The Dream-Day 53

Game on! Just lock & loaded my race schedule leading up to the full IM. Had to beg/cajole/pay extra to get into some of these events. NYC was sold out months ago. I got ya sold out right 'eeeer.

The madness starts this Sunday!

6/5: Islip, NY - Great South Bay Sprint Triathlon (.47 mi swim, 11 mi bike, 3.1 mi run)
7/17: Geneva, NY - Musselman 1/2 Ironman (1.2 mi swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mi run)
8/7: NYC - NYC Olympic Triathlon (.93 mi swim, 24.9 mi bike, 6.2 mi run)
9/11: Westchester, NY - Westchester Toughman 1/2 Ironman (1.2 mi swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mi run)
11/5: The Dream

I told a vendor/friend of mine about this the other day. His response (ewww).

"Don't forget to bring some of your Salk HealthDri panties for when you need to take a piss or shit in the middle of your run or bike ride, or you can call Larry and have him send you a full sample set so you can try them all and see which one works the best for your fat ass!!!"

The Dream-Day 52

Good week of training thus far. Tuesday was a hellacious bike ride on my trainer where I re-enacted the now famous chalk outline pose from last week. Yesterday, I did 7 quick 1/2 mile run intervals where each effort was followed by a light jog. Today, left my place at 5:30am and joined several other crazies for a 6:30am open water swim.

The course was set up in a large rectangle 100 meters x 150 meters. We swim independently and did as much or as little as we wanted. Yours truly came out last (I know, shocking). Actually, they were collecting the buoys when I was 1/2 way into lap #6. F'ers. Anyway, my goals was to do 2,000 meters and I did 2,700 meters (1.7 miles). This afternoon, I owe a bike ride and a chest and back workout.

A few pics from this morning.

Some of my fellow Tri nut jobs about to do battle.

Damian doing his best impersonation of Jaws.

Dominique getting educated on the all-knowing weather rock.

Coach Joe on 3 hours of sleep.

Post swim. I know, it's hard not to get fixated on the gay Tri top or the crooked googles.

The Dream-Day 51

Between training and the Memorial Day weekend social docket training has been ratcheted up a few notches.

Got home from Ali Karen's wonderful Bat Mitzvah at 1am, passed out around 1:30, got up at 6, jammed down a double espresso, swam for 2 hrs til 9am, finished up a 1 1/2 hour run at 12:30pm, cleaned up, and then speed off to Bethel, NY (the site of Woodstock) to see Phish with my buddy, Scott.



We arrived at 5pm parking on a giant field and set up our pregame among thousands of 25-35 year olds. About an hour later (or 3 TGLs --> tequila, ginger ale, lemon) a grungy dude saunters up to us and says, "Hey, old guys, wanna buy some mushrooms?" I nearly choked from laughing so hard. Pulled myself together and had to give him a bit of a lesson in salesmanship.

The venue and the show were phenomenal. Scott and I plan on quiting our jobs and becoming Phish groupies. Phish in George, Washington in August? Hmm.

The Dream-Day 50

Took off at 6am for a 3 hr, 51 mile effort. Got back around 9:15, dashed into the shower, blended up a Shakeology, and left around 9:45am for my girl Ali's (actually a friend's kid), Bat Mitzvah service. I like the idea of throwing those 3 disciplines together. That, I could win. Huge multi-tasker. An afternoon hiatus and then the party tonight.

Drink? Mulling it over. Big training starts day bright and early tomorrow.

The Dream-Day 49

Coming off my first open water swim the Boys Club has unanimously confirmed my reinstatement. Man, those lines to use the lady's room were horrific. I don't know how they have the patience.

Anyway, the swim couldn't have been better. Temp around 70 and the water was like glass and warm. Had a hell of a time putting my wetsuit on and off. Actually had a major ab spasm taking off the damn thing. Coach told me to invest in 2 things: (1) Pam. Yes, the cooking spray. Apparently, triathletes spray their bodies with the stuff, and (2) A good razor. Leg and arm hair cause killer friction with the inside of the suit.

I find it quite ironic that triathletes, who are supposed to be among the toughest people on this rock, shave basically everything, render their bodies non-stick, and wear super tight skimpy clothes. Please don't alert the "ladies" on Bleeker St. And I thought the running shoes were gay (not that there's anything wrong with it).

Ran about 5 miles in the afternoon and it was a struggle. Heat adds a whole new element. Hoping for cool temps in FL.

The Dream-Day 48

Had a great run and swim yesterday. Power definitely improving. Was supposed to run 4 miles @ 8:20-8:50 pace, but averaged 7:18 while still holding back. It's a pretty simple formula and one I'm quite familiar with (P90X, Insanity, etc). Push the body beyond capacity and it will strive to adapt to that higher level.

The weeks are piling up and it's clear how the workouts have been designed.
Tues/Wed: Anaerobic (power)
Thurs/Fri: V02 max (build threshold)
Sat/Sun: Aerobic (endurance)
Mon: Thank G-d for recovery

Back & biceps with an Ab Ripper chaser this afternoon. Son returned from the University of Delaware last night. Hoping Mr. College will join me. What are the chances he's awake?

Tomorrow, I try not to repeat my wussy ways, and head into the Great South Bay for an early morning open water swim. Hoping to be reinstated into the boys club upon completion.

The Dream-Day 47

Back on the bike trainer. Knew I'd get crushed today. Coming off a rest day, Tuesday's are usually designed for that.

After a 20 min warm up, I had to give my best effort for 20 min. Then, after a brief recovery, I had to hold the average power I achieved (220 watts) for as long as possible. My goal was to beat 10 min. I lasted 12:29. Then, I had to repeat this mess over and over until I couldn't reach 10 min. Didn't take long. I crashed 8:34 into round #2.

<--- Scott after round #2.

Bookending the day with a chest, back, and ab workout at Golds.