Over the last week, we've been busy.
More time in the pool. I recorded myself and few fellow folks that were at the pool using my GoPro both above and below the water. It really showed each of us where we needed to work on our swimming form. I feel like I'm inefficient in the water and wasting forward momentum by going side to side.
Things to focus on: Better shoulder rotation and breath control. I get those down and I think I'll feel more effective in the water.
This past Saturday, we did a 35 mile bike ride. My wife fell leaving the parking lot. Uphill, waiting on traffic, and not getting unclipped in time let to her taking a tumble. About 6 miles later, I turned back to where she had stopped to check her wounds (No, I didn't ride 6 miles before realizing she wasn't there! LOL). As we checked her wounds, I had unclipped my right shoe, but my left was still attached. I still don't know what happened, but I fell to the left for no apparent reason. Tore the heck out of my right leg on the chain gear. So I had a nice bloody streak down my lower right leg for the remaining 29 miles of the ride. Looked badass and hardcore and all that, but it cleaned up just fine later. Lots of up and down hills. At the 29 mile mark, we opted for the additional 5 miles, but that additional 5 miles had some very large hills that seemed my Mt. Olympus to us at that point. She chugged all the way up without stopping, but I had to stop a couple of times because my knees were really hurting and on fire. I did ride the rest of the way up though. Eventually! :)
Then for our Monday tri class, we did our first 'brick'. For those of you who know, these are not fun. For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, I didn't finish a house's exterior. A brick is doing one event of a tri (or duathlon), then immediately transitioning to another. This simulates the transitions during a real race. This night, we did a 30 minute bike ride and a 10 minute run. Nothing too major - or so we thought!
I did the 30 minute ride at a really good clip. I covered the first 3.5 miles in 13 minutes, so we did a second loop. After that loop, we had to two circuits of a 1 mile loop, so I figure it was about 9 miles in 32 minutes at that point. I came into the transition area (okay, the parking lot), and unclipped from my bike, coasting to my spot. Well, as I got off, one of my shoes clipped back in. As I got off the bike, I nearly fell, but I was able to twist my foot enough to get it off before I bought it on the asphalt and slammed into my truck.
Got my running shoes on, grabbed my hat, and checked my GPS elapsed time: 32:30. I hit the road running. LEGS FELT LIKE LEAD. The blood accumulates in the quads during a bike ride, but during a run, that blood is usually in the hamstrings and calves. I told myself mentally that I had to keep my knees up. No matter how high I thought they were, go higher. It apparently worked. Our coach said I had great form leaving the parking lot. :) My mile time was about 8:30ish for that run. I had to stop once to address a side stitch I actually got during the ride (go figure), but another runner came along and urged me to continue. So we finished that run together.
It's amazing the camaraderie this group has. Everybody has been so supportive of each other! Truly incredible (I hate to use the overused 'amazing') to see this group come together like this. Come race day, we'll all be competing with each other, but right now, they're all friends and we're doing everything we can to help each other. Whether it is the morale-boosting 'cmon and finish with me' to the 'way to go' to the helping each other with swim technique, this group is truly a wonderful collection of individuals and I'm honored to be training with all of them!
Meanwhile, back in NOBO, we had a 3 mile run last night. 54 degrees at run time, but a good wind out of the northwest. Yeah, it felt a LOT colder. I was in shorts, but a tech shirt underneath a long sleeve tech shirt kept my arms warm(ish). Started the run and 200 yards in, my brain was telling me to walk. HELL NO! Kept on going. The first leg was directly into that wind for about 8/10's of a mile, which truly SUCKED. Made the turn into a neighborhood and things got a LOT better real quick. Then there was a small hill. My cross country running training kicked in and I used my arms to drive my legs up the hill. Hard to explain, but that strong arm/shoulder motion back and forth really does propel you forward, a lot like being on a swing.
Ran past our lead mentor and just didn't stop. I had a surge at the top of the hill and just kept it. The distance between us grew slowly, but it grew. I was NOT going to stop on this one. A few slight rolls then a downhill. Longer legs have fun! Went down it (found out later on the GPS it was a 9.2 mph pace on that stretch) and made the turns back to Fleet Feet. Got to the finish point at 25:30! :) My GPS says it wasn't quite 3 miles, but my wife and I use the same GPS s/w on each of our phones and hers was reading differently. Go figure. So I added a bit of distance to get closer to 3 miles based on GPS readings. Finished that bit of a run and the lead mentor finally got to the finish line, about 2 minutes behind me!!! I knew I felt strong yesterday, but didn't think I was THAT strong.
Now I'm VERY happy with an 8:30 pace. It's nowhere near the 5:09 I could run in high school, but that was 28 years ago and many miles and a few injuries ago. As long as my brain can get out of the way, I KNOW I have the strength to do both the 5K race in April and the tri in June.
It's incredible how you can have a little breakthrough mentally and have it really show in the physical. It shouldn't surprise me. We watch the Biggest Loser and the contestants have the best results when they have the mental breakthrough and realize that YES, they CAN do it.
This training is showing me that my body can handle a LOT more than I thought. Negative thoughts and the mental beatdowns we put ourselves through are our biggest hurdle to overcome. One of our tri trainers called them anchors. Those things that slow us down and keep us from reaching our goals. I always thought that my biggest anchor was my legs or knee. Nope. it's my brain saying, "Your legs are weak or your knee is bad."
