Swim
1 x 200- warm-up
5 x 100- IM
5 x 50- sideline kick
1 x 500- odd/even hard/easy
1 x 100- cool down
I'm obsessed with the Olympics. I get home, get my workout in, and then park it on the couch for all the swimming, diving, beach volleyball, gymnastics, skeet shooting, whatever else I can possibly handle. I love the Games. I love the drama. One of my favorite things in the whole world is a champion crying on the medal stand as s/he listens to the National Anthem. This is also the only time I don't mind the incessant playing of the National Anthem. The tears after the women's gymnastics team waited for their final scores were so sweet.
Though I hate it when they shove a camera in the face of the fallen. When the male gymnasts struggled so badly I felt bad enough. And then they go and get right in the guy's grill? Back off. He just had four years of work washed away by one stumble. Give him a minute.
Anyway, the Games mean I need to be doing more IMs. And, and I know I've said this before but this time this time I mean it, mixing up my strokes will make me a better triathlon swimmer. Butterfly wears me out and swimming tired is good. Forcing a strong proper stroke after a good IM set leads to better freestyle sets. Hence the IM set this morning. I plan on trying to put one in once a week.
My body feels soft and loose, a consequence of being lazy all summer. I know in a few workouts everything will start coming together again but right now it's hard to be patient. I've been through this cycle, I know the sucktasticness that is early in the rotation, but I don't have to like it. So I spend time kicking myself for letting it get this bad and then I spend time kicking myself for kicking myself for taking some well-deserved time off.
There is the North Shore Challenge this weekend, 2.4mi, but I'm not going to do it. I missed registration and it would cost $50. I'm not willing to drop that much on something I won't do well in, or well for my standards. It's a bummer I let myself miss half of the Swim Series, but I have good reasons. Now I'm looking for a race. Tradewinds is coming up too soon and I don't think I'll be doing Ko'Olina this year. Hmm....
Showing posts with label triathlon training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label triathlon training. Show all posts
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Sermon While Mounted
Run (Tuesday)
time- 1:11
distance- 7.09mi
Swim (Wednesday)
1 x 200- Warm-up
2 x 500- odd 50s-easy/even 50s-hard
5 x 100- 5, 7, 9
5 x 200- 15 seconds rest
1 x 100- Cool down
Ride (Wednesday)
time- approx. 1:54*
distance- approx. 27mi*
*internet is down at home so no Garmin data upload
I'm running better and better. But I'm not going to say that out loud. Last time I even thought it my Achilles tendon decided to pull a Val Kilmer and get all swollen and painful. Every recent run has felt better than the previous run and I'm still happy about how the 10 miler on Sunday felt. Still, there is a little worry about the AT going badly so I'm seriously thinking about cutting my runs to twice a week. I'd rather be a little undertrained but in no pain going into Honu and Honolulu than limping by the end of the race. Mileage needs to get higher if I'm going to do that.
The swim, again, wasn't fast fast fast like my ego wants it to be. But it was pretty consistent and there were a couple of laps in there where the stroke was on rails like it should be. What I mean by that is when swimming is really happening my stroke gets locked in and I'm climbing through the water. The hand does not move past the body. The hand is anchored in the water and the body is pulled over it. That is when I can tell my stroke is working. My core felt strong and tight for the most part, but there was occasional droopage. For some laps, especially in the 5, 7, 9 set, I was grabbing a big amount of water on the catch. Things are improving.
And my ride was two laps of Pineapple, the current go-to Wednesday ride. I pumped on the flats, tried to spin the climbs, and felt strong at the end. That means that I either didn't work hard enough or my fitness is getting better and better. Wind was an issue on lap one but it died by lap two. Well, natural wind. I got caught up in some kind of I'm Famous And Giving An Interview fantasy and may have talked to myself, out loud, for most of lap two. Yes, this happens when I let my mind drift rather than focusing on the task at hand. I'm sure it says all kind of things about my ego that in my fantasies I'm giving lectures, speeches, and generally pontificating. Let's put it down to a job hazard and leave it at that, shall we?
time- 1:11
distance- 7.09mi
Swim (Wednesday)
1 x 200- Warm-up
2 x 500- odd 50s-easy/even 50s-hard
5 x 100- 5, 7, 9
5 x 200- 15 seconds rest
1 x 100- Cool down
Ride (Wednesday)
time- approx. 1:54*
distance- approx. 27mi*
*internet is down at home so no Garmin data upload
I'm running better and better. But I'm not going to say that out loud. Last time I even thought it my Achilles tendon decided to pull a Val Kilmer and get all swollen and painful. Every recent run has felt better than the previous run and I'm still happy about how the 10 miler on Sunday felt. Still, there is a little worry about the AT going badly so I'm seriously thinking about cutting my runs to twice a week. I'd rather be a little undertrained but in no pain going into Honu and Honolulu than limping by the end of the race. Mileage needs to get higher if I'm going to do that.
The swim, again, wasn't fast fast fast like my ego wants it to be. But it was pretty consistent and there were a couple of laps in there where the stroke was on rails like it should be. What I mean by that is when swimming is really happening my stroke gets locked in and I'm climbing through the water. The hand does not move past the body. The hand is anchored in the water and the body is pulled over it. That is when I can tell my stroke is working. My core felt strong and tight for the most part, but there was occasional droopage. For some laps, especially in the 5, 7, 9 set, I was grabbing a big amount of water on the catch. Things are improving.
And my ride was two laps of Pineapple, the current go-to Wednesday ride. I pumped on the flats, tried to spin the climbs, and felt strong at the end. That means that I either didn't work hard enough or my fitness is getting better and better. Wind was an issue on lap one but it died by lap two. Well, natural wind. I got caught up in some kind of I'm Famous And Giving An Interview fantasy and may have talked to myself, out loud, for most of lap two. Yes, this happens when I let my mind drift rather than focusing on the task at hand. I'm sure it says all kind of things about my ego that in my fantasies I'm giving lectures, speeches, and generally pontificating. Let's put it down to a job hazard and leave it at that, shall we?
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| "My guest tonight, and my favorite blogger, Doug Robertson!" |
Sunday, April 29, 2012
A Weekend of Waiting and Mud
Ride (Saturday)
time- approx. four hours
distance- approx. 60mi*
*all numbers approximate because the Garmin only works if you turn it on when you leave the house
Run (Sunday)
time- 1:48
distance- 10mi
Something was up with gravity Saturday. I'm not really sure what it was, but I do know that it impacted all of us. Well, it impacted the Grey and I and Diesel claims he was riding slower too, but I think he's just trying to make us feel better. Which would be really out of character, so maybe not.
Pupukea just felt like a slog. It hurt and there was no go fast going on. I don't normally fly up the hill, but I have been able to set a decent enough pace. Saturday was not a decent pace day. Saturday was an I just want to get to the top and be done with this day. The guys waited for me for the second time that ride at the top. The first time they waited for me was when I said I'd meet them at 7am, texted I might be five minutes late, and ended up more like ten or fifteen *cue Diesel preparing his comment about exactly how late I was*.
However, at the end of Dillingham it was not I who was being waited for! No, Diesel and I waited for the Grey instead. Normally, the tailwind going down Mokulea makes us light and quick and Diesel decides he's going to time trial it and takes off. We struggle to keep up and eventually wave as he disappears. Yesterday, though, he never did that. And I was feeling strong. Not at first. The road conditions for the first quarter of that leg are awful. The road goes crack pothole crack divot gravel potholecrackpotholecrack catch your tire and pull you into the depths. Not much fast there. But when it finally cleans up, thanks to the state fixing the road because Lost was being filmed down there, it is kick ass. And Diesel was cruising it. But not crushing it, like normal. As I just said, I was feeling strong and I didn't know why he wasn't going for it, so I decided to make the jump to lightspeed. I never never pass Diesel but here I went. Honestly, the thing I was thinking for the minute or so he let me get away was, "Gotta pump gotta pump, I'm in the lead, gotta hold on." Of course he caught me and retook the lead, but I didn't let him get away. OR he didn't take me to task, and its probably some of both. Either way, I cooked it and felt great. I managed to ignore my legs saying, "Ok, but you're going to pay for this later." We both dusted the Grey, who had found some kind of headwind to ride into.
But the Dillingham road giveth, and the Dillingham road taketh away. The lighter out feels, the more brutal in will be. Except in this case. Yes, it was windy. Yes, it sucked. But it didn't suck that bad. I spent a lot of time on Diesel's wheel, getting my draft on, but near the end I again decided to try and make a pass and again it worked. I assume Diesel jumped on to my wheel for a little drafting of his own, which he never gets to do because he's so much stronger than we are...and because we never normally try to get in front.
Pineapple was, well Pineapple. Somehow I got way out in front of the Grey, who was bonking pretty badly at that point, so I had a good lead on him hitting the climb. I spent the whole thing looking over my shoulder for him. Stupid physics means that since we both put out probably about the same amount of power, but he is so much lighter than I am, he climbs better. So he caught me, despite my best efforts to the contrary. Skinny jerk.
Two short climbs closed out my ride and home I went, worn out but feeling good about my training for the day.
Today's run was a big one for me. Ten miles is the furthest I've ever run in a non-race setting, and only the second time I've ever run into the double digits. You can look at the data and it is obvious cruising was priority number one, I was in no hurry, but I'm still happy. An average pace of 10:52 isn't bad. I think I could have gone a little faster too. I spent some of the out running along the pineapple fields but it was wet/rainy and had been, so the dirt was mud. Mud builds and cakes onto the Vibrams until I'm not running so much as I'm lifting weights with my feet. Once I abandoned the fields for the road and scraped a bunch of the sticky stuff off I felt much better. Best part for me was that I only walked twice. Once at my five mile turn around, grabbing a couple of Gummy Bears for a sugar bump, and once up a hill two miles or so from home. My feet were hurting and I felt like I'd earned the few minutes of walking. It improved the end of the run.
It was wet the whole time, which probably helped. Like we know, the heat sucks the life out of a runner. Cool, overcast, slightly rainy conditions are pretty perfect for long runs. But I don't care, I need to be stacking miles like that and it was good for me to get some.
