3 Weeks In

 Yup, that's right, I am 3 weeks into this second journey to Ironman!  Well, it's a half Ironman but it sounds a lot cooler to say "Journey to Ironman" than it does saying "Journey to half Ironman"! So, what can I update the one or two readers that still actually read blogs...

It's a lot tougher. I can say that without hesitation!  7 years and 30 lbs ago is nothing like it is now. I have been consistent in hitting my planned workouts, but I am also not sweating the one or two that I have missed. (My goal is to hit 80% of my planned workouts). In April I should hit 9,700 yards swimming, 75 miles on the bike, and 27 miles running during this first month of training.  But, I have missed a bike or run so I will get close.

Besides the obvious 7 years age difference and the obvious 30 lbs heavier than when I last completed, there is also a difference in my recovery time as well. I have been so danged tired after these first few weeks, I mean like go to bed at 9 pm tired. I also have a different drive than I did the first go-around. I mean, I KNOW I can do this, cause I have done several 70.3's. It's not a milestone like it used to be, the unknown factor of "can I actually do this" isn't there. The mental toughness has not yet come back like it did in the early years where you know you had to tough out a long run. Now I am more like "screw it, I want to walk", and that's cool with me.

When I do this race on Oct 3rd, I will have just turned 50. Just being on the starting line will be a win for me, providing I stay healthy. Just crossing the starting line and hopefully beating anyone will be a reason for me to celebrate. So this race is definitely not about winning or a time goal.

Apparently, for me, it will be all about surviving the training!

It's a Name I Earned...

It has been five years since I earned the right to call myself an Ironman, yet it seems like only yesterday.

In 2013, I did Redman Triathlon 140.6. Arguably the longest day of my life, but one of the most rewarding days. I still remember very distinct details about that day. I remember how nice the water felt due to it being so cold that morning. I remember a certain aid station on the run and the faces that were there, I remember the song playing as I crossed the finish line (Home by Phillip Phillips). I remember the high five I gave as I ran down the chute and I remember the one piece of pizza I ate ate after the race, followed by two IV bags.

I remember it all.

I remember it with pride and with regret. Regret because I am no longer where I was physically. That IM came at the right time for me and my family, with the way life has gone, I know that time of my life was the perfect time to train, I remember with pride as being a 43 year old first time Ironman. I remember the "what now" feeling I had the days after IM. I knew I had some healing to do, but I do regret not staying on that path because mentally, I will also be in IM shape. Funny how that works huh?

I also remember that every year around Sept 20th, I think it is time for me to get back to racing/ Maybe I won't compete anymore, maybe I will just complete??

Stay tuned and find out, because I am not even sure what the next chapter will be!

Runner Pick up Lines for V-day!

Me and my bride trial running...

So here we are at Valentine's Day and I thought I might help you out with some good runner themed pickup lines that I searched the Internet for. Feel free to use them  and take credit (or blame) for them!
 

1. Good thing I have GPS, cause I am lost without you!!
2. Did you get lost on your run? Because Heaven is a long way from here.
3. Your pace or mine? (winner)
4. You can stop running after your dreams, I am right here.
5. I am not sure if it's the run or you, but that took my breath away!
6.  Do you like speedwork? Cause I am down for a quickie!
7. Do you run track? Cause I relay want to date you!
8. My love for you is like an ultramarathon, it goes on and on.
9. Are you tired? Because you have been running through my mind day!
10. What's your personal record (PR)? If you'd go out with me, then you'd be mine!
11. Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I pass you again?
12. Now that I know your bib number, I think I should be able to get your phone number.
13. Coach told me to bang out an easy 6, but you look like a 10!  #BOOM!
14. Coach told me not to get my HR over 160, then I saw you!
15. On a scale of 1-10, you're a 26.2!

Let the Lovefest begin and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

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.

Rain Rain go away...

So after posting about how I was back and training hard, I got a little case of strep throat, which sort of stopped me for a few days. I am a firm believer in resting and letting the meds work rather than try and push through the illness, which in my experience only makes it worse. So I laid off for a few days while I healed. And I am ok with that!

My goal date was to get back to it on Sunday. Last week was a recovery week anyways, so I do not feel like I missed a whole lot by taking a few days off, which was really only Wednesday through Saturday. By Sunday though, I was ready to get back to the plan. My plan called for a 2.7 mile run (I love this sprint triathlon plan). The only issue was that it was raining on Sunday.

I had no desire to go to the gym to run on the treadmill, I wanted to run outside. So after church, and before lunch, I threw on my rain jacket and some shorts and my white, no sun seeing for months legs went out and ran.

Now, nothing makes me feel more like an athlete training than training in conditions that most people would not train in. I did see cars driving by as I ran, and I like to think they were saying to themselves, "dude is a beast!" or something to that fact. In reality they were probably thinking more along the lines of "idiot, it's raining" or its even possible they could not have cared less that I was running. But I cared dangit!

