Swimming is one aspect of triathlon that stands alone as the black sheep.
It is it's own water world that poses as many questions as answers.
After taking a break from the pool I found myself floundering about, trying to remember what swimming felt like. If you take 2 days out of the water there is some loss in feel let alone 2-3 weeks. Humans were not born to swim, we were born to walk on dry land, unless of course your name is Andrew McCartney.
However that is not to say swimming is lost after time out of the pool. It is frustrating but over some time your body remembers. The specifics to swimming are what has to be remembered to swim well. The specific shoulder and back muscles need to remember how to work efficiently. Wrist and elbow angles need to be re-established.
After 2 weeks of swimming with training wheels, this week I noticed some progression back to normal self.
With similar 100's sets throughout the week I saw my pace drop from 1:15 to 1:11 to 1:06. This spurs on thoughts about the adaptation my body is going through right now. It is quick and with significant gains, kinda like going through puberty all over again.
A whole bunch of other related questions pop into my head while wandering off on a 600 fins.
- should i be eating more and/or more of something specific during this period?
- am i creating new neural pathways or just blowing the dust off of old ones?
- do i need more rest during this time?
...Thanks for the ginger cake Kirsten, hit the spot.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Monday, December 07, 2009
Victoria World Cup 201?
In the summer I thought a lot about this topic - If there were ever to be a World Cup in Victoria where would I hold it?
Downtown was the first plan, but as I looked into I think it would be too difficult. The harbour is labeled an international airport (floatplanes) and there would be far too many hurdles there.
The next thought was either Thetis or Elk Lake. These would be great spots but you would not have the same public draw to come watch the event as you would near the city.
It was then that I felt the best place would be on Dallas Road just past Clover Point. Within 2k of downtown Victoria and not forcing road closures in the downtown core would make this an ideal site for a beautiful west coast feel race. With Google Maps I began nerdishly plotting a course.
SWIM
The swim would be pretty basic. A beach (rock beach) start into the frigid ocean waters. The race would have to be held in late July or early August to avoid too many hypothermia casualties. Wetsuit 1500m swim of two loops with a re-entry off the concrete pier that juts out from the beach (would need to be low tide).
TRANSITION
The swim exit would have athletes run a short 50m or so up onto Dallas rd where both transitions would occur. Exit Transition to the Left and Re-enter from Right.
BIKE
For the bike I thought of going up King George hill but decided against it in favor of beacon hill being more spectator friendly. The 8 lap 40k bike course would head West on Dallas rd to make a CW loop of Beacon Hill Park to rejoin Dallas rd with a hard 120 degree turn to now head East. Left on Cooke street, right on May, right on Memorial Crescent to pass the cemetary before going right on Dallas to pass through transition. The bike is fairly flat but high winds off the water could make it interesting.
RUN
For the run athletes head out of transition and straight onto a water level seawall to run up to and loop around Clover Point. Coming out of Clover Pt. take a left on Dallas rd. and run to the turn around just past Linden Street. Run straight back along Dallas rd. to transition to repeat 4 times of 2.5k.
Anyone wanna front half a mill to get this on the ITU Race calendar?
Downtown was the first plan, but as I looked into I think it would be too difficult. The harbour is labeled an international airport (floatplanes) and there would be far too many hurdles there.
The next thought was either Thetis or Elk Lake. These would be great spots but you would not have the same public draw to come watch the event as you would near the city.
It was then that I felt the best place would be on Dallas Road just past Clover Point. Within 2k of downtown Victoria and not forcing road closures in the downtown core would make this an ideal site for a beautiful west coast feel race. With Google Maps I began nerdishly plotting a course.
SWIM
The swim would be pretty basic. A beach (rock beach) start into the frigid ocean waters. The race would have to be held in late July or early August to avoid too many hypothermia casualties. Wetsuit 1500m swim of two loops with a re-entry off the concrete pier that juts out from the beach (would need to be low tide).
TRANSITION
The swim exit would have athletes run a short 50m or so up onto Dallas rd where both transitions would occur. Exit Transition to the Left and Re-enter from Right.
BIKE
For the bike I thought of going up King George hill but decided against it in favor of beacon hill being more spectator friendly. The 8 lap 40k bike course would head West on Dallas rd to make a CW loop of Beacon Hill Park to rejoin Dallas rd with a hard 120 degree turn to now head East. Left on Cooke street, right on May, right on Memorial Crescent to pass the cemetary before going right on Dallas to pass through transition. The bike is fairly flat but high winds off the water could make it interesting.
