Thursday Night open water swims

The one and only Ryan-representative of all things sport in Baltimore- is pretty awesome and has initiated a group swim on Thursdays out in Gunpowder Falls State Park. No discussion has taken place on length of swim but who cares, its a group open water swim! Very exciting. Unfortunately won't be able to attend this weeks session as this Thursday is First Thursday in Mt Vernon but looking forward to next Thursday!

Open Water swims
Thursdays until its cold...
Gunpowder Falls State Park, Hammerman area
6PM-until...

To Buy or Rent...

Thinking of taking my first cycling excursion this weekend. Might as well since the plan is to sign-up for the General Smallwood Tri in September; it might be helpful to practice riding a bike beyond spinning, before the big day...

I decided before I buy any new ridiculously priced bike equipment, I figured I would rent everything just to test the proverbial waters. I telephoned Light Street Cycles in Federal Hill and got pricing on a day rental...$50 and it includes a helmet. Hmph. Yes, it is expensive for one measly day of riding but since I can't commit to anything just yet, and I don't know anyone my size that I could borrow a bike from, I figure this is my best option.

The woman seemed really nice and told me about their "bike fitting process" as well, which happens to be another additional charge. How conveeeeeenient. That's okay though cause if I do buy from them, the fitting price will ultimately go towards the bike purchase. Or I can pay for the fitting and take the measurements she gives me to another shop and buy something used, or try and find something that fits me on ebay, craigslist, etc? Lots of options...not very much money unfortunately.

Sports with limitless equipment options makes preparation difficult. I don't want to take the penny pincher route per say because I would like to do well and I equate doing well with having appropriate equipment; not for instance, riding a beach cruiser instead of a road bike. I don't like over thinking things when it comes to training either. I find flying by the seat of my pants to be the most effective training option because I have no obligations to myself and end up just doing things that are fun! But with multisports, you have to plan everything in order to make time for each discipline! Ahhh! Reminds me of my college days as a heptathlete; lifting/throwing sessions, hurdling/sprinting intervals, jumping drills, tempo runs for the 800. You had to make time for everything! I would never have competed in that event if I had to actually buy all the equipment for it, that's for sure. A Javelin alone can be close to $400! I also don't want to be "that guy" that is a sub par performer but has top of the line gear, so I figure I'll start small and build as I see fit.

B&A Trail is the proposed route for Sunday- from Bmore to Naptown. Approx 16 each way- probably a bit presumptuous of me for my first official ride. I'll take it easy though, just want to say I DID it.

Workout: 7/29
AM 2 mile run with BOMF
PM "recovery" run with Chrissie (60 min)
**recovery for Chrissie, ass kicking for me :)

Workout: 7/30
AM Swim @ Merritt- DAC
400yd warm up
3x (100yd kickboard drills, 300yd swim)
approx 1600yd workout

Track is Back!

After approximately 3 months of pool running, swimming, stationary biking, and lifting, I felt strong enough to hit the track for my first interval workout BACK! Success! Ryan had prescribed 3 sets of a gnarly 1200-800-400 ladder, 2 min recovery between intervals and sets. He was kind enough to modify the workout for me since it was my first time back- I ended up doing 2x 800-400-400 with the same recovery.

My goal was to at least run the 800's in 3:00 and the 400's in 80. I thought that was a stretch but I wouldn't be too embarrassed with those kinds of times having had so much time off. After the first 800, I felt surprisingly good...came through with the girls around 2:54? so under my 3:00 goal-phew. The 400's were a breeeeze, which REALLY threw me for a loop. I figured I would have next to NO turnover but ended up feeling really comfortable with a quicker tempo. I went 75, 74 for the 400's in this set.

