Where to begin...I'll start just briefly by saying Thursday night I ate almost half of a large, deep dish, Domino's Pizza and then on Friday, for both lunch and Dinner I had my usual, a Moe's burrito. After teaching most of the day on Friday, Irfan and I jumped into the far and drove to Clermont. We completed the usual: race meeting, bike check-in, etc. Then as the sun was setting we left out on what would tomorrow's bike course. We had a difficult time early on trying to find the route in the dark. After losing and finding the route a few times, I gave it up. I was exhausted, ready to eat and had seen all I needed to see. The course was hilly! As we were driving along we would say, "Surely they won't have us biking up this hill". Um, yeah, I wish. We biked up hills WAY worse than we saw on Friday night.
Anyway, we drove 20 minutes south to our cheap hotel that was one of the sponsoring hotels ($40/night!). We settle into the room; I choke down my burrito that I didn't really want, went through all my gear, which I seem to have a lot of these days and then jumped into bed, only to find a sharp pain in my shoulder blade. It hurt to lay on my back and on my right side. How was I going to race? I laid on my left side and was asleep before I even realized it.
The alarm sounded, and eventually I was up and moving. The breakfast I had brought from home sent me pucking to the bathroom. I had one taste, the food had spoiled. I was now forced to go check out the continental breakfast. Irfan and I headed down to find a lovely treat awaiting. Well, as lovely as a good continental breakfast can be. I had a bagel with cream cheese, a little bit of instant oatmeal and 1 small microwaved pancake that was not good at all. I chased it with some gatorade when I got back to the room.
After lubing up in all the right places and covering myself in sunblock, except for my forgotten arms, which are now slightly burned, I packed all my gear up and hit the road at 6:25. By 6:45 I was out of the car headed to transition in drizzling rain. I struggled with all my stuff, perhaps I have too much. I had to carry it about 3 blocks. Finally as I laid my gear out, the drizzle turned to a steady rain. They announced the water would be wetsuit legal. Damn it! I still don't have a wetsuit. Oh well! There was nothing I could do now. I finished laying out my gear not only in the rain, but in the dark too. I didn't even bother to check my tire pressure, I was freezing and ready for everything to be over.
I got weighed in and headed for cover under the pavilion. I stood close to people just trying to get some heat. Irfan finally found me and we waited together as the start of the Great Floridian (full iron distance race) approached. We stood overlooking the beach as the gun sounded and they were off, moving slowly into the water; then, the relays started. Finally it was my turn. I walked slowly down to the beach, waded into the water for the first time and went back to the beach to stand with my fellow athletes. The countdown started and we were off, wading into the water and finally swimming.
The water was choppy, making it nearly impossible to stay on course. I got several mouthfuls of water when I went to breathe. I continued trying to site, but found my blue-tinted goggles were quite a hindrance to seeing the buoys. I occasionally lifted off my goggles to be sure I was swimming in the right direction. The swim was slow. I tried to do freestyle, but every time I did a few strokes and then would site, I found that I had turned a couple of strokes off to one side and would then have to swim back. I opted then for breaststroke a good portion of the time. It sucked overall. It was nice though being in fresh water.
(more later)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Training Update
I should start with a big Thank You to my friend Peter, so THANKS! He sent me an email giving me a good verbal lashing and I needed it :)
Last week was tough as many of the previous weeks have been. Part of it has been dealing with pain. When I run and also when I biked the other day, my side hurts. It's not the normal side stitches. I run for a while, then it hurts and walking doesn't seem to help. It hurts to breathe. I want to double over and die, but that doesn't help either. It feels like I'm having a muscle spasm in my abs only it's higher. I suspected my gallbladder. Finally it wasn't intermittent anymore, it was constant and then it also happened on the bike. I was ready to go to the doctor, but decided to look at my diet first.
I opted to avoid all greens and the result was amazing. After not having any at all for several days, all the pain went away and has not returned. No more salads or spinach for me, at least not any time soon. I have had awesome runs and rides ever since.
