Training Schedule

Alright, the last two weeks have been #$*& poor as far as training goes. First of all, I'm in Orlando for another work trip. Guess how much time I have for exercise here, ZERO. Add to that the fact that I've had gourmet food with all the trimmings thrown at me all week. Long days and late nights do not make for a healthy athlete. Once again, feeling out of shape. So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to post my plans for the next week up for everyone to see so that I'm kept a little more accountable. Not that too many people visit here anyway, but I'll feel more responsible to get my butt in gear.

Monday morning - ride 1 hr before work, after work run 8 400 meter intervals at 1:30 per lap with 2:30 400 meter jogs in between.

Tuesday - Weights, stretching
Wednesday - 8K - Track shak run - 37 minutes or less.
Thursday night - 1.5 hour ride or 27-30 miles.
Friday - rest
Saturday - Red eye run 6 miles - easy 8 min/mile pace.

Let's see how well I stick to this now.

Thoughts on kids and God

Today I found myself in a situation that has become increasingly common, but never as much as today. Today I was uterly surrounded by children. Not kid kids, but more or less babies. The still in diapers, "I soil all of my clothes in drool" kind.
Lauren and I went to my parents house for my father's birthday, he's 57 now. I spent most of the time playing with my 2 year old nephew, Dakota. He's just now becoming fun. His new toy of the day was a old wallet that he'd found. Of course, when he showed it to me I had to give him some money for it. Little did I know, it seems that everyone that saw it had the same thought. He'd racked up quite a stash before I'd gotten there. I need to remember to get one for my future kids. It's quite a racket. Dakota and I wrestled and played in the yard. I tought him how to kick a ball. I taught him how to kick a ball off of my toe like in a football game. I even included a "War Eagle" prior to the kick for special effects.
Afterwards, we went to church to see my best friend's kid be baptised. He's about 6 months old and looks just like his dad. We all went back to his house afterwards for dinner. For whatever reason, it's etiquette to have friends and family over after your kid's baptism. Is it a Southern thing? I don't know. Of my friend's 5 brothers and sisters, there have been 5 boys born with a year. Amazing. Not all of them were there, but with the friends and other family members there, there was quite a gathering of little ones. We had criers, dancers, thumb suckers, gigglers, and pukers. Normally after a day like today, I'd find myself wanted to run away and find a quite little spot to chill out away from all the kids, but not tonight. For whatever reason I saw the beauty and magic of kids and how wonderful of a gift they are from God. Though they come in small packages, they give us a little insight into how God sees us. Just as we love our children, God loves us - even more so. There's a special bond between a parent and a child. I don't think the child could ever love the parent as much as the parent loves the child. The child could never disappoint the parent so much as to cause the parent not to love the child. This is the beauty of God's love. Despite our continuing failures and disobedience, he still loves us as much as ever. Hard to believe. I am so very thankful.

Ear Infection - Sounds lovely right?

This past week I forgot to pack my ear plugs in my swim bag prior to a training session. The result was a little water in my right ear. I’ve had problems with this ear for the past year or so. A few years ago I busted my ear drum when I fell off of a tube being pulled behind a boat. Didn’t think too much of it at the time, but last December my ear became infected after you guessed it, getting water in it. I went to see a specialist who after 5 months of treatment determined that the ear was healed. So back into the water I went. Didn’t have any problems over the summer, but of course I always used my ear plugs.

So after my ear started bothering me again this weekend, I got a little nervous. I went to see a “doc in the box” who confirmed that the hole had not healed. He prescribed some antibiotics, gave me a shot in the rump, and made an appointment for me to see the specialist again.

This is really bumming me out. Other than my ear draining and irritating the crap out of me, I’m probably going to miss swimming entirely during the off-season. I love to swim and it feels so good to glide through the water. It’s such a good work-out and the thought of dropping it for a while is so depressing.

I’ll find out on Oct 4th what my options are for my ear. More than likely, it will end in surgery which is never fun. In the meantime, I’ll spend my time running and biking.

