The Fat Cyclist's Thoughts on Triathletes

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Oh so funny!

An Open Letter to Triathletes

Tonight's Workout

Well, I went to track tonight not expecting to push myself too hard. I really want to ease myself back into my training while allowing my body to fully recover. I don't want this thing to last longer than it needs to. Anyway, I took it easy and actually felt pretty good by the end of our run set. Here's what we did (each with a 400 easy recovery)...

400 (I missed this one)
800 (2:45, 2:38)
400 (2:50)
800 (2:55, 3:02)
400 (2:35)
800 (2:39, 3:00)

I took it way easy, keeping a pace that allowed me to have an unlabored conversation with Jeremiah, who graciously hung back with me during the whole workout. I am on my way to a full recovery and I may even be able to go to the workout on Saturday morning.

The Chest Cold Workout

Well, the past week has been pretty much a wash in terms of getting any of the prescribed workouts in. BUT one thing this cold has allowed is a pretty good ab workout. There's nothing like a constant cough to give a person abs of steel :)

I'm feeling much better today and actually got a good night's sleep. I am planning on going to the track workout tonight, even if I can't finish the whole workout.

Sexy Wetsuit Ladies!

Aren't we a hot bunch? Either that, or crazy. About 20 minutes after this photo was taken we were swimming around in 50 degree lake water.

Maida, Liz, Christine, Jeri, Susan, Mary, Lynn, & Holly

Wildflower Practice Weekend

I had great hopes for this weekend. I was sooo excited to see the course and to find out how well prepared or how unprepared I am for the race coming up in the beginning of May. Unfortunately, I started coming down with a cough/chest cold on Thursday and it only got worse as the weekend progressed. I made it into the 50 degree water with my wetsuit on and did the warm up laps, but couldn't complete the actual workout. Despite the rain and my numb toes, I made it onto my bike and made it up Lynch hill and to the first water station without any real distress, but then I turned around and was not able to complete the whole course. The next day was the run, and I was really hoping that I'd at least be able to finish that, but I got about a mile into the run and had to turn around because my chest was hurting too much. This stoopid cold couldn't have come at a worse time. After going to SLO for a tri-tip sandwich at Firestone and visiting some friends for a few hours, I made my way home. As I drove, I started to get the shakes and by the time I got home I had a full blown fever at 101.8 degrees. I guess sleeping outside on the ground and swimming in 50 degree water doesn't help a chest cold. Anyway, I am praying for a quick recovery so I can get back to my training and finish the triathlon with energy to spare.

Running and Wetsuits

Team Track Workout
Tonight we did some drills... running up and down the stairs on the bleachers and doing our ultra fun run drills on the football field. Then we did some speed work. I got a side cramp while running the first 400 so I missed the next one in the set. Here's how it went...

200 (0:50.1)
200 (0:56.3)
400 (not completed)
400 (not completed)
400 (2:08)
400 (2:08)
400 (2:13)
400 (2:07)
200 (0:55.7)
200 (0:53.7)

Then we did our normal set of post-workout stretching. My legs were quite stiff after the running tonite and I think I may be coming down with some sort of chest cold. Not a good time since we're going to Lake San Antonio this weekend for a practice run of the course.

So, since I wasn't at practice on Saturday, I picked up my wetsuit from a friend. I tried it on when I got home and, of course, its a tad too long. I'm gonna find out if there's any way to shorten the legs and arms without having to return the darn thing. Cutting them off probably wouldn't be the best idea. We'll see. Anyway, me in a wetsuit... thats an interesting sight :) I can hardly put my arms down when I'm wearing it. It reminds me of the little boy in A Christmas Story. It'll be interesting to see the whole group of us waiting to go into the water, all of us in our penguin suits :) Ok, it is time for some packing and laundry.

Be sure to check back soon for details on the weekend (and maybe even a few pics of me in the wetsuit).

Today's Workout

I've been really struggling lately with getting myself to the gym or outdoors for a run and a ride. Today I finally convinced myself to go the gym and it wasn't all that bad. I did a brick workout: bike and run.

Spin Bicycle
20 minutes at L2

Treadmill
1 mile = 11:50
1 lap cool down

I also did some stretching, a few (very few) situps, some tricep work, lat pulldown, and some quad presses. Overall, it was a relaxing workout. Really nice for getting out some of the tension thats been building up over the past few crazy weeks at work.

On a different note, the Wildflower Practice Weekend is this weekend and I am soooo excited! I can't wait to go camping and relaxing and working out real hard and eating good food with good people. AND there is a possibility that I'll be able to get a collection of folks to go down to SLO on Sunday for some tri-tip at Firestone. mmmmmmmmm, triii-tiiiip.

