I thought I would post an update on the TIMEX/TRISTAR Showdown between myself and Carole Sharpless that was supposed to take place on the second Saturday of January. I figured that most people probably just thought I lost the swim race because I didn't write about it. Actually it was postponed by Princess Zeiger. I can call JZ a Princess because of the "takes one to know one" policy.
Anyway, Joanna scheduled some eye correction surgery and wasn't going to be able to swim for a few days, one of which would have been second Saturday in January. She wanted to TT a 1,500 with us as well and convinced us to switch the date. This clearly works to Carole's advantage because it just gives her more time to sharpen up the swim skills she has had all her life. Myself on the other hand will probably not benefit as much simply because my top end in swimming is not even close to where hers can be. I guess this just means that when I WIN it will be even more deserved!
Since the race has been postponed to the 31st JZ is going to get a little race of her own. Marky V (Markyv.com) challenged JZ to a different kind of 1,500 race. Their challenge is to see if JZ can beat him but she is allowed to swim on his feet. He gets to flip on the left side of the wall and she gets to flip in the right side of the wall unless she passes him and then it would switch. Mark is one of the fastest swimmers in the sport and JZ is one of the fastest ladies. It will be a good challenge.
Unfortunately for me, I just had a quick stint in the ER with a fever of 106. I got some strain of the flu and now have a ton of crap in my chest. I also seem to have busted a rib from all my coughing. Sleeping has been pure joy. I haven't been in the pool for over a week but that won't stop me. I am focusing on rest and recovery and if I can get my lungs clean by the 29th I am just gonna go for it! Sharpie has been out of town and hasn't had the comfort of our group to train so I am going to assume she slacked a bit. I mean, I did get a few texts asking if it was okay that she was at a Wendy's or something.
So there is the quick update. Hopefully we will all be ready to go ahead with this race. My next challenge is to JZ. I want to take her on in a 1,500. She has to swim and I get to use a buoy and paddles. For some reason my ability to swim with paddles makes me 5 times faster than without. It will still be hard to beat her though.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
What The Poop?
Well I am back in Boulder after 7 days with the folks. It was nice to see them and also watch their progress. My dad is training for Wildflower (they live on the course) and he has never done one. I was impressed that he came out and rode the entire long course loop. I was just happy to be riding outside!
Now that I am back in BOCO and the New Years Beer mile is over (I sucked) and JZ's New Years Party is done (I hid for a good while upstairs) it was time to get everything rolling again. Our Saturday morning swim group that I like to call "Saturday Morning Cartoons" was back in action. JZ had no problem dishing out a hard set that was supposed to help Carole and myself get ready for the Timex/Tristar Showdown. Which, by the way, seems to be growing with competitors. More on that later. Considering this was the WORST swim I have had in months I am very thankful for the "other" event that took place in the pool that crazy morning.
As I was walking on deck to the pool freezing my nuts off because someone stole my new swim parka, I saw Carole and JZ getting ready to jump in. I swim in the same lane with Carole and she was off before I could even say "hi" to her. That is odd as she never likes to start without the group. When I got in I kept noticing that she was standing up a lot and acting kinda weird. I didn't really think much of it because, well, we are all usually acting kinda weird. I figured Carole was probably getting ready to flash me or something! She tends to do that with me. Conversion tactics that don't work.
Anyway, about 300 into the warm up she stops at the wall and is laughing. I thought she swallowed a leaf or something. Looking back on all this I can't believe how clueless I was that something was up. I even noticed JZ stopping and laughing for a second. Normally she is buzzing away like a humming bird on the warm up trying to lap me on 200's and when stopped she is barking orders at us!
Soon enough I discovered what all the laughter was about. However, when it happened I didn't put 2+2 together. So, as I am swimming along I finally look down and notice that there is apparently a log of poop sitting at the bottom of our lane. I literally did a freaking double take, stopped and yelled to Carole and JZ that we had a log in the lane. Before I could hear Carole or JZ respond I went down to investigate how bad this was going to be.
Under water I didn't want to get too close to it but I had to make sure it was in fact a poop log. As I got closer it continued to pass the identity check. The only thing fishy about it was that it wasn't "glowing". You know what I mean, poop tends to have that halo around it that can look like an angora sweater. It looked dense and dark, divots and all.
When I came back up you would think I would say "We need to get out of the water!" But no, what do I say? "You guys have to come check out this poop log!" I was in disbelief that someone would crap in the Flatiron pool. And let me tell you, this one did not come from a kid. It was adult size.
