The wife and I went to the beach yesterday, partly for recreation, but partly as an assessment. I have decided to do the Olympic length of the Pumpkinman Triathlon in October, but need a sprint tri tuneup before then.
There is a convenient sprint triathlon nearby, , on July 13 that is perfect timing. Unfortunately, because it is in July, the water temp will certainly be over 84F (29C) and not wetsuit legal, but the swim will be in the Gulf of Mexico. I wanted to see how bouyant I would be in salt water.
Despite the best efforts and advice of Sparrow, Flyinfree and my swim coach, my legs sink like a stone in fresh water without a wetsuit and it was just too darn hard for me to keep my body horizontal and I was completely unable to backfloat for a breather so I had to go continuously. With a wetsuit in fresh water or in salt water with or without a wetsuit, I am much more buoyant, swim horizonatlly (although a little more horizontally with a wetsuit than without) and I can float on my back to catch my breath without having to exert energy, something I cannot do in freshwater without a wetsuit.
I have also circled May 18 on my calendar as the first Sunday that I will be cleared to ride on the road again. There is a Sunday fast group that is fast (23 - 25mph for 20 - 30 miles) and I have never been able to go the distance with them because I got too winded. But I have a whole new cardiovascular system now (well, I have some new pieces) and if I can get my legs back to where they were (and I think I will), I think I'll be ready for them. I am going to put my time in on the stationary bike preparing for this.
It is really odd saying this, 22 days after open heart surgery, but I think I am clearly in better cardiovascular shape already than I was before the surgery. I still have limited ROM of my arms and my musculature is weak from not having worked out for almost two months. But, I am excited about the new me with new, working parts.
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Today, I went to the gym and put in 80 hard minutes on the stationary bike. My legs felt a little dead today and my left achilles tendon felt a little tender, otherwise I would have done more. Heart rate stayed in the 130s to low 140s, which is not as high as two days ago because I think my legs are nowhere near their ideal condition.
Forgot to include 1/2 century ride with Flyinfree on May 10. Any whippersnapper in the Tampa area who wants to join us for the opportunity to smoke an aging, 48yo, overweight, out-of-condition, two-time cardiac patient who thinks he can buy speed with his fancy shmancy carbon fiber Orbea Onix bike is welcome to come and give it a go;-)
There is a convenient sprint triathlon nearby, , on July 13 that is perfect timing. Unfortunately, because it is in July, the water temp will certainly be over 84F (29C) and not wetsuit legal, but the swim will be in the Gulf of Mexico. I wanted to see how bouyant I would be in salt water.
Despite the best efforts and advice of Sparrow, Flyinfree and my swim coach, my legs sink like a stone in fresh water without a wetsuit and it was just too darn hard for me to keep my body horizontal and I was completely unable to backfloat for a breather so I had to go continuously. With a wetsuit in fresh water or in salt water with or without a wetsuit, I am much more buoyant, swim horizonatlly (although a little more horizontally with a wetsuit than without) and I can float on my back to catch my breath without having to exert energy, something I cannot do in freshwater without a wetsuit.
I have also circled May 18 on my calendar as the first Sunday that I will be cleared to ride on the road again. There is a Sunday fast group that is fast (23 - 25mph for 20 - 30 miles) and I have never been able to go the distance with them because I got too winded. But I have a whole new cardiovascular system now (well, I have some new pieces) and if I can get my legs back to where they were (and I think I will), I think I'll be ready for them. I am going to put my time in on the stationary bike preparing for this.
It is really odd saying this, 22 days after open heart surgery, but I think I am clearly in better cardiovascular shape already than I was before the surgery. I still have limited ROM of my arms and my musculature is weak from not having worked out for almost two months. But, I am excited about the new me with new, working parts.
__________________
Today, I went to the gym and put in 80 hard minutes on the stationary bike. My legs felt a little dead today and my left achilles tendon felt a little tender, otherwise I would have done more. Heart rate stayed in the 130s to low 140s, which is not as high as two days ago because I think my legs are nowhere near their ideal condition.
Forgot to include 1/2 century ride with Flyinfree on May 10. Any whippersnapper in the Tampa area who wants to join us for the opportunity to smoke an aging, 48yo, overweight, out-of-condition, two-time cardiac patient who thinks he can buy speed with his fancy shmancy carbon fiber Orbea Onix bike is welcome to come and give it a go;-)
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