Tomorrow might hurt.
time- approx. four hours
distance- approx. 60mi*
*all numbers approximate because the Garmin only works if you turn it on when you leave the house
Run (Sunday)
time- 1:48
distance- 10mi
Something was up with gravity Saturday. I'm not really sure what it was, but I do know that it impacted all of us. Well, it impacted the Grey and I and Diesel claims he was riding slower too, but I think he's just trying to make us feel better. Which would be really out of character, so maybe not.
Pupukea just felt like a slog. It hurt and there was no go fast going on. I don't normally fly up the hill, but I have been able to set a decent enough pace. Saturday was not a decent pace day. Saturday was an I just want to get to the top and be done with this day. The guys waited for me for the second time that ride at the top. The first time they waited for me was when I said I'd meet them at 7am, texted I might be five minutes late, and ended up more like ten or fifteen *cue Diesel preparing his comment about exactly how late I was*.
However, at the end of Dillingham it was not I who was being waited for! No, Diesel and I waited for the Grey instead. Normally, the tailwind going down Mokulea makes us light and quick and Diesel decides he's going to time trial it and takes off. We struggle to keep up and eventually wave as he disappears. Yesterday, though, he never did that. And I was feeling strong. Not at first. The road conditions for the first quarter of that leg are awful. The road goes crack pothole crack divot gravel potholecrackpotholecrack catch your tire and pull you into the depths. Not much fast there. But when it finally cleans up, thanks to the state fixing the road because Lost was being filmed down there, it is kick ass. And Diesel was cruising it. But not crushing it, like normal. As I just said, I was feeling strong and I didn't know why he wasn't going for it, so I decided to make the jump to lightspeed. I never never pass Diesel but here I went. Honestly, the thing I was thinking for the minute or so he let me get away was, "Gotta pump gotta pump, I'm in the lead, gotta hold on." Of course he caught me and retook the lead, but I didn't let him get away. OR he didn't take me to task, and its probably some of both. Either way, I cooked it and felt great. I managed to ignore my legs saying, "Ok, but you're going to pay for this later." We both dusted the Grey, who had found some kind of headwind to ride into.
But the Dillingham road giveth, and the Dillingham road taketh away. The lighter out feels, the more brutal in will be. Except in this case. Yes, it was windy. Yes, it sucked. But it didn't suck that bad. I spent a lot of time on Diesel's wheel, getting my draft on, but near the end I again decided to try and make a pass and again it worked. I assume Diesel jumped on to my wheel for a little drafting of his own, which he never gets to do because he's so much stronger than we are...and because we never normally try to get in front.
Pineapple was, well Pineapple. Somehow I got way out in front of the Grey, who was bonking pretty badly at that point, so I had a good lead on him hitting the climb. I spent the whole thing looking over my shoulder for him. Stupid physics means that since we both put out probably about the same amount of power, but he is so much lighter than I am, he climbs better. So he caught me, despite my best efforts to the contrary. Skinny jerk.
Two short climbs closed out my ride and home I went, worn out but feeling good about my training for the day.
Today's run was a big one for me. Ten miles is the furthest I've ever run in a non-race setting, and only the second time I've ever run into the double digits. You can look at the data and it is obvious cruising was priority number one, I was in no hurry, but I'm still happy. An average pace of 10:52 isn't bad. I think I could have gone a little faster too. I spent some of the out running along the pineapple fields but it was wet/rainy and had been, so the dirt was mud. Mud builds and cakes onto the Vibrams until I'm not running so much as I'm lifting weights with my feet. Once I abandoned the fields for the road and scraped a bunch of the sticky stuff off I felt much better. Best part for me was that I only walked twice. Once at my five mile turn around, grabbing a couple of Gummy Bears for a sugar bump, and once up a hill two miles or so from home. My feet were hurting and I felt like I'd earned the few minutes of walking. It improved the end of the run.
It was wet the whole time, which probably helped. Like we know, the heat sucks the life out of a runner. Cool, overcast, slightly rainy conditions are pretty perfect for long runs. But I don't care, I need to be stacking miles like that and it was good for me to get some.
Tomorrow might hurt.
Friday, April 13, 2012
BUBBLES!
Swim
1 x 200- Warm-up
Ladder
200- 3:00
300- 4:30
400- 6:00
500- 7:30
400- 6:00
300- 4:30
200- 3:00
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2600yds
Bike
time-
day-
Reason #71 You Should Learn To Flip Turn- If you have gas during your workout, flip turns will help ease your pain.
This ladder went about as well as I could have expected considering my lack of swim time. I made it through the front end of the ladder just fine, but missed the 500 by about ten seconds. Then I missed the 400 by almost a minute, which makes me think I fell asleep during it and did at least 50 yards too many. But the final 300 and 200 were ok. Like I always go on and on (and on and on and on) about, the most important part of long swims is keeping technique consistent from beginning to end. And my stroke went wonky in the second 400, which I've noticed happens nearly every time I do this set, but I got it together at the end.
Normally, Thursday's are run days. But Wednesday as I was preparing for my ride I noticed the back tire was flat. Living room flats are the worst! Stoopid slow leaks. But I knew that I had a spare tube in my bag so I pulled it out. Something was wrong. This tube is, like the blonde in the story says, much too big. I look at the white paint on the side. "700x28-32c" Holy crap. My tires are 23s. I, somehow, bought the wrong size tube. D'oh! Makes me feel like a speshul snophlake. So the ride was ditched in favor of hitting the Bike Shop and Costco. Bummer.
The ride plan was two scoops of Pineapple, with the option of bailing after one of the weather got bad. It was one of those days where the big dark clouds did hover, and it was hard to tell if they were coming or going. I'm ok getting rained on from Dole to my house, that's easy. But I did not want to get caught on the hill in a downpour. Luckily, it dried out while I was rubber side down.
My focus for these laps was cruise the climbs, power the flats. Diesel preach preach preaches this every time we are out now and it's good climbing advice. So I'm down in the saddle, light gear, spinning uphill, then as soon as the road levels out I pop the gearing up heavier, get out of the saddle for some stomp action, and try to get going until the road rises back up. This ride was the first time I really felt like I was making a difference on the flats, and I felt it on both laps. In fact, I felt pretty fresh even on the second lap. I could have gone for a third, but light would have become an issue. Take a look at my Garmin information, you can see the spikes on the blue graph. Good stuff.
1 x 200- Warm-up
Ladder
200- 3:00
300- 4:30
400- 6:00
500- 7:30
400- 6:00
300- 4:30
200- 3:00
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2600yds
Bike
time-
day-
Reason #71 You Should Learn To Flip Turn- If you have gas during your workout, flip turns will help ease your pain.
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| BUBBLES!!! |
Normally, Thursday's are run days. But Wednesday as I was preparing for my ride I noticed the back tire was flat. Living room flats are the worst! Stoopid slow leaks. But I knew that I had a spare tube in my bag so I pulled it out. Something was wrong. This tube is, like the blonde in the story says, much too big. I look at the white paint on the side. "700x28-32c" Holy crap. My tires are 23s. I, somehow, bought the wrong size tube. D'oh! Makes me feel like a speshul snophlake. So the ride was ditched in favor of hitting the Bike Shop and Costco. Bummer.
The ride plan was two scoops of Pineapple, with the option of bailing after one of the weather got bad. It was one of those days where the big dark clouds did hover, and it was hard to tell if they were coming or going. I'm ok getting rained on from Dole to my house, that's easy. But I did not want to get caught on the hill in a downpour. Luckily, it dried out while I was rubber side down.
My focus for these laps was cruise the climbs, power the flats. Diesel preach preach preaches this every time we are out now and it's good climbing advice. So I'm down in the saddle, light gear, spinning uphill, then as soon as the road levels out I pop the gearing up heavier, get out of the saddle for some stomp action, and try to get going until the road rises back up. This ride was the first time I really felt like I was making a difference on the flats, and I felt it on both laps. In fact, I felt pretty fresh even on the second lap. I could have gone for a third, but light would have become an issue. Take a look at my Garmin information, you can see the spikes on the blue graph. Good stuff.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Drilling For Technique
Swim
1 x 200- warm-up
4 x 200- 100-0, 1, 2, 3/100- alt. fingertip drag/thumb drag*
5 x 100- 5, 7, 9
1 x 500- 7:39
1 x 100- cool down
total- 2100yds
*1 & 3- thumb drag/ 2 & 4- fingertip drag
Bike
Trainer- 1hr
Drill, baby, drill! Oh, Sarah, if only this is what you meant when you brainlessly chant at hordes. I would have so much (read: any) respect for you. I'm all about preaching technique over speed in the water and I'm trying damn hard to practice that. My swim numbers have dropped like the Marianas Trench in recent weeks and I'm trying to fix that. Like I've said many times, the swim is my lowest priority discipline in my coming triathlons, which means I'm comfortable losing workouts there. But I think that mindset has let me miss workouts without guilt, and guilt is sometimes a decent motivator. I would never say that guilt is GOOD, but it can help. So I've made a decision- to help myself get enough rest I'm going to drop my Tuesday morning swim completely. I'll be swimming Monday and Thursday only. That little extra Tuesday rest should translate into better runs Tuesday. And even though I sell myself sometimes as Joe SwimmerGuy, I still need to do stroke work like anyone else.
Yesterday afternoon I cranked an hour on the trainer listening to Bill Simmons on the BS Report already panic about the Red Sox starting 0-3. Listening to guys complain about their baseball teams might not seem like the most gung-ho go get 'em trainer motivation, but it makes the time pass easier. Simmons is one of my favorite sports writers and while I don't care about the Sox and I hate the Yankees, I'm just happy he isn't talking about basketball. If you're interested, President Obama did a short BS Report at the beginning of March that is very good. Look at that, two political things in one post. Guess the cat's out of the bag!
Speaking of baseball- GO DODGERS!
1 x 200- warm-up
4 x 200- 100-0, 1, 2, 3/100- alt. fingertip drag/thumb drag*
5 x 100- 5, 7, 9
1 x 500- 7:39
1 x 100- cool down
total- 2100yds
*1 & 3- thumb drag/ 2 & 4- fingertip drag
Bike
Trainer- 1hr
Yesterday afternoon I cranked an hour on the trainer listening to Bill Simmons on the BS Report already panic about the Red Sox starting 0-3. Listening to guys complain about their baseball teams might not seem like the most gung-ho go get 'em trainer motivation, but it makes the time pass easier. Simmons is one of my favorite sports writers and while I don't care about the Sox and I hate the Yankees, I'm just happy he isn't talking about basketball. If you're interested, President Obama did a short BS Report at the beginning of March that is very good. Look at that, two political things in one post. Guess the cat's out of the bag!