Carole and Joanna were cracking up. I know they love poop humor just as much as I do but there were no signs of them freaking out. Carole then proceeds to tell me that it was in fact a potato, a black potato that she has been wanting to plant in my lane for about two weeks. How the potato was discovered is so funny to me and you can read that on sharpies blog (www.carole-sharpless.com) I have been laughing about that blog and the poop incident since it has happened. I would like to thank Carole for getting my abs back!
When Billy finally showed up we tried to pull the stunt on him but he was in such a mood from being up all night with his new puppy that nothing was going to make him laugh. Some lady showed up towards the end of our workout and almost jumped out of the water. Carole quickly told her what it was and she too started laughing. We laughed all the way to the hot tub and then realized that we had left the potato in the water. Did we go back and get it? Of course not! Kelly Reed just showed up to swim and we didn't want to deprive her of the joke. Plus, she was directly related to the potato.
Anyway, check out Carole's blog. She tells the story way better than I have. I will post in a few about the growth of the Timex/Tristar Showdown. Hopefully my horrific swim on Saturday is no indication of how I am going to swim in the Showdown. I have a HEAD SCRATCH to win!
Now that I am back in BOCO and the New Years Beer mile is over (I sucked) and JZ's New Years Party is done (I hid for a good while upstairs) it was time to get everything rolling again. Our Saturday morning swim group that I like to call "Saturday Morning Cartoons" was back in action. JZ had no problem dishing out a hard set that was supposed to help Carole and myself get ready for the Timex/Tristar Showdown. Which, by the way, seems to be growing with competitors. More on that later. Considering this was the WORST swim I have had in months I am very thankful for the "other" event that took place in the pool that crazy morning.
As I was walking on deck to the pool freezing my nuts off because someone stole my new swim parka, I saw Carole and JZ getting ready to jump in. I swim in the same lane with Carole and she was off before I could even say "hi" to her. That is odd as she never likes to start without the group. When I got in I kept noticing that she was standing up a lot and acting kinda weird. I didn't really think much of it because, well, we are all usually acting kinda weird. I figured Carole was probably getting ready to flash me or something! She tends to do that with me. Conversion tactics that don't work.
Anyway, about 300 into the warm up she stops at the wall and is laughing. I thought she swallowed a leaf or something. Looking back on all this I can't believe how clueless I was that something was up. I even noticed JZ stopping and laughing for a second. Normally she is buzzing away like a humming bird on the warm up trying to lap me on 200's and when stopped she is barking orders at us!
Soon enough I discovered what all the laughter was about. However, when it happened I didn't put 2+2 together. So, as I am swimming along I finally look down and notice that there is apparently a log of poop sitting at the bottom of our lane. I literally did a freaking double take, stopped and yelled to Carole and JZ that we had a log in the lane. Before I could hear Carole or JZ respond I went down to investigate how bad this was going to be.
Under water I didn't want to get too close to it but I had to make sure it was in fact a poop log. As I got closer it continued to pass the identity check. The only thing fishy about it was that it wasn't "glowing". You know what I mean, poop tends to have that halo around it that can look like an angora sweater. It looked dense and dark, divots and all.
When I came back up you would think I would say "We need to get out of the water!" But no, what do I say? "You guys have to come check out this poop log!" I was in disbelief that someone would crap in the Flatiron pool. And let me tell you, this one did not come from a kid. It was adult size.
Carole and Joanna were cracking up. I know they love poop humor just as much as I do but there were no signs of them freaking out. Carole then proceeds to tell me that it was in fact a potato, a black potato that she has been wanting to plant in my lane for about two weeks. How the potato was discovered is so funny to me and you can read that on sharpies blog (www.carole-sharpless.com) I have been laughing about that blog and the poop incident since it has happened. I would like to thank Carole for getting my abs back!
When Billy finally showed up we tried to pull the stunt on him but he was in such a mood from being up all night with his new puppy that nothing was going to make him laugh. Some lady showed up towards the end of our workout and almost jumped out of the water. Carole quickly told her what it was and she too started laughing. We laughed all the way to the hot tub and then realized that we had left the potato in the water. Did we go back and get it? Of course not! Kelly Reed just showed up to swim and we didn't want to deprive her of the joke. Plus, she was directly related to the potato.
Anyway, check out Carole's blog. She tells the story way better than I have. I will post in a few about the growth of the Timex/Tristar Showdown. Hopefully my horrific swim on Saturday is no indication of how I am going to swim in the Showdown. I have a HEAD SCRATCH to win!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)