Swimming

While watching a rerun of The Big Bang Theory last night, Leonard and Sheldon had the following exchange:

Leonard: I'm just saying that you can't approach this intellectually.
Sheldon: However do you mean?
Leonard: Remember when you tried to learn how to swim from the internet?
Sheldon: I did learn how to swim.
Leonard: Yeah, on the floor.
Sheldon: The skills are transferable. I just have no desire to get in the water.
Leonard: Then why learn how to swim?
Sheldon: The ice caps are melting, Leonard. In the future, swimming won't be optional.

In the future, swimming won't be optional.  That's the line that stuck with me, and reminded me of my inevitable date with the pool.  Less than three weeks, and swimming will no longer be optional, at least according to my own, self imposed training plan.

On the Cheap

P has long since outgrown his 18" wheeled single speed kids bike.  It has served him well, but it was definitely time for something new.

After looking around at options, and experiencing some extreme sticker shock, I decided to shop around for something used, something that wouldn't break the bank, but something he could ride for a long time.

Below is what I came up with:

Found an older Trek frame with a Rockshox Judy shock on eBay.  The rest is either from the spare parts bin or dump donor bike, although there are a couple new parts thrown in the mix.  It's set up as a 1x8 for the sake of simplicity, that and I didn't have a 3-ring crank lying around.

We took it out for it's first ride last night.  Patrick looks a kind of funny on it, with the 26" wheels and all.  But it seems to ride pretty well and he loves it.  He's a little stretched out, but he should be able to grow into it for a lot of years.

Heat Wave

My love affair with running, wait, that is way to strong, I've never loved running. We've tolerated each other for the most part at best. But this thing, this fall fling I've had with running, it may be coming to an end.

You see, this heat wave came though. Yesterday I ran 4 miles, stopped 6 times. Four for traffic, once at the post office, yes, I actually ran to the post office. And once at the turn around, just cause. Every stop felt completely necessary. It must have been close to 70 degrees out there, and not a cloud in the sky. I know.

Today was more of the same. Five miles, but I only stopped once. Ridiculously hot again, might have actually hit 70, and absolutely no breeze to cool the engine.

I also broke my every other day running deal by running two days in a row. I was behind a day due to a Friday fishing trip with the kids (There is more to life than swim/bike/run), and wanted to get back on track. Mistake, as I have the slightest of shin pains in my right leg. I won't do that again.

This is the first fall where I've actually done any amount of running whatsoever, and I was really starting to enjoy it. Fall was already my favorite season, and running in the cool crisp weather was almost tolerable. Now indian summer has decided to rear it's ugly head and I don't like it. I'll take 45 degrees and sunny any day. Unless I'm on the bike, then 70 sounds about right. Hmmmmm.

Sept. Recap

As expected, September took on a drastically different tone training wise from the previous months.

Swim

(insert sound of crickets here)  No change.

Bike

Went from 325 miles in August, primarily on Wilson, to roughly 75 in August.  Wilson didn't make it out of the garage once.  Primary objective of the month for the bike was to keep the legs loose on non-run days.  Soooo, spent most of my time on Bel, some of it wandering the city with the kids, most of it out on the trails tackling shit like this:

Ok, attempting to tackle shit like this.

The above is a rock wall at the Emma Carlin Trail in the Southern Kettles.  You ride it from the background of the picture towards the page.  Funny thing is, first time around I cleared it without issue.  Second time through, I attempted it three times, didn't make it once.  Decided to quit while I was still in one piece.

And so it goes, going to continue having fun on the mountain bikes until the weather no longer allows it.  Then a short break before I put my legs in Jorge's hands for hell on the trainer come winter.  I was serious about becoming a stronger biker this winter.

Run

August - 0 miles.  September 65+ and I'm feeling pretty good about the progress.  The every other day run plan is working out well.  Only missed one planned run (of four miles) the day after Ironman.  Every other run has been done.  Longest run of the month was roughly 8.5 miles.  No intervals, no speed work, not even watching my pace during the runs.  Just trying to build up a good base and prepare for the Tyranena Beer Run.  Things are coming along nicely.

October

Much of the same.  Run in prep for the 1/2 marathon, bike for fun.  Have a hunting trip coming up in a couple of weeks that will likely put a serious halt to the training.  I'll bring my running gear, not sure how likely it'll be that I actually run, although I would like to see what it's like running at elevation.  Buffalo, Wyoming is at ~4,600 feet.