Out with the old, in with the new

So for the 2010 running year, my best running times/distances are:
1 mile -- 6:11:09 (track)
5k -- 21:48 (hilly road)
4 mi -- 37:58 (hilly trail)
8k -- 41:34 (hilly trail)
10k -- 53:34 (hilly road)
12k -- 1:14:11 (flat road)
10 mile -- 1:27:24  (hilly road)
20k -- 2:04:10 (hilly trail)
13.1 -- 2:13:56 (flat road -- Augusta 70.3)

Not bad, but I know I can do better, especially with the longer distance races.  As of 1/3/11, I start training for Gulf Coast 70.3, so I will be back in the training plan in a few days.  My 2011 calendar is as follows:

February 7 -- Tallahassee Marathon -- scratch b/c of achilles tendonitis (again)
April 9 -- Red Hills Sprint Triathlon
May 7 -- Gulf Coast 70.3
June 23 -- Jax Sprint #1
July 16 -- Jax Sprint #2
August 6 -- Jax Sprint #3
September 11 -- Lake Lanier 5i50 (will choose either this, Augusta or Amelia)
September 26 -- Augusta 70.3
October 17 -- AmeliaMan 70.3
November 5 -- Ironman Florida

So far, my resolutions for 2011 are:
1.  Stay focused on food quality and portion control
2.  Stick with training schedule (unless injured)
3.  pending

Halfway through

my christmas vacation, and you can probably tell from the lack of posts in the last week that exercise has not exactly been a priority.  I went out on the bike for 1.5 hours last monday (yes, a week ago), and my achilles tendon really started hurting about 30-45 min in, so I have been taking it easy.  I figure if I can't pedal a bike, I better not even try running.  I have started swimming (well, I swam once last week) again, and Sissy got me some new swim gear -- flippers, paddles, etc. so I figure that will help out. 

I have also been eating a ton of junk/holiday food and have had a slight cold/allergies the last couple of days.  My weight has ballooned to 209, a far cry from my 186 during race season, and the 175 I want to be at this coming race season. So when my training schedule for Gulf Coast 70.3 starts on 1/1/11, I will have my work cut out for me.  As much as I enjoy the holidays, I can't wait for them to end so I can get back in a routine.

Today I may try cycling on the indoor trainer some (too cold and windy out there).  But first I want to really warm up and stretch my achilles tendon.  Don't know when my next post will be, but if you don't see it that means I'm not exercising.

Friday -- Empty Office

Ok, so today -- on my last day before a 2 week christmas break -- most of my employees are out of the office.  So, here is to hoping that it is a quiet day.  This week has been sort of a transition for me.  My achilles tendon has really gotten better this week.  Swelling is pretty much gone, except for a small knot on my achilles tendon.  No longer sore when walking.  I can still feel a twinge of pain when I stretch, but that is when I am really stretched out.  I haven't tried running on it yet, but in no rush since I am not running the Tallahassee Marathon.  I have decided to make sure I am 100% for my training for... wait for it... IMFL!!!!!

Ok, exercie this week has been riding the trainer, riding the stationary cycle, riding the spinner, abripperx 2x, and some stretching during lunch at the gym at work.  It is finally no longer freezing so I am going to start swimming again.

I am really looking forward to next two weeks.  I plan on doing a lot of bike riding and seeing how my achilles tendon feels.

I previously mentioned that I had my annual checkup last week.  Well the results from my blood testing came back last week:

Cholesterol -- 182, compared to 151 (2009), should be less than 200
Triglyceride -- 224, compared to 259 (2009), should be less than 150
HDL -- 34, compared to 28 (2009), should be greater than 50
LDL -- 103, compared to 71 (2009), should be less than 100
Vitamin D -- 33.3, compared to 31.6 (2009), should be greater thsn 32

Doc ordered me to cut carbs, animal fat and cheese and to double up on my flax, fish oil and vitamin D.  So some gains, some losses... makes me really regret not sticking around my lowest weight of 186.  Since I quit training for August (actually quit in week 12 of a 18 week training plan), I have gained weight.  I raced Augusta at 202 (Sept 27), and am now hovering around 205.  I really have to get back under 200.  My goal is 180.

