Scaffolding in the Pool

Swim - 1250 meters

Yes, that was my in-flight entertainment today while swimming. The indoor pool that I go to is fairly new. So they are still figuring things out. One of those would be all the mold and mildew that has grown on the ceiling tiles over the past 6 months. Now they are in the process of changing them out (with what looks like to me the EXACT SAME KIND.) But what do I know?

They have removed and replaces all the ones around the pool, now it's time to do the ones over the actual pool. As I am swimming my laps, I am watching them put together the scaffolding base right next to the outer lane. Once that is finish, I actually have to stop swimming and watch in amazement as 8 guys work on leaning this scaffolding over and try to slide it into the pool. It's quite humorous.

As they are lowering the base into the pool, the bottom end starts to come unattached from the top part they are holding, and SPLASH, it sinks to the bottom. Since they can't hold the top part too well, it too goes SPLASH into the deep. I begin my laps again, but notice for the next 5 minutes, all 8 guys standing over the edge of the pool with their hands on their knees contemplating what to do next. One guys heads over and changes into a swim suit while the others wait around. He then dives in and starts roping all the pieces so they can pull them back up to the top to start over.

By then I had finished my laps joyfully knowing that wasn't my job. I wish I could have stuck around to see them try again VS. piecing it together in the actual pool. But what do I know?

Tapering Runs

Run - 20 minutes

I am waiting in eager anticipation for this coming weekend. I am anxiously excited. I know how that infamous "wall" slaps you in the face, how those last 6.2 miles feel and the sheer euphoria of actually finishing 26.2 miles. But I am still nervous of the unknown! How are my legs and my body gonna hold up this time? What will it be like on a flat surface with lots of people around? Sure don't want to make a fool of myself in front of all of them. Many people love the atmosphere of a race with all those cheering you on. Since I am a relatively quiet person (at times), I don't want to suffer in front of the masses and have them watch. Maybe that's why I did my own 26.2 on my own a month ago. Sure was glad at the time no one was around. Oh the mental war raging on!

About today's run, I love these relatively easy jogs! Less than 3 miles. Stretch out the legs. Yet I was so nervous that I would have a horrible run and lose lots of confidence. But the Pure Funk music always seems to push me on (as well as the "Rocky" soundtrack that my wife encouraged me to hear).

Lots of pasta and fruit and veggies this week. I sure do miss hamburgers, fries and chicken tenders!

Bikes & 'Ball

Sunday - Bike-25 miles

Since I have the marathon in 1 week, I am taking it a little easy in training. I don't want to fry my legs ahead of time and be regretting the workouts come mile 18. So giving it about75%. At the same time, with all the rain we are dealing with, I sure didn't want to venture out among all those crazy taxis.

Stationary Bike and Championship Football! Wish it were the NFC on the early game since that kickoff will be at 11:30pm my time. But riding the bike and watching Jets v Colts will do. Rooting for the Colts, but the Jets are playing pretty darned well.

Back to the training, stationary bikes are so boring and uncomfortable. I can think of numerous other things I would much rather be doing than sitting on a non-moving bike. Guess I need to strengthen the mental fortitude. Once I get to the IronMan, it will be 6-7 hours of pedaling and no music or football.

Days of Rest

Friday - Rest day

Nuf said!!! I sure did enjoy kicking my feet up yesterday and letting my aging knees get some time off. It was always refreshing to give my brain a break from pushing myself. Unfortunately, I get 1 day a week to do nothing.

But I loved my day off so much that I made a bunch of greasy chicken tenders! Gotta get past that vice.

Shaking off the rust

Swim - 1000 meters
Run - 30 minutes

I know today doesn't sound like very much, but my body has gotten used to just running. Yesterday, I worked hard on weights and then the stationary bike. I went to bed exhausted (and humbled).

At one point during my weights, my 3 yr old was standing on my feet and practicing counting to 25 while I did sit-ups. It's hard to laugh and do those at the same time. Then another time, she was counting to 15 while I lifted some weights. At the gym, I would probably have someone beside me encouraging me to keep going. She was there to laugh at me. A different for of motivation, I guess.

So today, I hopped in the pool and could barely do my warm-up 300 meters. The kick board for only 50 meters obliterated me. The I was able to get into a groove and finish without too much thrashing. Plus I had my own lane. I like the daytime swims.

Come time for the 30-minute run, I had nothing left in me. I only ate a little bit of meatloaf and mashed potatoes before I left. After my first lap, I was starving for more and my legs were yelling at me still from the 50-meter kick board ordeal.

I have a long way to go! And I want to go to sleep (it's only 4pm)

Preparing for the marathon

I have my first official marathon in 10 days down in Marrakech. But I ended up running 26.2 miles about 2 weeks ago in preparation. I can't begin to tell you how painful the last 6 miles were. But at the very end, my family came out and cheered me on. Here are some pics of the kiddos helping me finish.

Day 1 at the Pool

It's unbelievable! There are a few cultural things here that absolutely drive me nuts. My road rage flares up here more than in the States. The thing that gets me the most is when people driving stop anywhere in the road if they see a friend so they can say hello. If you are right behind them, you need to swerve around them so as not to smash into their backside. Another difference is the lack of staying in their lanes.

Crazy me believed that a pool would actually be any different. The first day I can go is on Tuesday night from 9-10:30. The manager told me it would be crowded, but I held out hope. I arrive to a parking lot full of cars and men mingling all over the place. Oh boy! Let's get this over with.

After I change in the women's locker room, cuz the men's was way too full and women weren't allowed at this time of night, I venture into the actual pool room to see at least 35 men getting ready to swim in only 8 lanes. That's an average of 4.5 people per lane. Way too crowded, like the locker room.

I then to start my laps, which are pretty slow-going due to the lack of space. You probably guessed what happened next. Men aren't swimming down one side and back on the other. We are zig-zagging all over the place to get to the other side. And then, as I am following someone at a safe distance, I run into his feet. Not because I am too fast! Oh no, it's because he has stopped in mid-lap to say hello to one of his buddies standing on the side. Ludicrous!

Suffice it to say, my evening ended much earlier than expected due to my frustration. As best as possible, I am going to avoid the pool in the evenings and just hit it on Tues & Thurs afternoons from 12-1:30. Since it's 11:30 now, I need to sign off to get ready.

An Intro

So, I am not that faithful when it comes to blogging or talking about everyday events. But I want to get better. After watching that movie "Julie & Julia", which was pretty funny, I have decided that I want to keep track of my triathlon training. I live in a country where crazy things happen all the time. The culture is different, life is more of an adventure, etc...

I made a life goal about 5 years ago. That was that I wanted to compete in AND FINISH an Iron-Man Triathlon. I figured I am in decent enough shape, God has blessed me with health (at this point in my life) and I occasionally struggle with ADD. Why not try and tackle more triathlons? Training won't be boring, cuz I can skip to different sports.

This past summer, I had a chance to compete in 2 different Tri's in Austin. One was a Sprint and the other an Olympic. Didn't do very well compared to the other athletes, but I did finish. That's my goal. I am not in this for time. I don't have the time to train harder and faster and speed up. I just want to finish and have fun.

Living in a country where there is 1 known marathon, 1 known triathlon and 2 known bike races, I need to create my own events and calendar. SO I have tentatively set up my own personal IronMan 70.3 (or Half IronMan) for May 20th. Once I figured out that date, I made my own 18-week training schedule.

Now, we are off and training...