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[WoD] Polar Plunge

As I was sitting behind my computer after work today, I couldn't help but feel like a complete lazy-a** when perusing my workout log.  The last three days have all said "RICE- (R) Knee".  Alas, I grabbed my bag and booked it to pool with 50 minutes to spare before they closed.

When I walked up to the entrance I noticed a sign that stated:

"Water temp is around 72*.  Sorry for the inconvenience."

Being stubborn, I hurried and grabbed my cap, goggles, and shorts and ran on deck knowing that time was a precious commodity that I was running out of.  Pulling my goggles down, I suddenly remembered that I forgot my workout sheet!  Arg!  Luckily, I remembered the workout and jumped in while starting my Garmin.  Holy crap, that's cold!!  My body felt like I was in an ice bath again, though I knew I was substantially warmer.  More motivation to stay on time with my rest periods, right?

Today's workout came from Essential Week-by-Week Training Guide by Triathlete Magazine.  I just flipped to an Olympic workout and grabbed it because my official training regimen doesn't start until February.

[swim] 4x100m Intervals 1250m @ 27:49

-250m     Warm up

-3x50m   Swim Drills Rest (R)10sec*

-4x100m Intervals R5sec

-3x50m   Kick Drills R15sec*

-300m     Cool down

*Workout calls for 25m/y distances, but I'm swimming in an Olympic-sized pool

--If not for yourself, do it for the story.

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What are you doing this morning?

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It's Official!

I'm signed up for my first official triathlon:  The Capital of Texas Triathlon in Austin, Texas.  I signed up for the Olympic distance (1.5k/40k/10k) and will be racing in the Military division.  It is going down Memorial Day weekend 2012!  If you sign up, let me know so we can track training and results together.

Next stop: Ironman!  Haha

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The beast after todays ride

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Savannah River: Augusta 70.3 swim location as viewed from the levy.

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Knocked out my swim here today. Normal pool was closed. Left my goggles in Maryland so I had to buy a new pair and cap today from Augusta Swim Supply Inc.

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My outdoor workout area

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I got the glove/mittens I've wanted for a long time! Thanks honey!

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First Time For Everything

Between my knee and the Christmas season, I haven't been on here much.  I almost took the entire week off last week.  Only a bike/swim/bike really stopped me from taking the week off.  Needless to say, I was chomping at the bit to get back into the swing of things.  

Then came school/work to slam on my brakes.  I wound up having a 24 hour shift, sitting on a desk, with no sleep, from 9am on Sunday to 9am on Monday.  JOY!!  Ergo, on Monday I did little else than sleep and take my dogs for a walk.  Tuesday, I decided to go big.

I've been talking about doing a triathlon for months now.  However, I've never truly felt what it is like to put those 3 events back to back to back.  After sitting on my returning-fat ass for a while babying my knee, I was fed up.  I googled the distance of a sprint triathlon and found the following distances:

750m Swim

12.4mi Bike

3.1mi Run

I set my Garmin 310XT to Multi-sport mode without transitions and headed out to the pool.  My plan was to knock out the swim then drive back home to ride my bike (only 2 miles away).  Then grab the dogs and do the 5k on a trail.  The benefits of the trail run were two fold: I don't have to run on pavement and my dogs get some much needed exercise.  Off to the pool...

The swim felt great.  Rather than warming up then starting the distance, I just jumped right in and took it easy for the first 200 in order to allow my elbows to warm up.  I have a history of tennis elbow and I'd rather not revisit it.  The 750m went by quickly and, before I knew it, I was on the pool deck drying off to head out on the bike. 

When I got home 5 mins later, my watch beeped.  I looked down and noticed that my watch face read "Transferring Data".  Lunging at my computer, I ripped the ANT stick so it would stop.  Did not matter, the workout was over according to my watch.  After various explicatives, I wound up just starting a new workout and heading out on the bike. 

To be frank, biking is much harder than it appeared.  I figured "hell, I've been mountain biking before.  I've ridden bicycles all my life.  How hard could it be".  Touche, bicycle.  Since this wasn't a closed course or anything, I wound up stopping for traffic a couple times and another couple times on hills.  They crushed me.  The only real problem I had was when my tri bars loosened up at mile 10-ish.  Annoying.  

After I dropped the bike off, I grabbed the dogs and headed for the trail.  

I was going to go the full 3.1, but at only a half mile in my knee was starting to feel it again.  So, instead of pushing too hard I called it at 2 miles.  Dogs got a good run out of it. 

I felt good, and I feel a little sore now, but not terribly so.  Only enough to make myself recover today rather than going crazy.  Tomorrow I'll be hitting it again. 

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What they said....motivating and intimidating at the same time.

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He won this round, but I'll take the next 10k for sure. 

Time: 46:33

Placed:20th Overall

Pace: 7:24

I finally beat 2LT Arrington. This feels like a friendly competition that will last well past our class together. This was my first 10K since 23APR2011. I crushed that time. I beat it by almost more 10 minutes. 2LTs Romine and...

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[Cycling] It's Official!

I finally got a bike!  My wife surprised me for a birthday/Christmas combo deal and I picked it up on Saturday after the group 10K.  I was so excited that I didn't even go home and change after Ihop.  The best part about it:

I'm officially training in all three disciplines!!!!! Ironman, here I come!

    Today I was finally able to take it on a ride.  I didn't get out of work until well after dusk, so it was also the christening run for the lights I got at Wal Mart.  When Jen gets back, I'll have her snap some pictures of me riding it.

By the way, it is so much harder to sit in the aero position for a long period of time than I thought.  I only rode for 33 mins and wasn't in aero for more than a minute at a time.  Yet more respect to the folks that do races all the time.

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This run was INSANE! The morning started at 0530. I woke up and texted everyone (2LT Arrington, 2LT Gonzales, and 2LT Romine). Only Romine and Gonzales responded. I figured before I went to bed the night prior that Arrington might be hard to wake up after a really fun night out. After getting...

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[Race] December Dash 2011 10K

This was by far my favorite race thus far.  After reviewing my race log, I counted this event as my 8th official run.  It wasn't the distance or the course that made it special, it was the fact that there were 10 people there from class running as well as my wife Jen and my buddy's wife Ilsa there for support.  

From left to right: Matt, Alex, Mark, Katie, Sean, Mercedes, Adam, Jarad, me, Peter

[Race]

Time: 47:01

Place: I think 22nd

The only real issue I had was with my IT band.  I hurt it earlier in the week on a grueling slow run with my school and tried to take it easy until the race.  At mile 2, the pain was the only thing I could think about.  I finished the run, though the discomfort was easy to see on my face according to Jen.  Time for RICE I suppose.  

I also hate my shoes.  I need to find a middle ground from my super supportive shoes and my Merrells.  Due to my left foot being tender from the week's work, the Brooks trail shoes made a guest appearance on my feet.  Felt like I was running on racquetballs.  I won a raffle prize for $25 at the local Fleet Feet, so perhaps I'll have a new shoe soon. 

                                           Pre-race tailgate party

                                               Pre-race crowd

                                 The course is right by Augusta airport

                                                   Stop that Garmin!

                                                         Post race shot

                                                 How I really felt

Day just got better after that.....new post to follow :)

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Whole squad after post-run meal

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Post run pic if our group

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Race day