base pace meets the stock market!

The good thing about winter training is that every once in a while you see numbers during your training that will either get you pissed or make you happy. The better thing is that not matter what number you see is that you are in the base phase phase of training. I like to take this time to look back on the fact that I am just making deposits to an account that isn't going to be ruined by the Stock Market! This is not being invested by anyone else but me and I know where to buy and where to sell and when to cut my losses or push for the bigger turn around. Last week was one of those weeks where one day numbers where through the roof and I was feeling great...then the numbers weren't so good the 401K that I have been putting into wasn't yielding the returns I was planning on. Bottom line is got some great quality training in and I know that it will come out when I need it most. The one thing the economy can't take is the ability to get out there and train when I am supposed too. I like knowing that one this is certain. I can train when I need to. Maybe it isn't at the most Ideal time...but weather running at 5 am or 10 pm it is still laying down solid concrete that I can build my house on.

March 2nd starts Base phase 2. I look forward to building a little more with some different things. The one thing that I also look forward too is that by the end of this phase it will be a little warmer and the sun will be out a little longer.

build and build and build and build

The past few days have been pretty good. I swam last night at Salem State with Coach Craig Lewin. He will probably be a pro in about a year. He is bouncing back from a broken pattella right now so he has a lot of time to spend on helping people like me. Last night was a killer. We started speed sessions to build the Lactate threshold (LT) and man did my LT build and build and build. The good thing is that I was pulling in about 1:15-1:20 for my 100's and 35's for my 50. I have been getting faster and the thing for me to do know is work on my technique. I was able to see how much benefit there is to reaching a little bit further on my stroke. I was able to keep my heart rate down slightly so I could get my recovery in the ten to twenty seconds rest that I had. I only gave up about 2 seconds on my 100. As I get better I will get more efficient and will get that second back without giving up wasted energy that can be used on the bike.

Everything else is coming along as planned. I have been gaining strength back since my broken elbow and am almost at 100% as far as actual strength goes. I am still a firm believer in CROSSFIT. I am doing that 2x a week and getting in 3 swims, 2-3 runs and 2 bikes. As the weather gets warmer I will add a bike and drop a cross fit until the Patriot. By the end of March I will be adding the long stuff. One long run and bike a week. So far so good!

I really wish I was training in California!

So the first week is coming to a close for base training. I have to admit I am pretty happy with what is going on. The week started with a great Monday morn swim. I did some interval work with 400's and worked finding my pace for this year. Tues was crossfit in the AM and good hard bike on the trainer at night. Weds my brother and I hit the pool again. Our main set was 12x100's for time at race pace. I have to stay we did pretty damn good. Sometimes he is a little to hard on himself but I got the impression he was pleased with himself too. Thurs was great bike in the AM with my brother and Marty.( Marty is co-owner of FIT WERX2) great store. We set up our trainers in the shop and get after it. Pop in a DVD and just hammer for 60 mins. Last night I went out for a 42 min run. Probably the coldest night I have ever run. I looked at the temp and it was 16 degrees. I figured you are supposed to add 15 to that when you run, so, i was looking at 31. Well i got about 3 miles out and I could not feel my face. I really was bummed because I was in a good stride and legs felt awesome but my face hurt so bad! Today I strecthed for a good 30 mins this AM and Sat I am going to do a bike/run indoors. Well, week one; done.

not a bad way to start...

I was back in the pool again to kick off my official training session for the 09 season. I had a pretty good workout. I was feeling kind of lazy when I got to the pool and was tossing things around in my head without really being able to focus on what I was doing. I got to a certain part of my session and started looking at my times and realized that I was only a few seconds off from where I was at the end of last season. My attitude totally changed and wound up have a great second half. Tomorrow is a Cross Fit in the AM with a nice moderate 50 min run at night. But depending on the snow I may find my way to the basement to push the pedals we'll see!