This is going to hurt!!

Missed a couple of workouts

2010-03-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

I had to travel on business last week so I missed a few of the workouts. I always get a bit nervous when that happens because our training is getting more difficult each week and I don’t want to fall behind. When I got back, my first training was another open water swim at Lake Del Valle on Saturday. In my last blog update I mentioned how cold the water was…..well it was COLDER this time. We spent 45 minutes swimming and at about 30 minutes into it I couldn’t even cup my hands the proper way for a good stroke….brrrr!!!

Once we got out of the water it was time for a double brick of bike/run. After about 45 minutes on our bike trainers it was time for a 20 minute trail run (10 minutes out/10 minutes back.) Then back on our bikes - but this time it was hill repeats on the road. This means the coach’s find a loop (which includes a hill) and we have to keep going around and around as many times as we can for 45 minutes…my legs were starting to hurt but we still had another trail run (again, 10 minutes out/10 minutes back.) Once the trail run was over, the coaches wanted to meet with us to chat about the upcoming half ironman we’ll be doing as part of our training…I’ve got to admit I’m a bit nervous. This will be the first time I swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles then run 13.1 miles all in one day….but what the heck…Bring It On!!

The next day (Sunday) I meet up with BK, Rocky and Ron at Lake Merced in SF. It was time for a 1 hour 45 minute run. I felt pretty good but I knew my legs were going to hurt the next day…and they did. The last ½ mile, BK decided to pick up the pace…but this time I was determined to keep up…and I did…but I wasn’t happy. By the end of the run, we logged in another 11.5 miles.

Another week done on our way to Ironman!!

2010-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

WOW….it has been a crazy couple of weeks!!

This last weekend was our first Book Camp. It included seven hours of training on Saturday followed by seven hours of training on Sunday. I already knew this but this weekend highlighted how inspiring my teammates are. You really learn a lot about someone after 14 hours of a kick your butt program….I couldn’t imagine being on this journey with a better group of people.

I won’t bore you with all of my training details during the week…just the highlights…you know…the part that makes me curl up in a ball and say “WHY.”

Saturday:
8:30 am: Our first open water swim in Lake Delle Valle, Livermore…..can you say COOOOLD!! If it weren’t for my wetsuit I’d still be out there floating like a block of ice waiting for summer. I’m really not sure how far we swam but it really didn’t matter because that was just the beginning of a very long weekend.

Once we got out of the water it was time for a 33 mile bike ride which included two very difficult hills. I pretty much stayed with BK (Brian Kinion for those of you who don’t know) the whole way…which isn’t always easy since he really doesn’t know how to slow down or stop. The last hill (toward the end of the ride) really was challenging but we made it.

Once we got off the bike, we refueled and then it was time for a 6-mile trail run. Again, I tried staying with BK but I started to fade toward the end and watched him pull away. Just when we thought it was over, Coach Doug thought it would fun to do a little stretching….in the past I would have thought, great…time to stretch. Well, with Coach Doug, it can be a bit painful. However, the next day I was thankful for all that stretching….thanks coach!!

We headed home around 4:00pm. We figured since we’re training for an Ironman…we need to eat like one. That’s right…we hit In-N-Out on the way home baby!!! Man was it good and exactly what the doctor ordered. Got home late afternoon and was useless the rest of the night. However, my wife made this killer pork tenderloin….yes I said killer….what can I say…I was born in the 60’s, raised in the 70’s, influenced by the 80’s survived the 90’s and have been just enjoying the last decade.

Sunday:
8:00 am: Triathlons are supposed to be swim, bike and run….Sunday was a bit different. It was swim, bike, run, bike, run, bike, run and swim….another 7 hour day…ouch!!

The first bike ride was on the road and the following two were on our trainers…which is not always easy. Since it rained all day I decided not to change during the transitions…I figured what’s the point…I will only be soaking wet again in about 30 seconds. I shouldn’t say this because I’m sure I’ll jinx myself….I’m still waiting for my first flat…there, I said it!!!

The first 6-mile run was normal except the coaches thought it would be fun to make us do squats and sit-ups every ten minutes…yes in the rain/mud. The last two runs were on the track and again the coaches thought it would be interesting to add bleacher runs, squats, sit-ups and a few other things whose names escape me. The final program was back in the pool for about 45-minutes.

Headed home around 4:00pm....no In-N-Out today.

I use to say TGIF…Now it’s TGIM…thank god it’s Monday…no training!!

I don’t have too…I want too!!

2010-02-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since my last post…had a few issues with my bog…but I’m back!!!

