So, looks like I forgot to post about the Albuquerque triathlon. That is probably because I didn't actually do the Albuquerque triathlon. I went there, I got a hotel, I showed up, I started the run. Then it started to rain, and was cold as hell. I was not prepared for this whatsoever, and only had a windbreaker that was not even close to waterproof. I got soaked, and cold, and my feet were bothering me. I did finish the "run", walking most of the way... I think I probably took 45 minutes to complete a 5k. So I got back to transition and was just debating whether to even attempt the bike. I tried to wring out my jacket a bit, but that did no good at all. Finally decided to give it a shot, but started riding up the first hill and just broke... was way too cold to keep going knowing how much work I had ahead, and not knowing how the weather would hold up (stopped raining for a bit there, but started up again soon). So, I turned around and turned in my timing chip.
I was not happy with this at all, being my first DNF... but I learned a valuable lesson... prepare for any kind of weather, even in the southwest it rains sometimes. Right after I went looking around for some kind of running clothes that would work well in the rain, got a shirt (before remembering that I already a decent one at home) and a rain jacket, but I still need to get some of those running tights. Anyway, kinda terrible weekend there in NM, but oh well... next time.
So, that was my busted April event, in May I managed to get in a 5k while I was up in Alaska. I was there for 2 weeks, and hadn't done anything yet, so decided this would be a good idea. It probably wasn't, and I was super slow, but I finished. My feet hurt again (feeling puffy on the bottom... need to figure out what is going on there), and the outsides of my shins got crazy tight. I have less than 2 months before my first Olympic tri attempt, so I need to get on the ball. Nicely I've been feeling good for a while now, and not really injured (except a nearly broken toe), so I have no excuses for not going all out on training starting now. I need to pick a plan and get on it right off. More to come on that.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Bartlett Lake Sprint Triathlon - 3/22/09
So, lets start off with the excuses... I've been sick and busy and sick and asthmatic so I haven't really had much time to train in... let's say 2009. Not at all where I wanted to be. Now, that said, the Bartlett Lake Tri kicked my sorry ass.
I had never been to Bartlett before, so I didn't really know what to expect. The race flyers and stuff didn't have a course profile, so I didn't know what to expect. When I got there after dark Saturday I knew I was in for it. All the roads out of Rattlesnake Cove go sharply UP.
Resigned to the pain for Sunday, I tried to sleep in the back of my car in the Rattlesnake Cove parking lot. I need to get a thermarest or some other pad and maybe a new sleeping bag. There was enough room for me, but it wasn't very comfortable (didn't help that I forgot to bring a pillow). Anyway, I did finally get some decent sleep, and got up to all the race hubbub around 7 (was being lazy). The transition area was about 30 yards away, so that was pretty convenient.
So to the race. The swim was cold, but not too bad. My goggles keep fogging on me when I swim in open water, I think I need to try the dish soap trick or something to avoid it (I've read if you put some dish soap inside it wont fog... but too much will irritate your eyes). Anyway I was reasonably happy with my swim... didn't go continuously though, which is still a problem (also went on my back for parts too, which isn't really good). Made it out ok, but I was a little unbalanced or something getting out of the water... I almost fell down on the beach, and then again trying to get my flip-flops back on. Managed to get myself up to the transition.
I took a bit of time trying to get my wetsuit off... I forgot about the timing chip and it was in the way of pulling off my left leg. Finally got that done, had a bit of water and I was off (can't remember if I ate anything... had a banana and some trail mix there ready). The very first part of the bike out of the cove parking lot is fairly steep, but I managed ok. Then there is a milder climb out to the main road, then the main road is just brutal. It is just a long long long steady climb that is a little too steep for me. (I need to profile it to see just what it looks like) I think my big mistake was getting down into the lowest gear I had, then spinning like crazy just to keep moving. I would eventually just feel like I needed to stop and walk a bit, not sure if I was just tired, or out of breath or what really. I think I should've tried to stick to a little bit tougher gear, but put more power through more slowly. I did this at a couple points and it seemed to work a little bit better, but I still couldn't power through steeper parts.
At the top of the hill, I thought we would get to turn around, but in some cruel joke, they decided to give us a bit of fast downhill, then make us stop (I think I was going 20+ easy), and turn around there for more uphill. All the while up the hill (alternately walking and riding very slowly) all I was thinking about was getting to the downhill... finally after the teaser downhill and the bit back up, I was there. I flew down, at some points getting up to 32 mph on my computer (fast for me). This was my favorite part of the day. Had to slow down for the corner back onto the other road, then was a bit slower there, but still going pretty fast, then downhill all the way to transition.
Now to the walk... I mean run section. On the bike I managed to hurt my back (I think my posture is really bad on the bike)... so starting out running just plain hurt. I walked most of the way. This was of course, up a steeper road to the right out of Rattlesnake Cove. 1.1 miles straight up, then a water station, then straight back down. I did try jogging here and there, started to try my patented walk 100 steps, then jog 100 steps, but I couldn't do it. So, I just walked mostly. On the way down the hill I would let momentum make me jog here and there, but that hurt so I would have to stop then too. Well I managed to finish and that was good enough. This was probably the closest I've come to giving up in a tri... there were many points while walking up the long bike hill that I wanted to just cross the road and ride back down. I'm glad I didn't, but I have a lot of work to do. Next event is in 3 weeks in Albuquerque, need to bust my ass until then.
