As I left it, this past week was to be a ramp up week and the mission was successful. With the weather breaking into the fifties, it was a great week to run outside and all the snow and ice was gone.
Although, as I am typing the blog, the sidewalks and roads are filling with new stuff.
This week I started making a change to my swim, when I started breathing on both sides of my stroke.
This came about because where I swim my kids also take swimming lessons and my kids’ teacher is also the pool manager. So this means that I see her three or four times a week and she see’s me swimming.
A week or so ago she asked me why I don’t breathe on both sides of my stroke. My response was that I was not taught that way in swim lessons and I have never changed based on comfort even though I know it would make me faster.
Well… that was all the kick in the butt that I needed, so this week I started drilling for at least 20 laps a session, breathing to my opposite side. By Friday it was becoming much more comfortable, but I will tell you from the outside of the pool it probably looks like I am a drowning victim at times.
That “old dog new tricks” cliché rang true. I’ll keep at it though. If it shaves some time and keeps me straighter in open water, it’s worth a shot.
Also, my first lesson of this blog I learned on Friday evening. Do not attempt to swim 2 miles on two hours of sleep and an empty stomach after a days worth of work. It was ugly, long and painful.
Saturday turned out to be the biggest day of training this week. It was a scheduled long run day and I was adding miles for the marathon, so I ended up running 13.5 miles.
The second lesson of the blog…do not attempt this right after finishing the remaining portion of your kids chocolate covered donut. It made for a very unsettled stomach for about six miles, especially when I had gel at mile 8.
The wind sucked on this run. 20-25mph in my face for seven miles, but least it was behind me for good while when I made the turn. My pace was okay, but I was redlining during the run more than I should have been. I guess I was just off from a crazy week and a lot of training.
On Saturday afternoon, I got to take the new bike (BMC Racemaster) out for a spin and it was great. Now of course, when it was fifty out I didn’t get a chance. I went out when it was in the thirties. But even through the frostbite, I was able to get in 25 miles and to start to break the new ride in. The frame was great. It was stiff, responsive, and fast. It will be a great training and racing bike and plus it looks cool.
Overall, Saturday was a killer day and my body was pretty beat. No worries though, I rallied Saturday night for a rousing PTA wine tasting and dance lesson with my wife and some good friends and was no worse for wear.
Today I dedicated as a recovery day since it has been almost a month of training from the last one and my body is thanking me, although my legs came out of yesterday pretty fit.
(Editor’s Note: Wife, on the other hand, came out of the PTA event exhausted and a little too hung over for the yoga she attempted this morning.)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
My Valentines and More…
This one goes out to my three Valentines that make it all possible. I may be the endurance athlete of the family, but Anna, Morgan and Zoe are the one’s that endure. The workouts, the races, the waiting and my endless drivel about each, but they are always there clapping and cheering at the end. So this is my first of many thanks of the new season, because their clapping and smiles at the end of races make the races that much more fun.
A big thanks to the guys at Spin Bike Shop for the fitting of the new road bike on Thursday and that I am psyched to pick up on Wednesday. Also, thanks for a cool event on Friday.
On the training front, I had a good Saturday run of 10.5 miles. I was able to run outside for the first time this week and temps were good. I have been fighting a cold that is stuck in my throat somewhere, so breathing has been a little tough and I have a little pain in feet.
Looks like the weather for the week may allow me to get the new ride on the road for a spin this week. It’s about time I start logging real road miles instead of trainer miles.
Swimming was good this week. However, probably not great for anyone that followed me in the pool, as I think I have been leaving a mucus trail in my lane all week. Let’s be glad there is strong chlorine concentration in my pool.
Although, chlorine didn’t stop the large clump of women’s hair that got stuck to my face this morning while swimming. As Anna just posted a list of things that are gross on her blog, this is at the top of the list for me.
This past week was supposed to be a recovery week, so this upcoming week I will be adding a little mileage running-wise. I will stretch out my run to 13-14 miles Saturday and hopefully get one of the bikes on the road for a ride, if the weather cooperates.
Editor’s Note: Awww…I thought he was going to ask his bikes to be his Valentines as he’s been counting the days until he gets them back home from Spin. This was a nice surprise.
A big thanks to the guys at Spin Bike Shop for the fitting of the new road bike on Thursday and that I am psyched to pick up on Wednesday. Also, thanks for a cool event on Friday.
