8/7/06 Workout – Swim

The pool’s open again, so I went for a swim this morning. Again, 3 quarter-miles at a time. The first quarter mile took me 9:38 to finish – heartrate was at 164 after that. I let it settle down to the 120s and went again. The second one took me 10:59, with the same heartrate. The third took me 11:31. Not bad overall. An improvement, I believe. It was hard, though.

I changed my stroke technique, which shaved 8 strokes off each lap. I had read the swimming technique chapter of Eric Harr’s Triathlon Training in 6 weeks book, and was trying to follow what I could remember. Front quadrant swimming, using the hand and forearm as the “paddle”, keeping a right-angle at my elbow, and pulling with an “S” shape. It was harder than not doing any of that, and my arm muscles are sore. But it seems that it works. I also changed to wearing contacts while I swim. I’ll need to do that when swimming in open water for sightings, and thought I should just start getting used to it.

My first bike-out

Thoughts after my first bike ride.  I’m not able to go anywhere near as far as I thought I would be able to, and … it hurts!  The seat hurts, my legs burn, and the posture just isn’t any fun.  I think I’ll take more care to stretch before my next bike.  I didn’t do any today.  I’ve read that I’ll get used to the seat – that I’ll create callouses.  Boy, I can’t wait for that!  I’m also pretty slow.  3 miles in just over 15 minutes?  People RUN faster than that! Ha. 

I did get passed by another biker.  I was encouraged – his bike had aero bars on it, so assumed that he is a triathlete.  It was a mountain bike, so I could be wrong.  But it was nice thinking someone else was out for the same reason as me.

I was able to adapt to the toe clips pretty easily.  I thought that it would be more awkward, but they were okay.  Trying to remember to pull up with my legs was interesting.  I think I was doing it.

Well.  Now I’ve begun training in all three sports.  My weight is … approximately the same, up a little.  I’m not too worried about that.  I had a bad week.  Having a hurt ankle prevented me from exercising, and moving has prevented us from eating home cooked meals until last night – which meant we were eating out every night.  Not healthy.

This next week is looking pretty good.  I’m going to start rotating my exercises – Swim, Bike, Run, repeat.  Yay!

8/4/06 Workout – Bike

Today was my first bike workout.  Overall, it was hard.  I rode approximately 3 miles in around 15 minutes.  I stopped between miles for a quick drink and a check of my pulse.  It hovered around 150.  Probably where I need to be. 

It’s tough, and I’m not too pleased with my performance this morning, but if I just keep it up I’ll build a base.  That’s all I’m trying to do now anyway.

Ankle’s away!

Well, the injury seems to be getting better, at least.  I thought about working out this morning, but I figured I’d give it one more day’s rest.  I have acquired a few new items, though.  The most exciting is that I have been loaned a bike by my good friend Jason.  He showed me how to work it (I thought I knew how bikes worked, but apparently things have changed since my … erm … BMX days :) ), and I got it home last night.  I was excited to go this morning, but my wife convinced me to give my ankle one more day.  I’m not limping any more, but it does start to hurt if I stand on it for too long.  The other acquisition is a pair of triathlon shorts.  I bought them online, so I’m not sure of the fit, but the price was right, the product seems to be good quality, and according to the sizing charts, they SAY they’ll fit!

Well, either way, I am planning on going for a ride tomorrow morning.  It will be my first, and I’m excited.

No Workouts?

I haven’t worked out since Friday, July 28th.  Why?  We’ve been moving.  We moved this weekend, and that was enough exercise for me!  Yesterday we were finishing cleaning the old house and as I was walking down my driveway I rolled my ankle … nothing more than that, just a roll.  It seemed to be fine for most of the rest of the day, but after we picked up some stuff out of storage and brought it back o the new place, I could barely walk on it.  I iced it for the rest of the night, and am wearing an ankle brace today.  It seems like it’s a slight sprain.  It shouldn’t do much more than keep me from running for the next couple of days.  The pool is closed, so there’s no swimming, either.  Well, I’ll get back to it as soon as possible.