SOS 2009 – Part 1

It has been a while my friends.  I feel like I hardly know you.   Like a casual friend from years past that I emphatically avoid upon random encounters. Here you’ve cornered me in some innocuous meeting place and I’m forced to make idle chit-chat in trying to impress upon you how much better my life has been than yours…

So much has happened in the last two months (much of which I’ll not utter here). I suppose I should begin (or very nearly begin) with congratulations to Hemant and Michelle. The two are engaged to be inseperable and I (personally) couldn’t be happier. It’s a wonderful thing when someone finds someone (particularly “someones” of such quality).

I’d like to talk a little bit about this Triathlon (“Spin Off Spadina 2009“).  I’ve dubbed it “SOS 2009″ (which I feel is clever and succinct).  While nine months may seem like a long way off, it really isn’t in terms of the things that I must accomplish prior to race day in order to ensure non-death.

My training program will be more complex than it was for the 2008 Saskatchewan Marathon, so I solicited help from the Saskatoon Triathlon Club (STC).  On September 12th I posted a very genuine (and very “newbescent”) message in the Training Updates section of their website.  Last week I stopped at Brain Sport in Saskatoon to pick up a few supplies…

I walked into the store knowing what I wanted to purchase. With a firm desire to avoid aimless searching I informed the sales attendant directly, “I need a Strasbourg Sock.” The salesmen guided me to the shoe area where we chose an appropriate size. I followed him back to the counter as his curiosity overtook him, “Plantar Fasciitis?” I corrected him with the timidity of a man who doesn’t know what he’s talking about, “Nah, my RMT recommended I use it since I’m having such trouble with cramps when I swim.” The friendly banter continued as he rang in my purchase, “Oh, you’re a swimmer?” My integrity corrected him, “No, at least not yet, I’m training for ‘Spin Off Spadina’.” He collected my hard earned money, “You’re swimming with the triathlon club on Wednesday nights?” I delivered the critical information, which I believed, would finally solve the riddle as to why he hadn’t seen me in regular Saskatoon training circles, “No, I’m from Kindersley, so I mostly swim there.”  He peered at me with all the wonder and fascination of a man who’s just remembered where he’s parked his car, “Ooooohhhh, you’re the guy who posted the message on the STC website.” It seems that Saskatoon triathletes are a tight community.

Close-knit as they are, they have been kind enough to offer assistance.  A woman named Jenna has been helping me pre-plan the training program that I will begin January 1, 2009.  I will develop excel spreadsheets to track swimming, cycling, running, recovery, and diet.  First drafts of that spreadsheet indicate that I’ll require 260 workouts through the 168 available days.  From July 2008 through now, I’ve been establishing the foundation required prior to beginning the actual training plan:

• A comfortable 35 minute   1.5 kilometer swim (all freestyle)
• A comfortable 70 minute 42.0 kilometer cycle
• A comfortable 50 minute 10.0 kilometer run

I can tell you that the last month or so I have been working very hard on these bases. I can swim my 1500 m in under 40 minutes; however, I still do about 1/3 of it in a breast-stroke. I haven’t been cycling much, but I rode for an hour two nights ago with no discomfort. I intend to spend a good part of my winter on the bike. I have been running a lot in the mornings lately, and have no issue covering the 10 km distance; however, I would like to be quite a bit faster than my 44:19 pb.

I’m running 5 mornings a week and swimming 4 mornings a week. As such, I’ve had to get back into a bit of “recovery” work. I have a standing appointment with Kipp Lucas (RMT), who will undoubtedly garner significant props by trainings end. I’ve also re-instituted a regiment of ointments, yoga, and cold baths.

During the last month I’ve had to be careful in ensuring that I get enough carbohydrates (two workouts/day). There have been times when I got light-headed (late morning or early afternoon) and had to scramble for the nearest piece of fruit/candy in order to raise blood sugar levels. I’ve gotten used to this and altered my diet so that it’s nearly discontinued. On Tuesday of this week I awoke dizzy. At 4:00 pm I went to see my doctor.  He’s a fine fellow; young, bright, and enthusiastic.  His face carries the look of a man who has an honest passion for his work.  He looks as British as he is and he’s my height only a lot taller.  He “enjoys seeing me because it’s always interesting”.  We (my doctor) determined that I’d incurred a repetitive stress injury from swimming. It seems there is some swelling behind one of my ears (left I think) that’s placing pressure on a nerve. The clinic ran blood sugar and hemoglobin tests and found my blood sugar quite high since by then I’d eaten every cookie I could find.  In any case, I have a prescription for something called “Serc”.  After seven days, if the dizziness subsides, I can get back into the gym.

Diet is the most complex component of a training program (for me anyway). I typically find it very difficult to maintain. I’m not just talking about unhealthy foods, that part isn’t that hard. What I find so difficult is consistently eating the proper amount (and types) of fuel required in order to sustain continuous endurance workouts. Your body requires such high levels of everything that the smallest deficiency ends up presenting itself in astonishing fashion (like a prostitute named Virginia). I find the Excel spreadsheets (logging all foods eaten) to be of great help; however, they are tedious to maintain (a sacrifice I suppose). I have scheduled another appointment with my dietitian (Ann McCormick, HRHA) to ensure I’m on the right track. I am taking two protein shakes a day (4:1 ratio carb/prot) in addition to my pills (2 a day multi, vit c/e, st jons wart, omega 3, calcium/mag, potassium sulphate) and a typical diet to ensure I get what I need.

I borrowed a bike (to the delight of my bank account).  The CEO of the company I work for was gracious enough to ask her daughter, who (due to genetics) was gracious enough to lend it to me.  I have absolutely no idea how to size, ride, or maintain it.  I suppose I’ll have to do some reading.  I only worry that what credibility I hope to establish with the STC will be whisked away by my pink bike.  I suppose I’d better be fast.

My Bike

I’ve also lost my Oakley Thump MP3 sunglasses.  What?  Travis lose something?  No.  It can’t be.  Yes, unbelievable as it is, they are gone.  I left them at the track one morning (sorry Curtis, not at your condo so you cannot lay claim to them).  I’ll be replacing them immediately.