left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 75)

I had a great race. Did 2200 in 37:54. My team placed 3rd for women relay!!!!! The water was cold 60*/ I was warm...not bad but the chop was rough!!! It was the hardest swim I have ever done. Typically I breathe every 3rd or forth...this race I was breathing every stroke until I rounded the last corner bouy and let the wind help me in. The full HIM is June 20th...I am VERY nervous. Biked an easy 40 miles today...felt good. I love my bike

Congrats GARY!!!!!WOW

Love reading the updates - congrats Gary and Mav.

I was out of town yesterday for work so treated it as a rest day and will do the scheduled workout today. Planning a 30-minute swim at lunch and a 30-minute run after work then I'm off to host the university's 25-year service awards dinner.

I got my plan together!!!  I'm using Galloway's Long Runs weeks 1-16 then continung with weeks 8-17 building to 16 miles instead of 14 before my Taper... Plus, I'll be building my weekday mileage to 4 miles 2x/week instead of keeping them at 2 miles... not much difference, but I think it'll help.  Then, I pulled the swim & cycle from the Sprint, Basic 12 Week - HR Zone Based

So, my schedule is 3x swim/2x bike/ 3x run... I can run in the morning and switch between swim & bike in the afternoons... so I could even add another day of running, but I don't think it's necessary - especially with Galloway's plan... (how do you get rid of bold???)

Mav - great report...you will be fine on the 20th....just a long, catered training day...enjoy the moment.

Diane - please do not add a 4th run....add a third bike first.  I was actually going to recommend three bikes and 2 runs already.  Remember, the run has the most damaging impact on your body....it is the fastest path to an injury....

All - we do not want to be over-trained....this is worse than under-trained

you all amaze me

sTRIve

Hey y'all,

Really starting to feel good about training again. Yesterday I was at the pool over the lunch hour and swam roughly 800m in 100m increments. I didn't feel particularly "hydrodynamic" but at least I kept at it. Then after work I went for a 30 minute run. I was surprised how fatigued I felt from doing the swim earlier in the day.

Today at noon I did a 40 minute run and it felt really good. I think I did around 6k in that time but I was focussed on time not distance.

Thrilled to report that I have almost reached my fundraising obligation for the triathlon in July. I had been caught off guard that as a guide I not only needed to pay for my travel and accommodation expenses (roughly $500), the registration fee ($100) and for the after-party ($50) but I also needed to also raise $500 for the race's charity, a cancer research center in Toronto. When I found this out a week or so ago I contacted some family and friends and in a week the total raised is up to $475 and there are several donations to come so I guess I can now sleep more soundly knowing that I'm going to be able to participate!

Also great news on the home front - my wife has had her term contract as a student employment counsellor extended for a full year. I'm really happy for her because she LOVES the work and is so well suited for it.

FBP

FBP - give us the information to your charity donation site.

sTRIve

Mav - BREATHE - in through the nose, out through the mouth....slow and deep, 5 times with your eyes closed visualizing the finish line and you run across.  Just like last year, the hay is in the barn, maybe not as big of a crop as last year but it is there nonetheless.  You will be fine.  Trust me.  DO NOT DO ANYTHING STUPID IN THE NEXT 9  DAYS -- like going for a two hour run or a 50 mile ride.  Taper and enjoy - you have earned it.  Finally, remember this --- you will forget the pain the minute they hang that medal around your neck.

left.right.repeat girl......just for a little longer than normal....remember, they will always tell you when to stop.  We are all with you next weekend.

sTRIve....TRIumph....ThRIve

... a funny story to tell ...

My cousin works as a writer in the office of the Prime Minister of Canada. His job is to draft correspondence in reply to letters that citizens (often wackos but not always) writ to the PM. Suffice to say, in such a job one must have a good sense of humour!!

The other day I sent him an email seeking a donation for my triathlon. The message talked about my friend Myra, her being 66 years old and explained,

On July 11, 2009 I will join 400 athletes for a very special event, the Joe's Team Triathlon. With your help, it will be an extraordinary day where we can swim (750 m) bike (20 km) and run (5 km) our way to two triumphs:

1. The triumph of raising funds that will benefit cancer research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Research Center; and
2. The triumph of 30 athletes with visual impairments - collectively known as the Blind Guys Tri Team - reaching the finish line, demonstrating that there truly are no limits on what can be achieved with effort and determination

Mike wrote an email back to me saying,

I will be pleased to contribute to the Bi-Guys Tryin' Team 750 mile swim to benefit Princess Margaret, Girl Guides and 400 other visually impaired athletes over 66 years of age with the runs. I hope I've got that right. Sounds like a worthy cause.

