The two books I ordered came in today. First is beIRONfit by Don Fink. Second is Triathlon Swimming Made Easy by Terry Laughlin. This is the book that is supposed to teach you how to swim from square one. I will probably be through both books by the end of the weekend. If anyone wants to borrow, let me know.
Second, there's this comment button on the bottom of each of my posts, use it!!! I've gotten a lot of feedback, most of it second hand through G. Writing this blog isn't exactly work, but it's a lot easier when I know people are reading it. The way I see it, a bribe is in order, a two parter.
Back in early September I went up to hodag country to harvest wild rice. What's a hodag you ask? Good question, apparently in Rhinelander there is so little to keep people occupied they feel the need to make up mythical creatures and name town events after them. Anyway, the rice is back from the drying and cleaning place, and we have a lot of it. So to all out there reading this, I'm willing to share the harvest with any that are willing to leave comment. Be funny, be critical, be supportive, be stupid, I don't care, but comment, and the bounty of hodag country will be yours as well.
Second I've added a "tentative race schedule". I'll actually make dinner (with or without wild rice) for the first person (and their family) who commits to joining me in a race, either on my schedule or an event of your choosing. I'm trying to keep training interesting and diverse, so events out of the ordinary will receive special consideration. I'm also looking for suggestions for events to fill out the schedule.
I think that's it. I need to go eat, again.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Work Commute
Last night I decided I would ride the bike home from work tonight. Seemed like a good idea, so I loaded bike in the truck this morning, got all my riding crap together and headed off to work. Trouble is, it got cold and windy today. Cold enough I thought riding home in shorts would be too much. So on my way back from Verona I stopped off at REI for some pants and a warmer top. Enter ubber dork.
I left with a pair of lined black tights and a fleece type top long enough to hopefully cover my ass. How much of a dork did I feel like. I got dressed in the parking lot at work, rode out a side entrance of the AEC parking lot, and hoped like hell I made it home before the wife and kids. To top it off, I kept my head down while in the vicinity of my old office hoping nobody would see me. But warm and comfortable I was.
Either the padding in the ass of these tights aren't as good as my shorts, or the longer ride took it's toll, but my ass is sore. Ride ended up being 19 miles, and I was wiped out at the end, pretty much crawled up even the smallest hills. Luckily, I never really went directly into the wind, and had it somewhat behind me most of the way. All that said, my average speed was (drum roll please) almost 13 mph. Definitely wind aided. Probably would have been an average speed of 6 or 7 mph if I had to do it the other way with that wind. Likely a shorter ride again tomorrow afternoon.
I left with a pair of lined black tights and a fleece type top long enough to hopefully cover my ass. How much of a dork did I feel like. I got dressed in the parking lot at work, rode out a side entrance of the AEC parking lot, and hoped like hell I made it home before the wife and kids. To top it off, I kept my head down while in the vicinity of my old office hoping nobody would see me. But warm and comfortable I was.
Either the padding in the ass of these tights aren't as good as my shorts, or the longer ride took it's toll, but my ass is sore. Ride ended up being 19 miles, and I was wiped out at the end, pretty much crawled up even the smallest hills. Luckily, I never really went directly into the wind, and had it somewhat behind me most of the way. All that said, my average speed was (drum roll please) almost 13 mph. Definitely wind aided. Probably would have been an average speed of 6 or 7 mph if I had to do it the other way with that wind. Likely a shorter ride again tomorrow afternoon.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Bi-Day
As in biathlon or duathlon, get your minds out of the gutter. Du-day didn't sound any better, so bi it is, was. That said, today was a dual "workout" day.
This morning I got up and walked just under 5-miles. Knees are still aching from last week, so I'm going to put off attempting to run for a while. Nothing really worth noting. Felt good to get out again.
This afternoon I squeezed in a 6-mile ride between work and picking up the kids. Windy as hell out, but I never really had to go straight into it, mostly road north/south, perpendicular to the wind. Despite my best efforts to keep a decent pace. I once again managed (any guesses) just 12 miles an hour on this short ride. Perhaps mountain bikes have a governor of sorts limiting their maximum speed. Or maybe it's just me.
On the bike note, we did stop and look at tri-bikes last week. The particular bike I'm looking for (Felt S32 or S22, whichever is the cheaper of the two) is not to be found in Madison. Milwaukee has several dealers. Going to look there next. I'm curious what differences I'll see between the mountain bike and the road bike. It's been at least 16 years since I've been on a road bike. Should be interesting.
This morning I got up and walked just under 5-miles. Knees are still aching from last week, so I'm going to put off attempting to run for a while. Nothing really worth noting. Felt good to get out again.
This afternoon I squeezed in a 6-mile ride between work and picking up the kids. Windy as hell out, but I never really had to go straight into it, mostly road north/south, perpendicular to the wind. Despite my best efforts to keep a decent pace. I once again managed (any guesses) just 12 miles an hour on this short ride. Perhaps mountain bikes have a governor of sorts limiting their maximum speed. Or maybe it's just me.
On the bike note, we did stop and look at tri-bikes last week. The particular bike I'm looking for (Felt S32 or S22, whichever is the cheaper of the two) is not to be found in Madison. Milwaukee has several dealers. Going to look there next. I'm curious what differences I'll see between the mountain bike and the road bike. It's been at least 16 years since I've been on a road bike. Should be interesting.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Cross Training
G and I had the last week off, and with the nice weather you'd think I would have put a few miles on the bike. But it wasn't to be. Instead I did a lot of cross training. I sided the shed. Not exactly high heart rate activity, but on my feet and outside in the sun all week, it felt like a workout.
With the exception of the garage door, I finished it this morning. It looks nice, and we even managed to move the canoe out and get the tiller, garden tractor, and wheelbarrow out of the garage and into the shed where they belong. With a little more work, we may even get a vehicle in the garage this winter!
Turned into a good recovery week if nothing else. Legs feel good, although the knees are sore from kneeling, climbing, and leaning on the ladder all week. Next week should be back to normal, if the weather holds I hope to get in a longer ride or two.
With the exception of the garage door, I finished it this morning. It looks nice, and we even managed to move the canoe out and get the tiller, garden tractor, and wheelbarrow out of the garage and into the shed where they belong. With a little more work, we may even get a vehicle in the garage this winter!
Turned into a good recovery week if nothing else. Legs feel good, although the knees are sore from kneeling, climbing, and leaning on the ladder all week. Next week should be back to normal, if the weather holds I hope to get in a longer ride or two.
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