triathlon training log week 11 - 5/10 - 5/15

Monday 5/10 - Rest
No rest for the anxiety-ridden.  What was I thinking?  I can't do a triathlon.

Tuesday 5/11 Swim - Run 9/1, 21 mins
Just a wee (see what I did there?) bit intimidating walking into the pool wearing tri-shorts instead of my regular swimsuit.  I think the padding for the cycling helped in a certain capacity.  Alternatively, it's more likely that no one either noticed or cared.  Swim went well.  Did my usual 250 then 100 then another 250.  Concentrated on exhaling underwater (new pro tip) and swimming at a sustainable pace.  When I finished this time though, I hopped right out of the pool without drying off to "practice" my anticipated T1 routine - socks onto wet feet and a light shirt.  Then off to my run.  Felt great on the run - nice easy pace and hit about two miles.  Good confidence builder.

Wednesday 5/12 - Bike 12 miles
After several back and forth emails with Sharon where I tried to justify skipping a wetsuit for what would most would consider cold conditions, finally said screw it and rented one after work.  The $35 is worth the peace of mind -  and warmth truth be told.  The notion of cold water and the subsequent freezing bike/run was weighing on me.  Another first for me - asking a man to "zip me up."  Got home late and despite threatening skies went for a ride outside.  New route around some backroads and then back onto one of my usual routes.  Finished in the dark but a fun ride.

Thursday 5/13 - Swim
With the rental of a swimsuit, I thought it might be a good idea to go for at least one swim with it on - both to see what it was like swimming and to practice taking it off.  Fairly awkward finding a non-naked stranger and asking him to zip me up.  Felt like holding a sign the entire time reading "I'm in my first triathlon this weekend, have never worn a wetsuit and thought one practice session might be a good idea."  More awkwardness following trying to find a lane as quickly as possible and slipping in - again holding up the mental sign.  Slid into the pool and then popped back up like a cork.  Wow, they weren't kidding about the extra buoyancy.  I push off the wall and start to swim - I feel like i'm jet powered.  Everything is so much easier.  This is what real swimmers must feel like - just gliding through the water.  My plan (for the tri) had been to alternate freestyle with breast stroke but I found that while the wetsuit is helping my freestyle, the added buoyancy is actually hindering my breast stroke.  Have to figure out what to do with that information as even with the wetsuit advantage I don't think I'll be able to do the whole distance freestyle.  Ended up doing 2x250 plus another 100 or so.  Sharon had advised me to practice getting the wetsuit off (which can sometimes be tricky) but it slipped right off.  Feeling much better about the swim.

Friday 5/14 - Rest
Anxiety level rising.

Saturday 5/15 - Run 9/2/1 15 mins
Few last minute errands for Gu, Gatorade, speed laces and a new shirt.  More "new" race day items than I might have liked but I don't think it should be too big a deal.  Nice easy run - though I was hyper-aware of every creak and sore spot, i.e., will this be a problem tomorrow?  Nice dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, packed up, and then to bed around 9:30.  Anxiety level was reasonable and I think I finally fell asleep around 11.

triathlon training log week 10 - 5/3 - 5/9

Monday 5/3 - Rest


Tuesday 5/4 - Swim, Run 9/8/15 30 mins
Swim starts very slowly.  Finally got into my groove and did my 2x250 plus a few hundred after that.  Really wish I could string more freestyle laps together but it just isn't going to happen.  I wonder if I had been as religious about time/distance for swimming early as I was for running if I would be in a different place now.  Probably not.  I don't remember those early workouts as being remotely easy.  Run goes really well.  I haven't been using an iPod for my runs as it didn't seem "realistic" - which is to say that I wasn't going to get that music groove in the race.  What. A. Stupid. Idea.  Running would probably have sucked an order of magnitude less.  I got so into this run I forgot to set the time on my final interval and didn't even notice.

Wednesday 5/5 - Bike 15 miles
Got home from work late and pissed - cranked this out in an hour which is good time with winds and traffic stops.

Thursday 5/6 - Swim
Shared the lane with a guy who was training for an Olympic length in the Fall.  I hope I never looked that bad swimming but probably did.  Possibly still do.  Though, pretty impressive.  I'm afraid of a sprint (with a short swim at that) and this guy is tackling a "real" one.