Those mental demons haunt all of us in some form or fashion. How we deal with them will determine how far we can go, what goals we can reach, and how we view life. I love how a triathlon starts out with TRI'ing. Yoda has said, "Do or do not. There is no Try." You cannot do until you try to do it. Will you always succeed? No. But if you DO continue to try, you will succeed.
I know I won't have the best time in the 5K or the triathlon, but I don't care. In my head, I have already won. I've told those voices to stick it and their volume in my head has gone way down. They're still there, trying to exert themselves every day, but I know how to beat them now.
A 35 mile ride, a brick, and a run told them who is boss.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
A brief update...
For the NOBO training, I got in my scheduled 2.5 mile run. I didn't go to the optional class Saturday morning. While I know we run in the rain unless there is thunder/lightning, I just don't want to run in a deluge. Sorry, did that way too often when I was young and it sucked then too! LOL Apparently I missed a breakfast, but I did sleep in until 9:30, which I never seem to do. My body wanted rest and it got it on both Saturday and Sunday.
After the rain subsided, I made breakfast for my wife and I. An hour later, we were running through the neighborhood. I don't know about anybody else, but when I'm running through an area I know, it seems to go faster. We did a run a week or so ago, and I had no clue where the turnaround point was and it seemed to take FOREVER! Anyway, I maintained a 9:30 mile or so average - it took 24 minutes. That's a pace I can maintain, but I'd really like to be able to get to sub 9 minute times for a 5k mile distance. My times when I was younger were a lot better than that, so I know I COULD do it... I'm just not sure what my 28 years older body can do by comparison. I'm still figuring that out.
I'm still in that mode of telling my inner voice to shut up and working to just get through the distance. Getting through it on Saturday, I feel like I'm making progress on that front, so hopefully the times will improve if I push myself a bit more.
We're supposed to do a 30 minute run tonight for the Tri101 class, but Mother Nature has been throwing a hissy fit of late. It's Spring, but we have a chance of snow/rain and a good wind. NOT fun to run in at all. I'd rather have snow than rain simply because the snow won't stick to you as well as water does and as a result, I'll stay warmer. At least that's the theory. LOL Tomorrow's NOBO 2.5 mile run should be nicer weather, but still colder than I'd like. At this point, I'd settle for no precipitation or wind. Probably too much to ask though.
Also tomorrow, more swimming for Tri101 in the morning. I'll be working on slowing my stroke down, extending my arms a bit better for more glide, and breath control - the three things I think are needing the most work. Looking at www.swimtypes.com, I think I identified my swim type as Arnie. I tend to go full out and run out of gas too quickly, just like I do in running. Gotta learn that pacing thing...
Ready for some more riding, but for the same reasons I'm hating the running weather-wise right now, nothing is planned. But since we've signed up for the MS Alabama bike ride on June 8, we really need to get some saddle time in SOON!
After the rain subsided, I made breakfast for my wife and I. An hour later, we were running through the neighborhood. I don't know about anybody else, but when I'm running through an area I know, it seems to go faster. We did a run a week or so ago, and I had no clue where the turnaround point was and it seemed to take FOREVER! Anyway, I maintained a 9:30 mile or so average - it took 24 minutes. That's a pace I can maintain, but I'd really like to be able to get to sub 9 minute times for a 5k mile distance. My times when I was younger were a lot better than that, so I know I COULD do it... I'm just not sure what my 28 years older body can do by comparison. I'm still figuring that out.
I'm still in that mode of telling my inner voice to shut up and working to just get through the distance. Getting through it on Saturday, I feel like I'm making progress on that front, so hopefully the times will improve if I push myself a bit more.
We're supposed to do a 30 minute run tonight for the Tri101 class, but Mother Nature has been throwing a hissy fit of late. It's Spring, but we have a chance of snow/rain and a good wind. NOT fun to run in at all. I'd rather have snow than rain simply because the snow won't stick to you as well as water does and as a result, I'll stay warmer. At least that's the theory. LOL Tomorrow's NOBO 2.5 mile run should be nicer weather, but still colder than I'd like. At this point, I'd settle for no precipitation or wind. Probably too much to ask though.
Also tomorrow, more swimming for Tri101 in the morning. I'll be working on slowing my stroke down, extending my arms a bit better for more glide, and breath control - the three things I think are needing the most work. Looking at www.swimtypes.com, I think I identified my swim type as Arnie. I tend to go full out and run out of gas too quickly, just like I do in running. Gotta learn that pacing thing...
Ready for some more riding, but for the same reasons I'm hating the running weather-wise right now, nothing is planned. But since we've signed up for the MS Alabama bike ride on June 8, we really need to get some saddle time in SOON!
Friday, March 22, 2013
So Where am I Now?
Am I ready for a Tri?
Nope.
But I am getting closer.
I'm finding my running is getting easier, my swimming smoother, and my biking a LOT of fun! Endurance seems to be my issue this point, especially with the run and swim.
My running ability is up to 2 miles at a respectable pace without having to stop. Those demons are getting easier to handle and get out of my head. I'm ready for Spring weather though!
My swim stroke is too fast and 50m is a workout in itself. Holding on the the wall is gonna kill my time. I figure with more pool time, I can slow my stroke a bit and let more gliding and form take place while letting me feel more rested without having to take the wall breaks.
