great website for runners

I wanted to pass along a super cool website. www.trackinthecity.com

On it, you can find a bunch of updates about track in Toronto (including a visit by Usain bolt!), many helpful short films about training tips, as well as a whole load of race videos from the Canadian University Track season. If you’re not out training all day, waste an hour or two here.

armstrong out of tour?

This might be premature…but it looks like Lance might not be riding.

That’s disappointing. Almost as disappointing as the day the 24 writers finally decide that Jack Bauer has saved the world too many times and take him off the air. Consequently, I’d curl up in the fetal position, indefinitely.

Almost.

so long, Florida!

Our Florida vacation has come to an end. Back at school tomorrow. Which I’m not dreading in any sense–I actually love my job–but I will certainly miss the sun, the beach, and getting to sleep in. Another couple months of so-so weather in Ontario before we get pounded by the sun.

The last couple days have just been chillin’, watching movies, laying in the sun, and hunting vigorously for key lime pie. I did manage to have a pretty solid swim today (16X100, 4each on 1:20/30/40/50), and swam 1:04-1:06 for my last 4. Even though it was yards, I was pretty keen about that. Then some old dude said I looked like Michael Phelps, and told me he had been a college swimmer too (before he got kicked out for “the boozin’). I should qualify: when you’re used to watching 70-year-olds do aquafit, any guy in a speedo, using a paceclock is going to “look” like Mr. Phelps. Still…I’ll take it.

A couple pictures for the visual learner in you.

Our intense training group (Mom was on photography).

Sun setting with my babe wife.

Key Lime pie hunt successful!

See you soon Canada.

a different kind of training

I woke up a little sick this morning.  And I’m having to remind myself that I can’t train heavily for a year, take 6 months off, and then pick up exactly where I left off. So I’m slowly building. I’m realizing that the 2009 triathlon season is going to be much, much less competitive than the 2008 one. By ‘10, I’ll be back in business.

But then I’m reminded that even though I haven’t done as much triathlon-specific training as last year at this time, I have incorporated some more creative training  methods into my routine. Without question, dancing is high up on the list.

triathlon training camp, update 1

As many of my readership is aware, March Break/this time of year is when many serious business triathletes flee the cold, Canadian winter and head south for some warm weather training. According to the blogs I follow, folks have made their way to Clerwater (florida), Auburn, Arizona, and Maui. All hot, all with great trianing facilities, all (I assume) laying their groundwork for stellar triathlon seasons coming in the summer months.

And it’s quite motivating to hear about the “epic” workouts these folks are laying down. Up and down mountains, miles and miles in the pool, around and around on the track. In many respects, getting to train all the time (note to all of you: how do you afford it?) is quite alluring.

So I’m hosting my own training camp this week. Current attendees are me, my wife, my dad, and my mom. It’s a committed group, and thus far, the training is serious.

Right now, we’re in Venice, Florida. We chose this location not because of the altitude Venice sits or because of the training  facilities it offers but because according to our female camp members, there is the best outlet mall just 20minutes north of us. That, and my nonno and nonna own a condo here.

We’re into day 3 of our camp now. I must say, full-time trianing is difficult. Day one (Monday) involved a 3-hour plane ride, 2.5 hours of base tanning by the pool, and some dryland work by the edge of the pool. The night ended with three bags of extra buttery popcorn, and an hour of Jack Bauer. We all slept well.

 

We really upped things on day two. It began with an hour of easy laps at the local YMCA, followed immediately by another hour on the spin bikes, and topped off by a 15-minute run at 1.0elevation (I covered just under 2miles). I was rollin’. Our afternoon session involved a nap, a trip to Walmart, and strawberries and whipped cream.

Day three (today) involved an epic 43-minute run around the golf course.  Amy rode the bike and provided technical support, while also ringing her bell at the senior citizens who got in our way. We wrapped things up with a cross training session at the beach. Unfortunately, the hole wasn’t deep enough and the umbrella blew away two times.

