Well todays plan was to return back to the training. Unfortunatly life got in the way again. I had to get the licenese plates off our car this afternoon. Long story short is that everyone is fine but the car had an unfortunate mishap with a semi during the snowstorm last week and the RAV was totaled....bummer. So training may take some more time while we search for a new car and move our son to his student teaching gig. I did get some photos posted of the two triathlons from this past summer and I am working on a before and after photos to reveal the transition.
Two things that I found that I was good at this past week was drinking and eating. Guess that is to be expected.
I did get some shoveling in during the past week and I am looking forward to going back to cycling and starting some strength training again. I just need to get back on track with the whole training plan. During the next couple of days that I am off of work I will post some goals for 2010 and give a brief synopsis of my swim review. I will post the video, but generally I have digital confirmation that I kinda suck at swimming. I am really wondering right now what I am getting myself into. Think I won't think about it right now.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wacky Wednesday
Todays training. lifted 2 16 oz cans til empty
Tomorrow: possibly swim, shovel snow
Friday: Shovel snow
Saturday: Shovel snow
Well work is over for the week and maybe workouts too. Actually I am hoping that if the weather cooperates (Winter Storm Warning again)tomorrow I will get in a swim and Saturday a bike ride. Derek over at Harbor is also going to review my swim techinque with me. He taped us as we swam in the lap pool. Poor Derek often looks at me like I should get a refund on the class, seems like I have a long way to go when it comes to swimming.
My excercise for tonight is going to be to do some research on the net about the effect of a cold on excercise and heart rate and sip a brandy. The other night my HR was as high as 163. I did not feel really stressed but it did seem high since my LT test was supposed to be 148. So I have something else to figure out.
I ll write more about this soon. If I am snowed in tomorrow I will likely add some photos to this blog. Right now were just going to kick back with the family
Tomorrow: possibly swim, shovel snow
Friday: Shovel snow
Saturday: Shovel snow
Well work is over for the week and maybe workouts too. Actually I am hoping that if the weather cooperates (Winter Storm Warning again)tomorrow I will get in a swim and Saturday a bike ride. Derek over at Harbor is also going to review my swim techinque with me. He taped us as we swam in the lap pool. Poor Derek often looks at me like I should get a refund on the class, seems like I have a long way to go when it comes to swimming.
My excercise for tonight is going to be to do some research on the net about the effect of a cold on excercise and heart rate and sip a brandy. The other night my HR was as high as 163. I did not feel really stressed but it did seem high since my LT test was supposed to be 148. So I have something else to figure out.
I ll write more about this soon. If I am snowed in tomorrow I will likely add some photos to this blog. Right now were just going to kick back with the family
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sittin Around Sunday
Today’s training: Wash all gym cloths and clean out (disinfect) bag
So today were sitting around drinking coffee and coco and eating cookies. It's a good day. Jeremy and Sarah (son and girl friend) are heading out soon to visit Matt at UW Stout for his birthday today then going on to see Sarah’s parents. The whole family will be back home for Christmas Eve services under penalty of mom and grammas’ wrath.
Yesterday, I stationary biked and sat in the hot tub. There wasn’t much gas in the tank probably because I did not get much sleep due the cold I was catching. What I noticed is that while my heart rate was up my total watt output was down. This seems like something that I might need to research on. So here is the question when you catch a cold should you continue to workout or do get rest and try and get over it? I am definitely planning to go to cycling class tomorrow night and would like to get a swim and strength training in this week. Harbor has shorter hours this week but I was thinking that Thursday might just be a good day for a swim. So the workouts will generally be light but I will be surrounded by family for most of the week. This seems like more than a fair trade.
So today were sitting around drinking coffee and coco and eating cookies. It's a good day. Jeremy and Sarah (son and girl friend) are heading out soon to visit Matt at UW Stout for his birthday today then going on to see Sarah’s parents. The whole family will be back home for Christmas Eve services under penalty of mom and grammas’ wrath.
Yesterday, I stationary biked and sat in the hot tub. There wasn’t much gas in the tank probably because I did not get much sleep due the cold I was catching. What I noticed is that while my heart rate was up my total watt output was down. This seems like something that I might need to research on. So here is the question when you catch a cold should you continue to workout or do get rest and try and get over it? I am definitely planning to go to cycling class tomorrow night and would like to get a swim and strength training in this week. Harbor has shorter hours this week but I was thinking that Thursday might just be a good day for a swim. So the workouts will generally be light but I will be surrounded by family for most of the week. This seems like more than a fair trade.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday
Todays plan: Cycling Lactic threshold test
Well the day started out great, I was planning to watch videos of myself and others from my swim class at Harbor as we try and improve our freestyle swim technique. Well Derek was out of commission this morning so I got the opportunity to just sit and visit with my friend and training buddy Laurie. This is the way training should be we drank coffee and ate a blueberry muffin for breakfast while sitting and watching a BodyFlow class. I kinda wonder what people were thinking as they saw after their workout......
