uhhhh...anyone up for a swim?

Uh, yeah...So if anyone knows exactly where this pool is...please keep it to yourself. I'm thinking somewhere just out of sight is a enormous rainbow flag. In fact, I my be forced to take this site down as too many heterosexual people may find this offensive. If I ever found myself in this 'featured pool' I promise you I'd be the fastest swimmer in there!

Anyway, I'm glad to say that the swim portion of my training is going well. Everything seems to be going well although I have had a rough time keeping up with my training as some of these golf tournaments seem to be pushing exercise to other days. I know...poor me.

I think I may try to head up to the race trail and see how that is looking. I'll time myself and see if I can get done before dark this time.

This picture above actually reminds me of a classic SNL skit....man I miss Mr. Chris Farley. Enjoy the link below...CLASSIC!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/21815/snl_schmitts_gay_beer_commercial_parody/

Starting to think I may be retarded....

I always knew that something was different...I mean all you have to do is either take a look at my siblings or read a few of my blogs. However I never thought I had received part of the retarded gene. Luckily I received only a small portion and it only relates to my biking skills. I mean Matt's wearing biking shorts for hell's sake!

So I'm still having a hard time staying on my bike. Not going downhill but up! Yeah that's right, I keep falling off my bike going up the hill and it all has to do with these damn clipless pedals. At times on the trail I find myself in a difficult situation, not enough momentum to carry me over some roots, rocks or whatever the case may be. I can never seem to get my feet out of the clips in time and end up tipping over. This morning I happened to fall right through a rock that slit my knee open. Funny thing was there really wasn't much pain, just blood. The problem is by the time I'm at the end of my uphill journey, I'm so freaked out about my shoes that I'm pressing all the way down the hill fearing for my life. It's like the 70 year old blue hair on the freeway. Their so cautious it's dangerous.

I think the problem is that I haven't fully recovered (mentally) from my past mountain bike accidents. Last year I took a switchback to tight and smashed my finger between a tree and the handlebar. Having the doctor insert a needle and Sew my nail bed back to my finger was a real treat, something I'll hold special for the rest of my life. Before that falling on my head and screwing my collarbone ruined one of my rides. And there is always the times that Eric remembers best when each switchback took me into another pine and each time spending a half hour in the shower scrubbing pine sap out of places I never knew I had! Each of these occurrences had now lead my to be completely mental. Maybe I need to really let it go, or maybe I need to find out how to lessen the tension on these stupid shoes!

On the bright side, took it all the way to Rudy's Flat again today. This time by way of the Mueller Park trail. I haven't done that since Jr. year (WX) with Billy Fowler as we rode our forty pound bikes up the trail for 3 hours, stopping along the way to munch some of Billy's famous Beef Jerky. Anyway, I think today gave me a new personal record to the top, and the fastest time of the year to 'The Rock'. I'm way ahead of where I was at this point in 2005. Things are looking good and if I can find my goggles, I'll start working on not drowning come August.

Keep checking your TV Guides, you may be able to catch me on an old "Life Goes On" rerun!

Late

To the top!

After a frustrating work week (day) I decided to hit the trail and let some of the frustration out. It worked. I went up until I couldn't go up anymore. For those of you who can't read a book without pictures, here are some for your enjoyment! (click on the picture for a larger view)

Saw this deer, then looked closer and it was foaming at the mouth! Got out of there quick.
(Have you seen the commercial when the guy gets attacked by a deer).



OK Eagle Scouts: What kind of flower is this?
Who cares! All I know is that it's a blue one!












Nice view from the top looking down Mueller Park into Bountiful.



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View looking down the north canyon side...(wish my camera lens would have opened all the way!)











Went up until I couldn't go up anymore. This is Rudy's flat...it's all downhill from here.




On my way down I ran into about 70 kids on a summer PE class heading out for a hike. The kids leading the pack looked like their mom's signed them up cause they were bored on days without baseball. Towards the end of the pack I ran into a different set of kids. Most of them looked like they could kick my butt and any playstation game of my choosing, blindfolded with the controller upside-down. I think their moms signed them up for a different reason!

Good week. More to come soon.

a quick update and brief thank you...

Things continue to improve as we get closer to the dreaded day! Sometimes I wonder why in the world I sign up for things. Now that the training log is calling for morning/evening sessions I'm getting a bit more tired but I'm sure feeling a little more in shape. Tuesday called for a Brick workout and it felt good...at the same time I realized I'm not in the shape I'd hoped for. For those wondering what I brick is...it is when you bike and run/swim, bike/swim, bike, run during the same workout. Basically it's to simulate the triathlon. I like to think it's what I'm going to drop in the toilet when I think about having to do it!

I know that a lot of people support me and to them I give thanks. However there are 5 people that really seem to carry me day after day. I'm not sure if these 5 people really know who they are but at this time I need to express my appreciation for their hard work and motivation.