I loved it. I actually love running in the rain, when it is warmer. It was 55 degrees on Sunday, so that made it not quite as fun as I would have liked, but  fun nonetheless. But the important thing to me was just getting out there and doing it anyways. The important thing to me was that I did not let the weather act as my excuse. I very easily could have decided to take a nap on the couch, but I am not where I want to be.

So rain, rain, stay if you want, it won't bother me!

I am going Old School...

Do you remember your first triathlon? Do you remember the first time into the water, the first bump, the first transition and so on? I do. I remember almost every little detail about my first real triathlon. (I say real triathlon because I do not count my indoor tri in the same manner as I do outdoor ones.)

I remember it because it was simply horrifying!

This was my 1st triathlon and I honestly thought I was either going to quit because the swim was killing me or that I was going to get pulled by the lifeguards before the first 200 yards! The water was so cold it literally took my breathe away. I knew there was no way I was going to finish that swim and I was not even sure if I wanted too! I swam a speedy 2:16 pace. I remember feeling dizzy coming out of the water and wondering how I was going to ride my mtn bike with slicks when everything was spinning! I remember taking 10 minutes in transitions! And I remember my first Olympic time of 3:44:03.That triathlon was none other than the Memphis in May Triathlon at Orgill Park on May 18, 2008. You can read my race report here if you'd like.

Now you may be asking yourself, why is he talking about this again? Because the Memphis in May Triathlon is going back to Orgill Park! The last few tears, the race has been held at Tunica, in an ideal venue. I set my PR in this new venue (2:47:58), and I loved this venue. So let be clear on this next statement. I DO NOT LOVE ORGILL PARK.

I have nothing but bad memories of that place. So when I got the email saying that MIM Tri was going back to Orgill, I was alittle excited and a little freaked out. (MIM lost the venue in Tunica when the host hotel closed, so the race was in question of even happening) I mean I am thrilled that the MIM tri is happening, but I am not looking forward to Orgill, because of the above paragraphs. So will 5 years of triathlons make a difference?

You bet it will. After a few minutes of thinking about this race, I am attacking it. I am going back to Orgill to make it mine. While I am only doing the sprint this year, I am going to after it like it stole my girl scout cookies! (Tag-alongs please) I have my training plan set, my race fee paid and the best part is I know a bunch of first timers that are going to be there,  which always ups my game!  (Vanity at its best right?)

So with this race going back old school, I thought I'd leave you with some old school music. Enjoy and your welcome!

A Flabby Armed Spanking Machine...

I feel ya K-Man!

I have to admit, it is tougher and tougher to get to the pool these days and to get a single lane because there is more and more going on! Swimming lessons are starting and swim team is happening all the time, I used to be able to expect my own lane at the pool, but it is no guarantee any more.

I know part of the issue is this. I am not getting up as early to swim as I was when I was training for Ironman. Swimming a max distance of 1500 yards is so much easier to work in than say 4000 yds! So I have been enjoying my sheets alot more than in the past. It seems that during the school year, I always have a lane to myself on the morning. Now that it is summer time, they have the younger swim team practice in the morning and the older swim team practice in the afternoon (after work), and nothing sucks quite as bad as getting hosed by a 10 yr old in the pool. I try to tell myself "he's resting after every lap", but in all honesty, he is probably swimming alot more laps than I am. Then I tell myself that I would totally whoop him in open water, which may or may not be true (I know I'd get that little sucker on the bike though)

I have tried going during lunch, but then you battle swimming lessons. Now the swimmers don't take up a lot of lanes, but the parents all sitting around the pool kinda weird me out. They sit there reading magazines or something and in walks a 40 something year old dude to swim. Kinda weird...

But the worst group are the people I affectionately call the "floaters". You know these people right? About 70 years old, bathing suit from the 60s and they hog an entire lane floating along going the speed of melted cheese?? God Bless them for exercising, but c'mon man! Then you have the old lady group that does the water aerobics who want to complain about the water temperature everyday. Again, Bless them for getting some exercise, but do they have to act like they own the pool?

I guess I should be grateful that my workouts are shorter and do not take me as long to do, but I sure do not remember these issues last season.

If ‘If’s and ‘Buts’ Were Candy and Nuts, We’d All be Triathletes!

I am sure you will soon realize by the proper grammar skills and correct spelling of all the words that I did not write this post. Today's post is from my bride, who is competing in her 1st triathlon on Saturday. Here are her thoughts as she prepares to race this Saturday at the Memphis in May Sprint Triathlon.


So I am finally putting to rest all of those “ifs” and “buts” that prevented me from taking the plunge into triathlons, as in, “if I had more time” or “but I’m not sure I could actually do it.” Now, I’m ready to attempt my first “real” triathlon, Memphis in May sprint, this Saturday. So how the heck did I end up here?

