Triathlon training officially began on Sunday, March 20th! The first week was a bit of an adjustment (Is that a pun? Is anyone else amused at my chiropractic humor?) as I was making the shift from working out three or four times a week to having eight different workouts to complete every week. That's right, my triathlon training is eight days a week. (Get it? Catch the reference? Admit it, folks, I'm a hoot!)
Ahem. Anyhow. My first week of training was fantastic! I really enjoyed getting into The Actual Training. The first week was quite manageable, also: Running 15 and 20 minutes, Biking 25 and 40 minutes, and Swimming 12 and 20 minutes--all of those spread out across the week so I don't do the same thing two days in a row. I also lift weights twice a week, which I think improves my performance in all of my triathlon activities. (Also I love lifting!) And I'm not actually training eight days a week; I double up on two days since my activities are still pretty short, so I can even have one whole day of rest!
Alas... now for the two steps back: On Friday afternoon, I biked over a patch of ice and hit my face on the ground. Whammo. Oh--did I mention that I had just finished my second swim for the week, hitting the gym over my lunch break? And did I mention that I was trying out a new path hoping (correctly) that it was a shortcut back to work from the gym? For Friday, at least, it was a shortcut out of work and into the ER. The good news is, I don't have a concussion; I didn't have to get stitches because Dr. Moses said the cuts are too close to my eye, so he glued them up instead; and aside from a nasty multi-colored right eye, headaches, and a spine that looks a bit like a boomerang, according to my boss, I am just fine. (Side note: I am so glad I work for a chiropractor!) The bad news is that I can't swim for 2 weeks--no goggles or chlorinated public pool water on this wound for a good long while. Ugh. Also, it looks gross. That's bad news too, let's be honest.
But I will be able to continue with the biking and running portions of my training; I will just have to avoid icy trails and stick to the nice dry roads! I'll keep you posted on my progress in those arenas!
28 March 2011
04 March 2011
Status update
It's officially official: I am registered for the Graniteman Triathlon on July 9th! This is for real now. And since it's for real, let me update y'all on the triathlon situation. My group of friends doing the tri has been slowly dwindling; so now only one other guy and I are registered. How does that phrase go again--the few, the proud? ... I wonder if I can apply that to non-Marines.
I am spending a fair amount of time in a marine setting (like that segue? Nice, yes?) as I still attempt to learn to swim. I feel more and more confident and relaxed in the water, which is exactly what I need to be feeling. On Wednesday, I swam a ladder (in 25-yard lengths: 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1) over my lunch break and it was fabulous. I think that 5 lengths (2 1/2 laps, 125 yards) is the longest I've gone so far--but today I'm planning to squeeze a set of at least 3 laps (150 yards) into my workout once or twice. My Wednesday ladder totaled 625 yards, which is getting close to the 750 I'll need to get to before the tri. So the distance begins to seem manageable--I just have to figure out how to do it without stopping! Killer.
As far as the other two sports involved in the triathlon go: My biking habits are sadly lacking at present. I popped my rear bike tire just before the first big snow last fall; and since that snow never went away, not to mention that it's been snowing every 36 hours since then, I just haven't gotten around to fixing it. (I am not yet hardcore enough to bike all winter long--next year though!) That's high on my to-do list. Once I get a new tire, I'll be biking everywhere again, and I'm really looking forward to it. Yes, it's still cold. But I would rather bike 20 minutes in the cold than walk 45 minutes in the cold, especially now that the snow is starting to melt during the day and turn the sidewalks into long, skinny skating rinks. I also plan to take a spin class or two at my gym once training "officially" starts. I'm still in the pre-training, I think. Now that I mention it, though, I'm not entirely sure when I actually do start real training. Better look into that...
And what about running? you ask--How's that going? Well, my friends, it's going. I have been running at the gym occasionally; I'd guess once or twice a week. I've generally only gone a mile or so, because I tend to run after lifting weights. After about an hour and a half at the gym, I start to feel like a gym rat and need to leave immediately. But enough excuses--I ran just over 2 miles the other day and started to remember that I sometimes do enjoy runs in the 20-to-40-minute time range. I'm even thinking about the 5K at the end of the triathlon; should I try to increase my speed some on this run? It'll be at the end of the event, so maybe I will want to die. On the other hand, it'll be at the end of the event, so maybe I'll have crazy amounts of adrenaline and will just fly the entire run. But I ran the Twin Cities 10-Mile at well over a 10-minute mile pace, maybe 10.30 or so. I'd like to do 3 miles (5K) at a faster pace, I think. And if I want to go faster, I better set a concrete goal so I can train with that in mind. I think a 9-minute mile is feasible... What about 8? Or 7:30? Any thoughts on this one?
I am spending a fair amount of time in a marine setting (like that segue? Nice, yes?) as I still attempt to learn to swim. I feel more and more confident and relaxed in the water, which is exactly what I need to be feeling. On Wednesday, I swam a ladder (in 25-yard lengths: 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1) over my lunch break and it was fabulous. I think that 5 lengths (2 1/2 laps, 125 yards) is the longest I've gone so far--but today I'm planning to squeeze a set of at least 3 laps (150 yards) into my workout once or twice. My Wednesday ladder totaled 625 yards, which is getting close to the 750 I'll need to get to before the tri. So the distance begins to seem manageable--I just have to figure out how to do it without stopping! Killer.
As far as the other two sports involved in the triathlon go: My biking habits are sadly lacking at present. I popped my rear bike tire just before the first big snow last fall; and since that snow never went away, not to mention that it's been snowing every 36 hours since then, I just haven't gotten around to fixing it. (I am not yet hardcore enough to bike all winter long--next year though!) That's high on my to-do list. Once I get a new tire, I'll be biking everywhere again, and I'm really looking forward to it. Yes, it's still cold. But I would rather bike 20 minutes in the cold than walk 45 minutes in the cold, especially now that the snow is starting to melt during the day and turn the sidewalks into long, skinny skating rinks. I also plan to take a spin class or two at my gym once training "officially" starts. I'm still in the pre-training, I think. Now that I mention it, though, I'm not entirely sure when I actually do start real training. Better look into that...
And what about running? you ask--How's that going? Well, my friends, it's going. I have been running at the gym occasionally; I'd guess once or twice a week. I've generally only gone a mile or so, because I tend to run after lifting weights. After about an hour and a half at the gym, I start to feel like a gym rat and need to leave immediately. But enough excuses--I ran just over 2 miles the other day and started to remember that I sometimes do enjoy runs in the 20-to-40-minute time range. I'm even thinking about the 5K at the end of the triathlon; should I try to increase my speed some on this run? It'll be at the end of the event, so maybe I will want to die. On the other hand, it'll be at the end of the event, so maybe I'll have crazy amounts of adrenaline and will just fly the entire run. But I ran the Twin Cities 10-Mile at well over a 10-minute mile pace, maybe 10.30 or so. I'd like to do 3 miles (5K) at a faster pace, I think. And if I want to go faster, I better set a concrete goal so I can train with that in mind. I think a 9-minute mile is feasible... What about 8? Or 7:30? Any thoughts on this one?
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