Step-by-step

Ok, in honor of my wife, I picked this title from NKOTB.  hang on... barf.... barf.... ok I feel better now.  Move along, nothing to see here.

Ok, so since my last post, I have:
1.  Ate less sushi (Friday and Sat lunch, but that is all).
2.  Went hunting Sat am (saw a doe and a yearling).
3.  Went to the gun show and bought a mossberg 590.  bad-ass!!!  and she fits nicely right under my bed.
4.  Hung out with the Sizzler.
5.  Smokeout sat night.  (i.e., nice dinner w/ friends, cigars and liquor)
5B.  Just missed out on a sweet cyclocross bike on ebay (I effed up big time).
5C.  Got my trainer back (that is turbo for your brits)
6.  Slept in sun
7.  Bought Sissy a droid incredible sun (merry christmas)
8.  Worked out Monday lunch
9.  Rode tri bike on trainer Monday after work.  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/59656963
10.  Had a protien shake for dinner Monday night.

All things being equal, not bad.  I have rested my achilles tendon.  Spend 15 minutes stretching it out today and that felt so good.  Reminded me that i need to stretch and warmup every time I run, period.

Thursday, chilly Thursday -- Warning TMI herein

Light spinning yesterday am, ellipse machine at lunch, annual physical that afternoon.  Doc gave me some medicine to put on my achilles tendon!  He also had a 1st year med student PYT shadowing him, so my junk got groped twice in one day.  Also they (well, she) cut off a skin tag on my inner thigh, so no running or similar activities for several days.  The good news is that the doc didn't say I couldn't run the Tallahassee Marathon (but then again he didn't say that I could run it either).  Also, the good/bad news is that I weight one pound less than I did last year at this time (I was on track for 20 lbs less, but...).

Got finished around 4, so I didn't go back to work.  Went by 1 Fresh Stir Fry and got Tempura Grouper Roll and had an early dinner.  The cute girl who works there (Kristen I think -- blond curly/frizzy hair) commented that I should buy stock in the company.  I have been eating Sushi from 1 Fresh and Siam Sushi about every day the last 10 days or so, so I gott stop that.  New plan is to get home and eat veggies.  No steamed broccoli like Turbo though.

Slept in this am, didn't wake up till 6:30 or so.  No workouts today, just taking it easy.  I hate it when I can't get into an exercise/food routine -- I just give up and blow up like a baloon.

Today is the first day....

The good thing about being 11 months away from IMFL is that there is always tomorrow (for a limited time anyway).  So after a bad weekend, I have (once again) re-started my training... kinda.  Since I can't run, I am trying to focus on swimming (even though the low this week is 21 or so), px90, and maybe some light spinning.  Slept in Monday morning, hit the pool during lunch, ate a mostly reasonable dinner.  Well, reasonable for me considering the crappy weekend I had (sushi and a slice of pizza), but not as good as Turbo, who apparently had broccoli and egg whites.  There are some levels of fitness that I am simply not yet willing to attempt.

Woke up at 5 this am (actually 4:57, so my body is getting used to this), spun an easy 20 min, ab ripper x (349 crunches), and 3x7 pushups.  And I still have 50 minutes until I need to start getting ready for work.  If I was healty I would do another px90 routine -- maybe cardio, yogo, or kenpo x, but won't even risk it with my inflamed achilles tendon.  It is still verrrrry sore.  Good news is that my yearly check up is tomorrow so I will bring it up with the Dr.

