Friday, July 31, 2009

shore vacation

We have had a nice time here at the shore in New Jersey. It gets crowded at times but there is always something fun to do. I got in some fun surf sessions, two nice bike rides, 4 or 5 runs, and we visited several of my old haunts - The Anchorage, Tuckahoe Inn, Maynard's (Bri was impressed), Bikini Beach Bar, the Inlet (formerly the Waterfront), and the Green something in Margate.

We also got to see some of the Monmouth county beach area with our buds Jamie and Judy in Ocean Grove, which is a nice vacation spot as well.

We had planned to watch the Dutch Hoffmann Lifeguard races in Wildwood tonight, but they were cancelled because of a big storm rolling in from the south. Bri got to see a bit of the Wildwood boardwalk, which is always a sight.

Tomorrow we'll race in a local sprint triathlon in Brigantine, then hang out with some of my old buddies at the Trump Marina.

I would post pictures, but that takes time and I'm on vacation.

Monday, July 27, 2009

relaxing on the shore

We are here in Ocean City, relaxing in our efficiency unit on the bayfront. It is a pleasant morning and evening view. Today we're off to ride our bikes to Cape May, the southernmost town in NJ. It is a straight shot down the beach. Yesterday was date night - we went to see Harry Potter, then had dinner at the bar at one of the local watering holes. Not sure where I will take my lovely bride tonight. Maybe the casinos.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

goin to jersey



Tomorrow we are off for a week long vacation in and around Ocean City, New Jersey. I have a tentative itinerary planned for Bri and I;

Friday - drive and crash at a friend's house; couple of beers somewhere.

Saturday - Ocean City boardwalk run, ocean swim; check into condo, Night in Venice Boat Parade (we can watch it from our condo on the bay)

Sunday - boardwalk run, surf / beach day and quiet dinner at the Waterfront in Somers Point

Monday - bike ride to Cape May, lunch, and return (60 miles total)

Tuesday - ocean swim, boardwalk run, visit friends in N Jersey, watch a lifeguard competition


Wednesday - bike ride, breakfast on Ocean City boardwalk, dinner in Stone Harbor (another South Jersey vacation spot)

Thursday - casino night in Atlantic City

Friday - goof around Ocean City, watch a lifeguard competition in Wildwood


Saturday - Brigantine island triathlon and hang out at Trump Marina

Sunday - ocean swim and drive home

Should be fun and Bri will get to see some of the summer Shore life sans old drunk dirty guys.

Friday, July 17, 2009

rest of the season

We are keeping the race schedule pretty light, which is fine with me.

August 1 - Brigantine Island Tri
August 22 - Lake Norman Tri
August 30 - The Nuclear Swim
September 12 - Pier to Pier swim
September 13 - Magnificent Mile Run
September 19 - Wilmington YMCA Triathlon

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Upcoming events update

More promotional stuff for you to consider:

Open Water Clinic July 19 at Jordan Lake.

Our next Powerstroke swim clinic is scheduled for August 15 here in Cary.

We are running a weekend training camp August 28-30 here in the Triangle area.

The Nuclear Swim at Harris Lake on August 30 (camp finishes with this).

In other news:
I rode with the SAS group and got dropped about halfway through, it is time for me to add back in a few 50 mile weekend rides.

Bri and I are both registered for the Brigantine Island triathlon on August 1. I am looking forward to a week on the beach in South Jersey.

3 more EMT classes and then I am done except for the state and national exam.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Triangle Tri & weekly training

This week's training:
swim 8,000 meters -2.5 hours
run 21 miles -3.2 hours
bike 60 miles - 3 hours
kung fu 2 hours

It was a low week for cycling just due to time issues throughout the week. This morning at the Triangle Triathlon I decided to ride my bike to the race for a few extra miles - immediately I could tell that they were not feeling up to snuff and it would be a tough day on the course (dancing at a wedding and martial arts the day before will do that to you). I had a great swim and put 30+ seconds into everyone, but it was all backwards from there and finished 8-9 minutes down on the overall winner.

The new venue is great and if you are ever in the area you should check this race out.

The next race I am targeting is the Brigantine Island triathlon in New Jersey, just north of Atlantic City. This was probably the 4th or 5th triathlon I competed in back in 1993 so it will be good to revisit.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Kung Fu update

Last year I did a self-actualization survey, basically where you look at where you are and where you want to go in life - what do you want to accomplish or do to bring meaning and joy into your world? I wrote down a list of about ten things I'd like to accomplish in life that would bring me purpose and meaning.

One of the items on my list was to get really good at a martial art. To get good at one of these, you have to start at ground level and work your way up, and it doesn't happen very quickly. I would have studied a Japanese art called Shorinji Kempo, but there is no school for that here in Raleigh. But I did find a really good Shaolin Kung Fu instructor just down the road from my house, so in October of last year I started studying Kung Fu at the Kung Fu Center with Master Chen.

He is a really good teacher and I have been enjoying the classes. Bri remembers that I used to always talk about going to the Wah Lum school in Orlando (a big temple type place), but I never got around to it for one reason or another. I've missed a week here and there due to other committments or simple fatigue from every day life, but have stuck with it. My classmates are all at least 15 years younger than me, in some cases 28 years younger than me. But that is OK. We are all grasshoppers at one thing or another in time.

Today I passed the Copper Eagle test and moved up to Silver Eagle. We don't have a belt system, but animals and colors - copper silver gold / eagle tiger dragon. Copper Eagle - beginner, Gold Dragon - expert.



It's never to late to learn a new skill.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

busy times

I have been running on all cylinders for the past few weeks, between the coaching, the regular training sessions with my athletes, the EMT course, and travel to/from a handful of races. I prefer this sort of life over sitting in a chair and staring at a wall for hours at a time.

This Friday my sister in law Shana and her fellow Scott are getting hitched, so that will be a grand affair.

On Saturday, I will officially test out of the Copper Eagle level at Kung Fu and, if I pass, move to Silver Eagle. This means I can totally kick ass as long as the opponent is tied to a chair and is no older than 10.

On Sunday Bri and I are racing the Triangle Triathlon. It is being held at a new venue this year and virtually all my competitors have gone out to review the course. I will be checking it out on Sunday morning.

I would make a smart aleck remark but I am all tapped out at the moment.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Nutty

Sarah Palin is certifiably koo koo! I am going to run for Governor of Alaska, it seems like any buffoon with a bad attitude and a few shotguns can handle that job.

We posted a new running drills video on youtube.

Happy 4th of July