Friday 5/7 - Rest


Saturday 5/8 - Run 9/8/1 60 mins
It's about time one of these long format runs goes well.  A couple of +1 min breaks and I started to fade a bit toward the end but definitely an effort I was proud of.

Sunday 5/9 - Bike 22 miles
Jennifer was kind enough to take Lauren so I could get a ride in on Mother's Day. EXTREMELY windy.  Rode North, West, East and South.  Wind was in my face the whole time - and it's not because I'm that fast.

triathlon training log week 9 - 4/26 - 5/2

Monday 4/26 - Rest
After yesterday's abysmal effort - probably in the best interest of all.

Tuesday 4/27 - Swim 50/8x50/50, Run 9/8/30 30 mins
Pool is full up so I ran first.  Solid effort - felt good and pleasantly surprised at the distance I covered.  This was the first time I paid attention to distance (heretofore I've only run for time and even when on a track didn't pay attention to laps).  Swim goes really well as I did my double 250 for time workout plus another 250-300 untimed.

Wednesday 4/28 - Bike 15 miles
Week 9, 46 workouts.  Finally missed one due to work.  The real pisser is this is one of my "fun" workouts.  Pissed.

Thursday 4/29 - Swim
I could write down what the plan says but I've sort of given up on that.  Content to alternate freestyle and breast-stroke for 2-3 250m intervals with some laps (number TBD by intervals) I've completed.

Friday 4/30 - Rest


Saturday 5/1 - Run 9/8/1
Pwned again.  Just pwned.  Running at the hottest part of the day did me no favors whatsoever.

Sunday 5/2 - Bike 25 miles
Late day/early evening ride with Jennifer was a lot of fun (though she was pooped due to two soccer games this weekend).  One not so great moment at our turnaround point when she told me to just start cranking to beat a storm coming in and I didn't exactly rocket out of the gate like she thought.  Me not moving + her clipped in with nowhere to go means a rider down.  Hint: it wasn't me. I felt really bad for her - she got pretty banged up.

triathlon training log week 8 - 4/19 - 4/25

Monday 4/19 - Rest


Tuesday 4/20 - MTB (~8 miles)
Bruce suggested getting out for an actual MTB ride and I though it might be a good idea to mix up the training schedule and swap my running and biking days to accomplish this. A lot of fun getting back out on fat tires - though I was surprised at my "lack" of fitness.  Bruce said I was burning up the flats (good) but we both struggled on some of the climbs.  Guess this is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic efforts.  Gonna have to target the latter if I'm going to be at all competitive through my summer MTB races.


Wednesday 4/21 - Swim 50/8x50/50
I've pretty much given up on freestyle for the whole distance.  While this may seem like punting early the degree to which I'm winded after a few laps isn't doing my workout any good.  Or so I would rationalize.  I feel like if the end goal is the ability to link 10 laps than doing 2-3 at a time and then heaving at the wall for a few minutes doesn't get me down the road at all whereas linking laps regardless of stroke is at least moving towards my cardio/swimming goal.  Swim goes OK from there.

Thursday 4/22 - Run 9/8/45 30 mins
From seemingly out of nowhere, this was easy.  Actually no big deal.  I'm as surprised as anyone.

Friday- 4/23 - Swim 50/16x25/50
Fuck it.  I decide that I'm tired of just swimming laps.  I know I'm fast enough on the bike, running is coming along - I need some swim feedback.  So I decided to do 250 for time.  Sharon had suggested 8:00 for my estimated swim time (wicked slow for the record) so I wanted to see where I fit against that.  Shocked to finish (alternating strokes) at 5:30. Not that this is impressive but I was surprised.  Rest for a few minutes then do it again in 5:30.  I guess things are coming along (sorta).

Saturday 4/24 - Bike 25 miles
As I swapped out my running and riding days earlier in the week, I though it was best if I did the same this weekend.  A chilly ride out to Rt. 28 late in the day - somewhere around mile 18 it occurred to me I might be wrecking myself for tomorrow's run.

