so, in a completely, utterly, brain dead move thursday I managed to slam my finger in the car door. It's swollen up to double size but, and the x-rays confirmed, it's not broken.
The downside is it hurts to touch, type, move. I tried swimming (way too painful), tried gripping the handlebars (way WAY too painful) and it throbs when walking (so running sounds worse).
guh.
Oh well, more time to prepare for next year (altho I'll be out of the water/weights/bike for a few weeks while this heals).
In other news, we're moving back to Sioux Falls. A quick search of apartments and we found one in the location we wanted (across the street from Sertoma Park). Good school for Taylor, great location (gym, park, bike trail), close to work, close to grocery store/mall. We move this coming week.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
changing focus
I decided to give up on weight for a little while... I still want to lose weight, definitely eating good (or great), tons of veggies, tons of lean meat. I'm just not going to obsess over the scale.
I will obsess over what I can control, and that's biking, lifting, running and swimming. Those activities definitely work for losing weight-- or more importantly, losing fat and gaining muscle. Because in the end it doesn't matter what you weigh, but what you look like. If, by some crazy stretch of the imagination, I end up covered in muscle and heavier than I want to be (for going uphill) then I'm certain I can lose muscle weight.
So, I've already been recording things like miles biked, I'm just going to be a little more diligent on the swimming/running/lifting. That's now prominent in the "about me" section, and easy to update.
In a month or so I'll hop on the scale and see where things are at.
A few updates on friends
one friend's daughter has my sister for a teacher
another friend was back at the gym (and in the pool) the other day
another friend got engaged
another friend broke 2 bones (rib, collar) and won't be competing in his Ironman
another friend has been ring shopping
and finally, there's some travel in my future. I'll be running in California in a month :) Details later.
I will obsess over what I can control, and that's biking, lifting, running and swimming. Those activities definitely work for losing weight-- or more importantly, losing fat and gaining muscle. Because in the end it doesn't matter what you weigh, but what you look like. If, by some crazy stretch of the imagination, I end up covered in muscle and heavier than I want to be (for going uphill) then I'm certain I can lose muscle weight.
So, I've already been recording things like miles biked, I'm just going to be a little more diligent on the swimming/running/lifting. That's now prominent in the "about me" section, and easy to update.
In a month or so I'll hop on the scale and see where things are at.
A few updates on friends
one friend's daughter has my sister for a teacher
another friend was back at the gym (and in the pool) the other day
another friend got engaged
another friend broke 2 bones (rib, collar) and won't be competing in his Ironman
another friend has been ring shopping
and finally, there's some travel in my future. I'll be running in California in a month :) Details later.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
fat guy on a tri
A quick training update
Next Sunday is the Yankton Triathalon. I believe it's the last tri in the area, so I'm going to drag my butt down there. The distance is within my capabilities, so I'd be foolish not to do it.
Swimming-- my earlier post that linked the "Zero to 1650" swimming training plan really works. I'm up to 1000 yards nonstop in the pool. A nice older gentleman named "Mike" has been coaching me a bit Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch. Lot's of little things that might have taken weeks or months to change got noticed right away by him. So far the lessons
breath out underwater
take smaller breaths
roll from side to side
keep 1 arm forward
keep the forward arm pointed straight out, not down
ditch the air under your hand when your hand enters the water (the catch)
don't wimp out on the push
kick for lift, not propulsion
There's more I can't think of now, but it's been much appreciated-- I'm not "great", but I'm certainly "less suck" in the water.
Kari and I started the weights on Sunday. We're doing the workout plan Joe Friel outlines in the Triathletes Training Bible... currently doing the "Anatomical Adaptation" or "get your body used to lifting weights" phase... high reps proper form low weight.
Today I hopped on the treadmill for a run after weights and ran 5 minutes at a decent clip. Nothing hurt! The new shoes (the new running store in town is great) helped, plus all the cardio (swimming and biking). awesome!
In bad training news, a friend suffered a crash and broke his collarbone and a rib and is out for 4-6 weeks, which will keep him from his Ironman race he's been training for. I'm not going to IM this year, but I'll be doing a bit of training the next few weeks in his place with Jon. We're going out for 6 hours on Saturday (4.5hr bike, 1.5hr run). Should be fun (or horrible).
The olympics swimming is over, so maybe the pool crowd will thin out and getting my laps in will be easier.
Finally in bike news
Check the results of the 212 Gut Check-- a ton of great guys raced this year. Harlan and Chris are both good friends and I'm extremely happy both of them completed the ride with time to spare. Mike killed it, averaging 19mph on the bike (and only taking an hour or so break) to complete the race in 22hours 45minutes. In case you don't know, this is a race from the Wyoming/SD border to the Minnesota/SD border all along Highway 212. A great accomplishment.
Big rides coming up include the Sanford Breast Cancer awareness ride, the Lanehogs Margarita ride, and in October the annual meeting and voting for FAB.
There's also a bit of bike-helmet related stuff going on, check your messages from FAB (and the news) for more details, but plan on riding the east side of the bike trails on Sept 6th and look for a giant FAB sign.
Next Sunday is the Yankton Triathalon. I believe it's the last tri in the area, so I'm going to drag my butt down there. The distance is within my capabilities, so I'd be foolish not to do it.