My biking feels good, but Nancy's spin classes are always teaching us ways to deal with the issues involved in riding. You know, those things like gravity (hills), resistance (wind), and fatigue. Nancy is an incredible spin instructor, and is leading a team to ride in Alabama's MS (Multiple Sclerosis) ride in June. With 25, 45, 75, and 100 mile options, we have a choice. I know we'd love to ride the full century, but we'll have to see how we progress between now and June.
And if you want to contribute to either my wife's or my ride, let me know and I'll get you the links to make an online donation! Money goes to further MS research and help families that can't afford the crazy medical costs associated with MS. MS has affected our family directly and we want to knock it OUT!
Anyway, I'm starting to look at my diet to see where I can help maybe get some muscle mass. My wife says I'm getting too skinny, but my body has always done that when I do endurance training. I weighed 120 lbs in high school (5'9") and a light breeze would knock me over. Sometimes literally.
Mentally, I'm getting stronger. I mean there's always the twinge of apprehension before a run. The pang in the stomach when I first go underwater for the first lap. And the "Dear God, don't let me fall off this thing" when I first get on the bike. But I am progressing far enough now to know I CAN do it - as long as I tell those voices who is boss.
By next weekend, we'll be up to 3 miles in NOBO. Another milestone. That race is in April, so I'll be 5k 'ready' before the tri. Perhaps a few 5k races between the NOBO race and the tri would do me some good. I don't expect to win a prize, but the mental victory is that much sweeter and means a whole lot more to me.
As long as the T-shirt is cool!
Nope.
But I am getting closer.
I'm finding my running is getting easier, my swimming smoother, and my biking a LOT of fun! Endurance seems to be my issue this point, especially with the run and swim.
My running ability is up to 2 miles at a respectable pace without having to stop. Those demons are getting easier to handle and get out of my head. I'm ready for Spring weather though!
My swim stroke is too fast and 50m is a workout in itself. Holding on the the wall is gonna kill my time. I figure with more pool time, I can slow my stroke a bit and let more gliding and form take place while letting me feel more rested without having to take the wall breaks.
My biking feels good, but Nancy's spin classes are always teaching us ways to deal with the issues involved in riding. You know, those things like gravity (hills), resistance (wind), and fatigue. Nancy is an incredible spin instructor, and is leading a team to ride in Alabama's MS (Multiple Sclerosis) ride in June. With 25, 45, 75, and 100 mile options, we have a choice. I know we'd love to ride the full century, but we'll have to see how we progress between now and June.
And if you want to contribute to either my wife's or my ride, let me know and I'll get you the links to make an online donation! Money goes to further MS research and help families that can't afford the crazy medical costs associated with MS. MS has affected our family directly and we want to knock it OUT!
Anyway, I'm starting to look at my diet to see where I can help maybe get some muscle mass. My wife says I'm getting too skinny, but my body has always done that when I do endurance training. I weighed 120 lbs in high school (5'9") and a light breeze would knock me over. Sometimes literally.
Mentally, I'm getting stronger. I mean there's always the twinge of apprehension before a run. The pang in the stomach when I first go underwater for the first lap. And the "Dear God, don't let me fall off this thing" when I first get on the bike. But I am progressing far enough now to know I CAN do it - as long as I tell those voices who is boss.
By next weekend, we'll be up to 3 miles in NOBO. Another milestone. That race is in April, so I'll be 5k 'ready' before the tri. Perhaps a few 5k races between the NOBO race and the tri would do me some good. I don't expect to win a prize, but the mental victory is that much sweeter and means a whole lot more to me.
As long as the T-shirt is cool!
Welcome to Tri 101
Before classes even started, we were getting emails about this and that, tips, techniques, ideas, guides, schedules, warm up drills, etc.
The flood of information was intimidating, confusing, and comforting at the same time. We weren't going to be thrown into the pool or onto the road without knowledge beforehand. Just like NOBO, baby steps. We missed week one since we were on vacation, but we did manage to get running in while on the cruise (yeah, that was fun!).
Week 2: We did a timed mile run in the cold, wet weather to kind of build speed groups and lump us with people of comparable speed. My mile time was 8:20 - faster than my multi mile time, but slower than I have run it (years ago). We did a lot of stretching before and after, so no issues would arise. But unlike NOBO, we have swim and bike to worry about. So after the run, we went upstairs at Nesin Therapy and they discussed form and fit on a bike. Road bike, hybrid bike... any can be used for our sprint tri as long as it is safe.
Now, being the competitors we are, my wife and I got new bikes. Our old mountain bikes must have been made from a Spanish galleon's anchor - they are freaking HEAVY! And about 15 years old. With dirt tires. We opted to get road bikes and went to all the local bike shops to find the fit, form, and style we wanted. We ended up with Specialized bikes. Both were previous model years, but brand new. So we saved some money there. Got a few accessories for them like water bottles, lights, and patch kits so we'd be ready for basic rides. And yes, we liked how they looked. If you like how it looks and how it fits, you're more likely to ride it more often. My wife's bike is black and pink while mine is black, red, and white. Stylin! Of course, helmets match our bikes. Can't clash now!
Before our first ride in Tri101, we met up with our friend David over in Athens and he took us for our first 'road' ride. Being damned cold, we layered up, and I ended up with a sweat jacket on top. You know the swishy kind. Problem is, on a windy day, it becomes a sail. I was SO worn out after only covering about 10 miles (if that). David is also a world champion triathlete, and trying to keep up with him was only possible because he rode at a slower pace so us mere mortals could keep up. But he's the best guy you'd ever want to meet. Kind, generous, and very knowledgeable about riding and all things tri! He gave us great tips and encouragement. We went home tired, winded, but excited about the future and riding.