Please have a look at my blog (recently updated!) for information and videos about my upcoming race:

http://petermcdrunning.blogspot.com/

FBP

OMG Pete that is hilarious....I want to write your cousin just to get a reply...that is TV or stand up quality........

Did a nice 45 minute ride today. About 1/3 of it was on a newly paved section of roadway. Nice wide shoulders and not much traffic. Suh-weet !!

Stayed up WAY too late last night watching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. It was a great game and a great series. Pittsburgh Penguins are worthy champions after beating the Detroit Red Wings, who were the defending champions.

Tomorrow's plan is for a 5-6 km run after church in the morning and then swimming tomorrow night.

Hey all!

Been a lackluster week of training for me. One decent ride and one decent swim.  I am trying to take the weekend off to recharge to get back into it on Monday.  Did a 500m continuous swim on Friday at a decent clip.  Feeling better about the 525 OWS next month with no wetsuit.

Kids had their RocketKidz triathlon and they did great.  Daughter took 4th in her age group.  Son hit 7th in his as a pedal broke 1/4 of the way into the ride.  He finished the ride peddaling with one leg.  Smoked the run (~7:15 pace).  Both are very happy and want to do another.  They have a Tetrathlon next weekend (Swim, run, shoot, horse jump) so this was a good warm up for them

Gary - 2 finish lines added for the kids....that is awesome.

Pete - good work

Mav - good karma coming your way all week.....relax

sTRIve

Accomplished MOST of my training goals this weekend. Saturday I was to do a 30 minute ride but I actually went for 45 minutes. Yesterday I was to do a 30 minute run but I actually did 35 minutes. Only thing that I didn't do was swim yesterday. By the time supper was over I couldn't drag my tired butt to the pool. Swimming at lunch today and if the weather stays decent I might try an OWS (don't worry B-Man - I will have someone on shore to watch over me!) practice.

Big week at the FBP house - son Chris graduates from high school (Lord willing). Exams were last week. He picks up his report card today, prom tomorrow then convocation on Friday. 

Freddy Beach graduation update ...

Chris called mid-morning to say that he passed all his courses. Suffice to say he will not go down in the annals of his high school's history for his academic performance but at least he'll be walking across the stage on Friday night and picking up his parchment!

Go Mav!!!!!  You will do great!

Freddy - congrats to your son!

First, once again, thanks to all who have listened to me whine about my swimming.  Today at masters class got there late as usual.  Swam 100, got to the edge and my instructor says "Starting long swim in 10 seconds"  look to see that for me that was 600m.  Swam the 600m continuous.  Technically 700m (if you take out the 10 second break).  Not a beautiful swim but made it.  Yeah for me!!!  total for the day 1500m.

So training is on for next two Tri's.  Will leave the swim plan to my masters swim coach but having to work on a run/ride program.  I think at this point 2 (sometimes 3) runs a week, speed work every other week.  Mainly concentrating on the 5k distance.

Riding will be concentrating on a 20 mile race so probably one long ride 25-30 miles and 1-3 short but fast 10-15 mile rides.  Also will require at least one if not two days off a week.

Take care all!

August I will start incorporating some distance running for the 1/2 in Nov.

Also, I want to do this Tri:http://snakebitetri.blogspot.com/2009/06/registration.html

Sounds like a blast, swimming in the swamp!!

Mav - thinking of you....good vibes your way.

Gary - I am a fan of only two runs a week...it is the sport that can most easily injure you or get you to over-trained most quickly.

FBP - love those graduates!!!!

sTRIve

A couple of updates:

1. Prom was wonderful - Chris looked sharp, his date was gorgeous, the weather was fantastic and he arrived home safely from the afterparty at 10 a.m., exhausted, hoarse and I'm sure a little pickled. Oh well. There are some pics on my blog: www.petermcdrunning.blogspot.com

2. I did a timed swim today at lunch to "simulate" what I will be doing on race day. At our practise session Myra and I figured out that she swims crawl at a pace that I can do breaststroke. So, I did the full 750m today using only breaststroke and my total time was 22 minutes. I expect we will be slower than that in open water and with our tendency to veer off course but at least I have a benchmark now.

Are any of you on Facebook?