First one on one with Jason. Lots of side swimming drills, lots of on deck stuff and it was all filmed. One thing for sure, I gotta shave my back!

Great lesson. I was wearing flippers and when I took them off I could barely move! hmmmmpf!

I think this is going to go well, if he doesn't make me do too many things at once!

A couple of quiet, pensive moments today on 9/11

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I must have worked hard on Sunday. I'm still sore. Very sore. Legs and lower back are tight. I should have had a massage.

My first swim lesson is with Jason today. He's already started breaking down my style. He had me breathe every 4th breath instead of 2. I got so messed up that I couldn't count my strokes. Lets' see what excitement he has planned for me - I think today is video day. I'm ready for my closeup Mr. Demille.

I've also posted my goals. Keep in mind that these are in progress until I nail them down.

Masters' class with Jason. He has started to change my breathing and stroke. He has made me breathe every 4 strokes, not two and push down at the end of the stroke - a lot like Starcorp is always going on about.
Jason also wouldn't shut up about the improvements made by trisportnick! Although personally, I wouldn't want anyone talking about my stroke.

I see potential for some real learning here. My breathing is better, but I'm so focused that I can't count my strokes...I'm sure I'm around 20, but I'm counting something like 45....
It felt good on the sore muscles to be in the water!
lap count is a guess.

Trying to stretch this pain out of my legs and lower back.

Some new race photogs are up on my album and my race report

It's a little bit funny.

All the goals I put up, I put them up sometime in January and I never changed them...except maybe adding the half-ironman that I wasn't supposed to do till next year.

As it turns out, in addition, I completed every goal. This is either good planning or luck. Probably both. I didn't do any duathlon, though (although I did do an aquathlon) There just were not any that were held near here - there is an off road one at the end of the month, but I'm volunteering for that.

Anyway. I'm going to take a good hard, long look at these goals and marvel that they were all achieved. In the next few days, they are all coming down and some new, perhaps more concise stuff, is going up.

Oh yeah, and I'm really, really sore. My calves are killing me and the rest of me is just generally grumpy. But I had a good sleep!

Queen City Half Marathon
Felt good and strong started a little fast, but kept consistent.
Got a little lazy near the end and felt like I had to walk and did briefly. Sprinted last 750 and full out last 250 hitting top speed of 16 kph. and pace of 3:45...obviously I didn't need to walk...I had lots in reserve.

Had ipod in different place and I still got an initial HRM reading of 220 and then 4 spikes at about 220 for no reason...I don't think I was even running quickly...Maybe it is my heart!!! I'm ignoring anything over for the max below.

Stretching while watching Port McQuarrie Ironman on TV.

Post race update...

 Race Report is Up!

Okay, personal best...thanks to all who got me here. I started to whimp out with 3k to go and walked a spell, but I kicked my own @ss and started running and sprinted the last 750m...thanks for al the support gang...

Average Pace 6:25 so way bettered my previous 7-plus minutes per K

2:19:26...Previous was 2:35 or something....

Chip time 2:17:24!

Here we go!

One more annoying race to go and then the fun training begins. Can't wait.

Second Masters' swim class. Coach was there today. Did some really easy flotation and gliding drills...I almost drowned, but drank lots of water so I'm well hydrated for Saturday. Too few laps to bother counting.

Stroke count was 22.

Decided to sleep in till 6:30 this morning. Even though my eyes rolled open at five. Some swimmy swim today, a couple of k pre-race tomorrow. Half Mary on Sunday, and then my whole new world of training opens up in front of me.

And boy is it chilly in Minsk!

And for the record, the QCM race package sucks! Or does it blow? A coupon for two4one (medium!) coffee - at a pretty good place, mind you; a dentist's business card (nice packaging though-very urbaine, but a bit jejune); some regular strength Tylenol (come on, regular strength? - this isn't croquet!); and two Goody hairband/scrunchie things...Now those I can use!

Did a quick "taper" run. Again with the crazy HR. I was at 240 and way above 100% for 7 minutes. I tried to keep it in Z3, but I got distracted by the high HR at the beginning of the run. I didn't feel any more or less out of breath, couldn't feel any thumping...It must be electrical...Hey maybe it is my ipod. I'll try that next time.

That's it! No more early rising for me...I think I'll just sleep my way to IMC.

Early rising no good for the heart: study

Today is the next day in the rest of my life.

I thought I would try getting up and out at crack of stupid just to get a feel for what I'm going to be doing for the next 300 plus days.

It is still dark out. It is still dark in.

I might as well just start a landslide in my ego...will I follow?

Masters class at the lawson.

did kick drills for the first time in my life! Lost count of how many laps I did. I'm guessing about 1.2k.

Felt wet, but good wet.

Move over Weigh2Go...My turn to throw up. The deed is done, no turning back now.

Okay, so now I begin my masters swim class. time to get my act together.