Hello again!

Things are still going well. Lets see what have I done over the last week or two. Oh yeah watching the world champs was awesome wasn't it? I took a page out of Greg's book and planned a pretty epic workout for myself(epic for this time of year). I didn't know how long I could ride for, but I basically planned to ride as long as I could although if I was completely honest I'd say I really wanted to do 3 hours. But I hadn't been on the bike much yet this year so I didn't know. Anywho with the help of one heck of a race! I managed the 3 hours and actually stayed 5 minutes extra to ride CW home. Then went for a 25-30 min run and boyyyy did I ever feel good on the run. Felt smooth and fast. I'm feeling like I'm starting where I left off last year, not having to start over!

So I was running quite a bit till I got a bit of a cold last week. I didn't completely get it, but just enough for me to have to ease off the training a bit. I think I took one day off completely, but that's it. I've been riding a lot like I said I would. Today was a first for me, I rode before work!!!! I can't believe I actually got out of bed at 6:30 to ride. Yeah yeah I know it's not that early for some of you, but I've really been thinking about going to bed earlier and getting some workouts done in the morning. For a night owl this won't be a easy task. You see it's colddddddddd in the morning, especially in the basement. But today it wasn't actually that bad, got to work and I was awake!! Course with the exercise first thing, and just being up earlier made me have to eat that much more for breakfast!!! Yikes my appetite is higher today.

Oh yeah one other thing, last weekend Greg, Chad, and I did the Gorilla run at the zoo. It's for a good cause and Chad was pumped about wanting to win the relay so Greg and I signed up for his team "Grizzled Legend". We got there on time, got the chip and everything. It was chilly in the morning before dawn, but getting to the zones was our downfall. :( Leslie drove us, but it wasn't her fault. I'm not sure who's fault it was but for w/e reason we didn't know exactly where the first transition area was so Chad after running his speedy(he didn't want us to know his leg of the relay was shorter) 5k had to wait for 3 min for us Greg to get there to hand off the chip. Oh well 3 min, it could be worse right? I got to my transition area on time, I even contemplated taking a washroom break, but didn't want a second wait added to our time so I figured I'd hold off the poop fairy(no not the ultra marathoning team from SASK) and run the 5k with no washroom break. Greg came and I sped off for my leg. I have no idea how long it was, all I know is I caught a few more people and we ended up 4th overall 1st all mens team(yes we got chicked). Ran for 24 min flat for what ever it's worth. Over and out,

DP

Back in the saddle again!

Hey,

Well I'm back training again. Nothing scheduled/coached yet but I'm training. I've ridden a bunch of times already, maybe 4 or 5 times? My running is going good too, I've hardly lost anything and I feel like I'm basically picking up where I left off. It's really a nice feeling not having to start from scratch again. I'm doing all my running outdoors to avoid the spring calf problems that I usually have. Already broken my longest indoor ride this "winter" with a 3:05 ride while watching the IM world champs. I'm dreaming of the day when I'll be riding across the lava fields, hopefully not being blown off the road. My weight has gone up some, but not too bad really maybe 10 pounds? I expected more and my diet is improving again, watching what I eat and not inhaling anything I want. :P

Cam and Trevor good job on your races this weekend. I've checked out your results and look forward to a couple race reports?? Maybe even if they're just short ones? Cam ran in Victoria, and Trevor did the Okanagan(Kelowna) marathon. Cam 3:19 and Trevor 3:31?? Not too bad right boys? Correct me if I'm wrong. Tonight I rode the bike for 90 min, went for a swim then Lisa and I went to watch a movie.

Last year I focussed on the diet, I gotta do that again, but I'm going to also be really making sure I get enough sleep. No more staying up till 2am and needing a nap before my afternoon workouts. I also want to do some morning workouts. Yikes that'll be the hardest thing I've ever had to do while IM training. I am NOT a morning person, but if you think about it getting a workout done in the morning would be sooooo beneficial. You come home after work and you don't have 2-3 workouts to do, only 1-2(most times 1 :P). It'll free more of the evening up and of course more time with the Mrs. I haven't done any yet and as I type this it's past Midnight dont' worry I'm headed to bed after this. Right now it's not important yet, but when things get serious then I'll start getting up earlier to ride the bike. Oh have I mentioned what's on the program for this winter??? MORE RIDING!!! After careful consideration/pondering about my race at Pentiction it's become apparent, ok this didn't take too much thought that the bike is where I need to continue to improve. I really think the intensity of the workouts was great, I can't really put much more effort into workouts. The thing that I can do is ride more, more miles/frequency. So I got to get used to the trainer early. Also trying to keep the long run at 1.5 hours through winter with Curtis. We've had a few good ones already. So here's to a solid winter training season I'm ready to go!!