Mourning the loss of day light

This morning I rolled out of bed at 5:45 for a little pre-work bike ride. I had laid out my long sleeve jacket and leggings the night before because when I did this last week, I nearly froze my tail off in the lower 60 degree weather. Well, I wouldn't need them as this morning was a pleasant 78 degrees. I was kinda frustrated with the sun though. There was never any substantial sun until about 6:20. Not having to dodge cars was nice, but I kept having to swing around runners and walkers going 3 wide. No worries, the air was perfect for the ride.

I'm really worried though about the pending fall and winter months. It's really depressing to come home after work and it be too dark to ride. I'll be forced indoors for biking and will find myself wearing a reflective vest and blinker while running. Not looking forward to that. Right now it's staying light until about 6:45 in the evenings. That time will be gone soon as well.

Another thought for anyone with advice -- I know I sweat a lot, but it seems I can't wash the stench off my exercise gear. I've had most of them for a couple of years. I wash them regularly and switch them out a good bit. I'm having the most trouble with my Nike shirts. I don't know if it's that after a while the stench just soaks in or if there's something else I should be doing. Until, I figure it out, I'll be searching for some more gear.

Back in Training

This week marks the first week of off-season training. Kinda odd to be already working on next year, but I know I've got a lot to work on. This week I met with my coach who professionally fit me on my bike. I'm not in a better position to churn out some power while giving myself more room to breathe. He's also giving me some pointers on pedal strokes, but hopefully will increase my efficiency and help me to use different leg muscles, thus giving me a little help in the run portion. I haven't had time this week to really put some miles on the bike, but looking forward to it.

Last night, I met with Coach for a swim assessment. After watching me swim a few laps to check my form, he said, "well, you won't drown." Thus began the tinkering and rebuilding of my swim stroke. Swimming is all about efficiency in the water. I'm a stocky 180 lbs at 5'11''. Maybe closer to 5'10''. I'm fairly muscular so I sink like a rock. After a few, technic instructions, I have a good base to build on. My hope is that sometime this weekend I'll be able to practice what I've learned. I've never felt like such a spaz in the water until yesterday. It's all for the hope of improving though.

Frantic Frog Triathlon

This morning began at 4:50 am. By 5:00 I was eating oatmeal and peanut butter crackers. Had to get my calories in. We stopped off at McDonald's for Lauren to get coffee and a biscuit. Oh, coffee. Here's a story. We were staying at the Econo Lodge in Scottsboro. It didn't seem to be the nicest of hotels from the outside, so just on a whim I checked with Nell at the front desk to make sure they had coffee in the room. She said they didn't, but she lent us a coffee maker and coffee. Lauren about fell out of the car when she saw me returning to the car with a coffee maker under my arm. Well, we didn't have cream or sugar with us, so we didn't bother with making coffee that morning. We're kinda coffee snobs any way.
So, after McDonald's we made our way over to the race which was being held in Goose Pond Colony. There were just over 400 participants and I was scheduled to start 26th. They do a pier start, which means you have to jump from a pier, while keeping your googles on your face and making sure you get moving so the person behind you doesn't land on top of you. We went off two at time, which I didn't like. The water got crowded quickly. I couldn't get into a rhythm and soon found myself sucking wind. I finished the swim portion about a minute over what I'd hoped for. I forced a few good thoughts into my head on the way to my bike. It worked. I felt great on the bike. I was worried because due to my traveling, I hadn't touched my bike in two weeks. I was soaring on the bike until we turned onto a side road, which is at best a paved gravel road. I felt every bump. Everyone suffered. The bumpy road brought everyone to a halt. It was awful. I was barely able to keep my speed over 15 mph. I don't think I lost my place with anyone, because I was still passing more than I was getting passed. I was able to finish strong once I made it back onto a smoother road and completed the bike leg about where I expected. In all, except for spilling a GU packet on myself, I was happy with my bike. The run was just a 5K. I handled it well. Had good energy and felt like I ran a good leg. My total time was unofficially 1:12:20. We'll see where I placed among the other participants once they post the results.


