I have forced myself, and I do mean forced myself, to go the pool the last three days. After day one I wasn't sure what the hell I was thinking. I had no endurance with the freestyle swim and sucked down a gallon or so of water. I was so upset, I damn threw in the towel. After some venting on facebook and support from some friends, I decided I just needed more time. As with my running, which was slow to come at first, I need to put in the time.
So I came home and did some research, my problem was breathing, and this problem is very common. I found a couple websites, listened to a podcast on swimming, and I learned a couple drills to help develop the skills needed to effectively breath. The training suggested that I do the sidekick and sharkfin drill and that I should attempt actually swimming freestyle at all.
So, I tried it, and I still suck at it, but I feel I suck less. The problem I am experiencing is for a successful freestyle stroke your body needs to stay as level as possible to reduce drag. Maybe it is just my oversized arse, I am struggling to keep my hips and legs up. A friend told me that the key to level swimming is to look at the bottom of the pool, it helps. Practice, practice, practice are what I need, so I will keep at it and we will see what happens.
I have found the ideal time to do this training is in the early afternoon. I have had the lap lane practically to myself, which is wonderful. True the place looks like a Turkish bath house with the all the mid-aged, overweight men. I do have sympathy for the high school girl who is serving as the lifeguard and has to be subjected to that spectacle.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
32 Days and counting
So, I have been informed that I have neglected my blogging responsibilities and it is time to give an update on my progress and training. Well since the last time you heard from your hero (me), I was showing some progress on running, as well as spinning to improve my cycling endurance.
What a difference a month makes, I had mentioned in February I was starting to suffer from a little overtraining stress on my body. I actually did suffer from a quad strain, which resulted also in a knee strain. I took a full two weeks off from running and concentrated on my cycling (spin class), I should have also focused on my swimming, but alas, I didn't. I regret that decision, in fact the running break also coincided with my 40th birthday so I had plenty of excuses to not workout and to eat as much as I wanted, and trust me I used every excuses I could find. It was to the point that I was convinced my "give-a-damn" was broken and I wasn't sure I was going to get back on track. It is amazing how quickly things can change and go south when you let your guard down even the slightest bit. Fitness is a habit that feeds upon itself, you have be committed, because it can be easily lost if you aren't careful. I persevere and I am back running and it is feeling pretty good.
Good news, I had my maiden voyage on my bike and it was a success. Stacy and I went out to 56th West and I-80 and rode to Salt Air along the frontage road. It was a great place to ride; flat, no cars, and not crowded with other riders. The only negative was the wind which we fought almost the whole ride, but that is part of riding. It felt good to get on the road and I am very grateful that I have been spinning for a month, as it didn't kill by arse and I could hear my spin instructors pushing me in my head.
All the training is going strong, except from the swim, and it is starting to concern me. I HAVE to get in the pool and gain some endurance. I know that this first event has an easy swim, only 400 meters in a pool, but I still need to be prepared. So tomorrow I hit the water, and with only 32 days left, I need to hit the water hard.
As for the first event, Stacy and I drove the bike route the other day and I better make sure and get some saddle time as well. The last 13 blocks are straight up and my goal will need to not stop and walk any part of the ride. The run shouldn't be a huge issue, the first part of the will be uphill, but that will be a slower pace to get my running legs under me, the end of the run will be mostly downhill with the final 400 meters around the track at the Olympic Oval.
Stacy wants to do the Daybreak tri with me in May. It will be exciting for us to work together for this event, but I really wish I could have this first event under my belt before I commit to another. The problem is that the Daybreak is guaranteed to sellout, in fact they had 200 people on the waiting list, and we won't want to miss out of the opportunity to race so close to home again. The other events are at Jordanelle reservoir and at Stansbury, out towards Tooele. The Stansbury is only a week before the Spudman, so we will have to see how I feel about doing two events back to back, but it might be a good warm-up, we will have to see.
I am VERY excited for the Race for a Cure event on May 8th, my first official 5k race. My goal for this will be a sub 30 minute time without stopping. I know 30 minutes isn't very fast, but it will be for me, a 25 minute would be awesome, but I'm not greedy. We are also considering the Utah County 5k in June, the same date as the Utah County Marathon (maybe next year or the year after that for that one).
All things considered I am feeling good and feeling strong. Now as longs as I don't push myself to hard and injury myself, I feel I will have a good year and will be a better man for having done this.
What a difference a month makes, I had mentioned in February I was starting to suffer from a little overtraining stress on my body. I actually did suffer from a quad strain, which resulted also in a knee strain. I took a full two weeks off from running and concentrated on my cycling (spin class), I should have also focused on my swimming, but alas, I didn't. I regret that decision, in fact the running break also coincided with my 40th birthday so I had plenty of excuses to not workout and to eat as much as I wanted, and trust me I used every excuses I could find. It was to the point that I was convinced my "give-a-damn" was broken and I wasn't sure I was going to get back on track. It is amazing how quickly things can change and go south when you let your guard down even the slightest bit. Fitness is a habit that feeds upon itself, you have be committed, because it can be easily lost if you aren't careful. I persevere and I am back running and it is feeling pretty good.
Good news, I had my maiden voyage on my bike and it was a success. Stacy and I went out to 56th West and I-80 and rode to Salt Air along the frontage road. It was a great place to ride; flat, no cars, and not crowded with other riders. The only negative was the wind which we fought almost the whole ride, but that is part of riding. It felt good to get on the road and I am very grateful that I have been spinning for a month, as it didn't kill by arse and I could hear my spin instructors pushing me in my head.
All the training is going strong, except from the swim, and it is starting to concern me. I HAVE to get in the pool and gain some endurance. I know that this first event has an easy swim, only 400 meters in a pool, but I still need to be prepared. So tomorrow I hit the water, and with only 32 days left, I need to hit the water hard.
As for the first event, Stacy and I drove the bike route the other day and I better make sure and get some saddle time as well. The last 13 blocks are straight up and my goal will need to not stop and walk any part of the ride. The run shouldn't be a huge issue, the first part of the will be uphill, but that will be a slower pace to get my running legs under me, the end of the run will be mostly downhill with the final 400 meters around the track at the Olympic Oval.
Stacy wants to do the Daybreak tri with me in May. It will be exciting for us to work together for this event, but I really wish I could have this first event under my belt before I commit to another. The problem is that the Daybreak is guaranteed to sellout, in fact they had 200 people on the waiting list, and we won't want to miss out of the opportunity to race so close to home again. The other events are at Jordanelle reservoir and at Stansbury, out towards Tooele. The Stansbury is only a week before the Spudman, so we will have to see how I feel about doing two events back to back, but it might be a good warm-up, we will have to see.
I am VERY excited for the Race for a Cure event on May 8th, my first official 5k race. My goal for this will be a sub 30 minute time without stopping. I know 30 minutes isn't very fast, but it will be for me, a 25 minute would be awesome, but I'm not greedy. We are also considering the Utah County 5k in June, the same date as the Utah County Marathon (maybe next year or the year after that for that one).
All things considered I am feeling good and feeling strong. Now as longs as I don't push myself to hard and injury myself, I feel I will have a good year and will be a better man for having done this.
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