RUN
For the run athletes head out of transition and straight onto a water level seawall to run up to and loop around Clover Point. Coming out of Clover Pt. take a left on Dallas rd. and run to the turn around just past Linden Street. Run straight back along Dallas rd. to transition to repeat 4 times of 2.5k.
Anyone wanna front half a mill to get this on the ITU Race calendar?
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Making a new Move
Seems like I left off a while back days before racing the 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater. I won't go into details of the race as you can view it on the Checkmate Triathlon Team site which I am very excited about and will elaborate more on later. I would like to thank everyone who has helped make 2009 another great year for me in this crazy sport. Special thanks to my Dad and Sister for their unwilling support, Patrick Kelly for developing me through another successful year, Champion Systems, Sequel Naturals, and aquaman for their aid in my endeavors. Another big thanks to Hyack Air and the Allards for taking me in and putting a roof over my head, and Noa for taking a chance on a goofy guy like me.
I've just finished up my season break, quite short, with a few days of skiing with my good friend Marty. Wow, my legs have really forgotten what that burn feels like, but unfortunately my back hasn't. I had some time back in Revelstoke and Salmon Arm as well getting in a good visit with family. My 7-month niece, Stella, is always entertaining to see but on this visit it was amazing to see how much of a little person she is now, no longer a baby! We had a day together by ourselves, mommy and daddy may not let that happen again though after a little piggy backing mishap.
I've been trying to hide her from the internet because it is a dangerous dangerous place but without further adiou....STELLA!!
She was angry because there was no Simon Whitfield on the box
It was Noa's birthday last week so we decided to check out the butterfly gardens in Victoria. Worth while visit with a lot of bizarre looking butterflies and other creatures there. Noa is on a big tear as of late pumping out new nutritious recipes all the time so I treated her to some of my cooking that night with a recipe from my sisters whitewater cookbook.
Flamingos
They will land right on your fingertips if you cover them in Honey
Today was my first day back with some training. A 3k swim at Commonwealth where I hung out at the back trying to keep my heart-rate in check started things off and a run at one of my favourites, cedar hill, will cap it for today.
Getting back to Checkmate. This team of 6 athletes has been created just recently in the States with the idea of team racing. The concept of team racing has been around for some time with Countries going for a team approach at major games races. However a mixed nation team of athletes has not been common place. Checkmate has high aspirations for 2010, the team will race at Continental Cups, Pan-american Champs and a few World Cups together to give ITU racing a new look. I am excited for this opportunity to put nationalities aside and rediscover team sports once again.
I've just finished up my season break, quite short, with a few days of skiing with my good friend Marty. Wow, my legs have really forgotten what that burn feels like, but unfortunately my back hasn't. I had some time back in Revelstoke and Salmon Arm as well getting in a good visit with family. My 7-month niece, Stella, is always entertaining to see but on this visit it was amazing to see how much of a little person she is now, no longer a baby! We had a day together by ourselves, mommy and daddy may not let that happen again though after a little piggy backing mishap.
I've been trying to hide her from the internet because it is a dangerous dangerous place but without further adiou....STELLA!!
She was angry because there was no Simon Whitfield on the box
It was Noa's birthday last week so we decided to check out the butterfly gardens in Victoria. Worth while visit with a lot of bizarre looking butterflies and other creatures there. Noa is on a big tear as of late pumping out new nutritious recipes all the time so I treated her to some of my cooking that night with a recipe from my sisters whitewater cookbook.
Flamingos
They will land right on your fingertips if you cover them in Honey
Today was my first day back with some training. A 3k swim at Commonwealth where I hung out at the back trying to keep my heart-rate in check started things off and a run at one of my favourites, cedar hill, will cap it for today.
Getting back to Checkmate. This team of 6 athletes has been created just recently in the States with the idea of team racing. The concept of team racing has been around for some time with Countries going for a team approach at major games races. However a mixed nation team of athletes has not been common place. Checkmate has high aspirations for 2010, the team will race at Continental Cups, Pan-american Champs and a few World Cups together to give ITU racing a new look. I am excited for this opportunity to put nationalities aside and rediscover team sports once again.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
your hot then your cold...