Sunday- 4/25 - Run 9/7/1 50 mins
Pwnd.  No more need be said.  I could barely lift my wispy little legs. Pro (actually amateur) tip: save yourself for your most challenging workouts.  Just sayin'.

triathlon training log week 7 - 4/12 - 4/18

Monday 4/12 - Rest
Much needed after yesterday's ride.

Tuesday 4/13 - Run 9/7/1 30 mins
A cold rain dampened enthusiasm but this turned out to be one of my better, if not best, efforts.

Wednesday 4/14 - Swim 50/12x25/50
Solid effort.  Dare I say it, getting better.

Thursday 4/15 - Brick - Bike 30 mins - Run 2/3/1
I know that these brick workouts aren't as hard as the real thing, but I'm not finding these hard at all.  If I wasn't so lazy I would up the running to something more realistic.  Sadly, I'm not.

Friday 4/16 - Swim 50/16x25/50
Had to switch pools where the lanes are in the dive well.  Weird seeing that much water below you.  Feel like ass for this swim and feel like vomiting the whole time.

Saturday - Run 9/6/1 45 mins
Not feeling so hot but manage to grind out the run.

Sunday - Bike 22 miles
Very chilly ride.  Pro-tip: If you feel like you're screaming along you're probably going downhill.  Which means uphill on the way back.  And probably into the wind.

triathlon training log week 6 - 4/5 - 4/11

Monday 4/5 - Rest 


Tuesday 4/6  - Run 9/6/1 30 mins
Really don't feel like running as I feel like ass.  Complete run but not having much fun.  Pro tip:  Pee before you leave the house so it's not on your mind the whole time you're running.

Wednesday 4/7 - Swim 50/12x25/50
In some ways, feeling better about swimming after today.  Still can't hammer all the laps in sequence but I can complete the whole distance with short (10 sec) rests and alternating strokes.  Still a decent amount of training time before me but my takeaway from tonight is hammering on the swimming a bit more.

Thursday 4/8 - Brick - Bike 45 mins - Run 2/3/1
Excited to ride today so instead of just a 30 minute spin I decided to go for a ride up the parkway and back down through some neighborhoods and West Ox Road.  I had the option of turning on Rugby back home but was feeling good so continued down West Ox.  Not such a hot idea.  I was trying to beat an incoming thunderstorm and while I did get home on the bike before the deluge - I ended up running in an absolute downpour.  Kinda fun in its own way.

Friday 4/9 - Swim 50/6x50/50
Took the day off for "Dads and Donuts" at Lauren's school so I went to the pool in the morning.  Packed.  Don't these people have jobs?  Not mentally there for swimming.  Did the required workout plus another 200 or so.  The donut I had later destroyed whatever caloric gains I made swimming.

Saturday 4/10 - Run 9/5/1 40 mins
Feel like ass and really don't feel like running today but go anyway.  End up actually feeling OK all things considered - though I screwed up my turnaround point and ended up walking more than I meant to.

Sunday 4/11 - Bike 20 miles
Very excited to get out today as we got Jennifer's mom to watch Lauren so the two of us could go out together.  It was our first time together on the new rides.   Headed up the parkway and then west on the WO&D out to Sterling Blvd.  Ended up just a bit above 20 miles round trip and somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 hours.  Felt really good though I think my cleats need some adjusting.  Pretty tired by the end of the day.

triathlon training log week 5 - 3/29 - 4/4

Monday 3/29 - Rest
Much needed.  This has the potential to be a long week.

Tuesday 3/30 - Run 9/5/1 20 mins
Goes better than anticipated.  Actually pretty good.

Wednesday 3/31 - Swim 50/4x50/50
render :partial 'swimming_coming_along_but_not_where_i_want_to_be_yet'.  In related news, back on a Rails kick.  One serious upside,  this week is spring break which means the pool is empty.  New bike shoes arrive today - hooray!!  No more crappy cages.

Thursday 4/1 - Brick - Bike 30mins, Run 2/3/1, 10 min walk
Not nearly as bad as I thought.  Do my time on the trainer and then because Jennifer is at work and I have Lauren, do my run around acorn island.  Feel slightly silly but you do what you have to.

