I know it's Race Season when...

...I do bricks like this:
Bike for 90 min. aerobic and do 3 sets of 5x12 sec. sprints at max. rpm.
3 min. recovery between sets.
Run 40 min immediately off bike with first 5 min. hard race pace.

...and I do swim workouts like this:
400 WU, throw in 100 of stroke drills.
4x75 pull with paddles @ 1:15
50 build to sprint @ 1:00
800 @ 14:30, get out, fast walk to other end of pool and,
500 @ 8:30, get out and fast walk to other end of pool and,
300 @ 5:00.
3x100 @ 1:40 or less + 10 push-ups on deck after ea. 100.
4x25 @ :25 or less + 15 sit-ups on deck after ea. 25.
150 kick @ 3:20
100 ez
3,000 total


...Wednesday mornings are open water group swims at Steve's.

... my bathroom smells like wet neoprene from my wetsuit dripping in the shower.

...my new running shoes are getting dirty.

... I read blogs about great race reports and PR's.

Feel free to leave comments with additions to this list of

"I know it's race season when..."

See you at the races.

Cool, cool, water

I love open water swimming. My first real ocean swim event was a 5K off the island of Bonaire. A 4-naught current and some choppy waves were the only obstacles. The scenery below the surface was a big distraction. Coral, fish, turtles, the pattern of sunbeams through the waves, 85-degree water. I believed I was in heaven. A beautiful blue-water heaven.

My first wetsuit swim was a few years ago at Solana Beach, CA. It was a cloudy spring day and the surf was a bit rough. I joined a group of triathletes that swim there every week and as we waded into the surf, I sensed a feeling of trepidation from the group about having to fight through the shore break to get out to "smoother" water.

I felt pretty calm and just wanted to play in the surf. One of the veterans in the group demonstrated the dolphin-dive technique in timing with the waves to dive in under the wave at it's base (trough) and pop out the other side. I immediately fallowed that lead and had such a big grin on my face I could taste the saltwater more than I'd prefer to.
After the whole group made it out beyond the breakers, we began swimming north and went about 20-30 minutes and then doubled back to finish at the entry point. Going back into shore was really fun as we could body-surf the waves easily with the added buoyancy of our wetsuits. I had such a blast, I went back out to body-surf one more time.
The spring weather here has been less than...well...spring-like. Temperatures have been below normal, way below normal. Which means the water temperatures are below normal by about 10 degrees... LOW 60's. It is definitely wetsuit legal.
The summer season at the local beaches starts this weekend with lifeguards going on duty and taking their vigilant positions at their designated posts. I suspect they'll have a pretty easy time of watching the water for swimmers...lack of swimmers is more like it.
That's good for me though. I hope to slip into my DeSoto for the first open-water of my season and to spite the cold water, I'll be envisioning coral reefs and deep blue water and body-surfing the shore break.
Have a good Memorial Day weekend and good luck in your races.

Uh, you're kidding, right?

I got a laugh when I took a link to GQ Magazine and there were some photos of 'Gossip Girl' actor, Chace Crawford, all "dressed up" (hint of sarcasm) and the price tags that went along with what he was wearing.
Please excuse me if I'm ignorant here but I don't see why these clothing items could cost that much. A little help here... or just have a little giggle for yourself.


Hoodie, $540, and shirt, $330, by Prada. Pants, $325, by Ralph Lauren. Sneakers, $42.


Polo shirt, $265, By D&G. T-Shirt, $65, by Rag and Bone. Khakis, $295, by Burberry London.

A Polo shirt for $265 !? Really?

In all fairness, I'm sure Chace would have a good laugh if he saw what some triathletes (Benson) will pay for clothing and equipment.


Newton running shoes. $175.00


Rocket 7 cycle custom tri shoe. $489.00


QR Caliente, one of a kind paint scheme. Priceless.

Good news, bad news

Having no bad news in my personal life and training, the default would be good news.
Right?
That's right.
Work is going along on an even keel.
Non-work is pretty well too.
Training is going well.
Spring weather is making a good effort to stay around and signs of life are becoming more evident.

pink lady's- slipper

But...
Then I hear reports on the radio and see TV news and I get a little scared and sick at the same time.
"7 year old boy steals mom's SUV and smashes into several cars...". Boy says "it's fun to do bad things".
"College woman is robbed and assaulted in her apartment." My office is one block from Univ. apartments.
"[sports figure] puts plastic dry cleaning bag over toddlers head."
"gas could be $7.00 a gallon by 2012."
"employee who stops an assault and robbery of a woman at his gas station is fired for his instinctive reaction." Company policy is "don't get involved."

I like being near "the big city" for all the events, services, and culture it offers but I hate, really hate, to hear and see the bad that a big city offers too.

I did hear these that gave me some hope.
"10 year old boy competes to raise money to help pay for his mom's cancer treatments."
"Lottery winners will donate to help fight a childhood disease that killed their granddaughter."

Staying positive but watching my back.

boing, boING, BOING!...splat.

HAPPY MAY DAY

Spring has spru....

check that.

Spring is TRYING to spring.

I won't sugar coat anything here.
The weather has been mostly crappy the past 2 weeks and the forecast for the next week is more of the same crap.
Pardon my bad attitude here but I really want some descent weather to train OUTDOORS. The past 2 weekends I've had to do my runs at the indoor track and last Sunday I got snowed on during my ride. Frickin SNOW on April 27th! It was 41 degrees and big, wet snow flakes were splatting on my glasses.

Kris, me, Nick...snow.

OK, there is a little bright side to this. The sun was shining last Wednesday and again this Tuesday and yesterday, and this morning but it's been chilly. Now the western sky is darkening and we're in for cold rain and thunderstorms for the next few days. Am I getting old and crabby and picky or is this spring truly a little off the mark as far as "nice spring weather"?
I know I'm solar powered, as many triathletes are, and I need the warm sun and wind to feel alive. Those of you in warmer climates (read south of the 45th deg. parallel) are likely enjoying some blooms and blossoms by now. My trees started to bud a week ago but have been in suspended animation since then. What is going on here?

I'm gonna stop whining now and do what Lance says to do...
"tuffen the Fu@# up."

Training is going fine even if the weather isn't.

What's the poop?

Dog poop, that is.

I can tell it's springtime when I can see all the dog poop in the yard...
and I get to bike and run outdoors. Finally.
I'm deep deep deep into the ironman training and it's going fairly well. 2-a-days are now normal and even a 3-per now and then. I still have some minor aches in my genetically inferior knees and falling arch, but since I've re-tooled my running technique, the aches are manageable and usually short-lived. I really enjoy my runs with my dog too.
She has a new boyfriend. An Airedale named Eddy. Eddy is a rescue dog and for the past 3 weeks, he's fallen in love with my little Pitchka. Their first week was a bit edgey but now they play and wrestle like puppies. Eddy belongs to a friend and we get together for a run or walk a couple times a week and turn the dogs loose at the off-leash dog park. Good times for all.


Eddy at the dog park.

Y'all have a good weekend. I'm gonne scoop poop.