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Saturday, July 14, 2007
Finally those history degrees pay off ...
hot run
I didn't get going too early and I didn't want to wait around and run later, so I went out at about 1 pm, when it was nearly 90 and very sunny. A course that usually takes 39 minutes took 43 but that's OK. Better to walk a little than have heatstroke. I think I'm building a heat tolerance. The first 20 minutes were OK.
Then I went to see 'La Vie en Rose' a movie about the life of Edith Piaf. My latent Francophilism is stirring up, with watching the Tour and seeing this movie. Next year, bike tour through France. None of this silly training for triathlons. Well, maybe some of it. But I would love to do a week long tour on bike. The movie was a little ... grim. I really didn't know anything about her before. She had a bit of a tragic life and died at 47. It was a very French movie .. it just sorta ended. No over the top Hollywoodish emotions, no neat little package at the end.
Then I went to see 'La Vie en Rose' a movie about the life of Edith Piaf. My latent Francophilism is stirring up, with watching the Tour and seeing this movie. Next year, bike tour through France. None of this silly training for triathlons. Well, maybe some of it. But I would love to do a week long tour on bike. The movie was a little ... grim. I really didn't know anything about her before. She had a bit of a tragic life and died at 47. It was a very French movie .. it just sorta ended. No over the top Hollywoodish emotions, no neat little package at the end.
grumpy melonhead ...
At least I was last night until I finished my ride ....
I found out that the open water swim will still be at SMP for the next couple weeks so I don't have to go further away to a new place. And I can ride after the swims.
Last night I went to SMP and thought maybe I could swim in the actual swim area and then ride. The swim area is big enough, I guess, but they have it divided in 3 areas with ropes between them so you have to duck under. The very back of the swim area is deep enough that I cannot stand ... well stand and still breathe anyway. So I dorked around swimming for awhile. There was a very cute family enjoying a play day at the beach there as well but no one else. I didn't think I really did much but my arms are a little sore today. I felt a little goofy swimming around in there while they were tossing the beach ball around.
Here is something I don't get: how is the breaststroke a 'resting' stroke? I understand why people swim it in open water, because you can see where you're going. But I find it exhausting and painfully slow. So I guess my task for the pool this weekend is to do more breaststroke. That should wear my little arms down to a nub.
Then I grumpily went back to my car, sans towel that I had left in the car, and cleaned off a little and moved the car over to the marina lot where the cyclists park. Sigh, it's by the mountain bike trails and most everyone there had a mountain bike. I think Tuesday I'll bring that bike, I have hardly gotten to ride dirt this year.
So I took three laps again. The first one counterclockwise, second one clockwise. I think it's equally hard in both directions. My average speed for the first two was 16.3. It felt pretty hard though. Then my last lap was a little slower. I felt strangely whupped, even though Thursday was an off day.
A 'tri suit' is going to be necessary. There is no way that you want TWO layers of wet spandex and a little bike short pad all crunched up in your crotch for 14 miles.
I found out that the open water swim will still be at SMP for the next couple weeks so I don't have to go further away to a new place. And I can ride after the swims.
Last night I went to SMP and thought maybe I could swim in the actual swim area and then ride. The swim area is big enough, I guess, but they have it divided in 3 areas with ropes between them so you have to duck under. The very back of the swim area is deep enough that I cannot stand ... well stand and still breathe anyway. So I dorked around swimming for awhile. There was a very cute family enjoying a play day at the beach there as well but no one else. I didn't think I really did much but my arms are a little sore today. I felt a little goofy swimming around in there while they were tossing the beach ball around.
Here is something I don't get: how is the breaststroke a 'resting' stroke? I understand why people swim it in open water, because you can see where you're going. But I find it exhausting and painfully slow. So I guess my task for the pool this weekend is to do more breaststroke. That should wear my little arms down to a nub.
Then I grumpily went back to my car, sans towel that I had left in the car, and cleaned off a little and moved the car over to the marina lot where the cyclists park. Sigh, it's by the mountain bike trails and most everyone there had a mountain bike. I think Tuesday I'll bring that bike, I have hardly gotten to ride dirt this year.