Speaking of baseball- GO DODGERS!
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Quick Double Workout Post
Swim (Thursday)
1 x 200- warm-up
1 x 500
Swim Fail
Run (Thursday)
time- 49:52
distance- 7.72mi
Ride (Sunday)
time- 4:01
distance- 56.61
My interwebs have been doing the fritz all weekend, so this is making up for that. I know both of you out there in the tubes watching this point of light were wondering where I had gone.
Swim fail Thursday. I want to say the water was too cold again, and it was really cold, but there were others still in there while I was warming back up in the spa. I don't think I have a really good reason for why my swim Thursday was so bad. I was tired because I got to bed a lot later than I meant to. Either way, fail.
The run that day wasn't great either, but I'm still testing the tendons. They feel better, but still not great. Super Awesome Wife taped only the left leg since the right was doing ok, but I think Tuesday I'm going to tape both legs again. Foam rolling is helping, though there is sometimes tightness that wasn't there earlier. Whatever, it'll heal. Must be patient.
Sunday's ride with the boys was strong though. Diesel and I met up in the morning, the Grey was running behind because he was up all night Saturday polishing the trophy he got for winning his age group at the Warrior Dash Saturday* (*race report and pictures pending). So Diesel and I took off, heading to Pupukea for some climbing action. I feel like I had a good climb, it helps when Diesel decides to hang back and talk me up. Sure, it can be frustrating to be sweating, huffing, and puffing and the guy next to you is breezing and chatting, but it helps. My ego won't let me ease up. Damn ego.
On the way back down the Grey caught us up so we, brilliantly, turned around and went back up. You know, so that the Grey got his whole climb in. Wouldn't want to leave him out. My first double hop of Pupukea. Well, one and a half. It counts!
Then we cruised out Dillingham and back for time trials and headwind fighting, then up Pineapple. Diesel again "encouraged" me up, and bothered the Grey. Meaning he would ride some with me, notice that the Grey was getting away, shift and speed up** (**"speed up" should be read "disappear in a cloud of smoke"), bother the Grey by pulling on his jersey, turn around, and come back and meet me to ask why I hadn't caught them on that last flat part. It really did keep me moving and motivated, I kept the gas on way longer and harder than I might otherwise have...even though you kind of hate your friends while they are doing it.
1 x 200- warm-up
1 x 500
Swim Fail
Run (Thursday)
time- 49:52
distance- 7.72mi
Ride (Sunday)
time- 4:01
distance- 56.61
My interwebs have been doing the fritz all weekend, so this is making up for that. I know both of you out there in the tubes watching this point of light were wondering where I had gone.
Swim fail Thursday. I want to say the water was too cold again, and it was really cold, but there were others still in there while I was warming back up in the spa. I don't think I have a really good reason for why my swim Thursday was so bad. I was tired because I got to bed a lot later than I meant to. Either way, fail.
The run that day wasn't great either, but I'm still testing the tendons. They feel better, but still not great. Super Awesome Wife taped only the left leg since the right was doing ok, but I think Tuesday I'm going to tape both legs again. Foam rolling is helping, though there is sometimes tightness that wasn't there earlier. Whatever, it'll heal. Must be patient.
Sunday's ride with the boys was strong though. Diesel and I met up in the morning, the Grey was running behind because he was up all night Saturday polishing the trophy he got for winning his age group at the Warrior Dash Saturday* (*race report and pictures pending). So Diesel and I took off, heading to Pupukea for some climbing action. I feel like I had a good climb, it helps when Diesel decides to hang back and talk me up. Sure, it can be frustrating to be sweating, huffing, and puffing and the guy next to you is breezing and chatting, but it helps. My ego won't let me ease up. Damn ego.
On the way back down the Grey caught us up so we, brilliantly, turned around and went back up. You know, so that the Grey got his whole climb in. Wouldn't want to leave him out. My first double hop of Pupukea. Well, one and a half. It counts!
Then we cruised out Dillingham and back for time trials and headwind fighting, then up Pineapple. Diesel again "encouraged" me up, and bothered the Grey. Meaning he would ride some with me, notice that the Grey was getting away, shift and speed up** (**"speed up" should be read "disappear in a cloud of smoke"), bother the Grey by pulling on his jersey, turn around, and come back and meet me to ask why I hadn't caught them on that last flat part. It really did keep me moving and motivated, I kept the gas on way longer and harder than I might otherwise have...even though you kind of hate your friends while they are doing it.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A Pre-Run Ride up Mount Wind
Ride
time- 2:09
distance- 30.3mi
Quick write-up since I didn't do it yesterday. The Grey and I met up for some laps down at Dillingham airfield, but not too many since I haven't been riding as hard as I'd like the last two weeks and I had the Hapalua half marathon today. It was pouring rain when we set off, which is why we decided to do Dillingham. At least its normally dry down there.
Know what makes up for the dry?
The Wind. (That's right, it gets to be a proper noun. That's how serious I am.)
Going out to the point there may have been a tailwind, but I'm not sure if the Grey and I noticed it. I mean, we normally cruise easily at around 24mph as far as anyone reading this knows. But the way back from the point was brutal. The headwind must have been 30-75mph, easy. Maybe more. Truth? The Grey and I missed Diesel and his letting-us-draft ways. So instead we had to share the pulling duties. Makes it so much easier when riding with a friend.
We only did two laps so that I could conserve my legs for today's run. Never got rained on, but it sure looked stormy on the horizon.
time- 2:09
distance- 30.3mi
Quick write-up since I didn't do it yesterday. The Grey and I met up for some laps down at Dillingham airfield, but not too many since I haven't been riding as hard as I'd like the last two weeks and I had the Hapalua half marathon today. It was pouring rain when we set off, which is why we decided to do Dillingham. At least its normally dry down there.
Know what makes up for the dry?
The Wind. (That's right, it gets to be a proper noun. That's how serious I am.)
Going out to the point there may have been a tailwind, but I'm not sure if the Grey and I noticed it. I mean, we normally cruise easily at around 24mph as far as anyone reading this knows. But the way back from the point was brutal. The headwind must have been 30-75mph, easy. Maybe more. Truth? The Grey and I missed Diesel and his letting-us-draft ways. So instead we had to share the pulling duties. Makes it so much easier when riding with a friend.
We only did two laps so that I could conserve my legs for today's run. Never got rained on, but it sure looked stormy on the horizon.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Thinking About Distance
Ride (Saturday)
time- 4:27
distance- 63.15mi
Run (Sunday)
time- 1:32
distance- 9mi
I can't start a run thinking about how far I have to go. That ruins my headspace and it's really hard to recover from. It popped into my head today as my Garmin buzzed at me that my first mile was now behind me. "Oh, only eight more to go." That sounds like a long ass way. So I shook it out of my head and tried to focus on one step at a time.
I break my runs up by landmarks. I'm running to the bridge. Now I'm running to Dole. Now I'm running to the light. Now I'm running up the hill. And, like magic, now I'm at the halfway point. Since I run out-and-back and not loops the halfway point is very important to me. Most of the time, if I feel strong when I turn around then I'm going to be ok. My pace will fall off some, but I'm going to be alright. I like having that halfway point.
But as my runs get longer the halfway point gets further and further from home. When you're only running four miles, it's only two miles home. And "only two miles" doesn't sound bad. Where I am right now, "only four and a half miles" sounds kind of silly. So I've started breaking up the way back too. And because of all the shorter runs I've done I get a strong sense of accomplishment as I run past my old turn-around points.
I'm trying to keep a strong, even pace while I'm out. My average moving pace today was 10:15/mi. I'd like to get that down to 10:00/mi by race day. Not that I expect to be putting up 10:00 miles during the run of the 70.3, but it would be nice to have that as a baseline going in. However, and this is important, I'm not actually stressing the pacing too much here. I don't go out on Sunday's and run hard. I'm barely running a high DSQ on Tuesday and Thursday. I'm running for consistency. Much like my oft-repeated view on distance swimming, if I can have the same stride at the end of the race that I do at the beginning then I'll be happy. I know there will be falling apart and I'm pretty sure that at some point during the run the wheels are going to come off. But I want to push that back as far as possible.
Anyway, this was my farthest training run. Ever. Never run nine miles before. And it was pretty great. The weather was perfect for it, overcast and cool, but no rain.
Yesterday's ride was plenty nice too. Missed the guys and it was my first solo ride in a while, but that's ok because when it comes down to it the Honu will be a solo ride too. And riding is where you really can't think too far ahead. I'm out for over four hours, don't want to be thinking about that a half hour in. But I cleared that mental hurdle when I was training for the Century last summer. Which is part of the reason I signed up for the Hapalua. Forced familiarity with the distance will ease some of the fear about it.
The ride featured a strong climb up Pupukea, and then an assault on Mount Wind for pretty much the entire time I headed out. Brutal headwind, lots of down in aero fighting getting tough being strong grrrr Dirtbag get some go again! And I guess there was a tailwind helping me out on the way back, but I didn't notice it too much. I was going to get 70 miles, which with Pupukea means going about 40 miles out, but at 33 miles the skied opened and exploded. Luckily, I was right by a gas station when it happened so I pulled in and waited for the storm to pass. This being Hawaii, the tropical blessing only lasted a few minutes and I was back on the road. But I was back on the road turned tail. The road ahead didn't look friendly and I wasn't anticipating any more soaking. Pineapple was Pineapple. not great, not awful, just another climb.
Good weekend.
time- 4:27
distance- 63.15mi
Run (Sunday)
time- 1:32
distance- 9mi
I break my runs up by landmarks. I'm running to the bridge. Now I'm running to Dole. Now I'm running to the light. Now I'm running up the hill. And, like magic, now I'm at the halfway point. Since I run out-and-back and not loops the halfway point is very important to me. Most of the time, if I feel strong when I turn around then I'm going to be ok. My pace will fall off some, but I'm going to be alright. I like having that halfway point.
But as my runs get longer the halfway point gets further and further from home. When you're only running four miles, it's only two miles home. And "only two miles" doesn't sound bad. Where I am right now, "only four and a half miles" sounds kind of silly. So I've started breaking up the way back too. And because of all the shorter runs I've done I get a strong sense of accomplishment as I run past my old turn-around points.
