Thirteen Down - Seven Weeks to Go!

Week thirteen of my 20 week Ironman training plan started on September 11th with no training.  It's supposed to be an off day and I took it.

On Monday I got in 2 hours of riding.  The shorter hours of daylight are starting to take hold.  I got home just before dark.

On Tuesday I swam 2.4 miles in the lake.  I wore my wetsuit for the first time this season on a training swim.  After about 30 minutes in the water everything found its place and I just eased into each stroke.  I realized how much effort sighting can take too.  I'll have to work on that.  I also went for an 11 mile run.  I ran my usual route around the lake hugging the shoulder so I don't get hit by a car.  I also pulled down a few "carpet cleaning" signs off power poles.  I hate litter!

On Wednesday Chip, Richard and I swam in Lake Peachtree.  Richard and I swam 2.4 miles from Drake Field to the dam and back.  Chip swam laps back and forth to a dock near Drake Field.  Then we rode our bikes 25 miles through Peachtree City.  I had a flat.  This is my third flat this year.  The cause was a tiny piece of metal that worked its way through my tire.  I fixed my flat using my CO2 inflator for the first time.  It worked like a champ with step-by-step instructions coming from Richard and Chip.

On Thursday I had to get ready for an evening out so I just ran 10K close to the house.  Our evening out included another trip to The Shed at Glenwood restaurant.  My wife Susan and our friends Susan and Jim liked it so much when we ate there on Sunday we had to go back.  They were having a dinner and New Zealand wine pairing event with Glenn Cunningham, Director of New Zealand wines for Constellation.

Once again I was unprepared and had to use someone's cell phone to take a few pictures.  I set my camera and cell phone by the door so I wouldn't forget them when Susan and I left the house.  We left the house through a different door so, I was without both.

Nobilo Icon New Zealand wine

The dining room at The Shed at Glenwood

The wine pairing event was well attended.  I took the above picture just after we arrived.  It was still early!

Glenn Cunningham, Jim, Susan, and Susan (l-r)

You can just see my buddy Rudy on the far left in the picture above.  Rudy is a math professor at Morehouse College.  He sat beside me during the dinner.  Together (between courses) we solved many of the mathematical problems that have puzzled society.  The menu for the event is listed below.

Reception Course
Nobilo Icon, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ
Fried Peppadew Pepper, Local Goat Cheese
Polenta Cake, Tomato Confit, Fontina
Foie Gras Club Sandwich

1st Course
Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay, Marlborough, NZ
Late Summer Salad, Deviled Bantam Eggs

2nd Course
Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir, Marlborough, NZ
Silver Queen Corn Risotto, Chanterelles, Maize Mushrooms

3rd Course
Kim Crawford Small Parcel Rise & Shine Pinot Noir, Central Otago, NZ
New Zealand Lamb Porterhouse, Field Pea Ragout

4th Course
Jackson Triggs Proprietors Reserve Vidal Ice Wine, Niagra Peninsula, Canada
Vanilla Panna Cotta, Georgia Peach
Pear & Pecan Streusel

It was really good!

On Friday Chip, Richard and I rode the Silver Comet Trail all the way from the Mavell Road trail head to Cedartown.  We totalled 101.85 miles on the bike in 5 hours and 30 minutes followed by a 30 minute run brick.  That was the furthest I've been on the SCT.  Beyond Rockmart the trail has a lot more turns, and street and railroad track crossings which is not ideal for tri bikes.  The train depot at Cedartown is nice but the area leading to the depot leaves something to be desired.  During our ride we saw a wild turkey, a snake and a big fat ground hog.  The SCT wasn't as busy as is it has been in the past.  The weather was great.  I was cold before we started so I put a cloth car chamois inside the front of my jersey to stay warm.  I left it there all day, except on the run.  The temperature never rose above the mid-70's.

Me, Richard and Chip at the start of our ride on the Silver Comet Trail

Chip and Richard at the depot in Cedartown

Me and Richard (Thing 1 and 2)

The back side of the Cedartown sign at the depot

The front side of the Cedartown sign at the depot

The groundhog hiding behind a log after he (or she) scurried up the hill

A closer view of the groundhog

On Saturday Susan and I rode our bikes 10 miles in the neighborhood.

A summary of my week's training is as follows.  My plan called for me to put in a total of 19 hours and 25 minutes of exercise.  Until this week the most I'd actually trained in one week was 13 hours and 38 minutes.  That was during week eleven.  I was supposed to train for 15 hours that week.  Last week was supposed to be 18 hours and 20 minutes but I wasn't even in the same ballpark.  This week has been much better.  I swam 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 44 minutes, rode 186 miles in 10 hours and 43 minutes, and ran 21 miles in 2 hours and 52 minutes.  My total time dedicated to getting ready for Ironman Florida this week is 16 hours and 20 minutes.

Thanks for reading.