Fast forward to last weekend. We rode again with David (after doing rides with just the two of us) and a bike group in Limestone county. We covered nearly 20 miles. Up and down hill, into the wind, over rougher roads, and with traffic. We had a BLAST. We finished a lot stronger than the first ride (the right gear helps too) and even more excited about longer distance rides. We're nothing if not eager and big thinkers at this point!
We also had a second session this week for Tri101, but it was in the pool! Uh oh. Do you remember those swim lessons as a kid where there was one kid that just sucked at swimming? Drank all the pool water, coughed, gagged, and choked every few feet? Cried because the kickboard didn't feel right? Yeah, that was me. I was kicked out of swim lessons as a kid. I hated surface swimming and preferred being a fish and gliding under water. Guess that's why I got scuba certified. My favorite swim style with cool gear and longer down time. SWEET! But surface swim? Freestyle? I was screwed. Okay, I can now do a freestyle swim, but I taught it to myself and it isn't pretty at all. Somewhere along the way I learned to breathe while swimming without choking, but all that was going to be worked over by the coaches. Let the self doubt begin again!!!
We got there early to watch the other groups swim. That helped. The coaches were VERY helpful yet again, and had no problems answering any question and offering tips when needed. WHEW! When our group swam, my wife did an awesome job. She had a coach watching over her and offering tips, but she's a natural with it. Me? Not so much. I did the drills and had flashbacks yet again to being a kid and choking in the water. I was NOT going to let that happen (as often). The drills were very helpful and something I have been doing in the water every time I swim now to help reinforce those lessons. Despite my self-doubt, the coaches reassured me my form is not too bad, but it gets messy when I lift my head to breathe. Focus on left and right side breathing. Don't look forward, it screws you up. Reach your hand and arm forward to stretch out the lats. Find a good position for the arms to save the shoulder. Just a few tweaks.
The lessons were priceless. So THAT is what a swim lesson should be like?
Week 3: Our first ride with the Tri101 group! Lots of nice road bikes. Lots of nice mountain and hybrid bikes. And a really cool recumbent trike! Lots of old bikes. Lots of new bikes. And lots of nervous faces! You know... the fear of being able to get on and not fall off. The fear of crashing. The fear of running into somebody. The fear of failing. Those pesky demons seem to show up everywhere, and it isn't just with me. So now I don't feel so different.
But again, our instructors gave us great lessons and some shots of confidence. I mean, it wasn't the Tour de France here, just a 2 mile loop with little traffic, and lots of space to get used to being on the saddle and riding. No drafting and lots of space between bikes helped alleviate a lot of fears. Everybody finished that session with smiles (and probably a few grimaces from the sore butts) and more confidence.
The flood of information was intimidating, confusing, and comforting at the same time. We weren't going to be thrown into the pool or onto the road without knowledge beforehand. Just like NOBO, baby steps. We missed week one since we were on vacation, but we did manage to get running in while on the cruise (yeah, that was fun!).
Week 2: We did a timed mile run in the cold, wet weather to kind of build speed groups and lump us with people of comparable speed. My mile time was 8:20 - faster than my multi mile time, but slower than I have run it (years ago). We did a lot of stretching before and after, so no issues would arise. But unlike NOBO, we have swim and bike to worry about. So after the run, we went upstairs at Nesin Therapy and they discussed form and fit on a bike. Road bike, hybrid bike... any can be used for our sprint tri as long as it is safe.
Now, being the competitors we are, my wife and I got new bikes. Our old mountain bikes must have been made from a Spanish galleon's anchor - they are freaking HEAVY! And about 15 years old. With dirt tires. We opted to get road bikes and went to all the local bike shops to find the fit, form, and style we wanted. We ended up with Specialized bikes. Both were previous model years, but brand new. So we saved some money there. Got a few accessories for them like water bottles, lights, and patch kits so we'd be ready for basic rides. And yes, we liked how they looked. If you like how it looks and how it fits, you're more likely to ride it more often. My wife's bike is black and pink while mine is black, red, and white. Stylin! Of course, helmets match our bikes. Can't clash now!
Before our first ride in Tri101, we met up with our friend David over in Athens and he took us for our first 'road' ride. Being damned cold, we layered up, and I ended up with a sweat jacket on top. You know the swishy kind. Problem is, on a windy day, it becomes a sail. I was SO worn out after only covering about 10 miles (if that). David is also a world champion triathlete, and trying to keep up with him was only possible because he rode at a slower pace so us mere mortals could keep up. But he's the best guy you'd ever want to meet. Kind, generous, and very knowledgeable about riding and all things tri! He gave us great tips and encouragement. We went home tired, winded, but excited about the future and riding.
Fast forward to last weekend. We rode again with David (after doing rides with just the two of us) and a bike group in Limestone county. We covered nearly 20 miles. Up and down hill, into the wind, over rougher roads, and with traffic. We had a BLAST. We finished a lot stronger than the first ride (the right gear helps too) and even more excited about longer distance rides. We're nothing if not eager and big thinkers at this point!