I'm trying to keep a strong, even pace while I'm out. My average moving pace today was 10:15/mi. I'd like to get that down to 10:00/mi by race day. Not that I expect to be putting up 10:00 miles during the run of the 70.3, but it would be nice to have that as a baseline going in. However, and this is important, I'm not actually stressing the pacing too much here. I don't go out on Sunday's and run hard. I'm barely running a high DSQ on Tuesday and Thursday. I'm running for consistency. Much like my oft-repeated view on distance swimming, if I can have the same stride at the end of the race that I do at the beginning then I'll be happy. I know there will be falling apart and I'm pretty sure that at some point during the run the wheels are going to come off. But I want to push that back as far as possible.
Anyway, this was my farthest training run. Ever. Never run nine miles before. And it was pretty great. The weather was perfect for it, overcast and cool, but no rain.
Yesterday's ride was plenty nice too. Missed the guys and it was my first solo ride in a while, but that's ok because when it comes down to it the Honu will be a solo ride too. And riding is where you really can't think too far ahead. I'm out for over four hours, don't want to be thinking about that a half hour in. But I cleared that mental hurdle when I was training for the Century last summer. Which is part of the reason I signed up for the Hapalua. Forced familiarity with the distance will ease some of the fear about it.
 |
| Mt. Doom has nothing on Mt. Wind. Except nasty filthy hobbittses |
Good weekend.
 |
| Pictured: Downpour |
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Not So Much Weekend
Bike (Saturday)
time- 3:57/moving time- 3:07
distance- 50.16mi
Run-ish
time- 54:13
distance- 4.76mi
This was not an Iron-weekend. It was barely a tin-weekend. I am not impressed with myself.
Saturday's ride was ok, but not great. We got out there, we got some miles done. Diesel is headed to New Zealand for his Ironman soon so this was like a taper day for him. Which means he only beat up on the Grey and I a little bit.
We rode down Pineapple and out to the airfield. The original plan was two laps like that, but the weather made Pineapple awfully slick and it was decided by a vote of one to one, with one abstaining, that we would do another airfield lap and then head up the hill. I love doing airfield repeats with the guys. Its a great place to get some speed work in and when the wind kicks up you can feel yourself getting stronger. Or getting blown backwards. But what's really great about airfield repeats is Diesel can't help but lead. And the Grey and I can't help but tuck in behind him. When he kicks ass in New Zealand he's going to have us to thank due to how strong he's getting hauling our draft-happy asses back and forth all the time. You're welcome.
I am not happy about my run. I set my alarm to get up early and get on the road, but when I woke up it was pouring. Running in the rain is one thing, running in the POURING is another and I wasn't feeling it so I went back to sleep. It was really really nice to sleep in. But I slept in late enough that I missed my morning run window. You see, Dirtbag Friends, a friend from out of town was on island this weekend and Super Awesome Wife and I met her in Haleiwa for some Thai. Not the best Thai on the
island, that's still Opal Thai, but Haleiwa Eats is pretty good. Good enough that I ate exactly one ton of pad thai. So when we got home I needed a lay down and possibly a nap. Remember Wednesday when I talked about how well I workout post-nap normally? Yeah, so it was that, plus instead of digesting
the pad thai became a rock of noodles and tofu sitting in my stomach. I dragged myself off the couch and got outside, but I wasn't feeling it. I wanted eight miles today. Wanted it bad. And it wasn't going
to happen. The wheels came off around 2.3 miles and I turned tail. Spent the whole trip back alternating walking and running. Sucks, but it happens.
Tomorrow is a holiday (how nice it is that the presidents were born on holidays!) and I've talked about my difficulty working out on days off before. I get to sleep in, then head to the pool, then find time later to ride. Wah wah wah.
time- 3:57/moving time- 3:07
distance- 50.16mi
Run-ish
time- 54:13
distance- 4.76mi
This was not an Iron-weekend. It was barely a tin-weekend. I am not impressed with myself.
Saturday's ride was ok, but not great. We got out there, we got some miles done. Diesel is headed to New Zealand for his Ironman soon so this was like a taper day for him. Which means he only beat up on the Grey and I a little bit.
We rode down Pineapple and out to the airfield. The original plan was two laps like that, but the weather made Pineapple awfully slick and it was decided by a vote of one to one, with one abstaining, that we would do another airfield lap and then head up the hill. I love doing airfield repeats with the guys. Its a great place to get some speed work in and when the wind kicks up you can feel yourself getting stronger. Or getting blown backwards. But what's really great about airfield repeats is Diesel can't help but lead. And the Grey and I can't help but tuck in behind him. When he kicks ass in New Zealand he's going to have us to thank due to how strong he's getting hauling our draft-happy asses back and forth all the time. You're welcome.
I am not happy about my run. I set my alarm to get up early and get on the road, but when I woke up it was pouring. Running in the rain is one thing, running in the POURING is another and I wasn't feeling it so I went back to sleep. It was really really nice to sleep in. But I slept in late enough that I missed my morning run window. You see, Dirtbag Friends, a friend from out of town was on island this weekend and Super Awesome Wife and I met her in Haleiwa for some Thai. Not the best Thai on the
 |
| Brick of Yum |
the pad thai became a rock of noodles and tofu sitting in my stomach. I dragged myself off the couch and got outside, but I wasn't feeling it. I wanted eight miles today. Wanted it bad. And it wasn't going
to happen. The wheels came off around 2.3 miles and I turned tail. Spent the whole trip back alternating walking and running. Sucks, but it happens.
Tomorrow is a holiday (how nice it is that the presidents were born on holidays!) and I've talked about my difficulty working out on days off before. I get to sleep in, then head to the pool, then find time later to ride. Wah wah wah.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Better Than Nothing
Ride
60minute Trainer Session
1) I can't take a nap and then get on the trainer.
2) I hated the trainer today, and it hated me right back.
I was feeling good when I left school today. I knew knew I was going to have a good workout when I got home. Then one thing lead to another and I ended up crashing out for 30 (20? 15? 45?) minutes. Whoops. There's nothing harder for me than stopping moving and then getting going again. My normal M.O. is get home, quick change, and back out the door. If my ass hits the couch my energy level plummets and soon its all I can do to reach the remote.
So it was wake up from nap, sit on couch, decide I'm going to rest today then make it up on Friday, then realize I like have Friday completely free of workouts, then call myself a wuss, then stew for a minute, then set up the trainer outside (Super Awesome Wife was still napping and my trainer is the opposite of quiet) and set to work. Oh yeah, and I brought the laptop out with me and threw in the Big 4 DVD on Megadeth.
Well, with the laptop speakers and media player turned all the way up, while I was pedaling I could hear just enough of the music to kind of figure out what song was playing. Good thing I know the songs and can read lips. And then the battery died. This did not help my cause.
I was planning 90 minutes. Needed a good 90. At 30 I wanted to get off and I swear the only thing that kept me on the trainer was thinking about writing this blog and having to write, "30 minutes." That's right, Dirtbag friends, you all shamed me into sticking it out a little longer. But it was quickly obvious I wasn't making 90. Oh, I probably could have, but it would have degenerated into hate-riding. Chugging away at some ridiculously low cadence simply to get in time on the bike. And that sucks when you're out on the road, let alone on the treadmill of the bike world.
I had a workout planned. 15 minute warm-up, then 15 hard, 15 cool, 15 hard, repeat. It wasn't happening. I got some done, I got 60, which is better than 30 and way better than sitting on my ass, but I ain't happy about it.
60minute Trainer Session
1) I can't take a nap and then get on the trainer.
2) I hated the trainer today, and it hated me right back.
I was feeling good when I left school today. I knew knew I was going to have a good workout when I got home. Then one thing lead to another and I ended up crashing out for 30 (20? 15? 45?) minutes. Whoops. There's nothing harder for me than stopping moving and then getting going again. My normal M.O. is get home, quick change, and back out the door. If my ass hits the couch my energy level plummets and soon its all I can do to reach the remote.
Well, with the laptop speakers and media player turned all the way up, while I was pedaling I could hear just enough of the music to kind of figure out what song was playing. Good thing I know the songs and can read lips. And then the battery died. This did not help my cause.
I was planning 90 minutes. Needed a good 90. At 30 I wanted to get off and I swear the only thing that kept me on the trainer was thinking about writing this blog and having to write, "30 minutes." That's right, Dirtbag friends, you all shamed me into sticking it out a little longer. But it was quickly obvious I wasn't making 90. Oh, I probably could have, but it would have degenerated into hate-riding. Chugging away at some ridiculously low cadence simply to get in time on the bike. And that sucks when you're out on the road, let alone on the treadmill of the bike world.
I had a workout planned. 15 minute warm-up, then 15 hard, 15 cool, 15 hard, repeat. It wasn't happening. I got some done, I got 60, which is better than 30 and way better than sitting on my ass, but I ain't happy about it.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Free Advice and a Confidence Builder
Swim
1 x 200- Warm-up
4 x 200- 100- 5, 7, 9/100- swim
5 x 50- Sideline kick
1 x 500- 50 easy/ 50 hard
5 x 100- decreasing stroke count each lap
1 x 100- Cool down
Run
time- 1:00
distance- 6.27mi
I like the easy/ hard swim set. It makes the swim go by faster and it feels safer to really blow out those sprint laps because you know you can chill it out right after. If I were recommending a set to try out to a new swimmer, that would be high on the list. "Sprint" and "easy" are both relative terms and can be fluidly applied to anyone's workout. Plus, it makes the 500, or whatever set you choose to do with it, go by a lot quicker. And active rest, which is really what those easy laps are, is better than passive rest.
The decreasing stroke count set went well too. I started each 100 with 25 yards at 16 strokes. From there the stroke count normally went 15, 14, 13. Did I have to cheat a little off the walls with a super-glide to get to 13? On the middle two 100s I did. No worries. And the fifth hundred I actually did 16, 14, 14, 13 trying to really get the most bang for my buck. The goal is to balance speed with economy. You may have a low stroke count, but if the speed drops away then its not doing you a lick of good. But too high a count and you're wasting all kinds of energy. Swimming is all about the most bang for your buck.
The run was kind of a shock. I am not a runner and today I was expecting to lay down a fairly easy, slightly shorter run. But once I got out on the road things were moving nicely. The weather was cool and a little overcast, my legs were strong, and my stomach was calm. The latter point is important and if it continues will go a long way towards helping my run confidence come up.
