After more than five months of training for one specific race, I'm fairly disappointed I won't be racing Kansas 70.3. My knee issues just aren't getting any better. In fact, it's gotten worse. It has been really tough to train over the past week or so, mainly because I kinda knew I had to make this decision. I worked extremely hard to get to where I am and now it feels like I failed myself a bit.
I know injuries are part of life, especially running, but it sucks to have to deal with a different injury each year. I only started running 15 months ago and I've already been sidelined for nearly half of that. Sure I can run/walk a 5k here and there, but I could do that within my first month of running.
My new goal is the Harvest Moon long course triathlon in Aurora. It's the same distance as a half-ironman, just without the corporate sponsorship. It's also not until September, which means I have another four months of training. Yes, I'll be in ridiculous shape and assuming I get over this injury, I'll be faster than I would be in a couple weeks. I just really wish I could do Kansas.
Three of my friends are doing Kansas 70.3 and at least two of them started training for the race because I was doing it too. It's pretty disappointing knowing they'll be out there suffering through 6+ hours of a race, while I'm not. I still haven't decided if I'm going to go with to support them. I want to, but I know I'll just wish I was racing.
Either way, I'm heading to a doctor soon and I'm going to get my knee scanned to find out what really is the issue. It's apparently not my IT Band, so at this point, it's not as easy fix. Last time I hit up the doctor, it cost me $500 and he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I'm hoping this isn't the same case.
May 17, 2010
May 8, 2010
the start of physical therapy
Turns out, it is all about who you know. My knee problems haven't gotten much better, so my friend Paula offered to give me some physical therapy to see if she could fix it. She signed up for the Kansas 70.3 with me and she says she will do her best to make sure I can race with her. We're fairly even in abilities (I'm swim a little faster and she runs a little faster) so it would be nice to have someone to directly compete with.
We started by checking out exactly where I am injured. Turns out, it's not actually my IT band. That's good and bad. It's good, because it means I don't have IT band issues. It's bad, because she doesn't really know what the issue is. She gave me a steroid patch that over time is supposed to help strengthen my knee.
Also, my running gait is a little weird because I don't heel strike with my left foot. That is probably a pretty big reason I had stress fracture and now knee issues. I practiced focusing on heel striking, but I use a different set of muscles in my leg, so it's like re-teaching myself to run. I managed to get through 3 miles today with no pain in my knee... however my muscles in my shin were definitely feeling it. It shouldn't take too much time to get my muscles adjusted to working a different way, so I'm hoping this is a nice fix it.
I have decided my decision will happen on Sunday, May 16th. I'm planning on doing a sprint tri in Morrison that day and if I can make it through the run with zero, or at least minimal, pain... then I'll sign up for Kansas. If it's painful, then I can't do Kansas because I'm not going to walk 10 of the 13 miles.
We started by checking out exactly where I am injured. Turns out, it's not actually my IT band. That's good and bad. It's good, because it means I don't have IT band issues. It's bad, because she doesn't really know what the issue is. She gave me a steroid patch that over time is supposed to help strengthen my knee.
Also, my running gait is a little weird because I don't heel strike with my left foot. That is probably a pretty big reason I had stress fracture and now knee issues. I practiced focusing on heel striking, but I use a different set of muscles in my leg, so it's like re-teaching myself to run. I managed to get through 3 miles today with no pain in my knee... however my muscles in my shin were definitely feeling it. It shouldn't take too much time to get my muscles adjusted to working a different way, so I'm hoping this is a nice fix it.
I have decided my decision will happen on Sunday, May 16th. I'm planning on doing a sprint tri in Morrison that day and if I can make it through the run with zero, or at least minimal, pain... then I'll sign up for Kansas. If it's painful, then I can't do Kansas because I'm not going to walk 10 of the 13 miles.
May 5, 2010
website finished
The website I have been working on for 2 weeks is finally done. I think it looks pretty good and while there can and will be plenty of upgrades and changes, you should check it out in it's original form: www.neoendurancesports.com
A big thank you to Nicole for providing the pictures, text and constructive criticism. Also, Rob for designing the logo.
The launch came pretty quick, but I was surprised how easy it became to design and custom edit the pages. I'm not about to turn this into a job, but it's nice to know I can design a couple websites and perhaps do that as a side job.
Let me know if you have any suggestions or comments on the site.
A big thank you to Nicole for providing the pictures, text and constructive criticism. Also, Rob for designing the logo.
The launch came pretty quick, but I was surprised how easy it became to design and custom edit the pages. I'm not about to turn this into a job, but it's nice to know I can design a couple websites and perhaps do that as a side job.
Let me know if you have any suggestions or comments on the site.
May 2, 2010
From October 3rd to May 1st
Apparently, I've come a long way since October 3rd, 2009. I've decided to break down my results from the Falcon Groundspeed triathlons and see exactly how I improved 17:59 over 7 months.
Overall Time: October: 2:10:10, May: 1:52:11
I finished 121st out of 207 yesterday, which put me in the 58th percentile. In October, I finished 102 out of 132, so in the 77th percentile.
Swim: October: 17:39, May: 14:51
While it wasn't the biggest gain in time, I feel it was the biggest change in my abilities since October. Mainly, because I've worked the hardest on becoming a much better swimmer (One day, I'll out-swim my sister at a race.) In a race that last nearly two hours, three minutes isn't that much. However, I exerted significantly less energy in the spring swim, which I feel helped me do much better on the bike. I did the math and counted up the results and I finished in the top 20% of the swim. In October, I finished in the bottom half of the field.
Transition 1: October: 3:12, May 3:35
I blame the extra time on my bike helmet. It managed to fall off my aero bars in the wind and the snaps on the back got jammed. This made it too tight, so I had to break the snaps and rip apart the adjustment. It took about 30 seconds to get it fixed, so I would love to redo my transition from yesterday.
Bike: October: 1:17:19, May: 1:01:39
A big part of the cut in time is due to the bike I was using. In the fall, I had a mountain bike with commuting tires. This spring, I had my road bike with aero bars. However, I also contribute the 15:40 drop to having biked up that route several times in the past couple weeks. I knew what to expect on the hill and I knew when I could push and when to hold back. It's a lot easier to ride when I know what's coming up. I finished at the 66% percentile mark for the bike yesterday. In October, I was in the 81st percentile.
