as of right now...

I'm on vacation. Dunno if I'll be able to check in, but I'll be working my butt off to not fall behind...

Later...

(smile)

I just registered for the race, and I am excited!!

A nice tool...

...to consider using is the training log at Runner's World.com.

It's pretty extensive. It actually allows you to map out routes on the roads around you, tells you the distance, and marks the miles out for you as well. Once you give each one a name, you can simply refer to it in the log by its name and the log will automatically add in the distance to the logging tool.

If you're a runner or training for something, it's a cool little deal...

after a tiny break

I'm back at it. Tuesdays normally an off day for me, but after the long weekend, my body needed the extra day of sleep. I also am leaving for vacation this Saturday, so pool time (and some bike time) will be taking a hit, but we're vacationing in the mountains, so some altitude training and mega hills will be in order.

So, in order to compensate for the time off the bike and out of the pool, I am going to hit it a little harder this week. Today was a minor bump in the workout. I did 20 min in the pool instead of the 14 and 33 minutes on the bike instead of 29, which doesn't sound like much, but did extend my workout by 10 minutes. At my current pace that's either about 2.5 miles more on the bike or an additonal quarter mile in the pool.

Tomorrow is pool only, so we'll see. AND did I mention I did the entire 20 minutes in the pool today swimming freestyle (race style). No side strokes or back strokes to rest and catch my breath. I was...well...surprised to say the least after taking more of a break this weekend than I wanted to.

BUT

My legs were dead. I saw it coming. I spent all weekend volunteering at the state Special Olympics and that means a lot of long days on the feet.

So, that's about it...

so, I strayed off the beateb path...

and by that I mean i strayed off the workout plan a little...

This week is supposed to be a lighter week to give my body a break. So I had a great session in the pool. I did my quarter in 10 minutes...the workout total was 14 minutes. So, I entered my day, and it was a beautiful one!!

I no choice.

I had to ride my bike, so I did a time trial to see how fast I could do the 14 mile part of the deal. 44 minutes. Solid...I'll take it.

But I was tired. Not exactly giving my body a break :(

THis morning was a short run, and I cut a couple minutes off it. Had to make a trip to the lavatory. It was an 'emergency' as they'd call it in elementary school.

I think I made up for the 2 minutes in yard work :)

Off to the special olympics this weekend to volunteer. Should be great!!

well, for today...

I was in the pool for 14 minutes. I've got the 1/4 mile in easily now...somewhere around 10 minutes for the split. It's time to build endurance. Cool.

Now officially into my 4th week of training, I am still having a ball. I was wondering if I'd regret ever saying that I was 'hooked' on this sort of thing. I've only discovered that I truly am hooked on triathloning...at least I'm hooked on the training. I guess we'll see about the racing :)

I've also done some reading and I think that next week, since this week is supposed to be a rest week, I'll start adding in some weights and hills. The strength training and speedwork should do the endurance trick. I'm also finding out that I remember a lot more about the mechanics and principles of running than I thought I would. Having run all through high school and some in college, I used to eat sleep and breathe my dad's issues of Runner's World. It's serving me well now...

For all those checking in here. THANK YOU!! It's a very big encouragement to see the blog counter number rising!

By the way...for all those concerned, the race I'm running is not an official Team in Training event. We've decided to still collect donations and direct them to whatever cause that the 'honoree' chooses. If you're interested in giving, we won't be collecting the donations for a few weeks yet, but please let me know if you'd like to contribute...

Have a great day all you readers!!

You are all very good...

...to keep checking in.

I need to keep my end of the bargain up by blogging my stuff. Rest assured though, I am still very much on target and haven't missed a day to this point. I am ready for a day off though.

Here are some highlights from last week:

-finally counted laps at the pool and I'm up to the quarter mile necessary and am little better than that length wise.

-running is good, about where I should be at this point. I've got some mini-goals along the way. August 18th in town is the Up, Up and Away 5K. I'm so there :) There may be others.

-My grandpa offered his bike for my use as well. It's a GREAT bike!! It's a Trek 2100 and the frame is carbon composite, and, as I described it to someone, the boy is heavier than this bike! Might take it for a spin today.

This week is supposed to be a rest week; the workouts are shorter in lengths of time, but I may start doing some cross training. Maybe some hills or speed work on the track...who knows? All I know is that I'm having a ball doing all this stuff. I just need to register for the race. I also noticed today that the 5K portion of the triathlon is trail running. Cool...

So, like any runner, I've got some goals for the race and they are:

1. Finish-everything else is just gravy :)
2. The guy that got 3rd in my age group (30-35) finished in 1:19:something, so I think that 1:20 is a good place to shoot. Separately, I can do it, it's just a matter of doing all three back to back.
3. Split goals: 10 minutes for the swim, 45 minutes on the bike, 22 run. That's a total time of 1:17 but there's no account for transition area stuff, so it's hard to know what to expect.
4. Raise a crap load of $$ for Jared.

We're on vacation June 30-July 8, and my biggest worry is pool time. We'll be in the Poconos for most of the time, so should be a good time for some minor altitude training both running and biking. Worst case scenario, I should have time to catch back up in the pool if need be. We get back two months exactly from race day, so I think I'll be good, but we'll see.

