Well, the great race weekend in Western Maryland and West Virginia wasn't to be.
Thursday, HankTheDog came down with an cough that needed to be dealt with. After a vet appt on Friday, when it hadn't gotten any better, I canceled my plans to travel and race for the weekend and stay home to monitor him. He seems to be doing a bit better now....
Anyway, the great race weekend in West Va (Cheat Race, 5k, bike ride) turned into a lost weekend with my sleeping nearly 11-12 hours each night. I didn't do the local 5k with Team Z cause I was asleep - and missed the Sunday bike ride for the same reason. I did run Saturday afternoon but took yesterday off and did, well, alot of nothing. Hate the lost days. Idleness is the vacation time of fools - a wise man once said.
Anyway, up early-ish today and got my run in (with WeezerTheDog) first thing - to fight the inertia that was taking over. Now onto getting lots done today, hopefully, as penance for the lost weekend.
Lotsa rain lately and creeks are up. May try to get a quick paddle in on CJ creek for lunch.....
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Race Weekend #2 - Colony Zones Swim meet
Patriot Masters Colony Zones Swim Meet
I can't believe I did a swim meet. My first ever. I lived.
Team Z signed up en masse for the distance events at the Colony Zones meets - 1000 meter and 1650. I was a little late to the registration so I signed up for the 1000, not sure what to expect. After fighting DC rush hour, nearly getting lost, and squeaking in just at the cut off - I made it.
I'm not a good swimmer. Due to my uncle's premature drowning, my mom had me learn how "not to drown" more so than how to swim. After years of doing whitewater swims on the river and in rescue clinics, my technique was non-existent. After TNT last year and some personal coaching, I can swim now - sorta. With some effort. Occasionally, I breathe. Randomly, I'll move through the water in a relatively straight line.
Due to my years as a whitewater kayaker, open water doesn't particularly intimidate me. I kinda like it and enjoy being able to swim outside. That doesn't really translate to the pool.
Anyway, I had a good experience at the Colony Zones. I started in the 8th heat with the woman next to me a real ringer. Seriously, by the 4th length, she had already lapped me. That actually relaxed me a bit and I was able to swim more consistently instead of feeling like I needed to keep up.
My times:
Generally, a good time. Swimming's not strong for me but I'm having a good time learning.
A few pics from the event:
I can't believe I did a swim meet. My first ever. I lived.
Team Z signed up en masse for the distance events at the Colony Zones meets - 1000 meter and 1650. I was a little late to the registration so I signed up for the 1000, not sure what to expect. After fighting DC rush hour, nearly getting lost, and squeaking in just at the cut off - I made it.
I'm not a good swimmer. Due to my uncle's premature drowning, my mom had me learn how "not to drown" more so than how to swim. After years of doing whitewater swims on the river and in rescue clinics, my technique was non-existent. After TNT last year and some personal coaching, I can swim now - sorta. With some effort. Occasionally, I breathe. Randomly, I'll move through the water in a relatively straight line.
Due to my years as a whitewater kayaker, open water doesn't particularly intimidate me. I kinda like it and enjoy being able to swim outside. That doesn't really translate to the pool.
Anyway, I had a good experience at the Colony Zones. I started in the 8th heat with the woman next to me a real ringer. Seriously, by the 4th length, she had already lapped me. That actually relaxed me a bit and I was able to swim more consistently instead of feeling like I needed to keep up.
My times:
6 McIntyre, Jeff 41 CUBU 20:00.00 18:25.20I had listed 20min as my estimated time for 1000m - finished in 18:25. Hard to be disappointed in that. Thanks to everyone that cheered from the side of the pool as I put a final kick in to try to finish strong - and to Mike for holding the placards underwater to let me see how many laps I had done.
44.27 1:34.19 (49.92)
2:27.34 (53.15) 3:20.43 (53.09)
4:17.02 (56.59) 5:16.68 (59.66)
6:16.60 (59.92) 7:15.58 (58.98)
8:12.23 (56.65) 9:10.60 (58.37)
10:07.61 (57.01) 11:04.18 (56.57)
12:00.38 (56.20) 12:55.73 (55.35)
13:52.52 (56.79) 14:49.63 (57.11)
15:45.90 (56.27) 16:41.52 (55.62)
17:36.36 (54.84) 18:25.20 (48.84)
Generally, a good time. Swimming's not strong for me but I'm having a good time learning.
A few pics from the event:
Next up...Cheat Race!
Race Weekend #1 - Rumpass in Bumpass
The Rumpass in Bumpass!
Gotta admit - that's a cool name for a race. It reminded me of my youth, watching wrestling on TV from the Greenville Memorial Auditorium every Saturday morning. Anything with a name like that was worth participating in.
So, my first (and possibly only) Olympic distance race of the year - and my first race as a Team Z member. I wasn't feeling confident going into it. After some bi-coastal travel for work, I had been down with a flu/respiratory infection type thing that waited for allergy season to stop -I felt like I was sick almost 5 straight weeks. No fun, training was pitiful when it happened.
So, my friend - referred to here as "Brooks" hits me up to commit to the Bumpass Int'l race. I had been thinking of doing just the Sprint - due to that lack of confidence - but decided to hold true to my promise and signed up for the longer race.
In short, I took almost 10 min off my personal best from Philly. Most of that was made on the swim whereI finished in 33 min. Despite my getting lost on the course several times, it's the fastest I've ever done that split. I did come out of the water a little dizzy - and the swim itself was as hard as it always is for me. But...I never went on my back to get my breath. I'm quite happy of that. Maybe one day I'll learn to swim in a straight line.T1 was smooth, bike felt weak to me. Alex (behind me in the pic) and I leapfrogged each other several times before she dropped me. Not sure what's going on with my riding. I generally think I'm strong on the bike but race day showed no improvements from past seasons. Time was around 1:20-ish.
