Lord, Thank you for teaching me Humility, yet again

Waves crash on the rock,
The hard cliff stands immobile,
Water will win soon.

Okay, so not the traditional Haiku, but it is a good theme for the day. The spinning class went rather well, with me really only having to rest and recover once; although, I did read the schedule wrong and was almost late for the pilates. The Pilates class however, beat me.

Well, now beat really isn't the right word for this. Squashed, routed, defeated, and thoroughly embarassed come to mind for suitable replacements. Not only was I unable to keep up with even a single exercise, humiliating as that is, I gassed one of the poor girls on the southern end of me pretty much right in the face. Note to self: Take Gas-x well before class. I was so ashamed. I sat there for a minute, trying hard not to... well not to... Okay, I was trying my damnest not to bust out laughing. I mean, come on! This poor college girl just wants to work out and in comes the Amazing Flatulator filling her thoughts of what I had to eat for dinner. I had to walk out. No question about it.

In my defense, the class was filled to capacity, and the head to butt position was the only one left where I could see the instructor. All this aside, I've been whupped by this class twice now, and that is unacceptable. I've resolved to conquer this class if I have to go to every one they offer until I do. There is a purposeful air about me. The winds of change approach. They have not heard the last of me. (Low brow humor, yes, but it works for me.) And if all else fails, they can pucker up... Okay, I'll stop now, really. he he he

Weekend work

I finally felt well enough to really start up training again, so on Friday after an ill advised Italian meal, I decided to take a run.
My last run had taken me on about a 2.5 mi loop around some of the side streets, but in the interest of hiding my lack of running ability, I tried to find a more private route. Good thing too. This time I took a "jog" down the still wet bike trail and then the paved LaCrosse trail for a ways. I didn't know just how far I went till I got home and measured it out on Google Earth. Well it all went pretty well. I jogged until the HR monitor yelled at me, then walked until it yelled at me again. Worked pretty good until that Italian caught back up with me and I had to find a ditch in a hurry. After that I was just fine, and as it turns out, I made around 4.5 miles in about 80 min. Not too fast, I know, but at least I'm moving again.

Saturday was a bike day for me, and I decided to try most of the route for the "Got energy Tri." Its more hilly than the Pigman so I figure that by the time I can do this route with relative ease, I'll be good to go for Palo. This was my second attempt at this route, the first during my abbreviated training last year failed at the first major hill, at the start of Cty rd O. This time I made it up, but not without stopping a couple times and shooting my planned HR all to hell. I partly blame the windy day. 11 mph sustained with 21 mph gusts. It made the upwind legs more that a little tough, and unfortunately for me it seems that the uphill portion was also an upwind leg. Not too fun, but I guess not too bad for a first time. I only had to stop and let my heart catch up with me 5 times over the 1.5 hours it took me. Again not too fast, but it gives me a starting point. You know, someday I hope to be able to run this route in the same time I'm now riding it. Pretty long shot, but maybe someday.

Yesterday, I tried for a swim, needing a rest after two days of hard work. Becca needed to sleep in so after church I took Lorelei out for a while and swam for a while. I relearned the value of hydration when I had to stop after 10 laps or so, with a debilitating headache. It actually took several hours, lots of water, and even a couple Tylenol to get it under control. Lesson learned, yet again.

I plan on varying my training a bit, spending more time running and biking than swimming than I had. I'll keep in my HR zone during the run in order to make that a more restful activity than it is now. Biking I just want to be able to do that route much better than I am now, but also within a lower heart rate. We'll see how it all goes this week.

