Long Days, Pool Closures, and Riding with Magnum

Wow!!!  What a way to start the New Year.  As you all know last week was only a four day week, but I still ended up working 47 hours.  It is that time in an engagement when it is time for the deliverables.  Friday night ended at 10:30.  When am I going to win the lottery—oh yeah, I have to play it first.  That has kept me from blogging.  However, that hasn’t stopped me from working out. 

As I stated in my last post, I am taking my runs easy.  I only ran about 14 miles in the last week.  I have run running 3 miles a couple of times, and then couple of 4 mile runs with a friend of mine.  My feet are feeling good.  I am doing stretching before and after.  It takes about a mile and half for my feet to loosen up and after that they feel great.  I will be upping my morning runs to 3.5 miles and my “longer” runs to about 4.5. 

I have tried to get in a swim a couple of times and would you believe that the pool is closed for swim team training.  I just don’t time it well and the Rec Center doesn’t post the times very well.  So after they got my dues today, I had a couple of words about the poor posting of which days and what times the pool is closed for the training. 

Yesterday was my planned ride.  So today, I ended up riding the bike also.  The good news about riding on the training for 45 minutes is that I get to watched Magnum PI solve another case.  This is what it looks like when I ride the trainer and watch TV.  Scary huh?

A New Year or I had better get off my ass

This past year was not a good year for me and just not in the racing and training agenda.  I have suffered from plantar fasciitis since my return from Afghanistan last year.  I attempted to train through the pain and hoped it would just get better on its own.   We know how that typically turns out.  Even though I did not train well because of the pain I still did three Olympic Distance races, one sprint, and the Army Ten Miler.  How smart is that?  I have no done much training since the Army Ten Miler.  I have stretched a lot more and I can tell a big difference.  Since Christmas I have done 4 short easy runs with lots of stretching, 3 bike rides on the trainer, and a couple of days of swimming.  I am starting to feel so much better and more motivated. 

I have a lot of plate on right now.  Historically, I do much better when I have a full plate.  I am forced to focus and get my ass in gear.  I have a busy first quarter of work already planned, I have taken command of an Army Reserve Battalion in St. Paul, MN, and I want to do a half-iron distance race this year.  All of these challenge me to do my best and stay busy. 

Prior to Christmas the Bride and I took our yearly cruise.  This year we went to Roatan and Cozumel.  When I went to put some of the “cruise” clothes I realized how tight they were.  That really shook me.  I did not realize I had put on that much weight.  During the cruise I turned 41 and that hit me worse than 40 did.  After coming home I stepped on the scale for the first time in ages and I was shocked at how much I weighed. I was close to 20lbs more than I want to weigh.  I want to lose 20lbs and I have 25lbs as an outside goal.  That will make me feel and look better. 

We returned from our Christmas trip to Chicago and since then I have been running, short and slow, in order to allow my body and feet to adjust to the stress.  I have done some 40 minute bike rides, and a couple of 1600 meter swims.  On January 1, 2012 my buddy John and I did our annual Bike and a Movie.   We did 90 minutes on the trainer as we watched Army of Darkness.   If you have never seen this movie AND you like bad funny movies I highly recommend it.  It will make you laugh out loud. 

Now I have to determine if I want to do the Patriots Half in Williamsburg, VA or the Augusta 70.3.  If anyone has an comments I would love to hear them. 

I have also started a Twitter account.  My account is @lzytriathlete.  I look forward to reading your comments, motivations, and anything else you wish to send my way. 

Happy New Year to all.