We also had a second session this week for Tri101, but it was in the pool! Uh oh. Do you remember those swim lessons as a kid where there was one kid that just sucked at swimming? Drank all the pool water, coughed, gagged, and choked every few feet? Cried because the kickboard didn't feel right? Yeah, that was me. I was kicked out of swim lessons as a kid. I hated surface swimming and preferred being a fish and gliding under water. Guess that's why I got scuba certified. My favorite swim style with cool gear and longer down time. SWEET! But surface swim? Freestyle? I was screwed. Okay, I can now do a freestyle swim, but I taught it to myself and it isn't pretty at all. Somewhere along the way I learned to breathe while swimming without choking, but all that was going to be worked over by the coaches. Let the self doubt begin again!!!
We got there early to watch the other groups swim. That helped. The coaches were VERY helpful yet again, and had no problems answering any question and offering tips when needed. WHEW! When our group swam, my wife did an awesome job. She had a coach watching over her and offering tips, but she's a natural with it. Me? Not so much. I did the drills and had flashbacks yet again to being a kid and choking in the water. I was NOT going to let that happen (as often). The drills were very helpful and something I have been doing in the water every time I swim now to help reinforce those lessons. Despite my self-doubt, the coaches reassured me my form is not too bad, but it gets messy when I lift my head to breathe. Focus on left and right side breathing. Don't look forward, it screws you up. Reach your hand and arm forward to stretch out the lats. Find a good position for the arms to save the shoulder. Just a few tweaks.
The lessons were priceless. So THAT is what a swim lesson should be like?
Week 3: Our first ride with the Tri101 group! Lots of nice road bikes. Lots of nice mountain and hybrid bikes. And a really cool recumbent trike! Lots of old bikes. Lots of new bikes. And lots of nervous faces! You know... the fear of being able to get on and not fall off. The fear of crashing. The fear of running into somebody. The fear of failing. Those pesky demons seem to show up everywhere, and it isn't just with me. So now I don't feel so different.
But again, our instructors gave us great lessons and some shots of confidence. I mean, it wasn't the Tour de France here, just a 2 mile loop with little traffic, and lots of space to get used to being on the saddle and riding. No drafting and lots of space between bikes helped alleviate a lot of fears. Everybody finished that session with smiles (and probably a few grimaces from the sore butts) and more confidence.
Why Am I Doing This???
Simple Answer: To live a strong and healthy life. I love my wife dearly and I want to be around a long time for her.
The Long Answer: As I've said before, I'm competitive. But I've always had the self-doubt in my mind. That makes for a mixed up brain on occasion! A competitive self-doubter. Talk about issues! LOL
I've had some health issues. Nothing super major, but things that could become major if I didn't address them. Blood pressure, cholesterol... you know, the silent killers. I can't fathom doing anything so stupid as to leave this world early and leave my wife behind. So my gym routine got underway in 2011 and I haven't looked back.
I did the usual cardio machines and weight machines, and got into a regimen with the YMCA trainers helping me get going. Cardio and weights. Repeat. Got kind of old. Then my wife started going to the gym too. She signed up for a Boot Camp class. I joined after the first week because it looked like fun. It was different. It was an ass-kicker. It was hard to get up at 4:45 to get there at 5:30a. My wife is not a morning person, so I helped her get up and to the Y. We did our workouts together. And it was more time together. And we did Boot Camp classes nearly all of 2012. Burpees, planks, pylometric exercises. A YMCA version of the Insanity workout. And it worked! But again, we wanted something different to mix in with it.
She's also the one that started doing Body Pump and Spin. I have my patterns and my habits, and change is NOT easy for me at all. So she blazed the trail and I saw her having fun and getting good results. So I tend to follow what she's doing, bitch and moan about it, then really see what she saw in it.
When she got the idea of getting into running, all my self-doubt came rushing back, but I wanted to finally conquer that doubt and said I wanted to do it too. Neither of us likes to sit on the sidelines and watch the other when we can be DOING it side by side.
She drives me and inspires me. I can only hope I inspire her some too.
The Long Answer: As I've said before, I'm competitive. But I've always had the self-doubt in my mind. That makes for a mixed up brain on occasion! A competitive self-doubter. Talk about issues! LOL
I've had some health issues. Nothing super major, but things that could become major if I didn't address them. Blood pressure, cholesterol... you know, the silent killers. I can't fathom doing anything so stupid as to leave this world early and leave my wife behind. So my gym routine got underway in 2011 and I haven't looked back.
I did the usual cardio machines and weight machines, and got into a regimen with the YMCA trainers helping me get going. Cardio and weights. Repeat. Got kind of old. Then my wife started going to the gym too. She signed up for a Boot Camp class. I joined after the first week because it looked like fun. It was different. It was an ass-kicker. It was hard to get up at 4:45 to get there at 5:30a. My wife is not a morning person, so I helped her get up and to the Y. We did our workouts together. And it was more time together. And we did Boot Camp classes nearly all of 2012. Burpees, planks, pylometric exercises. A YMCA version of the Insanity workout. And it worked! But again, we wanted something different to mix in with it.
She's also the one that started doing Body Pump and Spin. I have my patterns and my habits, and change is NOT easy for me at all. So she blazed the trail and I saw her having fun and getting good results. So I tend to follow what she's doing, bitch and moan about it, then really see what she saw in it.
When she got the idea of getting into running, all my self-doubt came rushing back, but I wanted to finally conquer that doubt and said I wanted to do it too. Neither of us likes to sit on the sidelines and watch the other when we can be DOING it side by side.
She drives me and inspires me. I can only hope I inspire her some too.
