Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Riverbend Run club is growing

Not sure if I actually mentioned before that I have started a run club in my community. Today was pretty exciting as we got 6 people out to run, usually it's 2-3, but it's slowly expanding. With the expansion it only encourages more to come out so I expect it to really pick up. Heck even solo runners on the pathway can't help but notice the big grp running together right? We meet at 6pm at our community centre and run 4.5 km, I usually sneak out after for an additional run.

Someone asked me today why I do this? I had to think about it for a sec, I guess I've really got a passion for running, triathlon too, but mostly running. I just want to share it with everyone. I know what it's done for me in my life, I know it can help others too. It's contagious too isn't it? You guys know what it's like for yourselves, but when you hear about someone talking about a big PB in a race or a experience where they were able to run through discomfort, etc. It seems to re-kindle the flame right? Maybe I'm seeing it's harder for me to run PBs so I like to help others do it uh? See! you knew there was a selfish spin on it, and there is to some extent. Not to give me credit or anything, I couldn't careless about that, just to see someone else realize their potential.

Oh and btw I had a really good run after the club, I did 8x intervals. Not time/distance based or anything, they were usually about 400m and just went by heart rate. I'm getting faster even with the less mileage. DP out!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Awesome tour pictures

Check these out, amazing!!

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/07/2011_tour_de_france_part_1.html
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/07/2011_tour_de_france_part_2.html

Also found a blog lots of the above pics come from. I haven't checked it all out yet.

http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/


EDIT: I'm such a nub, I only realized now that about half of these pics are taken by Getty Images which is the company that owns the company i work for Istockphoto. Cool eh???

Friday, July 22, 2011

skunks!


I went for a late night run yesterday. I think I headed out at like 9:45(the best time to run). The flies were bad, I had to watch the eyes and mouth for intruders constantly although I failed at times. For the first part of my run I go along a pathway that has peoples' backyards facing it. Lots of really nice yards with trees, flowers, roses, etc. It was starting to get dark so it was a blur at first, but I saw some rustling, a lot of black and white blur. I stopped and realized there were a pile of baby skunks running around the yard. It took me awhile to get a proper head count as they were running around and it was a big family!! The mother didn't even take too much notice of me and retreated underneath some bigger plants. I was able to get in real close and count 7 babies!! Amazing, those things are the cutest ever, and really tame too. I think I could have picked them up they ran right up to my feet. Although it was in someone's backyard so maybe they are pets?

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Good ride yesterday

Most of my rides involve some kind of hard effort. Yesterday was no exception. Sometime between thunderstorms I managed to get out on a loop near my house. I did 6 or 7 loops on this bike path with the middle 5 including a threshold portion. If you look at my garmin info you could probably figure out which part. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/100429890 There was a stiff head wind at times, which made it really easy to get the heart rate up. The max hr you see there is pretty much bang on my threshold. I was panting like a porn star hero!!

One thing to note is I had a bit of a tiff with a dog walker. I don't have a bell on my bike, I really need to get one of those. So I'm def. in the wrong there in that I don't warn people when I ride up. That being said the path did have a line on it, it's one of the wider ones clearly marked for walkers and cyclists. It just makes sense to keep on the right. I had slowed down, cause you never know what a dog will do. Sure enough just as I get close the dog runs across the path so I hit the grass. Don't worry dog lovers(I also love dogs) the dog was in no real danger as I was already going slow. What annoyed me is that the owner when he saw me made no effort to pull his dog back over onto his side of the path(remember there's a solid line in the middle) instead he starts cursing at me cause I nearly clipped his dog. He's screaming somthing like, "Hey, bleep bleep bleep, I'm trying to walk my dog here!!" "Go around!!"... Where should I go around??? I already went off the path to avoid the dog, does he really need the whole path??? I was going at a safe speed and the dog was in no danger. Did he want me to ride through the long grass and bush??? I was tongue tied, I honestly didn't know what to say I thought it was so stupid. Some people really do believe that the world revolves around them. Anyways I will get a bell as I'm riding in the city quite a bit and it would be good to warn my fellow path users up ahead.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Inspiration

I just eat this stuff up. Even with all the drug problems professional cycling still has it's share of inspirational stuff. It still blows my mind how these guys can punish themselves so much through out a tour, especially when they crash and just get back on the bike for some more. Then are back on the bike the very next day ready for some more, bandages en all. If you haven't heard of Johny Hoogerland, check out this story.
Johny got hit by a car, here is the youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYPDAry-A-s&feature=related He took 33 stitches and went on to start the next day. Went on a breakaway two days later and even held the king of the mountains jersey.


