Northeast Ohio continues to be a winter wonderland which has put a serious damper on any outside training. All but 3.5 miles of my bike and run miles were done indoors this past week, but hey at least I am alive to talk about it. One of the things I really worry about when training outdoors in the winter is being hit by a car. Even if you don't ride and run outside it is not difficult to see that snow turns bad drivers into horrific drivers who tend to not pay to much attention to people on the shoulder..It has been and is going to be a long winter.
One bright spot, besides the trees looking nice with the snow cover, was an impromptu field trip by the Sunday morning bike group up to Punderson State Park to go cross country skiing. We went up this past weekend and enjoyed three solid hours of skiing on some really nice trails. None of us are really cross country skiers, it is just something we do to pass the time while we are waiting to get back out on the bikes, and that made things so much more fun. Lots of great crashes....even on flat straight aways and lots of interesting techniques that real cross country skiers would question....cold and painful, due to many falls, but lots of fun.
Week recap
ride - 0 outdoor
2 x 1 hour indoors
run - 19 miles
xcountry ski - 6 hours in 3 outings
Major blizzard in progress today
That's all for now
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Week 3 recap - A revelation occurs
I had a revelation this past week. My revelation was that I have been going through the routine with less enthusiasm than I used to, and I am really disappointed about that. I realized this during a phone conversation with my sister in law. She is training for her first half marathon on March 1st (side note, it is the Hooters to Hooters half. its in Ft Myers where it is warm. it starts at one Hooters and runs to another. talk about your perfect half). Anywho, when I was talking to her she was telling me this story about how she was flying home from her sisters house, where she had been helping her with her newborn baby, and the plane had been delayed and she was bummed because she needed to get a five mile run in and the delay looked like it would make that impossible. When she finally got home at 9:30pm she just said screw it, put on her shoes and knocked out the five miler. I got to tell you she was pumped with that accomplishment..as she should have been. I tried to remember the last time I heard the excitement in my voice, or felt that kind of excitement, like I was hearing from her and I can't remember for sure...but I think its been awhile.
So what am I going to do. Well I considered just quiting everything and maybe taking up smoking but at $4 a pack I am just to cheap for that. So I have set a goal for myself to find that place where I was when I first started all this craziness. The place where great runs got me excited, where all day Wednesday I daydreamed about how great the ride was going to be that night, where I smiled as I got a wif of chlorine mid morning and I knew I was the only person in the room that had knocked off a couple thousand yards in the pool at 6am. It's a great place and I don't think I am that far off from it, I just forgot for a minute why I do what I do.
6 weeks to Ragnar Relays
Bike - 3 X 1hour indoor
0 miles outside
Run - 25 miles - 21.5 on a treadmill due to temps....boo!!
xcountry ski - 2.5 hrs total - 2 outings
swim - 0 yds - this must change soon
See you in my happy place.
That's all for now.
So what am I going to do. Well I considered just quiting everything and maybe taking up smoking but at $4 a pack I am just to cheap for that. So I have set a goal for myself to find that place where I was when I first started all this craziness. The place where great runs got me excited, where all day Wednesday I daydreamed about how great the ride was going to be that night, where I smiled as I got a wif of chlorine mid morning and I knew I was the only person in the room that had knocked off a couple thousand yards in the pool at 6am. It's a great place and I don't think I am that far off from it, I just forgot for a minute why I do what I do.
6 weeks to Ragnar Relays
Bike - 3 X 1hour indoor
0 miles outside
Run - 25 miles - 21.5 on a treadmill due to temps....boo!!
xcountry ski - 2.5 hrs total - 2 outings
swim - 0 yds - this must change soon
See you in my happy place.
That's all for now.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
4 X 5 X 3
This morning I did a 4 X 5 X 3 and man was it tough. No...this is not some new complicated interval technique that you have never heard of before, I did a 4 mile run at 5am and the temperature was 3 degrees.
I gotta tell you, and i am really going to stand by this, perhaps this is one of the stupider things I have done. Not a really hard run so physically all is well, no frostbite but my lungs are trashed. You know the deal, every breath in that goes beyond shallow and the coughing fit that last 10 minutes starts. Oh Yeah!!!
I think i learned my lesson this time however I am going to have to wait to change my behavior because my cross country skis are loaded up, I have my second full load of wash packed neatly away in my duffel bag and I am going to change that load from clean to sweaty and snow filled right after work. I can not wait!!!
Let the good times roll!!!
That's all for now.
I gotta tell you, and i am really going to stand by this, perhaps this is one of the stupider things I have done. Not a really hard run so physically all is well, no frostbite but my lungs are trashed. You know the deal, every breath in that goes beyond shallow and the coughing fit that last 10 minutes starts. Oh Yeah!!!
I think i learned my lesson this time however I am going to have to wait to change my behavior because my cross country skis are loaded up, I have my second full load of wash packed neatly away in my duffel bag and I am going to change that load from clean to sweaty and snow filled right after work. I can not wait!!!