Mixed Feelings this Easter

I really wasn't sure if I should write this on a public blog, but after realizing that I'm probably the only one reading this (even Becca hasn't read this in a while) I don't think I see any harm. Becca and I went down to my hometown of Cedar Rapids this weekend. Its been about 12 years since I've really been to the city; ever since I left for the Navy. Sure, I've been through a couple times, seen some family, pointed out my old house, but nothing like spending the night here. Well, we decided to go down on Saturday and scope out the bike and run route, and since we were in the 'big' city maybe a little shopping.
I was floored! Cedar Rapids has really gone to pot in my absence. The larger of the two malls had about 90% of its stores closed. Not just for the day, but completely closed. It was actually a little creepy. This was where I used to hang out after college classes. It wasn't just the mall though. The whole town seemed to have aged prematurely. I was sorely dissappointed, and a little embarrassed to show the wife what had become of my once great hometown.
Now the good news. Looking at the route all I have to say is "easy." I knew it wasn't going to be on the same level as Baraboo, but it really looks easy. Mostly flat on the bike with only one real hill to mention. Now, I'll admit that, for me, the hill does look a little intimidating after 14-15 miles, but I don't think its anything that I'll have to really worry about. The run has a couple rollers on it, but its okay up until a gradual hill climb to the finish line. Honestly, the routes look like a cinch, and I'm glad I picked this one as my first.
I suppose I should stop procrastinating and get to where I left the hook. Family is just that. People who share a common thread, standing together against whatever comes. We don't all have to like each other, but generally we tolerate each other for whatever the common good may be. This Easter was like a lunch at the improv...
"Okay...you're a family. You'll be the Gradmother, you the Father, you two the Aunts, the rest of you just fill in when you feel pulled...and ACTION!"
It really all felt like a big act. It took a lot to reign myself in, and not do something that would have ruined everyones' time. I knew there was some stress in the family lately, but I guess I didn't see how much there really was until Easter. Its a shame. It makes me not want to bring my little black sheep portion of the family back again. Oh, I'd never hold my Dad or Grandmother back from seeing Lorelei, or vice versa, but I have really been wondering if she needs to know her extended family (2nd cousins, 1st cousins once removed, great aunts, etc...). Personally, at the moment, I wouldn't have a problem with it. I guess this is why I have a wife. I need her balance me out on these matters, restrain my firey spirit, and smooth over my rough surface. Without Becca and others there I probably would have said or done something I'd have later regretted. Maybe this is why I stay on the periphery of my families. There's enough unstable forces there, no real need for my own brand of chaos.
So mixed feelings. I'm happy to find out that my 1st tri will not only be one I can complete, but I might even do halfway decent at it. I'm a little dissappointed at how Easter turned out this year. (Personally I think Good Friday is the more important to remember. Ask me if you want to know why.) The only thing I wasn't able to do was go see where I lived from 0-2y/o. Maybe next time down.
PS: If anyone else does happen to keep up with my ramblings, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Inspiration and Footprints

Ever since making the big click (The last click to sign up for my first triathlon), I've been scouring the net for information on triathlons. Training programs, pictures, routes, elevations, average times, and most recently, podcasts; I'm a sponge, soaking up as much info as I can on everything I can about the sport. The most recent podcast I listened to is called "Get your geek on." Keep in mind that I've been combing through dozens of these, but one segment in one episode stands out.
In an early episode, during a segment called "Tri life lessons" one of the hosts makes a deep and beautiful observation. She was asking herself why she couldn't be normal; shop like normal women her age; gossip in the lunchroom. Then it seems to hit. This ride...

"Wasn't meant for normal people, so I can't be normal and expect to find where it would lead." (Get Your Geek On Ep # 2 @ 44:20 min, Iron Wil)

How cool is that. I have people looking strange at me for just doing a sprint tri, let alone the mind boggling 140.6 mi of an ironman, which I very much plan on completing in the next few years. Even the sprint distance is something that most people will never achieve. Not because they don't have the strength or stamina, but they just don't have the inner push to complete the course.

"It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself." ~ Muhammad Ali

This new pregnancy has given me the opportunity to look behind me and see what I've accomplished. At first it was with a tinge of regret, that I wouldn't be able to do many of those things again. This put my experiences in a different light.

• I've been the hero when I saved the life of a friend during a diving accident. Now its when I hold a little girl who had a bad dream.
• I've been a villain at a time when I wronged people who put their full trust in me, and now again when I tell Lorelei not to hit.
• I've felt small and insignificant seeing a terrible black storm coming towards our ship on the Caribbean sea, and I've felt the same knowing I wasn't good enough to support a family without changing jobs.
• On that same ship, same sea, observing God's artwork looking across a beautiful blue glassy expanse to the sunset. Now I see the same beauty in my family's smiles.
• I've walked away from motorcycle accidents that I shouldn't have (Becca looking on says she didn't think I was getting up) and seen first hand God's protection. Now I pray that protection over my daughter while she sleeps.