This was the last race of the season for me. Well, it's the last Tri anyway. Kinda sad about that, but looking forward to running a few races and training for the Mercedes 1/2 Marathon in February. Special thanks to my wife Lauren who supported me and followed me around to all my races. I love you and am so glad you're my wife and best friend.

Drinking My Weight

Sounds a little devious doesn't it? Well, I'm not talking about beer, not even my precious Fat Tire Beer. What I am talking about is wonderful, life giving, crystal clear water. I did in fact finally sign up with a coach today to help me train for triathlons smarter and more efficiently. With two days to go before my race in Scottsboro he gave me a few pointers as far as nutrition. Today I am to consume protein, ehite protein such as fish, chicken, and eggs preferably. Secondly, he advised for me to drink my weight in water over the next 24 hours. WHAT??? Sounds crazy to me too. So, since noon I've lugging around my nalgene bottle downing water between trips to the bathroom. Between the hours of 1:30 and 5:30, I drank 64 ounzes of water and urinated 5 times. My feet hurt from burning up the carpet between my office and the potty down the hall. So far tonight, I've finished off another 40 or so ounzes. I sincerely doubt that I'll be able to drink 180 lbs of water. I've only done 5 lbs so far. Really I think the point was for me to drink a lot of water so that I'm well hydrated for the race. I think I'm getting that now.

Being out of town and Feeling a little out of shape

So last week I was in Vegas. Nice restraunts, big catered lunches, sitting around discussing work, airports, yuk! I returned home on Thursday in time to kiss the wife and meet the guys at a sports bar for wings and beer. It's the first night of college football, and it had to be celebrated. Immediately following work on Friday, Lauren and I head down to Mobile, AL to see her folks. Cheeseburger and french fries was the meal for the night. The weekend consisted of watching football and more big meals, generally more than I would eat at home. Monday night we return home in time to meet some friends at a Mexican restaurant. Tuesday, we had a group over from church, spaghetti was on the menu. SO CRAP!!! Have I just been a freaking pig over the last 2 weeks. I feel like a blob. I promise we don't normally eat like this. Luckily, Lauren is a very good cook, but she is healthy cook. So I'm soooo looking forward to being at home and eating her cooking. Not being at home takes a toll on what you eat. I don't know what it is about being out of town that makes us (me) over indulge. It's also so much harder to get out and exercise. I always take my running shoes wherever I go, so I'm usually able to get a run in, but I really miss out on swimming, biking, and if you can't tell, eating healthy.

I have a race coming up this weekend. I've heard tapering is good before a race. Well, I have just pulled off the king of tapers. I've eaten like a pig and barely moved a muscle to burn any of it off. I should be well rested going into the race. I just hope that it doesn't kill me. I'm going to detox over the next few days. Oatmeal for bfast, salad for lunch. Thankfully, Lauren is cooking tomorrow night. Glad to be home.

Fat Tire Beer

Vegas has one redeeming factor, and I discovered it today. I was sitting at dinner with some clients and noticed a certain bottle pass by on a waiter's tray. Oh, could it be? It was. I spied a bottle of Fat Tire Beer. Oooh, the sweet nectar of the gods. It was a little too late in the dinner to order a beer. So after I made my exit, another connoisseur and I found a shop inside the hotel selling this particular brew. We bought two each and sat down and enjoyed every drop. If you've never tried Fat Tire or other beers by New Belgium, you're missing out. Make your way west of the Mississippi and find a bottle. I'm waiting patiently for New Belgium to start sending their beer east, but until then, I'll have to just enjoy these few times I'm out west.

I did get a good run in this morning. I ran down the Vegas strip. Even at 6:45 in the morning the city was full of exhaust fumes. I don't know if it's the lack of wind or the excessive amount of buses and taxis, but the fumes were disgusting. I saw a guy drinking a 40 ounce beer as he walked down the street. Was he starting his day or ending it? Way to early to be downing beer.

Ready to get back to B'ham to see my bride. She means everything to me.

