I made a bit of progress in the pool tonight. Amy gave me some pointers on my stroke and breathing technique. Basically, she told me to put my thumb down as I put my hand in the water and then rotate the palm downward and back toward my stomach in a scooping motion. With some practice, I think that will greatly improve my efficiency and endurance.
She also reminded me to breath on one side which was an improvement on my "breath every stroke" routine last session, which I'm certain made me look like I was drowning. Check out Lane 1 in this video for an reasonable facsimile.
I borrowed Amy's old Speedo goggles but couldn't seem to get them to work correctly. I couldn't get a good seal and water kept getting in. It was very disorientating and I would panic, killing whatever rhythm I had going.
So, I'm now on the lookout for new goggles.
On the donation side, I'm up to $11 per minute thanks to some nice donations by J.P. and Colleen. Thanks guys!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Feeling groovy...
Great run tonight. Ran the same distance (3.8 miles) I did a few days ago when I got cramps but did it in 31:29, a 3 1/2 minute improvement. Feels like the conditioning I'm doing is starting to kick in as I don't feel nearly as spent.
Split time for the 5K was 23:37 which would have beaten three or four folks in last years run (Of course, that excludes the effects of swimming and biking). I've got 8 weeks to improve on that. The run will definitely be my strongest discipline so I feel like I need to get that closer to 21 minutes.
First donations are rolling in. Tad Keppler was first and, true to his nature, made a very nice contribution. I'm up to $6 in per minute pledges and $100 in straight donations. Check out the donor roll on the right. Any companies wandering by should know I am looking for sponsors.
Also had some interesting feedback from some friends who have run this race before. JC shared his swim experience during the 2003 event when the air temp was 55 degrees and the water temp was 65 degrees. He went sans wetsuit and ended up losing all feeling in his extremities. He had to doggy paddle back to shore (He still finished with a respectable 1:21). Guess I'll be adding wetsuit to the list of equipment needs.
Lincoln (who ran a 2:42 in the Olympic distance in 2003) assured me that the "rolling hills" described on the website are quite tame. I was worried that the marketing collateral had been written by some Lance Armstrong-type who considers the Pyrenees to be "mildly uphill."
Split time for the 5K was 23:37 which would have beaten three or four folks in last years run (Of course, that excludes the effects of swimming and biking). I've got 8 weeks to improve on that. The run will definitely be my strongest discipline so I feel like I need to get that closer to 21 minutes.
First donations are rolling in. Tad Keppler was first and, true to his nature, made a very nice contribution. I'm up to $6 in per minute pledges and $100 in straight donations. Check out the donor roll on the right. Any companies wandering by should know I am looking for sponsors.
Also had some interesting feedback from some friends who have run this race before. JC shared his swim experience during the 2003 event when the air temp was 55 degrees and the water temp was 65 degrees. He went sans wetsuit and ended up losing all feeling in his extremities. He had to doggy paddle back to shore (He still finished with a respectable 1:21). Guess I'll be adding wetsuit to the list of equipment needs.
Lincoln (who ran a 2:42 in the Olympic distance in 2003) assured me that the "rolling hills" described on the website are quite tame. I was worried that the marketing collateral had been written by some Lance Armstrong-type who considers the Pyrenees to be "mildly uphill."
Need a new bike
After taking Saturday off to recuperate, I went riding last night. Did the bike portion (12 or so miles) in 50 minutes and was feeling pretty good about it until I realized that most riders finish in 30 minutes or so.
Of course, I'm using my mountain bike with mountain bike tires. So, I'm now hunting for a road bike solution. I'm either going to borrow or rent as I don't see a need to buy a bike at this point.
Anyone got a lead on a good 10-speed?
PROJECTED FINISH TIME: 1:45 (with my mountain bike)
Of course, I'm using my mountain bike with mountain bike tires. So, I'm now hunting for a road bike solution. I'm either going to borrow or rent as I don't see a need to buy a bike at this point.
Anyone got a lead on a good 10-speed?
PROJECTED FINISH TIME: 1:45 (with my mountain bike)
Friday, July 27, 2007
Ugh! Cramps...