Tonight my eldest son comes home for Christmas he will have officially completed college at Luther but will student teach next semester. Like all of our children we could not be prouder but it feels like another chapter is drawing to a close. Hmm, what happens next.
First I am going to go to cycling class and take a lactic threshold test. Your lactic threshold is the balance of lactate production and removal. It is the maximum workload at which you can still nourish your muscles with oxygen before lactate begins to load up in your blood. This test tonight will consists of riding on a stationary bike as hard as I can maintain for 20 minutes and measuring my average heart rate. Last spring I was at 139, and I am guessing it is much higher now since I regularly train well above that especially when I run and distance. This test will help me to reestablish my heart rate zone training that I use during my workouts. (I will put some links here that talk in greater detail about LT and zones).
During the next couple of weeks I am planning to workout less and enjoy my family more. So I am going to post some of the epifanies (if you will) that I had during the past year. Many of them centered around training within specific heartrate zones and things I learned about nutrition.
Update 8:50 pm: I finished my Lactic threshold test tonight and was a little disappointed. I was expecting it to be in the mid 150s and it was 148 my average watts were 201. My body kinda ceased up during the day as it generally does the day after the g-force workout. So I am thinking that last nights workout really affected my test tonight, just did not have the strength to get it done. Oh well live and learn. ....gotta say though I really love the intensity of the workouts the last two nights.
Time for bed....I am really shot.
Well the day started out great, I was planning to watch videos of myself and others from my swim class at Harbor as we try and improve our freestyle swim technique. Well Derek was out of commission this morning so I got the opportunity to just sit and visit with my friend and training buddy Laurie. This is the way training should be we drank coffee and ate a blueberry muffin for breakfast while sitting and watching a BodyFlow class. I kinda wonder what people were thinking as they saw after their workout......
Tonight my eldest son comes home for Christmas he will have officially completed college at Luther but will student teach next semester. Like all of our children we could not be prouder but it feels like another chapter is drawing to a close. Hmm, what happens next.
First I am going to go to cycling class and take a lactic threshold test. Your lactic threshold is the balance of lactate production and removal. It is the maximum workload at which you can still nourish your muscles with oxygen before lactate begins to load up in your blood. This test tonight will consists of riding on a stationary bike as hard as I can maintain for 20 minutes and measuring my average heart rate. Last spring I was at 139, and I am guessing it is much higher now since I regularly train well above that especially when I run and distance. This test will help me to reestablish my heart rate zone training that I use during my workouts. (I will put some links here that talk in greater detail about LT and zones).
During the next couple of weeks I am planning to workout less and enjoy my family more. So I am going to post some of the epifanies (if you will) that I had during the past year. Many of them centered around training within specific heartrate zones and things I learned about nutrition.
Update 8:50 pm: I finished my Lactic threshold test tonight and was a little disappointed. I was expecting it to be in the mid 150s and it was 148 my average watts were 201. My body kinda ceased up during the day as it generally does the day after the g-force workout. So I am thinking that last nights workout really affected my test tonight, just did not have the strength to get it done. Oh well live and learn. ....gotta say though I really love the intensity of the workouts the last two nights.
Time for bed....I am really shot.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday cold
I woke up this morning turned on the news they said that it was cold and crisp. I was planning to swim but instead went for a short run, mainly due to the fact that I could not get out of bed, but I have also wondered what it would be like to run when the temperature was in the single digits.
It's COLD. I just ran down to the school and back 1.7 miles but it was cold. Two other bits of trivia when you stop your sweat freezes in seconds not minutes and did I mention it's cold! Second bit it hurts to shower, hot water hitting cold skin sucks:-)
more later.....
It's COLD. I just ran down to the school and back 1.7 miles but it was cold. Two other bits of trivia when you stop your sweat freezes in seconds not minutes and did I mention it's cold! Second bit it hurts to shower, hot water hitting cold skin sucks:-)
more later.....
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday Christmas decorations
Yesterday run bike run.
Today decorating the Christmas tree
Tomorrow Swim, Strength training
I was reading an article today from USAT that talked about doing indoor bricks http://www.usatriathlon.org:80/pages/7992, I highly recommend the article I have been doing that to a lesser extent. Generally before I start my strength training or indoor cycling class I begin with a short 5 minute run and end it with another 10 minutes of running either on the track or sometimes the treadmill. I may start bookending my swims with the run too....although I am not sure how this is going to fly in the early morning when I like to swim.
