Thursday, May 25, 2006

HONK!! HONK!!!

Sorry, but I'm just going to toot my own horn for a minute here. Earlier this week Jaz and I got a call from a gym across town (where we will be moving next year) asking me to teach spinning two nights a week and asking Jaz to teach Yoga two nights a week. It seems word has got around that we are very good at what we do and we are in great demand right now.

I have been teaching spinning for a year now and it is something that I very much enjoy doing. I have really developed a dedicated group that rarely miss one of my classes. Next week will be my last class at this gym and several ladies asked if they could bring cake for after class. They have all said they are going to miss me, but I will certainly miss this class as well. It is really exciting to have your own group of riders that you are training. It is great to see their progress and their interest rise.

I am looking forward to a new group across town, but am really going to miss the 12 regulars I have here.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

ODE TO YOGA

Three years ago when I started training to do my first 12K run I also let Jasmine convince me to attend a yoga class with her. I began attending an Ashtanga yoga class and continued doing so for the next year and a half. Even when Jasmine got sick I continued to attend. The teacher was a British guy about my age who became good friends with my wife and I.

I can probably attribute my ability to get involved and stay involved in running and triathlons for the past three years to this yoga class. Before beginning I had no flexibility left in a warn out body. Many years of highly competitive hockey and baseball had left me almost debilatated with knee and back pain. Completing one 12K race was going to be my final athletic accomplishment. I was going to do it just to say I could and I did. The initial running just about killed me. I was in pain every run and every morning when I got out of bed. I continued with the yoga however, because I told Jasmine I would and I started liking it.

Gradually without even recognizing it, I started to gain flexibility. My muscles began to loosen up, lengthen and no longer cried out in pain when I did anything remotely resembling exercise. And even better than that, my knees and back began to hurt less and less. The turnaround flet so good, when we completed the 12K run we began looking for a 1/2 marathon to do, and at the same time looking at a triathlon to do. And so, through the benefits of Yoga a triathlete was born.

Unfortunately after 1 1/2 years of attending yoga classes 2-3 times per week, we stopped. Trianing, family, etc. began taking up more time and we decided to forgo the 1 hour trip in to town for yoga class. It really took up 3-4 hours of our evening. Even though we vowed to continue at home on our own, it never happened. And even though Jasmine picked it up again this year and is now training to be an Ashtanga Yoga instructor I had not continued with it.

Over the past few months I really began to miss the yoga and vowed I would start again when I had a little break between races to get back in to it. Well last night I started, and it felt GREAT. Even thohg I am not at the point I was when I stopped, I haven't lost too much and it felt really good to be doing it again. The relaxation both physical and mental is so important to me. It just seems to slow my life down for that hour and gives me a chance to regroup and start fresh. And I can start fresh with a new focus.

So my resloution for today is committ to doing yoga 3-4 times per week!

Monday, May 22, 2006

MAADIMAN OFFICIAL RESULTS IN!

The results are in for the Maadiman Sprint Triathlon held over the past weekend

750m swim - 12' 54" (this included an extra 30m when my counter lost track and didn't stop me!)
20km bike + T1- 38' 52"
5 km run + T2- 21' 07"

Overall very happy with this race. The bike course is by no means fast with all the speed bumps and rough road, but I burned it up turning in the fastest bike time of the day. I had a solid run with fairly quick transitions.

For not doing much speed training and just coming off some time off, I'll take the results.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

WHAT'S MOST REWARDING!!

On Friday Cairo American College hosted a small sprint triathlon. It is the only real event here in Egypt although we have developed quite a triathlon community here. I finished third overall and will post my results when the officail results come in.

Jasmine did very well also in her first ever event, and I was very proud of her as well, not only because since Anaka's birth 9 months ago she has completed two 1/2 marathons, a sprint triathlon, a 10K race and numerous smaller events, but because she continues to be dedicated to her training, she continues to have fun doing what she is doing and she continues to amaze me with her results.

What was most rewarding for me was the other two participants that we took. One, Mark, a colleague and my training partner for the last 9 months. The other, Ahmed, a grade 8 student from my school. When Mark arrived here and I was able to talk him in to running with me he could not complete a 6 K run. Nine months later, he has completed a 1/2 marathon, a 1/2 ironman and a number of other races and is doing extremely well in them. Ahmed is a strong swimmer and I have been encouraging him to give this a try and get involved in this amazing sport. I developed a training program for him, talked his mother in to bringing him out and he also had an amazing result. After he and his mother we very pleased and he may be hooked as well.