Transition 2: October: 1:56, May 2:24
I don't really know why I spent an extra 28 seconds this time around. I had to take my coat off, but that doesn't take nearly half a minute. I used to be really pleased with my transition times, but now I know I definitely need to practice them a little more.
Run: October: 30:07, May: 29:45
This was the one that really confused me. I was a pretty good runner in October and I was pretty injured this spring. I'm guessing because I still had a decent amount of energy left after the bike yesterday, I was able to run my pace without being extremely tired. However, I specifically remember being completely exhausted during the run last fall. I really would have liked to see how I could do if I hadn't been injured, but it's all part of the triathlon life. I finished in the 68th percentile. In October, I was in the 71st percentile
Overall, I felt a lot better throughout the race. Some of it had to do with being in much better shape; some of it was because I was more mentally prepared; and some of it was because of the weather. I feel really good about my results this time around, because I know just a few small changes here and there and I could have dropped a little more time. However, I feel best about knowing I went out there and gave it my all and for the first time, I beat my goal in a triathlon.
Overall Time: October: 2:10:10, May: 1:52:11
I finished 121st out of 207 yesterday, which put me in the 58th percentile. In October, I finished 102 out of 132, so in the 77th percentile.
Swim: October: 17:39, May: 14:51
While it wasn't the biggest gain in time, I feel it was the biggest change in my abilities since October. Mainly, because I've worked the hardest on becoming a much better swimmer (One day, I'll out-swim my sister at a race.) In a race that last nearly two hours, three minutes isn't that much. However, I exerted significantly less energy in the spring swim, which I feel helped me do much better on the bike. I did the math and counted up the results and I finished in the top 20% of the swim. In October, I finished in the bottom half of the field.
Transition 1: October: 3:12, May 3:35
I blame the extra time on my bike helmet. It managed to fall off my aero bars in the wind and the snaps on the back got jammed. This made it too tight, so I had to break the snaps and rip apart the adjustment. It took about 30 seconds to get it fixed, so I would love to redo my transition from yesterday.
Bike: October: 1:17:19, May: 1:01:39
A big part of the cut in time is due to the bike I was using. In the fall, I had a mountain bike with commuting tires. This spring, I had my road bike with aero bars. However, I also contribute the 15:40 drop to having biked up that route several times in the past couple weeks. I knew what to expect on the hill and I knew when I could push and when to hold back. It's a lot easier to ride when I know what's coming up. I finished at the 66% percentile mark for the bike yesterday. In October, I was in the 81st percentile.
Transition 2: October: 1:56, May 2:24
I don't really know why I spent an extra 28 seconds this time around. I had to take my coat off, but that doesn't take nearly half a minute. I used to be really pleased with my transition times, but now I know I definitely need to practice them a little more.
Run: October: 30:07, May: 29:45
This was the one that really confused me. I was a pretty good runner in October and I was pretty injured this spring. I'm guessing because I still had a decent amount of energy left after the bike yesterday, I was able to run my pace without being extremely tired. However, I specifically remember being completely exhausted during the run last fall. I really would have liked to see how I could do if I hadn't been injured, but it's all part of the triathlon life. I finished in the 68th percentile. In October, I was in the 71st percentile
Overall, I felt a lot better throughout the race. Some of it had to do with being in much better shape; some of it was because I was more mentally prepared; and some of it was because of the weather. I feel really good about my results this time around, because I know just a few small changes here and there and I could have dropped a little more time. However, I feel best about knowing I went out there and gave it my all and for the first time, I beat my goal in a triathlon.
May 1, 2010
AFA Groundspeed Post-Race
Having done this triathlon last October, I pretty much knew what to expect coming into this morning. I ran through my race plan the night before and was pretty sure I had everything ready. I went to bed early and wasn't nervous at all, so I slept amazing. Apparently, I didn't set my alarm, but still managed to wake up around 6:10, so I still had plenty of time. I made a strawberry shake and brought an orange with for pre-race fuel.
I got to the Academy and setup my transition spot. Right away, I spotted three other friends who were doing the race, too. Fortunately, most of us were all set to start the swim at the same time, so we had a nice little competition. After chatting with them for a bit, I finished up my transition spot and made sure I was ready for a quick get-away on my bike.
I went inside to get relax, stretch and watch the start of the other swimmers. We ended up sitting for more than a hour before finally going down to warm-up a bit and hop in line to get our timing chips and ready for the swim. Around 9:50 I finally jumped into the pool and was off for my swim. I was a little surprised how easy it was. I couldn't really gauge my speed, but I could tell I was swimming faster than anyone else in my lane or the one next to me. I quickly finished up the 800 yards (32 lengths) and wasn't short of breath at all. I checked my watch and finished in 13:30, which was only 10 seconds off my goal pace.
In a pretty good mood, I made the long walk/run up some stairs and outside to my transition area. It wasn't nearly as cold as I expected, so I left the cold-weather gear in my bag and just put on a windbreaker over my tri shirt. I tried to put on my helmet, which had fallen off my aero bars because of the wind. During the fall, the clips on the back that loosened it up got jammed, so it was way too small. I ended up snapping the clips off the back and doing a little surgery just to get my helmet to fit.
I grabbed my bike and ran out to the beautiful, and very hilly, bike course. It was the first time I had used my aero bars, so I tested those out fairly quickly and found that they were pretty comfortable. I made the climb on the first hill and then tucked into aero position for a long downhill. I kept that position through Stadium Boulevard and to the base of Pine drive. Once at Pine Drive, it was all uphill from there. I have ridden that course several times recently, so I knew what to expect. It turned out to be about what I was used to, so I didn't struggle horribly, but it certainly wasn't fun.
I completed the final downhill and rode back to the transition area where I got ready for the run. I quickly threw on my running shoes, took off my windbreaker and grabbed one last drink of water. With my IT Band issues, I knew I was going to have to take it slow, so I started out on what felt like a 10:00 mile pace. I passed a few people here and there and got passed by a couple as well. At the first mile marker, I crossed at exactly 10:00 and that's when the pain kicked in. I said a short prayer that it wouldn't hurt anymore than it did at that point and for much of the rest of the run, it was just a lingering pain. However, I got to the last half-mile and my knee was killing me. I didn't want to walk, so I managed to do a running/gimp thing to the track. Once I got there, I was able to speed up a little more for the lap around the track and across the finish line.
