Operation Ironman

Isso e Louco!

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:54:00 +0000

Bom dia,
One of the few benefits about travel for work is the opportunity to learn about different cultures and places. One of the best ways of doing this is to actually interact directly with the natives instead of hiding behind a guide or person to translate for you. Unfortunatly in many places where the language is so different from our own we have little choice.

I however was blessed to be born a Cuban, and as such was raised speaking Spanish. So when I travelled to Chile, for me it was an opportunity to get to practice my spanish further, and perhaps improve it a little, since I had most likely become a bit rusty in the land of "El Gringo".

Now here in Brazil, Portuguese is the main language..not Spanish. However, I have discoverred that both languages are fairly similar. In fact I can fairly easily read portuguese if not speak it. Also if people spoke to me slowly I could even understand them...mostly. Vice Versa as well. This was because the spelling and pronounciations were slightly different but the base was almost the same. For example I noticed that if a word would be spelled with a "ue" in spanish, it was spelled with an "O" in portuguese. An example is the word door in spanish "Puerta" is spelled "Porta" in portuguese.

These rules do not always apply, nor is it always that simple, but generally I have found the words are similar or even the same, simply pronounced differently. So I bought myself a English-Portuguese dictionary, and set out to learn by speaking to people around the office here when I have a chance. I found it helps to have silly phrases all set out Like my favorite to use that seems to get people giggling is "Isso e Louco!" ( Thats crazy!)

In fact that phrase proved to be a real ice breaker with the staff of folks that sit around me here in Sao Paolo. Since being here I am sitting in the middle of a cube farm surrounded by legal clerks and para legal secretary types. It seemed everyone stayed to themselves or on their own. Never saying hi or anything. I then found out from my local coworker who speaks excellent English, that they are shy because they are nervous about having to speak English and they cant, although they are trying to learn. So they simply avoid me.

So I said "well introduce me", because I wanted to learn to speak Portuguese and who better than people who do not and cannot speak to me otherwise. So He popped up and said something that was like "Hey everyone this is Javier and he asked me why no one speaks to him?, I said because they are shy" All of the sudden there was all of this chatter around me and one or two the women came up to him and said something like "I will kill you", but came over and introduced themselves and then laughed at themselves when they screwed up the "English" introduction. I then informed them I was trying to learn to speak portuguese, and showed them my cheat sheet that I had downloaded from the internet. The one thing I had written on top by hand was the translation "Isso e Louco" and they saw this and started to laugh, in fact this sheet made its rounds all over the floor. It was kind of funny. I had all of these people coming over to me asking for me to send them the link for this site.

It was like a language explosion had happened. It turns out that alot of them were trying to learn English and so they were eager to try and use it but felt intimidated. So it helped that I looked like a fool trying to speak portuguese ( well they THINK its because of that ;) because they were now not so ashamed or fearfull of goofing themselves, since I beat them to it. Now, days after I still hear people in the distance saying in broken English "I am learning English" and its funny. My local coworker thinks it quite funny. Because nobody ever tries to speak to him or ask him questions, now all of the sudden everyone around here is All over this English language thing. I also have a large number of folks that try to speak with, and who are kind enough to show me the correct way to say something. Luiz my local coworker said that he has heard people saying that now they have a friend from America who they can talk to in English. Its funny. Its been fun I have to say, and its made this chore of working away from home a little more bearable.

Brazil day 3-4-5-6

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:23:00 +0000

I just worked. Ate. and managed an hour workout between that and sleep. Not much else.

Day 2- Brazil

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:45:00 +0000

5AM up and at em. I was up super early even for me. I had set the alarm for 6AM but I was already up at 4:30. At 5 Decided to take advantage and do an even earlier workout. Good thing. I did not reset my phone which I use as an alarm to the different time zone. If I had relied on it I would have been 3 hours late!