This week has been not the best for nutrition either. Saturday night was the neighborhood Christmas party and today we had the work holiday party, plus I bagged the workout. In the end I don't think it's that bad. Yesterday I had lunch with my friend (and coach) Kevin; his feeling was that having fun during the Holidays helps with my overall mental state. I think he is right, I think in the long run a little layoff in the training and nutrition plan during the holiday is good for your mental state.
Ok, so I got to put in a plug for my favorite coffee this time of year. It's the Starbuck's Christmas blend. It is really good especially when you get it brewed fresh from Starbucks. Today that did not work out. When I left for work this morning it was 12 degrees when I came home it was down to 5. It got colder during the day. If it wasn't for the Badger season tickets, the fishing and hunting.......and oh yea the snow at Christmas, I would move south where it's warm.
Jingle bells all...
Today decorating the Christmas tree
Tomorrow Swim, Strength training
I was reading an article today from USAT that talked about doing indoor bricks http://www.usatriathlon.org:80/pages/7992, I highly recommend the article I have been doing that to a lesser extent. Generally before I start my strength training or indoor cycling class I begin with a short 5 minute run and end it with another 10 minutes of running either on the track or sometimes the treadmill. I may start bookending my swims with the run too....although I am not sure how this is going to fly in the early morning when I like to swim.
This week has been not the best for nutrition either. Saturday night was the neighborhood Christmas party and today we had the work holiday party, plus I bagged the workout. In the end I don't think it's that bad. Yesterday I had lunch with my friend (and coach) Kevin; his feeling was that having fun during the Holidays helps with my overall mental state. I think he is right, I think in the long run a little layoff in the training and nutrition plan during the holiday is good for your mental state.
Ok, so I got to put in a plug for my favorite coffee this time of year. It's the Starbuck's Christmas blend. It is really good especially when you get it brewed fresh from Starbucks. Today that did not work out. When I left for work this morning it was 12 degrees when I came home it was down to 5. It got colder during the day. If it wasn't for the Badger season tickets, the fishing and hunting.......and oh yea the snow at Christmas, I would move south where it's warm.
Jingle bells all...
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday.....still recovering from the snow
This is waht I have figured out, I got the endurance part of IM down. Friday I spent thirteen hours shopping with my wife. I love my wife but the mental toughness that is needed for me to shop for an entire day.....still sends shivers down my spine.
I only got one workout this weekend, a good hard bike/spin it felt good after a day of shopping. Then I was able to get togerther with friends after for a little cheer. I have decided that my friends are one of the most important parts of my training. They can't do the work for me but I think one of the areas that I struggle with most is the mental toughness. My friends have been really supportive and and encouraging .
Speaking of mental toughness I have been reading a book written by Mark Allen and Brant Secunda Fit Body Fit Soul, something that struck me was the phrase 'be fearless in the face of fear'. As I consider what it means to compete and finish in the events that I have on tap for 2010 sometimes it scares me. Right now I have doubts out how well I am doing with training, I think mainly it is due to the holidays and the time I need to just to stay a float, Christmas, work and home all take their toll on the training.
I only got one workout this weekend, a good hard bike/spin it felt good after a day of shopping. Then I was able to get togerther with friends after for a little cheer. I have decided that my friends are one of the most important parts of my training. They can't do the work for me but I think one of the areas that I struggle with most is the mental toughness. My friends have been really supportive and and encouraging .
Speaking of mental toughness I have been reading a book written by Mark Allen and Brant Secunda Fit Body Fit Soul, something that struck me was the phrase 'be fearless in the face of fear'. As I consider what it means to compete and finish in the events that I have on tap for 2010 sometimes it scares me. Right now I have doubts out how well I am doing with training, I think mainly it is due to the holidays and the time I need to just to stay a float, Christmas, work and home all take their toll on the training.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Shoveling S#!+ Snow
Today’s training: Shoveling snow
Tomorrow’s plan: Swim class at 6 AM, Strides at 4:45 and bike at 5:30
Ok so we got 16+ inches of snow last night. The Governor closed all state offices and the UW Madison campus was closed (don’t remember that happening before).
So this morning I ran up to my dad’s about two blocks away. Great run in hiking boots and wearing insulated bib overalls. Then I shoveled a path for the folks dog and shoveled a bit more around their driveway. Picked up the tractor blower and the work began. Think that I have complained enough about the snow. BTW, I have found that after loosing all this weight I am cold all the time and on days like this it’s worse.