1) Eminem - while I think that you are probably nuts and I'm not a huge fan of all of your music, there's nothing better than my Ipod randomly selecting 'Lose Yourself' or 'Slim Shady' to get me over those last few miles.

2,3,4,5) Red Hot Chili Peppers - There are four of you and to each of you I say thanks. What can I say...While Eminem only has a couple of classics you've put out more than your share. 'Scar Tissue', 'Dani California', and the ultimate...'Can't Stop'.

Honorable Mention - Linkin Park, The Killers, Beastie Boys

I'm thinking that if I can get Eminem, Chili Peppers together for an album I may actually try to pull an Ironman!

I'm going to start dragging the camera around on my bike so start checking for pictures. Mueller Park riding is coming up so maybe I'll get a good shot of a moose, deer or even better...Matt in his bike shorts!

Going well...

Seems like everyone has a blog now days. Well anyone who is anyone at least. Hopefully this blog may help some other people get one so I can have something interesting to read now and then. I mean I think I'm pretty funny but maybe someone else can entertain for a while.

So I've changed my blog address so people can actually remember it. Shortdogblog.blogspot.com should do it. If you can't remember that you not smart.

Swimming was great yesterday. I don't know what my problem was last week but I don't thing I would have placed in the special Olympics. At least yesterday I would have received a 'Good Effort' medal. Slow and easy is the key. Fast and wild means your goggles leak, you get water in your eyes and you may have to call the 75 year old lady in the next lane over for mouth to mouth.

Right now I'm drawing a line. I can't be this fat anymore. I mean I'm not that fat but come on...since training I haven't dropped many lbs. So the line I've drawn is actually between me and the refrigerator. Between me and the food closet. Between me and the Double cheese, super sized fry and large Coke with lard mixed in for flavor. That's enough! Last year at this time I ate well and dropped a dozen pounds. Now days the only thing I'm dropping is the 3rd patty on my lap after digging into the Triple Big Mac! I'm hauling my fat ass all over the outfield chasing fly balls that back in the day were routine. I'm hitting the ball into the gap and making a close play at 2nd. At least the other team scoots back when seeing me apoproach the plate. I mean who invites the fat guy to play unless he can really mash the ball (boy do I suprise them by dropping in singles...of coarse there is always a chance I get thrown out at 1st. I have to remind the batter not to run me off third (while I'm on second!) Yeah..enough is enough. My closet almost called the abuse hot line cause if felt bad for my shoes.

A dozen pounds by mid August. I've done it before and I'll do it again. The only think hurting at that time will be McDonald's pocketbooks!

LATE

Sweatin' to the Oldies....Bike Style!

First of all let me go over this week and then we'll get to the Sweatin to the Oldies reference.
This week went pretty well. I've got this stupid throat/nose issue so unfortunately for those of you who live downstream, there will be some serious snot/flem/lung-chunks coming your way due to me having to hock these out during my exercise. I didn't hit the pool this week due to this sickness but ran, biked and lifted some weights.

I lifted weights on Wednesday and I'm still sore today. I may have overdone it. I read in my Tri-Bible afterwards and realized that I had overdone it based off of their strength training recommendations. So, next week I'll tone it down.
Running was a little difficult as my knee didn't fully cooperate. Went 2 miles (walk/run) but had to end a little early.
Biking went well this morning. Made it to 'The Rock' for the first time in years. Took me 43:00 minutes and at the 45:00 mark had gone 3.32 miles compared to the 3.1 last week. Felt good! That first 15 minutes on Mueller Park sucks it out of me. I don't know what it is but after that I'm able to get into a little 'zone' and keep a decent pace (decent pace for me at least).

I feel like I'm making some good progress especially with 11 weeks still to go until race day. I've got some work to do on the run but the biking feels good. Swimming should be fine but we'll see tomorrow as I enter the pool for the first time in several weeks.

Now what you've all been waiting for:
I know that I'm a little out of shape, maybe a little heavier than I once was, but I didn't expect Richard Simmons to show up to help me get back into shape! It was quite the suprise when out of nowhere a certain unnamed individual appeared from his car with some nice spandex on. Keep in mind I only bike with two people...Matt & Ryan (and it wasn't Ryan). I've seen these shorts in the stores and have even thought about buying a pair but I just couldn't do it. These particular shorts are nice as they have an excellent pad in the butt for more relaxed riding. For me, a little discomfort in the butt is worth the comfort of the mind. For others, there is no mind and it's all about butt comfort. Anyway, quite the site and believe me I made sure I wasn't bringing up the rear in that train of riders.

I'm going to try to take my camera on some of the bike sessions and post some pictures to make things a little more enjoyable for the reader. I know that I'm now sounding a little like my new biking partner but there are some really nice views from the top of the mountain and I'm now in enough shape to get there.