tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865217501125943412024-02-07T03:07:20.441-06:00One Crazy SummerIn 2010 I tackled one of the most physically demanding triathlons out there - Ironman Canada 2010. This blog was my attempt to capture all that went into the preparation for crossing that finish line and everything after. After the race I stopped blogging, but for some strange reason I started back up as a way to motivate myself to keep at it, I guess. Regardless, I hope, somewhere along the way, you find something you can relate to.Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-45081582081539331462015-02-01T11:37:00.001-06:002015-02-01T12:11:57.165-06:00Fever Aches and Chills= Easy Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As you can guess from the title there has not been much to say about easy week. Very unplanned easy week. I rode on Sunday the 25th feeling very certain of myself. Did a 30 minute warm-up while watching the Police live DVD and added in Extra Shot from the spectacular folks at Sufferfest. Followed that with the usual 30 minutes of core and thought nothing more of it. A pretty typical Sunday, as the world turns.<br />
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Then, we started to get the sense that the tri-kids were not their usual spunky selves and by the time the sun had set, we were in the middle of a full blown snot fest; full of aches pains and general malaise... and all of this accompanied by a low grade fever and chills. It also became apparent that this was going to include me. I did my best to make it to work on Monday but it was very obvious that I was not going to be an active participant throughout the week and ended up off for Tuesday and Wednesday. I trundled in to sit in front of my computer screen to get done what was needed for two days and basically phoned it in.<br />
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Today, it was time to get back in the saddle and regain some kind of strength. How bad could it be? Well freakin' impossible... that's how bad. My glorious return to sufferlandria was the epic - Violator.<br />
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<br />Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-46245381390392608452015-01-23T19:40:00.003-06:002015-01-23T19:40:54.033-06:00How Rude!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSSlEW2YDX0/VML2oZ78L4I/AAAAAAAACLM/mzFrY85devY/s1600/winnie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSSlEW2YDX0/VML2oZ78L4I/AAAAAAAACLM/mzFrY85devY/s1600/winnie.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Not the day for me. <br />
Running angry and frustrated<br />
the music died in the middle<br />
In my mind I'm going to Caro...... <br />
the last 3 miles<br />
just me<br />
and my controlled breathing<br />
gasping<br />
running around in consummate concentric circles<br />
... dreaming away the bothers.<br />
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Mile 6 would not come and then when it arrived, it would not leave<br />
.... how rude!<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-30922983321419961892015-01-22T17:11:00.001-06:002015-01-22T17:11:40.352-06:00Bless you kind sir!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in the pool today after a wonderful 2 days off. 7x300 on the schedule and it felt fine... actually better than fine. It felt divine. The water was flowing over me as I cut through on the first few sets and really felt like I had something going on. The last few, as always, we a bit of a stretch, but I did 'em. The guy in the lane beside me offered a suggestion after watching me turn off the wall and suggested that i keep my arm up and out instead of going back through the water. Creates a bit less resistance (which is always good) and might add up to a second or two throughout the 300m... bless you kind sir.... bless you.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-53438005586990812832015-01-19T16:58:00.002-06:002015-01-19T16:58:53.332-06:002K or 2000m or 80 laps... you chooseToday was a 2K or 2000m or 80 lap TT. To be honest it was not as much of a TT as a get int eh damn pool and swim 80 lengths and see if I can still hold 1:40 min/100m. The answer to the question is ..... yep.<br />
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This was my 7th day in a row... no wonder I feel tired.</div>
Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-70630928048796074422015-01-18T18:16:00.000-06:002015-01-18T18:16:48.241-06:00Ski Weekend<br />
The weather has broken and we have made our way out to Beaudry again and had the time of our lives. The kids are getting better and better with every day and they are beginning to enjoy the sport.... that said, it take a miracle to get us all out of the house.<br />
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Sat was just a little fun with Tri-Gal takin' off with Tri-girl and and Tri-Boy and I bringing up the rear. And how do we evaluate a good ski day..... no one fell.... more than once.</div>
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At the top of mount Crumpit.</div>
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Action Jackson.</div>