I had never been to Bartlett before, so I didn't really know what to expect. The race flyers and stuff didn't have a course profile, so I didn't know what to expect. When I got there after dark Saturday I knew I was in for it. All the roads out of Rattlesnake Cove go sharply UP.
Resigned to the pain for Sunday, I tried to sleep in the back of my car in the Rattlesnake Cove parking lot. I need to get a thermarest or some other pad and maybe a new sleeping bag. There was enough room for me, but it wasn't very comfortable (didn't help that I forgot to bring a pillow). Anyway, I did finally get some decent sleep, and got up to all the race hubbub around 7 (was being lazy). The transition area was about 30 yards away, so that was pretty convenient.
So to the race. The swim was cold, but not too bad. My goggles keep fogging on me when I swim in open water, I think I need to try the dish soap trick or something to avoid it (I've read if you put some dish soap inside it wont fog... but too much will irritate your eyes). Anyway I was reasonably happy with my swim... didn't go continuously though, which is still a problem (also went on my back for parts too, which isn't really good). Made it out ok, but I was a little unbalanced or something getting out of the water... I almost fell down on the beach, and then again trying to get my flip-flops back on. Managed to get myself up to the transition.
I took a bit of time trying to get my wetsuit off... I forgot about the timing chip and it was in the way of pulling off my left leg. Finally got that done, had a bit of water and I was off (can't remember if I ate anything... had a banana and some trail mix there ready). The very first part of the bike out of the cove parking lot is fairly steep, but I managed ok. Then there is a milder climb out to the main road, then the main road is just brutal. It is just a long long long steady climb that is a little too steep for me. (I need to profile it to see just what it looks like) I think my big mistake was getting down into the lowest gear I had, then spinning like crazy just to keep moving. I would eventually just feel like I needed to stop and walk a bit, not sure if I was just tired, or out of breath or what really. I think I should've tried to stick to a little bit tougher gear, but put more power through more slowly. I did this at a couple points and it seemed to work a little bit better, but I still couldn't power through steeper parts.
At the top of the hill, I thought we would get to turn around, but in some cruel joke, they decided to give us a bit of fast downhill, then make us stop (I think I was going 20+ easy), and turn around there for more uphill. All the while up the hill (alternately walking and riding very slowly) all I was thinking about was getting to the downhill... finally after the teaser downhill and the bit back up, I was there. I flew down, at some points getting up to 32 mph on my computer (fast for me). This was my favorite part of the day. Had to slow down for the corner back onto the other road, then was a bit slower there, but still going pretty fast, then downhill all the way to transition.
Now to the walk... I mean run section. On the bike I managed to hurt my back (I think my posture is really bad on the bike)... so starting out running just plain hurt. I walked most of the way. This was of course, up a steeper road to the right out of Rattlesnake Cove. 1.1 miles straight up, then a water station, then straight back down. I did try jogging here and there, started to try my patented walk 100 steps, then jog 100 steps, but I couldn't do it. So, I just walked mostly. On the way down the hill I would let momentum make me jog here and there, but that hurt so I would have to stop then too. Well I managed to finish and that was good enough. This was probably the closest I've come to giving up in a tri... there were many points while walking up the long bike hill that I wanted to just cross the road and ride back down. I'm glad I didn't, but I have a lot of work to do. Next event is in 3 weeks in Albuquerque, need to bust my ass until then.
Monday, February 23, 2009
2/23 - 3/1
Ok, so now I have 4 weeks until the Bartlett Lake Triathlon. After what happened on Saturday, I think I need to focus a lot of my training time on cycling... I really want to get a trainer to get used to sitting on my real bike (still don't want to ride outside after my asthma incident a few weeks ago in the cold).
And my exercise bike is still broken... I'm not sure what I can do to fix it. Took the thing apart and found that the belt slips off the edge of one of the pulleys... and it looks like it will tend to do that / continue to do that. I'm not sure if a new belt would help, or if I need to try to taper the pulley to stop it or what.
Mon 2/23 - nope
Tue 2/24 - nothing.. lazy
Wed 2/25 -
Thu 2/26 -
Fri 2/27 -
Sat 2/28 -
Sun 3/1 -
And my exercise bike is still broken... I'm not sure what I can do to fix it. Took the thing apart and found that the belt slips off the edge of one of the pulleys... and it looks like it will tend to do that / continue to do that. I'm not sure if a new belt would help, or if I need to try to taper the pulley to stop it or what.
Mon 2/23 - nope
Tue 2/24 - nothing.. lazy
Wed 2/25 -
Thu 2/26 -
Fri 2/27 -
Sat 2/28 -
Sun 3/1 -
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