Friday 4/2 - Swim 50/6x50/50
The usual swimming suckitude.  Decide to punish myself by doing workout then tacking on more until I hit 1000.  Pretty tired.

Saturday 4/3 - Run 9/41 40 mins
Manage to fit my run in after a very busy day.  Feel pretty good.

Sunday 4/4 - Bike 12 miles
First outside ride on the new sled.  Woot!! Wanted to get this done with Jennifer but things didn't work out.  Another busy day but manage to get my ride in at the end of the day.  Road bike feel way different than my mountain bike.  Also getting used to riding on the shoulder of the road.  Once I got my act together though, wicked fun.  So nimble and quick to accelerate.  Felt really good so I added a couple of extra miles.  Ride went really well but had the thought in the closing miles (as I was starting to notice some slight fatigue) that the point of all this will have me getting off the bike and then running.  Not an appetizing thought at this stage.

triathlon training log week 4 - 3/22 - 3/28

Monday 3/22 - Rest
Much needed.

Tuesday 3/23 - Swim 50/4x50/50, Run 9/4/1 20 mins
Swim was, well, it was.  In the furtherance of a theme, seeing gains in running and biking, less so in swimming.  I'm having a hard time imagining myself swimming the whole distance freestyle without rests.  Plugging along though.

Feel good on the run.

Wednesday 3/24 - Bike 30 mins
Low motivation day.  Really don't feel like doing anything.  Workout time speaks for itself.  Also, as I don't have pedals yet, I put on Jennifer's old cages.  I haven't ridden clips in 14 years.  HOW DO PEOPLE USE THESE THINGS?

Thursday 3/25 - Swim 50/8x25/50, Walk 30 mins
Blast myself swimming tonight.  Think I swam an extra 200.  Interesting note: I suck with a kickboard.

Walking doesn't seem like enough so I throw in a few short running intervals.

Friday 3/26 - Rest 


Saturday 3/27 - Run 9/3/1 40 mins
Longest run yet.  Beginning was challenging, then hit my groove in the middle.  Last two intervals were tough.

Sunday 3/28 - Bike 10/40/10
Good ride despite annoying child (not mine) in the basement asking me how I'm pretending to do in the race and that I'm too loud.  Inform said child that I don't care what she thinks.

Gonna get my ass kicked next week.

triathlon training log week 3 - 3/15 - 3/21

Monday 3/15 - Rest
Pulled the trigger on the Trek.  Psyched but also feeling a little guilty.

Tuesday 3/16 - Swim 50/2x50/50, Run 9/3/1, 20 mins
Guide I've been using strongly suggested that I not miss a workout for the first two weeks just to get it to be a habit.  Seemed daunting at the time.  Realized this morning that I've done exactly that with little effort.  Am actually looking forward to tonight's workout.  WHAT HAVE I BECOME?!?

Finally happened - no open lanes for swimming tonight.  Well, technically there were lanes with only two swimmers but I really don't feel like I'm competent enough to do the whole circular thing.  I really don't need to get in anybody's way - much less get lapped within 25m.  Sat for a bit waiting for a lane to open up and then decided to go running. Three minute intervals weren't nearly as bad as I thought they would be.  May actually be...not enjoying running so much as tolerating it to a greater degree.  Swimming was also marginally better than last week and I put in an extra 100.  May have pulled my ass slightly.  Will advise.

Wednesday 3/17 - Ride 10/40/10
Tasted rueben throughout .  Solid effort - especially with Patapsco set for Saturday.  Also found the new hotness is scheduled to arrive on Friday.  No pedals or shoes but it should at least be nice to look at.

Also, ass seems fine.  Thank you for your concern.

Thursday 3/18 - Swim 50/8x25/50, Walk 30 mins
Pretty good swim actually - coming closer to linking laps but still awfully tiring.  I'm seeing steady improvement in my running but swimming seems to be coming along much more slowly.  Not demoralizing but not exactly encouraging either.  On the other hand still more than 2 weeks of swimming days to go.

Walking didn't seem like enough so I did some 1/1 and 2/1 to keep things more active.

Friday 3/19 - Rest 
The new hotness arrives.  Very exciting.

