Fourth of July ...

I have some catching up to do ... my weekend trip to Denver was great except for getting stuck on the runway for two hours waiting for a storm to pass so I didn't get home until 1. Then the next day things got crazy as my aunt, who has had cancer for several years, went into the hospital, then to hospice and passed away early Wednesday. So my routine has been off for awhile.

But now it's time to get in some open-water swimming and road cycling.

Last night, I went to SMP for their open-water swim practice. It was a very nice setup: they had an approximately 300 m course around three buoys. They had lifeguards on kayaks and floatie things out there. There was a decent crowd. Most people there were going to do the SM Triathlon, which is Saturday.

I was too chicken to actually do the course, so I did some laps back and forth just past the cordoned off swim area. It was too deep to stand unless you went into the swim area. So I swam around for 45 - 50 minutes, taking a few breaks. The swim area was good sized so it was maybe a couple pool lengths to swim along the outside of it.

I am hoping that tomorrow I will not be such a pussy and go out and do the regular course. The key, for me, in the open water swim is to stay relaxed. I had a nice conversation with a woman who was also doing the little baby laps. She had actually done the short course Topeka Tinman (300 m) swim but was trying to build up her swim endurance more. She told me that she actually did alot of that swim on her back! Now how you can make it through the water that way I have no idea. But ... that is a way to chill and float for awhile. Granted, you can't see where you are going but ...

I did mostly freestyle, practiced sighting, and threw in some breaststroke as well. I also practiced just getting on my back and just chilling for a bit. I think if I can get past doing one lap of that course, I'll be fine. I'm pretty sure I have the endurance to do two or three, as long as I take it slow.

I saw some interesting things. There is no reason to worry much about your swim form. With the sighting you have to do, it throws you off anyway. It would be nice to feel like I could breathe on both sides but I think I can breaststroke it for short periods and be OK. I saw a couple of older women doing this sort of head-completely-above-water-freestyle. I'm not sure how you could do that for 500 meters but they were chugging along.

So even doing the baby stuff gave me confidence. I had ALOT of anxiety as I headed out in the water but it went away once I realized I really could do it. And knowing that I could stay near the swim area helped alot. I like knowing I have a safety valve available, even if I never use it.

The water was a big pond of muck. You could not even see your hand in front of your face. There was all kinds of stuff on the bottom as well. Frankly, it made you want to stay afloat as much as possible. The grossness factor is not as big as I thought it would be however. I think I'm over that. Probably just as well you can't really see anything anyway.

So hopefully tomorrow I can do the big girl stuff. But even if I don't yet, it helped alot to just be out there in the deep water. I think it would help alot to actually have someone with me. It was safe with the guards out there and all, but I really wished I had one of my swim coaches with me.

Today, I took a hot, sticky, hilly ride down to 8th Street. 13 miles. The road bike feels funny after being on my hybrid last night. I am hoping the combination of heat, humidity and hungoverness was the cause of my sluggish pace. I have got to be able to ride faster.

Another bike!

I picked up my road Trek today. I even blew off all workouts to do it. I'm sure I had some rationalization of why it was a good idea. Mark at Bike America, took alot of time fitting the bike. They have a cool scanner that measures all your proportions so the bike can be fitted to you. This is alot more important on a road bike as you're likely to spend alot more time on it and in one position.

I added a few accessories: SPD pedals (so I can use the shoes I already had even though they aren't roadie shoes), wireless computer and little tiny seat bag that just barely fits my phone and keys. Just from the tiny bit of riding I did tonight, I think it will take some time to adjust. I like that it's not so upright but I have to get used to the brakes on the drop handlebars and the shifters are actually on the breaks. I'm really glad I already had the clipless experience, though who's to say I still won't crash when I can't unclip fast enough.

So I now have more bikes than computers! Technically that was true before, as I have this nifty old English 3-speed in the basement that I really need to get fixed up. So I have more ride-able bikes than computers.

catching up ...

Lest it appear that I've been sitting on my arse for the last three days .....

Rest assured, I have not.

