mouth full of water and freak out.
Biking was pretty good, averaging about 20 mph for the 10.5 miles. Some of the guys in the group ride Saturday said that you can gain 1-2 mph ave w/ aero bars and seat adjusted properly. Not sure if I want to make another investment in this adventure but I'll see how much the LBS has them for as I have to get some GU type packets for race day. Maybe get some cheapo's for the event...we'll see. Had a pretty significantly tight right quad...need to stretch.
Transitions went fairly smooth - trying to breathe, sit, dry off and then put socks on damp/wet feet is a challenge. But it did go faster than Wednesday night. Still would like to check out quick laces....and maybe a swimmers shammy or SHAM-Wow? Awesome commercial guy.
Running wasn't easy by any means last night. I started slow w/ quick steps and did alright for the first mile but my lower back started to just hurt really bad. I stopped to try and stretch it out which did seem to help, and ended up doing that I think a total of 4 times during the 3 mile run. But more importantly I finished the run w/ some energy yet which is a good sign. Did feel something going on w/ my left foots big toe...not sure if something was in there that shouldn't have been or if was a combo of the damp socks and then joggin...blistering?
After doing all this I put the wetsuit back on to jump back into the lake to continue working on my open water swimming to try and get even more comfortable seeing as doing that Wednesday night really helped me for last nights swim. Plus the cold water on the freshly exercised body feels good.
Driving back and forth to the lake is kinda pricey but oh soo worth it.
So when I got home both of my feet started hurting and the signs of what would be a blister if I would've ran any further I feel and a little cut on the bottom of my right foot I think from the little muscle shells on the lakes bottom.
And lastly a funny thing I found myself doing towards the end of the bike route which was against the wind....talking to myself or encouraging myself or talking myself into pushing harder. I haven't noticed myself doing this since running/lifting at SHS. Build Muscle! You want this more! Push! Go! Don't give up now! You can do this! These are the types of things I find myself thinking and mumbling as I'm biking/running uphill against the wind.

Not So

Last night we did the swim to T1 to ride the run route to T2 to short run....not so easy. The swimming is still really difficult for me to get so after we were finished up I headed back into the lake for another lap. I found that just like running I start strong but get very short of breath quickly and then get all flustered. I'm sure the many years of smoking cig's doesn't help but I do think that all this exercise does help "heal" my internals from all the damage I've done to myself. When you're young you're invincible and then somewhere along the road of time something happens and makes you really understand that you are not. The body, I now do truly feel, is a temple and needs very routine maintenance and to be appreciated. The body also is an amazing self healer and can usually take care of what I may have done to it time and time again as long as I caught it in time before irreversible damage is done.
I have an addiction to nicotine. I started smoking when I was a freshman in high school. I started drinking early and partying. I still like beer and after a couple I do get urges for cig's especially when I see/smell them. I'm not proud of it but "it is what it is" (our new favorite saying) and I'm dealing w/ it the best way I can and know how to and for me it's with wanting to improve as an "Athlete" (I use that term VERY loosely and apologize to the real ones) and a weekend warrior biker.
So on my second dip into the lake I tried to relax and take things slow. It was a lot better then the first round. Excuses for why the first swim didn't go as good as it could would be that I was too gitty/excited, didn't stretch (felt that in my right quad on the bike ride), just kinda suck as a swimmer in general. I was paired up with a fish of a swimmer and holy crap did she fly...it's cool to see but also humbling, which is good...
Eric did excellent at everything even with a banged up leg. He skipped the run but I think he'll fly the day of event. Nice Work B! I gotta get me some of those laces...dam.
Stormin Normin out there this morn but is supposed to move on through and be better out for tonight's training session. Tonight we have a short swim, reg ride and reg run. This is why we signed up...for the ass whoopin workouts....gotta love it.

Buzz Bike

Quick version...thought I was a qualified entrant for a motorcycle give away this weekend at Road America...turns out I am not due to my own misunderstanding. Bummer.

No ride in today...drove...put 50 bucks in the Jeep on the way in...didn't even come close to filling it. Back rim for LeMond has a wobble so I'm going to drop 'er off at the LBS during lunch to hopefully pick up later today or tomorrow.
2nd Open water swim tomorrow night and Bike/Run on Thursday.

Exhaust Fan install on lower bath is now complete and the drywall can go on the ceiling and then on to the walls...woo hoo. Tonight we'll get a couple more sheets up.

Thank You

Thank you for the vids...Ride in numbers
7.7 miles/25:22 time/31.4 max/18.2 ave/699 odo
I'm craving a Jimmy Johns sub and it's early morning?

kick his ass kid say it all

the end song from Juno 'Anyone Else But You '