Anyhow this morning did:

45 minutes stationary bike, easy level2 with a 90 RPM average

2X 30 crunches, 30 Flutter Kicks, 30 V-crunch, 1 minute planks

After Work

Did a short workout:

5 minutes stretching
15 Minutes core
10 Minutes stretching

The BB-t-BB Challenge! GRRRRRR

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:01:00 +0000

OK so to make the best of my time in prison....errr....Sao Paolo Brazil. I have decided this is teh absolutly BEST time to start working to get back in shape. In the past I had slowly started to do some runs and time on the trainer but due to travel and work stress and shortened time at home meaning less time to do all the chores and home related improvements. It has been hard. But now the situation has changes slightly.

1) the Bathroom remodel is Finished! So now I have little major renovations to make for another few months.

2) I am in Brazil with nothing to do except work, eat, sleep and attempt to watch TV. The TV part is where I think I can fit in a regular waorkout or 2. So with little distratctions once I leave work I can definitly put in an hour or 2 a day.

So As extra incentive I bet my wife that I would lose 5 lbs by the time I return from Brazil. If I do not make the weight, I have to do all the laundry for a week, AND I will clean teh bathrooms when I return (a task I find MOST unappealing).

Anyhow, to make this more inspiring and solid I have given this mission a name: The Brazil Back to Basics Blowout! AKA BB-t-BB

So to kick off the BB-t-BB I decided to go to the hotel gym. When I got there my immediat feeling was WOW! what a nice gym! It had a small pool, a separate weight room, and separate room with the treadmills and stationary bikes. The weight room seemed impressive, with I think 20 differet stations with a combo of freeweights and machines.

However, as with any other pseudo luxury hotel, thats where teh WOW factor ends at a distant look. I was going to use the treadmill for a 30 minute run, there were 5 treadmills. All of them were turned off. So I went to turn on teh first one, turned the on switch.....Nothing. Went to the next one again turned it on, Hey teh lights came on alright! But when I pushed the speed button nothing happenned. The treadmill was a few years old from teh looks of it and the buttons were worn down from years of pushing on it. So I pushed the button hard....Nothing. OK so now I went to the next one, going through the routine again and this time the thing worked. So out of 5 treadmills 2 do not work. As I looked closer at the other machines they all looked the same ... old and unmaintained.

That is what my definition of a Pseudo luxury hotel is. Its sort of like the original intent for the hotel was to be a super luxury hotel, so the physical structure of the hotel is modern and nice looking, but as you get closer you see the wear marks that result from lack of proper maintenance. Thats what the "Estanplaza Berrini" Hotel is like. Excellent intents...10 years ago. But lack of followup. Still an OK place to stay but so far do not expect too much from it. But thats OK so long as they keep the rooms clean, which it appears they do.

ANyhow I managed to have a great workout. Ran 30 minutes at a 10K pace, followed it with a 20 minute core workout.

One more time

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:14:00 +0000

Today I am off to Sao Paolo Brazil for two weeks. To be honest I hate it. Not just because I hate having to be away from home yet again. But Because whenever I go to Sao Paolo I feel like a prisoner. Crime is just sooo extensive there that it is strongly warned NOT to go out alone unless using a hotel or office taxi etc. Last time I was there there was a Curfew in effect due to riots going on.

So to make it a little more palatable I have set a goal for myself. Lose 5 of the 10 pounds I have gained since my injury, and to start back onto my training program. No excuses, there is little else I can do there other than go to the hotel gym.

Motivation

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:20:00 +0000

A motivational Video from NAS Sports

http://tinyurl.com/5lsecd

I think I'll go running now.

Home

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:04:00 +0000

For a week at least, before having to pull up anchor again and head down to Sao Paolo, Brazil for a week. There is allot to do here and with only a week, its all compressed. That is the ultimate trouble with work travel, it truly does get in the way of everything related to life.

So though I would love to be down in NYC today to support the Race With Purpose NYC marathoners, I have to be here to help out Retno with all the stuff that has not been done when I was away in Chile, and will be away in Sao Paolo.

Anyhow its a great day for a run so maybe in honor of the NYC folks I'll take the dogs out for a run.

Last day in Chile

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Tommorow, Chile I like you lots as a country to come and visit, But I wanna be home!

