Cycling on TV

Well, Christian Van de Velde of team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda won the USA Pro Challenge. Good for him! I know nothing of that guy, but Christian is a good name for a guy, and I have a nephew named Christian. One of my favorite books is about a guy named Christian who rides his bike along the narrow way all the way to Heaven, so that's reason enough to cheer for him.

In sadder Garmin news the strap on my Garmin Forerunner 305 broke. See:

Garmin strap

The clasp thing came off the end of the strap because the plastic cracked. I tried to fix it with duct tape a couple of times, but it keeps coming off. I suppose I could complain to Garmin, but I've used this for a year and a half, so I'll probably just go to Wal-Mart and get a band for eight bucks or so. I don't know.

Speaking of watching cycling on TV in hopes it makes you a better cyclist, I complained during the Olympics, probably on Twitter, that I didn't have the Universal Sports network. I discovered this weekend that I do have that channel. It's way up on 402, but it's not an HD channel, so kind of happy, still kind of sad. At any rate, they have a lot of cycling.

They also have triathlons. Over the weekend I watched two sprint triathlons staged in Hamburg. The swim took them through this tunnel thing, and the bike route went through the transition area on the second loop. Some non-Americans won, but on the podium they gave them these huge glasses of beer. I'm serious. These glasses were taller than donkeys. I am now training for the Hamburg Sprint Triathlon.

Ok, see you tomorrow morning at the pool. If you get there early, cut a hole in the ice.

Swimming with a Wetsuit, in the Dark?

The day before today I got up and was at the pool by 6AM. It's still dark here in Missouri at 6AM this time of year, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, we're swimming at the outdoor pool. So with my shaded goggles I could just make out the stripe on the bottom of the pool, but I did come close to hitting my head on the wall the first couple of laps.

Swimming in the dark was interesting, but the significant point about this workout is how easy it felt. That's due, I'm sure, to my wetsuit.

Wetsuit Badge

I think my wetsuit is called the Oceanic Vantage, or something like that. From everything I've read, the wetsuit can help you swim faster, both anecdotal evidence and actual studies seem to indicate it's true. One way to tell if it helps you is to count your strokes per lap with and without the suit. If you're taking fewer strokes per lap with, then, all things being equal, it should be helping. Naturally, you'll still need to employ good form (someone tell me how to do that).

So I swam 1500 meters yesterday morning, and, since the air temp was 70 degrees, I thought, "Let's break out the wetsuit so that I look like a pansy when the senior citizens show up and swim in their bathers." Nevermind the swim time, it's not important since it was so pathetic. What I want to tell you is it didn't feel like it was a chore to get through those meters. I felt like I was gliding through, um, water. The suit provided enough buoyancy for my legs so that they didn't feel like anchors.

It's nice that the indoor pool is shut down and I'm able to swim outside with a wetsuit for practice. My first triathlon of the year is generally in June or July, and by then the water is too warm for a suit. Last year I rented a suit, it arrived on Thursday, I swam a few laps at the indoor pool on Friday morning, and I was racing with it on Sunday. The extra practice this year should help.

OK, gotta go. Need to ride today.

Cold Water Training

Yesterday I got up and the thermometer said the temperature outside was 56 degrees. Burr! I went on over to the pool, which is about a block from my house. Normally it isn't that close, but through July and August it is. Well, the city drains the indoor pool every July for cleaning and maintenance. Generally they open it back up in August. While it's closed they open the outdoor pool in the morning for lap swimming. This August, however, we are still swimming in the outdoor pool because they lack a part to fix the indoor pool. I don't mind swimming outside. In fact, I prefer it, but I forgot what 56 degrees felt like this summer.

At any rate, I get into the water, and promptly freeze my butt off. Since the pool is a block from home, I decide to go home and get my wetsuit. I acquired said wetsuit circa 1996 when I was stationed in Okinawa and did some diving. Now I know why I kept it all these years. Actually, I thought the suit performed well, and I'll probably wear it at the Branson 70.3 next month. It's only 3mm thick. I understand the maximum allowed by rule is 5mm. I may look like a dork swimming with a diving suit (it has these pieces of plastic that cover the knees), but that's OK, I'll save a few bucks. Last year I rented a wetsuit.

The only thing about this wetsuit is that it was hard to get off. I may swim again in the morning with it, but I'll try that body glide and see if that helps me get it off. It's sleeveless, which after using a full-sleeved one last year, I decided to go with anyways, but it's still hard to get it off past my ankles and heels.

