Dow hits 13,000 as I hit the couch

The Dow Jones industrial average hit an all time high passing the benchmark "13,000" today (for those of you who care about such things) as I have been hitting the couch and not doing any exercise. I sort of forgot that I have another Half Ironman looming out there in July. It has been nice waking up on Saturdays and not having to go exercise for four hours. It has also been nice knowing that I can stay up a little later on Friday nights knowing that I do not have to wake up and go through the painstaking process of running 13 miles or biking to Encinitas and back.



Actually, just writing this is making me kind of miss it a little bit. I need to get motivated again and get back on the horse or my chances of finishing the Vineman will soon disappear. I am resuming my training today. Yoga after work and then a run tonight!

Video

Newport Beach tri member made a video of our California 70.3 experience. Click on the link below to check it out... I am starting to miss the exercise as wierd as that may seem. I am going to attempt a long run this Friday and see if I have anything left...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxVDOsMRSgk

Taking a break

I am taking a well-deserved break from all the training. I think I might actually go surfing again. I will continue to post my ridiculous and often quirky stories about how I perceive things from time to time...so if you are interested keep checking in.



I think I will resume training around June to see if I can get ready for the Vineman.

California Half Ironman 70.3

Well I survived...barely. My time 6:43:41.

Swimming, 1.2 miles, 00:38:14

The swim is probably my favorite and easiest part. However, that does not mean that it is a walk in the park by any means. They broke us up in age groups and mine went last. My age group had pink swim caps (which was pretty awesome).



They had us swim out to the start line and tread water until the gun went off. People start swimming and you are getting kicked and hit from all around you. I got punched in the face at one point. I am trying to tell myself that it was an accident but I am still convinced the guy had a closed fist when he hit me. Anyway, there are a few hundred people around me trying to drown me as I swim toward the finish line.

I got out of the water and got prepared for the bike.

Bike, 56 miles, 03:25:07

I was exhausted and a little disoriented after the swim. It took about five miles to get my head in gear on the bike. Once I realized what I was doing I had fifty miles to go. I kept a pretty slow but consistent pace throughout the bike ride. At around mile 30 there was a pretty gnarly hill (well it was more like a mountain) that we had to climb. A lot of the people got off and walked their bikes but yours truly powered through. At around mile 45 it got flat again and we headed back out to the ocean where the run was to take place. It seemed great to be on flat ground again but for the strong onshore head wind keeping me from enjoying any of this bike ride.



I made it to the end and was DONE. I was soooo exhausted I had absolutely no idea how I was supposed to run a half marathon.

Run, 13.1 miles, 2:30:14

I started out on the run absolutely exhausted. I started jogging (actually it was more like a fast shuffling of the feet) and was thinking to myself that there was no way I was going to finish this thing. At mile 3 I wanted to die. At mile 6 I wanted to cry. At mile 8 I cried. At mile 10 I cried some more. At mile 12 I thought about quitting but at this point I couldn't let the pain win.

Finally, I came around the corner and saw the finish line. I was so excited I forgot how tired I was and started picking up my pace. This turned out to be a bad thing b/c my legs began to cramp up so bad I can't explain the feeling in words. I crossed the finish line and was very, very, very happy to be done.



All in all it was a very good experience but I swore I would never do another one. After a few days I have already somewhat forgot how horrible of an experience that it was and am looking forward to my next race...

By the way, my dad beat Paul Davies and I by 30 minutes. Good job!!!