With my background in swimming, it might come as a surprise to some people that I am slightly terrified of open water swimming... I mean, not like to the point where I won't do it (obviously.. I would need to find a new line of work!) or even like I get panicky, but there is something about the deep, dark depths that freaks me out. Maybe I watched Jaws too much as a kid...
Or maybe its the fact that I've lived my whole life in landlocked states. In college I dated a girl from California, who was terrified of tornadoes, which to me is just dumb. (She frequently made fun of my fear of the ocean). I guess it all just depends on what you grew up with?
Sure, we would go to the lake in the summertime in Nebraska, but I don't have the open-water experiences that you folks on the coasts do. Besides, you've got weird animals and plants and things that bite, sting, or poison you in the ocean that simply aren't in lakes.
To make matters worse, all these nasty little critters have evolved over billions of years to be in this environment, while I, as a human, am born to swim slightly better than a locomotive was built to fly. Add to the equation some murky water and slippery seaweed, and my paranoia is complete.
Now, when the water is clear (like Cancun, or Kelowna) I have no problem swimming in the open water. Also, when racing, or even just swimming with a group of people it doesn't bother me. So really I am not afraid of open water swimming, I am afraid of my imagination... wow, this just got deep!
Zane and I were doing some open water practice this afternoon, and I was doing fine until 3 man o' war jellyfish washed up as we were talking... see?? This is what I'm talking about!! Anyway, I'll get over it, or I'll seek help from a therapist, or cry to my mom, or both, (my mom is a therapist). Until tomorrow night, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Sunday Funday!
Today was a pretty solid day in the life of Sam Holmes. In college, Sundays kinda sucked. You've got a wicked combination of a hangover mixed with the impending doom of the oncoming week, but now as a professional triathlete I have grown to like Sundays. I usually have either a long run or a long ride, which are my two favorite workouts all week, and Monday is often a day off, so its sort of like my Friday!
This morning I got up for a 100k ride with Terra. It was a perfectly gorgeous morning (although I feel like that's about standard here in Key West) and it was a great big gear ride. I like big gear work (which is when you over-gear, so you have to pedal really hard at a low cadence, it helps develop strength) and I made all the target heart rate ranges. We even stopped at a local coffee shop on the way back to get some ride fuel!
There is nothing like having ridden 62 miles before 11 am... were you even awake yet??
After the ride I went to lunch at a little diner called Sandy's. I guess its sort of a local thing, so there was the standard grumpy guy complaining loudly about the tourists in line ahead of him. (Sorry for coming to your town and spending money, bro). But the staff was awesome and so was the food. I got a breakfast platter ('cuz it always sounds good!) with eggs, sausage, grits, refried beans and Cafe Cubano.
If you ever get the chance, try Cafe Cubano. It is a double espresso brewed with cane sugar, so it gets this nice crema on the top and has a super sweet flavor... frickin delicious... and a nice buzz! Caffeine + Sugar = Sam loves everyone.
This is gonna sound weird, but the best part of the dish was the refried beans... I don't know how they did it, but they had this meaty, spicy flavor that was different from how I'd ever had them. I literally licked the bottom of the bowl until the older couple next to me started judging...
After lunch, I strolled around old town Key West. Ok, now I see why people come here! Forget everything bad I've said about this place, Key West is legit. Old town is full of little shops, restaurants, houses, and churches, and reminds me of a cross between Savanna, Georgia and Estes Park, Colorado. I love it! Everyone was out in their Sunday best and it seemed like everyone was very polite and friendly... or maybe that was just the Cafe Cubano...
After a nap and some studying I had a track workout with Zane. We made some good corrections, and got some good times. After the suggestion from him, I inundated Zane with questions today. I have made it a goal to come up with at least one question from every workout.
Well tonight was kinda lame, but so am I... after a dinner of rice and beans I may or may not have watched a chick flick by myself and read Game of Thrones (if you haven't started reading it yet, you probably should) before writing this post! Until tomorrow, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
This morning I got up for a 100k ride with Terra. It was a perfectly gorgeous morning (although I feel like that's about standard here in Key West) and it was a great big gear ride. I like big gear work (which is when you over-gear, so you have to pedal really hard at a low cadence, it helps develop strength) and I made all the target heart rate ranges. We even stopped at a local coffee shop on the way back to get some ride fuel!