I can only assume( as I usually do) that this is actually all my husband’s fault. Watching him over the years competing in triathlons of all distances – sprint, Olympic, 70.3, and even an Ironman - it was probably inevitable that I would finally bite the proverbial bullet.

Around the time he got serious about triathlons again, we welcomed our third son. So there was no hurry for me to train for my own races. I was more than content to be the cheerleader, child wrangler, and masseuse. I especially enjoyed the venue at Memphis in May because there is a great pool right along the race course. Our 3 boys and I would watch the swim, cheer James on at transition, get in the pool while he was on the bike course, get out and cheer him on at the finish. It’s pretty spectator/kid-friendly.

Maybe I entertained the idea of being out there on the course myself. It did seem like such a rush to cross that finish line. I wondered if I had what it took to do one, but I wasn’t really a runner and the only biking I did was trudging around on my mountain bike with my youngest on front.

Run

But, about 4 years ago, I started running. I've never enjoyed running in any way except for the sprinting we did in 6^th grade for the Presidential fitness awards. That I could do. However, Memphis has an amazing running program for women every summer at Shelby Farms, one of my favorite places in Memphis. Hundreds of women participate and it’s broken down into nice categories based on experience. I started with a group of hopeful beginners and surprised myself by enjoying the freedom to head out on Monday nights starting in July and run with other women. I was hooked. I could actually run. I’ve been back every year since and keep moving up a level.

Bike

Then I asked for and received a road bike for Christmas. Before that, my biking had pretty much be limited to riding my youngest son on the front of my mountain bike and tootling around. Once I got my new road bike out on the Greenline and rode it, well, I felt a huge sense of freedom. 

Swim

And then, there is the swim. I’ve always been a decent swimmer. I was raised by a mother who body-surfed in the ocean when she was eight months pregnant with me. To teach us to swim, she let go of us in the water as toddlers. It was sink or swim, literally. My only concern is that I'm the type of swimmer who doesn't even like to share a lane. Swimming in the open water where it's inevitable to get bumped is going to freak me out a bit. 

I’m Guessing Stopping to Comb my Hair in Transition Would be Frowned on?

So the disciplines were coming together. Then came Valentine’s Day. My darling husband gave me a training plan as a gift. (Crazy, huh?)  And, I was actually excited about it. (Even crazier!) Being able to see in each little square what training I should do each day made me feel like I could give it a go.

The past few months of training have been interesting. I’ve learned that it’s true that we make time for what’s important to us. I’ve always been impressed by James’ ability to balance training and having an engaged family life. Since that often meant getting up at 5 in the morning while training for his 140.6, I could hardly complain about fitting in a 2-mile run.

That’s not to say I didn’t have to be creative. I do still have a 5-year-old at home. So on Mondays, a swim day, I would take Jesse to the Rec. Center with me. He'd go to the childcare while I did an hour of weight-training. Then, I’d swim my laps. After that I’d go get Jesse and we would splash around and swim for a bit. It was a three hour process, but I will never forget having that time with my son.

Other days, I’d wait until my older boys got home from school and then go do my run while they could watch Jesse. If I took Jesse with me on my runs, he’d ride his bike. Once it took us an hour and a half to do 2 miles! We did stop to play on the playground and throw rocks in the creek. Sometimes you have to adapt.

I’ve learned that training can be fun. It’s made me order my days differently trying to fit a specific workout in. For example, I happen to teach a college class at a community college right near our city’s greenline, a 7 mile paved trail. This semester, after I gave my final exam, I  celebrated by changing into my bike kit and hitting the greenline for a refreshing 11 mile ride. (Usually, I reward myself with something like a Gigi’s cupcake and running home to watch a DVRed Sherlock Holmes  before I have to pick my youngest  up from Mother’s Day Out.) Guess which one I now prefer.

I’ve also learned that training makes me feel like a badass, especially wearing my team’s kit. It may sound a little odd to already be part of a racing team when I haven’t proven myself. But, the team I am on is about much more than races. It’s about people, specifically being an encouragement to people with cancer. If you follow this blog, you’ve surely seen James post about Jessica Hambrick who with her husband, James, founded the team GI Jess’s Warriors for a Cause. Even though Jessica entered eternity a month ago, her spirit and her vision and her compassion will live on through this team. She was such an encouragement to so many triathletes and Christians and cancer fighters.

A few weeks ago, the team met at Jessica’s parents’ house to make a plan to go forward. It was there that I bought my Warriors tri top.  Putting it on for the first time made me feel like a triathlete. And wearing it to train as I see people watching me run or bike makes me feel so inspired to represent this team well. I feel like I belong.

