Friday, October 24, 2008

boy am I sore.....

My first "recovery and rejuvenation" week as went well. meaning only 2 swims and 2 rides instead of 3 of each. This is my 3rd week of multisporting and my legs are POOOPED. I skipped my running intervals today in lieu of rest. I am still playing softball and staying out late doing that took a lot out of me. Doing cardio just about everyday in some form has taken its toll as well. Yester day I ran 4 easy miles at a bit over my race pace but there are no details since my virtual partner didnt charge his batteries and failed less than 1/2 mile into it.

My leg tone has changed considerably in the last few weeks. I hardly could fit into my jeans because of the change in girth. LOL....funny didnt expect that. I am reading a book called "your first triathlon" by joe Friel, a world renowned tri coach. It was recommended to me when I went to a store called "run, bike, swim." There I learned some interesting facts. Triathletes are there for the "doing" aspect of things. They just want to be out there doing it. Very nice, very helpful, not competing with each other. I like that. In the book I think I will follow the runners program to completing a triathlon. More details to come.....Tomarrow is the first ride for my wife and I and we will also incorporate a swim. I cant wait to hang wtih her.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Whew....I got a bike

Finally I got a road bike. I decided to take advantage of REI's excellent customer service for members and went with them. If I dont like it I take it back at no expense to me. Is it a top of the line bike? No. But I dont need that. It was on clearance and after my ride today I figure this bike is more than I need. I had a great ride. In true Karl fashion my ride details are as such (courtesy of Garmin 205):

ride length: 13.45 miles
Ride time: 1:06:36
Calories burned: 968

I watched the triathlon called the "Ironman" at Kona, Hi on TV every year as a kid and thought I cant do that. That is not my thing. I dont have the body for that. It turns out I didnt have the discipline or the mental toughness. Now am I signed up for Kona? uhhh no. This is the world series of tris. It is a 2.4 mile (3.86 km) ocean swim in Kailua-Kona Bay, a 112 mile (180 km) bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hawi and back, and a marathon (26.2 mile, 42.2 km) along the coast of the Big Island (from Keauhou to Keahole Point to Kailua-Kona); finishing on Ali'i Drive. But then again I never thought Id run a half marathon either. Yeah did that. In fact 3 in 2008 (with vegas coming up). Palos Verdes (long Beach, CA), disneyland, and vegas. Now I am running at a less than 10 min/mile pace around 9:40. Now the folks spilling over from Karls friends/family will not be impressed by that time, however, you must know that palos verdes was finished in 2:29:43. Improving my time to sub 2:10:00 around 2:08:00. My goal will be sub 2:10.

Ive been swimming too. For 2 weeks now I have been puttin in some swimming. Yesterday completed 500 meters for my long swim for the week in 24 min or so. Not bad since I haven swam a lap since pre-highschool. What will help is taking a "masters" swimming class at the local communtiy center. Once I a comfortable with the swim. Im in...lets do this.

I started looking at potential tris and I have no plans for a race. Its more about training right now.