So for the 2010 running year, my best running times/distances are:
1 mile -- 6:11:09 (track)
5k -- 21:48 (hilly road)
4 mi -- 37:58 (hilly trail)
8k -- 41:34 (hilly trail)
10k -- 53:34 (hilly road)
12k -- 1:14:11 (flat road)
10 mile -- 1:27:24  (hilly road)
20k -- 2:04:10 (hilly trail)
13.1 -- 2:13:56 (flat road -- Augusta 70.3)

Will see how much I can improve for 2011

Bad Jason

I tried to go on the CCC Bagel ride Sun am, but had to turn around 1.5 miles in b/c my achilles tendon hurt so bad.  It was cold out and the AT wasn't warm, but dang it hurt.  I limped around the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself.  There is one spot that is just super-tender.  So in addition to not doing anything Sunday, I ate lunch at Chez Pierre (hamgurber, cheese, bacon, bbq sauce, and sweet potato fries), for afternoon snack a bag of twizzlers, and for dinner had 3/4 of a large pappa john's pizza and 2 xx.  This is in adition to Sat night at Po' Boys (grouper poboy, sweet potato fries, fried pickles, and a pitcher of mich ultra).

Slept like crap last night, kept thinking that zombies from The Walking Dead were after me.  Changed the alarm from 5 to 7, so no exercise in the am either.  Maybe I can get back in the groove and swim at lunch.

And I wonder why I am over 200 lbs again....

10 Mile Challenge

So today I raced in the 10 Mile Challenge.  It was 42 at start, and was 57 about the time I finished.  Brought plenty of different clothes to see how I felt, and 2 pair of shoes (Mizuno Wave Creation and K-Swiss K-Ona).  I decided to go with the MWC, as that is what I have been wearing during my longer training runs -- the heel sits a little higher and strains the achilles tendon less.  That was a mistake.  I now realize reason #2 why my achilles tendon hurts -- in addition to running slower (i.e., on my heels), I switched from my K-Ona (racing shoes) to the MWC with a drastically different setup.  So at mile 2, my achilles tendon really starts hurting and so does my foot.  I walk, jog, take it easy.  Get to mile 5 (the 10 mile challenge is a 2x5 mile loop), and jumped off course and went to my truck and changed back to my K-Ona's.  Night and day.  It was so much easier to run in them and my times showed.  My first 5miles was about 45, and second lap was about 42?  Plus my running was more consisent. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/58758493

Afterward -- Starbucks for Toffee Mocha and perfect oatmeal, shopping, then Siam Sushi (Siam Mini Roll and Sweet Potato Roll, and salad for $9).  Yum.  Next.  XX while I wait for FSU v. Va Tech.  Go Noles!

My Garmin Log

http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=1322955

username jmh321

Fry-Day

Long week is coming to a close.  The last couple of days, I have been pretty sore when waking up.  I take that as a good sign that I am (finally) starting to work my body some.  As much as I hate it, I absolutely love that feeling, stretching and feeling the soreness in muscles I fogot I had.  And drinking coffee on a cold morning.  That is pretty cool also.

Achilles tendon is getting better but still acting up; however, I think I have figured out what happened (i.e., same thing as last year, I just figured it out quicker this year).  When I train for marathons, I slow down for longer runs.  Unfortunately I shorten my stride, which means I do a lot more heel-striking than normal... thus, achilles tendon issues.  Luckily I have remembered this in early december, as opposed to the end of january last year.  So, I think I am still on track for the Tally Marathon, so long as I focus on proper running techniquie (i.e., no more heel-striking).  We will find out this weekend, as I am going to shoot for the 10 mile challenge.  My training plan calls for a 12 mile run, but since this weekend will be 3 weeks since I have "run," and the 10 miles is in a race, that should be just fine.  I'll just have to remember to HTFU. 

Not swimming this am, as it is 29 deg outside.  I'll try to knock that out at lunch.  Was able to warm up on the spinner and do abripperx this am, and my push/sit-up challenge (today was 3x3 for each).

Afraid to weight myself, after thanksgiving and eating a lot this week.  I am hungry all the time now, which is a good sign that I am starting to work harder.  I just have to focus on managing proper eating habbits.