And I vow to remember that when the doubt and worry creeps in. The “Can I do this?” “What was I thinking?”  “Can people tell I’m a newbie?” voices will be drowned out by the “Warrior Up” yell I know Jessica would give me. I will! 

This Ford Was Out of Gas!

I had a good weekend of training. It started on Friday and a 3400 yd swim that felt good. Saturday morning was the Graduation 5K race for the Run for God group my wife and I lead at our church! I am so proud of each one of those runners, they all did great and we even had 2 award winners! So after the 5K, I took Stella (my bike) out for a 2.5 hour ride outside on the Greenline! It was awesome and hott, so I ran out of water or I would have gone further. So Sunday morning rolls around and I am planning a 10 miler that morning before church. So I set my alarm for 5AM and I am out running by 5:40 (Yeah I hit the snooze a time or two, but it was planned out that way).

It was the worst run I have had in a really long time. I only managed about 5 miles in 1:15!!!

And I know why!

Here is what I ate on Saturday:

• water before the 5k
• 2 donuts at the race
• banana with PB before my ride
• 3 gels and Gatorade while riding
• hot dog after my ride
• 2 BLT sandwiches for dinner
• half a milkshake
• nothing on Sunday before my attempted run

Basically, I had no gas in the tank. I was running on empty. No bueno!!!

I sometimes tend to get so focused on the workouts that I forget my body needs fuel! And for some reason, I am worse at it on the weekends. Next weekend is going to be another step up in mileage on the bike, so I have to remember to fuel my body. I also have to find something that I can eat prior to workouts. I do not want to start Redman with nothing in the tank because that will set me up for failure right from the jump!

Here We Go!

It's time.

I start my Redman 140.6 training this weekend. 17 weeks.  September 21 will be here before you know it, but will I be ready?

Dunno!

I mean I am going to train hard. This is something I want, but there are more factors involved than just my physical fitness. One thing I really did not think of until recently was that Sept in OKC can still be really hot! After reading all the reports from IM TX and how people were dropping like flies from the heat, it got me wondering. I mean TX in May is as hot as Aug and Sept, but OKC can get warm too. I know I will have plenty of chances to get in workouts in the heat, but I have to figure out if that is the smartest way to do it.

I also did a second look over my training plan. I used the custom plans over on BT.com. I based my workouts on the following criteria. Swimming a 1:55/100 pace, biking 16 MPH average and running a 10:00 pace. I have no idea if that will actually be true on race day...

I also based the plan on doing 3 bikes a week (a short, medium and long) 3 runs (short, medium and long) and 2 swims (med and long) per week, or basically doing something everyday. the plan does have some scheduled rest days worked in.

Overall, the weekday workouts look totally doable. The weekend workouts are going to hurt. Only because of the long rides, the runs are manageable as the longest run on the schedule is 15 miles! Where else but IM training would one say, "it's only 15 miles!"??

All my workouts will have a design behind them, it is simply not just go run 5 miles or swim 1800 yards. There are lots of drills.

It is going to be an interesting next few months. I know I cannot hit all the workouts due to travel and life (I have a family, job and other things going on) but if I did, I would be looking at these numbers between June and September.

Swim: 60 miles
Bike: 1780 miles
Run: 312 miles

Yeah, it is doable, but I'd be lying to you all if I said I was not a little nervous about taking on this distance. I am sure I will blog about my doubts, but never mistake it with me backing out. This blog is just my way of expressing myself (something I am not that great at in words, but I know I am typing words, but I mean that I that great at talking those words...see what I mean?)

I thought about titling this post "It Just Got Real", but triathlon has always been real for me. Instead, my journey to IM has been a long one and I have come a long ways. It keeps getting better, and I can't wait to cross that line!

On the Road Again...

This weekend was my last long workout before the Memphis in May Olympic triathlon  and if I am being honest, I was a little worried about my bike speeds. As you know, I have been doing a lot of work on the trainer this year for various reasons, so I was concerned about getting on the open road. I had reached out to several of my friends to ask their opinions on bike speed on the trainer vs. on the road, and most thought that if the trainer was used correctly, with the right amount of tension, then I could really see some gains on the bike. However, if I was simply using the trainer to spin my wheels and watch TV, then I might not make the gains I wanted. So yeah, I was curious and nervous.

So Sunday my workout called for a ride. I decided to break it up and get a brick session done. So my plan was to ride 10 miles on the trainer hard, then hop off, complete a transition and run a mile. then I would come back and ride another 5 miles hard, hop off and run a 1/2 mile, then I would take my bike off the trainer and hit the road.

And it was awesome!  A definite do again workout!