I hit my turn-around at 30 minutes and decided to try and negative split this bad boy. I wasn't really thinking about it and I wasn't consciously pushing much harder than I had on the way out, but I did keep an eye on my pace. Love the Garmin. So helpful. And when I came in lo and behold I nearly cracked an hour. I missed the negative split by 12 seconds. I'm claiming I had to wait to cross one street and calling it even. As a run rundown (ain't I clever?), Thursday I was motivated and had a killed 6.5 mile run, Sunday I put together a decent long-for-me run of nearly eight miles, and today I had a strong 6.25. So either the other Vibram is about to drop right on to my head or I've finally started putting this run thing back together again.
1 x 200- Warm-up
4 x 200- 100- 5, 7, 9/100- swim
5 x 50- Sideline kick
1 x 500- 50 easy/ 50 hard
5 x 100- decreasing stroke count each lap
1 x 100- Cool down
Run
time- 1:00
distance- 6.27mi
I like the easy/ hard swim set. It makes the swim go by faster and it feels safer to really blow out those sprint laps because you know you can chill it out right after. If I were recommending a set to try out to a new swimmer, that would be high on the list. "Sprint" and "easy" are both relative terms and can be fluidly applied to anyone's workout. Plus, it makes the 500, or whatever set you choose to do with it, go by a lot quicker. And active rest, which is really what those easy laps are, is better than passive rest.
The decreasing stroke count set went well too. I started each 100 with 25 yards at 16 strokes. From there the stroke count normally went 15, 14, 13. Did I have to cheat a little off the walls with a super-glide to get to 13? On the middle two 100s I did. No worries. And the fifth hundred I actually did 16, 14, 14, 13 trying to really get the most bang for my buck. The goal is to balance speed with economy. You may have a low stroke count, but if the speed drops away then its not doing you a lick of good. But too high a count and you're wasting all kinds of energy. Swimming is all about the most bang for your buck.
The run was kind of a shock. I am not a runner and today I was expecting to lay down a fairly easy, slightly shorter run. But once I got out on the road things were moving nicely. The weather was cool and a little overcast, my legs were strong, and my stomach was calm. The latter point is important and if it continues will go a long way towards helping my run confidence come up.
I hit my turn-around at 30 minutes and decided to try and negative split this bad boy. I wasn't really thinking about it and I wasn't consciously pushing much harder than I had on the way out, but I did keep an eye on my pace. Love the Garmin. So helpful. And when I came in lo and behold I nearly cracked an hour. I missed the negative split by 12 seconds. I'm claiming I had to wait to cross one street and calling it even. As a run rundown (ain't I clever?), Thursday I was motivated and had a killed 6.5 mile run, Sunday I put together a decent long-for-me run of nearly eight miles, and today I had a strong 6.25. So either the other Vibram is about to drop right on to my head or I've finally started putting this run thing back together again.
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Grind for XP*
Swim
1 x 200- Warm-up
10 x 100- 1:30ish
1 x 50- easy
3 x 200- 100-1, 2, 3, swim/ 50- thumb drag/ 50- swim
2 x 100 IM
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2150yd
Ride
time- 1:27
distance- 22.97
Hit the pool this morning and almost immediately realized that today was not going to be one of those badass Tattooed Wake kind of days. It was going to be a Drag My Ass Through the Water kind of day instead. But those days happen, and they probably happen in training more than awesome killer smoke 'em days. These are The Grind kind of days, where you pile on distance, get some, and then go again tomorrow. They aren't sexy, they aren't much fun, but they do come with a sense of accomplishment when you fight through that and get it anyway.
I've mentioned a few times in talking with various people about swimming that I think every swimmer, and I include triathletes in that, should know and do every stroke. At least once in a while. I have a bunch of reasons for that but I'm kind of stocking them up for a future active.com article so you're going to have to wait until I'm able to put them together. Nevertheless, I hadn't hit anything but free in a long while and decided it was time to throw down an IM (Individual Medley). This, for those of you without chlorine in your blood streams, is x laps of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. So a 100 IM means one lap of each. A hundred years ago I was a decent butterflier and IMer. My brain still remembers that. Here is what I think my fly should look like:
Here is what my fly probably actually looks like:
The Grind continued on the bike after school. It was one of those afternoons where the bike just didn't look appetizing. Gotta fight through that though. Henry Rollins once wrote that the hardest part of working out if putting on your shoes, and I believe that completely. If you can get those shoes on and get off the couch, you're going to work out. Too many people say they are going to work out, but never get past the saying it stage. Those of us who get up and get out, we conquer, we suffer, we bring it, and we excel and learn something new about ourselves.
Still, I wasn't going on a long ride. I waited too long to leave and would be riding in the dark if I went much over 90 minutes, so I headed to base and planned on getting up Kolekole a few times. Halfway up I found this.
Oh, ok then. No Dirtbag Fulla Holes, so I'll turn around. Got two laps in, charging as hard as I could up the medium-to-low grade of that section of Kolekole, staying in slightly heavier gears but trying to spin. Not bad.
Oh, one more this, Dirtbag Friends. This morning as I left the gym I found something very strange on my truck.
A chicken on the roof of my truck? Is someone, perhaps a certain yellow-clad someone, trying to send me a message?
*If you know what XP is and know why you have to grind for it sometimes congratulations, you're a Dirtbag Nerd too.
1 x 200- Warm-up
10 x 100- 1:30ish
1 x 50- easy
3 x 200- 100-1, 2, 3, swim/ 50- thumb drag/ 50- swim
2 x 100 IM
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2150yd
Ride
time- 1:27
distance- 22.97
Hit the pool this morning and almost immediately realized that today was not going to be one of those badass Tattooed Wake kind of days. It was going to be a Drag My Ass Through the Water kind of day instead. But those days happen, and they probably happen in training more than awesome killer smoke 'em days. These are The Grind kind of days, where you pile on distance, get some, and then go again tomorrow. They aren't sexy, they aren't much fun, but they do come with a sense of accomplishment when you fight through that and get it anyway.
I've mentioned a few times in talking with various people about swimming that I think every swimmer, and I include triathletes in that, should know and do every stroke. At least once in a while. I have a bunch of reasons for that but I'm kind of stocking them up for a future active.com article so you're going to have to wait until I'm able to put them together. Nevertheless, I hadn't hit anything but free in a long while and decided it was time to throw down an IM (Individual Medley). This, for those of you without chlorine in your blood streams, is x laps of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. So a 100 IM means one lap of each. A hundred years ago I was a decent butterflier and IMer. My brain still remembers that. Here is what I think my fly should look like:
Here is what my fly probably actually looks like:
The Grind continued on the bike after school. It was one of those afternoons where the bike just didn't look appetizing. Gotta fight through that though. Henry Rollins once wrote that the hardest part of working out if putting on your shoes, and I believe that completely. If you can get those shoes on and get off the couch, you're going to work out. Too many people say they are going to work out, but never get past the saying it stage. Those of us who get up and get out, we conquer, we suffer, we bring it, and we excel and learn something new about ourselves.
Still, I wasn't going on a long ride. I waited too long to leave and would be riding in the dark if I went much over 90 minutes, so I headed to base and planned on getting up Kolekole a few times. Halfway up I found this.
Oh, one more this, Dirtbag Friends. This morning as I left the gym I found something very strange on my truck.
*If you know what XP is and know why you have to grind for it sometimes congratulations, you're a Dirtbag Nerd too.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
An Long Run
Run
time -1:21
distance- 7.65
Well, it was a long run. It was a long run after a rough day on the bike. It was a my longest run of the training session so far.And I walked three times. I'm not sweating the walking though, its better than letting my pace completely drop through the floor. In all honestly, I don't have a lot to say about today's run. So instead I'm going to post this, then post the answers to the Ask Super Awesome Wife blog. So there.
time -1:21
distance- 7.65
Well, it was a long run. It was a long run after a rough day on the bike. It was a my longest run of the training session so far.And I walked three times. I'm not sweating the walking though, its better than letting my pace completely drop through the floor. In all honestly, I don't have a lot to say about today's run. So instead I'm going to post this, then post the answers to the Ask Super Awesome Wife blog. So there.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Stoopid Heater/Mental Run
Swim
1 x 200
Jump into spa for five minutes
Run
time- 1:02
distance- 6.5mi
I got to the pool this morning shivering. As I said my last workout post it has been unseasonably cold here on da island. Thursday morning was no exception. It might have been a little worse. I dipped my big toe in and my whole body went, "Woah now! That's freaking cold!"
"Suck it up," said the Tattooed Wake. "We've swum in colder."
"Maybe. But this is gonna suck," my body replied.
The Tattooed Wake was right, but my body was more right. I eased into the water and it didn't get any better. There is an older woman who is always in the pool when I get there, kicking back and forth on a noodle. "It's really cold," I called to her. We don't normally talk, I'm there to work and I'm not friendly when I'm trying to swim. We greet each other. But today I needed someone else to confirm that the water was, in fact, freezing.
"It is really cold. I talked to the office people and they went and checked. They said the heater switch was off. They just turned it back on like ten minutes ago."
Oh. I didn't need to know that. I decided I would do the warm-up and once my blood got flowing I would create a bubble of Dirtbag warmth which would protect me.
Wrong. I did two hundred yards and was still breath-catchingly cold so I decided I was not going to get quality anything going and hopped into the spa. Ahhhhh, warm.
So I spent the day moderately annoyed I didn't get to swim, but at least Monday and Tuesday were quality swims. Then I received a strange, yet motivating email. And that got into my head for the whole run, which was easily the best run I've had on this training cycle. My pace fade from mile 1 to mile 6 is pretty steep, but I'm not sweating it. If I can put together at least one run a week that feels this good I'm going to be happy. A lot of it had to do with not thinking about the run and being excited about taking down Mr. Larmstrong.
1 x 200
Jump into spa for five minutes
Run
time- 1:02
distance- 6.5mi
I got to the pool this morning shivering. As I said my last workout post it has been unseasonably cold here on da island. Thursday morning was no exception. It might have been a little worse. I dipped my big toe in and my whole body went, "Woah now! That's freaking cold!"
"Suck it up," said the Tattooed Wake. "We've swum in colder."