I forgot to check my watch right away and my results weren't posted, but I finished around 1:52, which was 8 minutes under my goal and about 18 minutes faster than when I did the race last fall. It was a pretty good race, but every time I race this year with IT Band issues, I continue to wonder how I would do if I didn't have to run so slow and with so much pain.
I got to the Academy and setup my transition spot. Right away, I spotted three other friends who were doing the race, too. Fortunately, most of us were all set to start the swim at the same time, so we had a nice little competition. After chatting with them for a bit, I finished up my transition spot and made sure I was ready for a quick get-away on my bike.
I went inside to get relax, stretch and watch the start of the other swimmers. We ended up sitting for more than a hour before finally going down to warm-up a bit and hop in line to get our timing chips and ready for the swim. Around 9:50 I finally jumped into the pool and was off for my swim. I was a little surprised how easy it was. I couldn't really gauge my speed, but I could tell I was swimming faster than anyone else in my lane or the one next to me. I quickly finished up the 800 yards (32 lengths) and wasn't short of breath at all. I checked my watch and finished in 13:30, which was only 10 seconds off my goal pace.
In a pretty good mood, I made the long walk/run up some stairs and outside to my transition area. It wasn't nearly as cold as I expected, so I left the cold-weather gear in my bag and just put on a windbreaker over my tri shirt. I tried to put on my helmet, which had fallen off my aero bars because of the wind. During the fall, the clips on the back that loosened it up got jammed, so it was way too small. I ended up snapping the clips off the back and doing a little surgery just to get my helmet to fit.
I grabbed my bike and ran out to the beautiful, and very hilly, bike course. It was the first time I had used my aero bars, so I tested those out fairly quickly and found that they were pretty comfortable. I made the climb on the first hill and then tucked into aero position for a long downhill. I kept that position through Stadium Boulevard and to the base of Pine drive. Once at Pine Drive, it was all uphill from there. I have ridden that course several times recently, so I knew what to expect. It turned out to be about what I was used to, so I didn't struggle horribly, but it certainly wasn't fun.
I completed the final downhill and rode back to the transition area where I got ready for the run. I quickly threw on my running shoes, took off my windbreaker and grabbed one last drink of water. With my IT Band issues, I knew I was going to have to take it slow, so I started out on what felt like a 10:00 mile pace. I passed a few people here and there and got passed by a couple as well. At the first mile marker, I crossed at exactly 10:00 and that's when the pain kicked in. I said a short prayer that it wouldn't hurt anymore than it did at that point and for much of the rest of the run, it was just a lingering pain. However, I got to the last half-mile and my knee was killing me. I didn't want to walk, so I managed to do a running/gimp thing to the track. Once I got there, I was able to speed up a little more for the lap around the track and across the finish line.
I forgot to check my watch right away and my results weren't posted, but I finished around 1:52, which was 8 minutes under my goal and about 18 minutes faster than when I did the race last fall. It was a pretty good race, but every time I race this year with IT Band issues, I continue to wonder how I would do if I didn't have to run so slow and with so much pain.
April 27, 2010
back to running
I've slowly been making progress on my running lately. I've been pretty intense with my stretching before and after running. I been like a nice little hamster, running on the treadmill several times a week. A month and a half ago, I could run 6+ miles without being very tired. Now? I look pretty awesome at the gym running 6.5 miles an hour for five minutes, then walking for one minute. Fortunately, I have been able to increase that a bit each day, so I look a little less pathetic.
Tonight was a different story though. With my first tri of the season on Saturday (Air Force Academy sprint), I was pretty nervous about being able to do the entire run pain-free. Tonight at Jack Quinn's, I managed to do the 5k without even a hint of ITB soreness. Sure, I only jogged at a 10:00 mile pace, but it felt good to not have to walk after six minutes. After the first time through, I did it again, but went back to my timed runs. I didn't want to push it too hard and get hurt just a couple days before the race.
Running is slowly becoming one of my stronger sports again. I was never super fast by any means, but if I could just get a full year of injury-free running it, I know I would be running at a pretty good pace. Heck, I'll take a full year of injury free anything. I've already seen some nice gains in my swimming, biking and running... so this coach thing is paying off, even if it's just a mental boost.
Tonight was a different story though. With my first tri of the season on Saturday (Air Force Academy sprint), I was pretty nervous about being able to do the entire run pain-free. Tonight at Jack Quinn's, I managed to do the 5k without even a hint of ITB soreness. Sure, I only jogged at a 10:00 mile pace, but it felt good to not have to walk after six minutes. After the first time through, I did it again, but went back to my timed runs. I didn't want to push it too hard and get hurt just a couple days before the race.
Running is slowly becoming one of my stronger sports again. I was never super fast by any means, but if I could just get a full year of injury-free running it, I know I would be running at a pretty good pace. Heck, I'll take a full year of injury free anything. I've already seen some nice gains in my swimming, biking and running... so this coach thing is paying off, even if it's just a mental boost.
April 23, 2010
breakthrough workouts
I'm not really used to participating in sports where the only thing I'm racing is the clock. In softball, racquetball, hockey and every other sport I've played, the goal is to beat the other team. In triathlon, my goal is to beat my previous best time. During the winter months, that got pretty tedious, because it's tough to measure goals when all I'm doing is looking at my watch every time I'm done with a set in the pool.
However, when you hit your goal times, it feels absolutely amazing. I happened to have hit my 800 yd pool goal time tonight; 13:20. Sure it's not blazing fast, but it's more than four minutes faster than my swim time at the Air Force tri last October. That's just shy of 25% of my time I managed to cut basically since January. It felt great and I've been on a bit of a high since I finished up my swim.
In a effort to make myself feel even better, I checked out the times of the Colorado high school state swim meet. They had times for 500 yards, so I compared that to my pace. I felt pretty humbled after that. I wouldn't have managed to even make the top 50... against the girls swimmers. In fact, the lowest place they showed was 34th, and she still managed to be on pace to swim an 800 in about 10 minutes. That made me realize I have a lot of work to do to improve, but based on my gains so far, I know it's definitely possible.
This mini-milestone has helped re-energize my swimming a bit and now I have a new goal... to cut my 800 time down to 12 minutes by the end of the summer. I just need to work on my stroke a bit, rely on my kick a little more and remember that if I make it, I'll only have to drop 2 more minutes to be close to the top 50 of the girl's state swimming championships.