My run off the bike was great, I kept a 9:05 pace really easy, and I was faster on the second run ( I know it was shorter, but I felt great)

Once I got my bike on the road, I felt like I was flying. I was in the low 20's pretty fast and didn't seem to take a lot of effort to maintain it. This was a huge confidence boost for me. The trainer rides have average out to be around 16 mph. My ride (although only 20 minutes) average 18.9 according to my Timex, and that is with fairly busy streets. Thankfully MIM is a really flat course. We normally have a headwind going and a tailwind coming back, so I feel pretty good about where I am at today!

More Frequent, More focused...

Redman, minus the M Dot

I usually try to wait and post when I think I have something to say, maybe something worth reading on here, and I know I do not always succeed. This blog was originally designed to hold myself accountable for workouts and document my journey to becoming an Ironman. Well, that is really going to happen this summer. So after Memphis in May Tri, I am going to most likely start posting more about my daily workouts, and trying to gain some insight on those workouts, so I should be posting more frequently. They might not be as thought out as some of the other posts I have done, but I think it will be more beneficial for me to be able to review training as I go. I want to really chronicle this journey as it is a big step for me and will require a ton of effort. It is a journey that I can't wait to take on. It all begins May 28th.

So get ready for shorter posts, more focused on my training, the likes and dislikes and other crap!

Zoggs Goggles Giveaway!

I think I have tried almost every brand of goggles on the market. There are some that I liked certain features of this brand, and I liked certain features of this brand, but I have never found the goggles for me. Until now!!! And let me tell you how I found them!

I was flipping through Triathlete Magazine and they had a page on nothing about goggles. One brand caught my eye based off the findings in the magazine. The Zoggs Phantom Elite goggles.Here is a quote from the magazine about them:

 "The Draw: Flexible fit for many face shapes. The lenses of the Phantom Elite are more curved than the standard Phantom to increase field of vision. The frame is durable and flexible and stayed secure on a variety of face shapes. Testers like the blue lenses and soft feel for long yardage in the pool, but the wide lens shape would work well in open water as well"

It has always been very hard for me to find a goggle that fits me, it seems it has always been me trying to fit the goggles in the past. So I talked to the Zoggs representative and right there, I knew I had been going about getting my goggles all wrong. He really took the time to ask about what goggles I had used in the past and what problems I had with them. I even sent in a picture so they could get a look at this old ugly mug to assist in getting the right goggles for my face.

Let me ask you this, how do we all buy goggles? Usually standing there in the aisle, looking at price and which ones we think look the coolest! And then we always complain about the goggles not fitting right, about them leaking and about what every goggle says on it "won't fog up", which I am always a doubter about.

So I was thrilled when I received two pairs of Zoggs Phantom Elite goggles in the mail. One pair with the blue lens and one with the blank lens. I really could not wait to try them out. So the next morning I go to the pool to rock out 2000 yards. I put on the goggles and I dive in the water and it is amazingly clear. I get that they are clear because they are new, but it is altogether different. I could really tell that I did in fact have a larger field of vision in the pool. Everything was crisp and clear. I had zero issues with fogging. I did not have any issues with leaking. I did have to make a minor adjustment after about 10 laps, but once I got the fit right, I promise you it felt like I wasn't even wearing goggles. These goggles are made so that you do not have to wear them so tight on your face that you get that long swim headache! You know when your goggles are squeezing into your head and eyes? With just a slight suction, they are there and I promise you don't even feel them while swimming!

Other great things about the Zoggs Phantom Elite goggles:

• Soft frame- the flexible frame molds to your face for comfort
• 180 degree vision- the curved lens technology expands your peripheral vision
• Anti-Fog lenses- That are actually anti-fog!
• Quick Adjust- simple pull of the straps tightens and a push of a button loosens them
• Split silicone head strap- fits securely over the head
• Polarized Italian lenses- eliminates glare in open water
• UV Protection- eye protection

Now for the good news, Zoggs is going to giveaway a pair of goggles to a reader. All you have to do is follow the simple rules (as always) and I will draw a winner, and they will send you a pair of goggles directly! How cool is that? Here are the requirements to enter the drawing:

1. Be or become a follower of Daily Trainings (1 entry)
2. Leave a comment (1 entry)
3. Like Zoggs on FaceBook (1 entry) and I have provided a link

You will have until Saturday May the 5th to enter and a winner will be drawn on Sunday! This is one giveaway you do not want to miss out on! I have found my goggles of choice, and I guarantee you will love these goggles as well!

Guess Who Was In Atlanta For The National Championship?

Me!  That's right! I had a business trip in Atlanta and I arrived Monday afternoon and I got to see the game... from the privacy of my room in the Hilton! Yeah seriously!! I mean really, who plans a business trip the night of the National Championship! Plus the late start of 9 PM is not good when you have to sit in meetings all day the following day! But, as you may or may not know, I am a retail investigator that goes after the bad guys that steal from our company to make a living, and this business trip was all about how to catch, apprehend and interview the bad guys, so it wasn't too bad!