Maybe will update later and talk about the books I am reading a lot of great insights.
Tomorrow’s plan: Swim class at 6 AM, Strides at 4:45 and bike at 5:30
Ok so we got 16+ inches of snow last night. The Governor closed all state offices and the UW Madison campus was closed (don’t remember that happening before).
So this morning I ran up to my dad’s about two blocks away. Great run in hiking boots and wearing insulated bib overalls. Then I shoveled a path for the folks dog and shoveled a bit more around their driveway. Picked up the tractor blower and the work began. Think that I have complained enough about the snow. BTW, I have found that after loosing all this weight I am cold all the time and on days like this it’s worse.
Maybe will update later and talk about the books I am reading a lot of great insights.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
First Post
Today's workout swimming roughly 30 laps
Sunday's weigh in 234.7 +4 from last week
Tomorrow's plan: shovel snow maybe do the G-force bootcamp class tomorrow night
Well we are expecting to get 12-15 inches of snow tonight. I am thinking that tomorrow will count as a strength conditioning day.
As for this blog space my plan is to blog about my conditioning as I move forward to Ironman in September 2010. This has been a goal that I only dreamt about. I have friends whom I have envied as they have finished the race I can only hope that I am so fortunate.
I expect that I will visit some about the friendships that I have made in the past year. Honestly it has been these friends that have supported and encouraged me. They have looked past my deficits.
So a little about the past year. I started my journey on November 15, 2008, my shoulders were aching from the past season of golf. I thought that by going to the gym perhaps I might strengthen my shoulders. I steped on the scale at Harbor Athletic where I go to the gym. I weighed in at 367 pounds, actually I probably weighed started higher than that as I had been ill for a few days prior...but I don't care to think about that. So I watched my calories worked out twice a day for several months then came the spring....... (Lots happened between December and April but I'll talk about that as time goes by)
So Jim what possesed you to sign up for Ironman. Interesting that you asked I had been working with my trainer, now friend and coach Kevin and I asked what he thought about me doing a triathlon. He thought I could do it but would need to take it slow. So in May I signed up for the Capitol View Triathlon (sprint)....another great story but all I can say is that I was hooked. I did another in July voleteered at the Madison Ironman and signed up the next day.
So here is my plan for the new year. I still want to loose a few more pounds not because I feel or look bad but I think it would really help not dragging that weight up a hill on my bike or running with it for that mater. I am also planning to run Madison Marathon http://www.madisonfestivals.com/marathon/index.html this spring, do an Olympic triathlon, and the Horribly Hilly Hundreds http://www.horriblyhilly.com/home.html. Yea it will be a busy year but right now I can hardly wait. I will post several times a week just to give you a laugh or let you know what I am thinking.
Sunday's weigh in 234.7 +4 from last week
Tomorrow's plan: shovel snow maybe do the G-force bootcamp class tomorrow night
Well we are expecting to get 12-15 inches of snow tonight. I am thinking that tomorrow will count as a strength conditioning day.
As for this blog space my plan is to blog about my conditioning as I move forward to Ironman in September 2010. This has been a goal that I only dreamt about. I have friends whom I have envied as they have finished the race I can only hope that I am so fortunate.
I expect that I will visit some about the friendships that I have made in the past year. Honestly it has been these friends that have supported and encouraged me. They have looked past my deficits.
So a little about the past year. I started my journey on November 15, 2008, my shoulders were aching from the past season of golf. I thought that by going to the gym perhaps I might strengthen my shoulders. I steped on the scale at Harbor Athletic where I go to the gym. I weighed in at 367 pounds, actually I probably weighed started higher than that as I had been ill for a few days prior...but I don't care to think about that. So I watched my calories worked out twice a day for several months then came the spring....... (Lots happened between December and April but I'll talk about that as time goes by)
So Jim what possesed you to sign up for Ironman. Interesting that you asked I had been working with my trainer, now friend and coach Kevin and I asked what he thought about me doing a triathlon. He thought I could do it but would need to take it slow. So in May I signed up for the Capitol View Triathlon (sprint)....another great story but all I can say is that I was hooked. I did another in July voleteered at the Madison Ironman and signed up the next day.
So here is my plan for the new year. I still want to loose a few more pounds not because I feel or look bad but I think it would really help not dragging that weight up a hill on my bike or running with it for that mater. I am also planning to run Madison Marathon http://www.madisonfestivals.com/marathon/index.html this spring, do an Olympic triathlon, and the Horribly Hilly Hundreds http://www.horriblyhilly.com/home.html. Yea it will be a busy year but right now I can hardly wait. I will post several times a week just to give you a laugh or let you know what I am thinking.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)