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All alone in the Basswood.</div>
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Apres Ski!</div>
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We made our way out Sunday morning with High School Yodeller and took to the trails sans kiddies. It was good to go your own pace, but on the other hand, no rest for the wicked other than texting now and then that you were alive and your location. </div>
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-73556897195295957462015-01-16T21:00:00.000-06:002015-01-18T18:07:18.707-06:00Round and RoundI'm feeling a little RaTT tonight.<br />
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Round and Round... love will find a way just give it time.<br />
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Why the throwback?</div>
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I did 7 miles at the track at the Centennial. That = 84 laps. 12 per mile. I just chunked them up and all I can say is that I was saved by tri-boy's iPod shuffle. <br />
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Took this video of my journey in time lapse . Enjoy!<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-27263353760627662712015-01-15T18:41:00.001-06:002015-01-15T18:41:48.230-06:00Nothing Fancytoo much going on makes it very hard to keep up with the blog, so if you will permit me, I will update several days at once.<br />
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This week had been busy and I know that with all of this activity, I can eat just about anything and not gain an ounce. I am sensing a full rack of ribs in my future.... yummy!<br />
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Let's see.. we started with a really intense swim on Tuesday. I was have moved forward with my sprint set and added two more reps to round out the distance to 2100m. I was feeling really go on this one and it helped that there was some doofus in the other lane taking me on. Literally, he was sitting at the end waiting for me then he would attack off the wall and try to stay with me for 50 and then he was done for about 3:00 minutes and then he would attack again..... fun. I have no doubt that his helped me keep it real as I managed a 1:35/ 100m avg. Call me the flash.<br />
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Then it was off to Beaudry for a family ski on Wednesday. The thing is, that by the time we got home and loaded the kiddies up with the skis and then we had to stop for a park pass.... I have to be honest it was fairly dark by the time we pulled the skis out of the van and started around the Wild Grape Loop. Tri-Girl and Kid of Steel one headed out as I wrestled with tri-boy's bindings as they were caked with snow and would not quite catch. With our eyes as dilated as pre-teen crushing on One Direction, we headed out and had a great time in the silence and the snow. It honestly did not seem that bad until we got back to the parking lot and the big light made us realize that it was indeed pitch black and we were out way past our bed time.</div>
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Nothing fancy, just a great time with the family.</div>
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And today it was back to the pool. Only 1500m on the docket. I have at least 10K to run tomorrow after work, so no real need to push myself today. That said, it felt good and the times were comparable to my Tuesday work out and fall into that fast-ish category for me. Colour me happy.</div>
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-83648904501126163982015-01-11T14:33:00.002-06:002015-01-11T14:33:32.238-06:00Now if I can only get them to sponsor my tired legsI like the titles of the sufferfest videos... puny and direct. Today, we no exception really. A Very Dark Place. What else would you expect? How about visiting there 5 times within 35 minutes. After a brief warm up you dive in to a set of 5x 4:00 with 3:00 recovery. Those 4:00 are merciless, and I do mean by the strictest definition - without mercy. thing starting with a 110 cadence standing sprint in to a continued 8.5 /10 effort with pushes and climbs in-between.<br />
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Yes, .... yes they do. Now if I can only get them to sponsor my tired legs.</div>
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-27537676587390950272015-01-10T10:02:00.001-06:002015-01-10T10:02:16.709-06:00POP goes the Tri-Guy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Round and round the Centennial Track<br />
Tri-Guy chased his Heart Rate<br />
The Heart Rate though it was all in fun<br />
POP goes the Tri-Guy!<br />
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81 laps = 6.75miles or 10.86K - thank you ipod shuffle!<br />
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BOOM! Longest run since August and it felt like it ... 'specially at about 1:00AM. - Advil to the rescue.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-28652372628619823022015-01-08T09:54:00.000-06:002015-01-10T09:54:29.470-06:00Somehow Strangely Satisfying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Got to the pool some.<br />
