Treadmills and Spinning classes

I have become a sucker to the work world. I have to go to the gym instead of actually exercising outside which is much more enjoyable than sweaty, smelly people everwhere. Anyway, I got on the treadmill for thirty minutes yesterday. It wasn't so bad and actually gave me a chance to pick up my pace and see how fast that I really have been running. I did some weight training after that, but no for too long.

I am hitting the spinning class tonight (at the La Jolla gym I might add). I can't handle slow dancing with the bike tonight. After tonight I have to take tomorrow off and let my legs rest up for Saturday morning's little half marathon. I also have a cold that I am hoping to kick so it will not affect my run.

Food for thought: I remember the days when I could go for a run outside and actually get on my bike and ride along the PCH. Because of the time change and my work schedule it is all treadmills and spinning classes for me...

122 days until game time

I need to get on the ball. Only 122 days left unitl the California 70.3...

My training has slacked off the last four or five days. I ran four or five miles on Saturday and took Sunday and Monday off. Made it to the gym after work today for some strength training but should have at least gone for a run today.

I have my half marathon this Saturday. I hope I will be ready. I am shooting for under two hours which is about a 9:20 minute mile. I think I will be alright but need to pick it up. No more slacking from here on out (with the exception of a little trip to Hawaii the third week in December).

Turkey Trot and a new Ironman in Training

The Turkey Trot went better than expected. It took me eleven hours to drive from San Diego to Stockton on Wednesday. No fun... I didn't get much sleep and thought the run would hurt a little. We got to downtown Stockton and ran with all the other Turkey Trotters. My dad and I kept a 8:45 mile pace the whole time, which is pretty good for me. I didn't get tired and it actually felt good to run. I am expecting my half marathon next weekend will go better than Santa Barbara based on how I felt on the Turkey Trot. It was a 10k (6.1 miles)...not a long run but certainly not a walk in the park. The next couple days are off days for me solely because I am not in my element here in Stockton. Golf, food and wine for the rest of the day today.

Sooooo, my dad is the newest Ironman in Training. He has signed himself up for the California 70.3. I am pretty stoked. I now have another person to motivate me. Kristan told me that he will kick my ass. I think she is probably right.



I now have a new goal...to beat the old man in the race.

Fancy spinning

Last night I went with a friend to her gym in La Jolla to check out their spinning class. After my experience with Ghetto spinning (see my posting from last week) this was the complete opposite experience. The gym was really nice; towel service, locker rooms nicer than my bathroom, mouthwash just in case... The spinning class was really good. First of all there were about thirty people in the class which is different from the five to ten that I was used to. Secondly, the music was amazing. He played jam band music the whole time which was a refreshing change from "Whoomp there it is." The class focused on improving your cycling skills as opposed to just being there for exercise. I really enjoyed it.

Too bad I cannot afford to join the fancy gym. Back to the 24 Hour Fitness and "Ghetto spinning" for me...

My weekend: Bike, swim, but no running

I set out early Saturday morning for a thirty to thirty five mile bike ride. It was pretty hard. I had to climb the La Jolla hills and the hill coming back from Del Mar. All that and the thirty or so miles on flat road made for a tiring morning. Three hours later I got home and calculated my ride at over forty miles. I was beat up and tired.

On Sunday I swam 1800 yards (72 laps) and took the rest of the day off. The swimming is getting easier and easier. I don't even really get tired doing it anymore.

I am little upset at myself for not running like I should be. I didn't hit my mileage for the week on my running, although I went over on my bike and swim. I really need to focus all my attention right now on running. I guess with the next couple of races coming up I will be forced to put in the distance...

Foggy run

Kristan woke me up around 5:15 this morning as she had to catch a train up to L.A. for a conference. I decided to get up and go for a run. I am not usually up and running (excuse the pun) at 5:15 in the morning. This morning was extremely foggy and pretty damp. It made for great running weather. When you can't see anything (it was pretty foggy) and don't know how far you have gone it makes the distance seem easier. I got in around five to six miles before work.

I am going to try and stop by the gym on my way home but we have a Thanksgiving Day mixer at work and I am assuming that I will have a beer or three. Beers and the gym don't usually mix well together.

Tomorrow I am attempting my longest bike ride yet. Somewhere between 30 and 35 miles...

Ghetto spinning

Yesterday I started a new job in Lemon Grove. I decided to check out the 24 Hour Fitness in the area b/c I assumed I will be going there frequently after work. Conveniently there was a spinning class that started at 5:30 last night. As I entered the gym the first thing I noticed was that the demographic was a little different. No problem I am thinking...it might be nice to have a little variety from the La Jolla 24 Hour Fitness crowd that I am used to. I go get my spinning bike set up and wait for the class to start.

