Open Water Again

We're going to be at Gunpowder (Hammerman area) again this Thursday (6/4) for some open water swimming. We should be starting at 6pm. Afterwards we may do a short run.

The water should be pretty warm by now, some people apparently went the other day and were fine without wetsuits.

Let us know if you plan on joining us....

Open Water

Hey Tri-people,

In anticipation for Columbia and some other races this weekend, we will be heading to Gunpowder to do some open water swimming. For now let's plan on 6 pm, meet in that far parking lot in the Hammerman area.

I'm thinking of bringing my bike just to get a quick spin in - there is a 7 mile loop around the area that we can take a few times if people want.

Oh, and remember to bring the 3 bucks or whatever you need to get into the park!

New Direction + Ride this Saturday

If you don't know already, Dean has stopped coaching the triathlon swim practices at Merritt due to his work obligations. Elizabeth has taken his place, and she is a great coach - don't let Dean's departure dissuade you from coming.

Hopefully we can still use this blog to organize some group rides and open-water swims - the tri season is approaching fast.

Also, Alan and I will be at the TriSpeed group 9 am Saturday, feel free to join us...

January 8 workout

Thursday night's workout:
Warm up:
300 swim
300 pull
300 drill

Kick set:
4 x 75: alternate 25 fast, 50 easy/ 50 fast, 25 easy

Pyramid:50-100-150-200-150-100-50
alternate recovery pace and fast/race pace (80%)

300 swim, alt 50 fast, 50 easy without stopping

4 x 50: 25 sprint, 25 easy

200 cool down

Cold Weather Riding

Riding outside in the winter can be totally awesome, or totally suck if you're not prepared for it. Even when you are prepared, you can still experience some problems. Dean caught a little frostbite on his toes a few weeks back, and I had to go to the dermatologist to learn the blisters on my hands and feet are what's known as chilblains, some skin damage that occurs in cold, damp conditions. The blood vessels apparently shut off to protect themselves, resulting in little blisters/callouses on my hands and feet. They go away in the warmer weather, but my guess is that each year I continue to ride outside it'll get worse.

So before any winter training, make sure you're taking the proper precautions. Warm gloves, warm clothes and warm booties will make the ride more enjoyable and hopefully not give you frostbite. In fairness, I do ride with all these things, I just have inherited poor circulation and ride my bike for too long in the cold.

With that said, hopefully everyone is RIDING his/her bike, whether indoors or out. I've been heading up to TriSpeed on Saturdays and the groups have been small (this past week it was just me, my friend Tom and Sean, the owner). If 9 is too early, there is also the 10am ride out of Oregon Ridge which is a larger group and a very chill ride.

Mondays at Fed Hill have been booming, and of course last night I suspect a ton of people were there to fulfill New Years resolutions, so if you're lacking that motivation to get out and run, rely on the social aspect of the Fed Hill group!