That brings me to last weekend. I met my Plan B group and went for the usual Saturday ride only at the end of it, 3 of us got off and ran 4 miles. The run was slow and painful as the sun was beating down on us with no wind or shade. I drank a full 16 oz and went back to the shop and drank quite a bit more. Sunday I needed to run. My miles haven't been building the way I would like, but I've been getting a little more consistent in the number of days I'm running.
I got up early and left for 8 miles. It was still dark and rather cool for us. I decided not to look at my watch until 4 miles and just focus on running my best. When I looked down at 4 miles, I realized I was only 1 minute 17 seconds over an average 10 minute pace. I felt good and so I ran strong for another 2 miles and noticed that I had not lost any on my pace. Now it was time to make a move if I was going to. It started to drizzle. I picked it up. I ran a sub 10 and then a sub 9 and finished in 1:19:47, a new best. Afterwards, my biking buddy Mark wanted me to bike with him. So I hit the road for an easy 20 mile ride until we both got flats. That was a good ending point for the day.
Monday came and went. I swam a little, nothing too much. Tuesday I had planned a 10 mile run. Irfan and I started at 6 am. I was just out to cover the miles, but 1 mile in I was feeling really good. I stayed patient, but by 2 miles, I felt great and was running well. Irafn was ahead, but not too far. At 3 miles I had a pack of CarbBoom and as I neared 4 miles, I was closing in on him. At 6 miles, I again found that I was only about 1 minute over a 10 minute average pace. I took my second CarbBoom and was on the final stretch. At 7.5 miles I passed Irfan and took off. My finish time, 1:37:40. A full 12+ minutes off my previous best 10 mile time. I didn't mean for this to be a PR, I started off just wanting to cover the miles.
Thursday I did an easy 45 mile ride and then ran 3 at an easy pace. Today, I did my longest workout. I met my riding buddies and rode most of the way with them, but finished the last 10 of 57 miles by myself. Then, Irfan and I headed out on an 8 mile run just covering the miles. I was slow and walked some, but that was fine. All I needed was to finish and I did.
Why the long day? I registered for a half-ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) for next weekend. I was going to go to Tempe, AZ, in 2 weeks for a half iron race, but opted for the local race a week early and since I know I can go the distance, I need the race experience. This will be my last big triathlon this season. If I can get in another Olympic in early November, I might do that, but I want to wait and see how I feel.
So, for this week, everything will be slow and easy. I want to sleep a lot and exercise enough to keep me loose and feeling good, but that's it. No PRs, no long days, just rest and mental prep for this weekend.
The race is the 23rd Annual Florida Challenge in Clermont, Florida (about 20 minutes west of Orlando). The race is done concurrently with The Great Floridian, a full iron distance race.
I'm excited and know I can do this. Yes, it would be better if I could wait 1 more month, but there's not a local race next month that still has openings. So I'll do this one and then really focus on running and get ready for the OUC half marathon on December 1 in Orlando and of course, the Disney marathon on January 13. I'm also looking at a 30k in mid-November here in town. It will be a good/long training run (18.6 miles).
Thanks again Peter. Just so you know, I'm eating the world about every other day so I'm always prepared for training :)
Oh and I almost forgot, I got an awesome Tri-suit. The material is amazing and it's one of the most comfortable things I have ever worn. The suit doesn't creep move, at all, when I ride or when I run and it's amazing at wicking away all the sweat. If you're interested, it's the Descente Race Tri-Suit. The suit was also the #1 choice by Darren Cox, our local Kona qualifier. He's racing right now as I type this. Go Darren!
Last week was tough as many of the previous weeks have been. Part of it has been dealing with pain. When I run and also when I biked the other day, my side hurts. It's not the normal side stitches. I run for a while, then it hurts and walking doesn't seem to help. It hurts to breathe. I want to double over and die, but that doesn't help either. It feels like I'm having a muscle spasm in my abs only it's higher. I suspected my gallbladder. Finally it wasn't intermittent anymore, it was constant and then it also happened on the bike. I was ready to go to the doctor, but decided to look at my diet first.