T2 was fast. 9th in my age group. Even then, I thought I was a little disorganized and can get faster also.
The run went fine also. 10k in 55 which is a normal speed for me. Two laps - where I did a negative split. Saw lots of other folks really suffering due to heat and/or exertion on the run. generally, I felt like my run got easier the longer I was out there. No major problems. Due to the tight hamstring, I took it a little slow and was glad I did.
At the end, I take almost 10 min off my personal best in a race I almost didn't do because I didn't feel confident. How strange. I came off it feeling a little strange because I set my personal record but still made ons of mistake. For me, that means I need to get my head in the game a bit more and pay attention to the sysling and running more - two areas I've taken for granted a bit.Finally, let me say that having the Team Z set up at the course for after the race rocked. Many of us when back into the water to ice bath our legs and cool down - and Coach Ed had a great setup of drinks, grilled food, and chairs to hang out in. A really, really great day.
Zzzzz - Team Z, that is.
After last year's tri training, I really wanted something to maintain my training. "Race to train" my friend Leslie said. "Don't train to race." Wise words, I thought. How to best accomplish that?
Les turned me on to the tri group she had joined - Team Z (http://www.triteamz.com/). A local collection of triathletes and aspiring triathletes that train and race together. It's very cool - all ages, all capabilities, and very social, as well.
Since I did the race with TNT last year, I've also switched jobs. Leaving APA after 15 years wasn't easy but the time was right to join Children Now as their Director of National Policy. As such, I work from home and was looking for a group I could hook up with where I could get some training, a bit of a social outlet, and maybe an occassional weekend away. Team Z has been the perfect fit.
Les turned me on to the tri group she had joined - Team Z (http://www.triteamz.com/). A local collection of triathletes and aspiring triathletes that train and race together. It's very cool - all ages, all capabilities, and very social, as well.
Since I did the race with TNT last year, I've also switched jobs. Leaving APA after 15 years wasn't easy but the time was right to join Children Now as their Director of National Policy. As such, I work from home and was looking for a group I could hook up with where I could get some training, a bit of a social outlet, and maybe an occassional weekend away. Team Z has been the perfect fit.
Back again.....
Well, it's been too, too long since I posted. I've continued to do triathlons - so I've decided to start posting again. Not sure how often or how many of these I'll do - or how training specific it will be.
But, if the secret to getting ahead is getting started....let's begin...
First, a review. After finishing the TNT program and the Philadelphia race, I did two other races
in '08 - Montclair and Nation's. Montclair was more than a sprint, less than an international distance race - and was really, really hot. Several other TNT'ers joined me for that race. generally a fun course.
Nation's was a lesson learned. I relied on my base fitness to get me through it - thinking that alate September race would be a nice way to spend the day. I maintained most of my training but didn't dedicate. Unfortunately, Mother Nature got in the way. Weather the day of the race was a very unusual 95F with humidity in the 90's also. It was miserable. I saw several racers getting IV's on the course, a biker almost go over the side of Whitehurst freeway, and lots of people suffering. I was one of them. I hurt the entire race. Swim was hard, Bike was painful - back and legs were aching. And, the run was not fun. The lap around Hains Point was one of the more un-fun things I've done.
That said, I finished. And I finished - and only a minute or two off my Philly time. I saw that I was going to be close to breaking that time, put a kick in to sprint to the finish - and felt my left hamstring pull. "Pull" is such an understatement and doesn't do justice to what it felt like. I had hit the carpet, 100 yards from the finish line, the hamstring pulled - and I nearly went down. I was going to finish, even if I had to crawl.
The finish pictures are pretty funny. Along with all the TNT'ers raising their hands in triumph, I limp across the finish line, holding my leg like I've been shot. Hot, exhausted, in much pain - I was swarmed by EMT folks thinking I was having heat stroke or a heart attack. When I brushed them off and said "cramp! cramp!" - they all but disappeared. I think there were molks folks in more dire straits that day.
But, if the secret to getting ahead is getting started....let's begin...
First, a review. After finishing the TNT program and the Philadelphia race, I did two other races
in '08 - Montclair and Nation's. Montclair was more than a sprint, less than an international distance race - and was really, really hot. Several other TNT'ers joined me for that race. generally a fun course.
Nation's was a lesson learned. I relied on my base fitness to get me through it - thinking that alate September race would be a nice way to spend the day. I maintained most of my training but didn't dedicate. Unfortunately, Mother Nature got in the way. Weather the day of the race was a very unusual 95F with humidity in the 90's also. It was miserable. I saw several racers getting IV's on the course, a biker almost go over the side of Whitehurst freeway, and lots of people suffering. I was one of them. I hurt the entire race. Swim was hard, Bike was painful - back and legs were aching. And, the run was not fun. The lap around Hains Point was one of the more un-fun things I've done.
That said, I finished. And I finished - and only a minute or two off my Philly time. I saw that I was going to be close to breaking that time, put a kick in to sprint to the finish - and felt my left hamstring pull. "Pull" is such an understatement and doesn't do justice to what it felt like. I had hit the carpet, 100 yards from the finish line, the hamstring pulled - and I nearly went down. I was going to finish, even if I had to crawl.The finish pictures are pretty funny. Along with all the TNT'ers raising their hands in triumph, I limp across the finish line, holding my leg like I've been shot. Hot, exhausted, in much pain - I was swarmed by EMT folks thinking I was having heat stroke or a heart attack. When I brushed them off and said "cramp! cramp!" - they all but disappeared. I think there were molks folks in more dire straits that day.
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