Rain Rain Go Away

Well, the weather was pretty crummy last week with a few rays of sunshine here and there. I managed to get in nearly 11 miles of running last week, but no swimming and no biking. I'm not terribly worried about the swimming, but I really need to get myself out on the road.

The rain and icky weather finally took a break over the weekend, providing blue skies and 60 degree weather. BUT I was unable to take advantage of this amazingly beautiful weekend. I was working all day on Saturday and all day on Sunday. Today I was hoping to hop on the bike for a nice long ride, but woke up to gray clouds and rain soon followed. I guess its off to the gym later on today.

Now, I am off to the store to get some items for our practice weekend coming up. I am soooo excited to get the weekend off to go camping, to see the course, and to get to know my teammates better.

GO TEAM!

Today's Workout

Team Track Workout
Tonite we met at a different location, which was actually pretty nice since there were lights on the track and working bathrooms for us to use (compared to the rigged lighting and the port-a-potties at the other track). The weather started out kind of windy and cold, but it seemed to warm up a bit. We did some stretching and core strengthening exercises before we started our run set. We did our whole run set without any rain and exactly when we were getting ready to leave, the rain started. Perfect timing. Anyway, here's what we did in our run set.

400 (2:12) - 400 recovery
800 (2:28, 2:24) - 400 recovery
800 (2:26, 2:18) - 400 recovery
800 (2:28, 2:14) - 400 recovery
400 (2:07) - 400 recovery

I felt pretty good tonite, but my calves and hamstrings got pretty tight toward the end. And although my times are pretty darn good, I know that I wouldn't be able to keep that pace up during a 6 mile run. Either way, it felt good to push myself.

Today's Workout

This evening I joined the TNT run team at Campbell Park (the same place I ran yesterday) for what they call a "short" run. Susan joined me there so she could introduce me to some of the folks that she knows. I felt much better on the run tonite than I did yesterday morning. Not sure what the difference was since it was exactly the same route. I also noticed that I made it far enough down the road that parts of it seemed familiar to me from a bike ride I did a few weeks ago that started from my apartment. Anyway, it was overall a nice run, but my legs got pretty tight towards the end. Nothing a little bit of stretching won't help.

Total Distance = 5 miles (my longest run so far)
Time = just over an hour (about a 13 minute mile)

Silicon Valley Tri Team - Spring '06

A team photo at our Honoree Potluck

GO TEAM!

Today's Workout

Today I went for a run in Campbell Park with Lisa, one of the other youth pastors in the area. I felt totally sluggish and tight this morning while running. Not sure if its because I didn't have much time to warm up or what. I think I was also more aware of how out of breath I was since Lisa and I were talking most of the time. Anyway, after our run we went to Stacks for breakfast. It was nice to be out with someone socially without an agenda to go over.

Total Distance = 3 miles

Today's Workout

Team Swim and Bike

Swam first this morning.

400 warm up
8x50 drill
6x100, 2' interval, descending 123, 456
(1:33, 1:34, 1:33, 137, 1:37, 136)
300 recovery
6x50, 1' interval, descending 123, 456
(0:48, 0:48, 0:47... I guess I only timed the first three)
300 recovery
8x25 sprint (10" rests)
300 cool down

Total Distance = 2800 yards

Then there was the bike... HOLY CRAP!
Went out to the same place we went last week, only we went up a different hill this time once we got there. It was a never-ending hill. It just kept going and going and going. I had a pretty hard time with this work out. At least I had some moral support from some of my teammates. If I didn't have that support I would've stopped and turned around long before I did. There were times when my bike felt really sluggish. I even wondered if I was riding on a flat, but that wasn't it. I realized that when I see a hill I get all worked up about it, and instead of working through it I obsess about how hard it is. I need to really focus on my breathing in order to make it up these hills. Stopping helps to offer relief to my aching legs, but only a few minutes after I hop back on the bike I feel just as fatigued as I did before I stopped. Anyway, the only blessing to having the ride be uphill most of the way is that it is pretty much downhill the whole way back to the school.

Total Distance = 15.5 miles

Fun in the rain

Here are a few pics from training last night.

Me, Christine, and Susan getting ready for a wet track practice.

Yup... my face says it all... wet and cold!

Yesterday's Workout

Team Track Workout
We had our workout even though it was pouring on us during the first 20 minutes or so. At least it stopped raining around the time that we were doing our run set, but by then the damage was done and we were all soaked. Anyway, here's what we did.

