Bad Blogger

Okay... so life here has been nuts and in the middle of it all, I have been trying to maintain this daily blog as I work my way towards the Liberty 1/2 Iron.  No big surprise, I was a bad blogger on Sunday and missed posting my run.   I have also been at odds, as my Garmin 305 is just about out of juice, so I am using a stop watch an Google Earth to figure things out.

Sunday:

the goal was 90 minutes.  Okay so no Garmin.... then I had to bust it out old skool.... like I said, Google earth and a stop-watch.

Man you should have heard the frogs on t he Harte trail... wow at points you would have to yell to be heard.

I really have to be honest and say that I did not want to do this run.  My legs were still giving me grief after the bike on Sat, but I guess that is the point, so I threw on the shoes and went out to see the world.  The day was cloudless and started out at about 10˚C and was smokin" by the end and hit about 18˚C.... nothing like running in shorts.

  So Google earth said I did 10 miles...(well 9.97 to be exact, but let's call that 10 miles or 16.0934 Kms).   Anyhoo I did this in 1:30:07.  Lap times were:  44:33, 45:33. Exactly one minute apart.   I stopped at  roughly the 5k and the 10k mark for a GU for 1 minute. I had a swig of Gatorade at roughly the 15 min mark.  So... that would make a moving time of 1:28:07 for 10 Miles which = 8:48 minute miles or  1:55:28 1/2 marathon..... I could live with that.  In reality there will be stops so... my time of 1:30:07 = 9:00 miles on the nose or  1:58 1/2 marathon - I could also live with that.

Today started in the pool.  2x200 Free/100 Kick. 6x50m Decreasing Stroke Count (1:15 repeat). 2x: 500m Pull (1min), 5x100 (2' repeat). 6x50m (25Free/25Choice).

This set got me.....I was ready to pack it in on the 200 free.

Here's me in my lane after about 75 meters....

Everything hurt. I stuck with it, though and toughed it out. The 6x50 came in at 0:39 to 0:45 - not much rest here. 500 pull was 9:18/ 8:38 - picked it up in the 2nd.  The 5x100 on 2:00 was a killer, as I was cooked and hit the 100's in about  1:35 - 1:40, so no rest for tri-guy.  Wow.... I am tired just writing this.

Then the day just seemed to go on and on into a bike.  By the time I was done with soccer, it was 6:20.  I hit the road without a Garmin or a watch.... I just rode.  I went out to the road end in Headingley as hard as I could.  I took about 30 sec a the gravel and then hammered it home.

Alls I knows is that it was about 22K and I wore my singlet and bike shorts and the weather was brilliant.... then as I crossed the tracks into Headingly I noticed their new stop sign... one of two actually.

 I just love the new stop signs... I didn't stop in either direction out of spite.

One dead Garmin

Garmin died today... sigh.  Going to try to replace the battery as it does not seem to want to hold a charge..... either that or new gift for greggy.  Anyhoo... I headed out to Baie St. Paul Bridge and got in 82.09K - now this is going from previous data, as, like I said, my Garmin died.  I am estimating my time at 2:50 riding with a 10 minute rest at the bridge.  That would give me an average speed of 28.97KMPH.  Had next to no wind on the way out and a head/cross on the way back, but what a beautiful day... loads of frogs and the skunks are up, as well.

Here's the load in of food.... nummers

This is what I got before the Garmin died:



The day was absolutely gorgeous.

Then....  Just used a watch and Google Earth for this one, since, as I may have mentioned, my Garmin died.  So I went 3.22 miles in 26:09 which gives me an average pace of 8:07 minute miles.  Not too shabby considering my legs felt all noodly. Some doubt in there, but I did it on some pretty tired legs as they did not get much rest as I rode them fairly hard last night at something like 7:00 p.m.

P.S.

Went to Stuart's Horology and they said that the only way to fix the Garmin was to contact them.... great.... I will have it back by Christmas.  WOooo hooo..... I have a feeling Father's Day will come early.

I didn't want to, but i did

Yep.  Long stressful day and into a fun soccer practice.  Came home to a wonderful dinner and a very tempting glass of wine.  So I ate and then... yep down to the basement and I shifted into auto-pilot and got into the kit.  Off to the garage and then onto the bike.  I have to do it....



Watch this video and then  you know why I go.....  it is my choice.

After some work stress

To say that it has been a stressful week is an understatement, but the delicate balance goes on.  As one VB put it... it will all blow over... it always does.  However, in the meantime, I am left to feel like I am the root of all things wicked..... in fact, for the first time in my life I was called a bully..... and let me tell you that left a mark.

To clear my head, I ran.  I ran from skewed arguments... from prejudice... to be numb.  I recorded the data, but it is not worth posting.  Let's just say.. I cleared my head... for a bit.

Then it was into the pool today..

4x150 (100 Free/50m Choice. 6x50m Pause Freestyle (Take 3 strokes then pause on your side for 10 kicks, continue). 10"rest. 2x300m Swim (:30), 2x200Swim/100kick (:30), 2x300 Pull (:30). 6x50m (25Sculling/25Choice)

My question.....

Really.... wow... the 300m sets with :30 se rest were awesome and I am actually starting to feel okay at the end.  I am just a freakin' energizer bunny.  My stroke is solid and I am really focusing on a tricep push to get the last of of every stroke.