Swimming-- my earlier post that linked the "Zero to 1650" swimming training plan really works. I'm up to 1000 yards nonstop in the pool. A nice older gentleman named "Mike" has been coaching me a bit Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch. Lot's of little things that might have taken weeks or months to change got noticed right away by him. So far the lessons
breath out underwater
take smaller breaths
roll from side to side
keep 1 arm forward
keep the forward arm pointed straight out, not down
ditch the air under your hand when your hand enters the water (the catch)
don't wimp out on the push
kick for lift, not propulsion
There's more I can't think of now, but it's been much appreciated-- I'm not "great", but I'm certainly "less suck" in the water.
Kari and I started the weights on Sunday. We're doing the workout plan Joe Friel outlines in the Triathletes Training Bible... currently doing the "Anatomical Adaptation" or "get your body used to lifting weights" phase... high reps proper form low weight.
Today I hopped on the treadmill for a run after weights and ran 5 minutes at a decent clip. Nothing hurt! The new shoes (the new running store in town is great) helped, plus all the cardio (swimming and biking). awesome!
In bad training news, a friend suffered a crash and broke his collarbone and a rib and is out for 4-6 weeks, which will keep him from his Ironman race he's been training for. I'm not going to IM this year, but I'll be doing a bit of training the next few weeks in his place with Jon. We're going out for 6 hours on Saturday (4.5hr bike, 1.5hr run). Should be fun (or horrible).
The olympics swimming is over, so maybe the pool crowd will thin out and getting my laps in will be easier.
Finally in bike news
Check the results of the 212 Gut Check-- a ton of great guys raced this year. Harlan and Chris are both good friends and I'm extremely happy both of them completed the ride with time to spare. Mike killed it, averaging 19mph on the bike (and only taking an hour or so break) to complete the race in 22hours 45minutes. In case you don't know, this is a race from the Wyoming/SD border to the Minnesota/SD border all along Highway 212. A great accomplishment.
Big rides coming up include the Sanford Breast Cancer awareness ride, the Lanehogs Margarita ride, and in October the annual meeting and voting for FAB.
There's also a bit of bike-helmet related stuff going on, check your messages from FAB (and the news) for more details, but plan on riding the east side of the bike trails on Sept 6th and look for a giant FAB sign.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Single speed
Everyone seemed to think aero bars on a single speed were a waste but little did they know this would let me pretend to be a track racing star like young Phinney at the olympics.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised how easily the bike challenged the hills on the harrisburg loop. I'd almost want a little harder gearing on it... Maybe after a few more rides.
Oh- the steel is totally comfortable to ride on-nothing hurts from the ride. O may also have to consider checking position and the saddle and look for a similar setup for the race bike. I think for my next bike I will look at a surly or hampsten steel frame single that can take some big tires.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
tagged
If you could have any one — and only one — bike in the world, what would it be?
A Titanium Strada Bianca built up with Campy Record and some 35mm tires so I can take it on gravel, over grass, on the road etc.
Do you already have that coveted dream bike? If so, is it everything you hoped it would be? If not, are you working toward getting it? If you’re not working toward getting it, why not? It's a long term goal... a house and such are more important now. Maybe in a couple years (of course, my dream bike may change by then)
If you had to choose one — and only one — bike route to do every day for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
I'd say the route from wherever i live to work. that'd be good.
Do you ride both road and mountain bikes? If both, which do you prefer and why? If only one or the other, why are you so narrow-minded?
I've only ridden a proper mountain bike 1 time-- the Big Mick. Otherwise road road road (or hybrid with the kids)
Have you ever ridden a recumbent? If so, why? If not, describe the circumstances under which you would ride a recumbent.
if I had back or other medical problems that precluded me riding an upright then, yeah, I'd ride a recumbent.
Have you ever raced a triathlon?
Plan to. Note the swimming.
Suppose you were forced to either give up ice cream or bicycles for the rest of your life. Which would you give up, and why?
Ice cream. Dairy is causing all sorts of "down there" problems for me anyway.
What is my favorite thing about cycling?
exercise and fun.
A Titanium Strada Bianca built up with Campy Record and some 35mm tires so I can take it on gravel, over grass, on the road etc.
Do you already have that coveted dream bike? If so, is it everything you hoped it would be? If not, are you working toward getting it? If you’re not working toward getting it, why not? It's a long term goal... a house and such are more important now. Maybe in a couple years (of course, my dream bike may change by then)
If you had to choose one — and only one — bike route to do every day for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
I'd say the route from wherever i live to work. that'd be good.
Do you ride both road and mountain bikes? If both, which do you prefer and why? If only one or the other, why are you so narrow-minded?
I've only ridden a proper mountain bike 1 time-- the Big Mick. Otherwise road road road (or hybrid with the kids)
Have you ever ridden a recumbent? If so, why? If not, describe the circumstances under which you would ride a recumbent.
if I had back or other medical problems that precluded me riding an upright then, yeah, I'd ride a recumbent.
Have you ever raced a triathlon?
Plan to. Note the swimming.
Suppose you were forced to either give up ice cream or bicycles for the rest of your life. Which would you give up, and why?
Ice cream. Dairy is causing all sorts of "down there" problems for me anyway.
What is my favorite thing about cycling?
exercise and fun.
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