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The Centennial and I are getting along just fine and I am pleased with the results. After the initial set of 3x500m with 1:20 in-between, I decided to go back and see what it might look like if I put my self into the scenario of the race distance of 2 K or for my use 2100m or 7x300m. No matter how you slice it, there was a bucket of back and forth and on the 2100m day, I was one of 4 people in the entire pool.... somehow strangely satisfying, yet when you are all alone like that, you start to think about sharks.... not sure why. Maybe think about them motivatd me to keep the pace up as I managed to average 1:37minute/100m average for both. Smiles for me.<br />
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<br />Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-31825535874515355702015-01-04T09:42:00.000-06:002015-01-10T09:51:43.150-06:00The Gag and the Rising: Long ScreamOkay.... not a bad thing that no one really follows this thing, as I have been so busy this week that........ wait a minute, it was not really that I was busy, it was more the fact that Garmin was having a hissy fit an you could not up load any of your data and that meant that there really was not much to post. That said, I was busy. I got in a great TT on Sunday and then 2 epic swims and then topped it all off with the longest run since August.<br />
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There is really not much to say here. We did a 30 minute warm up, as the extra shot does not come with a warm-up.... and then a 30:00 TT. I know it sounds a bit hyperbolic, as I always seem to say that I almost threw up, but guess what, I did. Seriously, the gag and the rising in the back of my throat... caught me completely by surprise. If you are looking for a way to get your numbers and a base line for the Sufferfest series... take my word for it (as I wipe the vomit from my lips), The Long Scream is exactly where to start.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-84911008706211702182015-01-02T15:56:00.001-06:002015-01-02T15:56:07.124-06:00Hell Hath no Fury<div style="text-align: center;">
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Today, I made it to the pros and I am riding again for the national team at the Women's ICU and we are going for a Yellow jersey today. Two big 20:00 races with a TTT at the end that can rip your legs off. Having not been on the bike for a bit, I seemed like a good idea to stay with the usual 30:00 warm-up and in all honesty, I could feel the pain of turkey dinners and the rest of the festive snacking weighing me down. <br />
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In my last workout with Sufferfest, I did the <a href="http://youtu.be/9K4D6_ObeYM">Rubber Glove</a> - the Sufferlandrian physical fitness test. Out of that, I had raised my TT effort and now I was going to have to ride at a bit higher speed when I was asked to hit my 7.0 out of 10. There is no other way to say it, this was going to hurt</div>
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..... and hurt it did. At one point in the second race, a thought entered my mind that this was going to be the one that breaks me. This was going to be the video that I have to stop and cannot complete. That th
ough was banished and immediately replaced with thoughts of the glory and women that would be showered down upon me when I took the title..... besides it was not like I had any choice and the ministry was going to boil me alive if I did not take home the Yellow Jersey.</div>
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All that aside, I love these videos as they consistently get me to do things I never would have dreamed of doing otherwise. <br />
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On a side note, Tri-girl and I took the triathlon kids down to the pool for a little lap swim and some fun. Wouldn't you know it, the pool was closed due to a fouling. WTF!!! This is the 4th time my swim has been cancelled due to a fouling on a Friday since October. I actually stopped going on Fridays, but this was the last day of my holidays, so I mad an exception.... Fuck!</div>
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-83059293874405678412014-12-31T15:40:00.000-06:002015-01-02T15:41:03.620-06:00Brilliant Hospitality<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNqPbQnaj6o/VKcP-iNJHyI/AAAAAAAACI0/_hgi1_3RfyM/s1600/IMG_4288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNqPbQnaj6o/VKcP-iNJHyI/AAAAAAAACI0/_hgi1_3RfyM/s1600/IMG_4288.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a>Made our way up to the lake to celebrate with the M&M's..... easily described as simply brilliant hospitality combined with fantastic food. Now add in the possibility of drinking way tooo much and blowing off fingers with fireworks from Canada Tire and you've got yourself a way of remembering the birth of 2015.<br />