Whatever.. it has been a hell of a week and I default to a well known fact:

Gasping on the side of the pool

Managed to get into the pool this morning and I was really happy to have company for the first time in a long time.  Today, oh faithful readers, I swam with Penticton Tri-Mom.  Now, you have to know that she is an avid swimmer and truly enjoys the water.  Back home she has a regular date and also has a plan she follows in the pool and regularly does 26 laps or 650M.... no too shabby, if you ask me.

Me, we I was there for a different reason... to loose the use of  my arms.  I am not sure it worked, though, as I am now getting fitter by the day and my arms are listening to the Who.


My arms get on their knees and pray and I'm sure they won't be fooled again by these crazy long sets.


The Plan:  2x200 Free/100 Kick. 6x50m Decreasing Stroke Count (1:15 repeat). 2x: 500m Pull (1min), 5x100 (2' repeat). 6x50m (25Free/25Choice).


Doesn't look like much there... does it.... well.. it was.

The warm-up was decent and the decreasing stroke count definitely got my HR peaked. But it was the 2X 500m pull with 1 minute rest in between that will get you hoppin.  (9:01/ 8:53).  Then in to the 5x100m on 2:00.... well those were coming in around 1:37, so not much rest for Tri-guy.

All in all the set took about 1:20 and I was happy to be done..... lying gasping on the side of a pool.

Pure 15K

Up and at them.....



That;s how I felt this morning... I was all comfy and feeling a bit achy from yesterday, but it was time to  throw down and have at this run thing.  I have taken enough time to "recover" and I needed to test my calf.   And how better to test it than a 15K race....  well I use the term race very loosely here.  Really, I just wanted to go out and have a go and see what would happen.   I did not want to race and hurt myself.  I wanted to test it out and keep the pace respectable, but not epic.... somewhere in the 8:30 - 8:45 minute mile range.

Besides, I had to look good, as Super Tri- Mom was here from triathlon central, Penticton, B.C.

The race weather was wonderful and I felt really good.  I kept my pace in check and kept to the game plan and It worked.  That and I wore my green compression skins that attracted a lot of attention.

I might actually know what I am doing

Drafting the sport - ute.

last lap

re-living the race with Pat and Chris

Walking away with some schwag.

Here's how it all looked from Space.

KALIMAAAAaaaaaa..............

OMG!  The whole of the province of Manitoba is outside today.  When Environment Canada updated its forecast to +19˚C today... think there was a collective freak out from one corner to another.  I am imagining that all the roads to cottage country were packed today.... that probably also meant that the price of gas went up as well, as it seems to be tied to the weather at this time of year.

For me, today was all about patience.  I know that the Tribe were out at 9:00, but not this guy... I wanted the heat.  I knew that meant wind, but wind is good for you.  So, patiently I waited.... shovelled the snow in the front yard, replaced an old plug and mucked about in the yard.   All the while, it was cloudy and even a touch of rain at one point, but then something miraculous happened at about 1:00... the sun came out and the clouds disappeared and ladies and gentlemen of the blog-o-shpere, let me tell you..... I am pleased to announce that:

 SPRING arrived in Winnipeg at 1:00 p.m. C.S.T. on April 27.  

HOLY SHIT!

Well that was my cue... after-all, The Giant had been waiting for me outside in the rack all lubed up, bottles full and Garmin charged since 10:00.

Today was a brilliant day for Pigeon lake.  Nestled on hwy 26 out past the hoppin' metropolis of St. FX it was wicked.  The rocks had been swept and the pavement was dry. Wow.  And to boot, my old friend the southern cross-wind came out to greet me and remind me of my life on a slight angle.

Going out...  \\\\\\\\\\\\\  Coming home...  ///////////////

I was slightly over dressed with the mitt liners and the helmet liner, but I stopped at the start of the #1 by-pass to take them off an took these pics.

I am not what you would call a religious triathlete, but "God Bless the open road that brings me back to you!"

So on to Pigeon with a slight tail that, at times, would scoot me along at 37KMPH.

Some 27Kms later I was out in the middle of nowhere... AKA Pigeon Lake and I just stood there for a bit and took it all in... wow was it quiet.

Then back to the Peg.... and into the wind.

Just miles of nothing and I would not have it any other way.... you'd never guess that way off in the distance is a city of almost 1,000,000 people.  I kinda like that.

Here's how the Garmin saw it.   I was mighty pleased.


Then, as is customary in triathlon, we brick our bikes or practice heading out for the run.  I was whipped and I thought it was not going to happen.  That said, this 1/2 iron is not going to run its-self... no matter how rich you are you cannot hire some one to race for you.... it truly is you against... you.

I will be totally candid with you and say it hurt. In the first .5K  I litterally thought I was going to explode.  My HR went up to the highest I think it has ever been on a run  173 and I am pretty sure it was going to come right out of my chest.

This was going through my head as I hit Roblin Ave.



Any hooo..... I did it and not only did I do it, I did it in a very respectable time.....


AS I am certain you can imagine, I was done at then end of all this.... I gave today everything I had and I was spent when I came home.

Here I am on the front steps trying to get my heart to stay in my chest.

That's all for me....  I am going to ice my knees and get ready for the 15K Pure road race tomorrow morning.

T.T.F.N.