Partying or training?

Mar 182011
 

The running brothers have a big weekend this weekend. Zeb has been doing great with his training and I have been…..well I am trying. But this weekend is going to Vegas for a bachalor party for one of our heros.

We obviously have to go to Las Vegas because the running brothers support our heros and if we happen to have a good time in the process we do. We were talking and my brother said he wanted to get all of his training in this week before we head out to vegas. I on the other hand, am not a stud, and can’t do that so I am left with a question: Should I party hard or tame things down as part of my training and preparation for the marathon on May 1?

After a mental debate I have come to the conclusion that partying is part of training. We need to have a good time every once in a while to help keep us focused on our goals and give our minds a break.

So I am gonna party….. no…. train super hard this weekend. But don’t worry we will figure out a way to not get into to much trouble.

Ironman Training Week #11

Mar 172011
 

Weekly Amount:

Running = 15.5 miles
Biking = 52 miles
Swimming = 4000 M or 2.5 miles
Total Amount: 70 miles

Overall Amount:

Running = 136.5 miles (105.5 miles to Las Vegas)
Biking = 424 miles (549 miles to Seattle)
Swimming = 41,200 meters or 28.2 miles (9.1 miles to Los Angeles)
Total = 587 miles (456 miles to Seattle)

Accomplishments:

Vacation training

Mar 162011
 

This past weekend was a great weekend for me. I got to go so spring training in Phoenix with my Dad, we saw three baseball games, golfed two great course and meet up with some great friends.

It was a lot of fun and I came back well rested and rejuvinated for work and training but I didn’t get to train at all. However, my dad who has been a gym rat for the past year in a half, did make it to the hotel gym. I just couldn’t motivate myself to go to the gym.

I have a question for our followers: How do you train on vacation? do you have any tricks to not let your vacations affection training?

The Post Race Blues

Mar 152011
 

When I completed The Rose Bowl Half-Marathon, I was stoked. I had such a good time and was proud that I was able to complete the entire course without ever having even come close to running that kind of distance before. After the race; however, it was a different story. My knees were killing me and I could barely walk let alone train for anything.

That is when the Post Race Blues grabbed a hold of me. I became extremely depressed and questioned everything I was doing from my business to my friends and family. It was a time of self-reflection, but boy it hit me hard. My brother mentioned the post race blues in one of his articles which got me wondering if other athletes experienced the same things. Turns out many of them do.

One google search provided a plethora of articles about the Post Race Blues which is highly common. Many people attributed it to the accomplishment of a goal and then having to decide what the next goal should be, but for me this wasn’t the case. Because I had no idea that I would be running a half marathon until just a few hours before the event.

Many people attribute the post race blues to the reactions in your body that accompany the amount of physical exertion that takes place in a run that long, especially when someone is not appropriately trained and this sounds right to me. The post race blues was a difficult time for me, but it only lasted a few days and once my legs began to heal and I was able to get back to my training all was right with the world again.

Q & A with Peter Engwall from AuggiesDad.Sweat365.com

Mar 142011
 

Why do you compete in endurance events? What goals do you have?

Initially for me, competing, or should I say, participating in endurance events came as a way to help me stay focused on the end result of losing weight.  I needed something to look forward to one summer, so I decided to sign up for my first Sprint Tri.  Now 4 years/3 seasons, (out 1 season due to injury), I’m looking at doing a Full Ironman in November.  I got hooked!  I have three main goals this year for me and my endurance adventures.  1st Goal – Go Sub 3 hours at my Olympic Distance race in July.  2nd Goal – Go Sub 17 Hours for my Full Ironman, (I have a time I’d really like to hit, but I’m really looking forward to finishing, and, I’m keeping that time in my head and not sharing.) 3rd goal is to get and remain injury free. 

Do you have any memorable experiences that you’d like to share with us?

Where should I start? Marrying my best friend?  The birth of my son? Being on the Oprah Show.  Finishing my first Sprint Tri.  Crossing the finishing line in my very first “race”, getting a finishers medal and landing in my wife’s arms.  Crossing the finish line at my very first 1/2 Marathon, my very first 1/2 Ironman…Pick one.  They are all extremely memorable.  I haven’t and won’t forget any of them.

What do you enjoy most about training?  The least?

I enjoy “getting away from it all” the most about training.  In other words, when I swim, bike or run, my mind is solely focused on those things that I am doing and the rest of the world is all a blurr…All of the other things just go away.  I also enjoy the camaraderie of it all.  Training, (read = pain) with friends is a lot more fun than pain without friends.  They keep us honest.  The least…Well, all good things must come to and end, right?  In other words, getting back into the “real world”.

Any recommendations for someone who is new to endurance training?

Find people who are 1) Smarter than you are about what you’re about to do.  And 2) Find someone faster than you.  Smarter will help you learn the right things about the sport.  They can help you figure out what to do and what NOT to do.  Depending on what distance or goal you’re looking at doing, you don’t necessarily need a coach, but at least someone who has been involved in the sport for awhile, and knows what they are doing.  Finding someone faster than you makes training a lot of fun.  You’ve got to keep up, which, in turn, makes you faster.
 