There is nothing like having ridden 62 miles before 11 am... were you even awake yet??
After the ride I went to lunch at a little diner called Sandy's. I guess its sort of a local thing, so there was the standard grumpy guy complaining loudly about the tourists in line ahead of him. (Sorry for coming to your town and spending money, bro). But the staff was awesome and so was the food. I got a breakfast platter ('cuz it always sounds good!) with eggs, sausage, grits, refried beans and Cafe Cubano.
If you ever get the chance, try Cafe Cubano. It is a double espresso brewed with cane sugar, so it gets this nice crema on the top and has a super sweet flavor... frickin delicious... and a nice buzz! Caffeine + Sugar = Sam loves everyone.
This is gonna sound weird, but the best part of the dish was the refried beans... I don't know how they did it, but they had this meaty, spicy flavor that was different from how I'd ever had them. I literally licked the bottom of the bowl until the older couple next to me started judging...
After lunch, I strolled around old town Key West. Ok, now I see why people come here! Forget everything bad I've said about this place, Key West is legit. Old town is full of little shops, restaurants, houses, and churches, and reminds me of a cross between Savanna, Georgia and Estes Park, Colorado. I love it! Everyone was out in their Sunday best and it seemed like everyone was very polite and friendly... or maybe that was just the Cafe Cubano...
After a nap and some studying I had a track workout with Zane. We made some good corrections, and got some good times. After the suggestion from him, I inundated Zane with questions today. I have made it a goal to come up with at least one question from every workout.
Well tonight was kinda lame, but so am I... after a dinner of rice and beans I may or may not have watched a chick flick by myself and read Game of Thrones (if you haven't started reading it yet, you probably should) before writing this post! Until tomorrow, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Ragnar Relay
On my ride today I shared the Overseas Highway with the Miami-Key West Ragnar Relay runners. Now, I am not completely familiar with the Ragnar Relays, but evidently its a team thing where your team runs a ridiculously long distance, but its done in shifts...
... or maybe its "jogging," with a soft "J" sound. Evidently you just run for an extended period of time, I guess its pretty wild!
All Anchorman references aside, this looked like a good time! I found myself cheering for these crazy bastards as I was mashing though a big-gear workout in the warm, tropical rain. There were team busses, funny costumes, lots of fans cheering, and at least one hottie in a pink bikini.... I tried not to look, but it was a futile effort.
In any case, I see a Ragnar Relay in my future, probably after I'm done with this whole triathlon thing... who's with me in, say, 10 years??? Until then (or until tomorrow) FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!!
... or maybe its "jogging," with a soft "J" sound. Evidently you just run for an extended period of time, I guess its pretty wild!
All Anchorman references aside, this looked like a good time! I found myself cheering for these crazy bastards as I was mashing though a big-gear workout in the warm, tropical rain. There were team busses, funny costumes, lots of fans cheering, and at least one hottie in a pink bikini.... I tried not to look, but it was a futile effort.
In any case, I see a Ragnar Relay in my future, probably after I'm done with this whole triathlon thing... who's with me in, say, 10 years??? Until then (or until tomorrow) FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!!
Friday, January 4, 2013
El Siboney
For today's post I will do a restaurant review. For lunch today Zane and I went to El Siboney, a Cuban restaurant here in Key West. We talked about family, gut instincts, God, the human heart, and of course, training.
First of all, the street it is located on could've come straight out of Cuba or Costa Rica or any Caribbean island.... well, technically, Key West is a Caribbean island... but I mean it was full of small, quaint, brightly colored houses, palm trees, and a crappy road. The restaurant is not well marked, which kinda adds to the appeal a lot of times (have you ever been to that burger shop in LoHi in Denver?? I don't even think it has a name, but damn those are great burgers!)
