TRI-RACE WEEK #1

This weekend is my first outdoor Tri of the season. It falls right at the end of my first 10 weeks of training. I looked at my times from last year and I think they will be hard for me to beat. Reasons are that I am heavier especially around the waist and I haven't ran anything fast. I have no goals except to have a good training day. (Sounds like a cop out if I do bad doesn't it?) I just know where I am at.

Last night Tri-Sharkie, Snips, and I went down to Centennial Beach where the swim is for the Tri. The race sent out an email suggesting to wear a wetsuit due to the water temp. Amazingly, I fit into it. The water felt icy. We swam back and forth in the open water deep end. Damn, it was so much harder than I remembered.

I suddenly have this great desire not to race and just have a regular training weekend.

Waddling to get ready for the weekend..............

I just got back from my longest ride(38miles) so far this year. It was one of the best also. Iron Snoopy and Flipper were my biking buddies. We headed out at 6am. Great temperature and no wind. My legs felt like lead for the first 5 miles. I am beginning to believe that Flipper is wearing a shirt that says "Hit me" on it. The past several rides she has had some close calls with cars. Today it was a huge piece of farm equipment that almost flattened all of us. The highlight of the ride was Iron Snoopy singing her favorite country song. As we finished, Flipper rolled into the parking lot first. I turned in and looked up and Flipper was down. Doesn't count since I did not see the fall.

I did my 3000 swim on Thursday. It took me 1:33. In January, my time was 1:44. WooHoo!

Waddling to lunch with Bino............

"I know what is going on..." said the doctor after me describing to her things that bother me. What is going on is something called Metabolic Syndrome. It is a combination of several things: high blood pressure, borderline diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain in the mid section. I have all these. The 2 things that I need to do is go on a diabetic diet and exercise more. (How do you exercise more than train for an Ironman??) I sent away for several books that the doctor suggested and had more bloodwork done. I am relieved that I have an answer to several questions.

After a great weekend, it is time to get training back on track. Masters swim is on break this week and I have homework from Coach. It is a 3,000m timed swim. Tomorrow is the day for that.

Waddling to rest for a big swim..............

There are not enough adjectives to describe the wonderful day today. The emotions of watching your child graduate and become a young adult is overwhelming. I can't even find the words to tell you about the day but I will let the photos speak for themselves.

My dad and Hooch ---what a photo

Waddling like a proud parent............

GRADUATION WEEKEND

This weekend is Hooch's Graduation from high school. I drove to Ohio yesterday and picked up my dad so he could celebrate with us! I hope to share some photos and stories from a great weekend!

Waddling to watch our daughter.............

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY !

As I sat outside and drank my morning Diet Mountain Dew, I was thankful for all the freedoms that we share. I had packed up 4 bikes on my Jeep and was waiting for friends to go meet others for a group ride. Where else can you be as luck as us?

This mornings ride was organized by Coach for riders from beginners to mid pack to speed-demons. Snips had never ridden a road bike so she was going to ride Silver. Sniggles (previously Running Ugly) was going to ride Skipper(my hybrid) then try Silver. Kandy had always ridden a hybrid but was going to ride my son Bino's road bike. It was going to be quite a test drive.

Coach gave all the beginners a quick lesson in Biking 101. It was time to mount up and take off with the goal of riding 18 miles. The first 4 miles were cruising. Coach did a great job of going up and down the line checking on everyone. At the first stop, coach asked everyone to take a look at the flag that was straight out because that was the wind we would be riding into on the return.

To the right is Sniggles(yellow) and Snips.

When we were about 7 miles out, I knew where we were headed and the hills that would be coming. Snips, Sniggles and I broke off from the group and headed back. The wind was unbelievable. With 5 miles left to go, Sniggles switched to the road bike unwillingly. There was a fear in her eyes. She overcame this and rode it all the way back to the car. Both Snip and Sniggles did an excellent job on their first group ride. We had alot of laughs and fun today.

Waddling to relax for the rest of the day....................

QUESTION FOR A FRIEND

My friend (Running Ugly) is getting a bike of her choice for her birthday. She has run several marathons and halves. She is now interested in biking and doing a triathlon next year. This was her question to me (and now to you) :
Should I get a road bike or a hybrid?

She is intimadated by the road bike somewhat because my first year on my road bike I wrecked on 50% of my rides. I was slow to get the hang of clipping in. I know what my advice was but what do you think?

Waddling while waiting for advice..............