I Knew This Would Happen...

Saturday afternoon, the Ironman World Championship aired on NBC. I did not watch it live, but I did record it. And I knew exactly what would happen once I watched on Sunday afternoon. I knew I would be thinking about Ironman again.

So I ask myself, Am I that easily swayed? Can a simple TV show fire me up that much?

Simple answer: YES!

I always love watching this presentation and I love the way the narrator builds each athlete up talking about how each athlete has their own personal reason for doing this race. I like that. And its true. I love watching the beginning of the swim and I remember how I felt wading in the water waiting for the gun to fire. I love seeing the riders flying down the road (much like I was not doing), but I felt like it, and I envisioned my run looking exactly like the pros ran. Effortlessly. It's funny the way we can look back at one of the most painful days of our lives and still smile and sigh.

So yeah, this show got me thinking about getting back. I only raced one triathlon in 2015.I did some run races and Ragnar, but only one sprint triathlon. So that will change in 2016.

While I am not sure about committing to a full 140.6, I do have my eye set on a 70.3 down in Bama! I have been wanting to do this race for a couple of years and I am thinking a 70.3 is perfect. (It's funny how 70.3 miles does not seem that far anymore)

I have been hitting the gym, swimming and running short distances already, and I am starting to feel really good. My wrists are not as big an issue anymore and I have some other physical issues that I feel I am turning the corner on, so it is a definitely possibility.

 

 

P.S I am doing No shave November right now, so there will be pictures to come!

It's Time...

Time to get off my butt and get to training.

This morning started my 18 week Goosepond Half Ironman Training plan. I started with a 1000 yd swim and tonight I have a 20 mile ride (good thing 24 is back on). I had really forgotten how tired swimming makes me. Now granted, it has been about a month or so since I have been in the pool, but about 2 PM, I was feeling it!

I can also tell that my core is so much stronger than ever before. I could really feel it in the water and I am so glad my trainer had me doing all the planks, crunches and other ab work. I just feel stronger and that is a good thing. Here are the 2 current ab workouts I have been doing if interested:

Torture 1: 1 minute plank, 100 crunches 2 minute plank, 200 crunches, 3 minute plank 300 crunches 4 minute plank 400 crunches (I have never made it through the 4 minute plank yet)

Torture 2: 100 crunches, 100 leg raises, 100 in/outs, 100 bicycles, 100 long lever crunches, 100 v-sits w/twist, 100 crunches, 100 reverse crunches, 100 bicycles, 100 straight leg crunches= 1,000 crunches! BOOM!!!!

This is the first time all season, or all year that I have started getting excited about racing. I still have a HIM goal of 5:45, which would be an A+ for me, but if I go sub 6 hours, at this point (Day 1) I would be thrilled! I know it is totally doable, my last HIM was 6:09 and I fell apart on the run. So yeah, it's time to shake off the cobwebs and time to get focused. Time to Warrior up!

What Have I Been up To???

Well, it has been about two weeks since I last posted on my blog, so I thought I would go all random on you guys and let you know what I have been doing these past two weeks! So what has kept me so busy?

Work- Work has been extremely busy as it always is with warmer temps. More people are out and more people wanna steal things, and with the added districts in Nashville, my days have been full.

Planks- I have been a planking fool lately. It is such a great core workout and I am really seeing some good results/ I hit a 5:05 plank the other day, my longest planking time yet, but I am not finished, I am shooting for 7 or 8, maybe 10 minutes before I am through!

I know, pretty awesome right? Think I can go 10 minutes????

Skiing- Yes, the family and I traveled to Snowmass, Colorado for a few days of skiing. The wife and I skied while my older boys tried their hands at snowboarding and even my little guy went to ski school. We had an awesome trip and some great weather, except for the drive to Snowmass. It is now one of my favorite places to go skiing!

My wife, Me and we think it is our oldest son on top of Long Shot, 12,000 ft up

Doctors- My end of the year with my benefits came up in April, so I had to go get everything checked out while I had already met my deductible! So I hit the regular doctor, the eye doctor and a new chiropractor. I am doing well physically, but I am going to see a new chiro guy and I am going to have to get some readers (glasses) for reading. (getting old I guess) things just aren't as crisp close up as they used to be. No picture here.

Training- have really done very much, and I am starting to figure out why. Usually I plan on doing an Olympic in May, but I just really have not been to excited about it, so that has hampered my training. The weekend of the Olympic, they also have a sprint race that my bride is doing, it will be her first triathlon, so I am really more excited to support her while she races than for me to actually race. If you have read this blog before, then you know I never want to just complete a race, I want to compete, but I feel like this Olympic would just be me completing it. I have nothing motivating me to run, so I am now leaning to not racing it at all. I still have my eyes set on a HIM in Sept (Goosepond Triathlon), then a half marathon in December (St Jude) and then I am going to prepare to kick Brad's butt at Redman 140.6 in 2015.