Ran for 35 minutes tonight. Cramped up a few times. I'm blaming it on the big pasta dinner and the lack of adequate fluids. Guess I'll have to substitute my normal breakfast of Crispix and Coke for ham, bacon and sausage with a water chaser on race day!
Starting to build my race day playlist (that will hopefully create some "on course" motivation) on the right. Suggestions welcome.
Starting to build my race day playlist (that will hopefully create some "on course" motivation) on the right. Suggestions welcome.
First Swim Training session
I went to Ballard pool yesterday for my first training session in the water. I nearly drowned.
Well, that's not exactly true. I went about 70 yards before I needed a rest. After that, I managed to make it about 200 more yards with stops every 25.
Considering the 1/2 mile swim is about 880 yards, I think I'm in trouble.
Well, that's not exactly true. I went about 70 yards before I needed a rest. After that, I managed to make it about 200 more yards with stops every 25.
Considering the 1/2 mile swim is about 880 yards, I think I'm in trouble.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The duathlete
I went running with Heather tonight (5K) and then road about 5 miles. I felt pretty good at the end of it except for the scratch I picked up when I tried to duck under a thorn bush during the run.
Maybe this won't be so hard after all.
Maybe this won't be so hard after all.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
"Volunteering"
So, how did I get myself into this mess?
On Friday, July 13, (bad things always happen on Friday the 13th) Aidan and I went to the Tigers-Mariners game. My wife Amy, now a carefree bachlorette for the evening, went over to a BBQ at the home of our friends Mike and Leslie (our former neighbors) along with current neighbors Tom and Heather.
At some point during the BBQ, Heather revealed that she was planning on running a triathlon. Tom (a surfer, avid bike rider and supportive husband) apparently was going to participate as well. Mike (a fireman who works out daily) thought that was a great idea and volunteered to join in.
Well, Amy, who is 8 months pregnant and unable to participate herself, felt it would be appropriate to volunteer her husband (a golfer, soccer and softball player) to lend his support.
Now, while this may seem entirely reasonable, let's detail out my athletic history.
1. I played quite a bit of soccer - until I was 15.
2. I quit the soccer team after my freshman year of high school to play golf.
3. I currently play rec league soccer - as a goalie - which means my running is limited to getting on and off the field at the beginning and end of each half.
4. I currently play softball - as a pitcher - which limits me to beer runs.
5. Did I mention that I'm a golfer?
Of course, when I pointed this out to my beautiful wife whom I adore (notice the blantant attempt to minimize the damage this post is doing to my marriage), she suggested I back out, completely ignoring the fact that this would be a blantant admission of weakness and completely at odds with the nature of man.
So, I'm basically stuck. I have to compete because I'm a man despite the fact that I'm totally out of shape and will likely die (further validating the Darwinist nature of the world).
Of course, I could substitute some other manly activity (like scaling the Space Needle nude without ropes) and use this as an excuse for not participating but the likely result of any of those endeavors is also death. So I guess I'll go with the triathlon.
On Friday, July 13, (bad things always happen on Friday the 13th) Aidan and I went to the Tigers-Mariners game. My wife Amy, now a carefree bachlorette for the evening, went over to a BBQ at the home of our friends Mike and Leslie (our former neighbors) along with current neighbors Tom and Heather.
At some point during the BBQ, Heather revealed that she was planning on running a triathlon. Tom (a surfer, avid bike rider and supportive husband) apparently was going to participate as well. Mike (a fireman who works out daily) thought that was a great idea and volunteered to join in.
Well, Amy, who is 8 months pregnant and unable to participate herself, felt it would be appropriate to volunteer her husband (a golfer, soccer and softball player) to lend his support.
Now, while this may seem entirely reasonable, let's detail out my athletic history.
1. I played quite a bit of soccer - until I was 15.
2. I quit the soccer team after my freshman year of high school to play golf.
3. I currently play rec league soccer - as a goalie - which means my running is limited to getting on and off the field at the beginning and end of each half.
