Took the road bike out for the first time all year today. Granted I have had the good ole Trek MT bike out a few time prior, but this was the first time for the skinny wheeled machine. I learned a few things today about taking your bike out for the first time.
First make sure you check everything over before going out on the road. In my joy to get to ride outside I forgot to check pretty much everything except for tire pressure. When I returned home I noticed the back brake was open and making contact with the rim. Looks like I might need new pads.
Second check your bike fit. I took the Cannondale out today, which is typically ridden by my lovely wife. I made a quick seat adjustment and on the road I went. I noticed about 15 minutes into the ride that the seat was a touch high, I also noticed that i didn't have the tools to lower the seat with me. Looks like I'll be walking like John Wayne for a couple of days.
Third and finally. It is possible to completely soak an ear warmer with sweat and still freeze the top of your head. The temp when I was riding was about 45 and I didn't wear a hat under my helmet. I am pretty sure you could have frozen water on the top of my skull by the time I got home, but my ear warmer was completely sweat soaked. Next time I ride, I will wear a hat as I am still fighting an ice cream headache.
Despite the small setbacks it was totally worth getting on the road today. Snow if forecast for the next couple of nights so I don't know when I'll get back out, but it is nice to have the first one in the books. Off to clean the bike and drink a few glasses of classiness.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
I hate kick sets
I made the decision yesterday to try out my sweet kick board at the pool. I know that when I swim my kicking really really weak, so in an effort to try and change that I decided to try out some kick sets. First of all I was the only one in the pool yesterday. While some may think this is neat, it is pretty unnerving to be the only person in a giant pool with your own private lifeguard. I guess when I think back to it, I did kind of feel like the president.
Anyway back to the workout. Being the only one in the pool and having never done a kick set before, I put it off as long as I could. Instead of starting out with the kick sets I decided to swim 1000 yards of fast 50's to warm up. It was supposed to be 500 yards, but then I got to embarassed to try the kicking so I did another 500. When I finally manned up and grabbed my crab kick board, I realized that I really hate kicking. I was seriously struggling to make it to the other side of the pool. When I finally made it to the other side, my hip flexors were on fire, my quads burned and was ready to never kick again.
I forced myself to do 20 minutes of kicking and swimming and at the end of the set I don't know if my kick had improved much, but I knew that I really hated kick sets. This hatred of kick sets has made me realize that I will now have to try and do more kick sets in the future. Great this is going to be a fun swim season.
On the docket for today is some sort of distance run. We'll see how long it is as snow is in the forecast and I am soo tired of running in snow that I might cut it short if it does start snowing heavily. Take a look below for my sweet crab kick board. I am pretty sure that this is the most awesome kick board ever made. I'm off to track down some spandex, running shoes, and a big ole glass of classiness.
Anyway back to the workout. Being the only one in the pool and having never done a kick set before, I put it off as long as I could. Instead of starting out with the kick sets I decided to swim 1000 yards of fast 50's to warm up. It was supposed to be 500 yards, but then I got to embarassed to try the kicking so I did another 500. When I finally manned up and grabbed my crab kick board, I realized that I really hate kicking. I was seriously struggling to make it to the other side of the pool. When I finally made it to the other side, my hip flexors were on fire, my quads burned and was ready to never kick again.
I forced myself to do 20 minutes of kicking and swimming and at the end of the set I don't know if my kick had improved much, but I knew that I really hated kick sets. This hatred of kick sets has made me realize that I will now have to try and do more kick sets in the future. Great this is going to be a fun swim season.
On the docket for today is some sort of distance run. We'll see how long it is as snow is in the forecast and I am soo tired of running in snow that I might cut it short if it does start snowing heavily. Take a look below for my sweet crab kick board. I am pretty sure that this is the most awesome kick board ever made. I'm off to track down some spandex, running shoes, and a big ole glass of classiness.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
I Run Faster in Tights
Decided to scrap the bike ride today and went out for a run instead. Decided to wear my lovely Nike running tights that my lovely wife bought me for Christmas. I don't know what it is, but when I wear these things I always seem to run faster. I don't mean a little faster, I mean quite a bit. I ran on Monday, sans tights and averaged 8:30 miles tonight I ran the same distance and averaged 7:45's. So according to my basis math skills I run 45 sec faster per mile when I wear my tights. I am starting to think these things are magical.
Actually, I don't really believe they are magical, I think the reason I run faster in tights is because when I am outside running in them I feel naked. You see when I was given the tights I knew they would be tights, but these tights are just as their name implies, tight. When I put them on I feel like I should have another pair of pants over them. They live little to the imagination. So when I go out and run in these lovely little tights I am afraid that if I slow down I could be arrested for indecent exposure, so I make the decision to run faster. I wonder how much faster I could run if I went out running naked. I bet I could qualify for the olympics.
On the docket for tomorrow is a nice long ride on the trainer followed by a run and finally a swim in the pool. We'll see how much of this I actually get done as it leaves little time for me to stay classy.
