Triathlon training feels a lot different than training for bike races — it’s not just that I have three sports now instead of one, but that I have more workouts a week. I used to ride 4 or 5 times a week most weeks, but now I’m riding 3 or 4 times a week plus running 3 times and swimming 3 times, so that’s 9 or 10 workouts instead of the old 4 or 5. Since many of the workouts are fairly short, I’ve added only maybe 2 or 3 hours a week total to my training, but it feels like more because of the greater number of workouts. Each workout requires its own preparation time and usually some time for stretching afterward, and getting to the pool takes some driving time. And then I have to shower more, especially if I work out once before work and then again afterward. It’s a lot!
But it’s fun, and it’s a great way to deal with work stress. After my evening workout, I’ve completely forgotten about my day at school, which is a good thing, even if it wasn’t a particularly hard day.
So, about books. First of all, I’m excited because Tom McCarthy’s novel Remainder appeared in my mailbox the other day, a book I swear I read very good things about over here, but I can’t find the link right now. I also have Nicholson Baker’s The Fermata and David Lodge’s Author, Author on the way from Book Mooch. Oh, and then I ordered Kenko’s Essays in Idleness when I read and liked an excerpt from Philip Lopate’s Art of the Personal Essay (I’ve still got the essay project going that you can see on my sidebar; I just don’t move very fast because every time I read a new essay I find another writer I like whose work I have to read in more depth).
And then I have a trip to a used book store planned with some friends this weekend, which, of course, will make this a very nice weekend indeed.
I’m now in the middle of David Wroblewski’s The Story of Edgar Sawtelle; this is a book Hobgoblin recommended to me, and while I often ignore his recommendations (and he ignores mine), he chose this one for our book group, and so I was stuck. But I’m loving it! (And of course I know that I should follow Hobgoblin’s suggestions more often, but it’s a tradition not to.) It’s such a good story. More on that later.
Of Books and Bicycles 
Hell yeah, “Remainder.” You’re in for a treat. What a cool book.
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Sounds like you have some wonderful reading there, Dorothy, and lots of books I haven’t heard of, so I will look forward very much to the reviews. I’m so impressed by your training regime – how do you find the time and the energy????
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Sadly have never heard of most of these but will be interested to read the reviews. Good luck with the training – sounds invigorating but rather you than me. Interesting that you and Litlove should both be writing about essays. I’ve never really thought of essays as something I should actively seek out (as opposed to articles, which are a mixed bag).
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Do you train with someone when you swim and run or are you alone? All those workouts would be hard enough for me to do with someone but if I had to do it alone I’d never do it at all. Your new books sound like fun. I think I have Author, Author around here somewhere waiting its turn to be read.
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Sam and I rarely read the same things either, unless you count Rolling Stone or the New Yorker. Otherwise we studiously ignore each other’s suggestions. My dad bought Sawtelle so I am going to grab it from him this fall and I cannot wait!
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The Edgar Sawtelle is one I really want to read so very good to hear that you are enjoying it. Hopefully The Fermata will show up soon – I’m amazed at how slow the Swiss post can be sometimes.
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I’ve heard great things about Edgar Sawtelle. I think I’m going to have to give in and get it. It’s funny, my husband and I usually don’t like the same books. He pretty much only reads non-fiction, especially true crime while I read mostly fiction and memoirs.
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I always discover ‘new to me books’ when I read your posts. I bet it would be fun to go book shopping with you. And I think it’s funny you and Hobgoblin have such different tastes. It just shows you that it’s the shared experience that brings book lovers together even if they like entirely different sorts of books! It sounds like you’re very busy with training–but it is nice doing something physical. I always feel so much better when I am walking or going to the gym and it does help stress a lot! Enjoy your weekend–friends and a used bookstore sounds great!
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Brandon — very good to know! I’m looking forward to it.
Litlove — I don’t know about the time, I certainly struggle with finding time, but exercising gives me energy, so the more I do it, the more I have!
Pete — oh, I’m in love with the essay genre! Litlove’s post on it was great and captured what I like best about it — it’s openness and the way it can follow the wanderings of the mind.
Stefanie — I’ve been attending a swimming class, but mostly I work out on my own. I have had problems with motivation too when it comes to certain things like lifting weights (which I desperately need to do), but the triathlon sports I really love and don’t have a problem motivating myself to work at. I think it’s a matter of finding what you love to do.
Courtney — I think you’ll enjoy Sawtelle. And I’m glad to know you and Sam are the same way!
Verbivore — The Fermata arrived today — thank you! I hope you enjoy Sawtelle too.
Lisa — another married couple that operates like we do! Good to know … I’d love to know what you think of Sawtelle!
Danielle — thanks! I have been busy with training; we’ll see how long I can keep it up … yeah, it’s nice doing something physical to make me forget unpleasant things. I have the same experience when I visit your blog — I hear about books I’m unfamiliar with — a very good thing about having book blogs to read!
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I hope all that extra training means getting to eat lots more food (the only thing that might entice me to train that hard). When we were in Key West, Suzanne, the woman at the bookstore we frequented there, was reading Sawtelle and loving it, and I was reminded of Hobs’s recommendation.
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