Are these the straws that break the camel's back? Where is that incentive to compete, win at all costs, dislike the opposition...Have I become old?

I started 2007 with a goal, probably a stupid one, to train to swim the 15kms out through the Shubie system of lakes, canals, and portages.

My three months (March/April/May) in the pool gave me a base of 55kms, with a couple 3km swims and 2.5kms swims.

And then it was time to get into the lake. What was fun last year training for the Quadrathlon was looked upon as drudgery. Why was I doing this? Did I really want to swim 3 hours, four days of the week? If I did tough it out, spending (wasting?) most of my summer in the water, would it be possible to stay in the water long enough, and keep warm, for the 7 -8 hours required to do it at my 'slow' pace.

I think I have lost that killer instinct. Either that or I just don't/didn't have a proper vision!

I am continuing, for enjoyment and fitness:

-to swim 1-2 kms, 3 times a week.

-to bike 35-40 kms, 2-3 times a week.

-to run/jog 5 kms, 2-3 times a week.

-to paddle an hour, 3 times a week.

-and to do a 3-5 km walk almost everyday with my good buddy, C.S. Lewis.

But I have no goals and it is an empty feeling.

Even this 'blog' has become a 'slog'..........last year a pleasure to update weekly, this year a strain on my time and interest.

This is not to say I am coming to a stop:

-I will still be regular with the day to day stuff.

-I will enjoy the Gonzo group hike to the White Mountains in late August.

-Also the Gonzo group bike ride to Quebec in September.

-Birder and I will be spending the month of October in Romainia.

-We plan on skiing 2-3 times a week during the winter.

-Spend 3 weeks in Cuba in February.

-Spend 3 weeks in Turkey and Greece, April/May.

The concern is I have lost that edge, even though I realize I'm 30 years beyond, as Bruce Springsteen calls them, The Glory Days , it was nice to have that feeling of--as Nancy called it:

------trying to go Longer, Farther, Faster, and Higher.

It's an interesting time for me--I have been struggling with a 'breaking down' body over the past twenty years, now it looks like I am struggling with a broken down attitude.

Time to step back and look at my THREE PROGRESSIVE VISIONARY HEADINGS:

1.Dreams--brain storm the stuff I would like to do.

2.Goals----identify from these dreams on a regular basis, dates and loose logistics.

3.Plans----implement these identified goals.

Maybe I will take a trip to the Land of Oz, join up with the Tin Man, the Straw Man, and the Lion, in their searches for a heart, brain, and courage, and maybe I can find an attitude.

Anyone know when the next tornado is coming by?

Someone noted the other day I haven't updated my blog since starting training 5 weeks ago.


-No, I haven't drowned.....I'm just plugging away in the bowels of the Sackville Stadium pool, 'slowly' building a base.

-Really not much else to say at this time, although looking forward to getting into the lakes at the end of May and really figuring out where an old non-swimmer fits.




The boring stats:
-Swam 26 of the past 45 days, total of 27 kms.
-My 1 km pace has improved from 36 minutes to 34 minutes to 31 minutes, I mentioned I am not a swimmer and am very slow, eh!
-Long swim end of each week is now at 2.5 kms, to do 3 kms this weekend.
-Also have increased this week to 5 days/week in pool-minimum 1 km swims.


-As noted in previous blog, and conversations, all training this summer will point toward the swim out from Banook. Hopefully I can have a few 5 km runs intermixed with some recreational paddling.
-My main cross training will be on the bike, I have already been out eleven (11) times so far and will attempt to get out three (3) times a week, rides of 40-50 kms, with some tempo rides.


When I posed the idea of swimming from Banook to the Marina in Fall River at Ross's Super Bowl party, I really had no idea if I could do it or not. Over the past 5 weeks I still have no idea, but am feeling a bit more comfortable with the idea.


Is this the idle brain ramblings of an old, broken down jock, trying to relive the 60's and 70's, or those of a vibrant, revitalized, senior athlete, stepping forward challenging the unknown.


So much for the BS, eh!


-I really am looking forward to getting into the lakes late May and swimming the various sections I will do as one in September.

-My biggest concern is not the distance(s) but losing body heat doing them. The water will suck heat from me, and at the pace I go, I probably will have trouble creating enough heat to keep myself warm.


-Last week during a bike ride, I drafted a 'roadie' for a few minutes. During this 2 minute conversation---before my lungs started to explode---he noted that there was no need to rush from one lake to the next but to take the time to ensure you are back together again before continuing. In other words, if a 10 minute break is needed to warm up, take those 10 minutes.

Anyway, food for thought.


As Doug Archibald says, with slight change in wording:

Keep your flippers wet

-Hey, we are well into the winter, actually looking out the other side, and it is time to start looking at goals for 2007.

-Time to juggle the hours available in the coming months, to accomplish what needs to be done, putting structure to daily routines.

-What do I want to do and how do I best use my time to get there.






-Last year my goal was to train for a Quadratlon, getting to a fitness level that I would 'enjoy' the event day. That was interesting since I am not a swimmer nor had I run for 12 years.

-Everything worked out fine, the only negative thing was the time (3 hour workouts in the last month) taking away from family stuff. The training was actually enjoyable, plus I lost 10 pounds, and I am running again--------slow.

-Event day went well, I started out easy and finished strong, much stronger than I anticipated.

THIS YEAR?

-Since I am not a swimmer, a swimming goal would be the obvious choice?

-My goal is to swim from the Banook Canoe Club in Lake Banook, out through the lake system, to the Warnica Marina in Lake Thomas--obviously not swimming through the locks/drops between Lake MicMac/Lake Charles, between Lake Charles and Lake Williams, and between Lake Williams and Lake Thomas.

My first look at a schedule, details to be identified.
-In the pool on February 26th, building a base over the following 3 months, swimming a minimum of 4 times a week, getting to the point I am swimming for 2 hours by Victoria Day weekend.
-Into the lake(s) in late May, steadily increasing time/milage.
-End of June, a 3 hour swim.
-End of July, a 4 hour swim.
-End of August, a 5 hour swim.
-Mid September, do the lakes.

As in above picture, I did get some early training last month off Veradaro.

Assuming I can maintain a 30-35 minute kilometer (told you I was very slow), I hope to finish in under 6 hours. Definite distances still to be measured by GPS, estimated at 12-13kms.

Obviously I would appreciate any comments from swimmers as to both goal, and methods to reach it--food, drink, etc..

It is not a race, I would like to maintain a steady pace, finishing basically the same as when I start.

Cheers