Friday is a national Holiday here which we were not aware of when originally planning so that means get to go home a day early. Never looked so forward to that. I am actually packing my bags tonight ( or shall I say throwing the dirty clothes into the suitcase :)

Sunday in Chile

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:59:00 +0000

Well I am sitting in the Lobby of the Hotel, in a little section that has a small bar ( serving only non-alchoholic drinks thanks to elections) typing away at the keyboard. I started my day with work that has to get done being that I will not have time tommorow. I spent about 2-3 hours on that. Then I decided to do a nice workout: 40 minutes on the stationary bike (ave HR 129, Max HR 144); After I went for a 3 mile run (3.16 miles to be exact, ave HR 156, max HR 173) The run was seemingly a very slow pace, but the fact wass I stopped alot since part of the run was through a sculpture park that was previously closed.

Now I am back online trying to catch up on work that seems to just creep up on me. Right now I am short one staff person at work so while I am in Chile manageing the work being done here I am also trying to finish up work that the previous occupant of the now empty position.

I read somewhere that you can tell the quality of life a population has by the amount of parks and the number of people using them. I am looking out the hotel window as I sit here working; looking at the locals playing in the park along the River. What does that say about me I wonder?

Slow long days

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:28:00 +0000

The weather in Santiago has been spectacular. Not that I have had the chance to enjoy it since I have been cooped up in the office. Been some VERY long days here. Business travel is not all it sounds like it could be. Travel to exotic locations and sit in an office to leave after dark to a restaurant. Thats it.

Now this weekend figured to see do some sightseeing. It was OK but it was cloudy and drizzly at times. NOT the awesome weather we have had. Tommorow(Sunday) I will have half day off to veg out and relax. The other part I will be working on some memo's. FUN

Travelling for bussiness just sucks.

Travel like crazy!

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:42:00 +0000

OK so the next six weeks I will pay for the arrangements I had made earlier in the year. I had rescheduled business travel so I could train for Ironman. Of course The Ironman did not happen thanks to my timely collarbone breakage.

So Now I pay the tax man. I have to leave today for 2 weeks in Chile, come back for one week to change clothes say "Hi" to my wife and dogs( also probably throw in a paint job in the house or some other repair work that will no doubt come up), and then I leave for Sao Paolo Brazil for another two weeks.

International man. Thats me :) One benefit tho is I have racked up enough frequent flier miles to buy my folks tickets to come visit me for Christmas! Which I think is really cool!

In a way this is the best time time to do this. I cant really train yet so it disrupts nothing.

Oh well, none the less I hate travel, but its just part of my life right now. So I make the best of it. I will get a chance to revisit some spots I saw the last time.

I may just contact my pals at www.labicicletaverde.com and see about taking a tour with them. I cant really get into the hard stuff I did last year, but the tour is fairly tame since its for tourists. I should be fine doing that.

My Life

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +0000

The 5 K run

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:33:00 +0000

Well as part of the World Wide Festival of races I did a 5 K run at the Rockies. It was my return to running of sorts so I did not want to push it. I was joined Jackie at the Rockies, who was there with other Rockies regulars like Irwin and some of the Westchester Tri folks.

It was a beautiful day, and I was joined by Simba. Who as usual did awesome. My results were 31:04. Pretty slow for me. But plenty fine since I was just enjoying a pain free run :)

The Sleepy Hollow High Parking lot where just about All Rockies runs start from

Me and Simba on a Sunny day

Simba was wearing her race attitude and gear!

Yes she is pulling me along. a 9 min pace just won't do

The Start of the Rockies trail

Kick the Couch

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:46:00 +0000

For some reason I woke up feeling a need to workout today. I jumped on the Bike downstairs for 30 minutes ( easy) and felt great! Saw that several of my Peeps had signed up for an online event called the World Wide Festival of races which is a online race where you either register for a real race or do the distance on your own and report the results. This was right up my alley since I cannot really race and have to take it easy. But I have and can run 30 minutes in a slow and controlled manner. So this seemed perfect! I am doing it with Simba. here is my Bib:

Slow but steady

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:54:00 +0000

OK so I, after some research, have found a few useful exercises I can do without ruining my collarbone or back. I can do some core work, not all not because of my shoulder but because of my back. BUT did do leg raises and strangely enough I was able to do planks. I started off slowly yesterday just to get a feel for it and see if it aggravated anything. Literally 15 second efforts. No negative effects! So Today I will continue with 15 seconds but add more reps. So I figure I can slowly work that up as well as scissor kicks. I know I can do the stationary bike so long as I am sitting up ( cant bend forward due to back) But it still works the legs.