Stuck in Vegas

So I find myself in Vegas for work for a few days. I'm sitting here itching to get some work in, not my 9-5 type work, but some actual exercise. I'm at a fairly nice hotel/casino so I'm thinking, "oh, they'll have a pool and a maybe a treadmill." So I stroll out to the pool area, which I can see from my 15th floor room, and make my way around the 5 different pools. They even have a "wave pool" and a "easy river" for the kiddos. Guess what, no lap pool! I head over to the Spa Royale to see if they have a lap pool. No pool!! Oh and guess what, to use the bikes and treadmills, they will gladly take a cool $27 a day from you for this priveledge. Ouch. I pay $70 a month for a family membership back home. So no work out for me today. Going to count this as a rest day and hit the pavement early in the morning before the real work starts. Bummer.

Brick Work

Saturday morning, I set out with BGillis to conduct a little brick work out. Short and sweet, we biked 8.5 miles and ran a little over 2 miles. Yeah, it wasn't much, but we do our best to push ourselves and treat this as a sprint more than anything else. With only one more sprint Tri left in my season, I'm focusing my training on being quick.

I absolutely love brick work outs. They kick my butt, and humble me to the core. My buddy BGillis is still new to Triathlons, but he's coming on strong. I know it won't be long before he's pushing me and threatening to pass me by. He's a good athlete, and a great friend. Training with a friend is hands down better than going solo. There's no way I'm going to let up with someone watching.

Saturday was also the first day in some new Tri Shorts. I'm going to have to say, while they fit fine and felt great during the race, they did a little damage that left me walk a little tender the rest of the way. Can you put body glide on your "boys"? Going to have to consider it.

Two weeks until Frantic Frog in Scottsboro. Feeling good and ready to see what I'm made of.

Coach Found?

Today was a great day. What a begining right? I went back to work today after a four day stint at the beach. My wife's parents have a condo in Perdido, FL (Orange Beach for those from Alabama). Played some golf, ate some fish, caught some fish, and took plenty of naps. I only exercised (a four mile run) one day which is a low amount for me, but I was enjoying my naps too much. Well, as I mentioned, I had to go back to work today, but not before I hit the pool for some pre-work laps. Enjoyed every chlorine filled moment. There's something envigorating about swimming prior to work. I feel loose, stretched out, and alive. I believe I'm more productive too. Is it just swimming or just any workout. Don't really know as I usually bike and run after hours. After work, I boogied out to Oak Mtn State Park with BGillis and put a few miles in on the bike. Two disciplines in one day! Always a good thing, but not even the best thing of the day (that is outside of waking up and going to bed with my bride - in case she's reading this). I think I found a coach to help me train for Triathlons. Thus far, my idea of training for races consisted of getting the miles in or seeing how long I can endure a certain torture test. I've read about lactate thresholds and tapering, but it was all just to boring and more info than I had time to divulge into. So, with this guy, I'm looking for a training program that'll not only help me improve on my times, but will help me train smarter and more efficiently. I'm even toying with the idea of a half ironman next year. I've got a bunch of sprint and olympic distance races under my belt and it's time to move on to the next level. So, I'm pretty encouraged by the idea of it all. I've been a little depressed that tri season is winding down, but this will give me something to look forward to other than the winter months. 11 days until my Auburn Tigers kick off by the way.

Mountain Lakes Triathlon and sleeping in a camper

This past weekend I competed in the Mountain Lakes Triathlon in Guntersville, AL. As I have mentioned before, this was to be a redeeming race for me. Believe it or not, it was. I finished quicker than my expectations. Top third. I have to admit, it came down to nutrition. I ate more before the race and was actually able to down a Gu packet during the bike. I have a renewed belief in myself and am ready to meet the next challenge. I'm definitely not satisfied with my time. The next race is in less than a month. I've got time to work on a few things, but I probably won't improve dramatically. I know I'll be prepared and have plenty of calories to push me through. Hopefully, this time I'll beat my 3 mile time from the last race. It's still the slowest leg of the race for me. So, Scottsboro's Frantic Frog, get ready.