Following set I sat on the 800 and ran another 2:55. This was a bit harder, telling me that I probably have some more anaerobic work to do, since the things I have been doing have been pretty slow and steady. I came back for the remaining 400's and ran with the boys to try and bring my time down a smidge. First was at 74, second came through the 200 in 35? and finished in 67 and still felt pretty good...except for the nausea that followed. No vomiting though :)

Really surprised and happy with how Tuesday Night at the Track turned out. Perhaps I will make a habit of this if the foot stays in the clear. Only setback is I have around 3 hours to kill from work to track. Sometimes that can lead to napping and subsequently not showing up to the track. I intend to fight the inclination to nap.

Workout: 7/28
AM Swim
400 warm up
3x100 tempo
400 cool down

PM Track workout (5 miles)
2 mile warm up
2x (800-400-400)
2:54-75-74
2:55-74-67
1 mile cool down

Workout Back tracking

Been a busy week overall...just getting back in gear after my vaycay. Since I started "running" again, my foot pain has become on again off again and is definitely a hindrance. Probably need to back off of the long runs this early on.

Workout: 7/14
AM Spin class @ DAC- Merritt
PM Swim, 4x400yard repeats- 2x400 w/pull buoy, 2x400 w/out

Wednesday's swim was great. Using the buoy and drilling a bit more really forces emphasis on my stroke and removes the variables of my erratic kicking. I tried to maintain the smooth strokes without the buoy and was more successful this time than previous. I decided I like the DAC pool more than some of the others, mostly because its shorter (20yds) and the water is shallow (3ft or so). Does shallow water make a difference when swimming? Maybe...

Workout: 7/15
AM short run w/ BOMF-McVet's group, 2 miles
PM run w/ Iggie's Running Club, approx 5 miles?

I felt really crappy the first 10 min of the run with the Iggie's group...my foot was clicking and shooting sporatic pains up the lateral side like it was doing before. Somehow after 10 minutes or so, it kinda subsided and I was able to finish the run. Subconsciously, I think I might be changing my form a bit to compensate but nothing else is subsequently hurting so I should be okay for now.

Workout: 7/16
Oh wait...I didn't do anything. Lazy day. I did cook dinner though. Pork tenderloin, wild rice and creamed spinach.

Santa Monica Ocean Swim

Workout 7/8: Santa Monica
2x 500yard swim
30 min run

These pictures don't seem to do the Ocean Swim speed circuit I attended this morning any justice...

I somehow managed to make it out to Santa Monica this morning for my first open water swim; thanks Mom for the ride. Me and about 75 other crazies met on the Ocean Park beach in Santa Monica at 6:15AM for their weekly ocean swim speed circuit consisting of a 500 yard out and back swim. Course found here. Upon arrival and assessing the sheer magnitude of the event, I got really nervous. I was ill prepared being a novice to this whole triathlon realm- I did not have a wetsuit OR a cap. Oh well, that meant I could just sit back and observe instead of taking part...

The group slowly makes their way over to the lifegaurd stand where an LA Tri Club group leader of sorts made some announcements about the circuit and encourages all to "have fun". At this point, I was pretty sure I was going to bail. I mustered up the courage to ask the speaker if...he had an extra cap? I knew for safety reasons, the club asked that all swimmers swim with a cap to ensure others are able to see you in the water. He didn't have one but was gracious enough to announce to the whole group that I didn't have one and asked if anyone had an extra. Sure enough, Sue, an experienced older woman was glad to loan me one. Great. That means I'm going to have to do this now...

Sans wetsuit, I made my way into the water. The tide was low so it was a smooth transition getting into the water. Surprisingly, the water was warm- A LOT warmer than the day prior up north in Ventura. Thank goodness. I started spazzing out pretty much right away and completely forgot how to breathe while swimming. I would bring my head out of the water to look ahead of me and would breathe out and then breathe in once my head was back in the water...umm obviously that's wrong. It took me sometime to find a rhythm and after I talked myself out of turning around, I was finished with my first loop! I was so excited! What a feeling of accomplishment. I decided to try another one just for good measure and this was a bit smoother but still encountered some rather large swigs of salt water; it was well worth it. Overall a phenomenal experience.

