Alive and Kicking

This might be the latest past my typical Saturday or Sunday post time that I have submitted a new post. I actually wondered if I should just wait till the end of this and just combine two weeks. But if I did that, I would be disappointing my adoring fans (OK - maybe a little presumptuous) as you must already be wondering if I am alive and training. No worries....I am (both alive and training).

It was just a crazy weekend of track & field. My teams were competing at the Landmark Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The men and women Crusaders of Susquehanna University both placed 2nd at the championships. Watching my teams compete is definitely one of the best motivators I have to get out there and kick my ass everyday! Now, being we were out of town, I was not able to bike (on what was the best weekend of weather all year) but I was able to run on a great rail to trail each day. Now only if we could get something like this near Selinsgrove!

Training continues to go well and I feel miles ahead of where I was last year at this point. The unfortunate part right now is that there is still 40 days until Eagleman 70.3. Seeing everyone post on Facebook and Twitter about their races and watching my teams compete each weekend does not do much to calm my anxiousness for racing! I have about two more weeks of a high volume of training and then will begin to taper. Even as much as I am anxious to start racing, I have yet to decide on a full race schedule. Everything for the remainder of the summer will depend on the results of Eagleman. Nothing like putting a little pressure on oneself to motivate you!

New Training Totals:
Week
Bike - 5 rides/ 164 miles/ 7.83hours/ 21.0 mph
Run - 4 runs/ 24.25 miles/ 2.91 hours/ 7:12 per mile
Swim - 3 swims/ 3.25 miles/ 1.60hours
Total - 12 workouts/ 191.5 miles/ 12.34 hours

2013
Bike - 93 rides/ 2842 miles/ 128.65 hours/ 22.1 mph
Run - 56 runs/ 312.25 miles/ 38.12 hours/ 7:19 per mile
Swim - 55 swims/ 53.5 miles/ 26.06 hours
Total - 204 workouts/ 3204.75 miles/ 192.86 hours

Goals This Week
Bike - 5 rides/ 160-175 miles
Run - 3-4 runs/ 22-26 miles
Swim - 3-4 swims/ 3 miles

People will often ask what am I on to complete my training? 

What am I am on? 

I am on my bike 7-8 hours a week, in the pool 1.5-2 hours a week and on the roads running 2-3 hours a week......and of course caffeine,moose tracks and beer for recovery! (Oh yeah, can't forget the eye drops 2x's a day)

That's what I am on!

Kona 2013

Just Having Fun But Might Be Offensive To Some

Knowing has been 8 months since I last raced and still 7 weeks till I race again, I have to believe reading about my training has got to be getting old! Trust me, I would not be offended if someone told me this blog is on the boring side. Sometimes I have thought about if I should try to make the blog entertaining before I bore you with  training stats! What would I blog about that some would find entertaining? Once in a while, I get the motivation to write some blogs after seeing or reading some things on twitter or facebook but I often use my filter and not blog about it for fear of offending other triathletes especially since I am one. Once in a while I see things that are just too tough to resist and I think today is one of those days.........

I know I once blogged that triathletes quite often go to ridiculous extremes (no alcohol, no sugar, no soda, gluten free) in their training and at the same time wonder why we get picked on by runners, cyclist and swimmers. Believe me, when I say this, they don't pick on us because they are jealous!!! I also know there are extremist like this in all sports but for some reason triathletes go the extra mile. Now that I have stretched this out but here are some things that we as triathletes can work on and still compete at a high level........

1. Eat real food!!! Nothing wrong with ice cream, beef or candy!
2. Drink soda.....we already consume a crazy amount on coffee for caffeine.
3. Drink a beer or glass of wine or do a shot! One drink won't kill your day of training!
4. Don't train in triathlon racing kits! Doesn't look cool. Sleeveless on bike is not ideal.
5. If on a training ride - leave aero-helmet at home!!!
6. Compression gear doesn't always look cool in public.
7. At an expo - don't wear the t-shirt from the previous year! That is like going to a concert wearing a t-shirt of the band you are there to see! We know you are a fan, you are there!

I encourage all to add more rules and maybe we can come up with a list for all future triathletes. Now that I have offended most triathletes, now to my guilty pleasure that triathletes like to take to extremes, bragging about my boring training. I also ask if I should ever be caught breaking these rules, please call me out!

New Training Totals:
Week
Bike - 5 rides/ 161 miles/ 7.7.56 hours/ 21.3 mph
Run - 4 runs/ 23.75 miles/ 2.59 hours/ 7:18 per mile
Swim - 3 swims/ 3,25 miles/ 1.56hours
Total - 12 workouts/ 187 miles/ 12.01 hours

2013
Bike - 88 rides/ 2678 miles/ 1120.81 hours/ 22.1 mph
Run - 52 runs/ 288 miles/ 35.21 hours/ 7:20 per mile
Swim - 52 swims/ 50.25 miles/ 24.46 hours
Total - 192 workouts/ 3016.25 miles/ 180.48 hours

Goals This Week
Bike - 5 rides/ 160-175 miles
Run - 3-4 runs/ 22-26 miles
Swim - 3-4 swims/ 3 miles

People will often ask what am I on to complete my training? 

