late night cold pool

Last night at around 11 I went to the gym, started stretching, and then jumped in the water. It was at least 10 degrees colder than normal. Anyways, thats just a tale of me being a wuss. I swam a 1/2 mile in 12:35 and then I chilled in the steamroom for awhile. Something I was inspired to do after seeing old men do it on tv. After ten minutes or so in there I had had enough, I changed and got on a treadmill and ran three miles. Its been awhile since I have ran on a treadmill...I really hate those things. I think the belt/running surface gets stretched out after awhile and so it feels funny each time my ooft comes down on it. I am going to stick with running outside most of the time if I can help it.

Today: Placentia 5k

Last night Elise and I decided to go register for the Placentia 5k race.
We got there at a very chilly 7 a.m., got our stretch on and the horn blew at 7:35. With over 500 entrants, I didn't think I would have any chance finishing in a top position. During my run, I was passed by a guy and as he was running in front of me I thought I recognized him, I caught back up and it ended up being a guy that I worked with at Boardwalk a few years ago, Jeremiah Brinnon. We carried on conversation for a good half mile. He had entered the race because a girl he met at the gym said she was entering. The things dudes do for love.

Turned out I did finish in a top position. I was 49th overall but I got 3rd in my age group with a time of 23:29 putting my per mile time in the 7:30's. It wasn't the performance I was hoping for but it still felt pretty good.

It was good to get out and race in preparation for the tri-season coming up.
Elise did well also, she finished 5th in her age group which still received mention from the MC during the presentation of the awards. We both got recognized and that felt pretty cool.

Friday = Yesterday

I got to work from home yesterday so in the morning I headed out for a run in the pouring rain and I mean pouring, it reminded me of being in the East Coast again. It was really motivational to run in the pouring rain. I put down 5.5 miles in 42 minutes. That's about 7:42 per mile I figure, not a terrible time. It was a super fun run.

The Last Two Weeks

I have been training but not as much as I would like. Between school, ad club, my internship, and working at VClad, my time has been limited. More swimming and running than cycling lately just because cycling takes a greater commitment to time. One of my more memorable sessions recently was when Elise and I went to the gym out in Anaheim Hills. This time I couldn't pass Elise at all. She is getting fast in the water. My ego and manhood is under attack.

Saturday

Elise and I went for a 3.5 mile trail run in Coyote Hills. It went well, we explored some new places and my legs and knees felt good. Fun day, Elise is becoming a stronger runner too.

A little behind: Friday

Friday was cool because I got work from home. After Elise got home from work we headed to the gym for a swim. It was the first time I had swam with her since my training has been back in full swing. She is SO fast, it is a real ego killer. I started a lap and half behind her and it took me at least 6 laps to catch her but once I did, I couldn't shake her, she is a fast chaser. It was very impressive.
I swam 800m in about 14 minutes.

A little behind: Thursday...

Thursday was bitter sweet. For a second day in a row I did not have time to train but...I picked up my cap and gown for graduation! I am almost out of there and I am so stoked.
I also took Elise's bike down to the shop for a tune up and also for some nice new tires. I wanted something light and durable for her since she has a tendency to get flat tires and even did during her very first race last fall at Lake Las Vegas. We don't need that happening again so spending 100 bucks on a new set seems well worth it.

A little behind: Wednesday

I had no workout on Wednesday because I worked late and then had to make it home to watch lost with elise.

Training Log

Great day today. It was the first day I have had a really great feeling swim in a long time. By that I mean that when I finished I felt like I was just finished warming up and still could have swam at a good pace for another 15 minutes. It was also the first good run I have put down in awhile since I had shin splints and knee problems for the last 7 or 8 months.

I swam 800m in 14 minutes at the gym and then drove to Coyote Hills in Fullerton and put in a little under 4 miles in 30 minutes. I have ran the Fullerton Loop many times but I have never ventured over to the trails in Coyote Hills. They don't call it Coyote HILLS for no reason. Hitting the trail head off of Euclid, I immediately started climbing a pretty steep hill and didn't stop ascending for a good 1/2 mile. Felt good on my legs and my previous injuries didn't bother me at all. Good day.

Tomorrow I am going to go to the gym in Los Angeles after work to get in another swim and some stationery cycling.

Training Log

I might as well retro in a couple of older training days to motivate myself. Thursday (4 days ago), I had the day off from work and school so I drove down to the Newport Back Bay and swam laps across the Newport Dunes Cove, I really enjoy open water swimming because I hate turning around in a pool. I don't have a swimming background and am not good with flip-turns. So I enjoy the dunes a lot, the only draw back was that I was alone, there was no one around and I was in the ocean, well, the back bay but anything that lives in the ocean could easily make its way back there for a snack. Call me a wuss but I don't think I am going to swim by myself in the ocean anymore. Too much time looking down into the dark abyss letting my mind create creatures. Its funny too because I have surfed by myself countless times, and even in some exotic locations and it never bothers me. I guess its the idea of having my body fully exposed and nothing else to think about.

Anyways, After that I got on my bike and rode it to the Santa Ana River Trail and rode back to to Elise's (wife) work about 18 miles away. It was a good ride, I rode fast and felt good.

I have been on this kick lately of driving somewhere far to swim and then riding my road bike home from there. A way of forcing myself to do 2/3 of a sprint race for training.

Today, I am going to the gym to swim 800m and then I am going for a trail run, before I get started on some serious school work. I graduate in May so i need to step it up. I have a serious case of senioritis.

Training Log

The following day, I surfed for 3 hours at 46th street in Newps and then Elise and rode our bikes back home, 22 miles in a little over an hour.

Oceanside Ironman 70.3

Over this last weekend, my wife Elise and I went down to O-Side to spectate at the Ironman 70.3 event. It was the first pro race we had ever been to, we have both entered races in which pros were present but not like this. It was exciting to see. The defending champ from last year, Luke Bell was in attendance to defend his title from the previous year.
I had two main reasons for attending this race. 1- to watch how the pros transition and 2- to see what a sub-four hour performance in a half ironman race looked like. It was extremely impressive and a real inspiration. The winner ended up being Andy Potts who finished in 3:59:58 , just barely breaking the four hour mark.

Welcome To My Tri Training Blog

Just moments ago I read an article in the May 2007 issue of Runner's World that listed 101 Kicks in the Butt to get you in gear to train. The number one Kick in the Butt was to create a blog...So here I am, ten minutes later, creating a blog. Being that I write case studies for a blog all day at work and develop a website for my University's Advertising Club. I should burn out on this pretty quickly as I typically associate this kind of activity with work and school...not fun. Although both are fun...you know what I mean.

In the article it said to give out the address to this blog to friends and family, asking the question "do you really want Aunt Ellen to ask you why you skipped your four-miler on wednesday?" I don't have an Aunt Ellen but I have a couple of other auunts who will give me a hard time for slackin. Hopefully having my family read my blog will help to keep my training in check. We shall see.