While I won't take any credit for the results turned in by Mark and Ahmed, I think I have had a lot to do with getting them involved and for that I am proud

Thursday, May 18, 2006

DERAILED...OR NOT!

Having felt like I worked throught he excuses stage in my training (see previous post) yesterday was a day that could have derailed everything. Babysitter called the night before and said she was sick and was not going to be able to take Anaka for the day. This meant Jaz and I were going to have to tag team work and looking after Anaka throughout the day. (we live on campus, so that makes it a little easier) This gave me the perfect excuse to take the day off and relax...no guilty conscience as I have no time to train.

Wrong! Decided, well, atleast I can get a run in before school, so I did my 8 k just so I didn't feel bad. Period 1, Jaz and I both had off so she stayed with Anaka and I figured I'm here I might as well get my swim in. Swam from 8:00am -9:00am. And to top things off taught a spinning class in the evening.

I had every opportunity and excuse to take the day off and worked through it. Happy that is again behind me and I can get down to serious training for the next 2 1/2 months.

That's the good news...bad news, sprint triathlon tomorrow and my legs are knackered (a little expression I've picked up from our British friends over here). 2 out of the 3 workouts yesterday were interval ('c' priority race tomorrow). Nonetheless, need to try and recover today so I have something in the tank for tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

EXCUSES!

Ever go through a stretch where you are best at coming up with excuses not to follow through with your training schedule.

My training has been going very well the last three weeks with the exception of the pool. I have managed to validate the following excuses:

1. my goggles are leaking, it's time to stop.
2. can't continue with this cramp in my leg.
3. I think that's the start of a muscle strain, time to shut down.

I can go months without missing a single workout, but when I can sell just one excuse to myself, it becomes easy for me to buy any old excuse.

Today I completed my whole swim workout (16 X 50). I had to have a short discussion with myself and I believe I am back on track. It wasn't a major thing, 3 swim sessions cut short, but I know how quickly 3 can turn in to a month if I don't step back and refocus.

On another note, the negotiations begin tonight on Ironman quest 2007. Jaz and I will sit down and look in to an Ironman for next year. Try and sort out what fits best in to the flow of our family/school/travel situation. Preliminary discussion is pointing toward ironman France-Nice.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

THE JUGGLING ACT

Training has become a little more difficult the last month. Not the running, not the swimming, not the biking, but finding time to fit it all in. The change has come about as my wife has begun her 1/2 ironman quest. We both will be competing in a small sprint tri next weekend, then she is doing a 1/2 the beginning of July with me taking pictures, parenting and cheerleading before roles are reversed for my next 1/2 the end of July.

Adding her training time in to the fold has meant a whole lot more time management on our part. 'are you running this morning'? 'Yes, one hour before work.' I'll try and get an hour in on the bike at lunch then.' 'If you want to swim after school, I will run and pick up Anaka while you are in the pool.'

It has basically meant a whole lot more organizing and negotiating. It hasn't been impossible and luckily we are both still able to do some training during the day, but it definately has been more difficult. I am trying to allow Jaz first choice on training time and trying to fit my workouts around hers as this will be her first tri. She is also trying to be respectful and move her workouts around if we have time conflicts, so luckily we are still able to work together on this.

Tomorrow morning Jaz is going it with the cycling club alone while I spend the morning with the Little Brawn. Hopefully we will be able to sleep in a little and then maybe walk down to Mediteraneo for breakfast as we will be staying in Maadi. In the afternoon I have our final play-off game in our ball league followed by a team party after.

As it continues to get hotter here, training times become more limited as the heat means no running or biking after 10:00 am, but if we continue to respect each others needs we should be fine. I have nothing but respect for T.T.W.C.F...Two Triathletes With Children Families, that are able to fit in all the training to complete their competition needs. I am still determined to do an Ironman next summer and if Jaz decides the same it will probably mean a training contract for both.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

SENSELESS

In a post a few days ago I mentioned the bombings in Dahab that occured over the last holiday (Easter + Sham El Nessim). Some people e-mailed me surprised by these bombings and surprised they had not heard about them. I guess I am not surprised people in N.A. did not hear about them or they didn't get much play-time. It seems in North America there is an attitude that this is commonplace in this part of the world and it is not a big deal. What does it matter if people are blowing each other up over here anyway. Well let me tell you for us living in Egypt it is a big deal.

