POOL Swim

With the weather being significantly cooler up here now, I think the days of open water swims are done. I booked a time in the now open YMCA pool. 45 minute time slots, and only one person per lane. This morning was my first pool swim since March 13th. I keep my written workouts in zippy bags and I chose the workout that was on top because it seemed like the right amount of yards for the 45 minutes of pool time I had. I was right. 

Nothing crazy in this swim and it turns out I do remember how to do flip turns too! I was actually pretty pleased with my times for the first time back in the pool.

But the 45 minutes goes by fast and then they kick you out.

So a good way to start the morning.

Flats and Long Rides

I have been getting a ton of flat tires. Nearly every ride now. So I decided to order some new tires. I put the new Conti GP5000 tires on yesterday (conference calls are good for something), and I am hoping that it will prevent some of the flats that I have had.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Adam said I should ride the road by his house. He said the road is good and it would make a nice out and back for me. So I rode part of it last week and he was right. So this weekend, with my last long ride planned, I did a full 56 mile bike ride as an out and back.

It has a lot of rolling hills, but only a couple of small chain ring hills on it. But that makes it more challenging. It was gusty winds today out of the northwest. So most of the first half was into the winds. I was getting blown all over the place, especially when I would come out of the trees into an open field. Good practice though.

Good ride, my legs are jelly, but I have a really good idea what to expect in my race in two weeks.

Racing!!!

I just signed up for the Aqua-Bike division of the Square Lake 70.3 triathlon! I debated signing up for the whole triathlon, but while I have been running some, it has been slow and short runs only. Injuries still slowing me down with my running. But I have been doing a bunch of swimming and biking so thats the perfect way to end the season!

Beautiful Sunrises on Lake Superior

 The winds and weather here in the last week have contributed to amazing swim experiences on Lake Superior. Warm and calm water, and beautiful sunrises. Almost a religious experience.

First Century Ride!!

Heck YEA!!!!!

It was a great day for a ride. Started off in the low 60's and was upper 70's when I finished. Mix of sun and clouds. Wind was light for the first 3rd and then picked up and changed directions for the rest of the ride.

I had no goals for this ride other than to finish. I had struggled towards the end of the last couple of long rides that I did, so I wasn't sure how the last 30 miles were going to go.

I did a 40 mile loop back to my house, then a quick pit stop, and bottle refill and I was back on the road. I had planned another 40 mile out and back for a second refill, but the weather was cooler so I played it by ear. I had plenty of fluids left at the planned turnaround so I went the extra 10 miles out.

I actually felt amazingly good for the first 85 miles, and then my butt was like "get me off this bike" and my legs were starting to complain about all the power I had asked of them for the last 3.5 hours.

So the last 45 minutes was a mental game to finish. Talking myself to the next stop sign where I would give my butt a break, and convincing my legs that we were almost done. 

BTW, am I weird for talking to various body parts during these things?

So overall I am SUPER happy with how this turned out. I felt good the whole time, the legs got tired at the end which didn't surprise me. I put out some great power on this ride, kept the HR reasonably in control and overall had a good time.

Now time to relax!

Mid-Summer Reflections

Well COVID has certainly changed our lives. I started out the year thinking that I would be opening a new office for my company in Phoenix and I was going to move there April 1st. With COVID quarantine, layoffs at my company, all of that was put on hold, and basically I know in my heart that it isn't going to happen for a long while now.

I have used this time to make myself better and I have been doing a bunch of training too. I don't know if races are going to happen or not this year, but I will use the time I have to keep improving.

The open water swim group has been a welcomed respite from the daily working from home routine. One of those swimmers celebrated his birthday with a group triathlon at his house followed by a couple of adult beverages. What a fun way to spend an evening and aside from everyone wearing a mask and social distancing, you wouldn't even know there was a pandemic going on.

My worlds race in Amsterdam was postponed a year, just as I suspected. But thats ok, it gives me another year to train for that distance. It turns out that biking 112 miles is a long way.

I am thankful for my health, my job, and my friends. I am lucky and I know it.

Positive thoughts always.

Bike Fail...Then Success

I had a 4 hour ride on my training plan yesterday. The weather was outstanding low 60's when I left, sunny and no wind. After a train delay, all hell broke loose. I felt great for this ride, the bike however, is not cooperating. Flat tire, 30 minute change. Then another 6-8 miles and it went flat again. With only the one tube, I then got a ride home.

Took the tire to LBS, pinched tube. All fixed. Get home, reinstall wheels and now the rear derailleur wont shift. I guess it is time to call it a day. I did take the bike to the LBS, he put it on the stand and it shifted fine. Go figure.

Frustrating, but nothing I can do.

Tried again today and there were no issues with the bike today! The weather was actually probably better today than yesterday as the temps were the same, but there was overcast skies most of the time. A great day to ride a bike.

For 3 hours the ride was great, I felt good and strong and then at 3:01 my body was like "nope, I'm done, my legs are tired, lets pedal home slowly." Looking at my last 3 laps of data its pretty obvious.

My legs were just jelly the last hour, so frustrating. I felt pretty good otherwise, I felt well hydrated this time and ate on my planned schedule. I felt hungry though. I wanted food and not gels.

Late in the ride I started to get a headache (still have it) and I don't think it is dehydration this time as I drank a lot. I am wondering if it is salt? I don't think of myself as a salty sweater but my kit had signs of salt sweat deposits. I drank only water for the last 3 hours of the ride. Perhaps I need an electrolyte drink.

So I guess I will keep working on my nutrition and hydration and my leg endurance. That's why we do these practice rides right?

But I hit my stretch goal today of 21mph and 85 miles. It was dead calm out so that helped. I am super happy and also super tired.