So I took three laps again. The first one counterclockwise, second one clockwise. I think it's equally hard in both directions. My average speed for the first two was 16.3. It felt pretty hard though. Then my last lap was a little slower. I felt strangely whupped, even though Thursday was an off day.
A 'tri suit' is going to be necessary. There is no way that you want TWO layers of wet spandex and a little bike short pad all crunched up in your crotch for 14 miles.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
midweek update
I don't have such impressive daily updates as some ... sigh.
Let's see, I will have to work backwards as I'm old and my memory is fading.
Today was spin class. Hard since I had a double workout less than 12 hours previous. But that will be all for today.
Yesterday, the forecast in the morning did not look good for OWS later so I did not even bring my stuff with me. However, the storms missed us and it was sunny and warm after work. I went to the nice clean pool and did 2 x 500 m. I did the first one in 14:09, not great but if I could even manage that in open water I'd be thrilled. The second one I did not time as I did some breaststroke and practiced some other things. I can swim faster than a 70-something Asian lady at the pool Of course, she probably swims for an hour without stopping.
Anyway, then I went home and ran. It wasn't easy. I was thirsty but did not want to drink much because I didn't want it sloshing around. I ran an easy 29 minutes on the TT.
Let's see what was before that... Monday: spin class and yoga.
Sunday: got out early for a 14 mile ride before it got hot. Not as fast as I had hoped. I would really like to get faster on the bike and I'm sure I could.
Let's see, I will have to work backwards as I'm old and my memory is fading.
Today was spin class. Hard since I had a double workout less than 12 hours previous. But that will be all for today.
Yesterday, the forecast in the morning did not look good for OWS later so I did not even bring my stuff with me. However, the storms missed us and it was sunny and warm after work. I went to the nice clean pool and did 2 x 500 m. I did the first one in 14:09, not great but if I could even manage that in open water I'd be thrilled. The second one I did not time as I did some breaststroke and practiced some other things. I can swim faster than a 70-something Asian lady at the pool Of course, she probably swims for an hour without stopping.
Anyway, then I went home and ran. It wasn't easy. I was thirsty but did not want to drink much because I didn't want it sloshing around. I ran an easy 29 minutes on the TT.
Let's see what was before that... Monday: spin class and yoga.
Sunday: got out early for a 14 mile ride before it got hot. Not as fast as I had hoped. I would really like to get faster on the bike and I'm sure I could.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
indoor 'dip and dash'
Friday was a much needed rest day. I met some friends for dinner and the k.d. Lang - Lyle Lovett concert at Starlight. k.d. played first for about an hour. She puts on a great show and has an incredible voice. Lyle played for about two hours, with his very Large Band. I had never seen him in concert before. It was a good show, he did alot of more ballad type songs and some bluegrass, which is OK in small doses. Then he finished with a very rousing version of "Church."
Yes it was mostly old people there. Probably not many under 40.
Then I could not sleep for anything last night so I didn't make it mountain biking this morning. I don't know that the BRP trails were that great anyway, since they are still drying from the storms on the Fourth. I mowed and did a thorough front porch cleaning.
Then I went to the gym to swim and run on the treadmill, both of which bear little resemblance to their outdoor "offroad" counterparts. But swimming 500 m (22 lengths) seemed pretty easy. I didn't really stop. My arms and shoulders are a bit sore, though.
Then I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I really don't like the treadmill at all but it was in the 90's and I didn't want to wait and run late. It was a good tempo run, all except the warm up and cool down at sub-9 minute pace.
Yes it was mostly old people there. Probably not many under 40.
Then I could not sleep for anything last night so I didn't make it mountain biking this morning. I don't know that the BRP trails were that great anyway, since they are still drying from the storms on the Fourth. I mowed and did a thorough front porch cleaning.
Then I went to the gym to swim and run on the treadmill, both of which bear little resemblance to their outdoor "offroad" counterparts. But swimming 500 m (22 lengths) seemed pretty easy. I didn't really stop. My arms and shoulders are a bit sore, though.