First let me outline what life is like here and our connection to the bombings. We (my wife and 8 month old daughter) live in Cairo and have for the past three years. We love it here...the country...the people...the climate...etc. We have been here three years, have signed a contract for another two, and our daughter was born here. We were very reluctant in coming to a Middle Eastern country and it took us a while to feel comfortable.

Last year on October 6th we were with some friends camping in the desert. Our intention was to climb Mt. Sinai on the the morning of the 6th and then head to Nuweiba for the evening. That morning the Taba-Nuweiba bombings occured. We were an hour away from Nuweiba on our way. This past summer we were in Cairo and just considering going to Sharm El Sheihk for the weekend when the bombings there took place. This last holiday we were in Dahab with many colleagues from our school. We had relatives here and had to get them back to the airport to travel home. We had breakfast at restraunt on the boardwalk then headed back to Cairo. When we arrived at home we learned of the bombings in Dahab and that one had happened at the cafe we had breakfast.

Ironically, we feel safer in Egypt than anywhere we have been. Safer than many of our rural communities in Canada. violent crime is almost non-existent. If you were ever in any kind of trouble everyone would step in to try and help. So what's with the bombings. We are being told (from reliable sources) that it is a small group of disgruntled bedouins. A small group that are not happy with the government here. A small group that has been caught up in what is going on elsewhere in the world and feel this is the best way to get their point across. Unfortunately, again it seems they are only hurting their own people. It was mainly Egyptians (and mainly bedouins) killed in the last set of bombings.

So what is the solution?? That is the million dollar question isn't it. But I believe it is connected to some of our problems in schools at home and in society at home. People become disenfranchised. they lose their connection to the people around them and what is going on around them. The rest of society forgets about them, we don't try and deal with them. We don't try and reach out to them and find out why they are not happy. We don't try and find solutions to their issues so we can all get along. It doesn't take long before one of these kids takes a gun to school and makes himself heard, or a bedouin carries a bomb in to a resort and makes himself heard.

I believe somehow we have to start listening to people...ALL people.
SWEET DESERT RIDE

This past Friday, several of us set out from town to ride roughly 130 kms to El Ein Sohkna. Ein Sohkna is a resort area on the Red Sea. The closest resort area to Cairo. There are some beautiful beaches and resorts to enjoy a nice relaxing day. Between Cairo and Ein Sohkna is approximatly 130 kilometers of open desert highway.

22 of us set out from Cairo with 7 planning on riding the whole way and the others turning back at some point. We had a fantastic ride with a slight tail wind for most of the way. The group of 7 was a strong group leading to a fast trip. The details of this ride are as follows:

The Ein Sukhna ride is a 130 km ride traversing the Eastern Egyptian Desert from Maadi to the Red Sea Coast at Ein Sukhna. The overnight is spent at one of several hotel resorts on the Red Sea. Since Ein Sukhna is only about a one and one-half hour drive from Maadi, it is a good opportunity for family and friends to join riders in Ein Sukhna and spend an enjoyable afternoon and evening on the Red Sea. The ride starts from the front gate of CAC at 7:00 AM. From CAC the route follows the Ring Road to the Ein Sukhna Exit about 5 km east of Maadi. The traffic during this part of the ride can be hectic, so caution is advised. The recently opened (September 2004) new Ein Sukhna road is a smooth, high quality, divided highway with a wide berm from Cairo to the Red Sea Coast. Leaving Maadi there is a long, steady climb out of the Nile Valley. However, once this climb is finished, the route is comprised of rolling hills with beautiful desert scenery and then a long down hill run into the Red Sea Basin mixed in with two substantial climbs. The ride is moderately difficult depending upon the wind. A sag wagon will accompany the ride to provide assistance for anyone having difficulty.

The weather was excellent, the scenery in the Eastern Desert amazing and the cycling group strong.

Jasmine and the Little One were waiting for me when I arrived at our resort and after a nice meal we enjoyed an afternoon relaxing on the beach.

Final ride stats:

133.4 kms
32.6 average speed

Thursday, May 04, 2006

WHY DO YOU RUN?

