Huli Drills and Head Winds

What a day of fun in the sun! Absolutely brilliant!  The only problem was the winds that we had while paddling and biking.

Paddling
So while we were paddling we had some pretty bad winds hitting us.  Made for some waves crashing into the boat and the ama bounce up out of the water frequently.  But we had a good strong crew out there and made short work of that all.  Our coach was out on an OC1 (Outrigger Canoe - 1 person) keeping us in check and making sure we were doing the drills and taking pictures of us.

Once we were almost back, coach let me try out the OC1.  And well... It didn't go very well.  I managed to huli it three or four times without getting anyplace.  The wind would pick up and just blow me over like a big sail, which causes me and the boat to flip.  It was quite comical! But also tiring to keep flipping the boat right side up and then jumping on it.  Eventually coach said he would take it back and put me back in the OC6 (thanks!) I almost had not enough energy to get into the OC6!  

My GPS said we did about 6.4 miles, but that was only until I got on the OC1, as the flipping caused it to konk out.  The device still works,  just lost signal long enough to shut down.  And during those flips I managed to cut up both feet, and remove a patch of skin and hair on my leg, which I didn't notice until I got home and showered and yelped in pain!  But a GREAT day on the water!

After that several of us went to Boondoggles and got some lunch and chatting in before myself and one of the crew went off on our biking!

Biking

So the plan was to do the same lap that I did last time I was out there.  About 20 miles around clear lake. This time I was doing it with one of my friends from the paddling club and so we set off!  Oh. Em. Gee. The head wind got us the ENTIRE route!  There were spots where I was literally, and not exaggerateingly (that is a word now, and I'm using it in Scrabble!) pedaling to not lose speed going DOWN HILL! It was brutal out there!  But we got through it!  And my friend was a trooper out there! Not only did we paddle first, but he was out at Chappel Hill yesterday putting in his MS150 training ride on those hills! His legs are going to feel it tomorrow!  Sorry Man!

But we finished it in about 1.5 hours and so it wasn't too bad for that head wind.  And we got a great full body workout in today doing both the paddle and the bike like that.  Hopefully I can wake up in the morning (ok, in 4 hours) to go swim... But it's not looking good since it's only 4 hours away! Yikes!

Enjoy!

Updates of Training and a RACE!

March 23: I ran! I ran 3.03 miles in 26:34.  It was an OK run.
March 23: I biked! 20.37 miles in 1:23:43.  Nice easy bike with a friend.

Today, I did the Law Week 8k Race.  Friend got me to sign up for it and so I did and we ran!  And she pushed the crap out of me.

1. 8:00  [142 ahr] 
2. 8:05  [182 ahr]
3. 8:10  [186 ahr]
4. 8:12  [188 ahr]
5. 8:32  [187 ahr]
6. 1:55 (0.18 miles) [189 ahr]

Around mile 4.25, I had some issues with my blood pressure spiking.  And had to slow down to a walk for about 1/4 mile.  I was quite dizzy and light headed.  But after it cleared I started running and finished it off.  But all things considering I forgot I could run that fast! DAMN!  I seem to be getting my speed and distance back on the running.  This is good for that silly little race coming up!  Now if only I can get into the pool and get my swim on!

So... BRING IT!

Biking and Running

Well, I didn't get to my biking on Tuesday like I wanted due to work problems.  And I also didn't so much do anything on Wednesday.  Yup, I slacked off more.

Then I missed my run on Thursday because ... Slacker.  But I did bike on Thursday with a friend.  And it was good.  We did about 20 easy miles in around an hour and a half.  It was a good ride.

Then this morning I did 6 miles.  It didn't go as planned since I was planning trail running, but I slept through getting to Double Lake where I was planning on doing that.  But still, 6 miles and at then end I felt not too bad.

1. 9:26 (129 ahr)
2. 8:34 (184 ahr)
3. 8:55 (181 ahr)
4. 9:10 (181 ahr)
5. 9:12 (182 ahr)
6. 8:42 (183 ahr)

Looking at those paces, it seems like I'm slowly getting faster while still gaining distance.  Both of which is a good thing.  So, not only was the run not too bad feeling wise, but stats wise as well.  Guess I am happy about that!

