Tri RobbyB Tri :: Cross-Training

I'm in a transition period of working out. I'm swimming when I can, but not doing too much else. I haven't run since Thanksgiving, and the bike's been on the rack since before then. Now that it's December it might be good to get back to some base training. So I figure shoveling yesterday's snow and last night's rain would be a good warm-up before getting on the bike this morning. It was a good warm up and then some.

One of the local meteorologists suggested to wait to shovel the snow until the freezing rain stopped. Because if you shoveled the snow before the freezing rain, you'd have a slippery, dangerous layer of ice. But, if you waited, then the ice would just get shoveled away with the snow. A nice concept until the rain soaked through the snow and ended up as ice under the snow. Add to that the heavy foot traffic compacting it all even further.

All of this snowballed into very heavy shovel loads. Each scoop ranged from 20 to 40 pounds, depending on the water content. After a good hour of this, I moved from our sidewalks to our car. Parked in the street, the plows show no mercy to the cars and casually drive by, piling even more snow up against the doors and wheels. After another half-hour of digging around the car, I was done.

I estimate I cleared over hundred full shovel loads. At an average of 25 pounds per, that's over 2500 pounds! Over the course of shoveling, I removed two layers of clothes, exchanged my stocking hat for one that I wear running, and switched from my heavy gloves to lightweight ones. I decided not to get on my bike just yet.

I did some stomach exercises today.

209.2 on the scale. 4.4 lost so far.

Kris and I ventured to Devils Lake State Park, expecting a warm March day. Instead, we found cloudy, rainy skies and a cold breeze from the partially frozen lake. After a semi-frozen lunch, we hiked the West Bluff, and returned along the base, about three miles total. Then, Parfrey's Glen surprised us with an unknown natural jewel. (Too bad we forgot the camera in the car.) At the end of the day, we put about five miles under our feet.

The gym. Those words strike fear into the hearts in nearly two-thirds of americans who are overwieght. I braved it with the wife, who is world-renowed at scoping and obtaining workout equipment. She was kind enough to teach me the art. The key is (as it is with everything) location, location, location and timing. A half of an hour on a elipitcal machine, which was a much different work out than I am used to, and another 12 minutes on the 'erg' (a.k.a. rowing machine) lead to a nice alternative workout.

With all clothing but shoes I'm at 211.9 lbs. (Usually, it's just a wet towel.)