Then I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I really don't like the treadmill at all but it was in the 90's and I didn't want to wait and run late. It was a good tempo run, all except the warm up and cool down at sub-9 minute pace.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
my waterloo
Maybe I need to just have Abba in my head when I swim. I don't really enjoy swimming in the pool, but it doesn't scare the crap outta me like the mucky lake.
After Tuesday's relative success, I thought maybe I could conquer the real open water course at SMP. Well... then I got there and it seemed soooooo far out. I thought, ok, I'll just go out to the first buoy and back. It really wasn't that far. Further than along the back of the swim area but probably not much. I asked a woman who had been there before if that was cool and she said that plenty of people just did laps around the first buoy to get comfortable.
So I headed out there. There were some other people around but not many. Now ... it takes me awhile to really warm up while swimming. At the pool, I find that it takes 10 minutes or so to really get into a rhythm. So I'm swimming, doing my sighting, thinking that the buoy seems way the hell out there and I sorta panic. I did a little breaststroke but it feels like I'm just not moving when I do that. I got on my back and ended up with a mouthful of water. I was maybe 2/3 - 3/4 of the way out there to the buoy and I just bailed and headed back. Like a big ole baby. And of course, the shore seemed miles away.
So I stood there for awhile, contemplated just going to ride my bike, which seemed like heaven after that. But I didn't. I did some laps along the back of the swim area. I took more breaks than I should have but I kept at it for 35-40 minutes.
I am just not very comfortable in that water. My family never did any water activities, in fact neither of my parents can swim. I did have swimming lessons at an early age and was always able to swim and play around in the pool but I've never really been on a lake in a boat or kayak or anything. I swam enough laps 20 years ago to do a little pool-swim triathlon but that's been it until recently.
I guess it's OK to take it slowly but I only have a month ....
Anyway, I was soooo happy to get on my road bike and hit the road around SMP. Almost everyone who goes out for the open water swim rides or runs afterwards. I learned some important things about how maybe to do that transition and what to wear. Anyway, almost 14 glorious miles in the oxygen at a nearly 16 mph average clip. Not bad for me, especially since I was pretty tired and hungry starting out. And I didn't realize the road around SMP was so hilly. There are a couple good climbs around there.
After Tuesday's relative success, I thought maybe I could conquer the real open water course at SMP. Well... then I got there and it seemed soooooo far out. I thought, ok, I'll just go out to the first buoy and back. It really wasn't that far. Further than along the back of the swim area but probably not much. I asked a woman who had been there before if that was cool and she said that plenty of people just did laps around the first buoy to get comfortable.
So I headed out there. There were some other people around but not many. Now ... it takes me awhile to really warm up while swimming. At the pool, I find that it takes 10 minutes or so to really get into a rhythm. So I'm swimming, doing my sighting, thinking that the buoy seems way the hell out there and I sorta panic. I did a little breaststroke but it feels like I'm just not moving when I do that. I got on my back and ended up with a mouthful of water. I was maybe 2/3 - 3/4 of the way out there to the buoy and I just bailed and headed back. Like a big ole baby. And of course, the shore seemed miles away.
So I stood there for awhile, contemplated just going to ride my bike, which seemed like heaven after that. But I didn't. I did some laps along the back of the swim area. I took more breaks than I should have but I kept at it for 35-40 minutes.
I am just not very comfortable in that water. My family never did any water activities, in fact neither of my parents can swim. I did have swimming lessons at an early age and was always able to swim and play around in the pool but I've never really been on a lake in a boat or kayak or anything. I swam enough laps 20 years ago to do a little pool-swim triathlon but that's been it until recently.
I guess it's OK to take it slowly but I only have a month ....
Anyway, I was soooo happy to get on my road bike and hit the road around SMP. Almost everyone who goes out for the open water swim rides or runs afterwards. I learned some important things about how maybe to do that transition and what to wear. Anyway, almost 14 glorious miles in the oxygen at a nearly 16 mph average clip. Not bad for me, especially since I was pretty tired and hungry starting out. And I didn't realize the road around SMP was so hilly. There are a couple good climbs around there.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
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.
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.
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