The Cold Hard Facts

 Open water swimming in 52F water may be wonderful fun for the Goat, but for me it is about as alluring as a root canal.  The Goat went to the dentist today, in addition to his open water swim; so maybe he just loves self torture.

He disappeared into Sandhollow Reservoir today.  I had to refuse his tempting invitation to join the fun.  I will be ready and willing when it's 100F outside with the sun is shining over water temperatures in the 80's. 

My mind began wandering tonight, thinking of how cold that water was!  I gathered a little information just to quench my own active and curious imagination.
     
Hypothermia occurs when normal body temperature of 98.6F drops below 95F.   Body heat is lost quicker in water.  Exposure to water temperatures of 50F can lead to death in an hour.  Water temperatures approaching freezing can lead to death in about 15 minutes, and temperatures as high as 79F can lead to hypothermia after prolonged exposure.

It's dangerous to swim in water colder than 70F without some type of thermal protection.  The following website explains the different types of wet suit thickness for varying temperatures.
  http://www.menswetsuit.net/

Obviously, adding a wet suit to the equation makes a big difference.  The wet suit catches a layer of water between the skin and neoprene.  The body's heat warms this layer of water making it more comfortable, safer, and possible to swim longer in colder water. The better the fit of the wetsuit, the more effective it is.  The more body movement produced, the more heat will be also be produced. 

How to Select the Right Wetsuit
http://www.onetri.com/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=2

Close Out Wet Suits from Last Year
http://www.trisports.com/blueseventysynergie.html

The Blue Seventy Web Site
http://www.blueseventy.com/

Goats eat Butterflies

The days have turned into weeks and the weeks into months, adding up to almost a year!  The big day rumbles, like the stomach of a hungry lion on the savanna, with only two months left before the feeding frenzy.

Do goats simply eat race day butterflies when they get them?  He says he gets them, but it doesn’t look like it to me!  He must get them and eat them when I’m not looking!

He has three, one-hundred mile bike rides to complete this month in addition to the short rides.  His runs are 13+ miles in addition to his shorter ones, and he swims when he can, usually going back to work with big scary rings around his eyes from his goggles!  At the end of this month he will begin to taper off for the last four weeks prior to race day.  The paparazzi will be ready!   

Defining the Short Ride

“Anything other than stay is go.  Anything other than yes is no…” like the John Mayer song says.  In Goatology this means “Anything less than a 50 mile ride is a short ride.  Anything more, and he’s going alone!”

Sometimes the short ride is more than a ride.  It’s an excuse to explore, inhale, and simply enjoy pretty surprises.  Last time I went with the Goat on his short ride, we stumbled upon something wonderful.  The ride was on an incline against the wind for 8.5 miles, no big deal for the Goat, but I was considering a tow job.    Luckily, at the top  was a beautiful village that made it all worthwhile.  http://coyotegulchartvillage.com/

We stopped to look around and take a break.  Goat had a coffee while I sipped a nice hot mint tea.  It was so relaxing that I forgot we were in an outdoor café as I put my bike shoe on the table and kicked back looking at the moon coming over the red mountains in the afternoon light.  We checked out the menu and decided it’s on the “to eat at list.”      http://xetava.mondodesigner.com/s/?CFID=574797&CFTOKEN=33051418

The ride back was all down-hill and beautiful!