Let the good times roll!!!
That's all for now.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Week 2 (of the year) recap
Northeast Ohio is officially a winter wonderland as we received a call from old man winter this past weekend. The snow started on Friday afternoon, although we were treated to some nice icy rain much of the week, and in total we probably got 12"-15" before it let up at all. More is scheduled to come this week with temps hitting the single digits. Should be great...not.
Its not that I love running in the snow but i can't say that I mind it either. It always seems like something cool happens when you are out there...pretty much alone, on a snow run. This past Saturday afternoon, in the height of the storm, I decided it was time to get a run in. I knew the towpath and the trails would be tough going but I dropped into the valley to check them out anyways. When I got there I noticed the shoulder on Riverview Road was pretty well cleared so I decided to loop the valley Bath to Bolanz starting out heading South from the Ira Rd trailhead. The cool thing (to me but probably not most people) was when I was heading back down Riverview to my car and I was right by the Marsh, it was snowing really hard so that you could barely see, there was no traffic to speak of so I was basically out there alone and then I heard the train whistle and out of the blizzard like conditions comes the headlight of the train coming down the tracks heading for lock 29. It doesn't sound that great in writing but it was just me and the train (the engineer saw me and we waved to each other) and I thought it was pretty cool.
The other cool thing that happened was the first cross country ski outing of the year. We went to Happy Days for a double loop although I blistered and had to bail out after the first loop. I have to get that figured out.
Finally, all of our Christmas decorations are down and put away...this was my toughest workout all week both physically and mentally.
Training recap:
Bike - 25 miles outside and 3x1hrs indoor
Run - 18
Swim - goose egg
That's all for now
Its not that I love running in the snow but i can't say that I mind it either. It always seems like something cool happens when you are out there...pretty much alone, on a snow run. This past Saturday afternoon, in the height of the storm, I decided it was time to get a run in. I knew the towpath and the trails would be tough going but I dropped into the valley to check them out anyways. When I got there I noticed the shoulder on Riverview Road was pretty well cleared so I decided to loop the valley Bath to Bolanz starting out heading South from the Ira Rd trailhead. The cool thing (to me but probably not most people) was when I was heading back down Riverview to my car and I was right by the Marsh, it was snowing really hard so that you could barely see, there was no traffic to speak of so I was basically out there alone and then I heard the train whistle and out of the blizzard like conditions comes the headlight of the train coming down the tracks heading for lock 29. It doesn't sound that great in writing but it was just me and the train (the engineer saw me and we waved to each other) and I thought it was pretty cool.
The other cool thing that happened was the first cross country ski outing of the year. We went to Happy Days for a double loop although I blistered and had to bail out after the first loop. I have to get that figured out.
Finally, all of our Christmas decorations are down and put away...this was my toughest workout all week both physically and mentally.
Training recap:
Bike - 25 miles outside and 3x1hrs indoor
Run - 18
Swim - goose egg
That's all for now
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Overdue Recap of 2008
Even though 2008 offered some challenging times to many people, myself included, I can honestly say 2008 was a pretty good year overall. I had many good times with lots of great people that far offset the challenges that the economy has thrown my way. Looking back through the log and taking a trip down the 2008 memory lane offers these highlights:
January - trip to Phoenix with Jimmy and Becky for the rock n roll marathon, climbed camelback mtn - which is the best way to see Phoenix and missed qualifying for Boston by 1'08".
February - road trip to Ft. Myers with JIII to pick up a car and bring it back. Got a good ride in down there and it was a nice break from winter in the Northeast.
March - first of several cold, windy, hilly runs that I would do this year. Millcreek 1/2 in Youngstown. Another road trip to Ft Myers for my bro's 50th with Sue, Kate, Jerry and Jaime. Two more rides in the sun. Another road trip with Nate and Doc for a ride long weekend in Hot Springs, NC - huge miles 4 days in a row. Lost my brakes on a steep descent on the third day - very scary!!!
April - Weather breaks - lots of ride miles. pulled calf muscle and Dr Keyes fixed it. Buzzard Duathlon - always a great time.
May - Trip to London for work - ran every morning in Hyde Park with the locals - very cool stuff. Maumee Bay adventure tri with John - we were leading and got lost on the bike - bummer. Sue, Nate and I go to Buffalo for the Marathon. I was trying for consistent and got it. 8:22 first mile, 8:17 last mile, avg pace 8:17.
June - road trip to Maryland to pick up Susie's brand new scooter - a silver three wheeler to celebrate our silver anniv. Family vacation in the keys - way to much fun!! 100k ride with nephew Marty in Buffalo - he now knows how tough the last ten miles can be.
July - Muncie endurathon - Sue and I travel down in the motor home and camp out in the parking lot - rainy, windy than hot but good race, fun time. Xterra race at West Branch - do not pull off the swim of your life if you don't want to suffer the humility of being passed by everyone who really knows how to mountain bike. Sweet Corn challenge with Sue - perfect day!!