Monday: the usual Spin and Yoga. I often have a hard time being motivated for yoga, even though I always feel better after it. Monday was no different and we had to do lots of 'partner' exercises which I really really don't like. Even when my actual partner was in class with me, I hated it. It just breaks the flow.

I understand why we do it, as you can often go further into a pose, but I would really prefer to just keep going. And I don't dig on having someone else's foot in my back either. Some of it is a little close and weird. I mean, if I want a massage - we did some 'Thai massage' stuff - I'll just go pay for it. That way, I don't have to reciprocate.

However, once we got done, I felt alot better. I had been out of sorts all day but it seemed to help. Then I came home and watched the Royals beat the Cardinals. So it was all good.

Tuesday: An fairly easy 15 road miles, out my work route to Antioch. I rode Blue Trek, which seemed awful light and fast after the Silver Bullet.

Today: Spin. I love spin class. I hate that it requires getting up at the butt crack of dawn, but it is such a great workout. Sometimes it bugs the back of knee so I ice it down afterwards. I wish we could do a full half-hour of abs and core work. Sad, most of us have to work.

My new roadie bike is in! Not sure how I can get in there tomorrow as it will require some time to fit it. My plan was to swim in the afternoon, as I get to leave early for a dentist appointment. But if I can drag my butt there in the morning, I could go get the bike after the dentist. Then maybe have time for a quick spin ...

hot

For what it's worth, don't wait around all day in the house (mostly), working (babysitting server maintenance) and think you will go running later in the day. I had nearly lost all motivation and needed to wait until 6 before it was somewhat cooler (8 would have been better, given the heat).

But I made it out the door. Actually given the 86 degree temp and the fact that the sun is still pretty high in the sky at 6 on June 17, I felt pretty good. Almost 40 minutes around Loose Park and back.

I will never appreciate air conditioning as much as I do after a run like that.

Then I made a vat of sausage, spinach and veggie spaghetti.

Oh! And tonight I hear cicadas (or locusts or whatever they are) outside. I LOVE that sound. That means it is really and truly summer.

Post #69

This is post number 69. Heh.

Anyway, since all the singletrack is dry, I really wanted to take advantage of it as much as possible. So I went out to BRP this morning, fairly early (for a Saturday) and rode about an hour and a half. It's amazing that after about 45 minutes, I start to ride alot better. I hope to go out tomorrow as well, so maybe I can warm up sooner. I covered myself in Deep Woods Off and it was plenty overgrown out there today. But I only had a couple ticks crawling around on my shoe when I was done. I dispensed with them (I hope).

Then, since it was in the 90's today, I did a few inside chores.

Then I rode up to the pool and did 3/4 mile. I need to take a couple lessons. It's funny that after 30-35 lengths, my form gets even worse as I get tired. But my breathing actually gets better. I am a little disheartened by Ann's open water swim report, however. I am a weak swimmer and I'm not sure how I can do open water swimming.

off day

ahhhh, an off day. I knew I would never get up to do anything this morning and I wanted to go to Parkville by 6:30 to see a Blues band at the Parkville Blues and Jazz Fest. And surely it was time for a complete off day.

So I went to hear Trampled Under Foot ( http://www.tufkc.com/ ), a local KC blues band that I heard once last summer and really liked. It was free and outside, what more could you want? Maybe a pulled pork sandwich and homemade chips. And a couple beers.

It would have been cool to ride up there but I haven't yet and this wasn't the time to check out a new route.

3 in 24 ....

I've had three workouts in 24 hours. Not as good as five hours in one day, but I have this pesky job.

Yesterday morning was spinning. Last night I swam 1250 yards. I should have added 2 more lengths to make it 3/4 mile. It wasn't a bad swim. I still stop more than I would like to. Not for any real length of time, usually, but more than I would like. And I am still too much of a baby to try and breathe on the left side.

This morning, I got up and ran about 30 minutes. That's tough, first thing in the morning. I was very stiff and slow. It sure is a nice time of the day to be out, though.

Oh, and I purchased my FOURTH bike. A Trek 1600 WSD. I will have it the last week of June.