Feeling better

I was back in the pool for only the second time in about six weeks. I did swim last Tueday, but I laid my bike down in some gravel on last Wednesday and had some serious road rash on my right shin. My pool is big on not having open wounds seeping while you are actually in the water. I can't figure that out.

Today we started off with a 300 warm up and then went straight into a 1650 yd main set. This main set was broken down into 11 laps, 10 laps, 9, 8, 7, etc. Between each set of laps, we had 10 seconds rest. I completed the 1650 in 33:38 and minus the 1:40 of breaks I came in at 31:58, which is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I finished off with a 100 cool down, then 200 of hard kicking, and another 100 cool down. Finishing 2350 yds in about 54 minutes lifted my spirits. I just need to get my endurance back and then focus on form.

I know I always feel so much better when I get up in the morning and work out. Time management can be a problem for me when I am feeling overwhelmed. My charge to myself is to keep this up. I go to bed earlier, sleep better, and feel more motivated all day. But damn, that bed feels good this time year. :)

My Summer in 1000 words or so

Not that my dear readers really care what I have been up too, but I will tell you anyway. As I stated in my last blog post that I have not been working out much and I was humbled in a race today.

I took command of an army reserve unit in June and I have been on a very painful project at work. The work was interesting but it was not managed in the best way possible by client and it took a lot of long hours. Between my job and my respsonsibilities with the Army, I have been working 12-14 hours a day. Something had to give and it was my training. I kept thinking that my base could carry me through. However, it did not. I did the New Jersey State Triathlon in late July and that was my last race.

In August the bride and I headed down island for a week in the Cayman Islands. It was a great vacation where I did diving. If you head down to the Cayman's I highly recommend Divers Down. They run a great operation that has reasonable prices and no more than 8 divers per boat.

A couple of weeks ago we went White Water Rafting in Western Maryland. The night prior we camped at Rocky Gap State Park. It was a great night for camping, about 50 degrees. We got up, had a great breakfast, watched a little of a Mountain Bike Race and then headed off to the rafting site. This particular run was suppose to be Class II to III+. It was fun but I was disappointed in the rapids on the North Branch of Potomac.

So now I am back and if anyone is still reading this, please keep me honest.

Humiliation

This blog use to keep me honest. This blog use to motivate me to get off my ass and work out. Well, I stopped blogging and I have not been working out much. Or is it that I stopped working out much and therefore I stopped blogging? Interesting question don't you think?

This morning I did a small local 10K called the Dash for Dad and I was absolutely humiliated. I have been doing some 4-5 mile runs once a week or so, but nothing you could call serious training. I have ridden my bike twice since the New Jeresy State Triathlon and I even backed out of the Nation's Triathlon due work and lack of training.

When you run alone or even with a buddy and you are slow, you can blame it on chatting while you run or you don't want to leave the person because you are typically faster than they are. You can always find an excuse. However, in a race it is just you against the clock. Today the clock won!!! I did a flat 10K in 1:00:57. I am never really fast at the 10K distance, but I am a typical 50 minute guy. Today just flat out sucked. Today is the day I start training again. I can't lie to myself any more. The clock will not let me. I will beat the clock again.