I opted to avoid all greens and the result was amazing. After not having any at all for several days, all the pain went away and has not returned. No more salads or spinach for me, at least not any time soon. I have had awesome runs and rides ever since.
That brings me to last weekend. I met my Plan B group and went for the usual Saturday ride only at the end of it, 3 of us got off and ran 4 miles. The run was slow and painful as the sun was beating down on us with no wind or shade. I drank a full 16 oz and went back to the shop and drank quite a bit more. Sunday I needed to run. My miles haven't been building the way I would like, but I've been getting a little more consistent in the number of days I'm running.
I got up early and left for 8 miles. It was still dark and rather cool for us. I decided not to look at my watch until 4 miles and just focus on running my best. When I looked down at 4 miles, I realized I was only 1 minute 17 seconds over an average 10 minute pace. I felt good and so I ran strong for another 2 miles and noticed that I had not lost any on my pace. Now it was time to make a move if I was going to. It started to drizzle. I picked it up. I ran a sub 10 and then a sub 9 and finished in 1:19:47, a new best. Afterwards, my biking buddy Mark wanted me to bike with him. So I hit the road for an easy 20 mile ride until we both got flats. That was a good ending point for the day.
Monday came and went. I swam a little, nothing too much. Tuesday I had planned a 10 mile run. Irfan and I started at 6 am. I was just out to cover the miles, but 1 mile in I was feeling really good. I stayed patient, but by 2 miles, I felt great and was running well. Irafn was ahead, but not too far. At 3 miles I had a pack of CarbBoom and as I neared 4 miles, I was closing in on him. At 6 miles, I again found that I was only about 1 minute over a 10 minute average pace. I took my second CarbBoom and was on the final stretch. At 7.5 miles I passed Irfan and took off. My finish time, 1:37:40. A full 12+ minutes off my previous best 10 mile time. I didn't mean for this to be a PR, I started off just wanting to cover the miles.
Thursday I did an easy 45 mile ride and then ran 3 at an easy pace. Today, I did my longest workout. I met my riding buddies and rode most of the way with them, but finished the last 10 of 57 miles by myself. Then, Irfan and I headed out on an 8 mile run just covering the miles. I was slow and walked some, but that was fine. All I needed was to finish and I did.
Why the long day? I registered for a half-ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) for next weekend. I was going to go to Tempe, AZ, in 2 weeks for a half iron race, but opted for the local race a week early and since I know I can go the distance, I need the race experience. This will be my last big triathlon this season. If I can get in another Olympic in early November, I might do that, but I want to wait and see how I feel.
So, for this week, everything will be slow and easy. I want to sleep a lot and exercise enough to keep me loose and feeling good, but that's it. No PRs, no long days, just rest and mental prep for this weekend.
The race is the 23rd Annual Florida Challenge in Clermont, Florida (about 20 minutes west of Orlando). The race is done concurrently with The Great Floridian, a full iron distance race.
I'm excited and know I can do this. Yes, it would be better if I could wait 1 more month, but there's not a local race next month that still has openings. So I'll do this one and then really focus on running and get ready for the OUC half marathon on December 1 in Orlando and of course, the Disney marathon on January 13. I'm also looking at a 30k in mid-November here in town. It will be a good/long training run (18.6 miles).
Thanks again Peter. Just so you know, I'm eating the world about every other day so I'm always prepared for training :)
Oh and I almost forgot, I got an awesome Tri-suit. The material is amazing and it's one of the most comfortable things I have ever worn. The suit doesn't creep move, at all, when I ride or when I run and it's amazing at wicking away all the sweat. If you're interested, it's the Descente Race Tri-Suit. The suit was also the #1 choice by Darren Cox, our local Kona qualifier. He's racing right now as I type this. Go Darren!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)