Matt O’ Rama

Trying for the triathlon

I’ve been doing my triathlon training, although my inability to get up early enough in the morning has been hindering my attempts somewhat. I’ve been swimming and running more than I ever thought I would, but I haven’t been back on my bike much. I’m bringing it to work tomorrow and I’ll get a chance to do a good ride since we get to leave early (a guy I didn’t know passed away so we’re closing early).

I’ve decided to do either the Socorro Triathlon or the Bottomless Lakes Triathlon. The Bottomless Lakes race is in a big lake I visited once before and I’d like to do that but being my first tri, I think it might be a good idea to do the Socorro one since it’s in a pool. I’ll have to decide soon so I don’t miss my chance. Both of these races are Sprint distance, which is good with my lessened training schedule.

I’m excited. I think I can do it, with my least confidence being in the running. The Sprint tri includes 3 miles of running, about 3 miles more than I’ve ever run at one time. :) I’m getting better but it’s going to take a lot more pavement pounding.

Find a new triathlon

So it looks like the triathlon I was planning on attending is cancelled. I found this out in the newsletter for a New Mexico based Triathlon club, The Outlaws. So that sucks, but I found a triathlon club I might want to join so that’s a silver lining. Although from reading about some of the members, I don’t know if I’m up to snuff. One of them does 150+ bike rides, for pete’s sake. I’ll keep an eye on them though and see how my training goes. I’m going to sign up for one of the other triathlons around the same time as the defunct one soon.
Speaking of training, I’m doing a lot better than I thought I would. I’m swimming a lot farther already and I’m getting better at breathing. I’m trying to keep to the techniques I read about in the book Total Immersion, which I recommend if you’re into swimming and want to get better, or if you’re like me and have no old habits to break and want to get better. I’m also running more and walking less in my training runs. Next is to get my flat bike tire fixed and see how much of that fitness I’ve lost not riding for 6 months. It’s probably going to be pretty pathetic. And I’m anticipating my ass hurting, a lot. That’s the price you pay for not riding.

I Endure

I found a site called We Endure through a typical internet round-a-bout way (a comic book writer whose forum I used to frequent’s wife had a link to it on her site) and I’m really happy with it. While the site’s name is kind of strange, it’s for endurance sports training so it fits. You add all your training to it: how far you ran, what much you swam, etc. It also does a countdown of days until the events you specify so now I know I only have 149 days till the Triathlon. Yikes. But anyway, if you’re interested in training for some endurance event, I’d recommend using We Endure, it really helps to see all your training laid out in front of you.

My site is available here, if you’re interested.

A triathlon? Wha…?

The last place I worked had almost no opportunities for exercise, which I always thought was weird since it was the administrative center for a giant hospital. Plus it was very near a bunch of good restaurants. Those factors combined with my general lack of willpower and food issues to cause me to totally obliterate all the progress I’d made in losing weight. My new work is right next to a great bike trail I’ve always liked (the trail where I first learned to really ride actually) and has a deal with the nearby gym (the same one I used to go to when I lived in this part of town) so I’ve been really looking forward to getting back to working out and exercising. I haven’t ridden my bike in like 6 months for pete’s sake.

So to make a long story even longer, somehow the idea of doing a Triathlon got lodged in my head and for the first time in my life I’ve been running. Only twice so far but that’s 2 more times than I’ve ever even wanted to run in my life so it’s a step in the right direction. I bought some running shoes and some goggles for swimming, along with a Triathlon book, a running book, and a swimming book I read about a few months back in the Cool Tools mailing list. The triathlon I’m aiming for is at the end of July and it’s what’s called a Olympic distance: Swim 1500 meters (almost a mile), Bike 25 miles, Run 6.2 miles. I figure that’s enough to make it tough but not impossible. I don’t know if I’ll make it given that I can really only train at lunch and a little on the weekends but I’m giving it my best shot. I’ll be writing more about my training as it goes along hopefully.

One thing I learned today about it is that I’ll be competing in what they call the Clydesdale division, that is the division for people over 200 pounds. I’m not sure how I feel about the Clydesdale definition but since I have no chance of actually winning I don’t care one way or the other. If I just finish it’ll be a miracle so whether I’m beat by skinny people or fat people doesn’t matter to me as long as I cross the finish line and get healthier doing it.

Wish me luck. I need it.