2011: Doing it Better

The motto for 2011 was "Do It Better" and I think I met that in every sense of the phrase. This was my first full year of doing real triathlons. But I didn't stop there. I did a duathlon and several aquathons. I worked hard to swim/ride/run faster and was rewarded by achieving heights I had never considered.

I also worked hard to become a real agility and obedience team with Shelby. For that, I was rewarded with many titles including Shelby's Beginning Novice (a surprise to many).

I also made great new memories with old friends and family and made new friendships that I hope will continue to grow.

I enjoyed the year so much, I thought some one should make a movie about it...

Motto for 2012 is "Do It Stronger". Here's wishing you all a stronger 2012!

Ice berg in the pool!

Dinner Club
Saturday was Grumpy's and my turn to host dinner club. He decided to make Beef Wellington. He had this wonderful beef tenderloin hunk of meat that he pasted with a mushroom mixture and wrapped in prosciutto.

 Then, he wrapped the pastry around it. Sorry, no finished picture. It was fabulous.

Training

This has been a step back week. Training has been so lite I've hardly noticed. Most exciting thing on the calendar this week are the swim and bike tests. I was at the pool this morning to knock off that swim test. Brrr. 36 degrees! It took me 250 yards before the goose bumps went away -- or may be I was too numb to notice.


The swim test is one of the easiest tests that I need to do. However, I was worried I'd screw it up by miscounting or stopping my watch in the middle or some ditzy thing. But, I didn't! As I came back from each 75, I reminded myself to check the wall clock, THEN hit my lap button on my watch, then go when it was time for the next 100. Hope I gave coach good data.

Christmas eve is when I do the bike test. I'm a little worried about that as I watched the power meter on last night's ride jump all over the place yet I held the cadence pretty constant. If nothing else, coach will let me know if my meter needs to go back to the factory.

The run test won't be until next week. I'm hoping last night's off the bike lite run of the bike is a good indicator. My runs have been feeling good so, hopefully I'll get good numbers next week for the test. I wouldn't mind a new 5k PR either but, that will just be a side benefit.

For now, I sit in a long sleeved T-shirt, running jacket, Grumpy's pull over sweater, thermal pants, sweat pants, 2 pairs of socks and a blanket. I hope I thaw out by Christmas.

Weigh In Day


Maintained this week -barely. 

Week One:  149.8
Week Four: 146.6 

I'm not feeling as confident on next week's weigh in. Seriously, weighing in THE DAY AFTER Christmas ????? It is what it is and I'll own it.

Thought I'd forgotten weigh in day -- didn't you!

But, I didn't forget. I just didn't want to just post a weigh in. Sorry, kind of boring but, weigh in has to get posted.

I have no pictures to prove that training is going well. My swim is almost back to where I left it at the end of last season. I'm excited about being there so early in training. I'm doing lots of drills that I really hate but, really need. Next week is swim and bike test. Starting to get nervous.

Weigh In Day
 
Ok, I won't bore you any longer... Monday's weigh in turned out ok. Down another pound!

Week One:  149.8
Week Three: 146.6 

The goal for the next 2 weeks is just to maintain. If I happen to lose, great. But, I will enjoy the holidays -- with in reason.

The Big City

Back in training and loving it. To ease back into things, Grumpy and I rode in San Francisco with my sister, Shelly, and my brother Ray. Saturday morning, we started at Crissy Field. It was windy and in the 50's but, the sky was a beautiful, clear blue.

Upon leaving the parking lot, we immediately had a steep (but short) climb up to the Golden Gate bridge. We rode across the eastern side which allows both pedestrian and bicyclists. Because we were so early, the tourists hadn't come out yet so riding wasn't difficult.

We stopped along the bridge several times to take in the sights. Grumpy insisted in taunting any one who might be interested in Escape from Alcatraz. My brother had his helmet cam going. Yes, it was really this loud on the bridge.

 

 © 2011 Ray Prevost

Although we had planned to go further, we ended up spending time in Sausalito. We viewed some amazing house boats and had a nice lunch at Fred's.

In order to get on the west side of the bridge (cyclists only), we had to ride under the bridge and then up this hill. I looked at my power meter during this and it was at 282!

Although the western side is for cyclists only, it was SCARY! It's more narrow and there are a wide range of cyclist. I don't think that was on my bucket list, but I'll write it in if not.

Weigh In Day

It's weigh in day! Believe it or not, this actually helped me avoid a little temptation this week. Down 1.2 pounds! Ok, a little truth here. Week one's weigh in day followed a especially big weekend and I knew it would be easy this week. Not to diminish accomplishments, but I won't really be working until I'm below 145. The rest is just ebb and flow. Still, gotta love this downward trend.

Week One:  149.8
Week 2: 147.6