Thanks for checking in :)

-rc

the answer is yes...

I am slacking on the blog part of the deal. The good news is that I'm still working and training. I actually added a bike ride in today now that I have it back and the tire actually stayed inflated for the entirety of the ride (about 45 minutes). So here's the skinny and there is some good news to share.

First, I am not alone anymore. Our friend Matt has joined the cause and now I have a training buddy, albeit far away, but he's in. I am excited about that...very excited.

Second, in the pool yesterday I actually counted laps I think I got the quarter mile in. I hope I did; or at least I hope I counted right. In any case, I was pumped.

Third, on the very cool front, my grandpa is letting me borrow his road bike for the race and for training. I'll be glad to use it too. It's a Trek carbon composite road bike, and I'm thrilled to have access to it.

Fourth, I've got the race picked out. Findley Lake Triathlon in Wellington on September 8th. Time to roll!!

By the way, thanks for checking in with me. I'm glad that y'all do!!

It's true.

Best workout day yet in terms of energy level. I felt like I could've run for much longer, but I thought it best to stick to the workout.

I think there's a chance that I'm not getting enough fuel during the day. Yesterday was easily the most I've eaten in terms of calories in the two weeks that I've been at this. I also ate a lot of meat. Who knows?

I'll probably try to bump up the number of calories that I try to get daily. The 2000 or so that I'm at right now maybe isn't enough.

Great run!

Tomorrow, swim and bike. Except no bike yet. Looks like the bike at the Y again. Oh well...two weeks in and 14 to go. By the way, there was a triathlon in town yesterday. I saw the folks out on their bikes in all their gear. It was sweet. It got me pumped!

ARGH!

Still on schedule as far as training goes. I was really looking forward to getting out on the road today on the bike. I went to the bike shop to pick up the bike and found out that the tire itself was ruined, so they put a new tire on it along with a new tube. I finally had a half hour to get some riding in and after about 6 miles (fortunately a home and back sort of trip) the back tire (the new one) flat...again...

Needless to say, I was very frustrated.

So, thinking that perhaps there was some 'new tube' issue that would work itself out, I walked the bike up to the gas station to put some more air in the thing and rode it over to a friend's house to watch the Cavs. Got over there watched the first three quarters, went out and checked the tire and...

...flat...

So, my 44 minutes on the bike today was at the Y. Got it in, but was not a fan. I am really growing to love my time on the bike, out in the country, just me and the road and everything. I love it. I went to bed bummed out last night, and feel pretty good that I had enough self-discipline to get up to the Y when I really didn't want to have to go.

Tomorrow, off...

Until then...

That pool's gonna kill me...

It's official, my most unfavorite component of this whole training regiment are the pool only days. I went out and dropped 5 bucks at TJ Maxx for some Speedos...goggles that is. While I was able to look a little more like a swimmer while in the water, I think I either drank or snorted the entire pool.

Apparently, my timing is a little off.

It'll get better. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm only 10 days in officially. No one is good at something new in 10 days. Right?

The foot is good today, tomorrow is a running only day, we'll see how that goes.

By the way, one can purchase actual triathlon shorts. You can swim in them, there's a butt pad for biking, and you can run in them too...cost? $53 bucks at Road Runner Sports!! Sounds like ebay is calling...

-out

KA-BLAMMO!

That was my rear tire following jOURney last night. Fortunately, I was pretty close to home. Unfortunately, I had to ride the exercise bike at the Y on the best morning for being outdoors in weeks. Hopefully, I'll have the bike back tomorrow.

Today's workout was crazy...like every time I have to both ride and swim in the same day. I did finally get some goggles today. Those should help me swim more efficiently. I won't be swinging my head around as much or I won't have to keep my head above water quite so much. That's a good thing.

Tomorrow = off

My body needs a break.

Until we meet again...

one week down...

...fifteen to go.

Finished up this week with 40 minutes on the bike. I really need to find out how far I rode this morning. I know it's somewhere in the 10-11 mile range, but I don't know for sure.

But it was good. No pain from the foot either which is good.

Going to have to skip the day off to get back on schedule as well. So, tomorrow back in the pool and on the bike. That one got me last time, but at this point all of the days should. It's not like I'm in shape or anything yet...

I am, however, still having a blast...

-rc

on the road again...

Okay, so A. and I got tickets to the Memorial Golf Tournament yesterday so I didn't get to run yesterday. So I did this morning. Puts me a day off the schedule, but I'm still on it.

Running is something that I've not have many problems with in the past, so it's just a matter of doing it. The training schedule said to run 12 minutes; I ran closer to 20.

I'm a little bummed because there seems to be some sort of soft tissue foot thingie going on in my right foot. Tomorrow's a bike day and then a day off, so maybe that'll do the trick.

All you prayin' folks reading this, pray for my foot. I don't want it to hold me up. I'm not training for just me. I want to be healthy for my family and I'm also training in honor of someone that is very and in the hospital right now.

Rock on...

...we just rock on...