Decisions

So it's 9:00am and my finger is on the enter key. Do I hit it? Do I register? Those in the Tri world know today is St. Anthony's registration day and like so many races it sells out quick. Probably not the biggest decision in the world, but for today it was important and it was insightful.
the phone rings and the first of my tri buddies calls to tell me he is backing out and that our other buddy is out as well. Now it is no longer and impulse group decision. I have to decide...one, I still want to go, however I also decided that this season I would stay local. I would focus on my training and some weight loss, hence losing clyde. So that combined with the monet it would cost to hit up St. Petersburg, FL. St. Anthony's is out.

oh yeah

GO MIZZOU!

Back in the Saddle Again or Confessions...both seem like good titles.

First confession. I am apparently a crappy blogger. So few posts, those that know me would be shocked that I have so little to say. Anyhoo here goes the back in the saddle again part.

Second Confession. Tony Little Rocks!

Yes the crazy "You can do it!" guy. His book TECHNIQUE!

is probably one of the best fitness books i have ever read and i recommend it to all of my friends.Yes I know thats why I called this confessions.

In my non blogging time I haven't been terribly bad in my training.

				Mileage	Time	Avg Pace/Mile	Avg Speed (mph)	HR AVG	HR MAX		CORE
7/23/2007		M	Run	1.23	15:21	12:28	4.8				Abs, Legs
7/24/2007		T	Run	2.13	30:05	14:09	4.2	144	171		Abs, Legs
7/25/2007		W	Run	2.24	31:11	13:55	4.3	149	172		Abs, Legs
7/26/2007		T	Run	2.2	30:06	13:40	4.4	148	171		Abs, Legs
7/27/2007		F	Run	2.25	30:11	13:26	4.5	147	172		Abs, Legs
7/28/2007		S	Bike	27.6	1:41:12	3:40	16.4	157	179
7/30/2007		M	Run	2.35	30:21	12:54	4.6	157	170		Legs, Arms
7/31/2007		T	Run	2.38	30:44	12:53	4.7	155	172		Abs

Ok So this post looks like a technicolor yawn, but hey it's out there and I am moving forward in my quest.

The newly named 'Twilight Run' - Roosters and Jesus

There is a bike route that I know I can hit in the time right after work. Once I step out of my office First Round: brave the insane traffic that is my city and arrive safely home. T1: grab my bike, kit and head back out. Round Two is my actual bike ride. By the time I arrive the race is between me and the sun. The route I traditionally ride is a 15 mile out and back. Thus I have now dubbed it the “Twilight Run.” So the real question one must ask is how do roosters and Jesus fit into the mix?

Excellent Question! The sidebar to this is I need a camera that I can carry in on of my Jersey pockets. Posterity is not fond of those without cameras… Back to the roosters, about mile 2 there trail crosses a highway. One’s natural reaction is to slow down and look for cars. Mine too. On this particular evening there was a rooster chasing a chicken across the bike path. It was picture perfect. Rooster vs. Chicken.

Why is this odd? There are no farms that I know of nearby only a high school. Hmmm… Now onto how I might have met Jesus or at least one of his incarnations. Please note this is my introspection and not ment to offend.

Ok this part gets a little deep so---- I am at the end of my ride and the whole time I have been playing the fun game of can I catch the person I see ahead of me. Well my final challenge was a gentleman on a red road bike off in the distance. I am at the end of my ride so I drop the hammer a bit and go cruising around what I soon realize is an older African American gentleman riding a two decade old road bike, old bike lock chain included hanging off the frame, and I think there may have even been a wire mesh basket. Within moments I hear over my Ipod someone talking with me. The gentleman with no visible effort is right beside me talking at me. I pull an ear bud out and learn that he is re-riding the trail looking for the key to his car. Concerned, I begin to inquire about where he parked, where he thinks he may have lost it, etc. He assures me that he has a spare, but was just looking in case he stumbled across it. We ride together for a moment longer chat briefly and I wish him luck and I speed off again. I turn to go to my car and think maybe I should have offered him a ride? I look back at the trail and there is no man. I know many of friends would consider me a bit loco, but this one was out there for even me. It may seem odd, but growing up catholic and having the K-12 scars to prove it, just kidding about the scars, it almost seemed like a test. Will you snub the nice man, will you help him in his ‘needle in the haystack’ quest, and how will you react? How would you react? Ok so who know if the man was the son of God, but in reflection it did sort of feel like one of the big guys little tests. A big hmmmm

Between Roosters and Jesus it makes you step back and think about the people we meet and things we see. How we remember this journey and how we wish to be remembered.

