Well, not out of ski season yet...

Okay, not out yet, but thinking ahead, and even though the price seems a little steep ($70 for a sprint) I think I'm gonna kick off the season at the Issaquah tri... Anyway, had the bike out today, and was very happy to keep a steady pace of 20+ for the first 5 miles on a fairly flat course... That was better than my race pace at Fed Escape, and I haven't been on the bike in several months... I'm feelin' it. The outsides of my thighs are a little tender, but it was a good course, down beach drive, taking the climb up from alki on California, picking up groceries at Admiral Safeway, then riding home. Ride time of 41 minutes, 10.61 miles, and a 433' vertical climb. I'm happy... Here's the route.

Starting the run again... at Alki

Okay, I can't describe the hole that's been in my life, since I haven't been running. Ever since my surgery, I've been concerned about getting my ass back out on the run. I've always hated the first couple of days of running, but today was not too bad, somewhere between 2.5 and 3 miles. A couple of stops for stretching, and my lower back is killing me, it's a posture issue though, I think I'm leaning into the run too much. However, I'm pretty happy that I'm out running again, and a big kudos to the BAT for stickin' in on the run. I'm back and it is good, GOOD!!! Oh yeah, there was some issues with a stitch in my side, which I was just reading up on, you know, what causes them, and how to fight against them, it turns out that they are actually caused by your liver... Who would of thought, huh? Today was very cold, upper 30's, but I was out running in my shorts anyway, at least the wind at Alki wasn't too bad... :D Well, enough for now, stay safe all... And merry christmas!!!

Dirt, Old As

Back on the bike today, quick run up to the junction, then down around Alki and Beach Drive. I like this route, it knocks out a 314ft climb in the first mile or so, then peaks and drops down to Alki, where it's a pretty flat run until Beach Drive, which throws a few little hills, nothing bad, then home... Then, maybe a 50ft of vertical incline to the house... The upside is 10.09 miles at a 15.6mph pace in 38.41... Gooooo ME!!!

Here's the Route

New Bike Trainer....

Well, found a great deal on craigslist on Saturday, and picked it up, it's an indoor bike trainer, which is basically a stand and a roller that provides resistance against your rear tire, and allows you to change your bike into a stationary bike, and gives you the ability to ride inside... :D Luckily I picked it up just in time, with record low temperatures forcasted in Seattle for this week, I am definitely not road riding this week. Well, yesterday I did a quick 20 minutes, and will probably hit it back up again today, since I can't run yet, courtesy of that f'k'n appendix... Well, looking forward to the tri season, bring it on!!!

Life just screws with ya sometimes....

Well, if it's just not the damnedest thing... I was running and training, but again, life kinda jumps up and kicks your ass.... Okay, so at the begining of November, I was admitted to Harborview ER with an appendix that had broken, and was leaking into my abdominal cavity. That pretty much sucked... The operation to fix it involved a nice little 3" scar on my lower abdomen, and it's a pain in the ass to run or bike, and there's a nice little lump right under the surface, where the tissue is healing... Well, running is pretty much out of the question right now, but I did get the road bike out for the past two days, and even though I can't really maintain aer0 because of the motion against my abdomen, if I remain upright, I'm okay, so I've been riding my bike around West Seattle, the other day was 10 miles at a 15.9 mph pace, with some pretty serious hills, and on Wednesday, I had to run some errands in the Junction, so it was another 4 miles, with some incline work, so far I seem to be holding up, but it's also f'k'n cold here, and it gets dark early, so I've added lights to the bike, and new tights. I've got to get in the pool with a swim coach though, if I'm going to be competitive on the sprint circuit next year, but that's gonna have to wait until my stomach is fixed, the doctor said normal activity by the middle of december... Luckily I've got about 5 months until tri season again. I want to hit this season hard, but we'll see what life has got in store... I'm looking at purchasing a wetsuit, and getting in the lake early this year for some Open Water Swims, and getting some decent swim coaching in, which was my weakness last year at the Federal Escape. I need to get my 5k time down, but that's just practice... I'm also looking at doing the xterra next year, which means I'm going to have to refit one of my mt. bikes, but it is gonna be a great season, as long as I can keep life from boning me... Well, here's to recovery!!!

Okay, I quit....

Ugh, unfortunately life gets in the way sometimes, and as of today, my triathlon season 2007 is over. I was hoping to get one last one in before the end of the year, but my training hasn't been where it needs to be, to be competitive. Not so much the biking and running, but the swimming, I've done one OWS since the Federal Escape, and that's not going to cut it for the 1/2 mile OWS at the Kirkland Tri. I also need to invest in a wetsuit, and a new bike. So in the interest of next year, I'm done. This winter will be spending quite a bit of time in Swim Classes and mini-competitions. This seems to be my weakspot, and if I'm going to compete next year at the Timberman, I need to unfuck my swimstroke. Well, that being said, I'm also training for a Half-Marathon in October, so all my effort is moved to that right now. Well, I'll keep things updated as I can.

Wow, long time no write....

Okay, well, here's the low down, I'm back on the training routine, training up for the Kirkland Sprint Tri. There will be more updates as I go, but here is it so far.

Sunday started with a 14 mile ride, down Alki to the bridge and back, it's a flat ride, my average pace was 19.5 mph. Very happy with this. Sunday night I bought a second cassette that is a very short block of gears, 11 - 19, seven speeds. This is much better for me, as I was topping out my 13 in the back way too soon. Now I just have to get it into the bike shop to have it changed out.

Monday was weight lifting day, I've gotten very weak since I've started tri training, having spent probably 5 days total in the gym, all my other workouts have been tri focused, but today was chest day.

Tuesday was an hour spinning class, which I have to say the SPD clips on the spin bikes at 24 hour fitness SUCK!!! I went through the entire spin class with only the front half of my cleats catching, so it drove my feet into the front of the shoe, about 45 minutes into the class, my feet were killing me. End it all with a quick mile run, and it felt good, oh, god, it felt GOOD!!! I'm feeling my addiction!!!