I realize now that the sum of my experiences is nothing to regret, impossible to redo, humbling to the spirit, and nothing in comparison to whats in store.
There's one more quote from that podcast that really touched me, and I recommend finding and listening to it if you get the chance. I'll close with this:

"I'm afraid, some days, because I wonder if I'm lost. I get nervous, because there's no footprints to follow. But lately I've discovered, if I look over my shoulder, I'll find some, and suddenly I understand much better the path I'm on." -Iron Wil

Sick as a dog...

So much for all those spin classes this week. So far I've missed 3 days of training and it looks as if I'll miss tomorrow to go to the Dr. I'm a little concerned of course since I'm missing so much training, but I'm more worried that if I don't take care of this, I'll be down for much longer and might have to drop out of the whole thing. That would definitally upset me. I've worked too hard to let this go so easily.
On a different note, I may have found someone to run the triathlon with me. A guy from work said that he would be interested and would give it a try. I have to admit that I don't have the biggest of confidence in him, especially since he bailed on me at the gym tonight. (We had scheduled a intro to spinning class) Oh well, if nothing else, maybe one of Becca's more fit friends would like to join me....If I'm able to do it at all.

After Dr appt:
Well it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. I thought I had some version of the pneumonia that is travelling around the area, but its "just" bronchitis. Doc said that I could get back into light training when I felt better, and probably normal next week. Think I'll go in tomorrow morning and take it real easy...see how it goes. All is not lost yet.

I must be nuts

I have to give a little backstory here. The spinning classes at the Y are so popular that, not only is there a 30 person sign up list a week in advance, but a 6 person waiting list usually forms for the more popluar classes.
I've been pretty happy with the classes, so every time I'd go in I'd sign up for another. Well, I ended up signing up for 5 classes this week without noticing! Holy cow! Becca thought I was crazy for doing one, 3 days in a row last week, but 5? Lance Armstrong, I'm not. I did notice that I can't do one of those already due to a work conflict, thankfully; but these others I may just have to manage.
The last spinning class I did was on Saturday morning. Oh, it made me feel terrible. Not because the workout was hard (it was), but the lady who taught was incredible! When we came into class she mentioned that she wouldn't be doing quite the same workout as we did, since this was her first time back from her heart surgery, TWO WEEKS AGO!!! Are you kidding me? Where do they find these inhuman people? Did this make the class any easier? Oh, absolutely not! She was a slave driver, not really playing by the rules that let newbies like me get off easy. I just couldn't do it. I made it through the class, but had to do the equivalent of sitting a hill or two out. To add insult to injury, when I went up to thank the instructor, she asked if this was the first class I had taken. Ouch.
Later on that day I decided to go take a look at how an Aerobar set up would feel. I've been thinking of switching my handlebars to that set up for a while, but wanted to get a feel for them first. River Trail Cycles has always been good to us. Although a little on the high side for prices on some things, they are tops for availablity and information. Plus it is one of Lorelei's favorite places in the area. The lady set me up in a $1500 carbon fiber bike on a trainer, with all the bells and whistles as far as handle bars go. I got on the thing and pedaled in a normal position for a bit then changed to an "Aero" position. Not only was that one of the strangest positions I've ever been in (almost a fetal position, but pedalling), but it must use some muscles that I lost long ago. I don't think I lasted 30 seconds in that position and when I did get off the bike I had a crick in my back. Maybe next year when I get to some of the longer distances.

Frustrated

Why is it that I can swim or bike in the right heart rate zone, but when it comes to the run, no such luck. I've been improving, yes, but this morning was quite a let down.
I've been modifying the swim portion of my plan to make it a decent workout for me. The original plan had me swimming something in the order of 200 yds. Thats 4 laps and barely even worth getting wet, so I changed it. Today ended up with a total of 850 yds, 100 warm up, 500 at a decent pace (Race pace, maybe?), 250 interval speed work.
That all went just fine. Afterward I tried a easy run, 25 min, but my normal walking HR (<110) was still elevated by over 20 beats! My run was seriously out of whack. Ended up well above where it runs to anaerobic. Not good.
I figured while I was there I might as well top it off with some good stretching and abs work, with the pilates class. Well I was right about the abs work, but way off on the stretching. The big down side was that I was the only guy in the class, and I don't think my pride could have handled walking out while the rest of the class seemed to be doing just fine. No matter that I just finished an hour or so of cardio, or that this class seemed to be mostly made up of college girls. I suppose if I wasn't lying in a pool of my own sweat and shame, it might have been a decent view. Couldn't tell you. Shame too great.

