Open Water Swim

Did my first open water swim tonight with my new wet suit. Had a friend coach me on sighting and provided great encouragement. Swam about 700 to 800 yards in total. I can do this... I can do this.. I will do this.

Thanks Lindsay


Word: encouragement

Back on Track

So I was a little distracted and tired a few weeks ago but training is back on track. Lots of Running Riding and Swimming. Swimming is coming along well technique and form are coming along great, now I just need to build the endurance to go the distance. I will get there. I know I can do it, I am an athlete. Lots of support from friends, a good coach and shear will, will get me to my goal. I am having fun and the effort is paying off on many levels; increased skill, endurance and the excersise leaves me satisfied and recharged. All this excercise and focus on the goal has been good therapy for me. I believe it has made me a better person for the stress relief and focus it gives me. I am hooked on endorphins. It has allowed me to think and process as well as leave my cares and worries behind me. I am a happier person. The challenge is great.


Word:endurance

Derailed

My training, this last week, was derailed. I have plenty of excuses but no real reasons. I am, however, undaunted and will press forward. I am doing what I want and having fun. Just need to bring back a little focus. I'm good.


Word: committed

New Toy

I purchased a bike stand this weekend for working on my bike, plus a chain cleaner and assorted other goodies, including a long sleeve jersey. Damn Performance and their ubiquitous good deals and clearance rack. So, I have had my bike for over a year now, and currently have my eye on three other bikes, I am becoming a gear head. Cleaning and doing the minor maintenance I am capable of was a pain without a stand. So it was time to pony up and make the purchase. I got it home and immediately set it up and spent the next two hours cleaning my bike. A clean bike is a happy bike. I like new toys. This bike stuff is fun.

So I mentioned I also purchased a long sleeve bike jersey off of the clearance rack. I really like bike clothing because they actually make long sleeves long enough to cover my long ass monkey arms. I would probably wear this stuff more if it wasn't for the mandatory three back pockets. Although in Portland I could get away with bike jersey wearing as a fashion statement, especially if I doff my orange hand made wool cycling hat. I am so vain.

I completed another good full week of training. The week was capped off by a great weekend of friends, running and riding. Friday was a rest day and went to a show, The Black Keys. Managed to still get up at 7:30 Saturday and go for a long run with Jen, Em, Andrea and ...and... damn I can't think of her name. Put in 12.5 miles of low intensity trail running. Went out again Saturday night. Belgian Beer Fest, dinner and beers with Jon and Malia. Once again arose in reasonably good shape and by afternoon ventured out to Marine drive and up to Springdale and returned making for good solid 41 mile ride. Then it was off to watch the last half of The tour de Flanders race with Mike. Well, Performance is close to the pub where the race was on and knowing I had a bit of extra cash from some overtime it was time to get the work stand. It actually is quite collapsible and portable making it a great item to take along if I think I need my stand at a race.

So, here is to good friends, exercise and new toys. Oh and while you are raising a pint in a toast, today marks the anniversary of the beginning of the repeal of prohibition. 75 years ago today it was legal to consume and make 3.2% beer. A fine thing indeed.

Word: full

Motivation found

Well, motivation was found for a ride. Thanks, Joel. Nice ride with a bit of tempo work. We were rained on a bit but who cares, that is training in early spring in Portland. Okay, I have a pile of lasagna to eat. Good night.













Word: consistency

Training

I have had a good full week of training and I am trying to find the motivation to ride today. It is a little cold out, no rain yet. Honestly sometimes I wonder what the hell I am doing. My main motivation has been how I feel after a work out. I always feel better post work out, accomplished satisfied, must be the endorphins. After a work out I am usually excited, giddy and feel like I am on target for accomplishing my goals. The running and cycling are always rewarding and I feel good about those disciplines. Swimming has me feeling humble, something I talked to Malia about the other night. She actually used the term humbling first and she was right on. The thing I really like about swimming is when I get in the water and start practicing, everything else in my life disappears because I am concentrating on what I am doing. My life is not so complicated that I need to forget everything but the focus I need for swimming just crowds everything else out. I find myself really enjoying being in the water, it is warm and easy on the body and I like the focus that comes from working on developing this new skill. When I ride or run my mind tends to wander more and I become a bit contemplative. I tend to process the things going on in my life; both situation are good and beneficial.

Swimming is testing me a bit, it is all about technique, I continue to go to practice and have generally been able to get to the pool a couple other times a week. I believe I am making progress, at least that is what I think until I go to practice and I get humbled. That is fine, it does not bring me down, just shows me I have more work to do. When I first started the swimming lessons I sometimes would leave practice a bit frustrated which would inevitably turn to motivation to go practice on my own. Most of my tri-friends tell me I will be fine, and I know I will be able to get through the swim. Don suggested when I do a race let the gun go off and let the pack of swimmers go and then follow in behind them go wide of the buoys and take my time, don't worry about that part of the race, which has been my plan all along. At this point my first race will be at the end of May. I have not registered yet because I am continuing to monitor my swimming progress. I am not afraid but I don't want to get in over my head. The challenge to get it together in time for that race keeps me going. Ultimately that is why I am training, the challenge. I committed to this and have made time in my life to take it on and I will not give into any negative messages. I am having fun, which in the end is what it is all about. Now, where is that motivation for a ride today.

Word: motivation

Swimming, Running, Trainer... oh my

So, I am little giddy right now. I had swim practice tonight and spent over and hour in the water. It felt good, tiring, but good. A couple of weeks ago we were introduced to a new coach. His name is Emerson. He is an older gentlemen with a wealth of swimming training, including being a college champion swimmer. He is a great technician and is definitely a better fit for me and my swim class partner. The previous coach hired Emerson to take on some of his load and it has been a big benefit. I think some things are just starting to click for me as well. The way he explains stroke form and gives little hints has really helped me. We did a real work out tonight. Lots of kicking, stroke technique with the fins. Also did some repeats, some of them with a closed fist. That will make you kick more. I am starting to get the reach and glide down better, bilateral breathing is coming together and I don't have to think about it as much which means I can think about other techniques in swimming. Great night in the pool. I have been trying to get to the pool two or three times other than lesson night. New skills take practice. You just have keep doing it to get muscle memory working for you.

Another accomplishment this week was running the 15K in The Portland Shamrock run. Lots of people, luckily the field for the 15K is a little thinner. I hit what I believe is a milestone for me. I was shooting for a sub 7 min/mi pace and did it. I was able to do the run in 1:05. Sweet sauce. Half of the run is up hill along Terwilliger Blvd, but once you reach Barbur Blvd, just past the 5 mile marker, it is all down hill, let the legs stretch out and take you home. I broke stride briefly to flash my ass for which I was rewarded with a swig of green Pabst beer. There is a group that sets up about a quarter of a mile from the finish and hands out beer if you moon them. So I strode through their set up, dropped the back of my shorts, grabbed the cup of beer, slugged it down and kept on running. I picked up the pace as much as I could as I saw the finish come into view. Good run, good finish and I believe I left it all out on the course.

I have not been on the bike much this week except for my bike commuting. It was a run focus week due the race and I am always focusing on swimming so riding was crowded out a bit. I did have some good saddle time the previous week with a nice long ride a couple of Sundays ago also spent some time on the trainer I bought about a month or so ago. A co worker has lent be some CTS training DVD's. Mainly I have done the Time Trial DVD. Good work out. I will get in some more bike time this weekend and coming week.

Tomorrow night is track night, whoop, I love the track.



Word: progress