 The Flobots may not need handlebars but I still need pedals

Saturday 3/20 - Race Day
No, not that one thank god.  Though I was about as well-prepared.  Got my ass kicked at the Sugar Hill XC race.

Sunday 3/21 - Run 9/3/1, 30 mins
Really don't feel like running today in general, much less as today's scheduled run obviously does not take yesterday's hammering into account. Struggling with the additional 10 minutes - plus the fact that I decided to run uphill for most of my time.  Second half did go better than expected though.

On a related note (i.e., triathlon), went to The Bike Lane with Jennifer to get her clipless pedals and the cutest shoes you've ever seen.

this was not my best effort

In a fit of I don't even know what, I signed up for this race back in January along with Snotcycle.  I expected nothing of myself w/r/t Snotcycle but figured I would be in good shape for this race.  While circumstances (a combination of weather and other commitments) had prevented me from getting outside on my bike this season, surely the triathlon training would fill the void.

Oh, I was so very wrong.

I got up painfully early for the hour drive to Patapsco, picked up my race packet and commenced warming up - spun on the trainer for a bit, a run up the road so I could see where the prologue ended and the off-road began, and then some laps around the parking lot.

The call finally went out for beginners to line up and I found myself somewhere near the end of the pack which I was OK with - my strategy for this race, especially with a course I'd never been on, was to just put out a consistent effort and pick riders off as they blew up.

I didn't sprint as we started and made our way along the prologue and then onto the doubletrack - just steady pedaling and passing as I came up on each wheel.  And then we turned a corner and I looked up.  Yes, up.  Ahead was a looong wet climb with riders struggling, and in some cases, already dismounting and pushing.  I jammed down to the granny and things just came apart.

My front derailleur was just not cooperating.  I couldn't get it to shift down.  Thinking back, I should have just thrown it on the ring and called it good, but I was just so pissed at the time as riders pushed and rode past me that I couldn't think straight.  I finally got it to shift, got back on my bike and started off again.  And then the rear derailleur started acting up.  This had been a minor nuisance of late but with the increased load of racing/torque it became really problematic and a major annoyance for the rest of the race.  I finally gave up and started pushing like everyone else - pissed that I'd gone from middle of the pack to very close to DFL.

I dishonor myself

Regardless I kept pushing and eventually got to the top and mounted back up and tried to make up some time.  There's not much to say about the first third or so of the race except that it was, thankfully, relatively mellow and allowed me to get some gas back.  I must have passed a couple of people here but don't remember anything in particular - just a lot of pedaling and more "hike-a-bike" than I was used to.

Possibly still pissed but probably just tired

I'd heard that the course was "wet/muddy in the usual spots" which, having never ridden there before, obviously meant nothing to me.  But around the halfway point I saw exactly what was meant.  Ahead was a full bog - not a puddle with some mud nor even a small mud hole.  This was big "lose your shoe walking through it" type mud.  I set my line to hit it as straight on as possible with no turns.  Unfortunately, the rider in front of me turned in the middle and washed out which pushed me to the outside line where I had to turn so I wouldn't hit a tree.  Things were going well and then... I was completely down on my right side in several inches of mud.  Cursing, I got up as fast as I could looking much like a black-and-white cookie.  I spent the next few minutes trying to throw mud off my right side.

This does not at all do justice to what a mess I was

The second half of the course would have been a lot of fun if I wasn't heaving and trying to make up time.  A lot of semi-technical riding, stream crossings and of course, more hike-a-bike moments.  I had heard that there wasn't much flat in Patapsco, you were either going up or down.  Seemed like more up than down.  I passed a few more riders here and was passed by one.

I finally heard some cheering and cowbells which signaled the finish line as blessedly near.  I made a big left turn and hopped over a rock to some pity cheers and down the monster hill that started the race with water and mud flying up into my face.  Back down the road and though the finish line.

Place	Bib #	Name	Time
11	17	Brian Connors	54:39

All things considered, better than I thought, but nowhere near where I wanted to be.  I could blame things on my bike/losing focus when things went awry, but a lot/most of those hills just kicked my ass.  The trainer certainly helped but I guess there really is no substitute for getting out there.  Patapsco was a blast to ride though and got me energized to get back outside.  Looking forward to racing again - albeit with some more fitness.