Southwestmba/Andy's excellent adventure group-Full (Page 12)

I was pulling for the Schleck bros., but only because they ride Trek, lol. I watched bits here and there -the wife wasn't a big fen of the 'pillowtron', as she called the peloton and she preferred to watch something else with me- and the legs and stamina those guys must have! I don't know what stage it was but there was one that went winding up the mountain, up, up, up! I thought of the trouble I had with these little hills over by Ann Arbor and could only shake my head as these guys HTFU that hill, er, mountain. I know very little about 'real' cycling but I thought more would have aerobars on the stages that weren't TT's, I found that interesting.

I've been getting up at 5am on my running days to avoid the heat and humidity.  It's still in the 80's, and I come back drenched for my runs.  I've also taking to riding in the basement.  I think I'm actually getting some better workouts since there is no coasting or stopping, but I find I'm a little lazy about kicking up the intensity.  This week, I won't be able to slack so easily with the arrival of a long awaited Computrainer.  It took me a long time to save my lunch money, and to be on my best behavior around the house to earn it.    Already took a ride on the stick portion of the Ironman Wisconsin course which I hope to do next year.  Wow!  What I difference.  I can see why Andy does well on the bike.  There's a lot to learn about the capabilities of this thing, and how to train with it.

On the racing front, I did a 5 miler a couple of weeks ago.  Managed to set another PR for me on the course, taking 40 seconds off my previous time.  Next up is the Annapolis 10 miler, and then the Nation's Triathlon. 

thanks Andy!  you know, i got all excited about IM NYC when i first heard about it...but am really unenthusiastic about the looped course, let alone the price point!  yowzers.  as for the hudson, i've swum in it many times (for NYC tri and in NYC open water swim races) and it's fine.  just...keep your mouth closed.  hahaha.  i'll probably volunteer, though, so i may see you if you come out for it.

Good Luck with your tri and the heat.  I started my run at 6am yesterday, it was already 84 degrees.  I feel for you.

Back from the Island Lake of Novi Tri, a 880 yd swim, 12 mile bike and 3 mile run that according to my Garmin was a 15 mile bike and 3.2 mile run. And the swim DEFINITELY looked longer than the 880 I did for the Ann Arbor tri, but who knows perhaps that one was a little short.

I felt good about it overall. I'll have a race report up later, when the results are posted. I feel I progressed; my breathing and stroke were better in the swim, my transitions were better (although that's not saying much). My mindset was such that I didn't feel like a newb! I had a glimmer of experience to fall back on as this was my third outdoor tri. The heat wasn't as bad as what Hip experienced, I'd say it got to 84 around transition #2, so the run got a tad warm...but like 'Ole Rooster Cogburn, I think I displayed 'True Grit', lol! At least at the end; I finished the last 350 or so yards with a good kick and passed some folks that were over 100 yards in front of me. One of them was a girl who afterwards teased me about cutting corners.

Sounds like you had a good race and are encouraged by you improvement.  Nice job!

On the training front, I had a good biking month for me.  309 miles this July, as compared to 323 miles during all of my self-imploding year last year.

REST DAY!!!

Not a moment too soon; the other day I made the decision to accept my Hep-B vaccination; I was worried about pain or side effects and the handout said only 1 in a million have significant side effects. Thirty minutes later I'm dizzy, and beginning to itch, congrats Joe! You are special. Later was a swim day with the bum shoulder, goodbye good form! Yesterday was this 'mini tri' of training where I did a little bit of everything. Scratch 'little bit'; so I'm excited to go home and vegetate!

I've been getting in some nice runs lately.  The highlight this weekend was a run from my house down Rock Creek Park that runs through the center of Washington DC, finishing up at the zoo, and then taking the Metro back home.  Today was a speedy (for me) extended loop before work with a new pair of shoes.  My old shoes had just over 300 miles on them, but being a heavier runner, that's about all I can get out of them. I was surprised how cushiony the same exact new shoes felt.  I'm really enjoying some slightly cooler and less humid mornings this past week as well.

At home, checking out triathlonlive-tv, the Elite Men's event in Hamburg. These guys ARE elite! Amazing! I just finished watching these guys do the swim, just rocking it in like 16 or so minutes, then jumping out of the water to transition, to bike then off! Amazing level of fitness.

I did 5 miles today, trying to get some final fitness for a tri I have coming up Wednesday. Does anyone do 'ChiRunning'? I bought the book on discount at the Border's closing and it has some interesting concepts. So I was implementing them a little today.

IronMan Canada! I heard that event sold out in one day, is that the norm for the IM events? Good luck Andy...

I've had a good week of training. Thursday I established a new PB in the 5 mile run, 42 seconds better than my previous PB; it now stands at 55:20, a 11:04 min/mile rate. Yesterday I established PB's in both the 100 and 400 yard swims, the latter coming after a session of speed building, so that was neat. I cut 12 seconds off of my 100 yard PB and it stands at 1:26, while my 400 yard time is 8:19, or a 2:04 pace. Actually, to be fair to myself it might be even faster; there was a lap that my ADD set in and I wasn't sure if I did the lap or not so I maybe did it again. What is equally exciting is that I can see obvious room for improvement in both areas; I don't expect any of those PB's to last the year.

I think I'm learning how to do this!

In other areas of improvement, I gained a PB in pant size for the year, it now stands at size 34, while at work I have received a compliment of 'buffed' twice in two weeks; normally it's less than one. Much less :P