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We all managed to get organized enough to head out on the local trails around the golf course and down to the 307-7th for a grand tour of the abandoned and seemingly derelict cottages of the summer residents. <br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-87222097713330577772014-12-29T14:00:00.000-06:002015-01-02T14:49:23.369-06:00The Whole Gaggle of UsForgot my watch in the chaos that sometimes materializes when the whole gaggle of us head to the pool. Regardless, Tri-Girl had hers and she was into a 30min lap swim so I paced of of her rather than trying to keep an eye on the pace clock witch is perpetually out of focus without prescription goggles.<br />
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So just a straight up TT with a fairly accurate time and completely on par with my last timed effort.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-65200387439219831622014-12-26T12:22:00.003-06:002014-12-26T12:22:53.495-06:00A Sense of Being at the LakeDay after gluttony.<br />
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We, if I was perfectly honest, I did not really eat that much.... haven't been a two plate second helping kind of guy for 15yrs..... well with the exception of Tri-Girl's pie. The dust has settled on yet another fantastic Christmas and Tri-Girl and I decided that today was a run day. Minons got a WiiU for Christmas, so we did not feel like kicking them off the TV for Sufferfest. With some gentle snow -globe snow falling outside and drifting straight down, we knew that the wind was not going to be a factor, so even though it was -11˚C the run was the only option as Centennial was still closed for the holiday. <br />
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There are moments that I tire of the Hearte Trial, but they are few and far between when it is maintained. What a simply fantastic run today. It is 1 mile out to the trail head and then within a few steps you are enveloped in the peaceful calm of the tunnel of poplars and elms that forms the trail. In all honesty, I was realy only trying to catch Tri-girl; who had set out on this adventure about 5 minutes ahead of me. Yet, once I reached the turnaround point, I was having so much fun, I though I would go a bit farther.... no regrets there.... punched the stop sign at Harstone and headed home. <br />
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Greeting people walking dogs and going for walks, you get this sense of being at the lake where you say hi to everyone you meet, or at least give them a wave or a nod. That combined with the lightly falling snow, made my day.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-46814898049355223102014-12-24T13:24:00.000-06:002014-12-24T13:25:47.536-06:00'Twas the day before Christmas<br />
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'Twas the day before Christmas<br />
and on the usual trail,<br />
Tri-guy was running<br />
at the pace of a snail.<br />
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His calf was all fixed<br />
and hammies were stretched<br />
in hopes that decent times<br />
could possibly be fetched.<br />
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This was not to happen<br />
on the roads out today,<br />
as snow turned "Brown Sugar"<br />
and time slipped away.<br />
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And what to his wondrous<br />
eyes should appear,<br />
but a fantastic Santa hat<br />
that was sure to spread cheer.<br />
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So up on his head,<br />
as merry attire<br />
Tri-gy headed out<br />
for a lap of the Shire.<br />
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Left-Right, Left-Right,<br />
'round the course he flew;<br />
wishing festive greetings<br />
to people familiar and new.<br />
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And they heard him exclaim,<br />
as he ran out of sight.<br />
"Merry Christmas to all,<br />
and to all a good night!"<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">All apologies to Clement Clarke Moore.</span><br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-14071193252363182292014-12-23T18:00:00.000-06:002014-12-24T12:56:16.172-06:00Just MaintenanceDay two of swimming and it was a little bit busier with all the kiddies on break. A few people have figured out our secret time and have come to join us. The lady at the desk let us in; however, we had to wait to go on deck until 2:30 when a third lifeguard came on. <br />
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My time in the pool was ouchy. My shoulders and the like were still twitchy and achy from yesterday's TT and I was sure it would slow me down. But then again.... who cares? Its not like these times really mean that much and the bigger issue is that I am getting healthy and putting my self firmly back on the road to full recovery and heading towards completing 1/2 Challenge in August. Thus, in the wee small hours of the season, it is far more important that I just be consistent and swim... in fact some of my best work outs have been when I do not feel like going at all.<br />
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In the end, I was pleased with my day two times and will continue down this avenue as the speed work seems to be doing just that..... working.</div>