Was suppose to do a bike afterwards, but I decided to not, since the rains were suppose to come quickly and not 5 minutes after I got in my truck leaving Memorial, the sky's opened up.  So it was perfect timing!

Tomorrow I canoe and bike though!  Should be good times!  Even if it's windy and cold like it's planned to be!

A Happy Run -- Weird.

Anyone who actually knows me, knows I don't like running.  Fact. Truth. Whatever. I just don't. It sucks. Enough Said.

So when I say I had a happy run... That is pretty mind blowing huge!  I don't know what it was about the run, I was alone, just my iPod and my demons running out there together.  And when I finished I felt great.  I was in a good mood which I haven't really had in a long while, although Sunday was a turning around point for me since I was on the water canoeing with great people, that helped a lot.

I am still sore from Sunday's canoeing and biking too, so I wasn't really looking forward to today's run.  But I got out there.  And I started off feeling the stiffness in my back and buttocks.  But things smoothed out the longer I went.  And I apparently got faster the longer I went as well:

Miles:

1. 9:53 min/mile (168 avg heart rate)
2. 9:03 min/mile (168 avg heart rate)
3. 8:54 min/mile (173 avg heart rate)

Needless to say, not only did I enjoy just being out there running, but I'm quite happy with my results today as well!


And to top it off, I burned 630 calories.

And now ... Biking tonight!

Not Slacking! Honest! (only on updating here)

So, I've only really slacked off on updating my blog here.

So let's see...

March 2nd, I ran.  3 miles.
March 3rd, I rock climbed.
March 4th I biked 11 miles.
March 6th I raced Eco Lonestar with Claudia (4 hours 16 minutes!)
March 8th I started doing some resistance training
March 9th I ran, 3 miles in the morning and biked 15 miles in the evening
March 11th I ran 3 miles.
Today I biked, 20 miles, after getting back into the boat after a long lay off!

So yeah, the boat stuff... I am back in with TOCC and practicing.  Today we were out there for about 2 hours and went almost 9.5 miles.  It was great to be back out there, but I need a lot of work again!  I need to work on my form and strengthen my shoulders some more! Yikes how that all left me!

But it was great to be with the crew again.  Good times and with a goal race in mind to help keep us focused we should have a great season ahead of us!  Love the paddling!

So there you go.  Yes, brief but I don't have much time for these updates since I'm so busy working out or recovering (passed out) from the work outs.  Speaking of ... Time for bed! Night all!

Slackeritist and Sickly

Yes, yes, yes, I know.  I've been slacking off on posting here.  I have done a couple of work outs since my last posting, but have been not really motivated lately because of various things going on out side the realm of training. 

It really sucks a lot when you want to train, but just can't muster the mental energy to do so because of too much crap going on elsewhere in your life.  I still have too much of this going on, but things are slowly clearing up and only about one more week until a lot of it goes away (I hope!)

But I have done a 30 mile bike ride and 3 mile run.  I was suppose to do a 10k run/race this past weekend but because of finding some bad chicken at the Houston Rodeo BBQ Cook Off, I was down and out.

I was also out for a week because of being sickly, and my parents being around, so I really haven't been able to do much of anything.

BUT!  And here is the big news!  I hit the pool this morning!  YAY!  Of course this comes with some slight bad news.  My messed up shoulder doesn't like to swim anymore.  So it was a struggle.  I'm also very out of swimming shape in general so I have a lot of work to do to get back up to where I should be and ready for this race.  What I did today was one length of the pool freestyle (normal swimming for tri) and then one length on my back to even things out.  I did that 8 times.  And for the 25m pools that means I did ... Anyone? Anyone? 200m of both.  And then my arm told me I was done.

So I've started back at it, wish I started a lot sooner since I have so much work to do, but, I'm sure once I get things rolling and stay consistent I will get back into shape quickly and be close to where I need by mid April.

So, starting today I'm back in the pool and hopefully I can keep it going and get back to my running and biking as well as needed.

Long ways to go, but not too far away either! Yikes!