Tomorrow is going to be another tough day. Looks like coach has us down for an easy swim in the morning, with some squash and an easy run to follow. If the sun is out in the afternoon, camp members who are up to it are going to dig a hole to  China. So I’ll need to get some good fuel and sleep up into me tonight.

Adios.

CIS Track Championships Race Videos!

The Canadian University Track and Field Championships are this weekend. You can find the VIDEOS posted HERE.

That good looking fella with the long hair is my brother, Mikey. Kid has got skills.

it’s a small pool, afterall

Living in Toronto does have its perks. Generally, if you want to go someplace, you can get there in a few minutes. So when the pool I normally go to was closed tonight (gross for pool foulings) I just ran down the street to the next one. When I arrived, I asked “is your pool yards or metres.” The response: metres, of course.

So I jump in. Start slowly and suddenly the wall is right in front of me. Boom. Quick flip turn so I don’t crash. In doing so, I smash my forehead on the bottom of the pool. Oops, I think, pay attention. Swim back to the end. Dang, that came quick. Back to the other end, nick my head on the bottom. Back the other way…and it comes quick again.

So I start with the math. First I count strokes. 9. To the other end. 8 on the way back. 9. 8. 9. 9. Ecetera. And I suddenly realize…this pool is not 25 metres. And this shallow end is really flippin’ shallow. So I ask….”I know this pool is measured in metres. How far for a length? Oh, and what’s the depth?” That certainly threw the lifeguards for a loop. They pull out what looked like a blueprint (not even kidding). And we confirm I was swimming in a 16.5metre pool that was 0.85metres in the shallow end. 

Moral of the story? If there was a ever a bathtub-flip-turning-world-championship, you’d want me on  your team.

out of shape.

Someone once said to me, “sport is 99% mental.” So I asked, “then why train?” to which he replied, “So we can be mentally tough.” At the time, I actually thought that was great advice.

Here’s the thing I’ve learned, though. That philosophy only really works if you’re in shape in the first place.

Because this morning I did my 5th (or 6th?) swim workout since August. And I went into the pool really motivated. And I did a set of 15X100 (one scull/free, one kick/free, and then one hard). My hard ones were hard for me, but I only broke 1:30 once. I’ll say it again: I swam a 1:28 for 100free and it was pretty darn hard. So I’ve got some work to do.

The good news is I finally found a good pool to swim at. Although I work just a few minutes from the Olympium, they don’t have morning swim there in the good pool. They make you swim in the patio pool (87degrees, yards, lots of elderly folk who don’t like to get splashed). No offence to anyone…but you can’t train in that. So I found this other one and it’s sweet. The pool is low 80’s, meters, big paceclock, clean change-room, hot showers, directly on my way to work, the lifeguards said it’s always quiet, and there is a Master’s group that trains out of there. I love when the little things add up!

I am still looking for a bike. Cervelo. P2C or an S1. And a powermeter. Let me know if you have anything you want to sell me!

BIKE FOR SALE!

BIKE FOR SALE!

Cannondale Ironman bike. Size 52 or 54cm (I can’t remember but I’m 5’10 and it’s a tiny bit small on me).  Dura Ace drive train, carbon fork. Ultegra components. 9spd. Ridden for full season in 2004, but then not ridden from 2004-2008. Excellent bike…I generally averaged 36-40k/h over 40k on it.  It also comes with 404 Zipp wheels in terrific condition (as well as training wheels). 650size. The wheel are beauties, and so, so light!

Make me an offer. Asking $1600 for both OBO. But I will sell the bike seperately for $1000 (with different wheels). adrian.delmonte@gmail.com

 

 

Also,  I’m looking to buy a P2C Cervelo (aluminum if possible), and also a powermetre. Can anyone help me out?

In more interesting news, I’m sort of back in the water. I tried today what the PTC boys call a “break point” set. It broke me, at multiple points. So that was a nice welcome back. Then I watched OFSAA swimming. It was magnificent.