My doc did say I could begin to do light strength work on the arms also, like use a 5 lb dumbbell do do curls and such. He emphasized it was just to keep muscle tone not to build strength.

So I think I can slowly start to work back into these, over time. Looking forward to getting going, but right now patience is more important. I can easily screw up the recovery I have had thus far. So I will take it lightly. This is the one reason I will not try the light run strategy the doc said I could do, because the last time i tried it, after 20 minutes I was zoning out as I do when running and found my self taking off when I felt good. that is until my collarbone started to hurt from the bouncling around. The temptation to "Book" is just too strong.

Frustration

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:02:00 +0000

This morning I woke up feeling incredibly frustrated and bummed that my injuries just keep piling up and I am just starting to feel well....OLD. Due to them I am unable to do things that I normally do. The inability to get things done is just getting me down.

However, this morning I woke up to this scene below and realized that Marmalade(my cat) was having a worse day ;)

As Marmalade and I have discovered, life just has a way of coming between us and our full potential.

The kind of cycling that make your heart jump

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:21:00 +0000

Pain... a love/hate relationship...mostly Hate

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:18:00 +0000

Well the back is better, still sensitive to the touch, in fact its bruised. I think thats odd since I did not hit anything but I guess its possible I burst some blood vessels back there. Still feel pain when bending over. But at least i'm mobile and do not feel pain when walking like I did on Sunday. Medicine is a wonderful thing. One of the medicines is a muscle relaxant. I wonder if a joint would help? hehe anything in the name of science!

This much I know, I will never make fun of people that are holding their backs ever again!

Today

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:59:00 +0000

OK so my back is sore today not as bad as it was yesterday. But I have to say this getting old SUCKS! Still on limited activities for today. Saw a doctor yesterday and he told me I had a sprained back. This happened because I was trying to avoid putting any weight on my right collarbone when lifting an oddly shaped box. It was no more than 20 lbs but it was enough.

The doc said that my back was probably already a bit off kilter due to the fact that I have been trying to compensate for over 2 months with out using the right arm for anything which made sense. Oh well I have been resting up anyhow. But ths incident sure makes me miss my workouts even more.

NOTE TO SELF: Focus on Core workouts in the prep phase

Insult to Injury!

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:04:00 +0000

Now for teh first time in my life, I have lower back pain! It looks like I somehow strained my lower back. Dont ask me how, but the nurse at the 24 hour Unutedhealthcare hot-line thinks it may have something to do with the broken collarbone. meaning that I compansate for not being able to use my right arm. Thus putting more strain on other parts of my body.

GREAT!

SO now I am almost immobile from the pain that just started this morning, when I lifted a small box!

Today is My Birthday!!

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:07:00 +0000

Buy me something!

09 Training notes and planning

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:13:00 +0000

Ok so here I am now trying to get excited about training for 09 and IM. I say "trying" but in reality its hard for me to get crazy excited, because I still cannot do any serious workouts. At least not till the end of October.

Not that that is such a hindrance considering I have been saddled with two overseas business trips in late October and mid November. Chile in end of October for 2 Weeks, Brazil Mid November also for 2 weeks.

SO Training really cannot get started anyhow. So my plan is to Use Nov and early December as an Anatomical adaptation phase. Light workouts to basically get into the swing of things again. Start to develop a routine again and get used to following it.

I have read Going Long to get a better background on what my training is supposed to look like:

This was purely for information purposes, because I decided to go ahead with continuing using John Hirsch as my coach (THE CREW!!). Though I am using a coach, I think its always good to know whats going on. I am happy to say that John's advice has always been spot on and everything he has told me in the past agrees with the advice of several other well known coaches like Joe Friel and Matt Fitzgerald.

Also with my varied schedule and regular changes that I need to make due to frequent business travel, its good for me to know what type of workouts I should be doing at what point, so that I can make a change when traveling if needed.

Anyhow below are some notes I took about the various training periods.

