Raindrops

Today was overcast with an occasional raindrops here and there.  I went to the YMCA not knowing if the pools would be open and I was pleasantly surprised to find the pools open with very few people swimming.  I selected the center lane of the 50 meter pool and jumped in.  The water felt cold compared to the last time I went swimming.  I swam 30 laps (1500 meters) which is a new distance record for me but it's the distance I need to swim in the Nation's Triathlon.  Tomorrow is the first day of our next heat wave so I doubt I'll get to swim by myself but it was nice while it lasted.

Heat Wave

We've had a long lasting heat wave and it's not going away anytime soon.  Having skipped my workouts on Friday and Saturday due to work I headed to the pool early on Sunday morning.  There was a Masters class using the pool so we only had two lanes available for lap swimming.  I'm not a fast swimmer but I was faster then the other people sharing the lane with me.  It probably helps my training having to speed up and pass people but I always wonder how they feel when a faster swimmer swims past.  After swimming 2000 meters I headed inside to run where I put in a 5 mile run at a moderate pace. 

I signed up for another triathlon

I waited to long to get into the Steelman Triathlon on August 7th so today I signed up for the Lums Pond Sprint Triathlon on August 14th.  The swim portion of the triathlon is a half mile (880 yards) so it's a good thing I went swimming four days this week.  The Lums Pond Triathlon has a 19.5 mile bike leg which should help offset my poor swim time except I like bike routes that include hills and Delaware is pretty flat. 

Patriot's Triathlon

Patriot's Triathlon
Swim     650 Meters
Bike        cancelled
Run         3 Miles

The hotel wasn't too far from the lake so we didn't get up until 5:00 AM.  A lot of people decided not to race today since the bike portion of the Patriot's Triathlon had been cancelled.  It was strange walking into the transition area without a bike and just setting up my running shoes, hat, watch and race belt.  The race director announced the water temperature was 87 degrees and wetsuits were not permitted.  I grabbed my swim cap and goggles and walked over to the lake for a pre-race swim.  My arms and shoulders get tired after the first 50 yards so I'm hoping a pre-race swim will prevent that tiredness when the race starts.   The swim course was laid out so we swam counter clockwise keeping the buoys on our left and the shore on our right.

The men staged in the lake for the swim course and I ended up on the left side of the group.  The race started and we swam towards the first buoy where I found myself cut-off at the buoy because I was on the inside.  I did the breast stroke to get around the buoy and make my way clear from the other swimmers.  I swam to the next buoy and I was following another swimmer  across the lake.  I could see the buoy just ahead when the life guard swam over on said we were off course.  The way the course was laid out we had to swim into the sun and there was another orange buoy in the shadows of the trees that we hadn't seen.  I changed course for the other buoy that I had almost missed.  Now I'm out of the water and sprinting for the transition area.   After the race I learned I wasn't the only person who didn't see the buoy in the shadows.  

It should have been a quick transition except I was wet and putting on socks and shoes slowed me down.  I wasn't going to wear socks but decided to do so at the last moment.  I also took the time to unclip / clip my race belt before I left the transition area.  As I ran out of the  transition area I followed a woman who was pulling her belt over herself while she was running.  I'll have to try that in my next triathlon to shave a couple of seconds off my transition.  The run course was an out and back course on a paved road that was partially shaded.  I didn't pass anyone on the way out but a couple of guys did pass me.  There were no body marking before the triathlon so I don't know if these guys are in my age group.  The road back was a gradual climb and I started to wish I had done more on road running instead of treadmill running.  The race ended in a field and I don't know how far we had to run after leaving the road but I started running as fast as I could so I could pass the guy ahead of me.  My race results showed I finished one second ahead of the guy I passed and he was in my age group! 

I finished in 28th place and 4th in my age group.  I was the first person listed on the results page that didn't win an award, so close and yet so far.

Pre-Race Day

Today I finished packing for the Patriot's Triathlon and drove to Bath, PA to pick up my race packet.  As is the custom I drove the bike course so I could get familiar with the roads twists, turns and hills.  The first thing I noticed about the roads were the signs that said "fresh oil and chips."  Just the sort of thing you don't want to see on the roads for a bike race.  The excess chips were kicked up by the car tires and carried over into the intersections.  While every bike rider has to ride the same course everyone must ride defensively or there will be a lot of crashes.
 
We checked into our hotel and went out to dinner.  I should have a pre-race meal planned in advance but it's tough to do when I eat at a restaurant the night before a race.  We went back to the hotel and I setup my bike for the race.  After setting up my bike I sat down to relax and checked my email to find an email from the race director telling all participants that due to the road conditions the bike portion of the triathlon would be cancelled.  This is my fourth triathlon and I've never had part of the triathlon cancelled, tomorrow will just be a swim and run duathlon.  

Intervals

Last night I did intervals in the pool, on the bike and on the treadmill.  Let's just say I slept well last night.  Only 5 days until the Patriot's Triathlon.

Sunday Morning Brick Workout

Yesterday I installed the Showers Pass VelEau 42 and needed to test it out so I filled it with water, put on my bike shoes, helmet, sunglasses and rode off into the sunrise.  All in all the VelEau work really well, no more coasting down the road while I drink from a water bottle.  This should make my bike times in the triathlon shorter.  I cut the tubing short by about an inch and there isn't a way to make it longer other then to order more tubing.  So take my advice and plan on leaving the tubing long until you get in a couple of practice rides.  I just need to stay in an aero position to drink which is really a problem.  

After the bike ride I went for a run in the neighborhood.  It's been awhile since I ran on the road and I noticed two things.  One, I started off very fast which never happens when I run on the treadmill.  Two, running fast down hills can put you into bad form and cause injuries so I had to slow down.

Bike = 22.48 miles
Run = 3.1 miles

Swim Meet

I went to the YMCA early in the morning so afternoon thunderstorms wouldn't cancel my plans to swim.  But there was a swim meet using the 50 meter pool and there is another swim meet tomorrow.  I managed to find an open lane in the 25 yard pool but it seemed like I was constantly making a turn at the wall.  At least I got to swim.

No Swimming

More thunderstorms his afternoon brought over half an inch if rain and closed the pools.  Very few people ventured to the gym but I did.  I was so wet by the time I got into the building that I had to use my swim towel to dry off so I could change into my workout clothes.  I spent my workout time on the bike and treadmill.

Thunderstorms

Big thunderstorms rolled through this afternoon and when I got to the YMCA the sign said all pools were closed.  So I spent time riding the bike and lifting weights in the wellness center.  When I got home I found a car magnet that said "Tri" on the kitchen table.  The kids across the street saw the magnet in the store and bought it for me.  It's wonderful having a fan club and I hope one day they can come to a triathlon to cheer me on to the finish line.

USA Triathlon

Today I faxed in my membership application to USA Triathlon.  I hope they quickly process the application so I don't have to buy another one day pass.
 
I was looking over my training for June and I noticed it had been a month since I had done any weight training.  So yesterday I swam 2000 meters and then I hit the weights.  This morning my shoulders were really sore.  In April and May I set aside one day a week for weight training and I need to get back onto that schedule.

The Sprint

Today I decided to sign up for the sprint distance Patriot's Triathlon.  This is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event so I needed to buy a one day pass when I registered for the triathlon.  I printed out the USAT application and I might join USAT since I'm planning to enter more sanctioned events this year.