Wow, only four more weeks to go. It feels like it was just February and I was heading out for my first twenty degree group training session run with NYC Triathlon Team. While the blog may have been quiet these past couple of weeks, the training certainly has not. Since that cold morning in February, I've swam countless miles in the pool, run countless more miles in Central Park and Riverside Park, and biked even countless more around Central Park.
I have always considered swimming to be least strongest event, especially due to my lack of experience in competitive swimming. Apparently floundering in the waves at the beach and games of marco polo in the backyard pool don't count. The first time I tried swimming laps in the pool at Equinox, I was exhausted after five laps. Since that time I have swam .5 mile (40 laps), 3/4 mile (60 laps) and 1500 meters or .93 miles (80 laps) in continuous swims at the training sessions. This past Saturday, I completed my first open water ocean swim at Coney Island with my sleek new triathlon wetsuit.
Things have also improved on the biking and running fronts as well. I am feeling much more comfortable with my new clipless pedals. Clipless pedals are a bit of a misnomer since the shoes clip into the pedals to allow for more efficiency and power when biking. The drawback is that your feet are attached to the bike and unless you unclip when stopped you will fall over. Which of course everyone does, including myself. The first day I went riding with them, I was stopped at a light and as I pushed off to get going, I proceeded to slowly fall onto my left side. Luckily my body was there to protect my bike from getting dinged up. Today, once again, I started to fall to one side as I was getting started. However, this time I managed to unclip and stop my fall before hitting the ground. That and a 25 mile training ride in Central Park made it a good biking day.
Finally, I am almost at my goal in terms of my fundraising. There is still time for those you who have not donated yet. Please visit my web page at http://www.active.com/donate/tntnyc/herb and use the online donation form on the left. Your donations will help the leukemia and lymphoma society in their search for a cure as well as to fund the many patient care programs they run to help the patients and families who battle this disease. Thank you to everyone who has opened theirs hearts and wallets to contribute for this event.
Ahoy! Avast ye maties! Arrrrr! Me'n'these here scurvy scallywags drug our sorry keesters out t'th'ship'n'had us a grand great adventuaaarrr! Arrrrr! Me'n'th' crew seen a great grand sea beastie, th' mother of all whales, aye! Shiver me timbers, there be mermaids at Coney Island.
