It is now official, and my first week of training is over . Totals of 1.8 hours run, 5.1 hours biked, 1.5 hours swum. Is this enough 51 weeks out?
Also, read chapters 13-31 of Rayuela.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Three Books for an Intellectual Triathlon
In giving my 39th year an intellectual purpose along with the daunting task of training for an Ironman, I chose three difficult books to read. This is intertwined with the three events of the Ironman:
The Swim
Just like proper technique in the swim results in a graceful, fluid propulsion across the water, Brazilian Portuguese, when pronounced correctly flows musically and rhythmically from the speaker. For that reason, I chose Gabriela, Cravo e Canela (Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon) by Jorge Amado.
Just like my technique is flawed in the swim, my Portuguese pronunciation could use some work. Nonetheless, I get through the swim and got through the novel. Completed June 11, 2008.
The Bike
In 1989, my uncle gave me a copy of Rayuela (Hopscotch) by Ju lio Cortázar. The book is in Spanish and is considered one of the best Latin American novels. I have started this novel several times but have never put a dent in it. When I decided to finally read it, I couldn’t find my copy, so I had to buy a new one.
This novel is actually two books. The first is comprised of the first 56 chapters. They are read in order, and the remaining chapters are ignored. Then, one rereads the chapters (including the dispensable chapters) in the order which Cortázar recommends resulting in a very different book. This sounds to me like an out-and-back course where the “there” and “back” vary greatly. Also, the bike is the longest segment of a tri, so this will be my longest read at over 1,000 pages of sometimes challenging reading. Started June 19, 2008.
The Run
For the third leg, I chose Ulysses by James Joyce. Besides being considered the most important English-language novel of the 20th century, reading it last captures the essence of my quest for Ironman. It is challenging, long, and rewarding. Also, Joyce chose Ulysses as the archetype of the complete man: he is a husband, father, son, brother, etc. In my quest for Ironman, I also want to be a complete man in every realm – familial, athletic, intellectual, and professional to embrace my 40th birthday and the second half of my life. Start date TBD.
The Swim
Just like proper technique in the swim results in a graceful, fluid propulsion across the water, Brazilian Portuguese, when pronounced correctly flows musically and rhythmically from the speaker. For that reason, I chose Gabriela, Cravo e Canela (Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon) by Jorge Amado.
Just like my technique is flawed in the swim, my Portuguese pronunciation could use some work. Nonetheless, I get through the swim and got through the novel. Completed June 11, 2008.
The Bike
In 1989, my uncle gave me a copy of Rayuela (Hopscotch) by Ju
This novel is actually two books. The first is comprised of the first 56 chapters. They are read in order, and the remaining chapters are ignored. Then, one rereads the chapters (including the dispensable chapters) in the order which Cortázar recommends resulting in a very different book. This sounds to me like an out-and-back course where the “there” and “back” vary greatly. Also, the bike is the longest segment of a tri, so this will be my longest read at over 1,000 pages of sometimes challenging reading. Started June 19, 2008.
The Run
For the third leg, I chose Ulysses by James Joyce. Besides being considered the most important English-language novel of the 20th century, reading it last captures the essence of my quest for Ironman. It is challenging, long, and rewarding. Also, Joyce chose Ulysses as the archetype of the complete man: he is a husband, father, son, brother, etc. In my quest for Ironman, I also want to be a complete man in every realm – familial, athletic, intellectual, and professional to embrace my 40th birthday and the second half of my life. Start date TBD.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
I'm not a player, I just crush a lot...
Actually, I'm not an athlete, I just run a lot...and bike and swim.
Going back to October 2007, I've completed the Longhorn Half (in which I finished deal last among the finishers in my age group), Dallas Marathon, Houston Marathon, Austin Marathon, and Lone Star Half.
Two things are for sure:
- I'm not a natural athlete.
- I believe in free will.
There is no determinism in the thrash of my swim, the mash of my pedals, or the plod of my gait -- just sheer determination.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Going Aero for 1 mile
It seems like getting started is the most difficult task for anything. Case in point. I picked up James Joyce's'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man a couple of weeks ago and have not been able to get past the Intro. There is simply not enough time in the day with work, kids, workouts, family, and the occasional 5-6 hours of sleep. I was never tasked with reading anything by Joyce in High School or college, and now I want to find out what the fuss is about. Portrait is considered the third most important English language novel of the twentieth century, and I guess that I will have to find out for myself when I can carve out more time.
The same itch applies to going aero. I currently ride an entry level Specialized road bike with no aero bars. I had never ridden bike in the aero position. At one point, I was the only person doing a half-iron distance tri with no aero bars on his bike. Talk about bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Well, the veil of aero ignorance was scheduled to come off last Saturday when I was going to ride my new Quintana Roo (pronounced kihn-tah-nah roh-oh) on a group ride. We were 1 mile into it, when my rear tire got a slash, and my introduction into the aero world was short-lived. I went home and did my bike workout on my old road bike.
Maybe next weekend I'll put a dent into Joyce's classic and do a full ride on my new tri bike.
The same itch applies to going aero. I currently ride an entry level Specialized road bike with no aero bars. I had never ridden bike in the aero position. At one point, I was the only person doing a half-iron distance tri with no aero bars on his bike. Talk about bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Well, the veil of aero ignorance was scheduled to come off last Saturday when I was going to ride my new Quintana Roo (pronounced kihn-tah-nah roh-oh) on a group ride. We were 1 mile into it, when my rear tire got a slash, and my introduction into the aero world was short-lived. I went home and did my bike workout on my old road bike.
Maybe next weekend I'll put a dent into Joyce's classic and do a full ride on my new tri bike.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
In the mid-term
Gearing up to gear up for Ironman Arizona 2009, there are many to-do's just to begin the training. First of all, is IM AZ even going to be held in April, or, will it be moved to the Fall as per the rumor mill? If it is moved to the fall, will there be a replacement in April so that I can do it in conjunction with my fortieth birthday?
Secondly, I have to buy a new bike -- one designed for the tri. I have decided on the QR Seduza...I think. I just need to make up my mind to plunk down the cash.
Next, it may be important to learn to swim. I don't mean, learn to not drown, I mean learn a halfway efficient technique to not get DQ'ed on the swim. I have swum the 1.2 mile distance of a half, but I have done it very slowly. A swim coach should be able to help. The tweaking from flailing to gliding begins August 13.
Secondly, I have to buy a new bike -- one designed for the tri. I have decided on the QR Seduza...I think. I just need to make up my mind to plunk down the cash.
Next, it may be important to learn to swim. I don't mean, learn to not drown, I mean learn a halfway efficient technique to not get DQ'ed on the swim. I have swum the 1.2 mile distance of a half, but I have done it very slowly. A swim coach should be able to help. The tweaking from flailing to gliding begins August 13.
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