Becca concedes defeat!!

Becca was awestruck by the near superhuman speed of her husband training for the upcoming triathlon. Like a mongoose on crack, I transitioned from swim to bike to run, leaving all mouths agape. My poor wife was so overcome that she performed the internationally known 'concession ritual'....



Don't know that one? It involves urinating on a stick and seeing how many lines show up. Just so happpens to be 2 this time. Yep, the proverbial bun has been installed in the oven once again.

I don't know what happened... I took all the colored pills. My nipples hurt for a while, and I craved chocolate like nothing else, but I thought we were safe. ;-)

Oh well. However unexpected, its still a happy event.

Training with the "Plan"

Valentine's Day with 3 laps to go 'til I finish the tri...
2 laps...
1 lap...
Finished!!!

My first triathlon finally done. 2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, and 26.2 mi run all complete. Of course, it took me 14 days to do it, but it was all fair and in the rules. This was the YMCA indoor ironman triathlon the only rules based on time were that you had to complete the course within the month of Feburary. "Normal" triathletes complete this course in one day, some in under 10 hours!! I have a whole new respect for these people, and hope one day to be able to stand with them, drian bramaged as we all may be.

That all said, those last few laps above were not made while I was running. Oh no. I was one hurting unit at that point. Given my body's reactions the next few days, I'm certain that I overdid it, and fairly certain that I was close to doing some damage to myself.

Now that we've decided to do this tri in June, both of us are taking a much slower training pace as to not injure oursleves. Becca will have to tell you about her plan, which I think is based on slowly increasing workout time and speed until the tapering point. Mine is a slightly different approach, and one that I had to modify a bit; based heavily on heart rate. I am to stay within a 10-15 bpm aerobic heart rate zone during all my workouts, but especially during the run portion(my weakest point). The idea is pretty straight forward. If you exit one phase of the tri with too high a HR zone, the next phase will be comprimised. For instance if you get out of the swim with 175 bpm, it will drop on the bike to about 155 or so, still above the anerobic threshold (at least for me). Not only will this wear you out more on the bike, but come time for running, you could well be out of gas.

So I've been keeping to that as much as I can, with two exceptions. The swim that these guys put out is ridicously easy for me. The first few weeks limit me to 200-300 yds, about 4-6 laps. Folks, that boils down to about 5 min in the water for me. Not much of a workout, so I had to shake it up a bit. For instance, this week my "long" swim will be 1000 yds or 20 laps. (5 warm up/cool down, 5 speed work laps, and 10 laps (the length of the tri swim) at a relatively easy pace.) It should take me about 25 min, if I rest like I'm supposed to. (That's the trick, isn't it? Resting before you wear out).

The second is a temporary thing I think, until it gets nicer out. The exercise bikes in the gym are pretty nice. Electronic, HR monitor, comfy cushy seats, cup holders, even fans in the console to cool you off. Heck, you can damn near nap in the recumbant versions. They're comfortable, air conditioned, with everything thought of with one exception. This is about the farthest thing to riding a bike as you can get. Oh, sure, you're spinning the pedals around and if you do it right, you even get a decent workout. But, really! Where is the sore butt? Where are the crazy drivers trying to run you off the road? Where is the combination of satisfaction and malcontent that only arises from a long saddle-weary ride? Well, although I can't really do much about the 2nd one at the moment, I have found a suitable alternative for the slushy, wet, or frozen weeks ahead. Spinning class.

