April 2013 updates

I have been deficient in updating the blog this month, here is what I remember of April 2013.

Ran a 10k run with Junior while Bri ran and won the 5k.

Got 4th at a sprint triathlon while Bri and Junior cheered.  No pictures.

Went to the beach to hang out with my Sis, Mom, Bro in law and their kids for 3 nights. Weather was not beach conducive but we had fun.

Did a fun group workout with our gang.

Rode the merry go round to finish the day!

3 generations

My Dad was in town for a visit over the weekend and got to spend some quality time with his Grandson.  We started out the weekend with a nice dinner at Tribeca Tavern.

On Saturday, Dad and I went to a Masters swim meet at Triangle Aquatic Center.  He and my Mom did the whole swim team parent thing when I was growing up.  The last pool swim meet he saw me swim in was in 1990 or so during college. Memory lane.

Fortunately as an adult you can just do a couple events and then go home, and the coach won't give you a hard time about swimming every event possible.   No finals. No 3 day meets.  No mas.

I started out with the 100 yard butterfly.  I don't practice starts, turns, or really much in the way of sprint swimming these days, but went for broke anyway.  The last 15 yards were not very graceful but I hit the wall in 58.93, which earns me the dubious title of 100 yard fly Master state champion in the 40-44 age group. :)

After a lot of cooling down and then rewarming up, it was time for the 50 yard free.  Not my strongest event, but it is fun because it is so short.  25.20, 2nd place in the age group.

I don't have much in the way of recent times to compare these times to - last year I did 59 something in the fly after swimming a couple events prior, and I almost never swim 50 free.  My best were ~54.0 and 23.0 ish in 1989/1990. :P

So really, I am really happy with these times since I swim literally 10x less than I did then!

I was signed up for 2 more events, but decided to get home to help Bri prepare for our Masters swim team party.  We would be awarding out the prestigious Pullup Challenge awards as well.

None of the award winners showed up, so next year we will be handing out very inexpensive certificates of awesomeness instead.

On Sunday, Junior, Senior and I went shopping and had a nice breakfast and then a nap while Bri earned her stripes down at the White Lake Sprint. The water was hysterically cold but she decided to tough it out.

Bri took 2nd overall by just 10 seconds to OSB athlete Mary R, who had her first overall win of her triathlon career.  You can read Bri's 2013 White Lake Race Report here.

 

Mary for the win

 

Bri close behind

 They actually hate each other

Sporting the latest in OSB athletic wear

now on sale at www.osbmultisport.com

 
Junior Awesome and I couldn't wait for Mom to get home.

boys weekend

Last weekend Bri caught the lunchtime train to Charlotte on Saturday for an evening with her girlfriends.  That meant Junior and I had the house to ourselves!  He is 15+ months now and can be a lot of fun.  There is still work involved as all you parents know, but apparently this age is great.  I will report on the terrible twos when we get there.

Bri asked me to send her lots of pictures, so here they are for you to also enjoy.

We started our adventure with a 40 minute run.  Not pictured but use your imagination.

Then we took a 2 hour nap.  Also, not pictured.

Then we wondered where our Momma went.  This picture is not actually from the weekend but just a couple days prior.  I am using creative license here people.

We are always guarded by the Loyal Tassie

After that we had a snack (not pictured).  Then we played with pots and pans.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang

Then we tackled Daddy for the phone. 

 literally, a "snot nosed kid"

Then we went to the playground to burn off some more energy.

I used a tunnel like this to get out of Folsom State

 After that, it was dinner time at Ruckus Pizza!  Ruckus sells giant slices for $3.00 and they have a selection of fine quality ales.  It is a good deal.

 Picasso schmicasso

Then it was home for a bath.

 Nothing gets by Tassie

Oh no, a Code Brown!

 Re: chunks of poo. They did not tell me this in Parenting 101

After the Decontamination Squad helicoptered out, we successfully completed Mission: Bathtime.

I edited out his winkie

Then it was time for a story and go beddy by.

Did I every tell you the one about sophomore year at FSU?

About 12 hours later, we started again!  Nothing like some morning grub!

Not actual grubs

Then, we changed into our Superhero outfits and played some more.

 Does whatever a spider-baby can

 Walk softly and carry a big-ass stick yo

Our newest game: boat pillow jump

After this we had lunch and took another nap (not pictured).

 

Then we heard the 3:00 train sounding the horn! The tracks are not too far from our house so we really could hear the train that Bri came home on.

Then Mommy was home. I forgot to take a picture here but there was much joy, hand clapping, foot stomping, elated high pitched sounds, and smiling.  Junior was also happy to see her.

Also, on Saturday morning we did a super sprint triathlon. Bri beat me by two seconds.

Running a half-marathon with Junior

Over the weekend I took Junior to Umstead State Park to do a long run.  The original plan was to head out to watch the Tobacco road marathon / half-marathon, but we decided to let our toddler sleep in instead. I had given thought to running the half-marathon but decided against it since I wouldn't be setting any records and we can use the $ for diapers and day care these days.