Then there is Laurens Ten Dam from Rabobank who I saw cruise off the road hit some rocks and proceed to fly over his handle bars smash his face on some rocks. Yeah he finished the stage and now I just read he showed up for the next days start.


Jens Voigt the oldest man in the pelaton crashed twice on a stage two days ago. He not only finished the stage but was still able to help out his team leader Andy Schleck in pacing the pelaton up one of the pyrenees.

Lots of inspiration...

Sunday, July 17, 2011

ahhhh multisport

Heya!

I had a great weekend of training, not in terms of huge volumn or anything. But I'm just really enjoying the cycling and running, maybe I'll add swimming before the end of the year? Stay tuned... just don't hold your breath.

Friday evening I went out for a trot. I love being coached, but one thing about self coaching is I can totally do workouts as I please. If I feel good I run hard, if I don't I just trot it out. So after I'd been out there for 3-4 miles I stopped for a bit while I decided, tempo or not? There were these swarms of flies out along the river so this could be pretty tough, plus I had that nagging pressure in the lower half of my body. Running hard would just make that worse. So I stopped for a bit to let the pressure ease up a bit and decided to try. So I reset the watch and gaver down the gravel/dirt path. I started off along the bow just north of glenmore trail and headed south. Got onto the paved path maybe 2/3 of a mile further, ran to carburn park out and then ran back towards the park again to end a 3.1 mile jaunt or 5km whichever you prefer in a time of 20:03. Pretty good, although the 3 seconds are a little annoying, 19 somthing looks better. Oh well, I'll get faster.

Saturday I went out for a bike ride with Greg. It was a beautiful day and we headed out on springbank road and to Bragg creek. We didn't quite make it to Bragg, turned around at the round about. It was fun, my fitness isn't bad, but it still needs lots of work too. I rode my road bike and it sure made it tough coming up the last hill headed back into Calgary. Yikes that hill hurts, and with my road bike I run out of gears sooner than on my tt bike.

Today I went out for another bike ride. I had thought of doing a long run, but I had eaten some cheese earlier for lunch and I thought it might hurt me running. So I headed out on the road bike again. This time I rode south, then west through fish creek. Got up the hill in the far south western part of Calgary near Keith's house and then rode back. One thing I've noticed this year is my sweat is like wayyyyy saltier. I assume that's why I had the cramping problems in the marathon. I guess for my next long race I will have to take in extra salt. I hate being a heavy sweater, so annoying. So anyways with the tempo and two days with almost 4 hours riding total it was really a good weekend. I love the hotter weather, cheers all have a great week.

DP

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

still kicking

Hey all,

Things are going good over here. I'm riding my bike again!! Just got back from a nice little ride to Sikome lake with 8 climbs and then ride home. I went out late and actually only finished 9:45, riding in the dark for the last few minutes. It rained a bit, although at times when I thought it was rain it was actually the swarms of fruit flies and mosquitoes. Saw some deer and scare the crap out of a coyote as I rode up quietly behind him.

I'm running as well, right now as long as I get a ride or run in every day I'm fine. Since I'm not doing that much I try to include quite a bit of intensity. I'm already thinking of Ironman next year, although I'm not swimming yet.

Couple of new things I've started this year is coaching(two marathoners) and a mini run club in our community of Riverbend. The interest has been slow for the run club, but I'm gradually having more and more contact me. The key is to get more regulars showing up every week.

The coaching is a lot of fun too. I'm really lucky to guide a couple of good runners. They're doing the Victoria marathon in Oct. I've learned so much with both of these ventures. It's one thing to train and follow what you know works for you. It's completely different to try to learn how someone else responds to different training stress. Everyone's different, what works with one will not work with another. That's why it's so important for communication in the athlete/coach relationship. Cheers,

DP