The dining room was a bit cramped, but I heard more Spanish than English, both from the kitchen and the dining room. Always a good sign at a Cuban Restaurant! I was tempted by the paella, and the ropa vieja (always good Cuban selections) but I went with my go-to, a Cuban panini, and some black beans.
The pulled pork was delicious, and the shaved ham and turkey added to my meat-sweats... in a good way. I loved the aioli most, it was SUPER garlicky (I sweat pure garlic on my run this evening) and there was just the right amount of it. The bread was the best part though, it was yeasty, buttery, and dense and it was very crispy. Somehow they kept the lettuce and tomato fresh and cold when they cooked the panini, maybe they added it after? The black beans were well seasoned, and although they gave me some GI issues on the run later (sorry for the mental image) they were very good... I mean, beans are kinda hard to mess up, right?
All in all, I would recommend this restaurant. My only suggestion would be go for dinner. Even though it felt like a lunch place, the prices and entrees suggested dinner time to me... but maybe thats just the broke triathlete in me (see earlier post). Either way, check out El Siboney next time your in Key West, and FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
First of all, the street it is located on could've come straight out of Cuba or Costa Rica or any Caribbean island.... well, technically, Key West is a Caribbean island... but I mean it was full of small, quaint, brightly colored houses, palm trees, and a crappy road. The restaurant is not well marked, which kinda adds to the appeal a lot of times (have you ever been to that burger shop in LoHi in Denver?? I don't even think it has a name, but damn those are great burgers!)
The dining room was a bit cramped, but I heard more Spanish than English, both from the kitchen and the dining room. Always a good sign at a Cuban Restaurant! I was tempted by the paella, and the ropa vieja (always good Cuban selections) but I went with my go-to, a Cuban panini, and some black beans.
The pulled pork was delicious, and the shaved ham and turkey added to my meat-sweats... in a good way. I loved the aioli most, it was SUPER garlicky (I sweat pure garlic on my run this evening) and there was just the right amount of it. The bread was the best part though, it was yeasty, buttery, and dense and it was very crispy. Somehow they kept the lettuce and tomato fresh and cold when they cooked the panini, maybe they added it after? The black beans were well seasoned, and although they gave me some GI issues on the run later (sorry for the mental image) they were very good... I mean, beans are kinda hard to mess up, right?
All in all, I would recommend this restaurant. My only suggestion would be go for dinner. Even though it felt like a lunch place, the prices and entrees suggested dinner time to me... but maybe thats just the broke triathlete in me (see earlier post). Either way, check out El Siboney next time your in Key West, and FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Key West Day 1
It seems like triathlon brings me to the state of Florida quite often, and I am completely ok with that. I love the climate, the people, and the food here. Right now I am doing a training camp with my coach in Key West, the bottom of the map!
I got in late last night, and am staying at a guy's house that I found on airbnb.com. If you travel a lot and are looking to save money (see earlier post!) check out this website. Basically, if people have empty rooms or apartments, they rent them out for short periods at a time similar to a Bed and Breakfast. Its a pretty sweet idea if you ask me, although there is a lot of potential for... err... bad experiences I suppose. My host however is super chill and has pretty much completely left me to my devices.
This morning I swam outdoors (speedo tan line, here I come baby!) with Marymount University's swim team. I love swimming outdoors, and I always enjoy swimming with a team. All swimmers are pretty much the same type of people, although there was a bit of culture shock for me coming from a D1 program... (you mean I can go 1:30 base intervals for yards??)
After the swim I rode 55 on the one highway leading out of the Keys... That concept makes me a little claustrophobic. I am so used to the plains with roads leading in literally all directions, but hey there is something to be said for clear blue waters all around you... and some damn good Cuban food since were only like 100 miles from Havana.
On that note, there is something about this place that reminds me of the Latin American countries I have visited... everything is just a bit run down, there are feral chickens roaming the roads, and a lot of European tourists. I do, however, have cell service and a decent cheeseburger all within reach.
