Sleep

So I had my Sleep consultation this afternoon and after having my right nostril violated by a long scope like thing I have to have a sleep test.

So I get to spend next Monday night hooked up to wires while I sleep at the clinic. If the test is positive then I will have to do it again with the mask.

Yeah so hopefully I will find out why I wake u 2-3 times a night.

Fun...

I am sure my Insurance hates me ...

Yearly Physical

So I had my yearly physical today... and sorry to disappoint some of you but I am going to make it.

Now I am not a hypochondriac but since I have insurance I figure I might as well use it. Plus I wanted (and got) a note so I can get a sleep study done, because waking up 1-2 times a night for the past few months is getting out of hand. I also wanted to make sure everything was working properly and get an idea of how far I need to go with my personal training I have been doing. Speaking of which I couldn't walk comfortably from Thursday to Saturday due to the lunges I had to do. Of course I get to do them again this Wednesday. Had the 3rd session this evening and so far I am not feeling it ...we will see about in the morning though.

Well I need to get a few things done around the house before heading to bed...4:20am comes early.

PAIN...GOOD!

Top 5 songs about Pain that I can think of right now:
1 Jimmy Eat World: Pain
2. Three Days Grace: Pain
3. Dinosaur Jr: Feel the Pain
4. Faster Pussycat: House of Pain
5. Chevelle: Send the Pain Below


So I have now had 2 sessions with my personal trainer and let me tell you tonight she kicked my butt.

My legs are aching and sore and so are my arms...and then she made me do planks...those are tough.

After my hour sessions was up I walked around the track for about 10 minutes before hitting the ArcTrainer for 45 minutes ...then I went and did the Master's Swim which also was tough not only because I was sore from the personal training but I had not been in the pool since before my last race. I have just been doing a lot of spinning lately as I seem to have no life what so ever.

Anyway .. off to bed so I can wake up a few times during the night ...going to Spin in the morning is going to be a "Can I move in the Morning" call

5 Year Plan

So it has bee almost a month since my last race of the season.

Since then I have mainly been doing Spinning classes in the morning and evening. I have also plateaued with my weight loss which has been rather frustrating.

Starting Monday I am getting back on the horse...I have my first session with my Personal Trainer whom I met and talked to this evening before Spin class. This is going to be good because not only will I start working on strength training but I will have someone there making sure I do it correctly and efficiently.

I think a large part of the last few weeks is that I don't have a race coming up until next year so the idea that I need to be training seriously and there is no deadline. In college and grad school I always worked better when I had a set date that I had to have a project finished.

So I have decided to set a goal of completing an Iron Man Triathlon in 2013. That give me more than enough time to get in shape and gradually increase the length of races that I do in order to build up to the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile Bike, and 26.2 mile run. If I keep on track then by the time I am 35 I will achieve this goal.

Will it happen...I hope but who knows...We all know how well the 5 plans worked for the Communists.

Not With a Bang but a Whimper

This is the way the season ends Not with a bang but a whimper.*
*Apologies to T.S. Eliot, "The Hollow Men"

I am hereby declaring an end to Season 1:


Overall it was a good season...little did I know I was going to catch the Tri bug like I did. I originally thought that after the PineBush I would find a new hobby to distract myself from this boring life I have. I wish it hadn't have ended like it did with the last race being canceled but I have beat that dead horse enough and no one likes to hear a whinner.

So over the season I have
-dropped 25 lbs
-got back into riding a bike after 13 or so years
-swam the Lake Placid Iron Man course
-got some really cool t-shirts (the real reason)
L-R: Triclub shirt, Pinebush, Fantastic Nantasket, Buzzard's Bay*
*recieved my goodie bag from Buzzard's Bay race in the mail(shirt is XXL I thought I had ordered an XL)

But there is no off season here...I am going to start working with a personal trainer here in the next few weeks so I can be ready for when tri club starts up in January...ie drop another 20 lbs, build up muscles and

I have learned what works well and not so well giving me no excuses next year.

Wake me up when December ends*
*Apologies to Green Day

25 Mile Bike Ride

So this morning I did the NERAC 25 mile bike ride here in Conn.

