Holy...I am EXCITED!!

I just got my first e-mail from my coach, Justin. And this is what he says...the red are my thoughts....

"From what I have read about you it looks like swimming is under control already, your running distance is good but you need to boost your speed a bit (duh wrt to my running), and that you need to work on cycling most (really??) of all in order to help you reach your long term goal of an IM event in the not so distant future (I told him I wanted to do an Ironman within 3 years..is this not so distant?). The good news is that the bike is the easiest area to improve and I will make sure to focus much of your training time and intensity on the bike (my ass hurts just thinking about this!!). It won’t take long for you to feel faster and more confident on the bike! (I think Justin is a bit of a dreamer...)"

But I think I like him already!!

Sunday Swim

Just back from my Sunday swim and finishing my shopping for Christmas...a bit more on that later. I wasn't going to go to swimming today as I thought it most likely would be a bunch of easy stuff and drills with many people being out of town and families getting together for the holiday. I talked myself into it, thinking it would be nice to get a few laps in, stretch out the muscles etc. Oh boy, was I wrong!! We did a warm-up and then some fast 25 meters and the main set was a Beat the Clock set for 100s. The jist was to have the leave times increase by 5 seconds...so start on 2:00 min and then 2:05, 2:10 etc. Then your pace time was to decrease by 5 seconds...so 2:00min then 1:55, 1:50 etc. We were getting more rest every 100 but had to swim faster to beat the clock and as soon as you didn't beat the clock, you were out. It is amazing that the faster we went, how it felt like we weren't getting enough rest!! When it was all said and done, I got down to 1:18, so I made the 1:20 pace time but seriously, that was ALL I HAD!! And it was at the end of about 6 100s.!! My legs were friggin tingling and I couldn't catch my breath after that one. Only one other person did a 1:15 so I was pretty happy to be the second last swimmer out.
As for the shopping, the new adidas outlet store opened up this week. Yep, Saskatoon has an outlet store!! This is something new for us. So in I go, and out I come with a very cool track suit....Yes a TRACK SUIT! I have not had one of these in many years. And just for fun, I bought a tee shirt that says "I make it look easy"...a bit of attitude never hurts.

I am freaking out...

Two blogs in one day...my ususal go to person I send my panic e-mails is on their way to Arizona to watch a basketball game this weekend on a total whim (I am so jealous) so I have to post my panic here.
I signed up for the Half Ironman coaching with Carmichael, just now. My hands are sweating!! I was pacing around my desk when I was on the phone getting things set up. Oh boy I hope this works out...I went to the website to read up on my new coach and holy shoot, we have the exact same birthday!! What does this mean? He was meant to be my coach, I guess?
Here we go!!!
Bio:
Name: Justin Peschka
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
Current Residence: Tucson, Arizona
Degrees: B.S. Physiology, University of Arizona
CTS Coaching Level: Expert
Sports I coach: Road and Mountain Cycling, Ultracycling, Running, Ultrarunning, and Triathlon
Date of Birth:-February-19
Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now: Western New Mexico; Chandler, Arizona; Tucson, Arizona (currently). Tucson is the place to be if you want to be outdoors year round and never lose your tan!
Favorite Quote:
“carpe diem”
Education
College/University: B.S. Physiology University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona 1998
Currently working on a Masters degree in Public Health at the University of Arizona
Favorite subjects/courses:
My favorite courses in college explored the mind and body interaction in health and disease states. Recent coursework has involved developing effective programs to curb the rise of diabetes in communities throughout the Southwest.
Coaching Background
I decided to pursue training and education as a coach because:
As an athlete, I never had a coach to help me with my athletic goals. In retrospect, I see how much a coach/mentor/teacher can be in helping to set and reach lofty goals. I want to see people succeed and it fulfills me to be a part of an athlete’s success.
Athletic Career Highlights
When I started cycling and what got me started:I started cycling when I was 14 years old as a way to get out and spend time with my dad. Later, cycling was a way to test my limits and see what I was capable of.
Athletic accomplishments:
I’ve spent 17 years riding and racing all kinds of bicycles. I have 12 state championships under my belt for the disciplines of Time Trial, Criterium and Road Race. With my collegiate cycling team, we were able to win the collegiate national team time trial championship in 1997. That year I was second in the collegiate national road race, losing by half a wheel. I have won numerous Ultracycling competitions like the Furnace Creek 508, and the Cochise County Cycling Classic, covering distances from 252 to over 500 miles. More recently I’ve run in two off road marathons and have had good results in each.
What I would have done differently in my competitive days if I knew what I know now:If I knew about all the mistakes I would make in training and racing, I would have found the best coach out there and trusted his or her experience to guide me past many of the pitfalls inherent in competitive sports.

Welcome 2008!!

Wow! Where does the time go? Another year gone by. Before looking forward to the new year I think I need to look back over the past year and remember how much I have done before setting the next set of goals. 2007 started off pretty good as I entered my first triathlon up at Waskesiu...it fills up fast so I remember sending the cheque in the mail in early January. I turned 36 in February, with a bang, and my sister continually reminds me I am officially pushing 40 now. March and April were crazy busy with work and we had a long cold spell so my training fell off the rails last spring and I had wanted to do the half marathon here in town, but could not get focused enough...a different story this year as I have already registered for the run that takes place in May!! My little guy turned 1 last May and as usual we were up at the lake opening the cabin for the summer. June and July were full of training stuff, as much as I could do, I had booked every Friday off for those months to go to the lake and spend time with my children, I (almost) did my first Olympic distance triathlon in June...the race was called off due to rain. I finally completed my very first triathlon in August, had a very fun day and made a promise to myself I would continue towards my ultimate lifetime goal of doing the Ironman someday. Went to Penticton also in August, to watch IMC, totally caught the bug, watched and cheered for all of my new triathlon friends, cried the entire day. Watched Jenn and CoryF sign up for 2008. In September, was online early in the morning, registering for the Half in Stony Plain July 6, 2008. Signed up for cycling, swimming, and running for the winter months and I am on my way!! Have managed to keep up the running for all of December, not so much on the bike and my swims Sunday morning....this is an improvement from any other years, believe me!!!

Looking forward....we don't know what balls life with throw us so my immediate plans are to increase my coaching with the Carmichael Group and take advantage of their knowledge and expertise. I need to drink more water every day. There are 5 Wednesdays in January...I am going to go to every single one of my cycling classes in January. I found out about a bike maintenance course at one of the local bike shops is offering and I want to get signed up for that right after the new year. I want to hit all my Sunday swims. I want to train smart and not get injured and enjoy my training. I promise not to complain too much...
There you have it!! Welcome to the new year and all the possiblities, opportunities, adventures waiting for me..Bring It On.

This one made me chuckle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHtFixj0cWk