I cramped up a bit on the ride, so I had to cut my run short tonight, but I am really looking forward to getting back at it tomorrow. I feel like I really needed a camp like this where I can focus and get some solid work done to kick start the new year and the new season. It always helps to break out of a rut by traveling! Until tomorrow, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
I got in late last night, and am staying at a guy's house that I found on airbnb.com. If you travel a lot and are looking to save money (see earlier post!) check out this website. Basically, if people have empty rooms or apartments, they rent them out for short periods at a time similar to a Bed and Breakfast. Its a pretty sweet idea if you ask me, although there is a lot of potential for... err... bad experiences I suppose. My host however is super chill and has pretty much completely left me to my devices.
This morning I swam outdoors (speedo tan line, here I come baby!) with Marymount University's swim team. I love swimming outdoors, and I always enjoy swimming with a team. All swimmers are pretty much the same type of people, although there was a bit of culture shock for me coming from a D1 program... (you mean I can go 1:30 base intervals for yards??)
After the swim I rode 55 on the one highway leading out of the Keys... That concept makes me a little claustrophobic. I am so used to the plains with roads leading in literally all directions, but hey there is something to be said for clear blue waters all around you... and some damn good Cuban food since were only like 100 miles from Havana.
On that note, there is something about this place that reminds me of the Latin American countries I have visited... everything is just a bit run down, there are feral chickens roaming the roads, and a lot of European tourists. I do, however, have cell service and a decent cheeseburger all within reach.
I cramped up a bit on the ride, so I had to cut my run short tonight, but I am really looking forward to getting back at it tomorrow. I feel like I really needed a camp like this where I can focus and get some solid work done to kick start the new year and the new season. It always helps to break out of a rut by traveling! Until tomorrow, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
The Life
Yes, I did miss a post yesterday. It was a long day of travel, and by the time I got into bed and realized I had forgotten to blog, I was too tired to be bothered with it. Instead, I will give you a double dose today!
This post is about something I wish I had known going into triathlon. I honestly know it would not have changed my decision to pursue the sport, but maybe I would have done things a little bit differently. In a nutshell, triathletes are not rockstars.
Maybe to some it seems obvious, and I knew it deep down, but I didn't want to believe it. In order to make it in this sport, you have to be both very good and very frugal. Yes, sometimes you have to give up your orange mocha frappuccinos on a training trip in order to buy your plane ticket home. Yes, you have sometimes have to buy off brand rice and beans for a month in order to save money so you can go to that race in Mexico where you may or may not get into the prize money. It means budgeting, giving up some comforts while traveling, and asking for support anywhere you can get it.
Honestly, I have grown to love it. I used to try and act like being a professional meant I got to be a baller like Lebron and Kobe, but now I embrace being broke and no longer try and act like I have made it big around my exes (although when I do I will totally be sure they know about it). I now proudly tell the crotchety old men I wait on at the restaurant that yes, I have graduated, but no, I don't want a real job because I am a triathlete. The look on their faces is worth the shitty tip!
I am finally learning how to travel cheaply, and hopefully this will mean I can actually turn a profit off of being a professional this year... along with a little help from some prize money if I keep working hard!
So next time you see a pro triathlete like myself trying to act like D-Wayde, just put a hand on his (or maybe her... but since girls are more sensible, probably his) shoulder, tell him its ok, and give him a free bowl of soup... he's probably hungry. Until later this evening, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
This post is about something I wish I had known going into triathlon. I honestly know it would not have changed my decision to pursue the sport, but maybe I would have done things a little bit differently. In a nutshell, triathletes are not rockstars.
Maybe to some it seems obvious, and I knew it deep down, but I didn't want to believe it. In order to make it in this sport, you have to be both very good and very frugal. Yes, sometimes you have to give up your orange mocha frappuccinos on a training trip in order to buy your plane ticket home. Yes, you have sometimes have to buy off brand rice and beans for a month in order to save money so you can go to that race in Mexico where you may or may not get into the prize money. It means budgeting, giving up some comforts while traveling, and asking for support anywhere you can get it.
