Thursday, June 21, 2007

Stagnation

Well, after the great gains I had seen last month in pace for running and swimming, I seem to be at a plateau. I guess it should be noted (here, and in my mind) that I am trying some refined techniques in both areas, attempting greater efficiency. While the running seems to be less draining, it's not speeding up. The swimming, however, is working different muscles harder, so I'm tired in all new and exciting ways! The short of it: for running I'm trying a shorter stride with focus on forefoot action, and for swimming I'm trying to reach full or near full extension before my hands enter the water. Both seem much more efficient, but the change is causing me to step back a bit in progress I suppose. Stats from last 2 days:

Wed:
Brick - bike 14.18 miles in 40:24 @ 21.06 mph
transition 1:05
run 2.4 miles in 16:36 @ 6:55 mile
10 mph wind & 82 deg

Thur:
swim 1750 yds in 30:07 @ 1:43/100 yds
run (non-brick) 4.25 miles in 29:01 @ 6:49/mile

Strangely enough, the brick run seems to be easier than the regular run, since I would expect a significant difference between the two paces. In fact, it seemed like an easier run, with more speed available had I wanted. It's possible my legs were still recovering from the great ride and good run yesterday, but the didn't feel like it. Oh well, speed work should fix it I guess.

I'm looking forward to the 5K this weekend, but I fear I won't do as well as I hope to. Of course I want a PR (duh!), but I want it to be by a minute or more. My last 5K was in January I believe, and it was a PR by about 4 minutes, but I trained a lot in the 9 months between those two races. I'm probably over thinking it, really. It's 3 freakin miles, for goodness sake! Okay, that settles it: I'm blowing the doors off of it!

Come on Friday! Work has been a drag lately, and I live for the weekends. Just like that old Loverboy song. Yeah, you know the one... (now just try to get it out of your head, ha ha ha!) Since I shouldn't really do a long ride Saturday morning, perhaps we'll have a big family breakfast instead! Man, I love doing that. Reminds me of special times as a little guy, and I want Grace to have those memories also. Of course, Grace doesn't get to experience the super unhealthy crap I used to enjoy (sausage, fatty bacon, regular eggs, instant pancakes, etc...) I hope she grows up without the need to find a healthy diet, though. If things go as I plan, it will be ingrained in her. Well, with some pizza thrown in, but only in moderation. Right? :-)

16 comments:

J~Mom said...

Oh boy can I relate on the teaching your child to eat thing! I really struggle with wanting my kids to eat the right things at home but I don't want them to go crazy when some kid at school has oreos or something. I have stopped buying most junk entirely and I hope they are enjoying the new stuff like rice cakes and granola bars *grin*. It's so tough when you try to think through all of this for your kiddos and you want to save them the lessons you learned. Am I rambling? LOL

Great job on your workouts, the times will get there..just hang in there!

Gotta Run..... said...

It is really not the food you remember later in life it is more about the family time. I vote for a big, family breakfast in your pj's.

Your mind is getting stronger so it would seem that your bricks would be as well!!!

You will kick in a PR this weekend... it is just who you are :).

sunshine said...

Happy Friday and good luck on the 5k this weekend!

Jess said...

Good luck with your 5K this weekend!

Marcy said...

Ok am I the only one who has NO idea what Loverboy song you're talking about? Not only that, but I can't get a mental fix on any of their tunes (even though I've definitely heard of them before. Circa 1980's stuff LOL) I will have to step away for a minute . . . it will come . . . .

You're already 20 billion steps ahead of us in the kids and eating dept :-X It's weird. I don't know, I guess just because I eat like crap doesn't mean the kids should be subjected to it. We have 2 separate food lifestyles. The kids: which is a lot of organic, healthy, good foods and then ours (DH and I): junk food city LOL I'll be nawing like a rat on a big slab of bacon while the kids are having veggie burgers ROFLMAO! Wonder what kind of message that sends :-X

Neese said...

gee thanks. "everybody's workin for the weeken.la la la"

hope you all have a great race on Saturday night, show it who's boss!

Wes said...

David, you ROCK! Getting up and making my family breakfast on the weekends is like my favorite thing!! My understanding, of an efficient swim stroke (your mileage may vary), is that you want you hand to enter the water above your ear. Then knife your hand to full extension and give it that final "reach".

Plateaus allows us to rest, recover, and regroup as we prepare to breakout on that next step on the path to tri-greatness!!

Have a great race!! Kick ass!!!

Marcy said...

DOH!!! I know now. I need some coffee and or some speed :P

Marcy said...

OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh MY!!!!!!!!! Ooooo la la TOTALLY KIDDING!! The cheese is oozing all over the place in that pic.

You know what's sad is that tons of women probably would've died to get into their pants at that point in time :-X :-X *puke*

Mendy said...

Hahahaha!!! Marcy!!!! LOL!

David, your technique will get better swimming and you'll be over that plateau quickly. You're also going to kick booty in this 5K!

J~Mom said...

Marcy is much too young to appreciate good tunes anyway. I think she was in preschool when that song was a hit. :>X We can help her learn the beauty of good music.

Marcy said...

ROFLMAO HAHAHHAAAAA Did you see what you started? Now I'm never going to get that stupid song out of my head. I suppose it's better then Ice Ice Baby

David said...

Alright STOP! Collaborate and listen; Ice is back with a brand new invetion...

J~Mom said...

Dude you gotta get two eyes in the pic! Marcy got up all early on us and changed the game!

J~Mom said...

Where is your slacker report?

Ashli said...

Oddly enough...they played Working For the Weekend at the race. You were off drinkin' and raisin' hell though.

And thanks! Now I'm going to walk around singing Vanilla Ice all day. As if I needed help in looking crazy. ;o)