For all you math majors...that's half a meter...I'm not sure how many feet that is in American, likely close to 2. In any case, we're supposed to get hammered once again with a huge snowfall tonight and tomorrow.
So the SCCC group jams that I usually count on for long, hard miles in the saddle are yet again replaced with mind (and taint) numbing sessions on the trainer.
Apart from winter's refusal to make way for spring, the training is going OK. A 20 minute critical power test on the trainer shoes my FTP to be in the neighborhood of 325W. I'm pretty confident that an outdoor test will yield higher numbers but I'm content with where we're starting out the 2008 campaign
Running frequency is up to 6/week and my stride feels like it's coming together. Still most runs are easy-steady around 4:20-4:30 pace but they feel good and they feel easy.
Swimming is still a bit of an issue with some rib problems but I'm getting a few easy swims in every week and getting some feel. The swim fitness will come pretty quick assuming everything else is firing!
Now, it's time to sit back and see what mother nature has in store for us...I swear this better be the last of it. Seriously, how full of shit was Al Gore this global warming thing? :)
Until next time, keep fit and have fun!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Whoa, it's been a while...but it's still winter
And it's still fucking cold and gray and cold.
While it's not a big surprise to still be dressing in countless layers of clothing to go for a ride or run in late February, I always get pretty tired of it this time of year.
It doesn't help to read and hear about friends heading to Tucson or South Carolina for a couple of weeks of great training in nice weather.
And just when I'm on the brink of S.A.D. (look it up) I slip on some ice last Tuesday while running and I've done some damage to my ribs/intercostal muscles. I haven't gone for an X-ray yet, mainly because I don't think there's anything you can do for cracked/broken ribs anyway.
I've still been able to train, the riding feels fine, running hurts (but that didn't stop me from entering a 1/2 marathon on Sunday...bad decision that I'd rather not talk about!) and swimming hurts - just annoying, persistent pain but it effects my stride and stroke if I don't take it easy.
Until next time, I'll be toiling away on the trainer or trudging through slush and snow, longing for the days when I'm suffering like a dog in the heat and humidity that is hopefully around the corner.
While it's not a big surprise to still be dressing in countless layers of clothing to go for a ride or run in late February, I always get pretty tired of it this time of year.
It doesn't help to read and hear about friends heading to Tucson or South Carolina for a couple of weeks of great training in nice weather.
And just when I'm on the brink of S.A.D. (look it up) I slip on some ice last Tuesday while running and I've done some damage to my ribs/intercostal muscles. I haven't gone for an X-ray yet, mainly because I don't think there's anything you can do for cracked/broken ribs anyway.
I've still been able to train, the riding feels fine, running hurts (but that didn't stop me from entering a 1/2 marathon on Sunday...bad decision that I'd rather not talk about!) and swimming hurts - just annoying, persistent pain but it effects my stride and stroke if I don't take it easy.
Until next time, I'll be toiling away on the trainer or trudging through slush and snow, longing for the days when I'm suffering like a dog in the heat and humidity that is hopefully around the corner.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
"You must be dedicated...
...to be running out in this cold weather" was a comment made to me today as I was out on a great little :50 run at lunch.
We've had a bout of warmer weather in my neck of the woods over the last week or so, today was the first day in about a week that was below 0*C (-1), I thought it was a great day to be out. Not like somedays when I really struggle to get outside, today was a no-brainer; probably about 10-12*C above my "treadmill temperature threshold."
I started to think about her comment and her perspective as I continued my run. This was just one little run on what I thought was a great day to be outside. From her tone of voice I gather she thought what I was doing was crazy, if it was up to me, I'd be out for a much longer run or a nice bike ride; different perspective. I (along with MANY other athletes) am not only willing to train despite a bit of snow in the air and a cool breeze, I enjoy it.
But she was right: "you must be dedicated." Today it was easy. I don't imagine I'll be racing that woman this summer, so doing something that she (and honestly most people) thought was crazy is no big deal. At some point between now and the 2008 triathlon season I'm gonna hafta do things that really do take dedication, things that my competition not to mention the lady on the street are unwilling to do.
Today I'm enjoying the easy, no-brainer days. I wanted to blog this so I'd remember that comment during the workouts that aren't so easy, the workouts that will hopefully set me apart.
We've had a bout of warmer weather in my neck of the woods over the last week or so, today was the first day in about a week that was below 0*C (-1), I thought it was a great day to be out. Not like somedays when I really struggle to get outside, today was a no-brainer; probably about 10-12*C above my "treadmill temperature threshold."
I started to think about her comment and her perspective as I continued my run. This was just one little run on what I thought was a great day to be outside. From her tone of voice I gather she thought what I was doing was crazy, if it was up to me, I'd be out for a much longer run or a nice bike ride; different perspective. I (along with MANY other athletes) am not only willing to train despite a bit of snow in the air and a cool breeze, I enjoy it.
But she was right: "you must be dedicated." Today it was easy. I don't imagine I'll be racing that woman this summer, so doing something that she (and honestly most people) thought was crazy is no big deal. At some point between now and the 2008 triathlon season I'm gonna hafta do things that really do take dedication, things that my competition not to mention the lady on the street are unwilling to do.