Three songs in the instructor tells us that we are going to "break it down" and have a "slow dance" with the bike. The next thing I know I am spinning to Mary J. Blige or R. Kelley and "breaking it down" on the bike. Now this is not what I am used to when I go to an average spinning class. I am usually accosted with some techno songs during a spinning class (which is fine) but not Def Jam's greatest hits. The rest of the class was a mixture of "Whoomp! there it is" and whatever Christina Aguilera song is popular at the moment. It definitely made for a little variety in my spinning class.

I tried to wake up early this morning and run but fell asleep after my alarm went off. Hopefully I will have time to fit in three or four miles after work...

Run, run, run

Started off the day with a relatively long run, not a jog, but an actual run. I ran along Mission Bay and back home along the boardwalk for a total of eight miles. It rained on me a bit but was actually kind of nice. I picked up my pace and it felt good running (well it hurt a little bit). After taking a few days off from running I definitely noticed the difference.

Went to the gym for forty-five mintes after lunch. I was still tired from my run and it was not very fun...

Ford Ironman 70.3 Championships

The inaugural 70.3 Ironman championships in Clearwater were held last Saturday. It would be pretty fun to qualify for that one. It is not as sweet as Kona, but would be a pretty close second. The winning times were pretty ridiculous.

Women 1. Samantha McGlone 27:29 2:21:33 1:20:22 4:12:58

Men 1. Craig Alexander 24:08 2:05:34 1:12:43 3:45:37

Started the day with an 1800 yard swim (72 laps) at La Jolla high. Just working on the distance and not so much on speed right now. That will come later...



Immediately went on a short bike ride, about 10 - 15 miles. Felt good on the bike. I am getting used to the clip-ins and the feel of riding a tri bike. It is a little different than riding around on a beach cruiser through Isla Vista, although not quite as much fun.

Tomorrow I run...

Aerobars O Aerobars

I went for my first long bike ride this morning. I rode between 20 and 25 miles from La Jolla to Encinitas and back. It was actually a blast and not as hard as I thought it would be. I was weary of using the aerobars throughout my ride. However, as I soon found out they are amazing. It actually is a very comfortable position to ride in and definitely cuts down on the wind drag. I loved it!

Tried to stop by the La Jolla pool and fit some laps in on my way home but it was closed due to a water polo game. I will spend some serious time on my swimming tomorrow. Went for a run when I got home and only made it around the block. My calves are soooo sore I can't run. Hopefully tomorrow they will be better. If not I guess I can wait until Monday to do my long run...

Off to the backyard for some sun and maybe a late afternoon glass of Chardonnay.

Vineman!

Well I may be getting ahead of myself but I have committed to the Vineman on July 27, 2007. I had better be in shape by that time next year after having competed in all the events I have planned. It is shaping up to be a busy year...

Today is an off day for me. My legs need a little break to prepare for the weekend. I couldn't sleep this morning so I got out of bed and went to the gym around 5:15 this morning. At least I got a little strengthening in today. Kristan thinks I am crazy and is starting to say I am obsessed. I think she might be right...about the crazy part anyway.

Does surfing count as training?

There was supposed to be a decent swell today so I had to forego any swimming and take it to the ocean today. I surfed for a while this morning. The waves were nothing special, but it was good to be in the water.

Went for a six mile run when I got home and took the rest of the day off. I kept a pretty good pace on the run and didn't tire as much as I thought I would.

I am looking forward to a good weekend of training. A long bike ride on Saturday and a long run, hopefully ten miles, on Sunday with a few miles in the pool in between. We'll see...

Training Log 11/08/06

Woke up early and went for a short two mile run. Still feeling a little sore after the half marathon last Saturday. It made me realize I need to focus on my running more.



Went to the gym to work on strengthening and ended up doing a 60-minute spinning class. The legs felt a little stiff. Most of the reading I have been doing reiterates the need to focus on your core and strenghten those legs with weights. So, after spinning I lifted weights for 45-minutes and called it a day.

Where to begin...

Hello all... I have decided to track my training on-line for my recent interest in triathlons. My goal with all of this is to one day complete a full length Ironman. At this point I have done two half marathons and an Olympic distance triathlon. My times in these races were nothing to brag about and are considered pathetic by some. Hopefully that will change with more training...

A few friends of mine and I have signed up for a half Ironman taking place on March 31, 2007. The training that I am currently doing is supposed to be preparing me for that race among other smaller ones in between. I am sure this will be read by no one other than friends and family, but rest assured I will at least complete the races that I have set out to do.

Hopefully this will be a good source for you to track my training and to motivate me...

Ironman in Training