However, when you hit your goal times, it feels absolutely amazing. I happened to have hit my 800 yd pool goal time tonight; 13:20. Sure it's not blazing fast, but it's more than four minutes faster than my swim time at the Air Force tri last October. That's just shy of 25% of my time I managed to cut basically since January. It felt great and I've been on a bit of a high since I finished up my swim.
In a effort to make myself feel even better, I checked out the times of the Colorado high school state swim meet. They had times for 500 yards, so I compared that to my pace. I felt pretty humbled after that. I wouldn't have managed to even make the top 50... against the girls swimmers. In fact, the lowest place they showed was 34th, and she still managed to be on pace to swim an 800 in about 10 minutes. That made me realize I have a lot of work to do to improve, but based on my gains so far, I know it's definitely possible.
This mini-milestone has helped re-energize my swimming a bit and now I have a new goal... to cut my 800 time down to 12 minutes by the end of the summer. I just need to work on my stroke a bit, rely on my kick a little more and remember that if I make it, I'll only have to drop 2 more minutes to be close to the top 50 of the girl's state swimming championships.
April 21, 2010
i needed this
So, I've got myself a coach. It's actually a sweet deal with Nicole Drummer, a tri coach here in the Springs. I make her a website and help her create videos for it and she coaches me. Once it's up and running, I'll be sure to post links so my four readers can check it out. Hi Mom, Jen, Guy & Nicole!
The goal of this blog was to make it at least somewhat entertaining. I realized pretty quickly that either I'm not entertaining or that I'm not putting enough time into this. Most of my posts consist of me begrudgingly sitting down and typing out four paragraphs of boredom. I don't have the time or energy to be witty, because I usually have just finished a workout and just want to relax. I'm going to make a conscious effort to suck less in my writing. I write for a living, you'd think I might try and be good at it.
Anyway, there's something special about people who can spend hours tearing their muscles apart so they can grow back even stronger. I never thought I would say I really like riding up hills. I still am not going to say it, but when I'm out there, it feels pretty good. Sure, my legs are yelling louder than my students and my lungs must feel like I'm underwater because I'm giving them so little oxygen. But, my heart is telling me this is what I love.
I'm one of those folks who knows I have to do a workout, but will find a variety of reasons to slowly put it off. Lately, I've been overcoming that and forcing myself to go for a swim, ride or run. It doesn't matter if it's the worst workout in the world, I still know that getting out there is better than sitting at home thinking about getting out there.
I know putting in that extra little effort today means I'm able to put in even more effort on race day. Slacking off now will do nothing for me but make race day even harder. I love the results of training, so it's just a mind game I have to play when I'm feeling hesitant. I just think back to the days when I felt great after a workout and remind myself that I love hills.
The goal of this blog was to make it at least somewhat entertaining. I realized pretty quickly that either I'm not entertaining or that I'm not putting enough time into this. Most of my posts consist of me begrudgingly sitting down and typing out four paragraphs of boredom. I don't have the time or energy to be witty, because I usually have just finished a workout and just want to relax. I'm going to make a conscious effort to suck less in my writing. I write for a living, you'd think I might try and be good at it.
Anyway, there's something special about people who can spend hours tearing their muscles apart so they can grow back even stronger. I never thought I would say I really like riding up hills. I still am not going to say it, but when I'm out there, it feels pretty good. Sure, my legs are yelling louder than my students and my lungs must feel like I'm underwater because I'm giving them so little oxygen. But, my heart is telling me this is what I love.
I'm one of those folks who knows I have to do a workout, but will find a variety of reasons to slowly put it off. Lately, I've been overcoming that and forcing myself to go for a swim, ride or run. It doesn't matter if it's the worst workout in the world, I still know that getting out there is better than sitting at home thinking about getting out there.
I know putting in that extra little effort today means I'm able to put in even more effort on race day. Slacking off now will do nothing for me but make race day even harder. I love the results of training, so it's just a mind game I have to play when I'm feeling hesitant. I just think back to the days when I felt great after a workout and remind myself that I love hills.
April 18, 2010
let's get it on
So after an extremely unathletic trip to Vegas, it feels great to be back in Colorado. The extent of my exercies in Vegas consisted of walking up and down stairs instead of using the escalator.
Once I returned home, I knew it was time to get back in the pool and on the road. Despite all of my training to this point, I still don't feel like I'm in race shape. Sure, I can do a sprint triathlon right now with no problems, but that's not my goal. I could probably pull out a half-ironman, but it wouldn't be a very good time. I've got a month and a half to change that.
I can already tell I'm more motivated to train than I was before the trip. I did a short 800 yard swim yesterday and immediately followed it up with a 5k run. It's not a very long distance, but it's the first time in a couple weeks that I've been able to run more than a mile without any pain. It felt great and I'm preparing to expand on it today.
I'm going for a 30 mile ride today. I'm debating if I want to extend it and ride upwards of 40+ miles, just so my legs are getting used to riding for several hours at a time. I'll go for a short run after that, probably just 3-4 miles. Hopefully, I'll still be pain free.
Once I returned home, I knew it was time to get back in the pool and on the road. Despite all of my training to this point, I still don't feel like I'm in race shape. Sure, I can do a sprint triathlon right now with no problems, but that's not my goal. I could probably pull out a half-ironman, but it wouldn't be a very good time. I've got a month and a half to change that.
I can already tell I'm more motivated to train than I was before the trip. I did a short 800 yard swim yesterday and immediately followed it up with a 5k run. It's not a very long distance, but it's the first time in a couple weeks that I've been able to run more than a mile without any pain. It felt great and I'm preparing to expand on it today.
I'm going for a 30 mile ride today. I'm debating if I want to extend it and ride upwards of 40+ miles, just so my legs are getting used to riding for several hours at a time. I'll go for a short run after that, probably just 3-4 miles. Hopefully, I'll still be pain free.
April 10, 2010
off to vegas
Hey, it's my weekly chance to tell you why training for a triathlon is difficult. Actually, this time, it's about why not training for a triathlon makes training for a triathlon difficult. I've missed about two weeks of training during the past month because I was sick. Even though it was only 4-5 days each time, as soon as I started to swim/bike/run again, it felt like I hadn't trained in more than a year. I feel out of shape and un-athletic after just a day off. That's why I'm hoping to keep up with my training despite my upcoming trip.
I leave on a five day work trip to Vegas tomorrow. Yes, I will be spending a decent amount of the day doing work things. Actually, I'll be spending 6 hours a day walking around looking at cool video equipment. I definitely am planning on taking advantage of the low altitude and nice weather. The nearest 24 hour fitness to our hotel is only two miles away, so I'm planning on running there to get in a good swim workout and then run back to the hotel. I'm hoping to get up early on Monday and take care of that.