August - 25yrs with my baby!! Myrtle Beach getaway long weekend - Sue and I meet family and friends for some fun times in the surf and sun. Vermillion Tri - news flash - Vermillion is not flat - who knew? Sue and Kate do the cancer three day and I cheer them on - what an inspirational weekend.
September - IM Wisconsin with Nate - long, tough day - very hilly course but overall fantastic experience. What a test!!! Put-in-Bay get away with Sue and friends - a motor home on the ferry to PIB - that's nuts!
October - Sue, I and the fam (including Jaime) travel to Buffalo for nieces wedding -hotel room next to brother Dan - very fun wedding. Start of the fall challenge series in the valley - this is one to do every year. Disappointment again - Columbus Marathon - missed by 7 mins.
November - The Smart Ride - 165 miles from Miami to Key west with Kate, Dan, Leah and Tony - great ride, great cause. Another road trip to Ft Myers for TDay with Dan & Leah and our families. Turkey Trot in Ft Myers - Jerry and Ethan rocked it
December - Tour of Ashland - another cold, windy and hilly half marathon. Xmas in Ohio - first time we stayed home in 25 yrs - both kids are there and it was awesome. Great New Years Eve race in Stow. The last cold, windy and hilly - oh yeah and icy race of the year.
As you can see, I am blessed with a supportive family and fantastic friends. I had a wonderful year thanks to them and I am looking forward to yet another in 2009.
I hope everyone who reads this also had a great year and has a very happy, healthy new year. I hope to see you all out there!!
That's all for now.
January - trip to Phoenix with Jimmy and Becky for the rock n roll marathon, climbed camelback mtn - which is the best way to see Phoenix and missed qualifying for Boston by 1'08".
February - road trip to Ft. Myers with JIII to pick up a car and bring it back. Got a good ride in down there and it was a nice break from winter in the Northeast.
March - first of several cold, windy, hilly runs that I would do this year. Millcreek 1/2 in Youngstown. Another road trip to Ft Myers for my bro's 50th with Sue, Kate, Jerry and Jaime. Two more rides in the sun. Another road trip with Nate and Doc for a ride long weekend in Hot Springs, NC - huge miles 4 days in a row. Lost my brakes on a steep descent on the third day - very scary!!!
April - Weather breaks - lots of ride miles. pulled calf muscle and Dr Keyes fixed it. Buzzard Duathlon - always a great time.
May - Trip to London for work - ran every morning in Hyde Park with the locals - very cool stuff. Maumee Bay adventure tri with John - we were leading and got lost on the bike - bummer. Sue, Nate and I go to Buffalo for the Marathon. I was trying for consistent and got it. 8:22 first mile, 8:17 last mile, avg pace 8:17.
June - road trip to Maryland to pick up Susie's brand new scooter - a silver three wheeler to celebrate our silver anniv. Family vacation in the keys - way to much fun!! 100k ride with nephew Marty in Buffalo - he now knows how tough the last ten miles can be.
July - Muncie endurathon - Sue and I travel down in the motor home and camp out in the parking lot - rainy, windy than hot but good race, fun time. Xterra race at West Branch - do not pull off the swim of your life if you don't want to suffer the humility of being passed by everyone who really knows how to mountain bike. Sweet Corn challenge with Sue - perfect day!!
August - 25yrs with my baby!! Myrtle Beach getaway long weekend - Sue and I meet family and friends for some fun times in the surf and sun. Vermillion Tri - news flash - Vermillion is not flat - who knew? Sue and Kate do the cancer three day and I cheer them on - what an inspirational weekend.
September - IM Wisconsin with Nate - long, tough day - very hilly course but overall fantastic experience. What a test!!! Put-in-Bay get away with Sue and friends - a motor home on the ferry to PIB - that's nuts!
October - Sue, I and the fam (including Jaime) travel to Buffalo for nieces wedding -hotel room next to brother Dan - very fun wedding. Start of the fall challenge series in the valley - this is one to do every year. Disappointment again - Columbus Marathon - missed by 7 mins.
November - The Smart Ride - 165 miles from Miami to Key west with Kate, Dan, Leah and Tony - great ride, great cause. Another road trip to Ft Myers for TDay with Dan & Leah and our families. Turkey Trot in Ft Myers - Jerry and Ethan rocked it
December - Tour of Ashland - another cold, windy and hilly half marathon. Xmas in Ohio - first time we stayed home in 25 yrs - both kids are there and it was awesome. Great New Years Eve race in Stow. The last cold, windy and hilly - oh yeah and icy race of the year.
As you can see, I am blessed with a supportive family and fantastic friends. I had a wonderful year thanks to them and I am looking forward to yet another in 2009.
I hope everyone who reads this also had a great year and has a very happy, healthy new year. I hope to see you all out there!!
That's all for now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