The group couldn't have been more inviting and the environment was exactly what I needed. After the swim, I joined a small group of runners for a 30 min out and back run down to the pier, across the bridge and down a nice dirt path. My feet felt ok but I was extra sore from the barefoot beach running I had attempted the day prior in Ventura. My calfs have yet to loosen up. youch.

I just can't get over the community of athletically inclined participants in the LA area. It is a beautiful thing to look around and see other people interested in the same things you are. Everyone I talked to was so supportive and super encouraging. I only hope to find a network of swimmers and cyclists like that in Baltimore.

California Update

Me and a seal in Seal Beach.

Workout: 7/4
30 min "test" run

So I'm now in Long Beach, California for the week and am enjoying some down time with my mom. Arrived just in time for the 4th of July festivities, good food, good company and a decent display of fireworks from the Queen Mary on the beach. Made time for a 3o min run before the evening festivities. This was my first run after my cortisone shot administered 48 hours prior. Things were feeling better...until I ran. At this point, I have been told that the only option after the cortisone is to go in and scope. Whatever. If the MRI shows nothing, then there is nothing and I need to just suck it up and run. So that's what I did. After about 10 minutes or so, I have a couple steps in a row where the area under my ankle will send a sharp pang that resonates through my ankle. If I adjust my foot enough to the point where I am almost supnating then I am good. At least I still remember how to run? Oh and I am ridiculously sore from running; impact on my quads is much more significant than pool running...obviously.

Workout: 7/5
20 min SLOW morning jog
2,000yd swim @ JCC-Long Beach

Run was near painless, but last 5-7 minutes I had a couple jolts or so around my ankle. Immediately iced. Swim was blah. Shared a lane with a slightly older goober who splashed a lot but was a fairly strong swimmer. Finally had to swap out when another lane opened, I blame him for all the water I swallowed.

During my stay in LBC, I have the privilege of using the JCC as my training hub :) My mom works there so its super convenient and relatively free! There are group classes throughout the week that I plan on taking (spinning/yoga), not to mention a 25yd outdoor pool. Rumor has it, there is also a yoga facility in the immediate area that holds free classes throughout the week. I will be doing some investigating and hope to attend a class or two.

Projected athletically-inclined activities...

I plan on making an overnight trip to Santa Barbara tomorrow afternoon and may be so inclined to take a surfing lesson? We will see, I might just prefer a couple sun bathing intervals and body surfing.

On Wednesday, according to the LA Tri Club website, there is an Ocean speed circuit in the AM in Santa Monica. Supposedly there is usually a substantial turn out(over 100 participants) for these workouts which means I can blend in easily, that way no one can critique my inferior swimming skills. They set up a 500m out and back swim and a running portion so athletes can do swim/run intervals of sorts...we'll see if I can make it through more than one set. ha. Here's a gmap of the loop. Afterwards, we plan on making a stop at the new Triathlon Lab- Santa Monica location that opened this past Saturday.

That's all that's on the agenda thus far. If anyone can think of anything else I should do while I'm out here, sport related or not, lemme know! For now, just more pinkberry and lots of naps.

Workout:7/1

Workout: 1600m swim @ Merritt DAC
sloooooooooow. (approx 39 min?) Why am I still so slow!?

NO TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE!

Slept through AM spinning. Ugh. Busy Afternoon. Made it to the pool briefly following Italian market shopping spree and pit stop at the local grocery. When I swam, I seriously felt like I was sinking. Things were not nearly as fluid as the last time I was in the water. My rhythm was just blech. Trying not to get discouraged for the time being...foot is feeling exactly the same; I am so over this boot.