"Maybe. But this is gonna suck," my body replied.
The Tattooed Wake was right, but my body was more right. I eased into the water and it didn't get any better. There is an older woman who is always in the pool when I get there, kicking back and forth on a noodle. "It's really cold," I called to her. We don't normally talk, I'm there to work and I'm not friendly when I'm trying to swim. We greet each other. But today I needed someone else to confirm that the water was, in fact, freezing.
"It is really cold. I talked to the office people and they went and checked. They said the heater switch was off. They just turned it back on like ten minutes ago."
Oh. I didn't need to know that. I decided I would do the warm-up and once my blood got flowing I would create a bubble of Dirtbag warmth which would protect me.
Wrong. I did two hundred yards and was still breath-catchingly cold so I decided I was not going to get quality anything going and hopped into the spa. Ahhhhh, warm.
So I spent the day moderately annoyed I didn't get to swim, but at least Monday and Tuesday were quality swims. Then I received a strange, yet motivating email. And that got into my head for the whole run, which was easily the best run I've had on this training cycle. My pace fade from mile 1 to mile 6 is pretty steep, but I'm not sweating it. If I can put together at least one run a week that feels this good I'm going to be happy. A lot of it had to do with not thinking about the run and being excited about taking down Mr. Larmstrong.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Challenge: Accepted
Dirtbag Friends, today I received the strangest email. Rather than try to explain it to you, I have copied it over.
To: dirtbagfitness@hotmail.com
From: larmstrong@yellowbracelet.org
Re: It's On
Mr. Dirtbag,
I have been tracking your progress closely and I see that you are finally ready. I thought this day would be years coming, but you seem to have quite a talent. A talent, I am afraid, I must now crush, along with your spirit. Prepare to be destroyed, Mr. Dirtbag. I am going to break you like Ivan Drago broke that old guy from The Expendables. You don't stand a chance. I look forward to June 2, when I shall dance on the ashes of your dreams.
Prepare yourself, Mr. Dirtbag. Prepare and weep.
-L. Armstrong
Dirtbag friends, I must admit that at first I had no idea what was going on or who this Mr. Larmstrong was. Then I was forwarded this link twice independently, once by Brother Diesel and once by Brother Tri Cook. Wait, Mr. Larmstrong is actually Lance Armstrong? Seven time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong? Senior Yellow Jersey himself? And he is calling me out? Who does this guy think he is? Obviously, he is getting delusional in his old age and he knows that in order to truly perform he needs a real challenge. Hence, the above email.
Well, Dirtbag friends, I can not and will not take something like this. I see a war of many words between now and Judgement Day. But to correctly respond to something of this magnitude a simple typed response won't do. No, there is only one possible way to respond to such a heinous and grievous assault:
Cut a WWE-style Dirtbag Promo.
To: dirtbagfitness@hotmail.com
From: larmstrong@yellowbracelet.org
Re: It's On
Mr. Dirtbag,
I have been tracking your progress closely and I see that you are finally ready. I thought this day would be years coming, but you seem to have quite a talent. A talent, I am afraid, I must now crush, along with your spirit. Prepare to be destroyed, Mr. Dirtbag. I am going to break you like Ivan Drago broke that old guy from The Expendables. You don't stand a chance. I look forward to June 2, when I shall dance on the ashes of your dreams.
Prepare yourself, Mr. Dirtbag. Prepare and weep.
-L. Armstrong
Dirtbag friends, I must admit that at first I had no idea what was going on or who this Mr. Larmstrong was. Then I was forwarded this link twice independently, once by Brother Diesel and once by Brother Tri Cook. Wait, Mr. Larmstrong is actually Lance Armstrong? Seven time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong? Senior Yellow Jersey himself? And he is calling me out? Who does this guy think he is? Obviously, he is getting delusional in his old age and he knows that in order to truly perform he needs a real challenge. Hence, the above email.
Well, Dirtbag friends, I can not and will not take something like this. I see a war of many words between now and Judgement Day. But to correctly respond to something of this magnitude a simple typed response won't do. No, there is only one possible way to respond to such a heinous and grievous assault:
Cut a WWE-style Dirtbag Promo.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Brrrr (but Hawaiian)
Swim (Tuesday)
1 x 200- warm-up
4 x 500- 1) 7:18
2) 7:14
3) 7:16
4) 6:59
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2300yd
Ride
time- 2:05
distance- 31mi
I think the 4 x 500 swim set is going to be a good measuring stick going forward in my training. I couldn't be happier about how those times look for where I am. The splits are exactly like I would have predicted for a 4x set. I'd only done 200yd before the first one, so it acted as an extended warm-up and of course is a little slower. The second is where I start feeling my groove and dig in, putting in a quicker time than the first. The third is where two things happen. 1- fatigue begins to set in and 2- the brain starts thinking ahead to really pounding the last one. So it is slightly slower. And the fourth one is where you realize you've got seven minutes of hard swimming left and damn it, you can push anything hard for seven minutes. I actually thought the wheels were going to come off during number four. I went out way too hard and struggled to get the pace fixed in the middle third so that the last 150 yards were grit-your-teeth-and-go hard. The most difficult part of finishing this set strong? Keeping the stroke from going to hell just because you're pushing. Technique trumps GAAAAA MUST HAVE ALL THE FASTER SWIM GO NOW KICK PULL GRAB FLAIL every time. The most difficult part of the set? Not falling asleep during it. Long sets like that can be a challenge just because it's easy to get black line hypnosis. And when that happens everything falls away.
The ride was a pleasant surprise because I didn't think I was going to get to ride outside at all. The weather here has been pants on head crazy and I honestly was expecting pouring rain or cats and dogs falling from the sky or possible locusts. Instead I got bloody wind. Wind that meant there was some pedaling going downhill. Few things cyclists hate more than pedaling downhill. I don't know if it gave me a push going back up Pineapple, so I'm going to say it didn't and take complete credit for my decent time. Instead of whipping around and hitting it again I decided to head to base and tackle Kolekole, since I haven't done that in a while. I don't know if its gotten shorter or flatter but it sure isn't as bad as it used to be, Still isn't great and I'm not flying up it like I think I should be, but it you check out the elevation chart below you'll see a pretty steady pace over a solid grade.
You know what else wind does? It makes you freaking cold. Especially jamming downhill in lycra and sweat. And I don't want to hear it from you mainland people still in the midst of "winter" and dealing with "snow". Whatever. I'm used to 75* so my It's Cold Now gauge is broken.
1 x 200- warm-up
4 x 500- 1) 7:18
2) 7:14
3) 7:16
4) 6:59
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2300yd
Ride
time- 2:05
distance- 31mi
I think the 4 x 500 swim set is going to be a good measuring stick going forward in my training. I couldn't be happier about how those times look for where I am. The splits are exactly like I would have predicted for a 4x set. I'd only done 200yd before the first one, so it acted as an extended warm-up and of course is a little slower. The second is where I start feeling my groove and dig in, putting in a quicker time than the first. The third is where two things happen. 1- fatigue begins to set in and 2- the brain starts thinking ahead to really pounding the last one. So it is slightly slower. And the fourth one is where you realize you've got seven minutes of hard swimming left and damn it, you can push anything hard for seven minutes. I actually thought the wheels were going to come off during number four. I went out way too hard and struggled to get the pace fixed in the middle third so that the last 150 yards were grit-your-teeth-and-go hard. The most difficult part of finishing this set strong? Keeping the stroke from going to hell just because you're pushing. Technique trumps GAAAAA MUST HAVE ALL THE FASTER SWIM GO NOW KICK PULL GRAB FLAIL every time. The most difficult part of the set? Not falling asleep during it. Long sets like that can be a challenge just because it's easy to get black line hypnosis. And when that happens everything falls away.
 |
| Pictured: The Weather Right Now |
You know what else wind does? It makes you freaking cold. Especially jamming downhill in lycra and sweat. And I don't want to hear it from you mainland people still in the midst of "winter" and dealing with "snow". Whatever. I'm used to 75* so my It's Cold Now gauge is broken.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I Will Not Yell At My Bike...
Swim
1 x 200- Warm-up
5 x 100- 1, 2, 3, Swim
5 x 200- 100-5, 7, 9/100- long
3 x 50- Sideline kick
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2050yd
Ride
time- XX
distance- 9ish mi FLAT!!!
Swim was positive, I think my swims are going to be coming around finally. It wasn't awesome, but for a drill-focus day it wasn't bad. Low heart rate, low DSQ even during the 5, 7, 9 set. I like using that set as an indicator for anaerobic fitness. When I can push the 100 and maintain the 5, 7, 9 rhythm without wanting to die I know I'm doing well. Was nearly there yesterday.
My ride was one of those frustrating ones. There were a few factors going in.
1) I haven't had a good, 9 workout week yet in this training cycle. It's nobody's fault, but its not making me pleased. I wanted this week to start off right so I could get all my workouts in.
2) Weather. It was raining on and off all afternoon by my house and I knew that I'd get a little wet in the first ten miles, but after that the sky looked clear-ish.
And then I flatted nine miles in. With GatorSkins! I saw and heard it happen. Saw the patch and thought, "Crap, I bet there's something in there," but couldn't avoid it without becoming a lycra hood ornament. Then I heard the noise, but maintained hope. Maybe, just maybe I was wrong. I'm ok. The bike seems-no, no it doesn't. Back tire is tracking wrong. Damnit.
So I pulled across the street into the parking lot of a driving range and set about looking for the culprit. I found a most tiny shard of glass which I picked out, but when I investigated the inner side of the tube I felt no holes, no punctures, no flat-making anything. Musta got it. Threw in a new tube, cracked the CO2, checked it, and was ready to go. I admit, when I checked it I did think, briefly, that the tire didn't seem quite as full as it had a few seconds previous. Whatever, it's just me being pessimistic.
OR...
You want to know what's better than getting a flat tire in scattered showers? Getting one, fixing it, then having the new tube immediately go flat. I had two spares in my bike bag, so I was ready for this, but it still ruined my ride. The plan was to ride all the way into town to meet Super Awesome Wife. But two flats means I add at least 20 minutes to my ride time. A ride time that dances right on the edge of finishing as darkness falls (Why does darkness always fall? Is it because it can't see the steps?) when all goes well. Two flats means I'll be finishing well into No Cars Can See Dirtbag Bikers time, which isn't safe and doesn't make for happy biking. So I texted Super Awesome Wife for a pick-up, fixed my flat*, and waited. One person did stop and offer me help, which I thought was very nice.
