Enthusiasm

Now that I have been hanging with triathletes for a little while, I have discovered that they are an enthusiastic bunch.   I suppose that should be no surprise.   Often a conversation or response will start with "that would be awesome."  Often things are "sweet."     For example, I might say, "Looks like it is going to sleet when you were planning to ride on Saturday."   They would reply, "That would be awesome!" or "SWEET!"

Recently, I was asking around about some of the other triathlons coming up because I really need to get a couple others in before the big one in August.   One is coming up in late April or early May locally.   I was advised that it was perfect because the water was getting warm  (expected temperature is about 66 degrees.)  I, on the other hand, am usually cold for at least 100 m when I jump in an 82 degree pool.   Naturally, I am looking a little further south or perhaps a little later in the Spring for an event.  

Don't think that I am trying to paint these guys as crazy and me as sane.  Truth be told, I could do well to think more like them.   That's one of the reasons these guys are able to do what they do.   They are driven, enthusiastic, optimistic and positive about almost everything that they do.  Nothing is impossible.      They also luckily happen to be very outgoing, friendly and fun. 

Whether I am a triathlete or not, it is good for me to hang out with eternally positive people.  Crazy or not, I hope it is contagious.

Have a great day AND happy training (sleet or not)!  

David

Anthem 5K

This morning was the Anthem 5K here in Louisville.   It was about 36 degrees and clear this morning and it was a perfect day for a 5K.   I do not know the official count but it appeared to me that there were 10,000 to 12,000 who participated.

I happen to love these kinds of events.  There are so many people and it is a party atmosphere.  People of all levels participate.    They do sometimes present a challenge though for your training program, which is why I skipped these events last year.

Since I am not planning on doing the marathon in April, I have a much lighter running schedule right now.   Still it was a little bit of a challenge.  I was supposed to run 5 miles today.   The 5K is just a little more than 3.    To try to make up for it, I ran about a mile and a half warm up lap before the race and then ran a short distance after the race. 

There is part of me that feels like it is not a big deal if I only do 3 miles today.   But then I look down the road and in just 4 weeks, I am supposed to run 10 miles.   Then just 3 more weeks to run a half marathon.   When you skimp on the mileage, you might find yourself too far behind to catch up.

Anyway, one more in the books and it was a blast.  But I am obsesssing a little over the fact that I didnt do a full uninterrupted 5 or 6 miles.   Soooo, I might try to do that again tomorrow. 

It is supposed to reach the 60's today!  So, later this afternoon, I am planning on taking the bike out for about a 30 mile ride.  

Hope you have a great day!  Let me know if you have any comments, questions, or advice.

Thanks for reading.

David

Little Setback

You can probably guess that there was very little training that occurred while I was in Costa Rica.  I did manage to get in a few runs but biking and swimming just weren't going to happen.    At least getting in the runs meant that I didn't lose an entire week's worth of fitness.    

I know that may sound kind of silly and I imagine some readers might be thinking that I am some sort of ultra-human gung-ho crazed lunatic.   But I promise you that as I said at the very beginning, I am not an elite athlete and never will be.  I am just a normal guy who is working hard and is determined.     The fact is that my trainer / buddy who is helping me get ready for this has told me that aerobic fitness begins to decline much faster than strength.   A weight lifter can skip several weeks in the gym and notice almost no difference in strength when he returns.   An aerobic athlete however will begin to lose aerobic fitness within about 48 hours.    

Now that I have said that, I am going to contradict myself.   While it is true that one begins to lose aerobic fitness, there is the problem of over-training that you also have to consider.   To maintain a program of aerobic challenges, you have to build in some off time as well.    

My buddy Cody more or less told me not to worry about working out at all while I was in Costa Rica.  He felt like the time off would be healthy for me.   I on the other hand am always worried about the unexpected things that will come up.   There will be times when I have a project or meeting for work and have to skip a workout.  There will be times when I am sick and will have to miss.   There will be times when I have an injury.    So, I am always worried about missing workouts when I am healthy and there are no complications.   

When I got back from Costa Rica, I started up my program again and was feeling pretty good.   I got my six month training program e-mailed to me.  (That is another story)  Cody told me that it was time to get started and I got my workout plan for the first 6 weeks.    AND THEN that same night, I slipped on some ice in a parking lot and pulled something in my left hip.   Adding insult to injury, I also came down with a back cold / flu and had to spend 3 days in bed.    So I missed the next 4 days.     

I ended up being sick for more than a week.  After 4 days, I decided that I was well enough to go back to the gym.   But it has been a rough week.  Yesterday, I had to do some sprints along with my swim routine and then I had to do a spin class.    I was so tired at the end of the day, I was in bed about 9:30.   Today, all I had to do was run 4 miles, which I did on a treadmill (it was snowing).   Once again, I am beat.    

So, I am out of the gate but it is a slow start.   

And that about brings you up to date.   

Hope all is well with you!  Thanks for reading and let me know if you have any questions, comments, or advice.   

Take care. 

David