December Challenge

So I started swimming this week.  Monday and Wed in the pool at 5:30.  I can tell I haven't swam in 2 months, but my times are faster than when I started training for IM 70.3 Augusta (8 or so seconds per 50).  Very happy with that, although I still have a long way to go.

I've been on Twitter lately, and have some tri friends in the UK across the pond.  One of them challenged me to run at least one mile every day in December.  Sounds fun.  Then she made it really interesting.  3 times x number of push-ups every day for 100 days (i.e., day one is 3 sets of 1, day 2 is 3 sets of 2, day 3 is 3 sets of 3, etc. to day 100).  Damn, but I am a sucker for challenges, so it is on like Donkey Kong!

So after swimming 1000 m this am, spinning for 30 min and running a mile this am, I have to do three push-ups after I eat this bowl of spaghetti.  Ok.  Still not running much, but fully intend to run the 10 mile challenge this weekend.  If my body holds up, I am gonna keep shooting for the Tallahassee Marathon.  If not, I am gonna write that off and just get back in the tri and core business.

PS.  It is finally cold!!!  Supposed to be 27 tonight.

Post-Holiday Part I

As much as I look forward to it, I am so glad that the Thanksgiving holiday is over.  I can get back on track (at least for 3 weeks until I start my 2 week christmas vacation). 

So at the last Gulf Winds Triathletes meeting, I was told to be in the pool the Monday after Thanksgiving.  Daunting considering that I haven't swam since IM Augusta 70.3 (approx 62 days ago).  But I need to pick my training up a notch so when I start training for Gulf Coast on 1/1/11, I will be ready to train (and I need to do something else since I haven't run in two weeks and have the Tally Marathon on 2/7).  So I set my alarm clock for 5AM (see how I started getting in the habbit last week?), my coffee to auto-brew at 4:55, and away I went. 

Since I don't have a specific swim training plan right now, I decided to do the first swim workout for a HIM.  My plan was a 300 warmup (200 swim, 50 kick, 50 swim), 5x100 15" rest, 200 cool down (50 kick, 50 pull, 100 swaim).  I have no illusions about being fast, but when comparing this morning's 5x100 to the 5x100 I did in May to start training for IM Augusta, I was 1:34 faster (1:44, 1:53, 1:55, 1:52, 1:51 this morning).  I am very happy with that, considering that I haven't been in the pool in over 60 days.  I could tell that I was not in  swim shape and my arms felt full of lead.

I didn't exercise any more this am (my excuse is so I could type this blog), but I may try to do a "recovery" run tonight and see how my achilles tendon holds out.  It is pain free walking around, but yesterday on my ride my achilles tendon reallly started acting up.  I am hoping that it was just the wind/cold making it stiff.  At least it was hurting in a differnt place than was bothering me the last two weeks.  Also, I lowered my tri-bars about 3 cm and tested it out on my ride yesterday.  Ouch!  After my ride, I raised them 2 cm.  We will see how they do next time.

Yesterday, I went on a 50 mile ride with my buddy, who wanted to take his new Merckx MX5 out for a spin.  I can take him down hill (40 lb advantage to me), we are mostly even on the flats, and he smokes me uphill, so we do a good job of challenging each other.  It was so windy we shortened it to 43 miles.  The ride was a big loop between Blountstown and I-10.  Very pretty ride, but with lots of open fields, so it was extra windy.  Some decent hills, but not as bad as CR 12.  It kinda reminded me of the Augusta bike ride, less the steep downhills. 

Anyway, all the wind got me to thinking about getting a powertap.  I priced some out (ouch!), but did find out that it is compatible with the Garmin 310xt (not the 305), but the 310xt is also compatible with a new tatiana body fat/weight/water scale, and compatible with my existing 305 accessories.  Hmm.....   interesting, very interesting.  Might have to make a list for Santa for the 310xt and scale. 

