Monday, May 19, 2008
Aero toy
I heard about these from some competitive cyclist friends. I saw one at Columbia and talked to the owner. I read the favorable reviews. So I bit. I ordered one today.What, a $1675 disk wheel? Good grief, no, that's almost what I paid for my whole bike.
No, a $60 wheel cover. Heck, that's less than I paid for my cool new competition tri-top (which was worth every cent - it performed fabulously well throughout the day yesterday even though it's a bit too tight yet).
If wheel covers help boost my speed at Eagleman in combination with my geeky aero helmet, even if the effect is only psychological, they will be worth it.
Labels: gear
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Best shirt I saw today
Back from Columbia
Back from Columbia! And I finished, for my 4th trip around this course!! And (despite my horrible negative expectations after being sick for ~6 weeks) I had a great deal of fun, too!
I heard Chris Lieto won and set a course record (which means Macca did not win) but that's just rumor. Weather was perfect for the earlier waves - started to sprinkle a bit when I started the run, though.
One really nice thing they did (I love all the races they manage) was print people's results after the finish line on small cards, so we had instant timing results. I'm sure I finished way at the bottom of my age group, but I'm happy with that after starting the day not really expecting to finish.
I heard Chris Lieto won and set a course record (which means Macca did not win) but that's just rumor. Weather was perfect for the earlier waves - started to sprinkle a bit when I started the run, though.
One really nice thing they did (I love all the races they manage) was print people's results after the finish line on small cards, so we had instant timing results. I'm sure I finished way at the bottom of my age group, but I'm happy with that after starting the day not really expecting to finish.
- Swim: 33:18 (Olympic PR)
- T1: 6:54 (took a nap and squandered every bit of the extra time I gained in the swim - even though I did have a crummy rack spot with nearly the longest bike run-out on wet slippery grass).
- Bike: 1:46:11 (my 2nd fastest on this brutal course - watched my HR to keep it from spiking and spun slowly up all the hills seated)
- T2: 3:06 (another siesta)
- Run: 1:15:55 (my 2nd fastest on this course - even watching my HR and walking every time it hit 175 except the last 2 miles, but started coughing quite a bit)
- Finish: 3:45:23 (2nd fastest on this course by about one minute)
More details may follow in a long report, some day....
Labels: race results
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Heading to Columbia
My fourth time at Columbia Olympic Triathlon already!? It's hard to believe!
Non-existent training for the last six weeks gives me low expectations for this one. If I'm not feeling well I'm going to STOP and not finish.
So that leads into my goals for the day:
1. Feel good and have fun! Enjoy the day and my healthy recovery from an extended bout of pneumonia!
2. Finish the course and collect my medal.
3. If possible, beat my time from previous years: 2007 - 3:57, or even 2006 - 3:44.
But I'll be the most surprised person out there if I pull off #3 - that's not supported by my current lack of training and fitness. I'm hoping for a little boost by starting in a much earlier wave this year - surrounded by people actually racing instead of dispirited stragglers, and cooler temperatures. That should help.
I'm just going out there and let the day unfold however it unfolds and enjoy the fact that I CAN do it. At least I can on the good days.
Non-existent training for the last six weeks gives me low expectations for this one. If I'm not feeling well I'm going to STOP and not finish.
So that leads into my goals for the day:
1. Feel good and have fun! Enjoy the day and my healthy recovery from an extended bout of pneumonia!
2. Finish the course and collect my medal.
3. If possible, beat my time from previous years: 2007 - 3:57, or even 2006 - 3:44.
But I'll be the most surprised person out there if I pull off #3 - that's not supported by my current lack of training and fitness. I'm hoping for a little boost by starting in a much earlier wave this year - surrounded by people actually racing instead of dispirited stragglers, and cooler temperatures. That should help.
I'm just going out there and let the day unfold however it unfolds and enjoy the fact that I CAN do it. At least I can on the good days.
Labels: race plans
Friday, May 16, 2008
I need a tiara medal
Don't I?
I haven't hit the "enter" button quite yet, but it's getting close. . . . jeez, $120 for a lousy half marathon, can't believe Disney is sucking me in again.
But I'm thinking it might be too difficult to run 13.1 miles in a purple shell bra and fishtail. Maybe I should go for the Princess Fiona look instead. It suits my physique better, too.
Labels: Evil Disney
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Minor unrelated rant
Prompted by a post on a funny blog:
http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2008/05/15/the-more-you-know/
Barista.
So why do people who work at coffee shops get glamorized by a special Italian title?
Why not walistas for people who work at Walmart?
Or "in service to His Majesty" for people who work at Burger King?
Or....
http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2008/05/15/the-more-you-know/
Barista.
So why do people who work at coffee shops get glamorized by a special Italian title?
Why not walistas for people who work at Walmart?
Or "in service to His Majesty" for people who work at Burger King?
Or....
Labels: apropos of nothing
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Launching my comeback
My comeback started yesterday with an "all clear" check of my lungs at the doctor*, and then a 5K run around the neighborhood today.
Today:
5K workout (flat) in 37:35
5.6 pounds heavier
No coughing while running finally for the first time in weeks and weeks (though I did have some spells last night). That's the good news.
So 14 weeks of recovery and climbing back out of the Sucking Cesspool of Bad Lungs will take me to the end of August before I'm completely right again. Hopefully.
So the Nation's Triathlon will be my Comeback Race this year. The other several triathlons and road races that I have coming up before then will be simply races to complete the distance without keeling over.
*I also got a tetanus-diptheria-pertussis vaccination, which adults can get now, so we can cross off the additional threat of whooping cough to the precarious health of my lungs. Plus a prescription for Zyrtec (which is over-the-counter now, but cheaper to me by prescription) so maybe that will improve my body's reaction to Pollen Overload Season. Which set off this whole nasty chain of events.
Today:
5K workout (flat) in 37:35
5.6 pounds heavier
No coughing while running finally for the first time in weeks and weeks (though I did have some spells last night). That's the good news.
So 14 weeks of recovery and climbing back out of the Sucking Cesspool of Bad Lungs will take me to the end of August before I'm completely right again. Hopefully.
So the Nation's Triathlon will be my Comeback Race this year. The other several triathlons and road races that I have coming up before then will be simply races to complete the distance without keeling over.
*I also got a tetanus-diptheria-pertussis vaccination, which adults can get now, so we can cross off the additional threat of whooping cough to the precarious health of my lungs. Plus a prescription for Zyrtec (which is over-the-counter now, but cheaper to me by prescription) so maybe that will improve my body's reaction to Pollen Overload Season. Which set off this whole nasty chain of events.
Labels: running, training, workouts
Monday, May 12, 2008
I pay for convenience
Yep, I bought these today.
The best fitness food! The perfect protein! Excellent pre-race meal and foremost recovery food! And . . . the ultimate in culinary laziness!
Hard-boiled eggs in a bag. Pre-boiled and peeled.
Kind of rubbery but the girls like them.
Labels: Food