Today, the last day I had off before back to work tomorrow, I rode 33 miles and then ran a 5K. The temps were in the mid 80s when I got done at around noon, so a can't complain about that, not this summer. If the water is as cold tomorrow as it was Monday, I may feel obligated to complain about that, though.

Training While on Vacation?

Last week we had the opportunity to make our pilgrimage to that most holy of children's Meccas otherwise known as Disney World. I'd never been, so you can imagine my sense of fulfillment once I gazed upon that magnificent geodesic sphere known as Spaceship Earth! But was I able to train while in the sunshine state? Well, you be the judge.

Blue Angel at the Florida welcome center!

We left home last Saturday morning with Lindsay Buckingham's Holiday Road playing in our heads. Our goal was Meridian, Mississippi, where we spent Saturday night. The hotel had a "health center" which consisted of a Nautilus machine, an old stair climber machine, and a treadmill. I decided to use the Nautilus. It had a station for benching, lat pull downs, leg extensions, and all that. The "health center" was in a room that measured about 12' x 14'. There were three young girls in there when I arrived (early twenties, late teens? I can't tell anymore). They evidently couldn't figure out how to work the Nautilus, because when I started using it they were like, "Oh, OK." Then they started ribbing me a little with, "Oooh, gettin' buff. You come see us once you get all buff." Thankfully they left and I could work out in peace.

I worked my girly pecs and then did some lat pull downs. I worked for about forty-five minutes, and if you hear me now you can believe me later, I felt da burn.

The next day, Sunday, we got up and drove on in to Pensacola, Flo Rida. We spent the day and that night on Pensacola Island. At the beach I tried to swim a little. I did a few laps swimming out and back in. Because of the rip tide that day swimming out was much easier than swimming in. I'd be swimming out, then look up, and I was half way to the Yucatan. But coming back in felt like I was towing a raft full of Cubans. Altogether I don't think I swam any significant distance. We did rent a kayak, and that thing punished my shoulders and arms, not to mention blisters on my hands. I've been wanting to get a kayak and I know now to get one with a back rest.

Pensacola Island

Big shell at Pensacola Island

On Monday I got up to do a beach run. Now, it had been a long time since I "ran" on a beach, and it was a lot harder than I remember or I'm just getting too old. It's been six days since that run and I can still feel it in my calves! What's up with that? It's not like I never run. At any rate, I "ran" three miles in the sand. We then packed up and headed for Orlando Bloom.

Our resort at Disney, I was happy to see, had a pool, and it looked to be about 35 or 40 meters long. However, on Tuesday morning I got up and ran four miles around the resort. There was a nice walk way around a lake and at that hour I was able to run without encountering a lot of people.

After my run, we got ready and went in to the Magic Kingdom. We opened the place up, and we pretty much closed it down. I'd like to count all that walking and standing around as training, but my six-year-old walked just as far as I did that day, so I don't think I can include it! Keep in mind, though, my calves are already sore from the sand run, and every time I stop to take a break, they get all stiff and it takes a few steps to get them going again. (I know, boo hoo!)

So we get back to the room late Tuesday, and on Wednesday I get up to swim. I was able to get a few laps in before some other folks started showing up. Who's ready to hit the pool before 8AM unless you're doing laps? Well, some people are. One end of the pool was zero entry, so I'd swim down until my hands hit the bottom, then turn around and go back. I maybe got ten laps in before I called it quits. Then it was off to Epcot and more walking. We once again opened it up and closed it down.

Excited aobut Captain EO

Thursday I slept in and didn't do anything, except walk all around the Disney Hollywood Park, or whatever you call it. We saw everything we wanted to see by about seven that night, so we went on back to our suite. And really, that's all the work outs I got in. Of course, the vacation wasn't about working out, but you might think you'd have more time to get some work outs in while on vacation. That wasn't necessarily the case this time. My wife keeps talking about a beach vacation where we get a house and spend a week with nothing planned except hanging at the beach. Perhaps some day, and I'll be ready for that beach run.

So, how productive was my week? In terms of family it was great. Work outs, not so much, but that's OK. It's not like I have a 70.3 in Branson in about 35 days. Oh, wait, I do? That's not good.

Warsaw Area Sprint Triathlon

Today is my wife's birthday, so happy birthday Michele!

Last Sunday my wife accompanied me to the Warsaw Area Sprint Triathlon. This happened in Warsaw, Missouri. 500 meter swim, 12 mile bike, 5K run. It took me about an hour and twenty minutes.

I was prepared to give props to the company that ran the race, Split Master Timing, but when I looked for the results this morning, a week later, they're still not posted on the website. So they are a little slow in getting results up, but I will give them credit for their organization and keeping it fun for the spectators and racers. They're a husband and wife time and they both wear a microphone. So throughout the race they banter back and forth, give instruction, and explain triathlon to the spectators. This all in between the upbeat music that's blaring.