*"Fixed my flat" should be read "took the tire off and the tube out and ran my fingers along the inner and outer edges of the tire shouting at nothing, 'There is no puncture! There is no problem here! Why did you go flat!? I spent $45 on you so you wouldn't do this!' and then, feeling nothing amiss, decided to see if I could waste another tube by trying again."**
**As of this morning this tube still has all the air in it, of course. Must have been a pinch flat. Though there are two tiny divots in my tire, but neither show through to the inside.
Possible Bright Side: The drive into town revealed my weather predicting abilities to be right in line with my football predicting abilities. Which is to say, really really bad. I'm pretty sure I would have been rained on with little-to-moderate intensity for 75% of my ride. So there's that then.
1 x 200- Warm-up
5 x 100- 1, 2, 3, Swim
5 x 200- 100-5, 7, 9/100- long
3 x 50- Sideline kick
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2050yd
Ride
time- XX
distance- 9ish mi FLAT!!!
Swim was positive, I think my swims are going to be coming around finally. It wasn't awesome, but for a drill-focus day it wasn't bad. Low heart rate, low DSQ even during the 5, 7, 9 set. I like using that set as an indicator for anaerobic fitness. When I can push the 100 and maintain the 5, 7, 9 rhythm without wanting to die I know I'm doing well. Was nearly there yesterday.
My ride was one of those frustrating ones. There were a few factors going in.
1) I haven't had a good, 9 workout week yet in this training cycle. It's nobody's fault, but its not making me pleased. I wanted this week to start off right so I could get all my workouts in.
2) Weather. It was raining on and off all afternoon by my house and I knew that I'd get a little wet in the first ten miles, but after that the sky looked clear-ish.
And then I flatted nine miles in. With GatorSkins! I saw and heard it happen. Saw the patch and thought, "Crap, I bet there's something in there," but couldn't avoid it without becoming a lycra hood ornament. Then I heard the noise, but maintained hope. Maybe, just maybe I was wrong. I'm ok. The bike seems-no, no it doesn't. Back tire is tracking wrong. Damnit.
So I pulled across the street into the parking lot of a driving range and set about looking for the culprit. I found a most tiny shard of glass which I picked out, but when I investigated the inner side of the tube I felt no holes, no punctures, no flat-making anything. Musta got it. Threw in a new tube, cracked the CO2, checked it, and was ready to go. I admit, when I checked it I did think, briefly, that the tire didn't seem quite as full as it had a few seconds previous. Whatever, it's just me being pessimistic.
OR...
You want to know what's better than getting a flat tire in scattered showers? Getting one, fixing it, then having the new tube immediately go flat. I had two spares in my bike bag, so I was ready for this, but it still ruined my ride. The plan was to ride all the way into town to meet Super Awesome Wife. But two flats means I add at least 20 minutes to my ride time. A ride time that dances right on the edge of finishing as darkness falls (Why does darkness always fall? Is it because it can't see the steps?) when all goes well. Two flats means I'll be finishing well into No Cars Can See Dirtbag Bikers time, which isn't safe and doesn't make for happy biking. So I texted Super Awesome Wife for a pick-up, fixed my flat*, and waited. One person did stop and offer me help, which I thought was very nice.
*"Fixed my flat" should be read "took the tire off and the tube out and ran my fingers along the inner and outer edges of the tire shouting at nothing, 'There is no puncture! There is no problem here! Why did you go flat!? I spent $45 on you so you wouldn't do this!' and then, feeling nothing amiss, decided to see if I could waste another tube by trying again."**
**As of this morning this tube still has all the air in it, of course. Must have been a pinch flat. Though there are two tiny divots in my tire, but neither show through to the inside.
Possible Bright Side: The drive into town revealed my weather predicting abilities to be right in line with my football predicting abilities. Which is to say, really really bad. I'm pretty sure I would have been rained on with little-to-moderate intensity for 75% of my ride. So there's that then.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Appetite Suppression (Dirtbag and the Tube Pt. 1)
Swim (Monday)
1 x 200- Warm-up
Ladder
200
300
400
500
Run (Tuesday)
time- 1:00
distance- 6.06mi
This was a self-imposed recovery week, even though it's not in the right place for a recovery week in the plan. I think this is why neither of the above workouts were very good. My swim was slow and pretty awful, and the run was a low energy affair.
I'm recovering because I have a procedure on Friday morning. Those of you following closely may have noticed a regular refrain is the GI issues, especially when I run. This is not the only time in my life these symptoms crop up and Super Awesome Wife finally grabbed me by the ear and lead me to a doctor.
One of the first things you notice, or at least I notice, when sitting and talking to a GO specialist is how fat his fingers look from the paper-covered table. Seriously, sausage fingers. That's...not reassuring. After listening to me tell him about the problems I've been having he decided the best course of action would be to take a look. *More Information Than You Bargained For When You Clicked On This Warning* So, on Friday morning, he's going to stick a camera up my butt.
Ok, first thing- I've written those words three other times in emails letting close friends know what is going on. Every single time I write, "stick a camera up my butt," I giggle. It is, possibly, one of the funniest sounding sentences I've ever written. There are better, more professional, more sterile ways to say it. "I am having an exploratory colonoscopy," comes to mind. But that's boring at not nearly as funny.
Anyway, he's going to be looking for signs of oddness through my intestines and I'm going to twilight unconscious on his table. And Super Awesome Wife is going to be jittering in the waiting room.
When you have an appointment for a sausage-fingered doctor to take a tube and gently place it into a section of your body which is only meant for waste removal, all waste must first be removed. Otherwise his pictures will only prove what people have been telling me for years. So Thursday morning I get to eat breakfast. And then I don't get to eat again until after the procedure Friday morning. For reference- I once killed a man because I hadn't eaten 45 minutes after a bike workout and he nearly stepped on my foot. I'm much more concerned with not eating for 24 hours than I am with the whole "camera in my butt" thing. I fear for my marriage. Super Awesome Wife is preparing herself. And that's why I haven't worked out hard and disregarded my planned bike ride today. Riding makes me hungry. I don't want to be feeding the beast tonight. I want to conserve.
But not eating is not the only part of the procedure preparation. You also have to cleanse, clean, clear out, and flush. I see lots of flushing in my near future. Sitting beside me waiting to be filled is the most depressing gallon jug I have ever seen. At the bottom is a magic powder which, when mixed with water, will cause everything in my body to rush towards the southernmost exit. I have to drink half of this evil gallon after school and the second half a few hours later. At some point during this I will wonder if I died of dehydration.
Early Friday morning Super Awesome Wife and I will make the drive to the doctor's office and he will do that voodoo that he do for doodoo.
I am not worried about the procedure. I'll be out, there shouldn't be any pain. Honestly, surgery pain doesn't worry me too much. I've passed half a dozen kidney stones, one big one while camping in New Zealand. I know internal pain. If all goes well there should be little to no recovery time and I should be able to workout Saturday and Sunday. Wait a moment, Sunday is the Super Bowl...I might need to recover that day by eating. You know, to regain strength or something (Go Pats*).
Since the internet is the home of the Overshare, and I think it will be interesting, I will be asking for copies of whatever media they take during the investigation. And if they are cool, I am totally going to post them.
*It is well known among friends that I cannot pick football games, baseball games, hockey games, tennis matches, WWE matches, coin flips, pre-taped events, or pick-a-hand correctly**, so I probably just doomed the Patriots to failure. If the game ends 51-3 Giants it's probably my fault. Sorry, Tom.
**though I will kick your ass in Rock, Paper, Scissors. Bring it.
1 x 200- Warm-up
Ladder
200
300
400
500
Run (Tuesday)
time- 1:00
distance- 6.06mi
This was a self-imposed recovery week, even though it's not in the right place for a recovery week in the plan. I think this is why neither of the above workouts were very good. My swim was slow and pretty awful, and the run was a low energy affair.
I'm recovering because I have a procedure on Friday morning. Those of you following closely may have noticed a regular refrain is the GI issues, especially when I run. This is not the only time in my life these symptoms crop up and Super Awesome Wife finally grabbed me by the ear and lead me to a doctor.
One of the first things you notice, or at least I notice, when sitting and talking to a GO specialist is how fat his fingers look from the paper-covered table. Seriously, sausage fingers. That's...not reassuring. After listening to me tell him about the problems I've been having he decided the best course of action would be to take a look. *More Information Than You Bargained For When You Clicked On This Warning* So, on Friday morning, he's going to stick a camera up my butt.
Ok, first thing- I've written those words three other times in emails letting close friends know what is going on. Every single time I write, "stick a camera up my butt," I giggle. It is, possibly, one of the funniest sounding sentences I've ever written. There are better, more professional, more sterile ways to say it. "I am having an exploratory colonoscopy," comes to mind. But that's boring at not nearly as funny.
Anyway, he's going to be looking for signs of oddness through my intestines and I'm going to twilight unconscious on his table. And Super Awesome Wife is going to be jittering in the waiting room.
When you have an appointment for a sausage-fingered doctor to take a tube and gently place it into a section of your body which is only meant for waste removal, all waste must first be removed. Otherwise his pictures will only prove what people have been telling me for years. So Thursday morning I get to eat breakfast. And then I don't get to eat again until after the procedure Friday morning. For reference- I once killed a man because I hadn't eaten 45 minutes after a bike workout and he nearly stepped on my foot. I'm much more concerned with not eating for 24 hours than I am with the whole "camera in my butt" thing. I fear for my marriage. Super Awesome Wife is preparing herself. And that's why I haven't worked out hard and disregarded my planned bike ride today. Riding makes me hungry. I don't want to be feeding the beast tonight. I want to conserve.
But not eating is not the only part of the procedure preparation. You also have to cleanse, clean, clear out, and flush. I see lots of flushing in my near future. Sitting beside me waiting to be filled is the most depressing gallon jug I have ever seen. At the bottom is a magic powder which, when mixed with water, will cause everything in my body to rush towards the southernmost exit. I have to drink half of this evil gallon after school and the second half a few hours later. At some point during this I will wonder if I died of dehydration.
 |
| "Food" |
 |
| The Jug of Destruction |
 |
| I don't really think this expression needs a caption, do you? |
Early Friday morning Super Awesome Wife and I will make the drive to the doctor's office and he will do that voodoo that he do for doodoo.