This is YOUR time!!! LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CdJTfGiRCI

Tagged it

1. Where is your cell phone? Charging
2. Your hair? Growing
3. Your Mother? Stubborn
4. Your Father? Dead
5. Your Favorite food? BigMac
6. Your dream last night? ?
7. Your favorite drink? Coke
8. Your dream/goal? KONA!!!!
9. What room are you in? Familyroom
10. Your hobby? WOW
11. Your fear? hmmmmm the forgetfulness one, what's that called again???
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? kona
13. Where were you last night? Swimming
14. Somthing you aren't? S M R T
15. Muffins? Where?
16. Wish list item? Zipp
17. Where did you grow up? Farm (that's what all city people think when I say I grew up in the country I may as well go with it. :P)
18. Last thing you did? Kiss
19. What are you wearing? Stuff
20. Your TV? Works
21. Your pets? None
22. Your friends? Quality
23. Your life? MINE
24. Your mood? excited
25. Missing Someone? Yes
26. Vehicle? Honda
27. Somthing you're not wearing? Thinkingcap
28. Your favorite store? ebay
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? Same time as #18
31. Last time you cried? IMC? (can't remember if I cried, was def. choked up)
32. Your best friend? Lisa
33. One place that I go over and over? Computer
34. One person that emails you regularly? Lisa
35. Favorite place to eat? Computer

There you have it I was tagged by Julie http://runningwithdoggies.blogspot.com/ (someone tell me how to link with a word). I'm not sure if I'm supposed to pass it on. I'll just leave it open and if people want to they can participate. :)

Off Season and some thoughts

Hey all,

I haven't been doing much training lately. Mostly running like 3-4 times a week and a few mountain bike rides mostly around the city on bike paths. It's been a good time of recharging. I toyed with the idea of doing a fall marathon since my running legs are still there, but changed my mind. I still don't have the desire to train hard yet. I won't rush things, just take it easy, probably move up to a easy workout a day for Oct. Then hit up the routine for Nov. I haven't taken up the fishing yet. I still could do this provided the weather stays ok, but I have done some gardening. What??? Gardening?? Yes that's right Lisa and I want to plant a few things in our backyard, such as strawberries, maybe some trees and saskatoon bushes. So we made a trip to http://www.saskatoonfarm.com/ a couple weeks ago and got like 3 saskatoon bushes and a japanese lilac tree. If you haven't been to this place yet you should. It's not only a nursury, but they have lots of cool antiques, you can pick saskatoons there(in season of course) and a restaurant with one of the bestest saskatoon pie you will EVER TASTE!! I'm not kidding it was amazing!!

I read this really interesting article on xtri.com here is the main part and the source:

One of the most dangerous things I sometimes see in the athletes I work with or meet is a mismatch between their race performance goals and their willingness to make the sacrifices it takes to reach them. By “sacrifice”, I mean doing something in order to reach your race performance potential when you'd rather be doing something else. Here are some examples:1) Getting your workouts done when you are tired and unmotivated and would rather go out with your friends or watch TV.2) Taking care of your nutrition when everyone around you is eating nachos and ice cream.3) Staying in your specified HR zones when on a group ride where everyone else is hammering.4) Not racing when everyone else is racing in order to meet a longer term goal and foster long term progress.5) Going to bed early when you'd rather watch TV or read at night.6) Going out on a long ride when you'd rather be home with your family.

http://www.xtri.com/features_display.aspx?riIDReport=5956&CAT=23&xref=xx

Food for thought uh, it should come with a disclaimer though. Somthing like, "Does not necessarily improve/balance one's life" only looks at improving performance. What are you guys willing to give up for performance? and what are you not?

EDIT: Oh yeah I forgot to add, I got a aero helmet finally. Bought it off ebay for a good price, the brand I wanted to get. It's a Rudy Project, zoom zoom!!

IMC RR #2 (forgotten story)

Hey!

I was just reading Julie's blog and got reminded of somthing that happened to me during the bike section at IMC. I was into the false flat section coming up to Yellow lake during the toughest section for me at least. It's false flat, you're tired, somtimes don't know if I should be aero or sitting up so I do a bit of both mostly aero this year. So at one point I'm aero and looking forward to seeing lisa and my Mom on the climb. Then with out warning or no time to react a wasp flies into my mouth!! You would think I'd have time to close it on time, but I guess 140km on the bike will be the equivalent of a half dozen beers, at least with your reaction timing. It all happened really quick, after it flew in I naturally spit as fast as I could. I'm sure people watching must have had a really awesome show watching this cyclist come by blowing/spitting like that. It flew out instantly, or got tossed out, but on the way out it stung me on the inside of the lip. So here comes the sharp pain that you always get from them. The first thing that comes into my head was oooooohh boy here comes the pain/swelling will I have to drop out??? My race was going well at that point, I had visions of how my run might turn out with mouth pain, I don know what else happens when you get stung inside the mouth??? So yeah my lip swelled up immediately, I went by Lisa/Mom and they yelled for me so there was no way I could tell them anything unless I stop. I wasn't going to stop untill I have to. Drinking was a pain in the ass with the big lip. I even checked the Yellow lake pictures but with out ordering them and checking them you can't tell. So I climbed Yellow lake, rode down into the wind, made my way back into town trying not to drool on myself too much. I started out the run feeling awesome and here's where it gets really bizzare!! I totally forgot about it because the swelling and pain went away!!! I've had stings before and they never do that! I couldn't believe it I thought it was a miracle(ohhhhh yeah I pray in the race ha ha). I guess there was no stinger in my mouth, but I still didn't expect that. Anywho there's my funny story, I'm not trying to top Julie's adventure, I won't ever top one of there posts. hee hee

DP

Endless Caption possibilities here.