This race was the shortest triathlon I've ever done. There were only about 17 people who raced, so it was also the smallest race I've ever been in. With so few runners, I think everyone won something. I was first place in my age division! I was also the only one in my age division. Well, there was one other guy, but he ran with his wife side by side, and I assume it was her first ever race of any kind, and they finished dead last. This dude had a serious tri bike and a race kit, so I figure he would've smoked me had he really been running.

Afterwards we got free Subway sandwiches, so you can't beat that.

Here are some pics:

Exiting T1

Exiting T2

Returning from Run

Running Heavy

Last year at the end of July I weighed 151.5.

Yesterday I weighed 158.5.

I'm no Archimedes, but even I know that's a difference of 7 pounds.

So what's that mean in practical terms. Profoundly, I'm 7 pounds heavier this year! That doesn't seem like a lot, but go out to your garage and grab whatever weighs 7 pounds and carry it around all day. See, makes your arms tired, doesn't it.

OK, it's not exactly the same, and honestly I don't know that it makes any difference. I do wonder what has made the difference, though. I don't think I'm eating differently than last year. I am still lifting, where last summer I abandoned the weights, so maybe that has something to do with it.

I complained about this in my last post, but this summer is hot, hot, hot as hell August. And dry! "Brown and crispy" is a phrase we're hearing a lot. I generally take my son camping in the summer, but we've pushed that back this year. Besides, Missouri Conservation has banned camp fires at all parks for the time being, so forget that. Camping is not camping unless you're using lighter fluid to get the camp fire going.

There is a race in Warsaw tomorrow, and I'll be there. It's a sprint distance tri, and I hear the bike course traverses the dam. Oh, that reminds me, I better see if I can find my bike.

I'm watching the Olympic road race right now, and I watched as much of le Tour as I could even though I don't get the NBC Sports channel (btw, thank you NBC Sports channel for putting the Olympic triathlon on your channel, I appreciate not having to watch that since it's one of the rare times a triathlon is actually on TV. I mean, I get MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, and of course regular NBC, but you put the tri on the one channel I don't get because it's not included in my tier). After watching these races, I'll be very disappointed tomorrow if I don't see some European dudes with flags tied around their necks running along side the riders tomorrow.

If I do well in the race tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.

Running Hot

The last thing my neighbors want to see is a grown man running through the 'hood butt-naked. I don't blame them, I don't want to see that either because, you know, barefoot runners can be anoying. However, it's been so hot up in here I'd completely understand if, per Nelly's admonition, people started to take off all their clothes.

This afternoon I went out for a five miler, and it was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I hate running when it's that hot! I swear I died and went to slow jog hell. I could practically hear folks driving by in they cars, "What's that idiot doing?"

A couple of weeks ago I ran in the Shawnee Mission Triathlon. One thousand meter swim (nice and level), eighteen mile bike (hilly), and four point five mile run (two dam inclines). My time was worse than last year! What's up with that? Again, I blame the heat. Not at the race, we were finished before it got really blazing, but because I'm too lazy to go out and train while it's stupid hot.

In a couple more weeks I'm going to run a race in Warsaw! Yes, that Warsaw, Warsaw, Missouri. Never heard of it? I'm shocked! Well, they're hosting the first ever Warsaw Triathlon, and I will be there. Warsaw, Missouri also hosts the Truman Dam which holds back all the water in the Truman Resevoir. I think we'll be swimming below the dam, but not really sure. I'll find out when I get there.

That's shaping up to be my second to last race of the year. Lord willing I'll be at the Branson 70.3 again in September. Someone from Springfield told me this is the last year they will put on that race but I haven't been able to confirm that because I have done absolutely no checking. I hope they don't do away with it. It's the closest Ironman event to me. The next closest is the Kansas 70.3 which is in Lawrence.

As I type Tombstone is on TV. I've never seen it. There are a number of famous actors in this show. Kurt Russel, Val Kilmer, Powers Boothe, Bill Paxton, Jason Priestly (uh?), Thomas Haden Church, the guy from The Terminator, Sam Elliot, that woman from that TV show from the 90s(?) that I never watched, and others! Oh, there's that guy from Lost who started out in the wheelchair.

Speaking of movies, I read yesterday that Henry Hill died back in June. Ray Liotta played him in Goodfellas. Does that have to do with anything? I don't know, but if I keep sucking on these races I enter I'm going into the witness protection program.