I'm still hungry!!!!! grrrrrrrrrrr

Seriously, I eat and eat and eat all day long, have a big lunch and I have one plum left(I don't care for plums) and I'm still hungry!!!! Ok, here's the breakdown, I had a yogurt, 2xgranola bars, a asian mango jelly thing(you know the kind you get in the asian isle of the grocery store), at home I had some kind of pastry thing with a cup of choc. milk for breakfast. For lunch I had a big big tupperwear thing full of all kinds of goodness, ham, potatoes, peas, green beans, hmmm something else. Then a bag full of stawberries, and a bag full of carrots for snack later. Just now I ate an apple and finished up the bag of carrots. Hmmm there's gotta be more I just can't think of it right now and it feels like my tummy is telling me it wants more??? Maybe I have a tapeworm??? My co-workers think I'm weird cause I have a big lunch kit and somtimes it can't be closed cause my food is sticking out the top of it. They just assume I eat all day, that's it. I don't really, but I do munch on stuff much of it. Most of the time it's healthy stuff, somtimes bad snacks. Anyways I know I need the calories, but seriously I ate a lot today!!!

QOTD: “hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard.”

I do, I'm totally a inspirational junkie. I also have the dream of going under 10 hours some day and possibly qualifying for kona. Here's a cool RR, not just for sub-10 dreamers, everyone should be able to relate and get somthing out of it;

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/From_Serious_Fat_Guy_to_Kona_-_My_Kona_Qualification_Story_P2263694/

My legs feel like jello

Hey all,

I thought I'd try to keep this bloggin thing going a few days, see if I can get into it. Just like running I'd lost my mojo and the only way to get it back is to do it more often right? The last couple of days have been good, yesterday I had a good run finally. I did somthing different, I forced myself to run with someone slightly slower then I usually run. At least for the first 30 minutes I kept with this gentleman. He didn't seem to mind and I even asked if I was annoying him. I know some people don't like it especially on the bike. ;) But we've NEVER DONE THAT(sarcasm). Anywho as soon as he dropped off I kept going and picked it up having done a "proper" warmup. I know it sounds crazy, who woulda thought doing a proper warmup would yield results. After that I found my legs and increased quite a bit near the end. My 90 min. Z2 probably creeped up into the Z3 by the end, but hey I really needed the confidence booster. I felt great at the end.

So Chad Leslie and Greg showed up for the swim and they were all excited about the new IM. Anyone else interested in St. George Utah??? Sounds interesting, I did some research on the place, there's some bad and some good things. I'm a lil leary, not quite convinced on it yet. The biggest thing is it's a May IM which means long long trainer rides. I'm getting better aquainted with the trainer, but could I handle that??? Def. not at this point, maybe by next spring I could. Oh well it was the topic of discussion before we started the swim. We did some kind of descending thing. They moved the bulkhead during one of our sets, which actually made one our 50s 60, and our next 50 75 as they moved the bulkhead. It makes for an interesting swim. Somtimes it seems like the wall has moved when you get tired, here it was actually moving. I didn't get clothes lined like last time with the flag thing that they drape across at the 5m marks. Nice of them not to do it this time. One of the last sets we did 4 x 50 all out. So I come into the wall just behind Greg and he mentions to me, "You didn't look like you were going very hard". I wasn't thinking and quickly stated that no I cut the gas before I got to the wall. Greg is usually not a slave driver, but this clearly made him frown. He tells me at that point somthing like, "No, I want you to drive alllllll the way to the wall" Do it again, this time push harder, effort wise then you've ever pushed. What a dumb ass, mental note*** don't ever tell your coach your sand baggin it, bad idea. Anyways he made me do a 5th one too, big meany. I really pushed like he wanted and nearly paid the price(as well as everyone else swimming near by) by barfing into the pool. Man I can't remember ever bein that nautious. Oh well lesson learnt, pay attention to the little things, one detail in itself won't make a big deal, probably won't affect the outcome at all on Aug 30, but a little thing here, another there, yet another there...... well you get the picture DETAILS!!!

Todays bike was good, I'm really likin these MAP intervals, they hurt like heck. I had about 3 sets of them ranging from 45-90 secs and 4-6 of them with a break inbetween. I'm sure most of you guys in the class will have had the same thing, I think I'm a phase behind them since I started a few weeks behind with the indoor sessions. I checked the distance to St. George Utah, I'm allowed to do an IM and Lisa likes the idea of me bein done the race early summer which gives us more time for other fun summer activities which don't interfere with training, ha ha. or the other way. Utah is close to Vegas so we could do some things there, not that we're big gamblers but neither of us have been to Vegas so it would be nice to do. Spring should be here shortly and I'm lookin forward to training with the group again, I miss the comradery how ever you spell that. I think Greg was talkin about doin Edworthy hill or maybe tuscany as soon as the temp gets into the double digits. Gotta get the bikes tuned up, oh well that's it for now, hopefully I'll blog again soon, later,

DP

Spring has sprung!!