What am I am on? 

I am on my bike 7-8 hours a week, in the pool 1.5-2 hours a week and on the roads running 2-3 hours a week......and of course caffeine,moose tracks and beer for recovery! (Oh yeah, can't forget the eye drops 2x's a day)

That's what I am on!

Kona 2013

Can't See But At Least No pain!

What a difference a year makes!

Even if it was crazy weekend of hosting a high school track & field meet (20 schools/780 athletes) and my teams competing at Bucknell University over two days, I  will take the insanity of this weekend over what I was putting up with last year. This weekend last year, I had the 2nd operation on my right eye in 3 weeks to try and correct a retinal occlusion that for lack of better diagnosis turned into an Acute Angle Glaucoma. The condition cause the pressure to rise to over 3 times the normal eye pressure. It was so painful that I actually agreed for the doctors to remove the eye before we decided on another procedure that has kept me pain free for a year now. The procedure has done nothing to help the vision (basically blind in that eye) but I will take being pain free. Now, my team likes to poke humor at me and stand on my right side where they know I can't see them and they try to see how long they can stand there until I realize it.Trust me....I think it is pretty funny when they do that!

Other than the month off from swimming after the 2nd surgery, I have been lucky that the issue has never been a hindrance on my training. It has been more of a motivator as I returned to triathlons and set my goal to qualify for Kona in 2013! I know it may be so cliche to say but something like this does make you appreciate things and take advantage of every opportunity you have. At the same time, it has made my teams wonder if I am human.We joke about how in the past 3 years I have been through skin cancer, the eye surgeries and hit by a car coming down a hill about 25-30 miles (and not break a bone), so they wonder what it will take to keep me down.......Hmmmmmm?? 

New Training Totals:
Week
Bike - 5 rides/ 170 miles/ 7.96 hours/ 21.4 mph
Run - 3 runs/ 21.5 miles/ 2.61 hours/ 7:17 per mile
Swim - 3 swims/ 2.75 miles/ 1.35 hours
Total - 11 workouts/ 194.25 miles/ 11.92 hours

2013
Bike - 83 rides/ 2517 miles/ 113.19 hours/ 22.2 mph
Run - 48 runs/ 264.25 miles/ 32.31 hours/ 7:20 per mile
Swim - 49 swims/ 47 miles/ 22.9 hours
Total - 180 workouts/ 2828.25 miles/ 168.4 hours

Goals This Week
Bike - 5 rides/ 160-175 miles
Run - 3-4 runs/ 22-26 miles
Swim - 3-4 swims/ 3 miles

People will often ask what am I on to complete my training? 

 

What am I am on? 

 

I am on my bike 7-8 hours a week, in the pool 1.5-2 hours a week and on the roads running 2-3 hours a week......and of course caffeine,moose tracks and beer for recovery! (Oh yeah, can't forget the eye drops 2x's a day)

 

That's what I am on!

Kona 2013

Coffee, Moose Tracks & Beer - The Ultimate Post Tri Recovery!

  

With each passing week, I am getting more anxious to get this 2013 triathlon season underway. My training continues to go well despite the non-cooperative weather pattern though this past week and the forecast shows signs of breaking out of winter. I am not ready to put the winter training gear away just yet as living in central PA could result in snow any day of April. It is also tough to stay patient when everyone seems to be tweeting about races or their status mentions racing. I guess me living in an area where racing seems to be in full swing could be a double edge sword as I might race to much. 

Now that I think about that last statement I don't think I would have to worry about that as races are way to damn expensive! In my return to triathlons, the biggest shock that I have had thus far has been the entry fees. I understand a lot goes into hosting a race but does it really cost that much??? Better yet, if I am going to pay that much in an entry fee; is it too much to ask for, let's say free beer after a race (And no I would not be driving home after)?!?!?! Or maybe more than just bananas, sliced bagels, orange slices and mini-cups of yogurt. I get the whole thing about recovery but that combination just does not cut it for me. If you really want to get my entry fee......have an endless supply of coffee available after the race (add some Moose Tracks and I'll never leave)... Now we are talking recovery there!

New Training Totals Week Bike - 5 rides/ 161 miles/ 7.29 hours/ 22.1 mph Run - 3 runs/ 22 miles/ 2.72 hours/ 7:25 per mile Swim - 3 swims/ 3.25 miles/ 1.56 hours Total - 11 workouts/ 186.25 miles/ 11.57 hours 2013 Bike - 78 rides/ 2347 miles/ 105.22 hours/ 22.3 Run - 45 runs/ 242.75 miles/ 29.70 hours/ 7:21 per mile Swim - 46 swims/ 44.25 miles/ 21.55 hours Total - 169 workouts/ 2634 miles/ 156.47 hours Goals This Week Bike - 5 rides/ 160-175 miles Run - 3-4 runs/ 22-25 miles Swim - 3-4 swims/ 3-4 miles

Kona/Vegas 2013!!!

 

People will often ask what am I on to complete my training? 

 

What am I am on? 

 

I am on my bike 7-8 hours a week, in the pool 1.5-2 hours a week and on the roads running 2-3 hours a week......and of course caffeine,moose tracks and beer for recovery! 

 

That's what I am on!