I am starting to get it.

In the pool again for another practice swim. I like the 4pm - 5 pm time slot, it is not that busy and a nice time to swim.

I think I am starting to get it, I am able to swim more relaxed now and not so totally exhasted when I get to the other end of the pool. I used to rely on doing the backstroke, but now I am finding that I am way less tired if I do the crawl.

Here is a message my wife send to my phone while I was at the pool.

"People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most
insignifcant sucess is achieved"
Anne Sullivan

Finally back in the pool!

Finally back in the pool! After being away from home working for the past two month, I am now back to full on, regular training today. I had a great swim at the local YMCA. I have a membership here and it has a nice 25 meter pool. It seems like so long since I was able to get in the pool for some quality laps. Right now I am working on building my stroke efficiency and endurance. I plan on getting to the pool almost everyday from here on in.

Spring has arrived!

Spring has arrived! It is +14 here today, so today was probably our last indoor spin session for the year. 20 of us made it out for a 9 AM  Saturday morning workout.

We did a 2 hour ride today in anticipation of getting out on the road and being ready for some longer weekend rides.  It is so hot to spin inside with not much wind or airflow.  During the ride I drank 2 liters of water and I still think I sweat out about as much. I'm feeling pretty good about the upcoming season and I am looking forward to getting some more time in the pool.

First chance to get back on the bike

Back home again. I have had to adjust my training due working out of town at Whistler for a couple of weeks.  I did manage to get in some runs on the hotel treadmill and some cross training on the ski hill.

First chance to get back on the bike was yesterday for a spin session in the McNally High School shop.  One of the team members is a shop teacher at the school so we get to use the space for workouts every Thursday during the winter.  We did a sixty minute power spin followed by yoga ball core workout.
The weather is getting better, so this might be the last indoor Thursday ride.

Hiking up through heavy snow

I am in Whistler B.C. working on the Paralympic games covering the Nordic skiing events. Because of the travel, and interuption to my normal training routine, I am a bit off schedule and I feel a bit behind. I am working up on the side of a mountain and I am hiking up through heavy snow to my camera location everyday. It is a tough walk but no substitte for an Ironman endurance program.  I have had the time to get on the treadmill several times since I have been here and I am getting in some good runs. It was raining pretty hard today so I put in a 45 minute session on the treadmill. I am feeling good now and I am going to focus on the pool. 24 weeks to Ironman Canada, 12 weeks to the Coronation Tri.

Cancer touches so many lives

I was going to write about what a great spin I had today. You know 1hour 35 spin with the group followed by a yoga session.  Instead, when I came home, I was told by my next door neighbour that his wife had died of lung cancer.  She was a wonderful, cheerful and fit woman who had just discovered the cancer in December. In less than three months she is gone.
Her husband Chris has a blog and is going to be participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. You can follow this link and read about their journey with this horrible disease.
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Alberta2010?pg=personal&fr_id=1332&fr_id=1332&px=2243023
I draw comfort from my participation on the Cops for Cancer Ironteam knowing that I am doing something to help fight this awful disease. Cancer touches so many lives... Rest in Peace Maureen.