First Ocean Swim & Life Situations

Finally did my first ocean swim last Saturday with my brother and nephew! While they fished, I swam like a frozen fish! It was coooold!!!!
The wetsuit worked perfectly fine (and the fit is great, by the way!). But just hands, feet and face....brrrrr!!! I was just standing there getting used to the cold for about 10 mins. or so, about 50 yards from the shore (I could almost hear my brother and nephew saying, "and he's joining a race?").
After going back and forth to the shore, I finally decided to swim. It was hard to tell how much I swam because there are no markers, but I assume only about 300 yards total.
This weekend is one of my bottoms in life. Within 3 days, I lost my friendship with my roommate who I felt close as a brother already, was asked to move out of where I was living, and was asked not to come to the church I'm attending. It sucked!
I went out with my brother last Friday night and was burning to tell him everything but wasn't sure how he'll take it, so I decided to wait. But while keeping things in I tried to drown it with...beer. While we were watching the Laker game at a local bar, I decided to drink to ease the pain. Finished 3 bottles before I called someone in the program to tell how like was sucking at that point.
Thank God, a friend offered a room so I'll have a place to stay for now. I haven't told my family yet. Please pray hard for me. Thanks.
It's hard to train when life throws you a curve; you're mind is distracted. I was feeling a little depressed this morning so I overslept. I read my bible to get the feelings away and eventually fell asleep again. When I woke up, I decided to go for a bike ride. Managed to do 30 miles of biking that morning at least.

Fight on!

Planned to swim in the ocean this weekend but couldn't find anybody to go with (my brother promised he'll go with me this long weekend). So was a bit disappointed and had to settle swimming at the local pool. Did 80 x 25 yds. And same thing, a guy in the next lane wanted to show off and outsprint me. Practiced pacing once again and was able to finish my target laps.
Could not get sober and was really discouraged and did not feel like going to a meeting anymore. But I thought to myself, "then what"? So I rode my bike to Starbucks and then eventually to a meeting. Volunteered to lead the meeting, and felt good about it.
When I got home, I invited my roommate to go running and did 6.5 mi. in 67 mins. We sprinted the last half mile or so. It felt good to push it and fight on! I feel like recovery is one of the biggest fight of my life. And I know I can never do it without people, and most specially...God!
Thanks to all the people who God gave me at this time of my life who have made a difference! :-)

Pacing and Advice

Decided to swim in the local pool after work. I read in one triathlon website about being a well-rounded athlete. That I should start having the mindset of a triathlete; not a swimmer, not a biker, not a runner. The article went on to mention a few athletes who didn't finish because, although they were very strong at their own events, they did not pace themselves for the other events.
And so I practiced that today. I really paced myself. A couple of girls joined me on my lane and an adjacent lane. And they were sprinting and there was a temptation to keep up with them. But I had to let them pass me because I had to go farther. I was originally planning to only do 70 x 25 yds. But I was challenged by the girls so I pushed it to 100 x 25 yds.! Felt really good! :-)
At the shower room, I saw a guy with an Ironman tag on his bag and asked if he's ever joined one. Come to find out he's done 4, Arizona, Canada, and others. But not Hawaii yet. Since I wasn't confident if I could do the Olympic distance, I asked him if he thinks I can do it. I honestly told him where I was at in training. He said I have ample time to train. He suggests not downgrading to the Sprint distance and just go ahead with the Olympic distance. Asked him about my wetsuit, aerobars, and the specific triathlon route I'm doing (because he's done it too!). He said the running course is challenging, so I need to start focusing on that.

ten again

This ten mile run was difficult. I was ill prepared and didn't full well know it. The first five went fine. I decided to run at a steady pace, but to truly take in the scenery and enjoy what God provides for me to dwell in as I train. I even took a few photos with my blackberry.








Frank was to do 10 miles to each of my 5 mile loops. So there went my hydration source, as he carries gatorade on his bike. I did not see him again until mile 4 and therefore, did not replenish fluids until then. I need to figure a way around this. I don't like carrying anything in my hands when I run. At the end of mile five I saw a turtle and crouched down to have a closer look. When I stood up, I got so dizzy that I lost my balance and had to sit down right where I was. This was my first sign of being ill prepared, but for some reason, I ignored it. When I started my next five miles, I already felt weak. Listen to your body... right? I considered going to the visitor center and taking a drink of water, but I decided to get this run finished and wait until I saw Frank again. Miles six and seven were manageable. But after that, my muscles started cramping. Frank met me at about mile 8 (about mile marker 3 on this loop) and I told him I was struggling. We only had a little gatorade left of what he carried, so I finished that and he sprinted to the car to get another and meet me back on the trail. He returned near about .25 miles from the finish and I GUZZLED that drink. Big big big mistake. I was nauseous for most of the rest of the evening. We got home just before 5 pm. I didn't feel better til about 9.

