Week #3 – Ahhhhhh!!!!

Dec 052011
 

My training regimen called for 3 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles on Wednesday, 3 miles on Thursday and 6 miles on Saturday and I ran 3 miles on Monday and that was all the running I did for the week.

I’m not going to bore you with all the excuses I could come up with, but my two businesses are keeping me very busy and I’m finding it difficult to find time to fit my running in.  I know I need to make running somehting that I can’t slide on, but I do have many other priorities and things I’m trying to accomplish and running gets put on the side-burner . . . Hopefully my Running Brother can help keep me motivated.

The Running Brothers Week #2 Fail

Nov 282011
 

When we started training for the 2012 L.A. Marathon, I planned on doing everything Hal Higdon’s 18-Week Marathon Training Program exactly as it was prescribed.  In week #2, I failed miserably.

This week I did no running of any kind . . . except in my weekly Sunday soccer game.  It’s dissappointing to say the least, but I do have my fair share of excuses.  My businesses have kept me extremely busy the past couple of weeks and it was Thanksgiving and we had a lot of different family activities to perform. 

I’m not proud of myself, but I can feel ok with myself not having trained last week.  This week I have a lot of work today, but hopefully I can get way ahead.  Today, I’m going to work my butt of so I can be sure to resume my training for week #3.

This weeks schedule as prescribed by Hal Higdon:

  • Tuesday – 3 miles
  • Wednesday – 5 miles
  • Thursday – 3 miles
  • Saturday – 6 miles

 

The Best of Intentions Aren’t Enough

Nov 232011
 

My plan was to follow Hal Higdon’s Marathon Training program exactly as it was perscribed on his website. 

On Tuesday, Day #1 of my training, I laced up my running shoes and prepared for a late night jog.  I downloaded the iMapMyRun+ application to my Smart Phone and ran my scheduled 2 miles . . . or so I thought.  When I woke up the next morning, I read my last blog post, The Running Brothers Are Back!!! only to realize I was supposed to run 3 miles.  As Rick Perry would say . . . Oops!

So, on the first day of training I already had veared away from my training program and on Wednesday I continued to procrastinate on my 5 mile run until I convinced myself it was ok not to do it at all. 

On Thursday, my brother met up with me and we ran the 5 miles I was supposed to run on Wednesday and skipped the 3 miles I was supposed to do on Thursday entirely. 

Saturday was a busy day, so Rocky and I decided to do our long run on Sunday after our soccer game.  We were tired but still managed to work up enough energy to go on our run.  Half way through the run the rain came and did not stop the rest of the way.  It was a downpour, but we continued on and completed our 8 mile run on Sunday.

Although I had the best of intentions, I failed to follow through the program completely.  But, I suppose it’s definitely better than nothing.  I plan on making up the three miles I missed last week.  So, with that in mind, here is my training schedule for Week #2.

  • Tuesday = 4 miles
  • Wednesday = 6 miles
  • Thursday = 4 miles
  • Saturday = 9 miles

*I added one mile to each day of the week to compensate for the 3 miles I missed last week.  Hopefully I’ll do a better job sticking to the training schedule this week then I did in Week #1

 

My Brother Pees After The San Luis Obispo Triathlon

Oct 152011
 

Because my brother had his appendix removed the day before The San Luis Obispo Triathlon, he could not complete our second triathlon.  Fortunately, the Triathlon course took me right by the hospital my brother was staying at and I was able to complete it and still be close enough to my brother in case he needed me. 

My brother was hoping he would be released on the day of the Triathlon, but unfortunately the anesthesia they gave him made it impossible for him to pee.  The doctor’s needed to make sure that he could pee before they could release him from the hospital.

When I came to visit my brother the next day, he was proudly displaying his urine for all to see with a huge grin on his face.  He was going to be released from the hospital.  After a wild and adventurous weekend The Running Brothers left San Luis Obispo with one 60th CSPA Anniversary under their belt, one completed Triathlon and one less appendix then they came with.