Hi there,

It's me again, you almost forgot about me eh? Although if you did you wouldn't see that question so no one should be saying, "Sorry who are you again?" So what am I doing these days? Ummm the usual, swimming, biking, running, this'n that. Things are going ok, especially the riding. I'm doing workouts I've never done on the trainer and my legs hate me for it, like TT's Map intervals, high cad, low cad with high gear. I'm finding my legs are def. getting more strength. I look forward to seeing how much I've improved there. The running is not as good, I'm usually running 5 days a week, but I'm finding it tough to get my running legs this season. I'm not sure why that is, maybe this has something to do with the extra weight I just can't seem to shed. Oh well it'll happen yet, the swimming.... well it's just swimming. What else can I say, I can't really tell if I'm improving there. We do have a good lil group going sundays, wednesdays, and fridays(for me at least). Greg and I are close so if I have a good swim I'm able to keep up somtimes, and even days when I can't he's just ahead of me. Someone to key off of, that's nice. I hope we'll get spring soon, I want to take my cycling outdoors. Which reminds me my bikes need a couple of tune ups. Where do you guys go for tune ups?? Somewhere near me? Last weekend Lisa and I went to Radium for the weekend. It was our "6 month anniversary" I know that's not annual, but w/e it was an excuse for us to get away and have some fun, soak in the hotsprings, and do some driving. We came home to see mother nature had blessed us with yet another snow fall. mmmmm nice. But I'm not complaining, I claimed I don't complain about weather in Keith's blog so I have to live up to that. I know that'll bite me in the butt sometime. Anywho, cheers all

DP

PS: I just entered another race for the season.

k, I'm in Calgary 70.3 here we come!!

Well I bit the bullet and entered. I was a bit hesitant about entering this one because it's only 4 weeks before IMC, but it's in Calgary(I don't feel like traveling anymore then I already will be) and I got a bunch of friends doing it. I like looking for them on the course and chatting after the race, comparing experiences and cheering for them. Training is going well again after a brief cold, I'm happy it didn't last too long. I think I had maybe 8 days off from it? Wednesday was my first swim back, it was long course, no IG so we did our own thing. I ended up doing 17 hundreds, just getting the feel for the water again, concentrating on my form, nothing hard. It was long course that's hard enough in itself isn't it?? My running isn't going that great, oh well it'll come. The riding is going very well though, I'm happy to say this year going with Greg's workouts I'm def. going to improve more, hopefully sub 5:30 this year??? maybe? pretty pls?? hee hee I'm hoping to make both of the training camps this year so that'll def. help. Greg also says he's gonna take it to a new level with me, now that he knows me and what I'm capable of.

Oh and in other news Lisa and I have joined the Talisman centre and quit the wow gym. Sorry Chad/Leslie, although what do you care I barely ever see you guys there anyways. See you more often swimming at the talisman and if I bug you enough maybe you'll join there too? It would be good to see some IG athletes doing some runs there too on the crappy winter days, looks like we're getting more of those eh? Well that's it for me, for now, TTYL oh

PS: Sorry Cam I won't be doing the Calgary marathon this year. I'm really quite terrified of the marathon, the last two didn't go well and the next time I do one I'll put all my effort into training for it. Maybe one of these years I'll take a year off of IM and that will be the year to get my marathon mojo back hopefully??? Oh well I wish you the best in your training, just make sure you get into the long rides soon. Is the invitation still open to come do a long ride with you this summer???

Happy Valentines!!

