The Big Question Mark

We made it. We are here in Myrtle Beach in our warm hotel room. The snow is here too!

As of right now, the race has been delayed for 30 minutes. But there are also rumors of a possible cancellation due to the weather.

In the meantime, we relax in our pretty hotel room and watch Seinfeld.


The snow is melting on the streets and nothing sticks yet, hopefully that is not going to be a layer of ice in the morning.


I wanted to snap a picture of the ocean from our balcony, but the only thing to see is snow flurries.


We already have our race packages and I have to say the goody bag is NICE. The obligatory t-shirt (pretty big/long for a small), a cap and a metal bottle. SWEET!


We already had dinner. Actually twice... Well, we started out at one place and the pasta was horrible and they said they were not able to do it any better, so we left. The second place was really really tasty. All is left now is weather monitoring and constantly checking the race's web page for updates. We expect a final statement by 10pm. Also some relaxing is in order and I will keep on foam rolling.

I still haven't decided on a race outfit, but the shorts are off the table. It's going to be my thick tights at the bottom and probably even foot warmer. Up top there will most likely be some layering. I brought all kinds of gear to have every option tomorrow morning.

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Swim Class and Mini Competition

Sometimes people look at me funny, when I tell them that I am "having swim class" twice a week. This is what it's called! It's not called "Masters" (even so I doubt that anybody that doesn't swim knows what that is), but a swim class. Sometimes it doesn't stop at the funny looks and they ask: "So you don't know how to swim?" Yes, I know how to swim, I am actually a decent swimmer. Okay, let me rephrase that... I used to be a decent swimmer and then I started taking classes (three months early last year and from January through April this year) and it made me a much better swimmer and faster too.

I read something a couple of weeks ago that I think is very true when it comes to triathlon training. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I read it, so I can't link it, but it's definitely worth sharing!

If you want to cycle faster - cycle more!

If you want to run faster - run more!

If you want to swim faster - take lessons!

I believe this to be true, since swimming faster depends way more on proper technique than muscle strength and aerobic capacity. Of course technique is also to watch while cycling or running, but the possibility of poor technique in your swim stroke is by far greater than in the pedal stroke or running stride. Also, if you want to teach yourself better technique, you can read up on all three sports, but putting it into practice seems to be so much harder when it comes to swimming.

On top of getting feedback from the coach, the swim class also provides camaraderie and a structured approach to swim training by having different workouts every time, increasing in distance and difficulty depending how far along we already are in our training. This is already my second year with this group and there are tons of familiar faces and tons of new faces. Triathletes of all abilities and experience levels.

Sometimes the swim class also provides a healthy dose of competition. Like one time last year when we did a kick board race or the multiple times we simulated races with pool swims. This morning we were eight people in the class - 4 guys and 4 girls. We were grouped in teams of two (one guy/ one girl) and then raced the other teams. The team members alternated to swim every lap (50 yards) until the team completed 1,000 yards. Me and my team mate were done in 14 minutes and WON! YAY! Going back after this little race to complete my remaining 900 yards of drills felt really crappy... My arms felt like lead.. But I got it done!

Check List Item: Garbage Bag

These days, when I am not working or working out (easy, it's taper week), I try to figure out the small stuff. Like the name of the hotel that we made a reservation, what and where to eat, when to leave here, carry a water bottle or not, where to put my Blok Shots if I am not taking my handheld water bottle, take a phone with me or not and most importantly out of all these questions is WHAT TO WEAR! OMG!!!! The half is just three (!!!) days away and I haven't figured it out yet... Well, not completely anyways, since everything is still up in the air with the weather man and such.

Right now the forecast calls for partly cloudy high of 50 degrees. The race start is at 6:30AM and with that is, as far as I remember, the earliest I ever had to be at the starting line... And daylight saving time hasn't even begun yet.

Keeping all these points in mind, my clothing choices right now are: black Malone Coaching T-Shirt, white arm warmer with argyle pattern, yellow running short (for some color) and most likely the Brooks Adrenaline. In my bag for Myrtle Beach will also be some capris and my Adidas trail shoes in case I have a change of heart coming race morning.

Today, I added another item on my race check list and that would be a garbage bag.

Just that we have the same understanding about what kind of garbage bag I am talking about.

It's this (no name, ca. 0.1 USD):

Not this (Louis Vuitton, ca. 2,000 USD):

The difference: One is disposable and one looks disposable! Don't think I am cheap or whatever, but I suspect the first garbage bag is going to keep me a little warmer while waiting in my corral! ;-)

Tuesday Tidbits Vol. 2

1. Sometimes, I catch myself having the urge to put on a seat belt while riding my bicycle.


2. What is the story about LOST? I have never seen one episode and now I hear people are going crazy over the last season. It might be too late to catch up now... I think I'll survive.


3. Is anyone else experiencing that taking Tylenol PM makes for some weird dreams?


4. As a creature of habit, I have a routine in the morning that I run down EVERY morning, even if I get ready in the gym or at home. Weird enough, if I mess up one thing... It screws up my whole pattern. I know... There are worse things that can happen to you.


5. Not much time left for my first half marathon attempt. Weirdly enough, I am not freaking out... I am confident that I will go the distance and I am not going crazy over goal times.