My friend/co-worker Adam is going with me. Fortunately, he enjoys a good run too, so we're going to try and get in some casual runs during the week. I was there last year for the same convention and I managed to run everyday, whether it was outside or on the treadmill in the hotel. No updates til I'm back on Thursday... which also happens to be the day I plan to join the Pikes Peak Triathlon Club.
I leave on a five day work trip to Vegas tomorrow. Yes, I will be spending a decent amount of the day doing work things. Actually, I'll be spending 6 hours a day walking around looking at cool video equipment. I definitely am planning on taking advantage of the low altitude and nice weather. The nearest 24 hour fitness to our hotel is only two miles away, so I'm planning on running there to get in a good swim workout and then run back to the hotel. I'm hoping to get up early on Monday and take care of that.
My friend/co-worker Adam is going with me. Fortunately, he enjoys a good run too, so we're going to try and get in some casual runs during the week. I was there last year for the same convention and I managed to run everyday, whether it was outside or on the treadmill in the hotel. No updates til I'm back on Thursday... which also happens to be the day I plan to join the Pikes Peak Triathlon Club.
April 6, 2010
multisport training
The most difficult part of training for a triathlon is remembering there are three sports. I can't just focus on my swim, or my bike, or my run. I have to focus on all three a majority of the time. If I was just doing a sprint or olympic tri, I would have no problem getting in all the training. However, when it comes to doing the Ironman 70.3, it means I have to develop all three skills to a level I've never been at in even one sport.
Up until a month ago, I had never swam 1.2 miles. I still haven't biked 56 miles and I still haven't ran 13.1 miles. I know I'll tackle those two goals in the next month, but I still have to focus on my swim. As I start to ride and run further, I'm noticing I'm slacking off a bit on my swimming just because I don't have time to get in full workouts in all three sports. My goal is to do bike-to-run brick sessions 2-3 times a week, but I also want to add in the swim to bike bricks. It's starting to turn into training in the morning, training at lunch and training right after work.
Fortunately, it's still fun. The weather is getting nicer and that's making me more motivated to get outside and run and bike. I know my body will be sore from biking, running and p90x, and thankfully, I am able to recover a bit while I'm spending time in the pool. It's just the cycle of taking things one day at a time and making sure I'm doing at least some type of athletic activity every day.
April 5, 2010
the return of p90x
You can always tell when someone is in the first month of doing p90x. Just sit outside the room where they're working out and you'll hear a small bit of music and a whole lot of groaning and grunting. For the first time in nearly a year, I'm back into p90x. I finished it last May and figured I didn't really need to do it again, since I'm in pretty good shape.
However, I've been looking for a good strength training workout and remembered back to my days of grunting. After hesitating for a couple weeks, I finally did the first workout today. It was about as bad as I remembered and my friend Adam and I spent more time on the ground than actually working out.
The good thing is I know I will be in much better shape because of it. I will strengthen my muscles, while increasing flexibility. I will have no problem with the workouts in about three weeks. And I'll look freaking amazing.
It also seems to motivate me to do other workouts. I did p90x for an hour at lunch. I then swam for 45 minutes after work. I followed that up with a run at Trinity. I ran into some IT band issues after a mile and a half. I stretched, but that didn't fix anything, so I just called it a day. I'm looking forward to more exercising tomorrow, including another p90x session and some time on the trainer.
However, I've been looking for a good strength training workout and remembered back to my days of grunting. After hesitating for a couple weeks, I finally did the first workout today. It was about as bad as I remembered and my friend Adam and I spent more time on the ground than actually working out.
The good thing is I know I will be in much better shape because of it. I will strengthen my muscles, while increasing flexibility. I will have no problem with the workouts in about three weeks. And I'll look freaking amazing.
It also seems to motivate me to do other workouts. I did p90x for an hour at lunch. I then swam for 45 minutes after work. I followed that up with a run at Trinity. I ran into some IT band issues after a mile and a half. I stretched, but that didn't fix anything, so I just called it a day. I'm looking forward to more exercising tomorrow, including another p90x session and some time on the trainer.
April 1, 2010
down with the sickness
For the second time in a little more than two weeks, I haven't been able to train because I'm sick. Two weeks ago, I was out for 4-5 days thanks to a pretty severe cold. This week, it's a brief case of the flu.
I went for a short 7 mile ride during lunch on Tuesday and immediately after, I started feeling sick. It got bad enough that I didn't run Tuesday night and missed work on Wednesday. I hit up the doctor and she said it was one of those 24-hour things. I made it to work today and am slowly feeling better.
I really wanted to go for a run or swim today, but I figure I should give my body time to heal. I'm hoping I'll be at least 90% by tomorrow morning and then I'll go for a swim after work.
I went for a short 7 mile ride during lunch on Tuesday and immediately after, I started feeling sick. It got bad enough that I didn't run Tuesday night and missed work on Wednesday. I hit up the doctor and she said it was one of those 24-hour things. I made it to work today and am slowly feeling better.
I really wanted to go for a run or swim today, but I figure I should give my body time to heal. I'm hoping I'll be at least 90% by tomorrow morning and then I'll go for a swim after work.
March 28, 2010
testing out the new bike
I recently got a new road bike, a 2009 Raleigh Grand Sport. It's not the greatest, by any means, but it can get me from start to finish in a race. I've owned the bike for two weeks, but thanks to Colorado's amazing March weather, I haven't had a chance to ride it until today.
The only other time I've been on a road bike was during my first triathlon. My friend Guy let me borrow his. Throughout the entire ride, I could tell something was wrong, because it just never felt right. Turns out, riding a bike that is way too small will do that.
When I hopped on my new 58 cm bike, I could tell it was the perfect size. I wasn't crunched into a little ball and I wasn't stretched out horribly. Today's ride was only five miles because I just wanted a feel for the bike. It handled pretty well on a steep climb and was easy to control on the downhill. I know I can drop a couple hundred bucks more to make it 100 grams lighter, but I'm ok with the way it is now.
I know I will add an aero bar sometime in the next week and I may eventually add a new saddle, but right now the bike handles just fine. Now, it's just a matter of getting in the miles. Fortunately, this week is supposed to be amazing weather-wise, so I'm hoping to be out two or three days.