One of my favorite quotes:
“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.” ~ Bruce Lee

Losing Clyde - The Begining

I don’t really want to be a Clyde (not that there is anything wrong with it – Insert Jerry Seinfeld voice) There are many extremely talented athletes who are in the Clydesdale category. I just happen to not want to be one of them….This is the story of my journey out of the Clydesdale ranks.

The Vitals:
Weight (lbs): 231
Converted to Kilo's: 104.73
Quartlet Index Body Fat %(BM): 29.64
Body Fat (scale) %: 28.5%

So what does it take to be a Clyde? According to the USTA

Article 3.2 Section b

Clydesdale/Athena Categories. The official minimum weight standard for this category is 200 pounds for
men, 150 pounds for women, to be monitored by the local race director.

Or you can be an actual horse,

The birth of our racing namesake (paraphrased from Wikipedia)

The Clydesdale is a breed of draft horse derived from the very hard-working farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named for that region. Thought to be over 300 years old, the breed was extensively used for pulling heavy loads in rural, industrial and urban settings, their common use extending into the 1960s when they were a still a familiar sight pulling the carts of milk and vegetable vendors.
The Clydesdale is thought to have arisen from the mid-18th century cross breeding of local mares with larger English and Flemish stock perhaps originally developed for use as warhorses.

But I digress,

My own personal journey to Clyde status has taken place over a number of years and is the result of poor diet and limited activity. I freely admit these things, however I also believe that I can reverse the process as well.

Only time will tell....

Ironman Ethics

Today I was listing to the "Get your Geek on Podcast" and Iron Wil was talking about her Ironman Wisconsin experience. It is a great podcast and I won't waste a bunch of time recapping it. You should listen # 30, I believe.
Anyway the nuts and boltsof it is Triathlon is about the journey and not the destination. There are all these comments about triathletes being A-type personalities. What is an A-Type personality.

You Have A Type A Personality

You are hyper, energetic, and always on the mood You tend to succeed at everything you attempt And if you don't succeed at first, you quickly climb your way to the top! You could be called a workaholic, but you also make time for fun As long as it's high energy and competitive, you're interested You have the perfect personality for business and atheltic success

SO apparently I fit the bill. What does this have to with anything? It has to do with this. Sometimes I ask myself, Self, what the hell? Today I had a two hour dentist appointment. This included an hour or so of deep cleaning followed by enogh novacaine to deaden my mouth for about 4 hrs, in fact all of the feeling still hasn't returned and it's been 5 1\2 hours. I was told it would clear up in a couple of hours " feeling should return in about 20 minutes.: Not the filling did not hurt at all so I can't really complain. But where am I going with this? I still did my swim workout. Staright from the Dentist to the pool. My first question out the chair. Can I still do my swim workout? I guess this is what it means to be A-Type. I guess that is what it means to be a triathlete. Day 18 of Round One. Bring it On!

New Beginings

I started the weekend like almost any other. Thinking how am I going to relax away the stress of the week and be ready for the next one. It's an intricate dance of doing nothing whilst accomplishing something.

I stayed to true to my training goals and Road 52 miles, swam 1.5 and jogged 1 mile. So that is an accomplishment. Not so strong for the relaxing though. Time with friends is relaxing and that was nice.

So why new beginings? Because it's time for one. Like a caterpillar coming out of it's cocoon. It's time for me to shed some old ways. I have roughly 8 weeks to finish preparing myself for a half ironman distance race and i need to shed a few old habits and work to start some new ones. Rumor has it if you do something for 21 days its a habit. Well 60 days seems even better, so how about 3 20 day segments.

Today is day one only 19 to go for round one.

Personel Thoughts on South Beach

Week One Questions

* What is your main Challenge goal?

My main challenge goal is two fold. One I want to develop the proper blood chemistry that Dr. Agaston discusses in the book. Second, as a blooming triathlete, I would like to slim down and become more fit along the way. They really don't make flattering race clothes for the "big boned" triathlete.

* Have you tried healthy eating plans in the past that haven't worked — or made New Year's resolutions to become healthier — but then fallen off track?

Who hasn't made a new years resolution to become healthier and then fallen of the wagon. However, i haven't really tried any formal healthy eating plans in the past.

* Why is this the right time for you to start the Challenge?

There is no better time than now? How about the journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first step. Now is the right time because I don't want to be like many of the people i see around me addicted to a variety on medication to regulate their bodies. Aestically, I learned in order to get a six pack I need to get to 7% body fat.

* Are your friends and family aware of your plans and prepared to support you?

Yes and No, some of friends know, I haven't gone to far out of my way to tell everyone i am doing this.