The past couple weeks have been very interesting. Every morning when the alarm goes off, I say to myself, “I have to get up.” I’m actually finding myself getting excited about working out…“I want too.” My body seems to be craving some of the workouts…Please understand that I don’t enjoy them all and at times I feel like I’m going to collapse. Having some of my Iron teammates around me has really helped…so I want to send out a big thanks to Brian, Phil, Rocky, Chris and all my other teammates….couldn’t do it without you!! And a special thanks to all the coaches for taking time out of their busy lives to help us achieve this goal.

Our training has really been stepped up a bit. This last Saturday we had a coach’s workout and we were instructed to bring our wetsuits. The coaches pulled up all the lanes and gave us drills to simulate open water swimming…..meaning…get ready to swallow lots of water. We then headed to the track for a few running drills (Indian drills, side to side, horse run and kick your butt….can’t remember the names but I can tell you it hurt.) Just when you thought it was over, coach Dave topped everything off with 30 minutes of core/strength training.

The next day Tony led us on a 31 mile bike ride and there were a few really tough hills along the way. I stayed with Brian most of the way which was a good thing…I forgot to print out the ride directions and would have been lost for days:) I did lose Brian at one point. We were coming down a nice long steep grade…and Brian was gone. At one point I thought I missed a turn because he was nowhere in sight. So I pulled over and asked some guy if he saw a rider go buy wearing the same type of jersey as me. He said, “dude, I sure did. That guy flew by here going at least forty.” He used a few other words that I’ll leave out...you get the idea. Yep, there was Brian at the bottom of the hill waiting for me with a big smile…he said he hit about 43….crazy!

Monday was a rest day…very nice!!

Bring on week 14!!!!

A busy week

2010-01-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

Every time I’m tired and not wanting to get out of bed…I’m reminded why we’re doing what we do. On Sunday January 24, 2010 Team in Training’s (TNT) Ironteam will be participating in the Louie Bonpua Memorial Triathlon. I never meet Louie but many of my team members have and say he was an amazing human being with a fabulous spirit. At age 32, Louie was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. He built his strength back after rounds of chemo therapy, joined TNT in 1999 and became an Ironteam member in 2001. In January 2002 Louie finished Ironman Canada to a cheering crowd. Louie also carried the Olympic Torch across the Golden Gate Bridge after arriving in an ambulance because he had become very weak. After a 4 ½ year battle, Louie lost his life on January 22, 2002. This is why we do what we do. Every sit up, every push up, every mile, every pedal stroked and every lap I swim is for Louie Bonpua and all the other honorees.

It was a busy training week. Didn’t train with the team this week…I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again...I don’t like training this much on my own. Due to the weather, the coaches decided to change a few things around so I couldn’t hook up with the group on Saturday.
Monday:
Ran 6 miles

Tuesday:
6:30-7:30 am Core workout with Sergio (ouch)
5:30-6:30 pm Spin Class

Wednesday:
6:00 am Swam 2.350 yards

Thursday
6:30-7:30 am Another Core workout with Sergio (ouch....again!!)
5:30-6:30 pm Spin Class

Friday:
6:00 am Swam 2,350 yards

Saturday:
9:00-10:00 am Ran 6 miles
10:00-11:00am Core workout
12:15- 1:15 pm Swam 2,350 yards

Sunday:
10:00-11:30 Spin Class…couldn’t get outside…it was raining.

All in all….a pretty good week. Looking forward to taking Monday off.

Didn’t go as planned

2010-01-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

This weekend’s workout didn’t go as planned. I couldn’t make it to Saturday’s group training so I had to do it on my own…it SUCKED!!! I don’t want to have to do that again. Having my team around me on those long days makes a huge difference.

Saturday:
I wasn’t able to go on a long ride so I took a spin class at my gym followed by a one hour core workout class with Sergio….this guy kicks your butt!! Every part of my body was in pain which made getting in the pool (yes, I saved that for the end) that much harder. Cranked out the swim trying to focus on my breathing and form (the coaches said I need to work on this.)

Sunday:
The plan was to run 6-miles….but late Saturday night I walked into my garage and stepped in 6-inches of water…yes our water heater blew out. So we spent the next day trying to find someone to fix it (we did) and cleaning up all the water. My run will need to wait until Monday.

First Post

2010-01-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

Here we go....my journey to Vineman 2010!!
http://www.vineman.com/site3.aspx

Training this weekend is going to be a bit rough. Saturday, we're going to swim 1.5 hours, bike 3o miles and end the day with (what I'm sure will be painful) 40 minutes of core...ouch!! I'll end the week Sunday morning with a 6-mile run.