May have to make a list for Uncle Sam for either powertap, zipps, cyclocross bike, or a coach for IMFL.  Gotta think about that some.  Lots of pros/cons there.  Right now, I want a cyclocross most, but powertap is the new #2 and growing on me (especially if I get a 310xt), coach, then zipps.  As much as I would love me some zipps, the $ would be better invested in any of the above (i.e., getting in shape will give me far more improvement than a set of zipps could ever do).  Plus, I am hesitant to buy used, and with all the race rental options out there, I figure I can rent zipps for 2 races a year for 5 years and would have spent the cost of a new set -- and in 5 years, any zipps I would have bought would probably be used up and new (i.e., faster) models would be out there.  If anyone happens to read this, post a comment and give me your .02.

Enough for today.  I am sitting on the couch in my swim clothes and I am getting the seat wet and Sissy is gonna yell at me when she realizes this, so I gotta get up and hope it dries out before she wakes up.  So time to finish this post.


Edit:  I went on a 3.5 mile jog at lunch.  Got rained on, but managed to keep the droid dry.  Right achilles tendon was still tender, but I managed to run on it.  I am gonna have to get used to this and rice it.  Also did a easy 30 minute recovery spin on the spinnercycle.  Have a 10 mile race this weekend.  That will pretty much determine whether or not I run the Tallahassee Marathon.

Day of Days

Well, today is the day.  FSU is playing UF and if Maryland beats NC State, FSU wins its ACC division.  From the looks of it, we are gonna be 0 for deuce today. 

Anyway, my training (or lack thereof) report.  Thursday was a loss.  Went hunting in the AM (didn't see anything), ate too much food.  Got home late.  Friday, Sissy and I slept in and finally did some "Black Friday"" shopping.  We ended up getting a $400 spinner bike for $100 from Sports Authority.  Not bad.  Put it together and played on it some, but I was so stuffed from Thursday that I didn't push too hard.  Today, I woke up at 4AM, went hunting (didn't see anything again), and came back to Tally.  I did ride the spinner for 45 min or so before the FSU/UF game, and am drinking a XX while I type this and watch the game.

I tried to run an hour ago, but my right achilles tendon was still a touch tender.  I decided to take extra precaution and rest it, b/c tomorrow right after hunting, I am supposed to go on a wicked hilly 50 mile ride with a buddy who just got a new Merckx and wants to haul ass in it.

Hope you guys are doing a lot better than I am.  Looking forward to Monday b/c swim sessions start back up then (and I can wake up an hour later).  I always say you can tell when it is hunting season b/c I get to "sleep in" during the work week.

Short Work Week

It is Wednesday morning, my Friday since tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  So far I have picked it up a notch this week.  Since Monday, I have been waking up at 5AM.  I don't start getting ready for work until 7:30, so that gives em 2.5 hours to wake up, drink coffee, exercise, and play on the spanktranet.  So far, so good.  I have been able to get in some good stationary bike rides, core work, and jog some.  This morning, I warmed up for 20 min on the bike and then jumped in to PX90 CardioX.  I am CardioX's bitch, but I think this cross-training, expecially during the winter months, will really show positive results come next year.

I tried jogging yesterday morning, and did an easy 2.5 miles.  Although I had been pain free since Monday, the left achilles tendon started tightening up toward the end of the run.  It was a little tender yesterday and is still a little tender today.  I have got to work up an alternative to not running, b/c if I don't run this week, it will be two weeks of training for the Tallahassee Marathon that I have forgone.  Maybe do some water running in the pool and start swimming again.  I don't now.

I have to balance wanting to run the Tallahassee Marathon v. staying health for tri season.  As much as I want to run a marathon, that is only a training goal for 7.03 and IMFL.  Then again, I really don't want IMFL to be my first marathon.  Hopefully I can shed some of this weight and that will ease some of the stress on my AT and then it will get healthy.  I really gotta get down to racicng weight.

Oh yeah, tomorrow is the first day of hunting season.  I will probably buy my license tonight, so that will interrupt my AM training for awhile; although, I may try to do something mid-morning.