Actually, I don't really believe they are magical, I think the reason I run faster in tights is because when I am outside running in them I feel naked. You see when I was given the tights I knew they would be tights, but these tights are just as their name implies, tight. When I put them on I feel like I should have another pair of pants over them. They live little to the imagination. So when I go out and run in these lovely little tights I am afraid that if I slow down I could be arrested for indecent exposure, so I make the decision to run faster. I wonder how much faster I could run if I went out running naked. I bet I could qualify for the olympics.
On the docket for tomorrow is a nice long ride on the trainer followed by a run and finally a swim in the pool. We'll see how much of this I actually get done as it leaves little time for me to stay classy.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
First Blog Post
I have decided to blog about all of my training. I realize that this topic is probably about as interesting as watching paint dry to some people, but I find it interesting and since this is my blog I will write about training. If you are reading this blog there are a few things that have probably happened:
1. You are extremely bored at work and are a new triathlete looking for training tips. I can assure you if you are looking for training tips please go to another site. I am lucky to get pants on in the morning so any advice I have to offer is probably on par with advice received at a Toll booth. Not that we have toll booths in MN, but if we did I am pretty sure the toll booth operator would give poor advice on how to handle wobbly legs heading out of T2.
2. You are related to me somehow. Here again I am realistic that most of the people who will read this blog will either share the same last name as me, or you are part of my wife enormous family. Either way, I am thankful that someone has found this place on the internet.
3. You drunkly typed some random keystrokes on the keyboard, clicked on a link and bam you are here. If this is the case you should realize that you are going to have a massive hangover tomorrow so it is best if you just turn off the computer and go to bed. It won't make your hangover go away, but it might help not be quite as bad in the morning.
Since I have decided to talk about my training I suppose I should do that. Tonight was a swim night. Yeah what is better than going to a pool in the middle of the longest winter on record in MN. Not much in my book. I was not excited about having to swim tonight, but since I have 3 punch passes left and exactly 3 days left to use them my desire to not waste money forced me out the door and to the pool.
I am going to say that I hate swimming laps. I like to swim, but lap swim to me is one of the most mind numbingly boring things on earth. Push off wall, take 20 strokes, hit other wall, make a half hearted attempt at a turn, take another 20 strokes hit wall you started on. Repeat this for many many laps and you have a recipe for a successful lap swim. Well tonight I decide to swim 2000 yards or 80 laps in the pool. What was the rational behind swimming 2000 yards in a pool in subzero weather, when I figure it out I will let you know.
I did finish my lap swim and when I left the pool my right arm was pretty sore and the back of my legs were starting to cramp up. All of the signs of a very good swim. I am not sure what is on the docket for tomorrow, but I am pretty sure it has something to do with either swimming biking or running. Actually I am leaning towards a trainer ride or a run. The pools is closed tomorrow so thankfully I do not have to swim again, which will leave me with plenty of time to stay classy.
1. You are extremely bored at work and are a new triathlete looking for training tips. I can assure you if you are looking for training tips please go to another site. I am lucky to get pants on in the morning so any advice I have to offer is probably on par with advice received at a Toll booth. Not that we have toll booths in MN, but if we did I am pretty sure the toll booth operator would give poor advice on how to handle wobbly legs heading out of T2.
2. You are related to me somehow. Here again I am realistic that most of the people who will read this blog will either share the same last name as me, or you are part of my wife enormous family. Either way, I am thankful that someone has found this place on the internet.
3. You drunkly typed some random keystrokes on the keyboard, clicked on a link and bam you are here. If this is the case you should realize that you are going to have a massive hangover tomorrow so it is best if you just turn off the computer and go to bed. It won't make your hangover go away, but it might help not be quite as bad in the morning.
Since I have decided to talk about my training I suppose I should do that. Tonight was a swim night. Yeah what is better than going to a pool in the middle of the longest winter on record in MN. Not much in my book. I was not excited about having to swim tonight, but since I have 3 punch passes left and exactly 3 days left to use them my desire to not waste money forced me out the door and to the pool.
I am going to say that I hate swimming laps. I like to swim, but lap swim to me is one of the most mind numbingly boring things on earth. Push off wall, take 20 strokes, hit other wall, make a half hearted attempt at a turn, take another 20 strokes hit wall you started on. Repeat this for many many laps and you have a recipe for a successful lap swim. Well tonight I decide to swim 2000 yards or 80 laps in the pool. What was the rational behind swimming 2000 yards in a pool in subzero weather, when I figure it out I will let you know.
I did finish my lap swim and when I left the pool my right arm was pretty sore and the back of my legs were starting to cramp up. All of the signs of a very good swim. I am not sure what is on the docket for tomorrow, but I am pretty sure it has something to do with either swimming biking or running. Actually I am leaning towards a trainer ride or a run. The pools is closed tomorrow so thankfully I do not have to swim again, which will leave me with plenty of time to stay classy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)