OC Open Water Swims

After starting an Orange County open water swimming "meet up" group in 2009 after my return from the Middle East, I was seldom able to participate due to travel demands.  But from that small beginning of a few dedicated swimming friends, the group has expanded to over 100.  Now many of the groups' members have become very accomplished distance swimmers- conquering swims from California to Africa.  If you are interested in swimming in the ocean with experienced pros who are the friendliest and most helpful people you will ever meet...join the group:

ocopenwaterswims

2012 Update

In 2012, work related travel continued to take a toll on a predictable, local, training regiment.  Luckily my client made its world class on-site facilities available.  Lunch hour swims, weight lifting, and treadmills were all on the agenda, albeit very sporadically.  I even tried my first yoga workout at the urging of a colleague and found it quite interesting.  (Thanks Andrew!)  I look to be staying local for the immediate future and, schedule permitting, Irvine Novaquatics, Soka University track, Aliso and Wood Canyon Mountain Biking, and Laguna Beach Open Water Swimming workouts will be regular activities once again.

2011 Update

After returning to Orange County in the fall of 2010, I re-joined Irvine Novaquatics in January and working out with the club on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays in Aliso Viejo.  I started doing track runs at Soka University on the off days.  While work, travel and illness have made consistency a challenge, Southern California has numerous opportunities to keep up your fitness.

2010 Update

In December 2009, I started a project with Cloud Peak Energy, the Powder River Basin coal mining spin off of global mining giant, Rio Tinto. The Gillette, Wyoming based company was not an easy commute from Southern Utah. After 5-6 hours of flying puddle jumpers and waiting in airports, time for working out was severly limited on Mondays and Fridays. During the week however, running tread mills at the hotel was about the only option when temperatures dipped as low as -27°F (-33°C). In April, 2 things helped jump start workouts: 1) a new consultant, Scott DeLong, joined the team. He had triathlon aspirations and inspired me to up the intensity. 2) Gillette opened a new state-of-the-art recreational center.

The new Campbell County Recreation Center after a May snow storm

For a couple of months, I was able to swim, ride stationary bike, and run track a few times a week. Those occassional workouts did not offset the 6 months of high calorie food and inconsistent exercise, but it felt good to once again have the dull muscle ache that come from a challenging run or set.

When the project ended in June, I decided it was time to obtain some much needed stability for me and my family. I joined an up-and-coming consulting firm, Slalom Consulting in June and returned to Orange County, CA.

I am looking forward to re-joining the fantastic swimming and triathlon community here in Orange County and getting back on track physically. The consultant diet and lack of exercise time means that I have a few pounds to lose. The next several months could be a commercial for a weight loss product. My weight loss plan: exercise and sensible diet. It has been scientifically proven that eating fewer calories than you burn causes you to lose weight. :) With a little weight training, I expect to build some muscle mass too.

Workouts in Gilette, Wyoming

I started a project in Gillette, Wyoming in early December. The sub-zero temperatures and long travel hours made finding time for training difficult. Spending a couple of days a week doing miles on the treadmill was the extent of training until April, when the new Campbell County Recreation Center opened. This state of the art facility has been great. It has a beautiful lap pool, stationary bikes, treadmills, free weights and machines as well as an indoor track.

Over the past few weeks, a couple of miles of swimming in the morning and several miles of running have allowed me to get back on a training program. Alas, it is a little too late to be confident in my ability to complete the St. George Ironman on May 1st. :(

Runs in Albuquerque

Spent the Thanksgiving weekend with family in Albuquerque, NM.  Did a couple of runs around the Albuquerque Academy.  My younger brother set a good pace that had me running faster than I cared to on the uphill, but pride forced me to continue.  I was grateful for a good run.

Returned to Dixie today and did a short 3 mile run along the Virgin River with the accompanying pull-ups, push-ups, and situps.

Ride and Run in Dixie

Had to limit my workout to 3 hours today so I did an abbreviated 30 mile bike ride from Bloomington Park with the Color Country Cycling Club.  I rode with them up through Kayenta and then headed back to Bloomington instead of going to Veyo.  Did a quick transition and ran a couple of miles.  It has been a while since I did the bike to run transition and I forgot what prolonged riding does to your running legs.  I need to practice that more- I can't imagine what a 112 mile ride will do to my marathon legs.  Finished it up with a push-up, pull-up and sit-up routine.