Oh yeah, we stayed in my family's camper up at the lake. If you've never had the pleasure, count yourself as lucky. While it has all the aminities of a home, they're all crammed together in a small space. Lauren and I slept on a sleeper sofa each night. Not just a regular sleeper sofa, but a camper sleeper sofa. It's a little smaller and a little thinner. Cramped quarters and too many people make for a restless weekend. The redeeming factor was that I was with my family which is always fun. I just may have to enjoy their company while staying in a hotel next time.

Life Coach - striving to be better

I think I realized today that I need to be motivated. Not just in work or sports, but in all aspects of my life. I would really like to see what I could do if I was pushed. I'm a fairly motivated person as it is, but there is no real reason for me to push myself for any other reason than to please myself. In sports, I've noticed that among my friends it's usually me going "let's go, let's go". There's really no one to push me or ask me to train or work out harder. It's a simple reality. If you have someone relying on you, you tend to work harder to hit the goal. Whether it's getting up in the morning to meet someone rather than sleeping in because no one is there waiting on you, or running harder on the last mile because someone's on your tail about how slow you're going. As for work, I feel that I have to motivate myself. While we have company goals to meet, it's not a big deal to me (financially) if we hit them or not. There are other projects that I can work on to earn more money. There are no other co-workers that compete with me for #'s, so there's no competion to urge me on. What I'm getting at, it that I think I'd really benefit from a life coach. I need some direction and someone to motivate. I'm interested in seeing what I can do with a little push and encouragement. Setting goals isn't the problem, I need someone on my ass if I don't hit them.

Triathlons

This is my third season to compete in triathlons. I'm still very much a beginner in ability and knowledge. I've thoroughly enjoyed the process of training, buying gear (cause I'm a gear head), and competing against others and myself. I feel like an animal and walk around a little prouder of myself because of what I've been able to accomplish. Pride lasts for all of only 2 legs of the race for me as I see competitor after competitor pass me on the run portion. I've struggled so much with having enough energy to complete the races. I know now that it comes down to nutrition. I need more calories and better planning on what I eat.

I love race day. I love seeing the various types of people competing in the races. People of all shapes and sizes show up and compete (Now of course the elite are all specimens of health and fitness, but the average athlete still looks like they could lose a few). There's an incredible energy in the air prior the start. During the race, as I move from one discipline to the next, I feel like an animal adapting to the circumstances. I'm slowly but surely luring my friends into the sport. My next race is only 12 days away. It's in Guntersville, AL. I'm going to this race with a little something to prove. My last two races were disappointing. As I mentioned, the run portion of the race has killed me. This time, I'm going in a little better prepared. It's a shorter race than the one I completed a few weeks ago so I should be ready physically. Calories, calories, calories will be my mantra. One more full week of hard training, then a tapering week before the race. Race season is winding down, and it's killing me.

Just Created

Somehow I managed to fall asleep on the couch for the 2nd time this weekend before 10 pm. Sounds like I'm living the life of a 60 year old. Or could it be that I've just "played" so hard during the day that my body is just ready to call it quits. I hope it's the latter. I've made my self get up and create this blog which I've been putting off for a while.

Here's my attempt to keep (for prosperity's sake) the thoughts of this 31 year old man from Birmingham, AL, and if someone happens to comment on it along the way, that's cool too. So, raise your glasses to the start of something that hopefully I will use more often than my box of dental floss.

So here's today - Nothing's better than Sunday morning coffee and reading the paper. Having someone to spend it with makes it even better. My wife, Lauren, occupies the other side of the table and competes with me for sections of the news paper. She's really nice, so I usually win. She tolerates my morning ritual of not saying anything unless it is of the utmost importance. Once the coffee has been consumed and the paper thoroughly destroyed, I am ready for the day. I need a plan. I have this crazy need for an agenda for the day. Nothing too strict, but I need activities. So here they are: I did actually make it to the gym for a while. I spent some time in the yard and also tried to fix some of our doors that won't close in the house. Our house was built in the 1950's, and over time the house has settled causing the door frames to be a little off. After a few hours of sanding and chipping away wood. Our doors close only slightly better, and now I have the wonderful job of repainting the doors to cover up my handy work. Just the joys of home ownership. All of this was followed by church in the evening and dinner on the coffee table watching the history channel. More on those two later.