***On a side note, my family had a 6 pack of IBC rootbeer riding on whoever had the best bracket. Going into the championship game, I was leading by one point, with no teams left. My bride and oldest son both had Louisville in the final game (my picks were Duke and Indiana) and I needed Michigan to win for me to win. As you know Louisville won and my son picked 157 total points scored to win the bracket challenge, with my bride taking 2nd place, I got 3rd and my middle boy got 4th!***

I have gotten back to training after battling my cough for a little over 2 weeks! I have been so worried about not coming back too soon so I can get over this cough, but I started getting worried about losing my fitness after 2 weeks of not doing a thing! So I started getting torn, do I get back to my schedule? Or what? I have decided that the best set for me is to ease back into it. Thankfully next week would have been a scheduled recovery week, so that means less miles than a normal week, so I think everything is going to work out great. Thursday I did hit a 25 mile (1:38) bike ride on the trainer and Friday I did a 1600 yard swim, and felt fine. Saturday calls for a 9 mile run and Sunday is a 30 mile ride or 2 hours. I really do not think starting back with a 9 mile run is a great idea, so I am going to shoot for 6 and see how that goes. I will let you know how that goes!

Sync Hydration Belt Giveaway!

I was in the market for a new fuelbelt type of device. My old would not really hold my water bottles anymore and they kept popping out. Plus it bounced up and down on my hips as I ran, sometimes chafing my back. Nothing is worse than to reach back for some water only to have it not there. So, I began looking at all the different ones out there and one caught my eye! The Sync Hydration Belt from Profile Design. I actually saw it in Triathlete Magazine and thought it had everything I wanted. So I contacted Profile Design and asked to do a review of their product and they graciously agreed.

Right off the bat, I noticed a few things I really liked about this belt. The first thing I loved was that the bottle brackets are adjustable. They can be moved to wherever fits you the best. Many time on my old belt I would have to twist the entire belt around in order to find some place comfortable on my hips. The second huge win for me was the ease in which the bottles are removed. I read on the brochure about how it was a "one handed deployment"  system that removed the bottles with a flick of the wrist, and I thought to myself, how tough can it actually be. I never used two hands before! However, after using this belt, it is really so easy to grab the bottles, especially since they are positioned in a good spot for me! I also liked that this belt is able to handled more! By that I mean that you can add different pouches that can hold anything from gels to cellphones or car keys. I used to have to use to different belts to hold gels and keys and such! The water bottles hold 8 ounces of your favorite liquid (and comes with a no leak cap, very important), so you could feasibly add another water bottle if you wanted to carry more! Plus it comes in a variety of colors so you can match it up to your running gear, cause we all know it is important to look good out there! The belts come with either a black or white belt with black, blue, red or pink trim

The only issue I had with the belt was that I think I should have order a bigger size, which was my fault. The Velcro strap makes it easy to wrap around, but with me having a 34 inch waist, I should have gone for the large which is 24-37, instead of the medium which is 31-34. So remember to always go larger when you go to get your Sync Hydration Belt, and speaking of getting you own Profile Design Sync Hydration Belt...

Profile Design has graciously agreed to give one person a new Sync Hydration Belt! So here are the rules to enter!

1. Leave a comment in the comment section of this blog. (1 entry)
2. Become or be a follower of Daily Trainings (1 entry)
3. Like Profile Design on FaceBook and Twitter (1 entry a piece)

You can leave me a comment stating you have done all these things on one comment. The drawing will last until March 14, 2013. Each entry will be assigned a number and then a random number generator will select the winning entry! You have a chance to have 4 entries!

**Special thanks to Profile Design for working with me on this! It is awesome that they are willing to help; with the giveaway and I can;t say Thank you enough!**

****CLOSED****

I Found It! It was right Outside!

I had been in a funk of sorts over the last week. I had a lot going on with work, I had some traveling to do and I was nursing a sore hamstring, so that gave me permission to slack. I had tweaked my hamstring at the last trail run 10K on a Sunday and I self diagnosed that I should rest it for awhile. So I did nothing (except for my crunches) for a couple of days and then the day I went out of town, I did a measly slow 3 miles. The hamstring felt fine by then.

I got back Thursday night and life was still hectic with family obligations and basketball games and play practice and tennis tournaments, it was just one of those days where everything is happening at once. So it took some planning to pull it all off. It also made for a long day. My head told me to ride my bike when I got home, but my body screamed "BEDTIME". My bed won.

Friday is a scheduled rest day every week, so I continued with that and didn't do anything. The kiddos were gone to a Disciple Now weekend at church and Granny was keeping the little guy, so me and my bride took off and grabbed a room at the Memphis Hilton. We slept in till 10:00 the next morning!  HEAVEN!!!!