Moral of the story: Hydrate! I usually start hydrating the night before a run that is over 6 miles.

I have been slack in weight training. We now have an awesome bench that I need to start using.

Ten again...

Tomorrow... unless there are thunderstorms, I am going to run ten at Manasquan Reservoir again and Frank will likely bike 20. Tuesday I did four miles on the treadmill at the gym and yesterday I did 4.5 miles. I was particularly strong yesterday. I have no idea why but I love when that happens. I was faster and consistent and could've kept going.

I'm still trying to find a realistic training schedule that will work with my work schedule. I'm glad that my work is physical enough so that I don't feel totally lethargic while I'm there. I am not a night person so running at night is not always enjoyable for me. I'm a morning person, but really don't want to get up much earlier- in fact, if I woke up much earlier, it would be night! I guess it's evenings during work days for now...

I'm excited that all of my boys want to run the Pre-Father's Day 5k on June 12th. Charles got running shoes yesterday and we will do his first training run on Sunday. Ethan is another story. We'll work on his endurance but I don't expect him to run the entire thing straight through. He may surprise me though. He has natural endurance.

Parallel Training

Did 90 x 25 yds swimming in 55 mins. (freestyle) and did 20 mi. biking in 1 hr. 20 mins. last night.

I feel like my training is complementing my recovery:

There are nights that I don't want to train, but I just go ahead and do it. There are days I don't feel like going to meetings, but I just go ahead and do it.

I keep on fumbling on my sobriety, I get back on track and try again. I miss my training sched but I try to make up for lost distance in the next training day.

At times I feel the work-out is "muscled" and I'm not doing it right. I feel like there are steps in the program I feel is legalistic and I ain't doing it right either.

In the end, I'm hoping I finish my race...and get well in recovery! :-)

Ten miles.

We went out to Manasquan Reservoir and I ran ten miles for the first time in almost 2 years. I was careful not to be too mindful of my time/pace. It was important just to get it done. To conquer the apprehension and fear of this distance. Frank rode along (well, just ahead, really) for the first 5 mile loop and I challenged him to lap/pass me on his bike during my second loop. He is still new at gear changing on this mountain bike and this was a great place for him to get some practice. He passed me at 3.5 miles, which was 8.5 miles for him. He finished the rest just ahead of me. I felt really good and strong by mile seven. My breathing was regulated and cardio wise, I felt like I could go indefinitely. Sometime soon, when time allows, I'd like to run and see just how far I can go. This makes me think: MARATHON.

Ten miles?

I like to write what I intend to do- this way it makes me accountable.

I plan to run ten miles tomorrow. I ran 5 on tuesday on the boardwalk at night with Frank alongside me on his bike. My knee is a little sore from work so I took it easy tonight and last night. I am carb loading as we speak for tomorrow.

Superhero!

Did 50 x 25 yds swimming after work yesterday. Went to bible talk after that and went home.

I tried the new wetsuit on late last night and a roommate saw me trying it on in the bathroom and said "Dude, I didn't know you were a superhero!" ;-)
It's so tight, I can't even zip it up! I looked online and learned that swimming suits are suppose to be tight tight. And there's actually a technique to putting it on. So I'll try it again before I send it back.

Woke up at 4:00 am, had my quiet time and biked 15 mi. this morning but I felt like it was muscled than enjoyed. I may be doing something wrong. :-(

Sunday 5/2

Today was good. I ran 7 miles on the boardwalk and got a little sunburn but just on my face and shoulders... Frank pulled his bike out of the basement and rode along with me. It's the first time he's been on a bike in years. Of course, it wasn't a work out for him at all, but the distance was long enough for him to get reacquainted with this old familiar friend. I know my pace was slower- because I was mindful of where he was and because the boardwalk was so crowded since this weather causes people to flock to the beach. I plan to run 10 miles on Friday morning at Manasquan Reservoir. It is a five mile loop around the water. I haven't run there in 3 years. There's some trail, road and a little bit of beach in this loop. Should be fun. Frank plans to come along with his bike.

22 days til...

My 10 mile race is on May 23rd. I plan to run 7 miles this afternoon or evening and perhaps 5 or 6 tomorrow. I hope to finish this race with a 9:30 pace or better. We shall see.

Thursday I ran 3.5 on the treadmill at the gym again. I can't bear more than 30 minutes or so on the treadmill anymore. It gets so boring!