IMAZ Sunday

Man, what a day of days.  Rapp returns, Wellington crushes, Corbin rocks (sorry Lieto, I know you must have been hurting today).  Inspirational.  I am gonna have to remember this race when training for 2011 IMFL.  Once chrissy finished, they showed a picture of her shoe and you could see that she had a blister or something and her shoe was soaked in blood.  Chrissy had a 30 minute lead and never let up.  Damn.

Well, during the race, I tried to jog on the dreadmill, but my achilles tendon was still a little tender so I backed off and rode the stationary bike for an hour.  Got in a good workout.  I also saw this site, and am definately gonna have to work on my post ride run.  I like what he says.   http://triathlon.competitor.com/2010/11/training/how-to-nail-the-ironman-marathon_6407

I set the clock for 5AM tomorrow.  My training program starts anew tomorrow. 

Sunshine Saturday

Woke up at 6AM w/o the help of the alarm clock.  Brewed a nice pot of coffee, loaded up the truck and drove out to Bradley's Country Store.  BCS was having a "festival day," which involved a 5k.  About 70 runners participated, but I didn't.  I was a little worried about racing a 5k with my achilles tendon, and believe me, when the gun goes off I can't just back down.

Anyway, I watched some friends race, they kicked butt, and then we went out on a bike ride.  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/57316166   It was a little chilly at first, b/c I didn't have any arm warmers, but about 20 minutes in, I felt fine.  This was the second time I have ridden with this group, and I really enjoyed it.  These guys (and gals) are much better than I am, but with doing a paceline, I can pretty much hang (at leat up to 50 miles right now).  Anyway, they are doing a 50 miler tomorrow, and I'm not sure if I am going to go b/c my achilles tendon was getting tender during the ride.  I feel like I need to rest it some more. 

Haven't done any running since last sunday, and if i run tomorrow it will be a 3 mi recovery run to test my AT.  But I can live with that, b/c if I am not healthy....   that is a no-no.

I was in line for Harry Potter today and the guy beside me showed me a text message about triathlons.  Turns out I had forgotten that my wife and I were wearing red hills triathlon shirts.  And it turns out that this guy is from Panama City, drove over with his girlfriend and their kids to watch Harry Potter on the IMAX (it was AWESOME), and is a triathlete.  He has done gulf coast 70.3 4-5 times, so next time I head over to PCB I intend on giving him a call.

So now I have met two pretty cool triathletes associated with PCM -- him and turbo.

Hurts-Day

Well not quite, but the best play on words I can manage.  For the first time since Monday, my achilles tendon felt ok enough to do an easy spin on the bike.  I still walk with a limp, although with less of one.  I definately have to remind myself to take it easy if I feel something coming on.  I plan on taking it easy tonight and tomorrow and see about riding this weekend or maybe an easy jog.

Can't wait to get back into it. I suppose I should swim to have some conditioning, but I am enjoying taking it easy (although I am keeping a close eye on my weight). 

Have a good 'un.

Monday Recovery

Woke up this morning intending to run 4 miles and within three steps I knew that wasn't gonna happen.  My right achilles tendon was on fire.  Typically my rt at is the strong one, but today it is hurting.  I suspect it originally tweaked on my bike ride thurs, then my 10 mile run sun am aggrivated it.  So I took some advil, iced it down and it still hurt.  So mid morning i put on the KT tape.  Much better.  I love the support KT tape provides. I know it isn't healed, but at least I can walk around with a minor limp. 

Tomorrow will be a game day decision whether I do the 5 miles or just take it easy.  I suspect I won't run but will do some core exercised and spin on the stationary bike. 

Oh yeah, tonight was the annual Gulf Winds Triathletes member appreciation night so we got free pizza and beer.  Sweet.  And I think K-Swiss wants to sponsor us again next year.  Double-sweet.