So anyways, I knew I had to get back on schedule, back to my training plan. My plan called for a 6 mile run that day. I really had no desire to go, but I literally forced my self to go (after I finished watching the Daytona Nationwide series!  Did you see that crash at the end of the race? Crazy!) It probably took me 30 minutes to get ready, cause I was in no hurry. When I say I had no desire to go, I can not emphasize how much I did not want to run that day! 6 miles sounded like a lot to me that day, so I decided to break it up, thinking that would make it easier. We are lucky enough to live near a walking trail that is not used by many. I literally can run 3.2 miles on it without having to hit the road for more than 1/4 mile. It's great! I decided that I would run this twice, rather than trying to run all around the neighborhood trying to hit 6 miles. The main point of this was to trick my brain.

This actually worked for me. The first loop went by fairly quickly, and as I made the turn for the 2nd loop, I started thinking to myself that now is the time to start getting serious. If I want that sub 2:40 Olympic triathlon time, I have to start hitting it. I have to start being more intentional about my workouts. This actually turned out to be a better run than I would have imagined it would have been before I left. And it carried over to Sunday with my bike. I had a good, strong ride while watching the Daytona 500.

I think the spark to my motivation was just getting outside on a beautiful Memphis day and running. I really had zero expectation besides just finishing the run and getting the miles in. Also I understood, that there are going to be days where a run is simply that, just a run. It is not going to be fast, it is not going to be made up of a workout, it is going to to be hard to get motivated to get out there, and I guarantee there will be a race sometime this year where I want to give up and walk it in.That is where this run will come in handy, that run is what will get me to the finish line. It did not take me long to be glad I was out there running.

My 1st Love/Hate Relationship of 2013

I should say this is the 1st of many love/hate relationships I will have with my training in 2013! It just happens. I think we all go through some point where we have a love/hate relationship with our training. It will be the run, or the bike soon, but for me right now it's Master's Swim Class!

I have been trying to hit a Master's Class  a week now for about a month. For me, it is usually a good chance to get in a lot of speed work and it actually pushes me knowing that here is a coach on deck giving instructions and timing us. The coach also would give me some tips to help my swim stroke. It was always a great swim workout that I remembered in the past.

However, there is a new Master's class coach.

This new coach is not a bad Master's class coach at all, so I am not complaining about the level of coach or anything, but...

We are doing things in there that I am not sure I want to do. For example, we usually start off the class with some 100's on 2 minutes. I am usually the second to finish in the class and have plenty of time to prepare for the next set. Then we move on to kick sets, which is not my strong point, but I try.  Last class, we then went into a backstroke drill called the L drill, where I almost drowned! Again, let me say, I do not backstroke. I train swimming freestyle because that's what I swim when I  race. I understand that learning different strokes will help me be a better swimmer, but we all know a race is not won in the swim right? In the video below, the L drill is demonstrated at the 1:12 mark or so. The only difference is we did not switch hands, we went the length of the pool with the same hand pointing to the sky and then went back with the other hand pointed up! Two things I learned, 1. I hate this drill and 2. When I did get close to doing it right, I can not swim it in a straight line!

It was hard. I thought I was going to drowned, but I tried my best. It was tiring, so I took a break at one point when the coach came over and said she "noticed I only breathed on my left side". I also breath every stroke, it works for me. Well she said she is going to get me breathing bilaterally!

I DO NOT WANT TO LEARN TO BREATH BILATERALLY!

So our next drill, it was a bilateral breathing drill! DOH!! We were suppose to do a 3 count breath for a  length and a 5 count breath back for 400 yards using the pull buoy and paddles. Remember, I breath to my left every stroke, so I knew it was going to be tough, but I also know that this will be good for the lungs somehow (not exactly sure how?) so I tried. For me to go from breathing every stroke (or every time my right hand goes into the water) to a 3 or 5 stroke slowed me way down. It really made me feel awkward in  the pool and yeah,  I did manage to get some breaths on my non breathing side, but I was also took in a lot of water. I basically was holding my breath until I could get to breath on my left like normal.

I guess what I really want is to go back to the days where we swam 3000 yards fast, furious and freestyle. I heard that the others in the class complained that freestyle was boring and that they wanted to learn other strokes. Which is cool, I mean it is a free class for members.  I love the workout I can get, but I hate the other strokes, so I must decide what to do. I am only swimming twice a week because I am good with my boring unilateral breathing freestyle swimming. I guess my options are to dump the Masters class and do my own drills one day and endurance swims the other or to learn these other strokes.

It's Not Like It Was 3 Years Ago...

If you had asked me if I was training right a few years ago, I probably would have said you betcha, "I am hitting all my mileage". I would have believed myself also, but now I know I have not been training like I should until about a year ago, and that is when I started seeing the most results.