NOBO - Half way through
Yeah, so I'm slow in doing this blog thing. If I was really fast and smart, I would have thought of this long before the first session, but oh well. You get what you get. I'll see if I can remember things to this point.
The first meeting was a fun kickoff. We got to meet the coaches, mentors, and support staff at Fleet Feet. Yeah, a LOT of promotion of what Fleet Feet sells, but they provide SO much for these programs, that I can't blame them at all. They're building their customer base. Great marketing plan and a great way to get people healthier with good equipment.
A good bit of nerves all the way around. Lots of questioning faces around. Can I do this? What have I done? Am I going to die doing this? Understandable. Even I had some of these feelings. Knowing how I didn't give it my all in high school has made me apprehensive, but with my wife there doing this, I knew I wanted to give it my all. After all, I knew she would be and I don't want her to think her hubby isn't doing all he can too.
Week one got there and we did our first mile. Each week is a build in distance from the week before, usually in .5 mile increments. So week 1 is 1 mile, week 2 is 1.5, and so on. We meet once a week as a group and those are mandatory (for the most part). We meet optionally 2 other times during the week, but those times are not always easy to do, especially when we're on the complete other side of town and meeting during rush hour times.
We meet up, discuss issues, then stretch. This stretching is supposed to get us ready, but I personally feel like more stretching is needed, especially with it cold. So we get there early enough to do a warmup walk, then stretch on our own. After the group stretch, things are better. Then the coaches would plan a route and each group, based on mile time/speed, would run together to knock that distance out. We focus on how our bodies are feeling, any issues coming up physically or mentally, and work to resolve them.
Now I have to admit, the 1 to 1.5 jump was not bad, but the 1.5 to 2 mile jump hurt. I'm thinking it was just the psychological aspect of going from 1 mile to multiple miles, but I found my first mile very hard to do without getting shortness of breath and side stitches. Those same issues plagued me in high school too, so I started feeling like I truly suck at running. The mentors talked with me and gave me ideas and tips on how to improve my breathing. Who would have thought I would be 43 years old and not know how to breathe???!!! C'mon! But they were right. I modified my breathing, and while it was still tough, because I'd go back into my old habits, I did better and felt better after running that I did before.
Yesterday was a run day, but we didn't meet up with the group. I ran on my own in my neighborhood. So with trusty heart rate monitor attached and my iPhone GPS application (Motion X GPS btw), I set out after stretching.
I started out slowly, dreading the first mile. My pace was showing a 6.8 mph on the GPS, faster than I had planned. I found a 10 minute mile felt fine for me without stitches or air issues, but I was at closer to a 9 minute pace and feeling good. So I kept on chugging away, reminding myself that walking is always an option, but not one I want to take unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. That's when I decided to run through any issues and fall back on what my mentors had been telling me.
Without a mentor there, without my fellow students with me, it fell on ME to not quit. Anybody who knows me knows I hate to lose. Yeah, I'm competitive. But when I have to walk, I feel like I've lost. I've lost the battle of wills in my own mind. I've beaten myself. But I KNOW my body can win, but the mind always wins. Today was going to be different. I just kept chugging away. I put a little more lean into my posture, increasing the speed, without necessarily fatiguing anything else. I'd glance at the GPS to see my distance, trying to ignore the speed reading and avoiding the heart rate #. I can tell what my heart rate is by how I feel (thanks to Nancy, our spin instructor at the Y).
1 mile down in 9:02. WOW! And I felt GOOD still. I waited for the hammer to fall and the cramps to start, but they never came. For perhaps the second or third time EVER while running, I felt my mind wander to other things - when I'm going to do my spring maintenance on the Jeep, when we can plant in the garden, and when we can do our next bike ride - anything other than what I was doing. I ran past my turn and kept on going, knowing the 2 mile marker was coming up. I ended up going a way with another small hill, but I felt good enough to know I could handle it. When I say small hill, here in Alabama, it means a very slight rise. NOTHING like the hills in St. Louis where I ran Cross Country! But still that grade was noticeable. Finished that stretch, and ran the rest back to the house. 2.0 miles down in 18:26. My fastest time since high school!
I understand the group run and what it is meant to do. But I've found out a few things about myself. Perhaps this applies to you, perhaps not, but I'll share. In a group run, to stay as a group, you may alter your stride, your cadence, or your posture. When I do that, I get stitches. I may bounce more when I run to keep a slower pace. Not sure exactly what all happens, but when I run at my pace and my stride, I am going faster than give myself credit for.
If you take anything from this blog post, realize that the group runs are important. They help you know your fellow runners and you can get some GREAT advice from those mentoring you. And it helps you learn a pace. The group also helps keep those demons in your head away. But do NOT underestimate the power and value of a solo run. Take the lessons you've learned in your training and apply them. Force your mind to think of them until it is second nature. These solo runs are also when the demons will rear up and try to defeat you. You know what they'll say. You know what they'll try to do to you. Ignore that. Now having said that, if you BODY is telling you "Woah" then perhaps you should listen, but learn to tell the difference. Tell those demons to kiss your butt and take a flying leap off a tall cliff. That comes in time. It came to me yesterday - 6 weeks into the program.
The first meeting was a fun kickoff. We got to meet the coaches, mentors, and support staff at Fleet Feet. Yeah, a LOT of promotion of what Fleet Feet sells, but they provide SO much for these programs, that I can't blame them at all. They're building their customer base. Great marketing plan and a great way to get people healthier with good equipment.