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The second half of my swim was the fun stuff. Peaches and Short Pants are signed up for their Bronze Medallion starting in Jannuary and one of the requirements is the timed swim. Now both of them were getting a little worried about this one, and try as I might to tell them that they will be fine, they both were still uncertain. So.... I convinced them to come into my lane and give it a go. Ready or not, they understaood that it was a good idea to get a base-line and we could go from there. </div>
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I paced them out really easy to start as I was still tired from my set and I wanted them to understand that going fast out of the gate was not going to get them anywhere. Nothing like gasping on the lane rope, completely out of breath watching everyone pass you. The timed swim is 500m in 15:00. Like I said, that can seem a bit daunting, but they both did very well and were easily under the time. Short Pants came in at: 10:45 - 2:09/100m, and Peaches came in with a handy 2:30 to spare at 12:26 - 2:29/100m. Nothing to worry about... just maintenance.</div>
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-53805938020915960492014-12-22T17:18:00.001-06:002014-12-22T17:18:26.024-06:00Hypoxia?First day of holidays and the family ended up at the Centennial. Tri-girl and I hit the lanes and the kiddies chased each other about... so much so that I am really not that certain who burned more calories. I decided I have done three and a half months doing my little set of 5x300m to try to get my speed up , so with Rubber Glove fresh in my legs and embedded in my brain, I thought it would be a good idea to do a TT in the pool. 20 minutes seemed a little short, so I settled on 30 minutes which was roughly the same as my regular time. <br />
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My biggest feat, to be honest, was not the time, but losing track of my laps. I get in there and round about 30 laps in I drift off an start thinking about this and that and then I am all befuddled and not sure if that was 34 or 36. I am usually lucid enough to know that is it an odd or even lap, but where to go from there is never quite as clear as you'd think. Maybe it is the effort creating a lack of oxygen to my bran that is causing the lapse in mathematical prowess or it simply could just be that i am a bear of very little brain. Either way, my fears were unfounded as I counted them all with great precision. <br />
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This will explain how I feel in the pool sometimes...<br />
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Anyhoo... I am pretty proud of my time and my average was pretty close to where i wanted it to be. I was hoping for about a 1:40 minute/ 100M and I was pretty stoked when it worked out to 1:39.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-11174407769127003532014-12-21T13:19:00.002-06:002014-12-21T13:19:46.768-06:00Generous Amounts of Chamois CremeAfter a quiet week of exercise and I long week at work, Tri-girl and I descended back to the scene of the crime (quite apropos seeing that these Sufferfest videos are downright criminal). Today we would throw caution to the wind and apply generous amounts of Chamois Creme and lube it up for Sufferlandria's official fitness examination - Rubber Glove.<br />
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The aptly named Rubber Glove is a series of warm up type efforts getting you ready for a 20 minute TT whose results will guide you in your gear choices and speed for the video series. When you are done, you will have some data to drive your workouts.... i.e. avg speed and avg HR for the 20 minutes of suffering. However, what I truly enjoyed, is that it really gave me some pacing for the TT and brought me to one of the fastest TT's in 5 years. Now that's money well spent. Whether it is the videos and training I have done up to this point or where I am at on this particular day - who knows? But what I do know is that I am about 10 videos into the 20 and besides the heart pounding and sweat that characterize each video, I am maybe seeing my first real results from all this hard work.<br />
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Sadly, I am also aware that in increasing my TT pacing, I have shot myself in the foot, as all of my efforts for the remaining videos will be all the harder. I was riding at my last TT pace for all of the first videos and holding 23KMPH for an effort of 7. Now, due to my increased TT AVG Speed, I am going to have to hold 25KMPH for an effort of 7. .... well 25.6KMPH to be exact.<br />
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If you open my data and go to the splits, you will see the completed TT and how that all played out. <br />