The only other time I've been on a road bike was during my first triathlon. My friend Guy let me borrow his. Throughout the entire ride, I could tell something was wrong, because it just never felt right. Turns out, riding a bike that is way too small will do that.
When I hopped on my new 58 cm bike, I could tell it was the perfect size. I wasn't crunched into a little ball and I wasn't stretched out horribly. Today's ride was only five miles because I just wanted a feel for the bike. It handled pretty well on a steep climb and was easy to control on the downhill. I know I can drop a couple hundred bucks more to make it 100 grams lighter, but I'm ok with the way it is now.
I know I will add an aero bar sometime in the next week and I may eventually add a new saddle, but right now the bike handles just fine. Now, it's just a matter of getting in the miles. Fortunately, this week is supposed to be amazing weather-wise, so I'm hoping to be out two or three days.
March 23, 2010
"these are the nights"
One of my favorite songs by the band Making April is "These are the nights." This is one of those nights. Actually, this is one of those days. Everyone has those types of days where it seems like everything clicks. You're exactly where you're supposed to be and exactly where you want to be. I have been able to say that everyday for more than a year now. I love it.
14 months ago, I hated running. I hadn't swam laps since I was in middle school. I broke my bike in the first three weeks I was in Colorado and hadn't been on one in a year and a half. Then things changed. I met an amazing person who inspired me to run and it's taken off from there. I soon began to run several times a week. Too much in fact; as I was sidelined for four months with a stress fracture. A friend gave me a bike and I suddenly was reminded of that love for biking that was missing for so long. I hopped in a pool and it wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it was going to be. In fact, after the first couple of days, I found I really liked swimming.
On August 6th, I was in my first race that I can remember. It was a short 1/2 mile swim, followed by a 3.75 mile run. I remember the look on my friends' faces after I got out of the lake. I'm sure they thought I was going to die, I was so exhausted. However, I slowly peeled off my wetsuit and started the run. It quickly caught up with me and within the first mile, I was walking. After a minute or so, I got my breath back and started to run. I went faster each lap and managed to finish three minutes under my goal time.
It was awesome and it was addicting. I've done three more multi-sport races since and I love it. Despite still having IT Band issues today, I still swam during lunch. I biked for an hour after work and hopped back in the pool to work on some issues with my form. I got out and walked outside to a snow-covered parking lot and suddenly it hit me: I'm doing everything I want to do. I'm truly happy and I'm looking forward to every single day. I'm looking forward to hours of pain in the pool, on the bike and in my running shoes. I'm looking forward to the hours of fun I'll spend with my friends doing each of those things. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be and exactly where I want to be.
14 months ago, I hated running. I hadn't swam laps since I was in middle school. I broke my bike in the first three weeks I was in Colorado and hadn't been on one in a year and a half. Then things changed. I met an amazing person who inspired me to run and it's taken off from there. I soon began to run several times a week. Too much in fact; as I was sidelined for four months with a stress fracture. A friend gave me a bike and I suddenly was reminded of that love for biking that was missing for so long. I hopped in a pool and it wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it was going to be. In fact, after the first couple of days, I found I really liked swimming.
On August 6th, I was in my first race that I can remember. It was a short 1/2 mile swim, followed by a 3.75 mile run. I remember the look on my friends' faces after I got out of the lake. I'm sure they thought I was going to die, I was so exhausted. However, I slowly peeled off my wetsuit and started the run. It quickly caught up with me and within the first mile, I was walking. After a minute or so, I got my breath back and started to run. I went faster each lap and managed to finish three minutes under my goal time.
It was awesome and it was addicting. I've done three more multi-sport races since and I love it. Despite still having IT Band issues today, I still swam during lunch. I biked for an hour after work and hopped back in the pool to work on some issues with my form. I got out and walked outside to a snow-covered parking lot and suddenly it hit me: I'm doing everything I want to do. I'm truly happy and I'm looking forward to every single day. I'm looking forward to hours of pain in the pool, on the bike and in my running shoes. I'm looking forward to the hours of fun I'll spend with my friends doing each of those things. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be and exactly where I want to be.
March 21, 2010
yay for injuries!
My first injury of the year has arrived. I really screwed up my IT Band yesterday. Last year, it hurt occasionally, but never enough that I would have to worry about it or slow down. However, I can barely walk right now thanks to the pain in my knee.
We did a six mile run yesterday through some hills, crevices and other un-even land and the outside of my knee started hurting a little. We took a break because we were planning on doing the same run later in the day. After resting for a couple hours, we started the run again. Within the first mile, my knee started hurting even more, to the point where I had to stop running. I ended up walking about four miles.
After the "run" we had some beers and it started to feel better. However, once I got home and took my shoes off, my knee officially stopped working. I can't move my leg at all without a shooting pain through my knee. I'm going to see if putting shoes on will help support it a little, but right now, walking is pretty tough.
I checked out a few exercises I can do to relieve the pain, so I'll be doing those. It also says take time to let it heal, which sucks. I guess I won't be doing much biking or running over the next few days.
We did a six mile run yesterday through some hills, crevices and other un-even land and the outside of my knee started hurting a little. We took a break because we were planning on doing the same run later in the day. After resting for a couple hours, we started the run again. Within the first mile, my knee started hurting even more, to the point where I had to stop running. I ended up walking about four miles.
After the "run" we had some beers and it started to feel better. However, once I got home and took my shoes off, my knee officially stopped working. I can't move my leg at all without a shooting pain through my knee. I'm going to see if putting shoes on will help support it a little, but right now, walking is pretty tough.
I checked out a few exercises I can do to relieve the pain, so I'll be doing those. It also says take time to let it heal, which sucks. I guess I won't be doing much biking or running over the next few days.
March 7, 2010
1st "tri" out of the way
This morning, my friend Guy and I did our first "tri" of 2010. I put it in quotes, because we're not really sure if we should count it. Let me explain: We left at 6:30 this morning and drove two hours to Fort Collins, CO. The tri was supposed to be an indoor race, with swimming in a pool, biking on trainers and running either laps around their short track or on the treadmill. Instead of going a certain distance, each person gets 15 minutes to swim, 15 to bike and 15 to run. You're then judged based on how far you travel in that 45 minutes.