I am also working with a running group at our church. There are about 50 new runners that I am leading through a devotion/running program to get them across the finish line of their first 5K. I love this, I mean I really get motivated from seeing them work for 12 weeks and then cross that finish line.

So What Do I want out of 2104?

That is a very good question actually and probably on that many of you have already answered, like back in January. Well, it is really a simple answer. It is a short list

I want to lean up and be in great shape.

I want to race Memphis in May under 2:40

I want to run the Goosepond Half Iron Distance under 5:45

I want to run the St Jude Marathon under 4:28 (hang with me, I will explain the time)

So let's break these points down, go alittle deeper.

Leaning up and being in great shape, well I am heading down that path. As you know (if you read this blog) I have been working with a trainer for the last 7 weeks. This morning we did an assessment and compared numbers to 7 weeks ago. I HAVE LOST ONE POUND, and i am cool with that because I have lost almost 1% body fat, so I have lost fat and gained lean muscle. My bicep strength is up and even my flexibility is better.  So I have decided to go another round.

My best time at the Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon is 2:47. I always get caught up in the run because it is the boringest, hottest, longest 6.2 miles of my life. I hate the run, but I know I must run well to hit my mark. My goal has always been to hit that 10K under an hour and I have yet to do that. This is the year.

Goosepond Half Iron distance under 5:45. My previous PR at the HIM distance is 6:09. I have always been on track to hit in the 5:40s but guess what? My run crashes on me, so that is my goal. I know that mentally it is doable!

St Jude Marathon in under 4:28. That's a weird number you might be saying and I agree, but here is why I say 4:28. Oprah ran a marathon in 4:29:15! OPRAH!!!! I read an article on Runner's world that listed celebrity marathon times. My PR of 5:01 beats Katie Holmes and barely losing to Eddie Izzard! Pitiful when you put it in perspective IMO. Here are some other celebs and there marathon times:

Al Gore                                               4:58:25

Shia LaBeouf                                       4:35:31

Sean Austin (RUDY)                            4:25:47

Will Ferrell                                            3:56:12

George W Bush                                    3:44:52

Al Gore probably manipulated the internet since he did invent it, and everyone knows that Rudy was off-sides in the movie so his time is probably not legit. Will Ferrell beat my time? Are you serious??? Man, this is motivation for me, I should be faster than these people, especially Oprah!

So that is what I will achieve in 2014!

What's Up 2014? Well Let Me Tell What's Up!

I really thought about doing a year end review post followed with a 2014 goal laced post, but I wasn't feeling it, and the 2014 New Years goals are overrated. I think it is time to make some goals not related to my vanity! As far as the Year end review post,  I mean I had a great year in 2013 in many more ways than just becoming an Ironman. 2013 was a great year for my family. We are all healthy, we have no major problems to complain about and things are going well, God has been good to us!

And as I look at 2014, there really aren't too many races than are jumping out at me. I have found out that I really enjoy the longer courses more than the Sprint races. I plan on doing the Memphis in May Olympic race, a HIM and the Memphis Marathon. I need a good marathon so I can whoop Brad when we go head to head at the Redman Full in 2015. I am not saying these are the only races I will be doing, but these are the only definite ones.

I am sort of running into an issue planning which HIM I want to do. For the last couple of years, my bigger race has always landed around mine or my sons Bday's. I am 9/7, he is 9/22. I have always hated being away form the kids or dragging them from home on his Bday so I can race, but he swears he likes it, so this year I wanted to make sure we were home around those dates, but my options are limited. Here are the three HIM I am considering:

1. Atomic Man Triathlon- The race is about three hours away and is a HIM distance. It is in late Aug, so it would work. Only thing about it is their are some hills on the bike, and after Branson 70.3, I swore off hills.

Plus it has a cool name!!!

2. Goosepond Half Triathlon- This is down in A L A B A M A! The race is scheduled for Sept 7, my Bday. I have heard a lot of good things about this course, so we will see.

3. Redman Half- Now Brad, or as I will refer to him going forward as B-rad, is looking at doing the half so he can learn the course for our big showdown in 2015. The half would be fun, but it is on Jake's Bday Sept 22. So that is a long shot.

Future name : B-Rad Beatdown City

So decisions will need to be made this year. I have some good future posts coming up about my wife and her journey into triathlon, me getting a trainer (for like weights and stuff) and other goodies for 2014!  See ya soon!