I have asked this question of myself many times since being overcome by this insane addiction 3 years ago. I can sensationalize it all I like by ultimately it feels good for me and it makes me a better person...plain and simple. I have been an elite athlete, I grew up that way. I didn't know anything else. As I entered my mid 30's I got to experience life the way many others do...a little overweight...not in good enough shape to go out and have fun playing a game of touch football etc. etc. I now know what that feels like and it motivated me to do something about it. Now my body tells me when I need to go for a run, my mind tells me things are getting a little foggy here go out and get some exercise. I never saw this coming the first time around, I just becam accustomed to feeling lethargic.

Back to my question, why do you run? Anybody out there have to run for survival? I came across this article today:

BHUBANESWAR, India (AP) -- Cheered by thousands, a 4-year-old boy dubbed "India's Forrest Gump," who was nearly sold by his impoverished mother, ran 40 miles (65 kilometers) Tuesday to enter the country's foremost record book.
Budhia Singh, a slum resident from the eastern state of Orissa whose talent was discovered by a local sports coach, was escorted by doctors and 300 cadets of the Central Reserve Police Force, which plans to sponsor his upbringing.
Budhia had planned to run 70 kilometers (43 miles), but doctors stopped him after 65 kilometers (40 miles) when he showed signs of extreme exhaustion.
Officials of Limca Book of Records, India's best-known record book, witnessed the run and said it would be included in its 2007 edition, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
"Budhia Singh completed the distance in seven hours and two minutes which is an Indian record. This is perhaps a world record, too. No other kid at his age has completed a distance of 65 kilometers at one go," his coach, Biranchi Das, said.
The boy offered prayers before dawn at Jagannath Temple, a deeply revered Hindu shrine in Puri town, and then began his run to Bhubaneswar, the state capital, on a highway lined with palm trees. Thousands stood along the road, cheering him on.
Das said the boy would have completed the 70 kilometers if he hadn't been interrupted frequently by enthusiastic supporters and television reporters after entering Bhubaneswar. Many rushed to place garlands around his neck even before he could complete the run.
Budhia's father has died and his mother, unable to support him, was about to sell him to another villager two years ago when he was rescued by the coach.
"Poverty had driven Budhia's mother to sell the fatherless kid to another person when me and my wife reached the slum and rescued him," Das said.
The coach had earlier seen Budhia's talent when the boy accidentally entered a sports ground without permission, and was asked to run laps as punishment. When the coach returned five hours later, the boy was still running.
Budhia has gained swift popularity in India. He is being likened by the Indian media to Forrest Gump, the fictional book and movie character who is ridiculed by peers for using leg braces, but overcomes his disability when he discovers that he can "run like the wind blows."
"I loved running today. I can run as much as I want," the 4-year-old boy told reporters after the run, sitting bare-chested but appearing tired.
Then he sucked his thumb.


I can't imagine! There are many stories about people who run to escape their lives. I run for the reasons I mentioned above, but stories like this certainly help put things in perspective!

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

HOLIDAY OVER...6 WEEKS TO GO!
Well, we are back from holidays and now have 6 weeks of school left before we head home for the summer. This past 10 day holiday was nice with the exception of a few scary moments.

We headed down to Luxor with Jaz's father and aunt for a few days. Took in some amazing sights. It is always fun to see some of these sights as the tour guide having been there before. The little one was great despite the heat and despite the all night train ride.

We then went to Dahab on the Red Sea for a few days. Dahab was a little known backpacker type resort on the Red Sea which has been a favorite of many foriegners in Egypt because it is so laid back and there are so many fun, adventurous things to do. We were lucky enough to leave just before the bombings took place, but had many friends still there and near to the explosions. I have some thoughts on this and will share them in the next day or so.

We then spent the last few days in Cairo sorting out our new flat for next year, a nursery for Anaka, and doing some serious training. I was able to get Jaz out for 2 rides with the cycling club as she begins her 9 week 1/2 Ironman journey! We finished on Monday with a 100k ride which she handled very well. It was so much fun to be there and help expose her to the world of cycling in Egypt. On Monday's ride, we left home and rode 20 km to meet the club by the pyramids. From there we rode out an additional 30 km past Sakkara and Dashur pyramids through rural Egypt. It is always exciting when you have to ride around donkey carts, camels, sheep, goats, cows, and water buffalo, to get through your ride.

This weekend looks like a 130 km ride from Cairo to Ein Sokhna on the Red Sea where we will have lunch, a swim, and return to Cairo (by car).