For the past three weekends, as we get closer to Ironman, each weekend has featured a long segment of one of the three events...two weeks ago we rode 110 miles followed by a short run (in the heat). Last weekend we just roade 30 miles (in the thunderstorm), but that was followed by a 20 mile run (in the extreme heat). This past weekend- a long (2.4 mile) swim, followed by a 30 mile bike ride, followed by a 6 mile run. Or that was the plan...
We got to Devils Lake at 7am yesterday morning- after driving through several heavy downpours. Laura was ready to kayak along. Until she got out of the car and looked out at the lake. The rain was coming down. The lake was choppy. Laura's NOT going out in the kayak. Laura's sitting in the shelter and holding everyone's car keys while we swim.
The swim iteself went fairly well- the water was choppy and it was raining, but you really don't notice rain while you're swimming and you get used to the choppy waters. You get into a little bit of a rhythm- as you feel your body come to the top of a wave, you breathe. If it's time to breathe and you're not at the top of a wave, you wait until you are at the top of a wave. Sounds relatively simple- but it doesn't always work out right.
About half-way across the lake I went to take a breath and sight on the small shelter on the other side of the lake and instead took a BIG mouth-full of water. I tried just spitting it out, but eventually had to completely stop swimming and cough a bit until everything was cleared out. And then the panic hit. I'm in the middle of the lake and it's storming (thankfully no lightning- or I really would have freaked out). Eventually I calmed myself and started swimming again. Made it across the lake and turned around and came back.
Over the past year I have really improved my sighting technique. I usually swim 4 strokes, breathe to the right, take 2 more strokes sight forward, 4 strokes, breathe to the right, etc. I have real trouble breahing to the left, so unless I absolutely have to, I skip it. That pattern of breathing right, then sighting has turned me into a really straight line swimmer. To the point where other slow swimmers (fast swimmers can't do this) will sight on me. The problem on Sunday was that my goggles fogged and I could just make out the outline of the trees on the shore of the lake. Those on shore were watching me and said I was swimming perfectly in a straight line towards the shelter, when suddenly I took a hard right and started heading way off course. I knew exactly what they were talking about. I was probably 1/4 mile from shore, when a couple of cars pulled into the parking lot to the right of the shelter- and all I could focus on was the headlights of those cars. So I headed straight for the lights. And away from the shelter.
By the time I finally did make my way to the shelter- it was still raining. Hard. And windy. About that time we all decided that we have had enough practice riding and running in the rain. So we called it a day and headed home.
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last week, I decided I would try one new, healthy food a week, and asked my facebook friends to make some suggestions.
The first thing I tried was mango. I'm sure I've had other mango flavored things, and mango as part of something else, but...
There's only one thing that might be worse than the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." And that's Jonathan Suttin doing his best crooning...doing both parts. Most unpleasant.
A lot of people liked this song...
Artist: Alchemilla
Hail From: Boston
Song: 'The Wheel'
Album: Diamonds From The Penny Arcade
Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
In Their Words: "Alchemilla had been trying to write a ballad for a little while but it wasn't happening. There...
Last weeks challenge we thought went excellent! Of course we are a little biased.
The drinking song couldn't have been any better, or any less fun. We had a blast through out the whole process, and our performance rocked.
This week is an easy...
So the story goes Michael Jackson completed this song while watching cartoons with Paul McCartney. We'll just let that sink in for a moment.
Not sure what cartoons they were watching, but it must have worked because this song made it to number 2...
The Dalai Lama is back in town, sharing his message of peace and kindness with likeminded individuals, and the Wisconsin legislature. He also held a private meeting with Gov. Walker, who said he mostly listened to what His Holiness had to say (wise...
This duet by Ol' Blue Eyes and his daughter went all the way to number 1 back in 1967. It seems a little creepy that Frank and Nancy Sinatra are singing a love song. However, a lot of Triple M listeners were in the mood for it.
Here's...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last week, I decided I would try one new, healthy food a week, and asked my facebook friends to make some suggestions.
The first thing I tried was mango. I'm sure I've had other mango flavored things, and mango as part of something else, but...
There's only one thing that might be worse than the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." And that's Jonathan Suttin doing his best crooning...doing both parts. Most unpleasant.
A lot of people liked this song...
Artist: Alchemilla
Hail From: Boston
Song: 'The Wheel'
Album: Diamonds From The Penny Arcade
Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
In Their Words: "Alchemilla had been trying to write a ballad for a little while but it wasn't happening. There...
Last weeks challenge we thought went excellent! Of course we are a little biased.
The drinking song couldn't have been any better, or any less fun. We had a blast through out the whole process, and our performance rocked.
This week is an easy...
So the story goes Michael Jackson completed this song while watching cartoons with Paul McCartney. We'll just let that sink in for a moment.
Not sure what cartoons they were watching, but it must have worked because this song made it to number 2...
The Dalai Lama is back in town, sharing his message of peace and kindness with likeminded individuals, and the Wisconsin legislature. He also held a private meeting with Gov. Walker, who said he mostly listened to what His Holiness had to say (wise...
This duet by Ol' Blue Eyes and his daughter went all the way to number 1 back in 1967. It seems a little creepy that Frank and Nancy Sinatra are singing a love song. However, a lot of Triple M listeners were in the mood for it.
Here's...