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Tri-Girl and I also did a 35 minute warm up to get ready for the TT.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-37688981825505504642014-12-20T12:16:00.000-06:002014-12-21T13:00:20.847-06:00Just Get Through it Without Falling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After being led like a lamb to the slaughter on a weekly basis to <a href="http://nessphysiotherapy.com/">Ness Physiotherapy</a> to have my legs worked on by the jackhammer hydraulics of Chris "fingers" Ciastko, I braved the roads and the melty type temps and headed out on my first run in 9 weeks. I was a bit apprehensive with drizzle drifting down like a cooling blanket of mist and freezing to the road creating the perfect pebbling effect akin to our local curling rinks. However, my fears were assuaged through careful footing and the ever sure grip of my trusty Ravena's. <br />
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It was not a fast run by any means and that was not the point.... a fact I kept reminding myself throughout the 30 or so minutes I was out there. "Just get through it without falling. There is loads of time to build up speed." I tried my best to keep some constant pacing, and, although I did wear my watch, I was also smart enough no to look at it once. <br />
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I was happy to get through the 5K without incident. Things hurt that usually do not later that night, and combined with the 4 hour wrapping session, I was truly laid up. Advil, Hot tub and percussion Massager did ease my pain... but then again, it could just simply be the distraction as the kids took my massager and tickled themselves silly.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-524057449050132812014-12-14T20:47:00.001-06:002014-12-14T20:59:27.701-06:00Agony Extraordinaire: Nine Hammers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today it was my pleasure to check out the latest offering from the minions at the Sufferlandrian Ministry of Educational Cycling and Agony. Although it has been banned by the United Nations as an inhumane path, the <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/training-video/nine-hammers/"><u>Nine Hammers</u> </a>proves to be an excellent addition to the Sufferfest repertoire mixing in Threshold and Vo2 Max efforts with some simply brilliant high-def descends down from the top of the valley of the <u><a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/training-video/nine-hammers/">Nine Hammers.</a></u> Glory and Fame awaits all who can manage to make it through and the promise from the ministry is that your name will be carved in the lava flowing from Mt. Sufferlandria.<br />
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Rite of passage or simply one more in the endless list of tasks set out for you by the incensed Grunter vonAgony, no one is sure. One thing is for certain, though, for the hour that you are in the hands of the team at <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/">Sufferfest</a>, you will SUFFER.... and why, you ask? Well for starters, beach bikes and baskests are for sunday afternoon baguettes and cheese... but, ultimately it is all about: </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">IWBMATTKYT.</span> </div>
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So enough glad-handing and nice-nice.... let's get into this thing a look at all there is to the latest intallement from the people at <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/">Sufferfest</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5MSUl6jP_42iWZzuW-dRMENsSPohkRUAoWI_dmLzGXSNdY1Khg-EKl04HBKbnvHYP_LqnvQakv0WZ9Cc5S96YeuUU6c2RxIjP97W1h1po07wC57p8cIw15tgpdTktmBIrq8Ag89FAtna/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-14+at+6.00.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5MSUl6jP_42iWZzuW-dRMENsSPohkRUAoWI_dmLzGXSNdY1Khg-EKl04HBKbnvHYP_LqnvQakv0WZ9Cc5S96YeuUU6c2RxIjP97W1h1po07wC57p8cIw15tgpdTktmBIrq8Ag89FAtna/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-14+at+6.00.03+PM.png" height="227" width="320" /></a>As you are aware, I am working my way through all of the <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/">Sufferefest videos</a> and Tri-Girl an I have just finished <u><a href="http://youtu.be/-zy9wMsARy0">Revolver</a></u> which would be the equivalent of about 1/2 way through their fantastic set of videos, so I am in no way a great source to comment on the graphics and the like, as they are quite different than what I am used to; however, as the years go by since their original offering of <a href="http://youtu.be/ZsiUXRDKCXE">"<u>Angels</u>"</a> which is also being re-released with <u><a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/training-video/nine-hammers/">Nine Hammers</a></u> with some updates (check the website for specifics) I am consistently impressed with the experience that these videos have to offer.<br />
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So for me, I am always wondering what is in store for my morning? Nothing can be clearer than the screen shot above. It is agony extraordinaire. Designed by Neal Henderson of Apex Coaching, this video takes no prisoners as it focuses on some serious VO2 MAX work combined with threshold efforts.</div>
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In the middle of 3:00 straight minutes of agony Grunter vonAgony shows up and "nails' you with a sledge.... you take the "pounding" with raw determination a grit.</div>