6. So far I am following through my plan of plenty of sleep and good nutrition. Yay me... I just have to keep going this way for the rest of the week!


7. Like I mentioned last week, I needed a new computer. It's past tense, since I got myself one over the weekend. It's a pain to change over computers and it reminds me why I stuck to my old one for eight years even though it was getting slower and slower. The time I spent over the weekend on transferring data and resetting our home network... HOURS! But I am happy now.


8. Trying to pull a wedding together in four months is NO JOKE! But actually two out of the four months have passed by and we still don't have a location. It's not like were are sitting on our hands... But nothing seems to fit... Either it's too expensive, too small, already booked or whatever else. That is probably why I don't freak out over the half at the moment, because all my 'freak-out-energy" goes towards the wedding planning.


9. I should cook more often. It's healthier and cheaper.


10. Yesterday, I did my trainer ride on the hybrid because my road bike has a flat and I was lazy. Forgot how comfortable the hybrid is and I am thinking about taking it out on some trials... I never mountain biked, but I think it's something worth looking into! ;-)

The Pain In the Butt And It's Nemesis

As soon as I am back to logging some serious mileage, my pain in the butt is back... Piriformis Syndrome. I mentioned yesterday already that I continuously had to stretch out my hamstrings after the run, because the muscle was tight, tight and more tight. Even though I tagged this post with "injury", I don't really consider this as such but more a side effect when I run. It really doesn't hinder me working out because the pain goes away once the muscles warm up again and really, I don't think I would feel it as much, if I wouldn't be sitting 90% during the day at work. My co-workers are so used to me stretching out at my desk that they don't even have to ask anymore what I am doing. Seriously, at times it gets so painful sitting there.... My last worry is how funny I might look.

Besides stretching, the foam roller does miracles for me to reduce the discomfort. Our dog enjoys me using the foam roller as well because it brings me on the floor and on her eye level... Last night, while I was rolling, she walked all over me and also just sat down on my hip... I don't know how a 45 lbs dog thinks that she could be a lap dog. But the added weight actually felt good on the foam roller, but her pointy bones are just way to uncomfortable.

I asked Terry to snap a couple of pictures of tonight's stretching struggle.

Just sitting on the foam roller, already makes it feel better.


Leaning back and rolling back and forth works even better.


Stretched out my calves for good measure since my chiropractor said they are so tight, that my toes are pointed when I lay down on her table. And no, I am not angry or anything, just forgot to smile! ;-)

10 Miles For Confidence

Today was my last 10 miler in preparation for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon this coming Saturday. My training plan called for 15 miles last Sunday and 10 miles the week before that. I didn't to any of these runs due to getting sick again.

I think, I mentioned previously that my pre-race jitters are out of this world sometimes and the only thing that helps to reduce those are racing on a regular basis and have a solid preparation. Well, I didn't race in two months and I lost several long runs due to this cold. Awesome premises, isn't it? But on the other hand, I am determined not to go crazy over it.... I can't do this to myself and the people around me... specifically Terry who calls me "intense" on race mornings were I feel well prepared. So right now, I am reminding myself, that ALL of my long runs, that I actually was able to do, did go pretty well. That is great news and I am planning on reminding myself of this fact whenever doubt tries to creep in.

So today's 10 miles were done in perfect running weather. Temps in the high 40s, scattered clouds and only little wind. I did the run from that train wagon at the Swamp Rabbit Trail up to the entrance of the Travelers Rest YMCA and then did a loop around Furman lake on my way back. The plan was to split the run in three even sections. First section as an easy warm-up (did a 10:25 pace), the next section at half marathon pace (did a 9:52 pace) and then finished up with half marathon pace plus 15 seconds (did a 10:05 pace). That gave me an average pace of 10:06 minute/ miles for the whole run and a total time of 1:41h and change. I am pretty happy with that. In the second half, I was struggling with a little bit of stomach stuff, but not too bad. All in all, this run made me more confident for this Saturday and this is what I was hoping for.

Now, the only thing left is, to get my race outfit together and study the course map a little. Here it is in case you are interested!


(Click to enlarge)

As I type this, the Superbowl is on TV. Until bedtime anyways, since I will make sure that I get as much sleep this week as possible... Superbowl or no Superbowl. Also, my left hamstring is tightening up like crazy and I have to get up now, to stretch it out again.

I Think, I Need An Ark SOON!

Remember my last post when I was gushing about how great we have it around here and how beautiful the weather was and that I was wearing shorts in January... Yeah, I wrote "Shorts in January" even though it's already February. But still.... Running in shorts in February is just as GREAT.

Well, the honeymoon is over and was fairly short anyways. Since Thursday the rain is coming down in buckets. We have a creek flowing at the corner of the property and right now it looks more like a pond.

When I left from work yesterday, I made this picture on my commute... Normally, this area is covered in grass... There is no water, not even creek at this spot.



I am so having this rain and wonder, if we might have to start building an ark or something.

Speaking of arks... Finally somebody figured out what really happened to the dinosaurs! ;-)


Happy weekend everyone!

PS: This week my posting was a little weak, but I have a couple of post topics in the back of my head, but time was a little sparse this week.