A good bit of nerves all the way around. Lots of questioning faces around. Can I do this? What have I done? Am I going to die doing this? Understandable. Even I had some of these feelings. Knowing how I didn't give it my all in high school has made me apprehensive, but with my wife there doing this, I knew I wanted to give it my all. After all, I knew she would be and I don't want her to think her hubby isn't doing all he can too.
Week one got there and we did our first mile. Each week is a build in distance from the week before, usually in .5 mile increments. So week 1 is 1 mile, week 2 is 1.5, and so on. We meet once a week as a group and those are mandatory (for the most part). We meet optionally 2 other times during the week, but those times are not always easy to do, especially when we're on the complete other side of town and meeting during rush hour times.
We meet up, discuss issues, then stretch. This stretching is supposed to get us ready, but I personally feel like more stretching is needed, especially with it cold. So we get there early enough to do a warmup walk, then stretch on our own. After the group stretch, things are better. Then the coaches would plan a route and each group, based on mile time/speed, would run together to knock that distance out. We focus on how our bodies are feeling, any issues coming up physically or mentally, and work to resolve them.
Now I have to admit, the 1 to 1.5 jump was not bad, but the 1.5 to 2 mile jump hurt. I'm thinking it was just the psychological aspect of going from 1 mile to multiple miles, but I found my first mile very hard to do without getting shortness of breath and side stitches. Those same issues plagued me in high school too, so I started feeling like I truly suck at running. The mentors talked with me and gave me ideas and tips on how to improve my breathing. Who would have thought I would be 43 years old and not know how to breathe???!!! C'mon! But they were right. I modified my breathing, and while it was still tough, because I'd go back into my old habits, I did better and felt better after running that I did before.
Yesterday was a run day, but we didn't meet up with the group. I ran on my own in my neighborhood. So with trusty heart rate monitor attached and my iPhone GPS application (Motion X GPS btw), I set out after stretching.
I started out slowly, dreading the first mile. My pace was showing a 6.8 mph on the GPS, faster than I had planned. I found a 10 minute mile felt fine for me without stitches or air issues, but I was at closer to a 9 minute pace and feeling good. So I kept on chugging away, reminding myself that walking is always an option, but not one I want to take unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. That's when I decided to run through any issues and fall back on what my mentors had been telling me.
Without a mentor there, without my fellow students with me, it fell on ME to not quit. Anybody who knows me knows I hate to lose. Yeah, I'm competitive. But when I have to walk, I feel like I've lost. I've lost the battle of wills in my own mind. I've beaten myself. But I KNOW my body can win, but the mind always wins. Today was going to be different. I just kept chugging away. I put a little more lean into my posture, increasing the speed, without necessarily fatiguing anything else. I'd glance at the GPS to see my distance, trying to ignore the speed reading and avoiding the heart rate #. I can tell what my heart rate is by how I feel (thanks to Nancy, our spin instructor at the Y).
1 mile down in 9:02. WOW! And I felt GOOD still. I waited for the hammer to fall and the cramps to start, but they never came. For perhaps the second or third time EVER while running, I felt my mind wander to other things - when I'm going to do my spring maintenance on the Jeep, when we can plant in the garden, and when we can do our next bike ride - anything other than what I was doing. I ran past my turn and kept on going, knowing the 2 mile marker was coming up. I ended up going a way with another small hill, but I felt good enough to know I could handle it. When I say small hill, here in Alabama, it means a very slight rise. NOTHING like the hills in St. Louis where I ran Cross Country! But still that grade was noticeable. Finished that stretch, and ran the rest back to the house. 2.0 miles down in 18:26. My fastest time since high school!
I understand the group run and what it is meant to do. But I've found out a few things about myself. Perhaps this applies to you, perhaps not, but I'll share. In a group run, to stay as a group, you may alter your stride, your cadence, or your posture. When I do that, I get stitches. I may bounce more when I run to keep a slower pace. Not sure exactly what all happens, but when I run at my pace and my stride, I am going faster than give myself credit for.
If you take anything from this blog post, realize that the group runs are important. They help you know your fellow runners and you can get some GREAT advice from those mentoring you. And it helps you learn a pace. The group also helps keep those demons in your head away. But do NOT underestimate the power and value of a solo run. Take the lessons you've learned in your training and apply them. Force your mind to think of them until it is second nature. These solo runs are also when the demons will rear up and try to defeat you. You know what they'll say. You know what they'll try to do to you. Ignore that. Now having said that, if you BODY is telling you "Woah" then perhaps you should listen, but learn to tell the difference. Tell those demons to kiss your butt and take a flying leap off a tall cliff. That comes in time. It came to me yesterday - 6 weeks into the program.
Introduction and Welcome!
Okay, my name is Paul and this is my first shot at blogging, other than posting on Facebook.
I generally don't share too much information online, but when my wife and I started our journey to complete a triathlon, I didn't have much to go on as far as what to expect. Then somebody posted on Facebook asking if anybody had a blog about it. I thought that what went through my head was probably odd, unique, and that nobody would really care about how I/we progressed through our development into competitors in a triathlon, but what the heck... let's give it a tri!
First off, much of this has been done because my wife and I enjoy being outside, enjoy spending time together, and are both pretty competitive. We've been wanting to get in better shape, and a triathlon seemed like a great way to have fun, get in shape, and meet lots of incredible people. We found out about a class at our local Fleet Feet, here in Huntsville, for introductory classes on running. I know... who would want to PAY to run? Who would want that torture, the shin splints, the side stitches, the injuries, and the wasted time? Apparently... us. And many others it turns out!