Workout: 6/29

Swim Workout @ Merritt DAC
800m warm up
1,000m workout- 10x100m sprint (approx 2min, w/ 30 min recovery)
400m cool down

I am a slow swimmer. There is no denying it. warm up was fine, it took me less than 20 minutes to swim 800m but honestly that should take me like 10 min not almost 20. I'm getting there...
The intervals were tricky for sure. In a 20 yard pool, I have to do 5 laps to equal 100yds and the clock at the DAC pool is broken. That being said, I can't get an official time of each interval since I finish on the opposite side of the pool than my watch. Oh well. I find that as I become more fatigued during "sprints", I start breathing erratically which subsequently makes it harder. As I turn (NOT a flip turn) I notice I push off the wall while holding my breath, and upon every breath I take, I hold my breath for a couple seconds once my head is submerged again. The rythym during faster swims is not quite there yet.

6/25: Workout

PM Workout: Swim/Pool Run
5x400m @ 8 min
30min pool run @ effort, last 5 min w/out belt

I am now wearing a boot on my right foot so I am forcing myself to be extra vigilant in not putting extra stress on my foot. That includes no biking, erging and the obvious-running. Therefore I am back to the pool! I decided to split up the mile swim that I am now able to accomplish, into intervals so I could try working on "picking up the pace"...which is a relative expression when you are swimming at the pace of an 80 year old woman. Intervals went well, felt smooth and breathing has been much more consistent as of late. Yes!

The Pool run was fine. Unless I am actively ramping intensity up and down during intervals, I feel like I'm not really accomplishing anything. Hopefully my heartrate was up a bit, definitely removing the water belt the last 5 minutes made it difficult. At that point, form was not a factor :)

6/23: Workout

AM Pool Swim: 1500m, 38 min

I swam my first mile without stopping! Huge breakthrough for me. I was able to regulate my breathing and RELAAAAAX. It definitely wasn't physically demanding but surely was an accomplishment in my book.

Lunch Crossfit Workout:
8x deep squats for 20 sec, 10 sec off (in squat position)
8x push ups for 2o sec, 10 sec off (in plank position)
3x kettle bells with 25 lbs for 40 sec, 20 sec off
3x Squat, Push Press with 45 lb bar, 4o sec, 20 sec off
3x Horizontal pull-up for 40 sec, 20 sec off

First two exercises were intense with such short rest in active position and so many sets. I think the quality of the sets would have been higher if there were less sets or not active time off in between sets. The lighter weight but non-stop reps felt good for muscle endurance but was definitely a challenge. I love feeling like I got a legit workout done in just 30 minutes; to me, that in itself is one of the strengths of crossfit. You are in and out and feel like you accomplish a hell of a lot. I just wish form was stressed more with their workouts. It tends to be more brawn then grace, leading to a musculature I've observed to be more bulky then defined. Food for thought :)

Workout: 6/20

After a morning of torrential rain while cheering on runners at the Baltimore 10 Miler, I mustered just enough energy to go to the gym. I decided swimming would be more exotic than the stationary bike or erg machine so I opted for the pool.

1500m swim: approx. 40 min *Yeah, I know I am slow.
600m, 400m, 400m, 400m
(40m breath stroke rest btwn. intervals)

I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate swimming. I am not a rhythmic breather and find that having to regulate my breathing in between strokes requires more strategy and patience than I am equipped with. I will admit over the last 2-3 weeks, I have improved from only being able to swim 4-6 laps without stopping to a full 20-30 laps. Trust me, it's not graceful but I am getting it done.

Pool running:
30 min moderate pace

Pool running or "aqua jogging" as some like to call it, is sometimes a struggle at the Merritt- DAC. Ideally, pool running would take place in the deep end of a pool (8-12ft). Unfortunately, the whole pool is only 4ft.

I found this link from a running website to be especially helpful as it provides specific pool workouts, other than just...running.

Post-workout nap: approx. 45 min

To me, this part of the workout is as essential as the workout itself. Cuddling with puppy is optional but highly encouraged to hasten recovery.