Prep Period

Generally 4-12 weeks long which leaves me much flexibility to travel and recover from my broken collarbone and travel for business.

The main objective is to slowly bring the body back to condition and adjust back to a regular training cycle. Additionally this is a good time to work on the basic skill sets ( cycling efficiency, swimming efficiency, running form).

Early in the prep period sessions should be short having come off a rest period. It’s a good time to incorporate cross training or non-triathlon specific skills that will still help build on your endurance base. The training intensity should be kept generally low, and add to your general fitness.

Training volume should be easy. Maybe 5 sessions in the week for the first 2-3 weeks.

After the 4th week, a baseline should be established for Threshold testing.

As the prep period nears its end, the volume should increase gradually to ensure a smooth transition into the Base period.

Base period

Generally 12 weeks

This is the most critical period of training for an Ironman distance race. By the end of this period the athlete should have all the endurance strength needed to complete the race. It is during this period that the athlete develops the endurance, force and muscular endurance that will be further developed during the Build period. Often however, especially for novices a race can be very successful with only a Base period completed since at this point the athlete should have the necessary endurance and strength.

Base period is often broken up into Base 1, Base 2, and Base 3

Base 1 ( 4 weeks) objectives are to build endurance and strength. Endurance workouts are longer. And there is a focus on improving technical skills

Base 2 (4 weeks) continues on the focus of endurance with increased work to build Muscular endurance. Thus addition of ME workouts are added. Endurance sessions get longer.

Care needs to be taken not to seek higher intensity workouts, that could result in Peaking too early

Base 3 (4 weeks)

Weekly volume reaches a peak here. With long endurance sessions and the addition of more ME intensity work. A C level race can be used for intensity at this time.

Build period

Generally 8 weeks

The early part of the build period is similar to the late base only with more volume. The objective of the build period is to prepare the athlete for the specific stresses that will be faced during the A race. Training on similar terrain and conditions.

The build period should include over distance training as well as race simulators. This is a good time to work on race strategy. Open water swims are good to add at this time if possible.

For my purposes I am throwing in Lots of planned century distance rides the race with purpose Bear Mountain Boondoggle and the Putnam purgatory ride come to mind. These are fancy named rides that me and friends have put together based on known routes but of course its just another ride if you don't give it a name! They are each 110 miles + Maybe I'll even throw in a 140+ miler.

My build will be starting with a half ironman such as the Endurasport half which is done in the well known Harriman state park usually in May( May 16 in 09). The bike is 4 loops of the famously challenging Harriman sprint course. GREAT hill training.

The Build will be ended with a race at Tupperlake which I do every year with the Race with purpose crew. Normally I do the HIM but in 09, I will do the Sprint so that come Sunday I can do the full 112 miles in Lake Placid, followed by a 10-15 mile run.

This should allow me to test out my race strategy. In the past on my HIM races I always have suffered cramping on the run. One of my goals is to avoid this since I cannot imaging running a marathon with that type of cramping. So I will be testing out whatever strategy I use on the Lake Placid course.

Peak period (Taper)

Generally 3 weeks

The objective here is to bring it all together and prepare the athlete to peak at race time. It is characterized with high intensity workouts, followed by good recovery periods. During the first two weeks of this period it makes sense to schedule breakthrough sessions or short race simulators, to maintain race level intensity, followed by thorough recovery. There should be 2 intensity sessions per week.

Race period( race week)

Only one goal here. Conserve your energy to arrive at the race fully charged and ready to KICK SOMEASS!!!

Volunteering

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:16:00 +0000

Well today I decided to do something I never did before in Triathlon, I volunteered at a race. Specifically the Nutmeg HIM, run by Endurit multisport. To be honest the past few years I was I guess a bit selfish. I always thought ah well other people can do that, its not my thing. PLUS they get volunteers from communities anyhow.

BOY was I wrong!

Yes there were great volunteers from the community, but without people who are athletes there to guide them you end up with madness. AN example I had today. I was helped by 4 great kids who were there to help. Before the race the Gatorade cups were filled and the water cups were filled. We also had GU's ( the race was nicely stocked, at least at MY aide station ;) So AT first took it lightly didn't think much of it until the first runner came up and the kids just held out water and Gatorade, not saying anything. There was another woman there but she was not an athlete. I was at the bathroom as the guy was coming up to the station, immediately saw his confusion and watched him slow down.

