One week to go

My 30k race is next weekend and I think I'm ready. I've been training hard and sticking to my HR zones that my coach has prescribed for me. Did my final long run today of 2:45 in the friggin snow no less. Managed to get in two outdoor bike rides this week of one hour each. Froze my feet off because I didn't know how vented my new shoes were. I was laughing out loud at myself because my chain came off and as I coasted to a stop I forgot to unclip for some reason. The car driving by must have roared to see a guy simply tip over on his road bike with aero bars. It certainly felt good to get out on the road and although I didn't set any land speed records it was a great change of pace from spin bikes and my new trainer.

Speaking of my bike, I go for a bike fit on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to it because since putting the aero bars on it I am too stretched out and need to shorten the stem. I am going to talk to my LBS and see if I'd be better off with a forward angle post in order to get a closer tri geometry bike.

Anyhow,

Dave

Spring has Sprung!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It may be too early to tell but Spring may be arriving. Kona Shelley must be mad that when she leaves for Cuba, the snow melts and I'm out running in just a long sleeve tech shirt (with pants of course). It is refreshing to see others running as well. I can get awful lonely sometimes when it gets dark by 5:30 and I'm the only living thing that is running that has not commited a crime. It is nice to finish a run and not look like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber when they get off the mini bike (do a google image search if you haven't seen it ). It is simply nice not to be frickin cold.

Riding on a trainer....what can I say. The best thing about riding on a trainer is that it makes me long to be running on a treadmill at my gym. I discovered that at least at the gym, there is always people watching to amuse myself with when I'm on a long run indoors. In my living room, with the kids in bed and dear wife at work, TV doesn't cut it. The people I bought the trainer from gave me good idea. Watch a hockey game (or whatever sport you like) and do things like sprint from whistle to whistle or out of the saddle for the whole power play. Last night there wasn't any hockey games on so I tried to sprint in between stupid things being said while watching the Apprentice. This I do not recommend because there is pretty well always something stupid being said on the Apprentice.

Later

Dave

Long Run

Yesterday I had to do my long run. 2:15 at the top of zone 2. I had to go to Windsor anyhow so I decided to run there for a change of pace. Got dressed in a bathroom of a gas station (my wife hates when I run errands in my tights) strapped on my trusty Garmin and Low Battery flashes in my face. I Truly believe it was Karma because just last week I teased my friend Jane for not having charged hers for the Spring Thaw. Oh Well.

Swam this morning and will do a trainer ride tonight. My better half is working for the next few days so it's daddy daycare for me.

Later

Dave

Lots going on

Got myself a new trainer for my bike. Thanks to Ironcouple from Amherstburg, they had one for sale and it was the right price so therefore it is now mine. Have ridden it twice now and holy crap do I sweat when I ride indoors. On the spin bikes at the gym the room is usually freezing from the air and I don't notice it as much but at home in the living room, I think I'm going to need a thicker mat.



Took the family out to Pelee Inn in Leamington on Sunday and Monday night. My wife has to work so we couldn't really go far. The kids loved it. They swam and swam and swam. It was great to get out of the house for a couple of days and enjoy each other. It is not a bad little place to go for the weekend if your kids are small. Much older than ours and they may be bored, but it was an awesome weekend.

Pelee Inn is hosting a half marathon in April. I'm not sure how this is going to fit into my race schedule but I am seriously considering it.

I hope to get to St Clair this week, I'm sick of dodging old people swimming the short way at the pool in my gym.

Later,

Dave

Spring Thaw 5k

What a great day. The Running Factory in Windsor organized their 16th annual Spring Thaw 5k. Almost 400 registered 5k runners were on hand to cheer on the Kids Dash and kids 1k pre race. They call it the pre race show but it certainly seemed to me that there was a whole lot more cheering for them then there was for the adults lol. My daughter was spectacular in her first ever race and was beaming with pride upon receiving her medal. As I have stated before both of her parents make up an impressive collection of participant ribbons so the deck is stacked against her.

Impressively the 5k went off almost on schedule. The pack was really bunched up at the beginning of the race because the street we started on was fairly icy. After the first 400m however things sped up once we made the turn onto Riverside Drive. Lots of people running the out and back course gave me plenty of time for people watching and when we made the turn I got to see alot of people that I knew on my way back. Personally I had a good run with their time of 23:25 (My garmin had me at 23:00 for 3.14 miles but i digress). I got to see some people from swimming and from work so there was lots to do. My brother in law followed a RW couch to 5k program and finished with a wicked 26.35. Awesome job.
Had a great day
Dave

Bi Lateral Breathing for Dummies

If they made a book like this, I would buy it, if only to identify myself as a dummy while carrying it with me. I was told today to start working on bi=lateral breathing. I was getting nice and comfortable doing it wrong, breathing out of one side only. I was quite happy with this bad habit. I worked hard to ingrain in deep inot my psyche, and today my little bubble burst. If you want to get better, do it right or don't do it.

I could not do more than 50m at a shot without my HR spiking and my frustration overflowing. I know it will get better and I know I will simply look at this as another bump in the road, but for today I want to whine and possibly focus on Duathalon.

All kidding aside however, training hard has taught me that the rewars for the work is always ten fold. I know that giving in weakens me mentally and that is not how someone that wants to be successful in triathalon trains. Sometimes the gains are easy but they are usually hard, but they are all worth it.