Spinning class? But Jeremy? Isn't that the same thing? After my first class, I can honestly answer a resounding no. These precisily engineered pain machines, although self adjusted, are orchestrated by a very pleased looking bone fide speed demon in the front commanding us to sit, stand, raise or lower the tension level, all while trying maddly to keep pedalling at a certain pace, called cadence. I got through the intro/safety class without problem, (yes, you actually have to take a safety class to get on these things, I should have known) but I was unable to keep up during my first 'real' class. About 10 min before the end of the class, I'm already tired and sweating like I was in Panama again, when the smiling instructor clues us into our final challenge for the day. "Okay, the last hill we'll be doing today is FO."

A collective groan rises from the room. Maybe its the exercise getting to my brain, or maybe I'm just a little tired that morning, but it takes a couple seconds for that sentence to find the appropriate picture in my mind. Then it hits me. County Rd FO! Ironic that just the day before I drove out this rout just to see how long and how painful I could possibly make a ride. FO is not so much a road, as a hill. A big hill. A hill that I doubt seriously that I could design in a more sadistic manner and still have it drivable by normal cars. (I did find an even more difficult hill in the area, but I'm trying to block it from my memory. I think the smiling instructor can read minds.) County Rd FO, is just about 2 miles long, with a progressively increasing incline. Near the top, I'm not even all that crazy about driving on the thing. Its just too steep! Hit one patch of black ice and it could be all over. This is the route he chose, and subsequently the part of the class I was unable to complete.

I left class that day, tired, dripping sweat, toes numb, and addicted. There was something about the group mentality that made it a little more enjoyable. Perhaps it is that misery loves company, or all the scantily clad college aged women in the class, though I doubt it. Like I told some coworkers, I didn't have enough in me to have a glance around. It took everything I had to make my feet go in a circle, and there was not a drip of water, nor drop of blood for any extra thoughts. Well, that and I was too busy trying desperately not to look like a walrus on a unicycle. I have to go back. I have to prove that I am not that blubber bound body bounding on a bicycle, and if I go long enough my HR will be able to handle a faster running pace. (My first and foremost reason for the class)

This is running a bit long, but since I brought it up, I'll close with this thought. Using last years results as a guide, my current paces of 2:20/100 yds swim (A easy and very sustainable pace for me), ~19mph bike (At the upper end of my HR zone for bike), and a 5mph run (Don't laugh...its the best I can concievably manage after a long bike at the moment) I would place in the upper 300 to lower 400 range, out of the 587 that finished last year. I suppose I should ultimately hope and pray against a dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish), but my pride wont let me come in dead last either. My current goals are <10>20mph bike, not easy but achievable, and the doozy, I want to run <9 min miles. That one will be pretty difficult by June 1, but maybe byt the end of the season I can knock that one out. For the Pigman, I would be overjoyed if I came in under 30 min on the run (about 6.2mph). I'm pretty sure that Becca will beat my run time by then, since she used to be very fast, and I've always been a little slower on the run. Since we do have a little competition between us though, I'm hoping that I can get far enough ahead on the swim and bike to make up the difference.

Any thoughts?

Jeremy and Becca's attempt at Triathlon..take two

Here we are again.
Seems like just last year I had this great plan to tackle the Devil's Challenge Triathlon in Sept, but sickness and that small thing called 'reality' stopped me. We went over to check out the course, and although the swim was pretty flat and calm, the bike and run were anything but. The first couple miles of the 16(?) mile bike portion was a killer uphill climb, more suited to Seattle than WI, and wouldn't you know it, the run started out on similiar if not the same hills...ouch!
This time it's a little different. For one thing I've recruited a partner in my ultimate partner, and wife, Becca. And the second, I've chosen a tri in a location I'm much more familiar with, the Pigman Sprint Distance Triathlon in Palo, IA (June 1). We signed up, wagered on, and completed the local YMCA's indoor ironman triathlon last month. We both completed the 2.4mi swim, 114mi bike, 26.2 mi run in 14 days giving us both new respect to the people who manage the same distance in <10 hours! During the course of the tri, we both completed the equivilant of some sprint distance triathlons and far exceeded what our goal will be. On the down side, our times are anything but record breaking. Although it will be a significant accomplishment for me to complete the Pigman, I have no intention of being the last across the finish line. Judging by last years times, I have some work ahead of me.
Any support, moral, spiritual, or physically getting behind me and pushing will be greatly appreciated.