Could you please tell us about auggiesdad.sweat365.com? 

http://auggiesdad.sweat365.com/ It’s a place I go to remember how many days is it until my next event, (or, more importantly a place I go to remind myself I’ve only got X amount of days until my Ironman, and then I say, ‘HOLY SH@!$%T’!.  It’s a place I go to track my workouts.  It’s a place I go to see how far I’ve swum, biked, and ran year to date.  It’s my little place in the internet space.

What was your inspiration for starting your blog? Has your blog changed since you started?

My inspiration for starting was just so I could hang with the cool kids…No, I’m kidding.  I thought it would be a hoot to see how far I go and track distances.  A place to write about what I see when I swim, bike and run.  My own little place for everyone and anyone to see, whenever they’d like.  If they want to. 

How has keeping a blog enhanced your running experience? 

It shows me how far I’ve gone. It motivates me to go further, (when I’m not injured).  It inspires me to keep moving.  Move More, Every Day.  I like to see results, so when those results grow on a daily basis, (as in, when I log my workouts), those results grow.  That moves me more tomorrow than today!

Do you have a particular post that you’re proud of?

http://sweat365.com/blog/2008/05/14/lifestyle-changes-yield-big-results/  (pretty self explanatory as to why it’s my most proud post…But, let me know if you’d like me to go into details). It’s not technically a post on my blog, but it’s a post on sweat which features me, which I wrote the answers to.

What has been your most rewarding experience through your blog so far?

Meeting new people and making new friends.  When you start reading other members questions, comments or blogs, you get to meet all kinds of interesting people from all over the place.  And, some who just so happen to be local.  So, you throw out an invite for a run, and before you know it, you’ve got a group ready to meet up for a run.  Then a little while longer you’ve got a training ride together.  Not too much later you’re heading out for a run and coffee, and the learning continues, and you get new friends! 

What are your favorite websites or blogs related to running?

http://runningbrothers.com/ and slowtwitch.com mostly.

Do you have any tips or ideas for a new running blogger?

Be yourself. Be true to whom you are, have fun! And, to steal a slogan from Brooks Running…”Run Happy!”

What are you most passionate about?

My family. My friends.

What is something that you think everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?

WOW, to pick one is difficult.  The list is huge…But, I guess, I’d like to make someone elses life just that much happier.  Change the life of someone else for the better.

You can learn more about Peter Engwall by visiting his website, auggiesdad.sweat365.com

Race at the Base – The Post Race

Mar 132011
 

I finished my first triathalon and I felt good. Our support crew was there and everybody was all smiles. I found out Zeb didn’t have to wait too long for my which was a relief. He was training really hard and I should have trained more.

Zeb and I felt great and after grabbing a few waters it was time to start getting out of there. We tippy toed back to the transition zone, trying to avoid the smallest of pebbles but I think I found everyone. I immediately got my shoes back on and was able to walk normal. We cleaned up our area, gave our support to the competitors heading to the swim and walked our bike to the exit station.

I was getting close to lunch time and we wanted to try a local resturant. We headed down Katella Avenue looking for anything that looked unique and good. So we ended up at what looked like most exciting resturant in town, “BEST BURGERS.” Whoever thought of that name, brillent. So we tried a few burritos at “Best Burgers.” They were good and but the company of our support crew was the best.

My first triathalon was completed. Zeb finished his second and the running brothers were one step closer to our goals.

Thanks to all of our supporters and we look forward to keeping you informed of our future activities.

Race at the Base – The Swim

Mar 122011
 

As you know by know from our previous posts, I am not a swimmer. Infact I would probably make a better anchor. But I was about to enter a pool for the very first time in a race situaiton but for me, swimming is more of a survival situation.

As I entered the tranistion from the bike i sent immediately for my spot. I locked up my pick threw my helmet on the floor, lost my shirt, shoes and socks and started to jog toward the pool. A few racers who already had finished gave me some words of encouragement and I ginger tried to avoid small pebbles on the path over to the pool.

Tip toeing over the asphalt, I looked very intimidating, I though sandels would be very nice. After nearly 50 meters of cringying and incredible foot pain I was at the pool. It seemed like hundreds of people where splashing, I surveyed the crowd and found found my support crew at the far side of the pool with my brother waving their arms.

I told my self just jump in and pretend like you know what you are doing. It was only there and back twice, but there was a long way and back was long way. The frist lap went well and to my surprise I caught the person in front of me. For the time being I was better than some of the other “swimmers.”

At the end of the pool a lot of people collected to catch their breathe. I didn’t want to wait I could see the finish line. I weaved through the resting swimmers and started down the next stetch and half way down I started to feel it. My legs stopped kicking and I started getting passed. I made it to the next wall and this time I need to catch my breathe. I saw Zeb montioning his arms to get me going. I wasn’t quite ready but I pushed off and started on the next leg.