Honestly, I have grown to love it. I used to try and act like being a professional meant I got to be a baller like Lebron and Kobe, but now I embrace being broke and no longer try and act like I have made it big around my exes (although when I do I will totally be sure they know about it). I now proudly tell the crotchety old men I wait on at the restaurant that yes, I have graduated, but no, I don't want a real job because I am a triathlete. The look on their faces is worth the shitty tip!
I am finally learning how to travel cheaply, and hopefully this will mean I can actually turn a profit off of being a professional this year... along with a little help from some prize money if I keep working hard!
So next time you see a pro triathlete like myself trying to act like D-Wayde, just put a hand on his (or maybe her... but since girls are more sensible, probably his) shoulder, tell him its ok, and give him a free bowl of soup... he's probably hungry. Until later this evening, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Resolutions
I know, I know, kinda cliché right? A post about new beginnings on New Year's Day. Well it may not be a very creative post, but at least its something worth talking about.
I believe that change is a constant that should be embraced. Making adaptations is what keeps us sharp in whatever we do. This should be done all year round, not just on New Year's Day. I also believe that if you need to make a big change in your life, there is no need to wait for December 31st each year. However, since we're here and some of us are in need of some shaping up, lets make it happen!
Making habits, whether it be working out or being a better friend, is not something that you can ease into, you have to go all in, all the way, right away. And then, you have to stick to it for a while. Then that behavior becomes a habit. Studies show those people who stick to their resolutions throughout the whole month of January are much more likely to stick to them through the whole year. In other words, if you can do it for 4 weeks, you're all set to do it all year.
Another suggestion I might make about your resolutions is to be process-oriented rather than outcome-oriented. In other words, instead of saying "I want to lose 10 lbs" I am going to say "I want to watch what I eat very closely" (since "working out" is sort of a constant for me, I can't really add that as a goal here, but you can!) This way, I only focus on what I can control, and let the process take care of the outcome. I might only lose 8, or I might cut 12 and be really scrawny, but if I accomplish my process goals to a T, I can't be upset can I?
My resolution is a bit hard to put into words, but generally speaking I want to be a better professional in the new year. This means getting up on New Year's Day and training hungover (see yesterday's post..) This also means remembering the details like stretching and drills. Completely aside from training, this also includes the harder part of triathlon, like finding sponsors, booking travel, and managing my time. I chose to pursue this dream of mine instead of going to dental school, so I need to start acting like it.
I am feeling very refreshed and ready for the 2013 after these holidays, and I hope you are too. I wish you a wonderful New Year and the best of luck with your resolutions! Until tomorrow, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
I believe that change is a constant that should be embraced. Making adaptations is what keeps us sharp in whatever we do. This should be done all year round, not just on New Year's Day. I also believe that if you need to make a big change in your life, there is no need to wait for December 31st each year. However, since we're here and some of us are in need of some shaping up, lets make it happen!
Making habits, whether it be working out or being a better friend, is not something that you can ease into, you have to go all in, all the way, right away. And then, you have to stick to it for a while. Then that behavior becomes a habit. Studies show those people who stick to their resolutions throughout the whole month of January are much more likely to stick to them through the whole year. In other words, if you can do it for 4 weeks, you're all set to do it all year.
Another suggestion I might make about your resolutions is to be process-oriented rather than outcome-oriented. In other words, instead of saying "I want to lose 10 lbs" I am going to say "I want to watch what I eat very closely" (since "working out" is sort of a constant for me, I can't really add that as a goal here, but you can!) This way, I only focus on what I can control, and let the process take care of the outcome. I might only lose 8, or I might cut 12 and be really scrawny, but if I accomplish my process goals to a T, I can't be upset can I?
My resolution is a bit hard to put into words, but generally speaking I want to be a better professional in the new year. This means getting up on New Year's Day and training hungover (see yesterday's post..) This also means remembering the details like stretching and drills. Completely aside from training, this also includes the harder part of triathlon, like finding sponsors, booking travel, and managing my time. I chose to pursue this dream of mine instead of going to dental school, so I need to start acting like it.
I am feeling very refreshed and ready for the 2013 after these holidays, and I hope you are too. I wish you a wonderful New Year and the best of luck with your resolutions! Until tomorrow, FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!
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