I had a Continuing education Spinning class in Hamden yesterday and my brother and his wife were planning on doing the 60 mile ride so needing something to do I did the 25 mile ride.

This is about the same length as an Olympic distance triathlon bike and aside from the rain and the cold it was okay. It took me about 2 hrs and 15 min. part of which was partly due to the rain and the fact that I forgot to change the lenses in my cycling glasses to something lighter and the fact that they had rain on them.

I almost felt like I could have run off the bike but my knee was hurting and I was cold and wet.

Apology and more Pics

Yeah...so I probably should have not posted while I was angry the other day...I have changed the title but still stand behind the rest of the post.

anyway...

The following are the pictures are ones the race coordinators had out on the course...I did not purchase these...viewed them on the website and then used the print screen button.




These pictures make it look like I know what I am doing....

"Get a picture of the guy walking"
That thing about looking like I belonged there...not in these pictures...




Download these and flip through them fast it looks like I am moving....





still have to go through the "lost and found section" so maybe there are more

Craptastic!!!

Well as if I didn't need even more proof that God hates me!

Last night I got home around 9pm from the gym (I did the Spin Class to keep my legs loose) and when I got home I basically just made sure I had everything I needed for Sunday, loaded it in the car and then went to bed. So I woke up this morning about 8:30, loaded the bike on the car (trying not to get stung by the bees which have made a nest in garage beside the car), and got on the road so that I could check in here at the Holiday Inn Express before heading down to pick up my race packet which is about a 30 minute drive from here. Now I had been keeping a eye on the weather throughout the week and figured it might be raining tomorrow during the race at the least. So after driving 3 1/2 hours (through rain) and getting to the hotel, checking in and unloading the car, I was getting ready to head down and pick up my stuff for the race tomorrow but figured I should check my email in case there was some more information about packet pick up this afternoon. Instead I find the following email:
So long story short...I have already drove 3.5 hours, paid for the hotel room, and there is no race.

Did I mention I was pissed off???

No Rest for the Weary

So this morning my legs were finally back to feeling normal (my knee on the other hand is a different story)...which is good since I have to race again on Sunday at the

After work I swam for about 45 minutes at the Y to keep the arms loose and to practice starting from floating in the water. I am heading over Saturday morning, spending the night and racing in the morning...I will be going over all by my lonesome...not that this is anything new since this is apparently my lot in life.

I plan to drive the bike course and check everything out Saturday afternoon. I will have the race preview up Saturday night as usual. Still not sure if I am going to push myself or just run the race as a simulator. It will depend on how I feel. Well off to bed soon, going to do the Yoga class before work and then an easy Spin after work before I check to make sure everything is still packed for the race

Fantastic Nantasket Beach Triathlon Race Report: Part Duex

And Now the Rest of the Story....

The Bike
Distance: 10 miles

The bike leg of the race went about as I expected it to go. I was glad I had ridden the course back during Labor Day weekend because it gave me an idea where I was distance wise. I also noticed that it looked as though they had patched some of the spots in the road. I did my fair share of passing but for the most part was passed but mainly by those with areobars so I didn't feel that bad. I was able to maintain a decent cadence and pace...I even passed about 3 or 4 people going up the slight hill about the middle of the course. They did change the end of the course slightly but nothing too major and before I knew it I was back to the transition area.
Total Bike Time: 34 minutes 37 seconds
Overall 297/500
Clydesdale Division: 27/42

Transition 2
My Transition 2 time was somewhat respectable ... Had I set my running shoes on the side where I had the extra room to move it would have been quicker, that and had I not almost spit back up the PowerAde I drank. I decided to stick with the bike jersey instead of dealing with the t-shirt. I was going to wear a t-shirt with a design I commissioned but the guy didn't finish the design in time. So after pulling the running shoes on and grabbing my run belt with my number I headed out of the transition area.
Total Transition 2 Time:1 minute 46 seconds

Run
Distance: 3 mile beach run

So coming out of the transition area you had to run down the side walk and then down the sea wall ramp to the beach.


Once on the beach I tried to settle into a nice pace but like last time I ended alternating walking and running. I think part of it was running on the sand the other part was there no clear run out/run back lane divider . It is sad when you are getting passed by a 65 year old (ages marked on the back of leg) but hey whatever. After making the turn around I tried going longer stretches of running and shorter walk breaks. When I saw the Bath House and the crowd coming up I decided no more walking...


