Strength Training in the Off Season

I recently started my 90 day strength training session. I bought into the P90X routine. I have subjected myself to many of these workout videos in the past (Cindy Crawford being my favourite, go ahead and laugh, but when you're 16 with 8% body fat, any workout video will do the trick), all with mixed results, but I wanted something hard core that would allow me to mix in some cross training while still avoiding the gym.

Welllllll.....let me tell you that this is REALLY FREAKIN HARD!! Two days into it and the pain completely shut me down forcing a brief hiatus. I just did an Ironman, what the hell is my problem!? Unfortunately, the problem is that while I worked my ass off to train for IMC I didn't every really get going on a proper strength training regime and I pretty much altogether abandoned any core work - BIG MISTAKE!

The early part of my training was plagued by hip and lower leg issues and just prior to Ironman I had some knee problems (patella femoral something or other garbage). Each time something came up I went to physio and massage and worked the problem out, but those issues might never have arisen had I just been proactive in my strength training. This is why I chose P90X.

There is no promise on the box that says, "in only 10 minutes a day!!!...blah, blah". In fact there's a fitness test to start the whole thing off and a promise that you are going to have to work hard to get results. The truth resonates with me as it should with most people, but in general people can be...I digress - see my last post for my opinion on the plebs and serfs.

So, after the hiatus from the initial shock to my system I am back on track and just finished week 1. I have a long way to go, but I'm really looking forward to what this will do for my upcoming triathlon season.

Commuting Rant

Except for during the Great Blizzard of 08/09, which wasn't really a blizzard by most standards, but Vancouverites tend to freak out when there is more than 2 cm of snow...anyway I digress...I have ridden my bike to work every day for the past 2 years. I feel as though it's now time to lay out some of my gripes, not that I want people to listen or even expect sympathy, but because if I don't, I am likely to unleash a flurry of punches to the solar plexus of the next asshole that pisses me off out there.

Let the rant begin...

1. passing on the right - we've been driving on the right in this country for as long as I can remember. Maybe I should fix up my bike a la Road Warrior and start slicing and dicing.

2. cyclists who are too cool to wear helmets, use signals or follow basic road rules. I'm pretty sure you're emo hair-do can withstand a helmet and if your pasty arm is too weak to signal try some yoga or something.

3. fair weather riders - I'm all for a sunny ride, but if you're only gonna ride for 3 months of the year that doesn't exempt you from the general rules of the road

4. shitty drivers. hand signals - LEARN THEM. rear and side mirrors - USE THEM. it's pretty simple YOU FUCKING MORONS!!

5. stupid people. sigh. eye roll.

6. dinks that yell things like, "Get off the road!" and then screech by at the first completely unsafe and inopportune chance they get. Really? I mean REALLY?? If the 5 seconds you saved was that important you wouldn't be driving that shitty, insignificant 88 Toyota Celica. You'd be in the ugly, equally insignificant escalade behind you...did I mention I also loathe wanna-be's and chach's?

7. cyclists that ride with their knees pointing out. I know, I know, but it drives me freakin' nuts!

Please feel free to add to this list if you read this. I'm off to ride now..wish me luck!

The Numbers: 12:36 and $7800

I'm not very good at these race reports and always find them a bit convoluted and boring to read so this is going to be really simple. I was hoping for anything under 13hrs and I ended up with 12:36. The swim was a bit nasty, but I survived and came in under my goal time of 1:15. Considering when I first started all of this I was afraid of open water swimming and was hoping for anything under 2 hours, I think it went pretty well.


The bike was my favourite part and although I would like to have had a slightly better overall time I think I nailed the nutrition and stuck with my pacing plan well. As promised by our coaches and fellow trainees many people did not stick with their pacing plans and I indeed saw them lying on the side of the road at Yellow Lake. Many of the hot doggers were still vertical and riding, but not nearly as fast and they were pretty easy to pass after the 140km point. BTW, what's with all the scared dudes out there on the descents? I passed lots of men on the downhills, one actually said (as I flew by at 73km/h, hehehe), "you're f%$^&n nuts!" and then he pushed by me on the uphill grunting and struggling - dummies, be sensible yet know when to kamikaze. Also, go get yourself a super duper Future helmet, especially the day before the race cause there's just nothing like trying something new on race day.


I went out onto the run feeling pretty good, but it was hot and I started taking in too much fluid at the aid stations. Stomach sloshing (mmmm, good times) wasn't too far beyond the 10km point and my run/walk-aid-stations plan became a run/walk-whenever-I-felt-like-it-which-was-almost-all-the-time plan. My knees started to hurt pretty badly around 15km and from then out it was survival and calculations....if I run for 5 minutes at this pace and then walk for 10 minutes at this pace, then that will give me a 4:45 run time and will get me in at X time at which point I can enjoy X amount of Strongbows. These calculations consumed me from 21-30km. After 30km I sucked it up and jogged, only walking through the aid stations. I feel good about it all. I have some areas for improvement, but I learned so much this past year that just being able to process it all was an accomplishment unto itself.

I'm starting P90X in 10 days and am really looking forward to the strength it will give me for training next year. This was my first Ironman. It was about finishing, enjoying the moment, having fun, building confidence and learning as much as possible. My second Ironman will also be about finishing, enjoying the moment, having fun, etc., but it will also be about refining the plan, pushing harder and bringing a bit more backbone to the competition side of things.

ALMOST FORGOT - WE RAISED $7800 FOR CANCER!!!! THANKS EVERYONE :)