Building; with a purpose

At the start of any client relationship I also do a goal setting session. We talk about what they want to gain from the session, and I figure out if I can help them. With the Rutgers Tri Team, we did the same thing. The difference is that I read all of the on my own, time, as there are over 20 members on the team.
Everyone comes to triathlon for a different reason. Some as just a means of staying in shape. Some, because they have a friend or family member they wanted to show something. Some came to this class because the class they really wanted was sold out, and at the time we still had room.
Regardless of what that outward explanation is, each person come with the goal, to do and see through something they think is somewhat unattainable. Most of their friends and family thought they were 'crazy' upon registration. After, our first session or two, I'm sure some team members were in agreement, with those family members.
On Wednesday we had our first real testing session in the water. It was for me an absolutely incredible transformation. People who 4 weeks earlier had limited comfort in the water, swimming further, faster, and stronger, than before. Groups standing on the deck cheering and helping each other. When I included the word team in this posting, I really meant it.
Though, this is only viewed as a Recreation Class, the dedication, and determination of the participants, coupled with the unwavering support, continue to bring me back to that word.
We will purchase our own race jerseys, this season, to show, and maybe someone, somewhere, will take notice of what I witnessed, on the pool deck. A transformation of individuals into a team. People who now believe in themselves in way they did not before. It is truly awesome.

Lake Placid Training Camp June 26, 2009

Balance

So as a non-professional athlete, we have many things to consider in our lives that can and do affect our training. Recently I have decided to return to school and work on a Masters Degree, as I guess I felt I didn't have enough degrees on the wall. I was looking to grab a summer class, and realized how challenging it would/will be to get to class and train.
I obviously work full time, and coach, but then also try and keep my weekly training up around 16+ hours a week, as I have a number of 70.3's on my radar. Sometimes things have to give. One of the classes I'd like to register for meets 3 evenings a week. I teach spin the other two nights? How would I get to the track for example? I say this as I don't have an answer yet. I hope that the changing of the clocks next week, helps, because we'll have more daylight.

My racing season was to begin yesterday at E. Murray Todd 1/2 marathon, due to the snow and impending blizzard in the northeast, they canceled. Smart thing, but still a let down. The winter is always a challenge to train, as the darkness and cold often lead to the "blues". I can only hope the 6+ inches melts quickly.

The too funny day in the life. I was doing pull up in my house and as I was I knocked down some papers. Out from it fell a 2009 Michael Phelps Calendar. Just sort of made me laugh.

Rutgers Tri Club is grooving. We had another great guest speaker, and are in the process of ordering Race jersey's!

its been forever

So life has definitely caught up with me of late. Between work, taking classes, teaching and coaching, there has been little free time. Spring is approaching in the north east and it couldn't come soon enough. The blues of training indoor are soon to be forgotten.
the Rutgers Tri Club has been moving forward. The classes have been great, we've had some great guests come and assist, and the group has really begun to gel and train together on their own. I couldn't be more please with the overall progress.
I'm racing this weekend, though I make it clear, I am merely using the half as a training run. Should be great and I have a client doing the same, and I'm really quite excited to see how she has progressed. she has great passion and desire, but this will be her longest distance to date!

RU Tri - Day 1

So yesterday started the first day of a new experiment. I am coaching an intro to triathlon program through the Recreation Department at Rutgers University. The class sold out quickly, and there is a waiting list just as long as the number of participants. That is the most exciting part, the possibility of having two sections would be great for this.
We had 26 show up last night which was the most relaxed class we'll have. There was a great deal of getting to know each other, and some basic outlines of what we will do and what to expect.
I was encouraged that there was a great mix of people with some experience and some with none. It will make the class mess well, and allow mentoring to occur.

I have designed a program for them to train throughout the course of the week, and we will have one training session together, to focus on specifics and form. Many have expressed an interest in joining for other group related training, which I hope to encourage.

Next week is a swim focus, with a friend and swim coach coming to lend a hand, and give us some great drill to work on our form.

Football -
National letter of intent day yesterday, and despite some who backed out Rutgers still had its most highly touted class ever. Hopefully things can be built on. Lots of seniors to replace.

TV - I have been behind in all the shows, so I have no idea what happened on 90210 this week, and FNL is still tomorrow. Man I have way too much to do

Another Season

I refer to today as the anniversary of my 27th birthday. My way of fighting off the inevitable truth that time continues to pass, no matter what I try to do. Despite an early season sinus infection, things have really turned around favorably.

I have been training on my Power Cranks while on the Computrainer and can say I have really noticed improvement in power and efficiency, in my pedaling stroke. Another factor I really believe has been to cut back on Spin teaching. I went way over the top toward the end of last year, teaching up to 6 or 7 classes a week. It just never allow me the opportunity to get in the appropriate training for myself. Lesson learned. I will be teaching twice a week, for now, adding one occasion additional day with the start of the Rutgers Tri Team

I am really excited about the start of this, as I think it is long over due to expose a younger and younger group to this sport. The class sold out in a few hours, and there is a waiting list now!

My biggest move in training and middle finger to age has been my training with the Rutgers Swim Club. Another site not fully up and running yet is http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~dannypoo/rcs/ Having come from a non-swim background I have constantly been looking for a masters program in the area. RU had previously had one, but was not successful enough to keep. Most local programs do not have drop-in fees, so I'd need to join yet another gym, and I refuse to do that. This group is more focused on swim meets than would a typical masters, but swimming with people sometimes half my age has been awesome. I know the improvement will be there in the spring.



The other stuff: OK, how awesome has Friday Night Lights been? I'd say very. Tyra had an incredible campaign in her run for student government. Riggins, who now by my count is in his thrid senior season is now the man in the backfield and having fun with Minka who is one of the two or three most amazing actresses on TV now. Also a shout out to 90210, which for some reason has still kept my interest.

What ever happend to?

So after my recent trip, I came home and promptly got sick. thanks to all those on the plane who were coughing. My brother seems to watch only the History channel, so my tv time was limited, I was able to squeeze in Bowl games views.

So my brother and I get into conversations about beer of the past, things like Bud Dry, and every Ice beer that had come out like Ice House. While many of those are still on the market we realized the short lived New Coke, never did. How many we questioned were fired over that?

Which brings me to the real reason for writing which is Marisa Tomei. Always an actress who I admired, and one who will forever say "Like you blend" in that Brooklyn twang in My Cousin Vinny. Any way she had really fallen off the map, until the Wrestler came out. Now she is once again hearing Oscar Buzz. But the real excitement was her spot on Ellen.

Training has been off, due to illness, I just cannot seem to swim with a head cold. Don't forget to check up on AC's training