Hey all,

Just finishing up work here so I thought I'd say hi since it's wayyyyyy over due. I hope everyone is getting into their winter/spring training programs. Things are going well for me now despite some frustrating swims. Last swim was good finally after a few bad ones. Weird how long course is so much harder then short course. It shouldn't make that much difference, I'm convinced most of it's mental. Lisa has come swimming with me now 3 times I believe?? and she's pumped to come swim today again so that's good. She's improving and enjoying herself while doing it. During the warm weather I've been running mostly outsidee, but now it's cooled off again so back onto the treadmill I go. I can't handle cold weather running like I used to, the cold air does havoc on the immune system and I end up with a nasty cold if I run too hard in too cold weather. I'm back on the program with the Gregster, I think he's upped my program this year. I'm excited for this, I'm up for the challenge. So with the new program and the fact that I'm starting earlier with him, he's forcing me to get used to the trainer. Actually the last couple of rides have felt pretty good. I'm getting used to the seat and I feel good, at least for the first while. My long rides are up to 2 hours, think it's been 2 at that length. We'll see what the year brings, I think I may change my mind on which half IM I do. I wanted to go back to Manitoba and do the half I'd done twice years ago, but now I'm rethinking that. Lisa and I talked and it just doesn't make sense going for just a long weekend when the training camp here is the weekend after. Sooooo much driving to do, I may as well do Calgary 70.3 or the Sylvan Lake half. They are 4 and 5 weeks before IM, I think it'll be Sylvan since that one's 5 weeks I believe. Anyways I'm writing a quick update here just to fill everyone in who still faithfully check my blog. I hardly even read blogs anymore, I'm sorry I used to be pretty good about reading and commenting, so now that I don't I won't expect too many comments on mine. Especially now that it's been what a month since my last post? Oh well take care everyone, I've posted, one long paragraph..... but it's a post. Cheers,

Darryl

6 days on the road and I'm a gonna....

Hey there,

Things are going pretty well still. Yesterday I felt a bit of a cold so I right away started up with the Vitamin C and Cold Fx. I'm just finishing up here at work, killing some time so I thought I'd write a blog post. I hardly ever feel like writing at home so it never happens otherwise.

The last two weeks I've swam 3 times each, I swim sundays and wednesdays with Chad and Greg, friday on my own. Last friday guess who joined me!!!! Lisa has been talking for awhile about joining me and she finally came through the time when I don't mention it. I didn't know how it would go, there are so many what ifs. All I cared for on the first try was to make sure it was a positive thing. So I tryed to give tips but keep it positive and fun. She surprised me actually, at first I suggested just pushing off the wall, floating with the face in the water and kicking. Then later I noticed she was doing some strokes. She's determined eh! Anyways she had the floaty belt on at first, so after a bit she took it off since it was getting uncomfortable. She was a bit nervous at first with out it, even though we're in a standing area of the lap swimming pool. She has trouble balancing herself when it's time to get up. Anyways by the end she was doing em on her own while I did 100s, she floats really well kicking and even does a few strokes, some of them were damn near perfect. So ya we got another fishy in our midst, well tadpole, but needless to say I'm excited to have her aboard coming fridays with me. It also helps to keep my swim a bit more leasurely, makes coming to the pool more enjoyable if I have a more relaxed swim, but still 3 times in a week.

The riding is going great too!! I'm having no problems doing an hour now on the trainer and last friday I did 1:40 for my long ride! I normally ride long saturday, but at work I was thinking and already dreading getting up saturday and thinking about riding long. Sooo I figured there's a movie on my computer Lisa and I want to watch, asked her if she'd like to watch it with me. One catch though, I'd be on the trainer beside her sweatin up a storm. What a trooper, she didn't mind a bit, and I kept riding and riding even after the movie was over. I wonder if I can do 2 hours this weekend? We'll see, but it sure was nice getting that long one over with friday night already. I swam then too and only ran sat, then I was going to run and swim sunday, but we went to the hitmen game on sunday night so all I had time for was a swim. I need to get up earlier eh? I'm like you Kelsey, just NOT a morning person and like you I wish I was.

The job is going well, I enjoy working with the people. I really like the positive working environment, I even get to know some people from other departments and have no problems starting a conversation up with any one of them. The work is a bit boring, but at least I'm able to learn again. That's cool, and it's relaxing, I can say I really only had one stressful day where I didn't know what the heck I was doing and felt like quitting on the spot. Not too bad, the running is not coming back like i'd like. I find that ironic since I'm a runer and right now the swimming/biking is going better then the running. hmmmm I guess I can live with that. I had a great outdoor run saturday, it was toward evening, so peaceful and I got to see my deer buddies. There were piles of them again I never get over how peaceful they seem. Somthing occured to me as I was running back home. I grew up in the country and often thought I'd like to go deer hunting. Sorry Susi it's true at one point I thought I could do it. I had friends that were avid hunters and saw their heads up on their walls. Now I could never do it, I just couldn't. So those were my thoughts as I was cruising home. My running will come back, at least my tights aren't as "tight". Did someone shrink them, then stretch them? Go figure. Cheers, time to go home don't think I have anything else to say. Later,

Darryl