4. I currently play softball - as a pitcher - which limits me to beer runs.
5. Did I mention that I'm a golfer?
Of course, when I pointed this out to my beautiful wife whom I adore (notice the blantant attempt to minimize the damage this post is doing to my marriage), she suggested I back out, completely ignoring the fact that this would be a blantant admission of weakness and completely at odds with the nature of man.
So, I'm basically stuck. I have to compete because I'm a man despite the fact that I'm totally out of shape and will likely die (further validating the Darwinist nature of the world).
Of course, I could substitute some other manly activity (like scaling the Space Needle nude without ropes) and use this as an excuse for not participating but the likely result of any of those endeavors is also death. So I guess I'll go with the triathlon.
Friday, July 20, 2007
"Don't Be Last" Fundraiser for Kids
I was recently "volunteered" (more on that in a future post) to run the 2007 Black Diamond Triathlon on September 23rd. Since I hate running, swimming and biking, I needed to come up with some motivation to actually follow through on this "commitment." Realizing how out of shape I am and that I won't win anything (which is pretty much my sole motivation in life), I needed to find some rationale for doing this.
Well, what better motivation than "the kids." We've all heard it before from our favorite athletes, celebrities, politicians, etc. who need some image enhancement because they beat their wife, got drunk and ran their $100,000 automobile into a lamp post, or took money they shouldn't have. They find the nearest charity, commit to a 15-minute photo op at the next fundraiser and profess how committed they are "to the kids." This is sort of the same thing.
I don't really care about triathlons, fitness, working out or getting in shape and would rather be playing video games, sitting on my butt or doing anything else but running, swimming or biking (let alone all three). But, like an athlete who supports a charity just for the image makeover, I'm going to participate in this triathlon for the kids.
My chosen charity is the Make a Wish Foundation (as in, "I make a wish that kids never have to run triathlons").
BUT I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
So, here's the deal. The last place finisher in my age group over the past few years has averaged 1 hour 40 minutes. I WILL NOT BE LAST! My ego will not allow it. I'm asking friends and family to pledge a specific dollar amount for every minute better I am than the last place finisher. If you pledge $1 and last place is 1:45 minutes and my time is 1:35, you owe $10.
To protect all of you against a last place finisher who is completely inept, we'll set a ceiling for the last place finisher of 1:50. If last place is 2:10 minutes, we'll adjust that person's time to 1:50.
IF I am the last place finisher OR I finish in more than 1:50, you are all off the hook and I will contribute $10 for everyone who makes a pledge (up to $300 - after all, I've got kids of my own to feed).
I'll be providing regular updates on my training progress and more about how I got involved on this blog.
So, if you want to participate, contact me at notlast(at)comcast.net
Well, what better motivation than "the kids." We've all heard it before from our favorite athletes, celebrities, politicians, etc. who need some image enhancement because they beat their wife, got drunk and ran their $100,000 automobile into a lamp post, or took money they shouldn't have. They find the nearest charity, commit to a 15-minute photo op at the next fundraiser and profess how committed they are "to the kids." This is sort of the same thing.
I don't really care about triathlons, fitness, working out or getting in shape and would rather be playing video games, sitting on my butt or doing anything else but running, swimming or biking (let alone all three). But, like an athlete who supports a charity just for the image makeover, I'm going to participate in this triathlon for the kids.
My chosen charity is the Make a Wish Foundation (as in, "I make a wish that kids never have to run triathlons").
BUT I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
So, here's the deal. The last place finisher in my age group over the past few years has averaged 1 hour 40 minutes. I WILL NOT BE LAST! My ego will not allow it. I'm asking friends and family to pledge a specific dollar amount for every minute better I am than the last place finisher. If you pledge $1 and last place is 1:45 minutes and my time is 1:35, you owe $10.
To protect all of you against a last place finisher who is completely inept, we'll set a ceiling for the last place finisher of 1:50. If last place is 2:10 minutes, we'll adjust that person's time to 1:50.
IF I am the last place finisher OR I finish in more than 1:50, you are all off the hook and I will contribute $10 for everyone who makes a pledge (up to $300 - after all, I've got kids of my own to feed).
I'll be providing regular updates on my training progress and more about how I got involved on this blog.
So, if you want to participate, contact me at notlast(at)comcast.net
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