Now, I have always followed a plan since I first started training for triathlon, and I thought I was doing it right. If my plan said for me to run 4 miles that day, then I would go run 4 miles. If I were to swim 1500 yards, then I swam 1500 yards and called it a day. I was basically going through the motions thinking I was getting a good workout in.I wasn't getting any faster or making any type of progress. The reason why never dawned on me until I took a good hard look at my training plans. I had nothing planned for interval work, recovery runs, speed work was not happening at all. I was simply running to get the miles completed. This was my mistake.

After really going through my 2010 numbers, it was shown to me that I was not training as much as I thought, and I certainly wasn't training as smart as I should have been. So I knew I needed to make a change in my planning. So I did. I started working on speed drills in all segments. I run three times a week. One run is speed work, meaning I really push the pace for a determined amount of time. Usually for somewhere around a 2 fast pace and a 1 minute recovery for an extended distance. My next run is more of a steady "race pace", but yet slower than a race. My third run is a recovery run and it is the slowest of them all. This has been working for me because I am on a PR streak!

I am only swimming twice a week now and it is simply labeled as a medium swim and a long swim. On my medium swims, I normally try to hit the Master's class. A good solid hour of drills and speed work and my second swim is normally what I call an endurance swim where I try to keep race pace for an extended distance.

My bike, well, so far this year it has been all trainer work. I know a lot of the pros use the trainer, and I can honestly say I feel I am getting the most of it as possible. When it warms up, I will be outside, but until then, it is a trainer ride for me. I am using my cadence sensor to establish my training than I am anything else. While I have m bike computer on my rear wheel, I am just not as confident that the speeds are correct. So I use it only as a "measurement", and rely on the cadence sensor. I have so much work to do on the bike to be ready, but I am not shying away from it.

One thing I can say is that it is taking some planning in order to follow a training plan. As you know, Monday and Wednesdays are my double up days, meaning I run and bike on those days, and it takes everything I have to get up early and get in the run. It is not as easy as I would like it, but I know when I hit that PR at my Olympic race, it will be sweet.

So tell me how your training has changed over the last two or three years? Anything significant?

P.S. I am still sticking strong to my crunches goal, only 6,000 more to go! I added a countdown over here so you can see. I WILL DO THEM ALL!

New Trainer, Big Difference`

As the title reads, I got a new trainer. I blogged a little about it in my last post, but now I have had a chance to really ride on it since we have been having a lot of rain and a lot of cold! So before I had been riding on a trainer I got from Nashbar, nothing fancy about it, just a good solid trainer. I used that thing for at least two years and I liked it (as much as you can like a trainer). A friend of mine called and said he was getting rid of his Cyclops Magneto trainer and asked if I was interested. Of course, I was interested, the name brand alone made me interested, but I wanted to take some time to look at some reviews.

I found very few reviews that had anything bad to say, and a ton of reviews that loved this trainer, SO once the price was right, and I got a great deal, I bought it. My old trainer was sold at a very minimum price to a friend of mine that is fairly new to triathlons, so we are at a win win!

So after a few rides on it, I really like it. One of the best things I like about it is that it is quiet, or quieter than my last one. My bride even commented that is is quieter when I ride when she goes to bed. The second thing I like about it is the ease of putting my bike on it. It is basically one lever I use to secure my bike, then it's riding time! The third thing I like about it is I think it is a tougher ride than my other trainer. I am not sure if it is due to the front wheel block I am using or not, or I am not sure if it is that I am truly not in the best bike fitness phase, but it does seem tougher, and I like it. I know I can utilize this to get a great workout. I have found a couple of great trainer workouts that are geared for triathletes, so I am excited to try them out.

BIKE COMPUTER:

My buttons got too sticky! Yeah that's right. The buttons on my bike computer got stuck and won't go through the different windows. I know it is due to sweat and Gatorade spilling on it it and me not being aware of it and not cleaning it up. Lesson learned. Anyways, I was told that I could use alcohol on it to get the buttons unstuck, but that did not work. So I took it to a bike shop that sells Specialized bikes and components to see what they could do. Here is the best news, they are going to replace it under warranty!.  I was prepared to have to buy a new computer, so this is great news. I asked for the exact same model so I do not have to re-install everything.

Very exciting stuff huh? Plus I have dropped a couple pounds already and kept up on my core workouts! 2013 is going to be a good year!!!!!

My Tri/Exercise Favorite Videos!!

This post is all about my favorite triathlon/exercise related videos, some you have seen before, others maybe not. Enjoy!

What if Gender Roles at the Gym were flipped? Give this a minute to load! Funny Stuff

Sorry I removed it, cause it played every time I opened my blog! Here is the link if you did not get a chance to see it!

Work Out Video from the Flip Side

Clif Bar Triathlon Start Practice- An all time favorite

Don't Be an Awkward Runner!!

Stuff We Say...

And Stuff We don't Say...