Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona 2008

I went with my brother and his family down to Daytona Speedway last weekend to watch the Rolex 24 Hours endurance automobile race. It is hard to appreciate the skill involved with driving a race car at high speed until you have done it yourself. These guys are good! I along with many others dream of getting to drive in a race like this. It must be a neat experience to actually get to do it. I guess I am just going to have to settle for the occasional drive at a driver education class.

The winning car is shown here. This team has won this race three years in a row.

In 24 hours at speeds averaging over 100 mph, the winner made close to 700 laps. That is pretty impressive for 24 hours non-stop.

Wednesday 1-30-08

It was back to the Y pool this morning at 5:00 for another masters' workout. For various reasons, we had a 1-1/2 week layoff and that surely did not help matters. This is a good class and if I can keep struggling through I will become a stronger swimmer. I am a little discouraged at this point, however, because I have been actively swimming now for three years and it now feels as if I have not swimming at all. These workouts bring back memories of summers at swim team practice when I was young.

Friday 1-25-08

I know I really don't want to stoop to the level of whining and complaining about my physical state of being for that is certainly not what my blog is intended to do. But, it is going to be tough getting back in shape after a six week hiatus from running. I had hoped the Masters Swimming program would help keep me in shape but with this bad cold I have had the past two weeks I have regressed to an out-of-shape condition I didn't want to reach.

I ran at the Y on Wednesday for 3 miles and the next day my legs were sore! I ran 4 miles this AM and felt tired and sore. The bright spot is my feet have healed completely and there is no pain. I am ready to start back on some kind of training program. I am probably going to look at a triathlon training scheme because I do not have time to start training for a marathon AND do the Masters Swimming thing. After the class ends in March I may consider the marathon. Whatever I do I need to have a goal to keep me committed to staying in shape.

Monday 1-14-08

Monday morning, 5:00 am. Despite being sick all weekend I decided to go on to the swimming class at the Y. The water was 76 degrees and took your breath away but we went ahead and held class. I quickly discovered how much my bout with bronchitis affected my lung capacity and I stopped after only a few laps. May be Wednesday I will be in better shape to swim. It is such a bummer to get sick.

Masters' Swimming Program

I have decided to participate in a masters' swimming program at the Y. I went to the first class Friday morning. Boy, what an eye-opener! I never knew I was in such poor shape! I think it is going to be a great experience; surely one that will get me in shape for doing triathlons. The class is from 5-6 am on M,W,F. It is just the thing to get the blood pumping. More on my progress in that class later.

I start my college classes next Wednesday. Remember me as the time crunch will be on.