It has been in the mid 90’s in our part of the country. I normally run inside on my treadmill. Even with the air conditioner on, the temp can be in the mid-70s. But mid 90’s is insane! This last weekend we drove to the Pittsburgh area for a wedding. I didn’t have access to a treadmill, so I had to run outside. I was scheduled to 15 miles, but planned to only run 10. I go up early in the morning, and headed out to run. It was already warm. I ended up only running 5 miles. By the time I got back to the house, it was already starting to get hot.
Last night I was scheduled to run intervals. I have aikido class right after work, and planned to run the intervals when I got home like I normally do. But there is no AC in the aikido dojo. I was sweating just doing the light warm up/stretching. By the time class ended, I was drained. I got home, and just was not up to running at all. I had gotten dressed for running, but just could not bring myself to get on the treadmill. Ack!
I am hoping to run tonight. It is a little cooler. But I have swim class from 7:30-8:30. So I need to either run before class, or after class. I am leaning to afterwards. But I might be able to squeeze in the run beforehand. We will see. I can maybe abreviate the warmup/cool down. Oh, and I still need to eat dinner tonight. And a nap would be nice. Of course I want to work on my tri-bike. So many things to do and not enough time!
Well, I got in. I have had friends tell me that this is a must do race. I have read accounts of it in some of my books. I thought about entering the lottery for it last year, but stopped just short of entering. I was a mouse click away. This year I pulled the trigger. I figured I had a 1 in 4 chance of actually getting in. I already have a couple friends that are going to be there. I have some other friends that are waiting for the lottery results. Good thing I got it since I might not have done the lottery next year. The waiting has been a pain in the butt. I haven’t been able to make any plans as far as other races. I was looking at doing the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA. But that is only a few weeks before the NYC marathon. I could still do the Rochester Marathon, or maybe just do the half marathon as a training run. Not sure yet. I have to figure out what my training schedule will be. I worked up a training schedule for the Steamtown marathon, and my Wakely Dam ultra fell on a day when I was scheduled to do a 20 mile run. It was perfect. I guess this really ties it that I will be doing the half marathon in Las Vegas…if there is a race in Las Vegas this year.
I have a hotel room reserved at the Park Savoy which is a block from the finish line. I still need to work out all the logistics of getting to New York City, where to park, how to get around, etc.
Ack!
And what do I wear? Maybe my long sleeve tuxedo shirt? DO I run for a fast time, or a slower and easier pace, and just take in the sites? I will bring my camera for sure and take lots of pictures during the run. But I already have my Boston Qualifying time for 2009, so I am set there. We’ll see how things go.
With my goal of dong an Ironman, I decided I need to learn to swim better. I am a lousy swimmer. So I signed up for adult swimming lessons at the local community center. I have been excitedly waiting for them to start.
Tonight was my first lesson. It was scheduled to start at 7:30pm. I arrived a little after 7, checked in at the front desk and headed to the locker room. I bought a combination padlock this afternoon in anticipation of using a locker. I debated about a combination lock or key lock. With a key lock I would have to carry a key, but with a combo lock, I would need to remember a combination. Well, I went with the combination lock. Anyway, I found a locker, changed into my new Sugoi swimsuit. I spent a few minutes adjusting the straps on my new TYR swim goggles.
I took a quick shower and headed out to the pool. There was a lady teaching some kids swimming lessons. She asked me what I wanted and I told her I was there for the adult swimming lessons. She said I was early and the guy would be there at 7:30. I sat around for a few minutes, then got into the hot tub. I waited in the hot tub till the teacher shower up. The swim teacher was a kid. A high school junior. Thats fine. I am sure he is a better swimmer than me. It wouldn’t be hard.
He asked me some questions, then had me get into the pool to see what I could do. I swam across the pool with a breast stroke. Then I swam back using a crawl stroke. He had me working on keeping my legs straight. He had me holding to the side of the pool kicking. And then breathing. Then he had me swim across the pool using a Pull Buoy. Then he had me going across the pool using the pull buoy and a kick board. Then I used then the kick board.
About this time the single other student showed up. A woman. The teacher kid alternated working with her and me. I was swimming laps doing crawl stroke working on keeping my legs straight and breathing, I need to remember 3 strokes and breathe. After a little while the left, and it was just me. I could swim across the 25 yard pool and I would be left gasping for breath. Then he had me treading water for a couple minutes.
Towards the end of the class, the kid was trying to get me to float. But I don’t float. My bodt fat percentage is low enough, that I sink pretty easily. It got to be 8:30 and I was done. I was tired. Yeah, I run marathons, and bike for 100 miles, but I am not used to swimming. So my heart was cranked after each lap. I am going to have to check into when they hold lap swims. I have to figure out if I should show up and do some laps between lessons or if I should just wait till I finish my lessons. I’d hate to practice poor form. But at least I could be building up he swimming muscles.