Fewer but better swims

I have only be managing about 2 swims per week the last fews weeks but they have been better in terms of quality. I feel stronger and a bit faster. Today I did a warm of 400, alternating 100 swim, 100 back stroke. I did 400m of drills (one arm swim and kicking) and then did 40- 50's on a minute. That is the most I have done of that in a long time and I found it easy. My 50's were taking me about 45-48 seconds so I had plenty of rest. That is faster than I have been swimming. Who knows why. Maybe its the yoga I have been doing.

On Saturday past, I just did spinning and about an hour of weights, exercises and stretching (so two hours in total) I have been making an effort to make my spinning classes harder because that is what people seem to want. I realized (sort of ironically) that I think people didn't really like my spinning classes that much because they didn't find them hard enough. I say that's ironic because I think it is fair to say that I am a stronger cyclist than your average spin instructor. The reason my classes were two easy is that, for me, it is one workout out of about 10-12 per week, and I never felt the need to kill myself. But, I need to keep in mind that, for participants, this maybe one of 3 or 4 workouts per week and they want to feel it.

On sunday, I ran a slow steady 11 k and then went to the gym for about an hour workout. (total of 2 hours) Monday, I did hot yoga for 75 minutes.

Today, I swam for about an hour and will do spinning for an hour. Tomorrow, I think I am going to run instead of doing yoga. As much as I like it and need to do it, I don't think I can continue to do yoga three times per week and have any time for running.

Having trouble with early mornings

This week, more than once, I planned to get up early and head to the pool and then couldn't do it. I think you go in cycles: there are times when my internal clock has me waking up easily at 5:30. This week it has been more like 7 am. Since Christmas, or before, when I started doing hot yoga, I added 3 hot yoga classes per week and now one extra spinning class, to an already full schedule and something has got to give a bit. I am enjoying the change to my routine but like any Type A triathlete, I am always paranoid that I won't be as good at swimming, biking and running because, at this moment, I am not doing as much of that. (despite the fact that everything you read says you need a rest from those things periodically)

Since I have started doing hot yoga, I have lost a bit of weight and gained some flexibility. I am about the same weight right now in the dead of winter as when I was training 18 hours per week for an Ironman last summer (152 pounds) - that is because of yoga. I would normally be closer to 160 right now.

In terms of training this week, I ran on the treadmill last sunday and did some weights and core exercises. Monday, I did a hot yoga class; Tuesday I swam 2300 metres and did a spin class; Wednesday, I did hot yoga and went to the gym and did some weights; Thursday, I did an intense 1 hour spin class and Friday I am doing hot yoga; Saturday, I am doing spin class and I will do some weights and swim. (there is not much running in that week).

week ending Jan. 30th, 2010

Since my last post, I did some yoga, ran a bit and swam a bit and did some spin classes. On Monday of this week, I did hot yoga. Tuesday morning I overslept a bit but got in about 35 minutes of swimming. Tuesday night I ran outside about 8 k. Wednesday night I did hot yoga. Thursday night I taught a spin class. Friday night went to the gym and ran on the treadmill and then did weights for about a half hour. Saturday morning I did a tough spin class for about an hour and then did hot yoga for 90 minutes. It was the toughest yoga class to date and I sweat an unbelievable amount. Saturday evening I had a fun swim with the triathlon gang. ( we did about 1800 metres with fairly high intensity) That was about 3.5 hours of exercise yesterday but it was fun. In total, I did about 10 hours of exercise this week. Today (sunday) i plan to go to the gym and run on the treadmill and do some weights and exercises.

Slacker?

Only a triathlete would feel like he is being a slacker when, in reality, I have done at least an hour or so per day of exercise in the past week. Since my last post Tuesday last week, I did hot yoga on Wednesday; Swam on Thursday, did hot yoga on Friday; taught a spin class Saturday and ran 11 k on Sunday. I am really used to doing more than one thing per day and I didn't run much at all last week. Today I will do hot yoga again after work. I was going to swim this morning but decided to sleep in a bit. I am thinking that in about a month's time or a bit less, I will start to train with a view to the Mooseman Triathlon in early June. That would be 3 months before and given my pretty good fitness level, that should be plenty of time.

Feeling Good

I am generally feeling pretty good about the balance I have right now in my workouts and in my schedule. It is a full schedule but the addition of hot yoga and a bit less running has left me physically feeling good. Since my last post, I took this past Friday off. On Saturday, I taught spinning at the spa and had about 6 people. I then went to Dynamic Fitness and did hot yoga for an hour. (I did three hot yoga classes last week) I am not sure if I will do three yoga classes a week but I will do at least two and maybe three. On Sunday, I ran outside for about 11 k. Monday this week I did hot yoga again and it was the hardest class I have done so far. It was very difficult and that is bearing in mind that I am quite fit. My schedule or plan right now is to do 3 swims per week on my own; at least three runs either outside or on the treadmill; 2 or 3 yoga classes and 3 spinning classes. On top of that, I will do weights and muscle building exercises at least twice a week. That will probably be 10-12 hours a week which is about all I reasonably have time for. I have been starting to think about triathlon season and in late February/early March I will get my bike trainor going a bit. With the addition of yoga to my routine, I am definitely feeling the benefits of the adage that "a change is as good as rest."

Longer days

I am starting to notice the days getting longer which is encouraging. I usually run after work and it is more motivating if you are not running in the dark. Monday this week I did hot yoga and this is helping with my problems related to muscle tightness and muscle imbalance. I have been doing exercises as well to help with this. Tuesday, I did my spin class- the attendance has been poor for these classes and they may get cancelled if it doesn't pick up. I would like to think the poor attendance is related to the poor quality of the bikes and not the instructor but who knows? Wednesday, I did the triathlon swim class and was not that happy with the workout. The coach puts a workout on the board and does not speak (at least to me) He hasn't spoken to me in about 3 workouts. So, I am beginning to wonder why I am paying $10 per workout. I don't need someone to give me a workout plan. I can do that myself and there are all kinds of free resources (internet) where you can get great swim workouts. The boston triathlon club put's theirs online etc...So, I think i am dropping out of these classes. Also, there are people of all different levels swimming in one or two lanes and everyone is swimming into everyone else. I swam this morning in my own lane by myself and did 2000 metres and it was great. Yesterday, I also did another hot yoga class. I am learning that it is normal in yoga for guys to take their shirts off. At first I thought it was strange becasue you would never do that in an ordinary fitness class. So, I have been resisting this and have at times been the only guy out of 5 or 6 guys with his shirt on. Yesterday, I sort of said to hell with it and took my shirt off and it felt great. It actually improved the experience in some inexplicable way. (its funny- one guy will take his shirt off, then another, then another,etc...) It (yoga) also improves your mood and the quality of your sleep. This morning, I woke up at 4:30 wide awake and feeling good.

First week of 2010

I was pretty active for the rest of this week. On thursday, I went to the gym and ran 5 miles on the treadmill quite fast. (at about 8 on the treadmill) I did about a half hour of weights. Friday morning, I did the triathlon swim class which is always quite intense. Friday after work I ran outside about 8 k. Saturday morning, I taught a spin class and did some weights and in the the afternoon swam 2000m. Sunday morning, I ran 13 k outside with Greg, Corena and RT. I felt pretty good during the run and we went at a brisk pace. I also took ownership of the other half of my duplex downtown, 46 Prince and am busy trying to do some emergency renovations to the roof. I am also evicting a non-paying tenant which is a bit of a legal process. It appears that he is not going to voluntarily move out. I am happy to finally be the owner of the building but there will be some stress in improving it and in getting better tenants.