"Ten degrees is simply not enough, especially when combined with above average winds. Despite my resolve I managed only 50 kms, and 4 hours later my fingers and toes are still numb. Tomorrow looks a wee bit better, and if that turns out to be the case then I will break my pattern and ride 2 days in a row. Maybe I'm just being a pussy but it is damn hard to go out and ride for several hours when you are so uncomfortable.
On the positive side I can tell you that despite the cold only my fingers and toes went numb. My latest saddle feels pretty firm under my ass but gradually I am hardening to it. And I can be patient as long as I'm not losing the feeling in my important parts. The very unusual thing about this seat is that it actually feels better in the aero position then when I sit up. Unusual but good.
I am managing to get to the pool almost every day now and it seems like it's going okay. I will tell you one little hope I have for my Ironman, and that is to be out on my bike by 1 hour, 20 minutes. Last time around it was almost 1:30. If I swim the same speed as I know I can in the pool then I will be able to do that. The thing is, that I am not faster now then I was then, so I'm gonna have to depend on staying focused and not let the other maniacs slow me down. Because I am not a strong swimmer I have traditionally headed into the water near the back of the pack, but I'm thinking I need to try changing that. I will experiment during the year at my short races, but I want to try moving up a bit for the start, and letting others figure out how to get around me. That way you know that even if someone jostles you it should only be momentarily as presumably they are faster than you, and should move by you. It occurs to me that the last thing you want to do would be to head out with those that are slower or even the same speed as you. As I write this down and think it through it seems to make so much sense. Which begs the question I suppose as to why it has taken me almost 20 years of triathlon to figure it out??
It also occurs to me that I need to practice this in the pool by starting out my workouts (after a warmup), with a little more speed and then settling into a rhythm. I need to build confidence that I can do this without getting myself in early trouble.
Anyway, that's it for now. If you have influence on the weather gods I could use a little help for tomorrow. They are suggesting maybe 14 degrees and 15 km/hr SE winds. I could live with that but just a few degrees warmer would be good. I do at least like the wind direction, if indeed that plays out as they predict.
(swim 1500 metres, ride 50 kms)
"When I was a child
On the positive side I can tell you that despite the cold only my fingers and toes went numb. My latest saddle feels pretty firm under my ass but gradually I am hardening to it. And I can be patient as long as I'm not losing the feeling in my important parts. The very unusual thing about this seat is that it actually feels better in the aero position then when I sit up. Unusual but good.
I am managing to get to the pool almost every day now and it seems like it's going okay. I will tell you one little hope I have for my Ironman, and that is to be out on my bike by 1 hour, 20 minutes. Last time around it was almost 1:30. If I swim the same speed as I know I can in the pool then I will be able to do that. The thing is, that I am not faster now then I was then, so I'm gonna have to depend on staying focused and not let the other maniacs slow me down. Because I am not a strong swimmer I have traditionally headed into the water near the back of the pack, but I'm thinking I need to try changing that. I will experiment during the year at my short races, but I want to try moving up a bit for the start, and letting others figure out how to get around me. That way you know that even if someone jostles you it should only be momentarily as presumably they are faster than you, and should move by you. It occurs to me that the last thing you want to do would be to head out with those that are slower or even the same speed as you. As I write this down and think it through it seems to make so much sense. Which begs the question I suppose as to why it has taken me almost 20 years of triathlon to figure it out??
It also occurs to me that I need to practice this in the pool by starting out my workouts (after a warmup), with a little more speed and then settling into a rhythm. I need to build confidence that I can do this without getting myself in early trouble.
Anyway, that's it for now. If you have influence on the weather gods I could use a little help for tomorrow. They are suggesting maybe 14 degrees and 15 km/hr SE winds. I could live with that but just a few degrees warmer would be good. I do at least like the wind direction, if indeed that plays out as they predict.
(swim 1500 metres, ride 50 kms)
"When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I can not put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I have become....comfortably numb"---Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
....and this my friends is one of those brilliant ones...don't you agree? An inspiring thought expressed in just a few little words.
"The secret of my influence has always been that it remained secret."---Salvador Dali
Love
Peter
Love
Peter
Who needs Freud? With age comes wisdom. Streamlining experience into one common denominator, common sense through trail and error!. Ageing can be a wonderful tool. Just got to remember how to use it.....keep up the good work my friend.
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