The SLO Triathlon is Over…Off to Visit the Other Running Brother in the Hospital

Oct 092011
 

I had just completed the San Luis Obispo Triathlon and went to visit my brother in the hospital, the day after his appendix had to be removed.  I came into the hospital full of sweat and came running into his room to see how he was doing.  He smiled upon my arrival and I detailed every aspect of the race I had just completed.  I could see in his eyes how proud he was of me. 

Once my family arrived I decided to honor my brother by bequeething him the medal that I had just received for completing the San Luis Obispo Triathlon.  He put it on and smiled.

The San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Run

Sep 012011
 

At the transition zone, I jumped off my bike and my legs, still used to moving from the pedals got me started on my run.  I have never immediately started running after getting off the bike, but it was an interesting feeling.  My legs seemed to move as if I was still pedalling.  I was definitely running faster than my legs wanted to, but they were used to that motion and continued to move quickly despite me trying to slow them down.

I got tired quickly on the run and despite my goal always being to run the whole way, I had to walk.  Briefly, I walked in order to catch my breath which was heavy from the swim, the bike, and the breakfast burrito I had eaten earlier that morning.  I caught my breath fairly quickly and was able to do sporadic bursts of runs in between my walks.

The run was hillier than the bike ride was.  Steep elevation changes occurred throughout the run, making it difficult to catch my breath and run the entire course.  I ran through the train station and onto the road which would lead me to the hospital my brother was staying at. 

I wanted to run by the hospital and pound on his window, letting him know that I had ran right past him, but it was out of the way and I couldn’t be certain that I would be pounding on the wrong window and disturbing someone who might be seriously ill.  As I ran past the hospital, my Mom was outside cheering me on. 

I pushed forward up the enourmous hill and once I reached the top, I knew I was at the home stretch.  The rest of the race was downhill and I was able to fly.  I let my legs take over and I ran as fast as I could down the final straightaway when I heard my name through the speakers, announcing everyone of my presence.

My Dad and sister were there waiting for me at the finish line.  The race was complete.  But somehow it felt incomplete.  The other Running Brother was not there.  It has always been a great feeling for me to cheer my brother on after I have beaten him and I was looking forward to doing it again.  But, he was in the hospital.

After the race, we quickly gathered our things and went to visit our brother at the hospital.  I was eager to tell him everything I had done and everything he had missed out on.

 

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Bike

Aug 292011
 

Dripping wet, I jogged to the transition zone and planted myself next to my bike.  I quickly dried off my feet with a towel, put on my socks and shoes, and strapped on my helmet. 

I took my Cannondale bicycle and headed for the starting station of the bike ride and away I went. 

My breathing was heavy and my heart was racing.  The beginning of the bike ride was going smoothly, I was continually passing bicyclists through the streets of San Luis Obispo.  Very quickly, I found myself on Orcutt Road and knew I was going to be in trouble.  Orcutt Road is not flat.  The road continually goes up and down for miles with steep up and down slopes. 

By this time, I have realized that the bike is probably the weekest part of the triathlon for me and these steep hills were going to be a problem. 

On mile 3, I approached this huge hill and thought I was going to have to get off my bike to walk it up the hill.  I resisted the urge and continued to peddle strongly until I made it to the top and coasted down the hill.   For 15 miles it was a long bike ride going up and down hills and I was getting passed by many bike riders, but I think all in all I passed just as many bike riders as who had passed me. 

Nothing made me happier than to reach the transition zone.  My legs were tired from pedalling and I was starting to think eating a breakfast burrito before the race was not the best idea.

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Swim

Aug 272011
 

Before I could get into the pool, I had to wait for another competitor to finish his swim.  His wife was his counter, meaning she was counting the amount of laps he had completed.  The second he finished his 18th lap, he sprung out of the pool, ripped off his goggles, threw them at his wife, and ran to the transition area.

