The humble inner tube, or getting tied up

So I've finally managed to get back into the pool semi-regularly.  That statement may not on the surface have anything to do with the title of this post, but it does.  I have learned of a use for the pile of flat inner tubes in my garage.  They are great swimming aids, if cut to the right length.  A 1-to-2 foot length, tied in a loop and looped around the ankles is a great support for pull sets.

This is not new.  I've read this advice before, and I'm sure others have as well, but until you try it you have no idea how much of a difference this makes in swimming.  Before this, I am ashamed to say, I was a cheater!!!  I must have been.  It's the only explanation for the sudden lack of flotation in my, ahem, posterior.  Cheater!  Cheater!  Cheater!  Now, no more.  I must pull harder to keep the junk in the trunk near the surface.

Getting back to the actual cycling role for the inner tube, check out the seven deadly spins.  Another beauty brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Chuckie.  These look like beauties.  They'll be getting worked into my schedule.

Now, back to the pool.

Peace.

Best laid plans...

...can be waylaid by the cutest, cuddliest little six-year old that you ever did meet. Let me explain.



This morning I went out with my new running group for a solid 16km. Last week we went 15k on a morning that had to be, no exaggeration, -20 C with the wind chill. There were multiple complaints about frostbite in the, ahem, "nether regions". Today was nothing like that. The roads were a little icy but the temperature was comfortable, around -2C, just about the right conditions for 16km of hills.




After that I got home in time to head out for the boy's hockey game (robbed again). The announced plan beforehand was to get back from hockey, swap hockey bag for swimming bag and head to the pool.




It has been said, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy" and this is no more true than at home. Upon returning home it was "suggested" that I could spend the morning putting together the dollhouse that arrived in last week's birthday festivities




Upon opening the box we all discovered there was no instruction manual or even picture to refer to. Yippee! Have you ever tried to assemble a jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the finished production should look like?







This is her majesty sitting in her queendom surrounded by some of the pieces of the architecture. The stick drawing on the big white box on the left is the only reference we had to figure out how it was supposed to look. There would be no swimming today o captain my captain.


On the positive side the off-season training is going well. I'm getting runs in, have sprinkled in a ride or two, and am going swimming tomorrow, by gar!


Starting tomorrow I'll be jumping onboard the 12-hr offseason plan - the details of which are here. A big thanks out to Chuckie V for giving this up for free. Now if he could just do dollhouses....



Peace.



Oh, by the way, I'll post a picture of the "finished product" when there is an actual finished product. Just kidding - it's done, the kids are just already in bed.