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This is exactly the leg numbing, fast spinning, breath shortening, eye popping, high definition agony that we have come to expect when we hit our trainers and look to the people at Sufferfest for guidance. From the very beginning you get this sense that you are out for a really <strike>demeaning</strike> demanding ride. We are all used to efforts involved in these videos... 20 minutes of intense climbing in <u><a href="http://youtu.be/Qo1l4iS5_w0">The Hunted</a></u> to the TT efforts of <u><a href="http://youtu.be/xNKD276Ft5c">The Long Scream</a></u>. Here in <u><a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/training-video/nine-hammers/">Nine Hammers</a></u>, though, you are really pushing the envelope of what you can take on a bike. In an interesting twist of perception, you give so much in the VO2 MAX efforts, that you actually start to tolerate the threshold work.</div>
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... and what does the minister want? He wants you to hit back and hit hard.</div>
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Then there's the "recovery" time. This is simply nothing more than a hallucinated fancy that drifts by with luxurious visages of descents down Ventoux. Lush and full of twitching corners and epic descents, these little vingettes drift by at such a rapid rate that you barley have enough time to get your breathing in control before that fucking gun goes off again and you are desperately trying to get your gearing right and your cadence strong. <br />
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I loved it. You'll love it. It's hard work that you know will pay huge dividends come outdoor season.</div>
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Have a look.... here is the official preview:</div>
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Lush HD combined with moments of sheer terror</div>
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If I was to look at this particular video with a jaundiced eye and think a little critically, I might ask where the minions of Sufferlandria stand on cycling education. This video is awesome; to that there is no doubt. However, it could be just that much better if there was some thought to the realities of the indoor rider. Not all of us are ICU material. At the start there is simply a lot of cadence and tempo changes, and it seemed that by the time you look down and figure our the gear ratio to get to 95 CAD at 8.0, the gun goes off and there is another change. After some time, you figure out that a lot of this is accomplished by staying in the same gear and simply changing your cadence. For my two cents, it really would have been nice to know that right at the start. I know its picky, but it was a bit of a bone of contention as I rode through the session.</div>
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Preidler encourages you to get in there and bridge that gap.</div>
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For time and money, I cannot think of a better more convenient way to train in the winter. It's fantastic to be a member of a team and to meet with your buddies on the weekend, but when that scenario is simply impossible, these videos from <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/">Sufferfest</a>, and <u><a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/training-video/nine-hammers/">Nine Hammers</a></u> is no exception, take your mindless riding while you ogle your latest series on Netflix to a whole new level. And I have no doubt that when the snow is gone towards the end of May and we return to the roads and trails to get our legs back, we will be strangely surprised at just how nimble our feet have become and how agile our lungs are as we push our suffering to a whole new level.</div>
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Here's my data:</div>
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<span style="color: red;">For those of you faint of heart... thank you so much for reading and end your journey with me here. However if you have a bit of an iron stomach....... read on.</span></div>
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Don't say I didn't warn you...</div>
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I mean it....</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">So I suffered and put myself to the absolute test and came away with my name etched in the lava of Mt. Sufferlandria and I have the sweat equity to prove it. </span></div>
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My head-band at the end of <u><a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/training-video/nine-hammers/">Nine Hammers</a></u>.</div>
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I literally ran into the pool and started my first set with a decent ferocity to make up for the complete lack of interest I had on Tuesday. In fact, I was so exuberant, that I missed the lap button and almost shut the whole thing down. I could tell it was a fast time and I really felt like I was being powered through the water.. GO LEGS! I guess that is what you get when you hit the pool with relatively fresh legs.<br />