Warm up - 1200 (3 laps)
Stretches
Drills - 800 (2 laps)
Pyramid Run
- 200 (0:49)
- 400 (2:13)
- 800 (2:45, 2:42)
- 800 (2:36, 2:39)
- 400 (2:14)
- 200 (0:50)
Stretches

Total Distance = 2.75 miles

Despite the rain, the morale was quite high. This was our first workout after recommitment and I think everybody who was there was excited to have made the choice to keep going with the training and fundraising. After the workout, we went to Baja Fresh for some much deserved hot food and we talked about practice weekend (coming up in a few weeks). It was a really good time. Thank you, TNT, for giving me some semblance of a social life.

Today I shall go to the gym with Jonnye for a light workout and some core training.

Distance Totals

Today I went through my journal and did a tally of my total milage during training.

Swim = 10 miles
Bike = 75 miles
Run = 28 miles

Woah! I never thought in a thousand years would I run 28 miles in a month! To top that, my running mile time has improved by more than 2 minutes. I don't have much to compare my biking skills to, but I know that my endurance has gotten better. And I know that my swimming has improved as well.

I feel stronger and leaner.

Now, if only I could join a TNT group that motivates me to clean my apartment :)

Today's Workout

Run Workout
This afternoon Susan (my mentor) and I went for a run up the Dam* Road on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Luckily, it didn't rain at all (just a little spittle here and there). But the trail was fairly muddy so we couldn't keep up our pace the whole time (we didn't complain). This part of the trail has two good hills. The first one is fairly steep but short. The second one is not as steep but about a quarter mile long. We did pretty well, only stopping on a few occaisions to catch our breath, do some stretching, and to hydrate. Afterward, we went to dinner downtown and had a good time just hanging out. This was my longest run so far.

Total Distance = 4 miles

Saturday's Workout

Team Bike and Run

Bike Workout
I once again rode with the age-groupers. Despite my efforts to keep up the pace, I fell behind and nearly got lost on the first section of the route. I finally made it to the mid-way point where everyone was waiting and practicing changing tires. Once we got started again, I did pretty well on the hills with the rest of the group. But at some point, our group missed a turn and we ended up going about a mile out of our way. We turned around and made our way back to the main road that we came in on. Once we hit that road, the pack proceeded to take off, leaving me and a few others in the dust... again. I was very discouraged and wondered what would happen if I were to get hurt or not feel like I could finish the ride. I had no cell phone and did not know who was behind me that would be able to help out. Finally, a few familiar faces came upon me and graciously stayed by me the rest of the way back to the school. Besides being left behind... twice... it was a really good workout.

Total Distance = 16 miles

Swim Workout
There were 5 or 6 people in each of the pro lanes this week, which made the water especially choppy and also didn't always allow for best effort.

10 x 50 (15" rests)
500 marker set
3 x 100 (15" rests)
1 x150

We ended the workout by getting into some relay teams and doing some fun little relay races. I realized how much I actually miss racing in the water. Who knew?

500 Marker = 8:46, PE=6
Total Distance = 1500 yards

Today's Workout

Since I ran yesterday and I still haven't been able to figure out a good fit on the stationary bikes at the gym, I decided to do the elliptical today. It worked my quads pretty well and I worked up a good sweat.

Elliptical - 30 minutes

Then I did some stretching, arms and core work.

120 situps of different variations
30 pushups
3 x 15 tricep 5lb
3 x 10 bicep 10lb

Today's Workout

Team Track Workout
Tonite we did mile repeats like we did a few weeks ago. The age-groupers only did 2 miles. I felt like we should've done 3, just because the event is drawing near and we haven't run more than 2 miles during practice, and I'm not likely to do more running than my coaches tell me to :) Anyway, I seem to have shaved about a minute off of my time from last week! Whatever I'm doing, its working. Now its just a matter of being able to actually run a full 6 miles after swimming and biking. We had better pick up the mileage soon or I won't be ready.

Mile 1 = 10:24 (2:34, 2:40, 2:35, 2:33)
Mile 2 = 10:42 (2:40, 2:44, 2:43, 2:35)

Loss of momentum

Oh geez... I've missed my workout for the past two days... yikes!

Yesterday, I ended up working for nearly 12 hours with just a few breaks for food. I normally ride my bike to work on Tuesdays but the monsoon prevented me from doing that.

Today, well, I was just being lazy :( I had an 8am meeting and then I was working straight until about 5pm when all I wanted to do was go home and veg out. I actually had the intention of going to the gym, but I made the mistake of coming home first. From now on, I will be carrying my workout stuff with me in my car so I don't get sucked in at home after work.

Looking forward to the track workout tomorrow, unless its gonna be raining. Then I'm not sure how I feel about that. Perhaps we'll luck out.

GO TEAM!