AS I got here I immediately saw the problem:

1) They were each holding one of each and were not reaching out. better to have each kid hold one type of drink and have them stand apart announcing what they have. Put water up front and Gatorade at the other end of the table. Making sure they are clearly separated. making it easy for an athlete to distinguish what is what. This made things easier for teh athletes.

2) Some of the aids station was set up right before the turning point, so we would catch the athletes as they leave the bike, but force the athletes heading for a second loop to look back for water or supplies, so I made n aid station move, moving it up 50 feet so the athletes could see the aid station as they come in to the loop ahead of time and plan for it, not having to make any special effort.

What I did was not special. I saw others doing the same and after 10 or so minutes the stations were running smoothly. Why? because they had knowledgeable athletes manning the station helping organize the non-athletes. I have had the experience of dealing with race conditions and how they affect me. I have had the confused aid station experience as well as the smooth one. I know what works for me when I am an athlete and can apply it.

Seeing this I realized I cannot leave it up to others to make sure all my races go well. I have to participate in my sport. For an organizer to hire enough people to do this, our race fees would skyrocket. So it really is up to me and other athletes to realize our sport cannot really grow and be the great sport it is if we do not on occasion take the time to help out.

On a personal note I have to say I was a bit inspired seeing folks having a brutal day, tired as all hell hit the turnaround, knowing they have another 6+ miles to go, in 87 degree weather, going uphill. They were not going to win because those guy s were already in. Heck they were not going to have a good time at all. But they pushed forward to finish what they had started despite all of that. Awesome.

Most important, I got a free Technical T and Pizza! Yeah BABY!

Great job to Phil who Kicked A$$ taking first in his AG, and a shout out to the JH CREW who was there in force helping out.

And Great job to Mandy for putting on a great and TOUGH race!

Sweet revenge!

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:28:00 +0000

From Failblog.org

My funniest training story

jg_65@yahoo.com (Javier) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:58:00 +0000

Today I was sitting around thinking of the training I have to do for IM Lake Placid, and that got me to thinking about swimming and of how sometimes swimming in Open water, especially around NYC, you can end up with interesting situations.

I think 2006 in the Park to park race in NYC. I was doing this race just to get some open water time and experience in the Hudson river as I was training for the NYC Triathlon. As such it was training session for me. Now I have to say I have done the NYC triathlon. 2 times and have done the park to park also 2 times and I always enter the water of the Hudson with a bit of suspicion. Maybe it has to do with all those Law and Order and crime shows where you see a body floating in the rivers around NY. Or many it has to do with the large number of times I have seen condoms and other lovely artifacts floating in it. Anyhow, that mentality probably set the stage for what happened.

I was swimming along after the gun went off and I would say maybe 5 minutes into the swim I am cruising along nicely feeling comfortable, when suddenly I feel something long wrap itself around my shoulder and start to wind around my Neck, I though " damned seaweed" at first I was going to continue and ignore it. But it felt slimy on me so I slowed and went to pull it off. As I pulled I felt it tighten around my neck! Immediately In my mind I thought, "Wait there is no seaweed in the Hudson river! What the F is this?!" The more I pulled it just tightened. It was not long before I was rolling around in the river struggling with this thing, thinking I was possible at war with some mutant strain of something or other ( no doubt a creation of the garbage processing plant upriver!). It seemed like forever, but It was really not even a second. After I got it off I realized It was a long, clear, sheet of plastic wrap that must have been tossed into the river by some picnicker up along the park in upper Manhattan. I realized that Kayackers were coming in for me, they saw me struggling and assumed I was in need of help.

I waved them off and continued on a bit embarrassed. About a minute after I had to slow down and stop mid river because I could not help but start laughing at myself just imagine what I must have looked like rolling around in the river as if I was fighting some anaconda in a Tarzan Movie.

I suppose thats why I like triathlon, due to the huge number of time you are out there training and doing things in situations that are NOT an everyday occurrence, you get to have allot of these weird experiences that makes for well adventure.