Once we showed up, we quickly realized this wasn't a triathlon for people who have done races before. Most of the people there were doing it because it was their first tri and they wanted to see if they enjoyed it. There were some people who didn't show up, so instead of going at our 9:00 start time, they moved us up to 8:45. No problem, because we weren't really expecting a lot out of the race, anyway. We spent about 10 minutes sitting in the hot-tub because we were bored waiting for our heat to start.
Finally, we hopped in the water. I was next to a lady who warned me right away that her goggles sucked and she is sorry if she runs into me. Guy shared a lane with someone who didn't look like they had done a lot of swimming. Turns out, my lady never ran into me and Guy only had a few issues with his swimming lady. The pool was a meter pool... the first one I've swam in since I started training. It took a lap or two to adjust to the extra distance in between turns, but it wasn't horrible.
The main issue was the cold I have been fighting lately. It showed up on Friday and I've been drugged up like crazy trying to fight it off. I thought I was going to be fine, but as soon as I started swimming, I could tell breathing was going to be tough. I still managed to win my heat by 50+ meters (I swam 750 meters in 14:50, before they stopped me with 10 seconds left). It's a little less than half a mile. I usually can swim a 1/2 mile in about 14 minutes, so I could tell I was struggling because of breathing.
We climbed out of the pool and made our way to the locker room to change for the bike ride. Guy and I both have clip-in shoes, so we brought those up with us, just in case the trainers worked with our shoes. Mine did, his didn't. The trainers were pretty cool. It had a nice video screen where we could virtually watch ourselves ride a coastal bike trail. We even had to steer our bikes with the handlebars. It was definitely the most realistic bike trainer I've seen. I managed 4.4 miles in my 15 minutes. Not bad, but I would have liked to average at least 18 miles an hour. I'm going to chalk that up to the cold again.
After the bike, Guy and I found treadmills side by side and started running. This was where the cold really kicked in. I struggled to run more than a 10 mile pace because I couldn't breathe. Guy was switching between 6 and 7.5 miles an hour. He kicked it up to 8 for the last three minutes. I stayed around 6 until the last minute, when I sprinted to the end. I only ran 1.5 miles in my 15 minutes, while Guy did 1.79. He's definitely a better runner than I am, mainly because he has focused a lot on running.
After we finished we went downstairs and changed and went to the "raffle." Everyone won something. Guy got a new pair of running shoes and I got a pair of socks. Overall, it wasn't that exciting. We basically paid $15 to do something we can do at our own gym. But it was a fun experience and nice to switch things up compared to just working out at 24-hour fitness everyday.
Once we showed up, we quickly realized this wasn't a triathlon for people who have done races before. Most of the people there were doing it because it was their first tri and they wanted to see if they enjoyed it. There were some people who didn't show up, so instead of going at our 9:00 start time, they moved us up to 8:45. No problem, because we weren't really expecting a lot out of the race, anyway. We spent about 10 minutes sitting in the hot-tub because we were bored waiting for our heat to start.
Finally, we hopped in the water. I was next to a lady who warned me right away that her goggles sucked and she is sorry if she runs into me. Guy shared a lane with someone who didn't look like they had done a lot of swimming. Turns out, my lady never ran into me and Guy only had a few issues with his swimming lady. The pool was a meter pool... the first one I've swam in since I started training. It took a lap or two to adjust to the extra distance in between turns, but it wasn't horrible.
The main issue was the cold I have been fighting lately. It showed up on Friday and I've been drugged up like crazy trying to fight it off. I thought I was going to be fine, but as soon as I started swimming, I could tell breathing was going to be tough. I still managed to win my heat by 50+ meters (I swam 750 meters in 14:50, before they stopped me with 10 seconds left). It's a little less than half a mile. I usually can swim a 1/2 mile in about 14 minutes, so I could tell I was struggling because of breathing.
We climbed out of the pool and made our way to the locker room to change for the bike ride. Guy and I both have clip-in shoes, so we brought those up with us, just in case the trainers worked with our shoes. Mine did, his didn't. The trainers were pretty cool. It had a nice video screen where we could virtually watch ourselves ride a coastal bike trail. We even had to steer our bikes with the handlebars. It was definitely the most realistic bike trainer I've seen. I managed 4.4 miles in my 15 minutes. Not bad, but I would have liked to average at least 18 miles an hour. I'm going to chalk that up to the cold again.
After the bike, Guy and I found treadmills side by side and started running. This was where the cold really kicked in. I struggled to run more than a 10 mile pace because I couldn't breathe. Guy was switching between 6 and 7.5 miles an hour. He kicked it up to 8 for the last three minutes. I stayed around 6 until the last minute, when I sprinted to the end. I only ran 1.5 miles in my 15 minutes, while Guy did 1.79. He's definitely a better runner than I am, mainly because he has focused a lot on running.
After we finished we went downstairs and changed and went to the "raffle." Everyone won something. Guy got a new pair of running shoes and I got a pair of socks. Overall, it wasn't that exciting. We basically paid $15 to do something we can do at our own gym. But it was a fun experience and nice to switch things up compared to just working out at 24-hour fitness everyday.
February 28, 2010
swimming tips from my sister
My sister and I were finally able to get into the pool together so she could give me some tips on improving my form and time. I'm not a horrible swimmer by any means, but I know there are issues with my stroke and she swam for the University of Nebraska-Kearney in college, so I was excited to have someone tell me how to get better. Right away, she was able to point out 3-4 things that I need to work on.
I decided to turn Saturday into a "form" swimming day and just practice keeping good form for 200 meters at a time. It's tough to gauge my speed with the new technique, but I consistently dropped 10 seconds off my 200 time. If I can keep that going for an 800 (sprint distance) and eventually the 1.2 mile swim... I'll be much faster than I currently am. Right now, I can consistently swim a 14 minute 800. At the new pace, I'll be swimming at about a 12 minute pace. I would have never dreamed I could swim that fast this quickly, but I'm looking forward to it.
Another issue I'm having with my training is finding time to add in strength training. I know I need to start lifting weights, but I'm already spending so much time at the gym that I have to severely alter my sleeping/living habits. I really need to get motivated to start getting up at 5:30 and getting in a good workout in the morning and then doing a second workout either at lunch or after work. Strength training will definitely come in handy on the swim and the bike. I don't know if it will make much of a difference on the run, but it definitely can't hurt. I'm hoping to start this new training schedule tomorrow (Monday) but I know I'll find some reason to put it off.