I made it to the final wall and the crowd was cheering us on. It really helped, it was the final stretch and I had some open water infront of me. I headed for home and with 25 meters to go I realized I may not make it. I did one or two doggy paddles and then said screw it. I put my head down, kicked as hard as I could and pulled hard.  Then I looked up and I it looked like I had 30 meters to go.

I eventually got there and I was helped out of the pull. I quickly got my anckle braclet over the timing sensors and then tried to stagger for a place to sit. My legs were wobbley but I finished and I felt good.

It was a little cold but I grabbed a water and headed for the racers exit. Just then my sister found me and started a post race interview. I have seen some post race interviews and think those guys are not good talkers. Well I didn’t give the best interview either, being exhausted and cold means I was not thinking very well. After a few questions and some lackluster responses the rest of the support crew meet up with us. It was really nice to have them all there and to chat about the race.

A few high fives and some hugs and we were left to chat about some of the race specifics.

Race at the Base — The bike

Mar 112011
 

As I entered the transition zone my shadow fell off my pace and I knew where I was going. Our bikes were on the second to last rack  on the end. I was hoping by the time I got there all the bikes would be gone. I ran so fast most of the bikes were still there.

I tried to set up my bike and helmet so I would have a quick tranisition and it worked out pretty good. I grabed the helmet put it on and unhooked my bike and started running with it. I didn’t buckle my helmet and as i started running I tried to buckle it one handed. That did work, so I stopped and tried the two handed buckling technique. My hands were shaking from the run and it took me a few tries. I got it and headed for the exit of the transistion zone.

Immediately out of the transition zone was the mounting area (FYI Its not as fun as it sounds).  People were backed up here. Many people had the fancy bikes with pedels that required locking in shoes, I had the generic flat pedels and didn’t have this problem. As people stopped in the path and tried to mount their overly complicated bike I found a path through the mess and did a running leg throw mount and I was off and going.

It was three laps on the runway and I felt like I was moving. But I was gettin passed by everyone. As we headed into the wind I changed gears and tucked my head down. Going downwind I sat up and got to my fast gear,  I  was started moving or i thought I was. I was getting lapped my many of the good triathletes and I was expecting that but I was getting passed by a lot of people on mountan bikes and I felt like I was pedaling my road bike much faster. But at least I was knocking off those miles.

At the end of the second lap after the downwind stretch there was a 90 degree turn on to a taxiway and everyone slowed down for it, but we wanted to carry as much speed as possible.

Well the girl on the Huffy who passed me was carring a little too much speed and went over the side of her bike, sliding to a stop. I would like to know the etiqute on situations like this. She immediately got up as I managed to miss her fallen bike and race staff were running to her aid. Should I have stopped? Keep in mind I wasn’t setting a course record or tring to place but I wanted to try to catch my brother. What should I have done?

After one more lap I was coming back to the transition area and it was time to get mentlally prepared for the swim. I am not a swimmer and I didn’t train at all for the swim. I was just hoping that I would not need help from the lifeguard.

Ironman Training – Week #10

Mar 102011
 

Ten weeks . . . training is easy.

Weekly Amount:

Running = 15 miles
Biking = 50 miles
Swimming = 4000 M or 2.5 miles
Total Amount: 67.5 miles

Overall Amount:

Running = 121 miles (121 miles to San Diego)
Biking = 372 miles (43 miles to San Francisco)
Swimming = 37,200 meters or 25.7 miles (11.6 miles to Los Angeles)
Total = 517 miles (456 miles to Seattle)

Accomplishments:

Zeb Runs to San Diego

Bicycle Shorts Make Me Look Hot!

Mar 092011
 

Followers, I have a question for you . . .

When my brother and I first began talking about this blog, we were thinking of many creative ways to do things that would peak our readers’ interests.  One thing we discussed was conducting challenges between my brother and myself.  And one of the first challenges we thought of was if one of us lost a challenge then we would be forced to wear bicycle shorts.

The thought of wearing or seeing my brother wearing bicycle shorts was absolutely hilarious.  It was the perfect punishment for failing to complete a challenge.  Until I actually rode a bicycle.

I always wondered why bicyclists wore such skin tight clothing.  It actually made me quite uncomfortable every time I encountered a bicyclist in their biker shorts.  Why couldn’t they wear regular shorts like everyone else?

My brother and I took our first ride together along the Santa Ana River Trail, http://runningbrothers.com/category/zeb-and-rockys-big-adventure/ where we rode for 42 miles or so.  At the end of the ride it became apparent why bicyclists wore bike shorts.  They wanted to save their asses . . . literally.  The following three days after our bike ride my rear end was on fire and no matter how uncool they are, I knew that I was going to have to invest in some spandex shorts.

Which brings me to my question.  Do any of you have recommendations on the best type of bike shorts to buy?  I am training for an Ironman and need some shorts that will protect my rear end.  I could really use your help in deciding what type of bike shorts I get my hands on.

If you need an incentive . . . the faster you help me locate the best bike shorts, the faster I can proceed with my bicycle shorts photo shoot.

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