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Any how, I am very pleased with my time and I post it here with great exuberance!<br />
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.......... and in other news, my feverish readers, yours truly, Tri-Guy has been invited by the wonderful minions at <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/">Sufferfest</a> to review their newest offering - <u><i>Nine Hammers</i></u> - due to be released to the public on December 18th. I could not be more ecstatic. So heads up, I will be riding this exciting new route this Sunday the 14th and again on the 17th to give you the first hints of its awesomeness and to hopefully offer up some insight into the next wicked sweat-soaked instalment from the wizards at the Sufferlandrian cycling works.</div>
Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-39563920744591953182014-12-09T19:12:00.000-06:002014-12-09T19:12:00.749-06:00Not into it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in the pool on a fairly blustery day. It was one of those times you are not looking forward to it, but you go anyway. I hit the water and I really was not it to it and thought about phoning it in and with a 4:51, you can tell that I basically did.... then I decided to try a set with just focusing on a big reach and went even slower.... then I thought screw this and just put in a fast lap.... plus there was this guy two lans over strutting around like he was somthing.... something with a limp, mind you.<br />
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Any hooo.... times got better with competition and managed a 4:42.<br />
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-17955271929588810302014-12-07T12:53:00.002-06:002014-12-07T12:53:33.007-06:00Spontaneous Combustion<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qO1GgVsTq2U/VISiCO09agI/AAAAAAAACFw/-HQlFtnLj_c/s1600/crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qO1GgVsTq2U/VISiCO09agI/AAAAAAAACFw/-HQlFtnLj_c/s1600/crying.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a>What can i say.... it's not the train that bothers me as much as after that 20 minute climb your are spent and this video is relentless with little to no rest until the last 5 minutes where you literally go so hard you think you are going to crack. The sprint to the finish is relentless.... pretty sure I was on course to demonstrate spontaneous combustion. BOOM! The last 200 m is something you will never forget as you feel like crying when you finally cross the finish line.</div>
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I've been meaning to add that on Sundays, I do about 20mins of core afterwards. Typical set: </div>
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1. plank 30 sec, turn and side plank 30 sec with 10 leg lifts then back to front plank 30 sec then turn to opposite side plank 30 sections with 10 leg lifts then front plank 30 sec.</div>
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2. 3x10 dead leg lifts from the floor to knees to chest and back without heels touching the floor.</div>
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3. 3x10 crunches.</div>
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4. 3x10 sit-ups.</div>
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On a side note, I compared my data from the last time I did this video (Nov 9) and I was intrigued to see that I went 1.6K farther today and had a higher AVG HR and faster AVG Speed, yet burned fewer calories. Hmmmm.... </div>
Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86521750112594341.post-59884778082903104532014-12-03T19:46:00.001-06:002014-12-03T19:46:10.910-06:00Just to fuck with you<div style="text-align: center;">
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What can I say that has not ben said already.... get a bucket, I think I threw up in my mouth a little... seriously. </div>
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I did a 30 some odd minute warm up (see lap splits) and then into Revolver. This video is the epitome of suffer. After what seems to be a very brief warm up (actually 7:30) you turn the corner to stare down the barrel of 15 on minute sprint sets 9/10 effort at 100CAD with an easily evaporated 1:00 rest. A I said to Tri-Girl, after the first three you really start to wonder if you can hold that effort for another 12 sets and you start to second guess you gear choice. You tell yourself just one more and then I will re-evaluate and then you find yourself sticking to it for one more and then one more and then.... well, you tell yourself, there is only three more.... you can do it... and..... you do. BUT... then just to fuck with you, they throw in one more just to see what you are made of.... well... I am made of sweat and whatever that other gunk is that I coughed up at the end.</div>
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Oh, a special thank you to the people at MEC for my GSC10 that arrived yesterday. It is nice to have data. I like data.</div>
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Tri-Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153166001658756615noreply@blogger.com0