I am not worried about the procedure. I'll be out, there shouldn't be any pain. Honestly, surgery pain doesn't worry me too much. I've passed half a dozen kidney stones, one big one while camping in New Zealand. I know internal pain. If all goes well there should be little to no recovery time and I should be able to workout Saturday and Sunday. Wait a moment, Sunday is the Super Bowl...I might need to recover that day by eating. You know, to regain strength or something (Go Pats*).
Since the internet is the home of the Overshare, and I think it will be interesting, I will be asking for copies of whatever media they take during the investigation. And if they are cool, I am totally going to post them.
*It is well known among friends that I cannot pick football games, baseball games, hockey games, tennis matches, WWE matches, coin flips, pre-taped events, or pick-a-hand correctly**, so I probably just doomed the Patriots to failure. If the game ends 51-3 Giants it's probably my fault. Sorry, Tom.
**though I will kick your ass in Rock, Paper, Scissors. Bring it.
Friday, January 27, 2012
On Stubbing Toes and Rolling Ankles
Run Day
distance- 5.03mi
time-1:15
I have heard that the Grey is among the clumsiest trail runners I will ever meet. It seems that I took that as a challenge. I met with the boys yesterday after school for a nice run around the Scout Camp trails of Pupukea. Run, as it turns out, would be overstating a lot of it. I did quite a bit of walking. Let's just say there was much huffing and puffing involved. After all, this is not what anyone would call level. It's more what you would call a whole buncha up and down and up again. Not that I'm complaining, trails and elevation changes induce high DSQ levels , which will eventually induce greater Dirtbag Power, which will then allow for pushing to even greater DSQ levels. It's kind of a sick cycle when you think about it.
To make things interesting, I did try to roll an ankle once. It's fine, but I needed to walk it off and didn't enjoy the split second of watching two weeks of training disappear because of a small misstep. Still a little rightness back there as I sit here, but no pain. I also stubbed the crap out of my pinkie toe. Again. I blame both of these things on my Vibram TrekSports, but one in a good way and one in a painful way. I know for a fact the ankle roll would have been worse had I been wearing normal running shoes. In college I was El Ankle Rollo. But since I started wearing the toe shoes I've come close a few times, but never had a real sprain. The true spread of the foot prevents serious rolls. (Message from Fictional Time Traveling Future Dirtbag- Great, dumbass. Since you typed that sentence we've rolled each ankle nine times. Thanks a lot. Jerk.) But the toe sockets also don't offer much (read: any) protection from roots that jump up in front of the pinkie toe. Gotta get my feet up. There was also some stomach issues right at the end that I had to walk off. So it goes, I'm actively working on finding a solution to that.
It was great to get a run in with Diesel and the Grey, but I feel like I'm holding them back even more on runs than on rides. They never complain and like to joke around (the Grey- "This was good, I needed a recovery run." Me-*gasp huff puff* "Suck it.") but as crazy nutbar ultra-runners five miles through the jungle isn't really what one might call strenuous. I'll get there, and I appreciate the help.
Please don't forget the Ask Super Awesome Wife Q&A post. Go there, ask her anything about anything (seriously, the Google-Fu is strong with her) and she is going to write a response post next week some time.
distance- 5.03mi
time-1:15
I have heard that the Grey is among the clumsiest trail runners I will ever meet. It seems that I took that as a challenge. I met with the boys yesterday after school for a nice run around the Scout Camp trails of Pupukea. Run, as it turns out, would be overstating a lot of it. I did quite a bit of walking. Let's just say there was much huffing and puffing involved. After all, this is not what anyone would call level. It's more what you would call a whole buncha up and down and up again. Not that I'm complaining, trails and elevation changes induce high DSQ levels , which will eventually induce greater Dirtbag Power, which will then allow for pushing to even greater DSQ levels. It's kind of a sick cycle when you think about it.
To make things interesting, I did try to roll an ankle once. It's fine, but I needed to walk it off and didn't enjoy the split second of watching two weeks of training disappear because of a small misstep. Still a little rightness back there as I sit here, but no pain. I also stubbed the crap out of my pinkie toe. Again. I blame both of these things on my Vibram TrekSports, but one in a good way and one in a painful way. I know for a fact the ankle roll would have been worse had I been wearing normal running shoes. In college I was El Ankle Rollo. But since I started wearing the toe shoes I've come close a few times, but never had a real sprain. The true spread of the foot prevents serious rolls. (Message from Fictional Time Traveling Future Dirtbag- Great, dumbass. Since you typed that sentence we've rolled each ankle nine times. Thanks a lot. Jerk.) But the toe sockets also don't offer much (read: any) protection from roots that jump up in front of the pinkie toe. Gotta get my feet up. There was also some stomach issues right at the end that I had to walk off. So it goes, I'm actively working on finding a solution to that.
 |
| I'm not taking a break, I'm taking a picture of the trail |
 |
| Military convoy passed us on the road back |
 |
| My what a big gun you have. |
It was great to get a run in with Diesel and the Grey, but I feel like I'm holding them back even more on runs than on rides. They never complain and like to joke around (the Grey- "This was good, I needed a recovery run." Me-*gasp huff puff* "Suck it.") but as crazy nutbar ultra-runners five miles through the jungle isn't really what one might call strenuous. I'll get there, and I appreciate the help.
Please don't forget the Ask Super Awesome Wife Q&A post. Go there, ask her anything about anything (seriously, the Google-Fu is strong with her) and she is going to write a response post next week some time.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Whiff of Potential
Swim
1 x 200- Warm-up
1 x 500- 7:28
1 x 50- easy
3 x 200- 100-5, 7, 9/ 100- fingertip drag
1 x 50- easy
1 x 500- 7:17
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2000yd
Ride
2 Scoops Pineapple Hill
time- approx 2:15*
distance- approx 35mi*
* stoopid watch battery died halfway up the second lap
Strong day today in Dirtbag Fitness World. I needed a day like this. My swim, while not all that long, left me feeling good about swimming for the first time in a few weeks. Every session recently had been off. I've been a swimmer for long enough to know stuff like that happens and the only way to fix it is to suffer through and wait for the body to catch the expectations. I'm almost there. The set design was pretty simple. Throw down a strong 500. Do a drill set. Try to best the first 500. Did it, check. By 10 seconds too, which is big time as anyone who swims knows. I know I did better the second time because a 200 warm-up isn't really all that much, especially at oh-dark hundred in a cool pool. By the time I got to 500 number two the muscles were stretched and ready to pound. My biggest goal for both 500s was to stay present in them and not lose focus. The more I do this, the shorter the distance gets, the easier it will be to stack sets like this. I can smell the potential for a sub-30 minute Honu swim from here.
And today's ride was one I've been thinking about for months. I knew there would come a time when Pineapple Hill repeats were going to happen. And, to be frank, I was pretty nervous about it. Sometimes that damn hill seems awfully long. But, much like the 500s, repeated exposure has shortened and flattened it a bit. I felt strong, friends, and tried my damnedest to attack each section of the climb. Goals were to pump, stay present, and try like hell to avoid the lightest gear. Mission accomplishedish. There are a few points where the granny gear is still my friend, but I stayed away. In all honesty, the ride wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I don't know if that means I wasn't suffering as much as I should have been or if it means I'm dogging it when I'm doing Pineapple
on long rides. Or maybe today was the breakthrough I've been waiting for and my body has found that
next gear and my mind has recognized the gear's existence as well. Or maybe all this talk about how strong I felt over two laps of Pineapple will just lead to the Grey and Diesel taunting me next time I find myself getting dropped like a burning baby.* Either way, now I know, or I think I know, that I can attack Pineapple better than I have been. Which really means I see three scoops Pineapple in the future.
Don't forget to submit your questions for my first Ask the Super Awesome Wife blog. I'm probably going to be as amused and surprised as you are.
*No, I have no idea where this metaphor came from.
1 x 200- Warm-up
1 x 500- 7:28
1 x 50- easy
3 x 200- 100-5, 7, 9/ 100- fingertip drag
1 x 50- easy
1 x 500- 7:17
1 x 100- Cool down
total- 2000yd
Ride
2 Scoops Pineapple Hill
time- approx 2:15*
distance- approx 35mi*
* stoopid watch battery died halfway up the second lap
Strong day today in Dirtbag Fitness World. I needed a day like this. My swim, while not all that long, left me feeling good about swimming for the first time in a few weeks. Every session recently had been off. I've been a swimmer for long enough to know stuff like that happens and the only way to fix it is to suffer through and wait for the body to catch the expectations. I'm almost there. The set design was pretty simple. Throw down a strong 500. Do a drill set. Try to best the first 500. Did it, check. By 10 seconds too, which is big time as anyone who swims knows. I know I did better the second time because a 200 warm-up isn't really all that much, especially at oh-dark hundred in a cool pool. By the time I got to 500 number two the muscles were stretched and ready to pound. My biggest goal for both 500s was to stay present in them and not lose focus. The more I do this, the shorter the distance gets, the easier it will be to stack sets like this. I can smell the potential for a sub-30 minute Honu swim from here.
And today's ride was one I've been thinking about for months. I knew there would come a time when Pineapple Hill repeats were going to happen. And, to be frank, I was pretty nervous about it. Sometimes that damn hill seems awfully long. But, much like the 500s, repeated exposure has shortened and flattened it a bit. I felt strong, friends, and tried my damnedest to attack each section of the climb. Goals were to pump, stay present, and try like hell to avoid the lightest gear. Mission accomplishedish. There are a few points where the granny gear is still my friend, but I stayed away. In all honesty, the ride wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I don't know if that means I wasn't suffering as much as I should have been or if it means I'm dogging it when I'm doing Pineapple
 |
| Like this but, you know, for real |
next gear and my mind has recognized the gear's existence as well. Or maybe all this talk about how strong I felt over two laps of Pineapple will just lead to the Grey and Diesel taunting me next time I find myself getting dropped like a burning baby.* Either way, now I know, or I think I know, that I can attack Pineapple better than I have been. Which really means I see three scoops Pineapple in the future.
Don't forget to submit your questions for my first Ask the Super Awesome Wife blog. I'm probably going to be as amused and surprised as you are.
*No, I have no idea where this metaphor came from.
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