We signed up for two classes. The first class was the No Boundaries class. This class is meant to get you up to speed, so to speak, to run a 5k. This class is a 10 week session that progressively builds in distance, starting at a mile with interval times (walk, run/walk, or run are all options) and is meant to be a basic class to get you up and active.
A bit of history here for you: I ran Cross Country and Track in high school, 28+ years ago, so it isn't new to me. But a car accident/knee injury, age, and weight turned me more into a casual trotter. But in late 2011, after a wake up call at the doctor's office, I started working out at the local Y. Weights, Body Pump, elliptical, and hiking up at Monte Sano got me off my butt and getting active. I lost 20 lbs that way (195 back down to 175). I've maintained that weight since early 2012 to this day.
My wife started doing the gym too and did a lot of cardio and was actually the one to start going to Body Pump. Looked like fun, so I join her when I can. She's also the one that wanted to get into the running thing. She is DEFINITELY my inspiration for doing all of this. Those of you who may know her know what I'm talking about. She doesn't do anything half way at all. She's driven, strong, and dedicated and probably something I really need when it comes to working out. I would take the easy way and shortcut things when it came to workouts, and probably why I never really did all the great in high school athletics. She shows me every day what it means to give it your best - in everything she does.
Okay, now that we're signed up for NOBO, we ran into Rick, one of the Tri 101 trainers. We met him several months earlier while we were on a camping trip with some friends. He pulled up in his nice Jeep Wrangler YJ, so I just had to talk with him (Jeeps are one of my favorite hobbies). He knows a friend of mine, David, and we talked a bit. Wished him well in his race the next day (a marathon IIRC) and went about our business. When we saw him at Fleet Feet and found out he was the head coach for Tri 101, we signed up for that one too.
I mean, how hard could it be? We both scuba dive (Swimming - CHECK). We both can ride a bike (Biking - CHECK), and we're going to be running (Reluctantly - CHECK). Since Tri101 started a month or so after NOBO, we figured we'd be in a good position to handle the physicality of adding swimming and biking to our routine.
From here on out, I'll be talking about NOBO and Tri101 together, but will distinguish when I'm talking about either when needed.
Coming up: Summary of NOBO half way through the program and how it has impacted our Tri101 training.
I generally don't share too much information online, but when my wife and I started our journey to complete a triathlon, I didn't have much to go on as far as what to expect. Then somebody posted on Facebook asking if anybody had a blog about it. I thought that what went through my head was probably odd, unique, and that nobody would really care about how I/we progressed through our development into competitors in a triathlon, but what the heck... let's give it a tri!
First off, much of this has been done because my wife and I enjoy being outside, enjoy spending time together, and are both pretty competitive. We've been wanting to get in better shape, and a triathlon seemed like a great way to have fun, get in shape, and meet lots of incredible people. We found out about a class at our local Fleet Feet, here in Huntsville, for introductory classes on running. I know... who would want to PAY to run? Who would want that torture, the shin splints, the side stitches, the injuries, and the wasted time? Apparently... us. And many others it turns out!
We signed up for two classes. The first class was the No Boundaries class. This class is meant to get you up to speed, so to speak, to run a 5k. This class is a 10 week session that progressively builds in distance, starting at a mile with interval times (walk, run/walk, or run are all options) and is meant to be a basic class to get you up and active.
A bit of history here for you: I ran Cross Country and Track in high school, 28+ years ago, so it isn't new to me. But a car accident/knee injury, age, and weight turned me more into a casual trotter. But in late 2011, after a wake up call at the doctor's office, I started working out at the local Y. Weights, Body Pump, elliptical, and hiking up at Monte Sano got me off my butt and getting active. I lost 20 lbs that way (195 back down to 175). I've maintained that weight since early 2012 to this day.
My wife started doing the gym too and did a lot of cardio and was actually the one to start going to Body Pump. Looked like fun, so I join her when I can. She's also the one that wanted to get into the running thing. She is DEFINITELY my inspiration for doing all of this. Those of you who may know her know what I'm talking about. She doesn't do anything half way at all. She's driven, strong, and dedicated and probably something I really need when it comes to working out. I would take the easy way and shortcut things when it came to workouts, and probably why I never really did all the great in high school athletics. She shows me every day what it means to give it your best - in everything she does.
Okay, now that we're signed up for NOBO, we ran into Rick, one of the Tri 101 trainers. We met him several months earlier while we were on a camping trip with some friends. He pulled up in his nice Jeep Wrangler YJ, so I just had to talk with him (Jeeps are one of my favorite hobbies). He knows a friend of mine, David, and we talked a bit. Wished him well in his race the next day (a marathon IIRC) and went about our business. When we saw him at Fleet Feet and found out he was the head coach for Tri 101, we signed up for that one too.
I mean, how hard could it be? We both scuba dive (Swimming - CHECK). We both can ride a bike (Biking - CHECK), and we're going to be running (Reluctantly - CHECK). Since Tri101 started a month or so after NOBO, we figured we'd be in a good position to handle the physicality of adding swimming and biking to our routine.
From here on out, I'll be talking about NOBO and Tri101 together, but will distinguish when I'm talking about either when needed.
Coming up: Summary of NOBO half way through the program and how it has impacted our Tri101 training.
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