With that, I lowered myself into the pool and put my goggles on.  I was ready.

One of my concerns coming into this race was knowing what to wear.  I looked around and saw a bunch of people in ridiculous looking triathlon gear.  Which was much smarter than what I had decided to wear.  I was wearing soccer shorts into the pool and that’s what I planned on wearing the entire race. 

I quickly realized this was probably not the best idea.

As I pushed off the ledge of the pool to start my first lap, my soccer shorts were pulled down from my pelvic area.  I was sure I was mooning everyone who had come to watch the swimmers swim.  Nothing like showing some ass crack to a group of strangers.  But, I continued on anways. 

Every few laps or so I found myself, pulling up my shorts, but other than that, everything was going smoothly.  I was keeping a strong steady pace and in comparison to the other competitor in my lane I was flying.  I was completing two laps for every one that she was completing. 

The swim felt good and, as my counter, my Dad was yelling out the lap numbers as I completed them, always telling me to pace myself.  I must have been hauling then, considering he was contuinually telling me to slow down, but I felt good. 

I heard my Dad yell “18” as I reached the edge of the pool.  For the last lap, I gave it all I had and pushed for my last lap in the pool.  I had plenty of energy and completed my swim powerfully.  I hoisted myself out of the pool threw off my goggles and ran to the transition zone, ready to hop on my bike. 

 

 

 

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Beginning

Aug 252011
 

My Dad drove me to the race and we got there 30 minutes before my scheduled race time and we realized really quickly they were running behind.  Basically, we waited one hour and 30 minutes before my race began.

The San Luis Obispo Triathlon started in the SLO Swim Center, oddly enough, this was the same pool where I had learned to swim probably 25 years ago when my mother signed me up for lessons there. 

They were able to fit somewhere between 30 to 40 people in the pool at the same time and we swam the width of the pool, which was 25 meters long. 

As I walked to the starting station, my Dad gave me some last minute advice.  “Be sure to pace y0urself,” he said.  Apparently, we were allowed to do some warm up laps.  I didn’t need them.  I was ready.

Race Day – The San Luis Obispo Triathlon

Aug 232011
 

Just one day before my brother had surgery to get his appendix removed.  And today was the San Luis Obispo Triathlon.  I was without my other half . . .

It was a beautiful day in San Luis Obispo and I headed to the race early to check in.  The check in was easy and I was able to inform the race officials my brother had his appendix removed and would not be able to enter the race.  We asked if a refund was possible and they kind of shrugged me off.  I thought having an appendix removed was a bigger deal than they seemed to think it was.

My sister and I went for breakfast after I checked in to the race to this nice little Mexican restaurant and I ordered a breakfast burrito.  My Dad suggested I order something light for the race and when I ordered the breakfast burrito my sister reminded me of my Dad’s advice. 

I explained to her that running is a lot like golf.  I used to be a really good golfer and when I was playing golf every day, I needed to maintain my focus through the entire round and practice between rounds.  Since I can not play golf every day anymore, I am not as good as I used to be.  Now, when I go out and play golf, I do it for fun.  I don’t concentrate or focus on my game, I just go out, hit shots, hang out with friends and have a good time.  Running is a lot like golf, sometimes you do it competitively and sometimes you do it for fun. 

Today, since I knew I wasn’t in peak physical shape, it was going to be for fun. 

The breakfast burrito tasted great!

I drove to the hospital my brother was staying at, just two blocks from the check-in area. 

Were my eyes seeing what I thought they were seeing???

They were!  The racers in the SLO Triathlon were running right past the hospital my brother was staying at.  What are the odds, I thought to myself. 

I went in to visit my brother who was eager to be released from the hospital, but it didn’t look likely that he would be able to.  The doctor told him he had to pee on his own in order to be released.  He could not. 

We talked strategy about the race and I headed for the check-in area, ready for my race to begin.

 

 Older Entries