Happy New Year!
Happy New Year. 2010 was a good year for me despite some things in my personal life that I did not expect. I completed two half Ironman races and my first marathon. 2011 brings with it a lot of unknown things including my first time being single in over 10 years. It is a bit scary but I’m sure I will make it through the rough parts. 2011 also brings with it Ironman Canada. I’m training with a great group of people and can’t wait to see them at the finish-line.
Honolulu Marathon
I had some miles built up and a few vacation days to burn before the end of the year so I decided to sign up for the Honolulu Marathon. It is four weeks away and I can hardly wait. I basically took all the triathlon training I was doing and just started focusing on running about a month ago. Today I ran 20 miles for the second weekend in a row. It is all taper from here until the race. It will be my first marathon. Wish me luck!
My First Year of Triathlon
I apologize for not updating my blog enough. I was really excited when I got started but just let it go. I blame facebook. Anyway, I had a really great summer. I completed two half Ironman distance races and made a lot of new friends.
Next year I am signed up to run Ironman Canada in August. For those who don’t know, it is a 140.6 mile race. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a full marathon at the end. I am also signed up to do St. Anthony’s Olympic distance triathlon in May. I am doing St. Anthony’s with Team in Training.
Thank you for stopping by. I promise to update more often.
Rough week
For he first time in awhile work really interfered with my training. I worked a lot of over time over the past week and was only able to work out a few times. However, the workouts I was able to get in were quite good. I rode 30 miles on Saturday and ran 5k. On Wednesday I took the day off and rode 30 miles and did a 10k run. I felt really good being out of the office for a mental health day.
20K Run!
Yesterday the weather was perfect for a nice run. I thought I would run about 6 miles but in the end I ran a bit over 12 before it got to dark for me to continue. This was the first time I’ve had the so-called “runner’s high” that made me just want to keep going.
Awesome Saturday!
Yesterday went very well for me. I got t the park around 10 (early for me on a Saturday) and did 50 miles on my tri bike. The first 30 really weren’t much of a problem, but just to be safe I rested before going back out for the next 20. I stretched a bit and felt really good on the last 20. I finished it off with a 5k run. All in all a good morning at Kensington park.
I went home, had lunch and was out again for a quick mountain bike ride with a co-worker. We got about 10 miles into the ride and I realized that the bag holding my car keys had fallen off in the trail. We had to back track and find it. Luckily two other guys on the trail found it and returned it to me. In the end we rode about 15 miles and walked some too while we looked for the bag. I’m a little sore today but looking forward to doing some strength training this afternoon.
First open water swim of the year
I’m “up north” at my parents’ condo on Lake Huron enjoying a nice holiday weekend. My wetsuit came this week so I decided to give it a try in the 40 degree water. That’s F not C, so the water was pretty cold, or so I thought… The wetsuit was great! I even felt hot. What an amazing thing. I wish I could say the same thing about my performance in the water…
I was only able to swim for about 20 minutes before my legs started cramping (probably from the 40 miles on the bike I did before the swim). Anyway, I thought it was dangerous to continue swimming and came to shore. I have a lot of swim work to do if I am going to be ready for the half Ironman 1.2 mile swim coming up later this summer. Good thing I like to work hard.
A mile stone!
Two years ago when I started on this “health kick” I could only run about 1/4 mile before I had to stop. Today I was able to run around the park I used to have to walk at. It was only a little over 8 miles (not that 8 miles isn’t a lot) but it felt great to run the entire way around the park without stopping.
Since my last post…
A lot has happened to me since my last post. I’ve been training with Detroit Iron Triathlon Club. They are a great group of people and use their love of sport to raise money for cancer research. I’ve been biking a lot and even completed a 50 mile ride just one week ago. Right now I’m averaging about 100 to 120 miles a week on the bike. I’ve been running too. I’m up to between 20 and 30 miles a week 40 to 50 would be better. I will eventually get there. Swimming is another story…
I fell at my office and broke my hand not long after my last post. I had to have surgery and was not able to swim since March. I am going to turn it around though and not let it get me down. The weather is nice and I can’t wait to get out in the open water and enjoy it.
P90X — Day 90… Again!!!
I just finished my last workout for my second round of P90X. I feel great. I look great. But I’m just beginning. When I started P90x almost 6 months ago a lot of people told me that I wouldn’t last a week. I proved them wrong and have lasted 6 months. Sadly I don’t think I’m going to do another 90 days, at least not until I’m done training for my first summer of 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, and triathlons. I think it is important to change things up, and while I am going to miss Tony, I know he’ll be right there waiting for me when I’m ready to get back into it full time next fall.
If you are reading this and wondering if you should do P90X my recommendation is to go for it. I still think it is hard and it still kicks my ass. But this is what you really want and likely really need. Email me or post comments if you have specific questions.
The plan is to start my triathlon training in earnest. I like to aim high so I am going to try and train as if I were going to run a full Ironman in the fall. I don’t think I’m going to do that, but it is worth trying to see if I can make it through the training. If I can and I’m ready to roll, I will give it a shot. Wish me luck.