As I got closer you could hear the crowd cheering everyone on and I even heard my crew. As I got closer there were a group of little kids wanting high fives so I obliged...
So I finally was close to the finish line
And of course I had to run up the ramp to the sea wall...and like my coach said "we spit on hills" so I did ...not that I had a lot of spit on my mouth by then.


After making it to the top it was just ~10 feet to the finish so I burned the rest of the tank.
and the guy in front of me stops right in front after he crossed the line and entered the chute. And what they say is true, an overweight object in motion tends to stay in motion and can't immediately stop so I bumped into the guy but it was all cool.

Total Run Time: 32 minutes 51 seconds
Overall 427/500
Clydesdale Division: 31/42

OVERALL TIME: 1 hour 25 minutes 18 seconds
Overall 427/500
Clydesdale Division: 25/42


So after doing the hardest part of the race....getting the timing chip off my leg... I headed over to my friends then realized there was banannas and stuff like that so went over and grabbed some nurishment before packing up to leave.

Overall it was a great race. Liked the transition setup with marked areas instead of first come, first serve. I plan to do Fantastic Nantasket Beach Triathlon again next year.

Special thanks to Craig and Allison for taking pics & to Beth and Rebecca for coming out to watch and cheer.

Fantastic Nantasket Beach Triathlon Race Report

After waking up around 6:45 am after another great night of waking up multiple times, I arrived at the race about 7:30 and began to setup my transition area. I like this transition area better than the Pinebush since everybody had a space already marked for them. I laid out everything and talked to the other guys who were setting up around me. Like last time I had (and was he only one there who had a balloon marking where my gear was setup. This time I went with a Beer Mug...

So after setting up and saying hello to Craig, Allison, Beth, & Rebbecca who had come to watch me and take these pictures.

The Wookie in the Wetsuit.

I headed down to the beach to test the water ...which was so f'ing cold even with the wetsuit. A fact which I had to come back and report to the crew.


So I headed back down to the water where everyone was gathering for the race to start. I was talking this lady who thought she had seen me at Ironman Florida...she was also tellling me how she did this race last year and the waves were like 3 - 5 feet tall and it was almost impossible to get off the beach.


(I am in the red cap just to the right of the orange buoy and she is in the white cap)

So finally it was time to get the race underway. I was in the second heat this time so it was better than being last to get started.

The Swim
Distance: 1/4 mile

I think I was in the largest heat of the race as you can see it was crowded out there. I know going out I dove right in between two people as I went under a wave.



Like last time I got hit in the head a few times but also got some shots in myself...I know I landed a nice solid kick as I was starting. It was hard to find a good rhythm to swim and I really didn't even worry about sighting the bouys because I was trying to stick to the outside edge of the pack. There were a few times I had to switch over to breaststroke when I got behind someone and had to wait for an oppertune time to pass. Overall I really wasn't feeling the swim...I think it might have been the colld and the fact that my mouth was getting salty....yeeech!

As soon as I could touch I was alternating between pushing off the bottom till I got aboust waist deep then I stood up and started working on getting the wetsuit unzipped. After exiting the water and getting the wetsuit top off I started to head out of the water. I was still trying to find my legs as I ran up the beach and the ramp to the sea wall which is why I look like I am in pain.
Total Swim Time: 12 minutes 4 seconds
Overall 167/500
Clydesdale Division: 10/42

Transition 1
So the biggest challenge was getting the wetsuit off quickly. Luckily no one was on the left side of me so I had a bit of extra room to work with which was good. Had I known tis I would have laid out my gear differently but I made do.

Not having to put socks on saved me a lot of time. So after dressing and grabbing my other gear and a swig of Powerade Zero I was headed out of the transition area...


Total Transition 1 Time: 4 minutes 2 seconds
Coming out of the transition area was a bit crowded and the bike mount line wasn't all that well marked so I had to wait til I had room to maneuver and not fall on my ass.

but once I got going it was not that bad...


The Bike
Distance: 10 miles

Unfortunately you are going to have to tune in tomorrow for the rest of the report.....