Good training day

I haven't posted in a long time and though it would be good to give myself an update on my progress. Monday I had a hard run for about 21 minutes. I actually think that I ran a little too hard as my legs were pretty sore forth next couple of days. On Tuesday I swam for about seven minutes and really was trying to learn how to breath proPerly in the water. I was suppose to bike also but nightly events prevented that. I took Wednesday off and tonight I resumed my training. I swam for nine minutes tonight and then went on a 22 minute bike ride. I pushed it pretty hard on my bike ride andfelt it a lot more to ight Jan I normally do. The main difference was my pushin it on the hills. Usually I go to a lower gear but tonight I kept my gears higher and got a good burn on my legs. Hopefully the coarse will be flat and I don't have to deal with as bi of hills as I do here. Until next time, enjoy all hat God has given us to enjoy.

Triathlon Training Day Three: swimming

Today I swam for the first time.  I had to swim in our lake due to not having anywhere else.  It wasn't too bad except for the odd smell every once in a while.  I started swimming and was going at a good pace and got a good distance and then yelled back at my timer (I don't have a waterproof watch yet so I had a kid on the shore time me) and he said I had been swimming for 1:39 and my resolve was destroyed.  Mentally this is when I was done swimming, but unfortunately I was about 100 yards out there and still had to come back.  I started to swim back but it felt like there was a current that made it more difficult for me to swim back than it was to go out.  The swim back was tough and I was very glad to be back on shore.  It definitely was more than I thought it would be.

I learned two major lessons today.  The first is that I need to learn how to swim better.  I have always thought of myself as a pretty descent swimmer, but I have never had to swim long distances.  I know I move my head too much and need to learn how to breath better.  Definitely this is my weakest link right now.  Also, I did learn that if it was a straight 250 yard then I would do better than I thought.  I think if I learn to swim then watch out.

One last thing.  As I was coming out of the water I just about vomited.  Apparently I swallowed some water and when I was coming out of the water I got a scent of the water (it smells like goose poop) and started gagging.  When I got home I got in the shower and got a whiff of the smell again and started gagging and trying to throw up.  My stomach feels kind of weird, and I don't think it is just mental, and I have this feeling in the back of my throat like I still want to throw up.  I hope that I don't get sick.  Well, what a first day of swimming!

Here's what happened: part two

Okay, so I had to take a week off due to some nasty shin splints last week.  During this time I rode a bike a few days and got a brilliant idea (I guess that depends on who you talk to).  My idea is a triathlon!  My wife thinks I'm crazy and the guys I'm running with said good for you.  So, I started training for this on Monday.  I found a very good beginner triathlon coming up on September 10th in Iowa.  I will swim 250 yards, bike 6 miles, and run 1.3 miles.  This is what is called a mini-sprint triathlon.  In lam-en's terms it means the shortest triathlon you will ever see.  I am trying to find a place to swim in right now.  There is a pool around here but it is kind of short and we have a lake but it is nasty and I want that to be my last option.

So, if you see me please encourage me.  My wife said she will come and watch me finish.  I tried to get her to run and she almost said yes, but then backed out on me and wimped out.  Don't worry dear, I still love you greatly.  I actually am very excited about this and really want to start swimming.  I think I am at a point where the running isn't an issue, but figuring out how to competitively swim and bike is an issue.  I have a month to figure this out and am trying very hard.  My thought is that this might start an addiction that will be good for me and keep me in shape and skinny for the rest of my life.  We shall see.