Huatulco recap
swim was great, perhaps my best swim for the effort i had to put out of the year. Not a good start as i dove under Serrano, but didn't panic and just found my rhythm when clear water came. 15th or so around the first bouy and then basically just kept out of trouble and made sure to breath to both sides.
good exit and T1, straight into the pack and felt great up the climb on the first lap near the front. The first 2 laps i found a distinct pattern to how the lap was played out. On the 3rd lap on the descent a gap formed right about in the middle of the group. I wasn't really concerned, as were the other guys in the split. but then things didn't lull up as they did on the previous laps where it had. So ben collins and an estonian athlete were cranked it up to close the gap. The three of us along with kevin collington caught back up at the base of the climb. For me however the chase was too much and I couldn't hang on, on that climb. Frustrating as a rode the remainder with 4 others but a lesson learned. I didn't have the respect for those athletes and course that I should have. I was too passive. I look back on my coaches comments for the bike before the race and can only look back in regret that i didn't follow them better.
by the run i was cooked, well done in fact. All my focus was now on crossing that finish line. And i did. 23 men finished the race, 26 men dnf'd. Some coming to an actual standstill on the climb...it was that steep.
This was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life, both physically and mentally, and i am very proud to have finished.
That evening the race had quite a nice wrap up dinner where a lot of the athletes were ready to let loose as it was the end of their season.
The next day I traveled to Tampa Bay, home of the lightning for my final race of the year. 70.3 World champs.
I met Brent and Carolyn in the airport that night and we drove over to clearwater beach where we are staying in a condo about 1k from the race transition.
The ocean here is quite choppy and there are constant strong winds. Come saturday it may clear up a bit but if not, it will be challenging day. It is pretty cold here though compared to mexico and there has been a fair amount of rain.
Today brent did an interview with tsn. following up after him was big matty reed. I sat and eavesdropped for brent while matty was interviewed to get his strategy for sunday.
some photos are the travels thus far:
Me on the memorial cause way bridge
View from another bridge...many bridges here.
Brent...your my boy blue!
Matt may have destroyed everyone in the race but he got destroyed in the cake eating contest!
Huatulco transition set up
swim was great, perhaps my best swim for the effort i had to put out of the year. Not a good start as i dove under Serrano, but didn't panic and just found my rhythm when clear water came. 15th or so around the first bouy and then basically just kept out of trouble and made sure to breath to both sides.
good exit and T1, straight into the pack and felt great up the climb on the first lap near the front. The first 2 laps i found a distinct pattern to how the lap was played out. On the 3rd lap on the descent a gap formed right about in the middle of the group. I wasn't really concerned, as were the other guys in the split. but then things didn't lull up as they did on the previous laps where it had. So ben collins and an estonian athlete were cranked it up to close the gap. The three of us along with kevin collington caught back up at the base of the climb. For me however the chase was too much and I couldn't hang on, on that climb. Frustrating as a rode the remainder with 4 others but a lesson learned. I didn't have the respect for those athletes and course that I should have. I was too passive. I look back on my coaches comments for the bike before the race and can only look back in regret that i didn't follow them better.
by the run i was cooked, well done in fact. All my focus was now on crossing that finish line. And i did. 23 men finished the race, 26 men dnf'd. Some coming to an actual standstill on the climb...it was that steep.
This was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life, both physically and mentally, and i am very proud to have finished.
That evening the race had quite a nice wrap up dinner where a lot of the athletes were ready to let loose as it was the end of their season.
The next day I traveled to Tampa Bay, home of the lightning for my final race of the year. 70.3 World champs.
I met Brent and Carolyn in the airport that night and we drove over to clearwater beach where we are staying in a condo about 1k from the race transition.
The ocean here is quite choppy and there are constant strong winds. Come saturday it may clear up a bit but if not, it will be challenging day. It is pretty cold here though compared to mexico and there has been a fair amount of rain.
Today brent did an interview with tsn. following up after him was big matty reed. I sat and eavesdropped for brent while matty was interviewed to get his strategy for sunday.
some photos are the travels thus far:
Me on the memorial cause way bridge
View from another bridge...many bridges here.
Brent...your my boy blue!
Matt may have destroyed everyone in the race but he got destroyed in the cake eating contest!
Huatulco transition set up
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hurricane Ida
Huatulco report to come, but for now a classic seinfield quote that made me smile while it ran over and over in my head today as brent and I swam in hurricane inflicted waters here in Clearwater.
"the sea was angry that day my friends, like an old man trying to return soup at a deli!" George Castanza
"the sea was angry that day my friends, like an old man trying to return soup at a deli!" George Castanza
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