Dec Training Camp ends

Today was the last day of the last training camp of 2008. For the last week I have been staying with my boy Dennis and his wife Margo enjoying a solid week of training and some really good cooking. We put together a solid block of trainer workouts and filled in the days with treadmill runs, strength sessions and pool work. All in all I feel pretty good about what we accomplished and have a big head start on my fitness going into 2009.

The 2009 season is starting a lot earlier than it ever has before with a 70.3 race in New Orleans in April, which is why I am ramping up the training already. Normally I would be enjoying a little time away from structured training and adding a little fun to the training equation. However, after finishing last season on somewhat of a high I am really motivated to ride the wave of form and improve my swimming and cycling so I can shorten the gap between myself and the top pros. So far so good. Now all I have to do is tighten the reigns on the diet a little and get back to my fighting weight. Before and after pics to come in April.

Do I smell chlorine?

I normally don't mind the smell of chlorine but over the years I have become quite sensitive to it and usually spend hours wiping and blowing the dripping faucet on my face post swim. Since my normal pool has been closed due to locker room repairs and snow days I haven't swum in over a week and my form was abysmal because of it. Dbo and I met up with a few of the other athletes I coach for a nice swim and core workout. Twenty-five 100's made up the bulk of the swim workout and left me plenty hungry. After the swim I took the boys up to the gym for a quick abs of steel workout. It was quite amusing watching the onlookers faces change from inquisitive to confused as three grown men performed, what I know as 'normal' core exercises, simultaneously. To them it must have looked like the 'African anteater ritual' (Movie reference.) The funny thing of it is if I went back there next week I bet I would see at least 2 people doing some of the same exercises we were-incorrectly no doubt. Tomorrow is looking like a nice day for a 60/30 brick as it will be in the low 40's, which is a heatwave for WI right now.

My new slippers

Believe it or not but these are NOT real tigers on my feet. These are my Christmas slippers given to me from my brother and sister-in-law. They are just what I asked for. Little did I know at the time how much use I would get out of them lounging around the house. Thanks Bro and Sis!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I am sitting here enjoying a glass of 'Singh Family Cellars' red after a wonderful Christmas dinner with my parents. I capped off a nice two-day training block with one of my favorite training partners today. Yesterday was an hour on the treadmill with tempo efforts and a short strength circuit. Let me tell you- I AM SORE! I don't know if it is more from the lack of running or the lack of strength training that led to such extreme DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) but I am feeling it. We went to the gym I used to work at in Kohler, WI and I was able to see some of my old co-workers and a few of my coached athletes from last year, which was nice. Today it was straight to the basement for a two-up trainer workout. The protocol was tempo repeats with a harder than usual recovery period to maximize time in high Z2. All I can say is that by the end there was a puddle of sweat on the floor and my legs were cashed. Mission accomplished. After I cleansed myself I headed over to my parents house for a plump Christmas ham. Now I am sitting here with a full belly and a glass of wine telling my story. More to come soon. I need to go play with my friends ninas.

And then there was SNOW!

Yesterday I woke up to about 12 inches of the white powdery stuff they call snow. I'm not a huge fan. 'Why do you live in Wisconsin then?' Good question. I didn't choose to be born here, it just happened that way. Besides the summers are too good not to suffer through 4...wait, 5...wait, 6 months of bad weather. I digress.

The snow is really quite pretty but it belongs on the top of a mountain somewhere in the Rockies not littering the streets and sidewalks I like to run on. Enough complaining about the snow.

Since I'm not running outside and the pool I frequent is closed for locker room repairs I am reduced to Computrainer workouts. I say 'reduced' in the most grateful way possible. I'm sure plenty of people out there would love to be spending their winter bike workouts on a Computrainer they got for free. I love my Computrainer....back to my workouts. Friday was supposed to be 2 hours with the first a steady state Zone 2 effort and the second hour progressive hard efforts above anaerobic threshold. I ended up blowing up 45 min into the second hour. I told myself it was too early in the off-season to be killing myself and opted for a bowl of ice cream instead. Today was a little less painful just 2 hours with over half of it at my AeT (aerobic threshold.) I was impressed with the wattage I was able to maintain at AeT for almost the whole workout. Near the end the HR started to creep up so I had to back off. Good signs for the coming season. Now if only the snow would all melt and I could get some running in. Wait is it going to be -10 degrees tomorrow? Cool! (no pun intended)

Back on my feet again...

I ran for the first time in a few weeks today. Note- I haven't been slacking it has been either extremely cold or the snow makes it less than safe to venture out for a run. Today for the first time all week it was above 20 degrees and the sun was shining bright so I had to do it. A friend of mine gave me a pair of shoe covers with the little spikes on the bottom so I strapped those babies on and headed out. It felt great. I wasn't breaking any speed records but just being out there pounding the pavement again was enough for me. There is just something about getting outside for a good run that puts me in a good mood. There is almost nothing else like it. I guess I was missing the 'runners high.' Then about half way through I noticed the shoe covers worked their way sideways on my feet and right then my ankle went over. Luckily I was looking down and was able to react without it folding in half and sidelining me for a few weeks. I will blame the shoe covers and not the weak ankles and poor proprioception.

The forecast is for 12 inches of snow tonight so it looks like I got my only outdoor run in for a while. After spending most of last winter eating, sleeping, and breathing treadmills I was hoping to get a break from them for a while but I am starting to think my wishes have fallen on deaf ears. I guess it is better than a sprained ankle.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. Somewhere above you will hopefully find some meaningless dribble to keep your brain occupied for a few minutes today. I am going to try to keep people up to date with everything that is going on in my life. Enjoy!