2009 Inline Event and Training Schedule

For those interested, here's my Inline Skating race and training plan for this summer:

Events
The first three are the standard events I have done the last four years. I've committed to a new one and I am very excited - the Northshore, the largest in the country. Also, notice that Hayward this is year 30 miles. Great way to kick things off!!

1. August 8th, 2009 - Hayward Races - 30 miles

2. August 15th - St. Paul Inline Marathon - 26.2 miles

3. August 22nd - St. Micheal Half Marathon - 13.1 miles

4. September 19th - Northshore Inline Marathon - 26.2 miles

Training
Official training on skates starts April 18th. I been doing dryland work since the beginning of the year (i.e. boosting heart rate on elliptical machine, weight lifting, and form/balance exercises.)

Here's a link to my detailed schedule.

Goals
These are preliminary.

1. I want to be down to 190 lbs by the first race in August. I am at 223 right today. Should be no problem with all the activity but I believe firmly that any fat loss on any program/diet comes 80% from nutrition. I definitely will burn enough calories but for me the challenge will be eating right (i.e. NO processed carbs). I want the loss the be fat while maintaining muscle.

2. I want to beat my 1 hour and 40 minute pace on 26.2 miles. Wow would I love to get under 1 hour and 35 minutes. If I can drop weight to 190, I think 1:35 is very realistic. I will crystallized my time goals a few weeks into skate training after my skate muscles return to form.



I am always looking for people who are interested in pushing me a long. For instance, if you like to bike you are welcome to ride along with me. I typically head out early morning between 5:30 and 6:00 am. Leave a comment and let me know.

When and Where To Watch

The St. Paul Inline Marathon is this Sunday, August 3rd. It runs along Shepard road down by the riverfront in St. Paul with the finish at Mears Park.

If your so inclined to get up early and come and check it out, here are my estimated times where I think I'll be crossing under Wabasha bridge which is a great place to watch all the skaters (and its a straight shot up Sibley to the finish line.):

Race start - 8:05-8:11
1st Pass (10 miles) - 8:40-8:45
2nd Pass (16 miles) - 9:05-9:10
Finish (26.2 miles) - 9:40-9:51

I will be wearing a red sleeveless shirt and my helmet is dark orange and black.

The heat will be on but I don't think it will reach the forecasted 94 degrees until later in the day.

Electro Man Ready To Ride The Lightning

This time next Sunday I will be heading out the door to the St. Paul Inline Marathon. I am ready to go after my goal of finishing in 1:40 or less. Although, I still do not have the skin suit so many of my "loyal" fans have promised me. I have been expecting something like....



Skin suit or not I will ride the lightning.

By the way, I did fall yesterday. After 10 miles at 15 mph I slowed to almost a completed stop at my driveway and raised my left leg to step over the small curb and down I went. No drama, no skidding, no major intense moment, just an embarrassing crumble over a 1 inch step...to keep me humble I suppose.

Profiled

I submitted my "racer" profile to Inline Skate Minneapolis and they posted it today.

Click here: Racing Profile

25.8 Miles this morning and St. Paul Marathon is 29 days away

My training plan told me I was to skate 24 miles this morning. I was up late last night celebrating the 4th with my family and ate one too many hamburgers. This morning when the alarm screamed at 5:00 I was not thrilled with what I planned to do for the next two hours. The pain in my neck that has persisted the last few days was also trying its best to persuade me to just stay in bed. I got up, stretched a ton and headed out.

In 1 hour and 58 minutes I was rolling back down the block toward my house after skating 25.8 miles. I went on my south route which is 18 miles and north which is 8 miles. I kept thinking 18 + 8 = 24 so I was determined to just finish my route. During the last 2 miles I realized my elementary math skills were off. Fine with me.

It was a great skate. Now I move in to tapering down my long distances over the next three weeks and focus on resting and staying flexible. I am also going to eat better by increasing protein and consuming only fruit and veggies.

16 miles and my skate is totally broken now

Good News
I skated 16.33 miles in 1 hour and 22 minutes. It was a tiring skate with a little too much wind. But I am actually really happy with my time. Here is the route:



Bad News
The ankle cuff collar I reported last week now has complety released from the skate - I could feel my ankle go really lose at about 12 miles, I guess that's when it must have happened. I am going to try and fix it myself. I need to find someone with a heavy duty rivet machine.

Broken Skate

I discovered last night while changing the laces on my inline skates that one of the cuff rivets on the right boot is broken. The cuff has released from the boot all together. I am very disappointed because I purchased the skates less than a year ago.

I am researching things but what I know so far is there was only a six month warranty. I have contacted Rollerblade directly for more details and I am waiting for a response. Also, I made contact with a custom shop in Minneapolis to see if they could possible repair the rivet.

I actually think the bolt has been broken for some time now. I've always felt my right ankle seemed a little weak. I'll see how it goes tomorrow on my normally schedule training skate. I am going to have to find a way to skate this whole season on these skates.

Upcoming Series - Shaving My Legs

After falling this last Sunday during my long skate of the week, I've decided to take the blade to my leg hair sooner than later. This just means I'll have to keep it up all summer - once, maybe twice a week. We'll see.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran an article about this very topic: Ultrafit: Male athletes wax effusive about shaving - their legs. I am by no means "ultrafit" but I do know what it feels like to suffer from major road rash. Here's my favorite quote:

Today Bullard's preferred brand of shaver is one his daughter gave him for Father's Day. The Gillette Venus has five blades and a "ribbon of moisture." It comes in pink and teal, and the company tags a slogan on the packaging: "Reveal the goddess in you."

I am into posting by series on this blog and now that FPU is over...I wonder how a very specialized instructional series would go over? I'll call it How To Shave Your Male Legs.

Inline Training Starts Today

I officially declare today to be the first day of my inline training season. I'll be posting goals and my plan soon. Here is the route I took today - 5.2 miles:



P.S. Goodbye for now Burton. Unless I can convince you to get a pair of skates...?? Anyone?