BREATHE

Sorry, one last post today.   The title of this post is significant.

For some time now, I have drawn some motivation on road runs from an event that happened over 13 years ago.  For the most part, I have kept this to myself.  Simply using it to focus and drive me when needed.

This journey I have decided to take has given me a reason to now express this in a new way.

In February of 1997, a good friend of mine, Scott Spencer, died of a rare lung aliment.  Devastating to many of us near him, the grieving and healing took quite a while.

His life loving personality and ability to make you want to be around him, was captivating.  Maybe this is the source of my desire to carry this out.

I have decided to dedicate this race to Scott, or as we knew him, Spanky or Fathead.

I have visualized his last moments of life many times.  His struggle to simply...BREATHE.

So, every time I turn my head in the water, every time I draw in from the breezes on the bike, every time I fill my lungs as my feet pound the ground, I will BREATHE.  Because he couldn't.

Thanks for the life you lived and the inspiration you are now giving me.

The Lake.  The Road.  The Path.
Three fights, One Victory!  BREATHE!

Decision Made

Keep going to the KC Triathlon website to register, hesitating, then logging out.  Choices

*Sprint (750 yd swim, 12-15 mile ride, 3.1 mile run)
*Olympic (.9 milde swim, 26 mile ride, 6.2 mile run)

Really wanted to go Olympic, but after seeking advice from  experienced racers (Thanks Gregger), I am content in my decision to go with the Sprint.  I can then make a late summer Olympic a more realistic goal.

I feel good about this.  I am going to treat it as it's name implies.  My focus for the next five months will be speed, which I lack.

Here we go!

The Lake.  The Road.  The Path.
Three fights, One Victory!

I RAN!!

Finally.  I attempted a little track run this afternoon.  Felt the calf start to strain, but dug in and completed a 5K.  8:50 pace with some pain.  Felt good to get it in.  I guess even without running, the conditioning has helped.  Yoga tomorrow.

Having a Cow, over my Calf!

Went for a run yesterday.  Really wanted to squeeze it into this small window of time I had in the afternoon.  Two laps in, calf strain.  AGAIN.  I guess six days rest didn't do it.  Went with a 45 minute Stationary bike ride.  Calf held up.  Didn't swim this morning.  Just didn't have it in me.  I am struggling with the line between losing my edge and listening to my body.

Anyway, looks like lots of swimming, biking and lifting until after the new year.  Need to stay away from feet pounding for a bit.

The Lake.  The Road.  The Path.
Three fights, One Victory!

TWO-A-DAYS

Not a fan of this practice at my age.  One every week or two is plenty.  Swam in the morning. Lifted in the evening.  By the end of the night, I was really craving massive amounts of food.  Not a bad thing.

The swim was a little frustrating.  One, it was 13 degrees when I left for the pool.  Two, some guy had this really cool waterproof MP3 player that I wanted.  Three, he was way faster than me in the pool.   Luckily, some elderly man was doing aqua walking in the pool for rehab.  I beat him.  I feel like I am swimming in slow motion sometimes.  Need a little boost to bump up my motivation for getting in the water again this week.

Lifting, on the other hand went well.  I jumped up a small percentage in my bench/squat and even did some weighted pullups.  Maybe this will help my swim Friday morning.

The Lake.  The Road.  The Path.
Three fights, One Victory!

SLOW-MO

Maybe first time ever.  Walked, ON PURPOSE, on a treadmill.  I have always considered this an insignificant activity.  Now, after reading that the elite triathletes implement walking in their training, I figured its time.

Really didn't like it.  But was kind of forced, given my calf strain.  Thinking I might need to implement it weekly.  But, man, what else can I throw in the mix?

5:30 am swim tomorrow.  Projected temp at alarm buzz, 13.

FOOD FIGHT

Over the last four or five weeks I have attempted to modify my diet..significantly. I have never eaten poorly, but I knew that this goal would require a food fight.  Here are the foods I have fought so far. Gone are the late night bowls of cereal.  The calories aren't horrible but the sugar, sheesh.  Sorry R7 Nutrition Services, school lunches, gone.  And now the toughest food fight there is.  Bye bye buffets.  Overeating, not eating the wrong food has been my crisis.

Now the foods that are winning.  I've added Greek yogurt.  Add a little Splenda and you have an awesome protein source.  FRUIT, FRUIT, FRUIT.  At least that many servings a day.  I'm taking out the protein bar for lunch (glorified candy bar) and now trying a salad or sandwich with lean meat.  Thanks California Johnny.  Dinner is still a work in progress.

Finally, pop, even diet soda had to lose this food fight.  Cold turkey after averaging three 44 oz Diet Mountain Dew's a day (seriously), was horrible.  Headaches, cravings, ibuprofen.  Done.  Water wins.

For anyone wanting to take on one of these food fights and win.  Take one bad away, add a good.  Endure for three weeks.  Three weeks makes a habit.  You will learn to like it, I promise.

IRONY BITES

The day I chose to begin blogging my Tri-Try, irony strikes. 0.78 miles into my scheduled run, my calf felt like an opening venetian blind.  Slightly freaked out, I texted for a car ride home.  I'm not sure what happened but it really bummed me out.  Now what?


Ice tonight.  Test it out tomorrow.  Aging should be banned.

The Lake... The Road... The Path...

I have decided to chronicle the next 5 months as I journey toward a finish line on May 22, 2011.  I have never attempted a triathlon, but, at the age of 49, I have decided, before I start qualifying for free and reduced food at IHOP, its time to GO. 
I am blogging this for two reasons.  One, I am hoping it will hold me accountable.  Two, I hope you will see, that if I can, YOU can.  I'm nobody special.  My journey will not be amazing.  It will be real and attainable.  For anyone.