I'm only three months from the half-ironman and I need to kick in my training. I've done a decent job of staying pretty close to schedule for the swim and the bike, but I've dropped off on the run. For some reason I'm almost scared of running for 90 minutes. I've never ran for more than an hour, so it's just a wall I need to get over. I'm just praying for nice weather, because I would much rather run that long outside than in a gym on the treadmill.
I decided to turn Saturday into a "form" swimming day and just practice keeping good form for 200 meters at a time. It's tough to gauge my speed with the new technique, but I consistently dropped 10 seconds off my 200 time. If I can keep that going for an 800 (sprint distance) and eventually the 1.2 mile swim... I'll be much faster than I currently am. Right now, I can consistently swim a 14 minute 800. At the new pace, I'll be swimming at about a 12 minute pace. I would have never dreamed I could swim that fast this quickly, but I'm looking forward to it.
Another issue I'm having with my training is finding time to add in strength training. I know I need to start lifting weights, but I'm already spending so much time at the gym that I have to severely alter my sleeping/living habits. I really need to get motivated to start getting up at 5:30 and getting in a good workout in the morning and then doing a second workout either at lunch or after work. Strength training will definitely come in handy on the swim and the bike. I don't know if it will make much of a difference on the run, but it definitely can't hurt. I'm hoping to start this new training schedule tomorrow (Monday) but I know I'll find some reason to put it off.
I'm only three months from the half-ironman and I need to kick in my training. I've done a decent job of staying pretty close to schedule for the swim and the bike, but I've dropped off on the run. For some reason I'm almost scared of running for 90 minutes. I've never ran for more than an hour, so it's just a wall I need to get over. I'm just praying for nice weather, because I would much rather run that long outside than in a gym on the treadmill.
February 20, 2010
i just want to go run
quick update... it's 10:52 on a saturday night and all i want to do is go run. roads and sidewalks are pure ice right now, so running outside isn't going to happen. i'm still debating if i am actually going to go to the gym and go for a run. it will probably turn into an hour and a half workout session with a nice swim... but i know i will feel great after it.
looks like i just made my decision. i'm off to the gym.
looks like i just made my decision. i'm off to the gym.
February 18, 2010
olympic fever
It's amazing how the Olympics has turned my routine into nothing but work, training, watching tv, and sleeping. I honestly don't really do anything else. I have managed to continue to train and have seen some pretty big gains over the past two weeks.
I took a couple days off because of skiing and having to work long hours, but I was able to get right back into the routine fairly easily. I even managed to get in a mock triathlon at the gym, followed by a 2,000 meter swim the next day. Both of them were a lot easier than I was expecting and a lot easier than when I would do the same thing last summer.
In September, I wouldn't swim more than 1,000 meters in a workout... now I consider 1,500 meters a short swim. I also can easily go run for an hour without getting out of breath or having sore legs. My biking still needs the most work, but I'm managing to ride more and without any pain in my left knee. I'm hopeful I can continue this trend for the next week and a half before training takes an even bigger step up in difficulty.
I took a couple days off because of skiing and having to work long hours, but I was able to get right back into the routine fairly easily. I even managed to get in a mock triathlon at the gym, followed by a 2,000 meter swim the next day. Both of them were a lot easier than I was expecting and a lot easier than when I would do the same thing last summer.
In September, I wouldn't swim more than 1,000 meters in a workout... now I consider 1,500 meters a short swim. I also can easily go run for an hour without getting out of breath or having sore legs. My biking still needs the most work, but I'm managing to ride more and without any pain in my left knee. I'm hopeful I can continue this trend for the next week and a half before training takes an even bigger step up in difficulty.
February 2, 2010
It was a day
No super awesome post today. Biked 18 miles, ran a 5k. I was impressed by the ease of the bike ride and a little underwhelmed by the slowness of the run. That's why I have four more months to get things up to speed.
February 1, 2010
1.25 miles
That's the distance I need to swim in open water without a break. I could probably pull it off now, but it would not be pretty and it would not be fun. Fortunately, I've been able to dominate my swimming training for the past month. After taking a couple months off after my last tri, I knew I would be rusty getting back into the water.
A month ago, I struggled to just swim 800 meters (half-mile) for an entire workout on a consistent basis. Today's swim was 2050 meters (1.27 miles). It's only 100 meters or so further than I'll swim during the race, but it felt really good. Of course, I did get breaks in between sessions, so that helped. And it never hurts knowing all I have to do is stand up if I get ridiculously tired.
Quick summary of today's swim:
Warmup (WU) - 250 meters
Main - 400 meters, 4X100 Meters (Swim 100 Meters 4 times), 300 meters, 3x100, 200 meters, 2x100.
Cool Down - 3x75
I was able to keep a 1:40 per 100 average, which isn't too bad. That would put me at 32.5 minutes to swim the race. My goal is 30-35 minutes, so I'm right on schedule. I swam the 400 in 6:31, which would have put me at 13 1/2 minutes for a half-mile, a personal best. I'm definitely seeing the results of my swim training and it's nice to know I'll be able to reach my goals if I just keep it up.
A month ago, I struggled to just swim 800 meters (half-mile) for an entire workout on a consistent basis. Today's swim was 2050 meters (1.27 miles). It's only 100 meters or so further than I'll swim during the race, but it felt really good. Of course, I did get breaks in between sessions, so that helped. And it never hurts knowing all I have to do is stand up if I get ridiculously tired.
Quick summary of today's swim:
Warmup (WU) - 250 meters
Main - 400 meters, 4X100 Meters (Swim 100 Meters 4 times), 300 meters, 3x100, 200 meters, 2x100.
Cool Down - 3x75
I was able to keep a 1:40 per 100 average, which isn't too bad. That would put me at 32.5 minutes to swim the race. My goal is 30-35 minutes, so I'm right on schedule. I swam the 400 in 6:31, which would have put me at 13 1/2 minutes for a half-mile, a personal best. I'm definitely seeing the results of my swim training and it's nice to know I'll be able to reach my goals if I just keep it up.
January 31, 2010
125 Days
In four months and five days I will be swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 miles and running 13.1 miles. Between now and then, I'll swim, bike and run an unknown amount further than that. This blog will help me keep track of just how far I travel each day.
There will be times where all you'll get is an update on how my body feels after a tough workout. Other times, I'll go in-depth about how laps 14-30 compared to 31-70. Either way, I'll try and keep it interesting.
Thanks for reading and following along. Hopefully, we'll both still be here on June 7th after the half-ironman. :)
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