Category Archives: Swimming

Better than Expected: My Season in a Nutshell

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Jeff Mather

Lately when people have asked me what my favorite part of triathlon is, I’ve said, “Finishing.” They laugh at my joke, but this season it hits awfully close to the truth. My season started with tightness in my legs. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Diabetes, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming | 1 Comment

500+ but no DNF – Ironman 70.3 Muskoka

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Jeff Mather

Editor’s note: Somehow I managed not to post this almost a month and a half ago. Oops! I present it with minimal additional editing. What can I tell you about Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Muskoka in Ontario? [That's Sunday July 10th.] … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Cycling, Diabetes, Life Lessons, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming, Travel | 1 Comment

I Escaped from Alcatraz

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Jeff Mather

Hi, friends. I know it’s been a while since I posted here. Sorry. Since late April, I’ve raced three triathlons: the sprint that starts every season, Escape from Alcatraz, and Ironman 70.3 Muskoka. I’ve also gone on a few vacations … Continue reading →

Posted in 101 in 1001, Cycling, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming, USA | Leave a comment

I CAN Turn Left!

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Jeff Mather

When I learned to swim six years I turned my head to the right to breathe. I have always turned to the right. Like Zoolander, I can’t turn left. Breathing right has worked well for me so far. Occasionally I … Continue reading →

Posted in Reluctant Triathlete, Swimming | 5 Comments

Swim Cards Against Humanity

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Jeff Mather

A few days back, Caroline asked about the Swim Speed Workouts card deck by Sheila Taormina that I’ve been using for the last 2-3 winters. So I thought I’d give a little review. Swim Speed Workouts is a combination of … Continue reading →

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I’m Feeling Lucky

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Jeff Mather

Things I Googled this evening: Dexcom G5 Animas Vibe — As in, “Does the Dexcom G5 work with the Animas Vibe?” — It doesn’t look like it . . . yet. Of course, to communicate with the G5 the Animas has to talk … Continue reading →

Posted in Data-betes, Diabetes, Swimming | 1 Comment

Jeff Mather, You’re an Ironman

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Jeff Mather

This is a long post. I wish I knew how to make it shorter, but I don’t. It was a long event anyway. “You’re having a great race! Your paces are exactly what you had estimated. I’m so proud of … Continue reading →

Posted in 101 in 1001, Cycling, Diabetes, Life Lessons, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming, This is who we are | 9 Comments

Where are we? How did we get here?

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Jeff Mather

Tomorrow’s the Ironman. How did we get here? There was that time in late 2009 when Lisa suggested that we go to the pool before our 2010 trip to Australia so that we would look good and not drown when … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Diabetes, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming, This is who we are | 5 Comments

Back in the Black

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Jeff Mather

Here’s a snapshot of the previous 25 weeks of Ironman training: All of this data comes from my Garmin, which has tracked (almost) all of my swims, bikes, runs, hikes, kayak paddling, strength workouts, and cross-country ski outings for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Data-betes, Fodder for Techno-weenies, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming | 1 Comment

August is done. I’m ready to taper.

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Jeff Mather

Well, well, well. We just finished another month, which this time around coincides nicely with the end of the biggest block of training in my Ironman plan. It was some pretty intense training. In fact, it was so intense that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Diabetes, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming, Travel | 1 Comment

Week 22

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Jeff Mather

I just finished my biggest week (so far) of Ironman training. I’m four weeks out from Wisconsin—it’s on the 13th—and weeks 22, 23, and 24 are the hardest weeks of the plan in terms of training volume and trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming | 2 Comments

So Much Fitnessing: July Round-up

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Jeff Mather

Forgive me, dear readers, for being so late with the details about last month’s swim/bike/run activities. I have a few ride and travel posts in the hopper—including one about the JDRF ride and another about my ride through the Front … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming | Leave a comment

Mass State Triathlon 2015

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Jeff Mather

I never got around to giving a report for last year’s Mass State Triathlon. It was the weekend before I left for RAGBRAI, and writing up a lengthy post about the race wasn’t at the top of my priority list. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming | Leave a comment

June Round-up

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Jeff Mather

I’m having trouble accepting that it’s July. It just doesn’t seem possible. Fitness-wise, May and June look a lot alike. The weather didn’t really cooperate for my long rides on the weekend, but I started commuting to work more by … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming | 1 Comment

I Like Big Hills: Quassy Half-ironman

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Jeff Mather

Training for an Ironman is a funny thing. The distances and times involved in the event are so long that, on one level, I sort of forgot that a half-ironman is the longest athletic event I’ve ever done. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Diabetes, Reluctant Triathlete, Running, Swimming | 2 Comments