Larry's Blog Pages

July 25, 2011

Quick Update

Hey Folks!

Sorry for being horrible at updating lately. Work, family and training are keeping me very busy these days so I have been a little distracted. Not to mention the tdf coverage I have been glued to...

I plan to write a report on my amazing experience at the Peterborough Half Ironman a few weekends ago with the Won with One program. So happy I accepted the challenge and had an opportunity to spend time with many awesome athletes.

Other aspects of training keeping me on the go are the miles required on the bike to get ready for a few longer cycling events (Tour de Terra Cotta and Centurion Canada) plus the usual running to stay ready for one or two more duathlons.

This season has not really lined up the way I expected and many of the races I thought I would be taking part in have changed or been dropped to allow for other weekend adventures. This being said, work has now asked me to travel to California the week of the Duathlon Provincial Championships.

I have been gearing up for this all summer thinking it would be my big "A" race of 2011. As I am also traveling the week before (Calgary) and racing a few weekends leading up to that date, I just cannot see how I am going to manage to enter that race without adding a lot of extra stress to several aspects of life. Also, coming back on the Red Eye from the West Coast always kills my body so I don't think I will be in great form for a Saturday race. I hate to walk away from this race but it may be the best for many reasons. Stay tuned...

Talk soon,
Larry

July 8, 2011

Peterborough Race Weekend - Preview

Well, it is here and I am really excited about the race this weekend with Brian Cowie. I have had the amazing opportunity to hang out with Brian for the past few weeks as his hotel is very close to my house and work area in Mississauga.

Brian was in town early for the Canadian Cycling Championships where he and his pilot, Ed Veal, captured 3rd in the ITT (even after mechanical problems) and 2nd in the Road Race.

This week, we were able to take out the tandem bike for a tour so I could get used to the unique characteristics of the ride. It wasn't quite as bad as I feared and we had a fun morning booting around the outskirts of Mississauga. We also got out for lunch and some other bonding time so I think we will have a solid race now that we have been able to meet in advance of the event. Brian is very easy going and is not putting any pressure on the race so this will help keep the atmosphere calm come Sunday morning.

As the Peterborough race weekend (Sprint and Half) will be a large gathering for the Won with One program, we are heading up Saturday afternoon to meet the rest of the group and pick up our race kits as a team. This should be a fantastic chance to get to know a bunch of the athletes and guides in the program so I am looking forward to the weekend.

Coming out of this opportunity, I have stepped back and reconsidered my stance on swimming. Sure, I may not love crowded swims at restricted times but I did not mind the open water aspect of the sport. I put way too much pressure on my training in year one and set myself up for failure. 100% my fault.

I am now going back to the drawing board and going to give triathlon another go and ease my way into the competition. I might not be ready this season but in 2012 I will probably enjoy a mix of my favourite duathlons and triathlons.

For triathlons, I will get away from unrealistic expectations and will not walk away from a race disappointed in my results. It has to be a learning experience and I now know it is going to take some time. There are too many neat races out there for the triathletes and I would love to get involved. This may eventually lead up to the iron distance in a few years which I still have on my "To Do" list.

Other than this, not too much is new. I have been training very diligently of late and I think things are coming along very nicely. Indications from my cycling rides are that I am getting stronger and my running is slowly improving as we jack up the track work now that the outside sessions are bearable. Although, my treadmill training was really solid this winter, I finally realized that you cannot totally replace the track with a machine so I had to toughen up again in the elements!

To learn more about these great athletes and the program...

http://wonwithone.com/one/index.php

http://briancowieparalympian.blogspot.com/

http://swimbikerunryan.blogspot.com/