On the training front, I had a good Saturday run of 10.5 miles. I was able to run outside for the first time this week and temps were good. I have been fighting a cold that is stuck in my throat somewhere, so breathing has been a little tough and I have a little pain in feet.
Looks like the weather for the week may allow me to get the new ride on the road for a spin this week. It’s about time I start logging real road miles instead of trainer miles.
Swimming was good this week. However, probably not great for anyone that followed me in the pool, as I think I have been leaving a mucus trail in my lane all week. Let’s be glad there is strong chlorine concentration in my pool.
Although, chlorine didn’t stop the large clump of women’s hair that got stuck to my face this morning while swimming. As Anna just posted a list of things that are gross on her blog, this is at the top of the list for me.
This past week was supposed to be a recovery week, so this upcoming week I will be adding a little mileage running-wise. I will stretch out my run to 13-14 miles Saturday and hopefully get one of the bikes on the road for a ride, if the weather cooperates.
Editor’s Note: Awww…I thought he was going to ask his bikes to be his Valentines as he’s been counting the days until he gets them back home from Spin. This was a nice surprise.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Back in the Saddle
Well it’s been a long winter’s nap…well…not exactly…just a long absence from posting.
Anna came home tonight and told me about a reader of my pathetic attempt of a blog that shamed me into action. I have been saying since January 1st that I was going to post and have come up with plenty of excuses not to.
I am officially back in the saddle (shout out to Sid and Leo) and ready to blog for the season.
Where to begin? Ironman training has officially begun and I have increased my training sessions to either 10 or 11 sessions a week. I will increase that again in the spring and summer.
Also, I have spent a long time building my road bike for training that I posted a picture of back in the fall, and it is almost done. I have my fitting on Thursday. Psyched to get off the trainer, on the road, and take my new toy for a spin.
Don’t worry; I have made space in the bedroom for the new addition.
Cleveland Marathon training has also begun. I am excited to be back training for this. I love the process of adding miles each week and the long Saturday runs. It’s a sign that spring is around the corner and each running week that goes by the weather gets better and better.
I am satisfied with my pacing right now and I have had a great last week of running, biking and swimming.
I swam at the Oberlin Splash Zone over the weekend, while my daughters visited with their cousins before the Super Bowl. I have had the opportunity to swim there before and it’s quite a nice facility for that community.
What was even better was that I was essentially alone in a 10 lane pool (not counting the life guards), since it was about an hour before it closed, and I had a good swim. Sometimes the change of location makes all the difference.
Editor’s Note: Before the bikes come home, I have to line the floor with satin cushions and install an electro-magnetic force field to keep sticky fingers and clumps of dog hair away.
Editor’s Note 2: Not sure if electro-magnetic is a possible type of force field, but it sounds good.
Anna came home tonight and told me about a reader of my pathetic attempt of a blog that shamed me into action. I have been saying since January 1st that I was going to post and have come up with plenty of excuses not to.
I am officially back in the saddle (shout out to Sid and Leo) and ready to blog for the season.
Where to begin? Ironman training has officially begun and I have increased my training sessions to either 10 or 11 sessions a week. I will increase that again in the spring and summer.
Also, I have spent a long time building my road bike for training that I posted a picture of back in the fall, and it is almost done. I have my fitting on Thursday. Psyched to get off the trainer, on the road, and take my new toy for a spin.
Don’t worry; I have made space in the bedroom for the new addition.
Cleveland Marathon training has also begun. I am excited to be back training for this. I love the process of adding miles each week and the long Saturday runs. It’s a sign that spring is around the corner and each running week that goes by the weather gets better and better.
I am satisfied with my pacing right now and I have had a great last week of running, biking and swimming.
I swam at the Oberlin Splash Zone over the weekend, while my daughters visited with their cousins before the Super Bowl. I have had the opportunity to swim there before and it’s quite a nice facility for that community.
What was even better was that I was essentially alone in a 10 lane pool (not counting the life guards), since it was about an hour before it closed, and I had a good swim. Sometimes the change of location makes all the difference.
Editor’s Note: Before the bikes come home, I have to line the floor with satin cushions and install an electro-magnetic force field to keep sticky fingers and clumps of dog hair away.
Editor’s Note 2: Not sure if electro-magnetic is a possible type of force field, but it sounds good.
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