Today I'm enjoying the easy, no-brainer days. I wanted to blog this so I'd remember that comment during the workouts that aren't so easy, the workouts that will hopefully set me apart.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Beautifully Ugly
Probably best describes my first swim "workout" since October, I loved every second of it but I bet it was U-G-L-Y to watch.
After spending my formative years fixated on the black line, starting set after endless set 'on the top' I go through periods where the last thing I want to do is pull on my speedo and go for a dip.
I've tried to force myself back in but I always end up hating it. I've now learned to let it go a bit, that it's OK to not swim. If I don't feel like swimming I do something else, for the past 2-3 months I haven't felt like it, I also haven't stressed about it. Sure, it's a nice luxury to have as a strong swimming triathlete but today I felt like swimming so I swam.
It was good to be back, I sucked, but it was a good suck. The sound of the water rushing past my head and was calmingly familiar, I guess I'm still a swimmer after all....even though 2001 me would laugh his ass off at the pace times 2008 me is using.
After spending my formative years fixated on the black line, starting set after endless set 'on the top' I go through periods where the last thing I want to do is pull on my speedo and go for a dip.
I've tried to force myself back in but I always end up hating it. I've now learned to let it go a bit, that it's OK to not swim. If I don't feel like swimming I do something else, for the past 2-3 months I haven't felt like it, I also haven't stressed about it. Sure, it's a nice luxury to have as a strong swimming triathlete but today I felt like swimming so I swam.
It was good to be back, I sucked, but it was a good suck. The sound of the water rushing past my head and was calmingly familiar, I guess I'm still a swimmer after all....even though 2001 me would laugh his ass off at the pace times 2008 me is using.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Happy New Year!
With the exception of a few 'ZEROES' over the past few weeks to do the holiday rounds, training has been rolling along OK. The volume is pretty low but I've been trying to get some quality/intensity in most days.
On the competition front (if you can call it competition), I ran my first beer mile just before X-mas and man did I under estimate the difficulty of that event! A beer mile consists of 4 beers, 4 laps of a 400m track, alternating beer/lap. I came out on top of our little group and finished in 7:40. We had about 6" of wet snow to run through so I think I can get close to 7:00 with a faster track. Regardless, it was a fun event, I think there's video footage floating around out there. I'll see if I can get my hands on it and post it here.
Keep fit and have fun,
Ian
On the competition front (if you can call it competition), I ran my first beer mile just before X-mas and man did I under estimate the difficulty of that event! A beer mile consists of 4 beers, 4 laps of a 400m track, alternating beer/lap. I came out on top of our little group and finished in 7:40. We had about 6" of wet snow to run through so I think I can get close to 7:00 with a faster track. Regardless, it was a fun event, I think there's video footage floating around out there. I'll see if I can get my hands on it and post it here.
Keep fit and have fun,
Ian
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Grinch
My lovely wife ladies and gentlemen. One of Elisabeth's co-workers photoshopped her into the Grinch for an office Christmas card...I thought it was funny so I blogged it.
Monday, December 17, 2007
SNOW!!!
Yesterday we got nailed with a huge snow storm in the Niagara Peninsula. I'm not sure how much actually fell but I've spent about 2 hours over the last 24 shovelling snow, good core and upper body training I guess!
On Saturday however I had one of the best (most fun) rides I can remember. It was -10C when I left the house at 8:30 to meet a group of guys for a trail ride. A couple of us were on cross bikes but most were on their MTBs as we hit the snow covered single track we are so lucky to have in our "backyard." We spent 3 hours bombin' through a nice covering of ~10cm of powdered snow, up hills, down hills, over little creeks, through tight switchbacks...so much fun and much better than riding the trainer or rollers!
Saturday was perfect, the snow was deep enough so that my crappy cantilever brakes were useless and soft enough that I didn't care! Cold enough that you were happy to get off the roads and into the trails and even happier to dive into that large coffee at Tim Hortons post ride. Just a great winter ride.
Now we're up to our ears in what Elisabeth calls "a beautiful winter wonderland" and it isn't much good for anything (the shovelling workout notwithstanding) Back on the tready and trainer today...I guess I could use this weather as an excuse to get log some serious miles in the pool, we'll see ;)
Try to enjoy the snow and train safe, Ian
On Saturday however I had one of the best (most fun) rides I can remember. It was -10C when I left the house at 8:30 to meet a group of guys for a trail ride. A couple of us were on cross bikes but most were on their MTBs as we hit the snow covered single track we are so lucky to have in our "backyard." We spent 3 hours bombin' through a nice covering of ~10cm of powdered snow, up hills, down hills, over little creeks, through tight switchbacks...so much fun and much better than riding the trainer or rollers!
Saturday was perfect, the snow was deep enough so that my crappy cantilever brakes were useless and soft enough that I didn't care! Cold enough that you were happy to get off the roads and into the trails and even happier to dive into that large coffee at Tim Hortons post ride. Just a great winter ride.
Now we're up to our ears in what Elisabeth calls "a beautiful winter wonderland" and it isn't much good for anything (the shovelling workout notwithstanding) Back on the tready and trainer today...I guess I could use this weather as an excuse to get log some serious miles in the pool, we'll see ;)
Try to enjoy the snow and train safe, Ian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
