I Swim , Bike , Run. The rest of the time I work on data systems
My countdown clock tells me it is 115 days to ironman lake placid.
Here is more than the 4 point checklist triathletes describe.
1. Bike faster
2. Bike longer
3. Build run speed to sub 7 pace
4. Do brick runs at 8min pace
5. Swim swim
6. Contact charity and get stuff going
Ok so not 4 points and not all simple. But let’s get this done. Tomorrow is 114 days
I am the first to admit that I am in a downward spiral. Beyond discussing personal, work stuff on a public forum I would rather discuss the athletic downward spiral.
I have 23 weeks to ironman . Yes the 2nd ironman in 2 years and 23 weeks left to prepare. Where did all the time go. For the last couple of weeks training has been lack luster to non-existent. Mainly because I didn’t workout . Yes the horror. I didn’t workout. I just didn’t feel like it. I worked out a couple of times (2-3) /week but nothing consistent and nothing hard. So how the hell am I thinking I will be preparing for this ironman.
Yes by all accounts I should start to freakout. I should start to wonder what the hell I am planning to do . But like everything else I have learnt from years of racing. I need a plan. I need to be organized and after that I need to execute.
The one thing I can say is that I can’t lose a single day between now and ironman. EVERY DAY COUNTS.
So I have been lazy for the lazy couple of days. Before and after the trip to lake plaicd just did not feel like working out. Maybe it was the 2feet of snow outside or the bitter cold. Just was several stop and go times.
So after getting back I decided with 158 days to go to ironman, I have got to make every day count from now to the race. That means every run, bike and yes even swim. Yesterday was the first day back and I had pretty good brick workout . Biked 90mins @190watts and then finished with a solid 20min run at 8:30 pace.
So now I have to do better. No matter what the curve balls with life , logistics are there is a race on july 24 and I need to be on the start line.
Yes only Rhian would think of going hiking in the middle of winter. To be fair I don’t mind going either, but I am much bigger wuzz when it comes to the cold weather. Given the choice I would prefer not to do anything in the cold. I have to explain that as opposed to other people I talk to it takes me forever to warm-up when working out in the cold. For example most people warm up after a 10min jog in the cold , for me it takes a good 40mins to warm up, 30min if I am doing a hard run.
Anyway so we had decided we wanted to hiking in the winter. We have all the right grear. And it is a perfect time to do 1-2 of the 4600′ peaks in the adirondacks. Also we have been itching to try our crampons , ice-picks . Yes only us ! we enjoy gear that could kill us.
The lake placid trip was planned as quick in and out over feb14 th weekend. Yes valentines day , if you believe in the hallmark popularized holiday which is based on a possible fictional saint — will discuss in another post. Continue reading “Lake Placid Trip”
My reading habits had gone down the tube for the last couple of years. I really just didn’t want to read a paperback on the train. It was just too cumbersome. We Rhian decided to get me kindle. YAY! I had been debating getting it for a while.
As it turns out . I love it. Already read a couple of books on it. Really like the fact I can browse directly from the device and buy the book. Who needs to go to the bookstore. I always have it in my bag, so no more “I forgot my book” . Just wish the device had better web browsing, but I guess that is why we have an ipad.
Rhian and I had been debating going skiing to vermont for a couple of days. I was off work starting the 27 and so was she. Now it was matter of getting the logistics correct. We finally decided to go up to killington for 2 days.
The first days was cold and cloudy. The top of the mountain was completely covered with low clouds. We skied mostly on snowdon it has some good blue runs going down.
The next day it was great weather. The sun was out. You could see to the horizon. We did the main face of killington skiing most of the day till we had to drive back home.
I told myself I would continue with my planned workouts throughout the holidays. I think that continued for about 3 days and then skipped a couple. Why of Why. I was doing good. I was getting some speed, some endurance. And now we have 2 days of this eating festival.
So in lieu of my mediocre vdot test decided to go have some kati rolls and beer. Since my last time in the city with the tri-team I figured out the blind tiger ale house is about 2 blocks from the kati roll place in the village. Now that was a combo waiting to happen beer followed by kati rolls and then repeat. Rhian had the day off so she was able to go into the city early. I on the other hand was still dealing with a major office move and all its related stuff. I barely managed to escape the office by 6:00 . Called azfar and figured he would be game for good un-healthy food. Met him in GCT. And went down to the village.
If you haven’t experienced the blind tiger ale house. You should. Recommended by one of the biggest micro-beer aficionados I know. It lives upto the hype. Some of the most difficult to find brews are found in the small bar of the village. After a glass each we all decided to go down to have kati rolls. Now if you haven’t experienced this , kati rolls are thin fried bread wrap which can have your choice filling (usually minced meat) . Yes I know I should be on a diet for triathlons but seriously how BORING! . I managed to have 4 of these wonderfully un-healthy wrap (And yes I did do my training justice in that meal) . After that followed by some gelato now that I would have to say is a nyc meal. multi-cultural , ethnic and still a good dam un-healthy combination on all counts! .
I laughed so hard when a teammate sent me this video. This reminds me of so many conversations with friends, family , co-worked. It is the same quizzical look I get every time when I explain what I do. And I care to dispute the sex portion.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03dFMG8nR4 [/youtube]
Started my run focus block this week. Or atleast that is what I keep telling myself.
Now I have to run 4 days/ week. With 1 day being repeats of 100, 200, 400 meters to build that top end speed. The goal run my 5k in sub 20.