We headed into the park and after a couple miles I felt decent.  Pushing the stroller is something you get used to.  It's not particularly hard but you have to let go of any illusion of running quickly. Boyo seems to enjoy it as he either just checks out the scenery or naps.  He has been running with us since three months old.

The park has about 20 miles of bridle trail & 10 miles of singletrack within and several options to make different courses.  I was planning to do an out and back on the flatter section of bridle trail, but then was struck with inspiration and decided to do the Turkey Creek loop.  This is a very hilly bridle trail section of the park and from where I started would turn the run into close to 14 miles.  Along the way I ran into one of my high school cross-country runners and he kept us company through the hills.  I have been working with this runner for 3+ years and it is great to guys and gals like him growing into outstanding young men and women.  I say it every year at the awards banquet, that the young people on our team gives me hope for the future. 

Anyway, the run went well and Junior and I finished in just a tad over two hours on a course with about 2,500 foot elevation gain, and a 25lb baby and a 20lb stroller.  I let him walk the last 1/2 mile to the car as a cool down.

No records were set but We'll count it as a win for the season.

We continued our quality time with lunch at Ruckus Pizza, a shopping trip to Target, and then a terrific post-long-run nap. :)

Cary classic duathlon 2013

Bri and I both raced in the short course Cary duathlon over the weekend.  It was 2.5 mile run - 17.5 mile bike - 2.5 mile run. 

 Here you can see we were very nervous.

I have been doing no run speedwork and limited amounts of tempo on both the bike and run, so was just looking to have a decent race and enjoy the sunny day.  Bri has been regular with harder run workouts so I knew she'd have my number on the runs.  I thought she would get enough space to hold me off overall.

It was chilly, about 40-45 degrees, but sunny, so not bad overall.  300 people showed up for both events including a number of OSB athletes.  First multisport race of the season is always good to work out the kinks.  I forgot what a transition is.

I ran conservatively on run 1, still paranoid about re-injuring my foot, but pace was right around 7 minute miles which is great for me.  Bri was closer to 6:20 pace there and had a big lead going into the bike.  Here I am slavering about catching her.

Notice the determination in my fierce stare.

I felt pretty good on the bike and did some mashing (big gear pushing), knowing it would cause me some pain on the 2nd run.  But, that is what early season races are for.  I caught several guys and 3-4 women that made it out onto the bike ahead of me.  Caught Bri around halfway through. 

On the 2nd run I fought of calf cramps and then gave it the old college try.  A couple young guys whizzed by me but otherwise I held my place.  Finished in 10th overall and 3rd Masters (40-44).  Bri made up 1+ minute on run #2 but it was not enough to take home the Gaal SmackTalk AeroHelmet of Awesomeness. 

Color coordination- all part of my strategy to confuse the competition

2nd overall female, not too shabby.

After the race I jetted home to relieve our babysitter who is willing to arrive early (thanks Rita!) as she had her own life to attend to, and then brought Junior Awesome back to the race site so he could play in the bouncy house.  He loved it.

 

Winter triathlon training camp 2013

In St. Pete Beach, Florida.  Good times.  This was our 9th winter/spring camp, we started in 2004 and missed 2006 due to world travels.

The goal is solid training and a good time in the sun. Mission accomplished.

We drove down and spent an evening with sis and bro-in law and Mom-in-law in Jacksonville, then dropped off Junior at my sister's for good times with his cousins and Gramma.  We'd like to bring him to camp but a 1 year old is a full time job and would be tough to pull off for a training camp.

day 0.1: arrive on Tuesday, beach run with Bri and Frank.  45 minutes easy, nice weather.  Dinner/social hour then bed time.

Day 1: Long ride: beach-Pinellas trail-downtown-beach.  58 or so miles, time is not fast but some lights, breaks, etc.

Bumped into 2nd time Mom and our old friend Christina

Afternoon swim at Northshore pool.

Dinner with father-in-law and his wife, check out dessert:

Day 2: St Pete Masters with Mary

long run at Al Lopez Park

open water swim on St Pete Beach

short run after that

Day 3: St Pete Masters with Mary

long ride on Suncoast Trail

Swim at Northshore pool

Day 4: Suncoast classic 10k

Swim at Northshore pool

Awfully windy ride into Fort Desoto with Kari, stuck at the bridge

Dinner at Gators on Treasure Island

late night solo venture to the Undertow Beach Bar

Day 5: Cold ride into Fort Desoto with Tracy

quick stop into Cigar City Brewery in Tampa

pack up
visit w Looneys

visit w Lowerys

Chic-Fil-A playtime and Cracker Barrel time out

Good times!

My training camp totals for the week (including the easy Tuesday evening run)
swim: 20,000 yards
bike: 155 miles
run: ~22 miles
Total time: ~19 hours