Like an Old Rusty Lever...

Don't worry, I am not going to do a week by week of my training, but I had to blog about my first week back into the triathlon world. It was not epic! The running was hard, the swimming felt like it was fairly new and the biking reminded me that I have not sat on a bike seat in awhile.

I guess the best way to describe this week would be like this: imagine you have an old lever that is supposed to shift back and forth with ease. Now imagine that lever all weathered and rusted. It takes a lot of effort to get hat lever to move like it did when it was a newer younger lever. So you really have to work to get that lever to move. And you do not want to give up on that lever because you know about the goodness that will flow after you release that lever. So you slowly inch that lever forward, and then backwards, until it loosens ever so slightly.  Sometimes it takes multiple sessions to get that lever loose!

Well my body is that lever if you did not catch my attempt at symbolism. Day 1 was tough and felt like I had not run since October, probably because I had not run since October. My first bike was only 7 miles, but this was 2013 post Ironman JFORD thinking "it's only 7 miles", not JFORD who hasn't been on his bike since June. My first swim was probably the easiest of the 3 disciplines, but it was nowhere close to what I remember swimming, speed wise. So it was a wake up call. I always tend to think like "2013 post Ironman JFORD" and now realize I have work to do.

One new thing to share is that I bought my 1st pair of Hoka One One and they arrived the other day. I admit they look weird, but they seem so comfortable and I can't wait to get them out on a run. I am hoping the Hoka's will help like WD-40 does on old rusty levers.

2015 Anti-Resolutions

This is the time of year that most, if not all people start to write their new years resolutions for 2015. I would bet you that if you went back on this blog, you would see a few posts at the beginning of the year where I listed out things I wanted to accomplish in the upcoming year. I will say that I honestly had good intentions, each and every year, but I can say with certainty that I most likely did not accomplish any of them. Without even looking back, I can almost bet that those goals included the following at one point:

• six pack abs
• sub 20 minute 5K
• PR every race
• learn the guitar
• save money

And probably a few more are on my lists of failures. I heard a stat that only 8% of people keep their New Years Resolutions! So with this in mind, I have decided that I am going to set my anti-resolution goals for 2015. Basically it is things that I plan on starting, but I have serious doubts that I will complete. So when I do not complete them, I will have succeeded!  Brilliant huh? So here are my 2015 anti-resolutions:

1. Lose 20lbs- Yes, I would love to hit 175lbs before Redman 140.6, but I doubt I do it!
2. Have a DR. check out my wrists- I have had some wrist pain for quite some time, but I am afraid of what he might find out, so I doubt I will even have them checked out!
3. Six pack abs- who does not have this on their list? I think it is required, but hey, I am 43, so it is highly unlikely.
4. Eat healthier- I really would like to eat healthier overall, but I love Taco Bell, BBQ and I have 3 kids, so this won't happen.
5. Drink more water- this one is totally doable, and I can do it for a week or so, but it won't stick, never has, never will.

Wow, that was so much easier than trying to figure out what I am capable of, and then actually trying to do it! By setting up what I am not going to do in 2015 really takes a lot of pressure of me honestly. And please, do not hold me accountable to not doing these 5 things, it will not help me at all if you do, but they say accountability is the best way to hit goals! I already feel like I have not accomplished so much this year!!!!

Today was the Day...

12-23-13 and I ran.

Today was the day I started back with my training. I literally have done nothing since late October. I have not even wore my running shoes since Ragnar. Have wanted too, so I didn't. I figure the lack of desire to run meant that my body was tired. A lot of people asked me if Redman took that much out of me, and at first, I thought yeah, it did. But now as I look back, it was much more than one race. If you are a regular follower of this blog (meaning my mom who reads and my wife when I make her), you know that I have been going pretty good the last couple of years. Sometimes racing up to 14 times a season, which is a lot I think. So the break has been good for me, but it is time to get back to it.

So the first thing I did was go get a physical. I am 42 and have not been to the doc in...I cant remember when I was at a Dr last, except for a clinic for a cough or cold. I really expected the doc to do a lot more than he did, but really all he did was take some blood and run some tests on it. He said everything came back as normal, so I guess that is good!

Step 2 was to make out a plan. The first race is and always will be the Memphis in May triathlon... in May. I really like this race. It's fun. It is a race that my family can go to and hang out at the pool while they wait for me. This is one of the first races I did, and I swear I thought I was not going to make it out of the swim! So I made a plan for MIM.

I used the custom plan from BT (www.beginnertriathlete.com), which will have me doing two swims, three bikes and three runs a week. Plussssssssssssssssssssss I am going to be working with a trainer twice a week. Yeah, I am going to be doing like weights and stuff! this part excites and frightens me a little. She is totally going to kick my butt. My wife has been working out with her for awhile and my wife is fit! She can probably do more pushups than I can, so I know I will get some good results.

The last thing I have done is start working on my diet. I know, it's Christmas time and probably the WORST time to worry about what you eat, but I seriously need to drop about 15 pounds. I want to get lean and mean again.

Other than those things, I have not planned out 2014 race wise yet. And I am probably only go to look at MIM and a HIM, but 2015 is all about beating Brad. (scroll down a few posts).

With all that said, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas!  And remember, a new year means the gyms will be crowded again!!!!

It' starting...

This is the time of year I hate. The time right after Christmas and New Years, and let me tell you why. It is the time of year when all the "resoluters" come out. Let me explain what a "resoluter" is.

A Resoluter is a man/woman that has made their New Years Resolution to get back in shape and then they tie up all the machines, weights and lanes at the gym, roaming around not knowing what they are doing. They are just tying up machines, talking to other "resoluters" or talking on the cell phone. While others that are there on a regular basis have to wait them out. Now this is peak time of year for the "resoluter", as the peak time is normally late December to sometime after the Superbowl, and then we have to deal with "get ready for Spring break in the next month" crowds later in the year.

I know. I should welcome people. I should encourage people and help them out, but I don't want to. Sorry. I am not a bad guy, but I am there for a reason, which does not include socializing. I mean I am friendly and respectful, but I do not go out of my way to "chat". Just let me listen to my tunes and do what I need to do.

I guess I should thank the "resoluters", because they join, then fade away, which helps keep me paying lower dues, but I get annoyed when I go to swim and three lanes have "floaters" in them. You know the people that aren't swimming laps, but just kind of floating back and forth. One lane can hold up to 5 floaters easy!

My only choice is to deal with it and move on, which means getting up earlier to get to the pool and breaking out the long tights to run in the cold, but I had to rant.

Oh yeah, Happy New Year!