Sunday

Ahhhh, I feel so much better.  Ran a easy 3 mi "recovery" run with the wife yesterday, and did a 10 mile trail run this am.  My achilles tendon (rt) has been a little sensitive these last two days, so I have started stretching and icing it, but it held up pretty good today and I was able to kick it up a notch the last 5k of my trail run this morning.  Right now I am sitting on the couch wearing my skinz compression tights (love 'em), just finished eating (ok 2 bowls, I should have had one) my own version of 1 Fresh Stir Fry -- whole wheat spaghetti, baby corn, black beans and roasted almonds, with some spag sauce.  I am stuffed -- did I mention I had 2 bowls.  Oh well, I acknowledge that portion control is a problem w/me. 

I feel good though that I felt decent for the run.  With any luck, maybe I'll ride my bike this pm, or at least ride the stationary bike. 

I was on slowtwitch today reading about clearwater yesterday and it has me all fired up all over again.  Three of my club members -- Seeley Guiterez (I may have misspelled Seely's last name), Sandy Holt and Charlie Johnson -- raced clearwater.  Sandy and Charlie did IMFL last weekend too.  Hard-core, and proud of them.

Oh yeah, I rec'd the e-mail from IMFL Friday that enabled me to finalize my registration, so I am officially in it baby!!!

Back in the groove

So today is veterans day, and I gotta give mad props to all our troops.  Moving along, I went on a 50 mile bike ride today with some friends -- Brook Pace, Mike Boll, Sean Hudson, and Mike Weyant.  They started off with a lunchtime swim, but I wasn't down with that so I drove my bike over and met them at the pool.  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/56351786  I have been eating like crap lately, and I could tell during the ride.  But, will a little aid from Mr. Draft, I was able to hang with the group the whole way even though I just about bonked at the end.  Man, I had a blast, but have got to start hitting it and getting stronger and laying a good base for next year.

oh yeah, 12 weeks till the tallahassee marathon.  this weekend is my 10 mile run.

Sweet Home Tallahassee

It has been a long several days, and I am glad to be back in T-town.  While I had a blast in Panama City Beach watching IMFL Sat and Sun, I had to drive to Orlando Mon and drive back today.  I am tired of driving, but I guess it is good mental training for IMFL.  At least my rental car was upgraded and I wound up with a Mustang convertible.  I drove all the way back from Orlando w/the top down and now I have a touch of a sunburn.  Nice, but please melanoma do not return.

When I woke up this morning, I really wanted to sleep in, but I didn't want to get behind with the weekly running so I drug my sorry behind out of bed and knocked out an easy 5 miles.  Tomorrow I am supposed to ride 55 or so miles with some friends, and may do a 8 mile trail run (or push the trail run back until friday). 

Either way, I survived the road trip and can get back to focusing on the Tallahassee Marathon, and start thinking about hitting the pool again to build up a base for next year's tri season.

2's Day

Getting back on track.  Ate a decent dinner last night, ran a easy 3 miles this am.  I say easy in the figurative sense.  My hr was through the room and I was running easy.  Took me a minute to remember that it is probably because I gave blood yesterday and haven't fully recovered.  Starbucks grande toffee mocha for breakfeast, peanut butter banna and honey smoothie for brunch, jack daniels flat iron steak for lunch, and bbq for dinner.  Well, at least I ran (jogged) this monring.  going to bed tonight and driving back to Tallahassee tomorrow.  Will get back on track thursday morning.  Probably need to jog 5 miles wed am before I drive back to Tally.  That is gonna suck, running on sidewalks and around traffic.  I miss my trails in Tally.

Oh yeah, a buddy came down and bought a Eddy Merckx EMX-5 today.  Freaking awesome!!!!!!  I love my Bianchi, but dang!  It came down to that or a Madone 6.9, and I think he made the right call.

Day 2 11/8/10

Well, day 2 has started and appears to be ending.  No real triathlon training today, at least yet, so the answer to the question is my last blog is "not a damn thing, you fat ass."  Slept in this morning, as it was cold and I had an appointment to donate blood.  Skipped breakfeast and went in to work to donate blood.  Did I mention I skipped breakfeast?  Well, now I know to donate blood on a full stomach, b/c I almost passed out.  Then after messing around at the office, I left to drive down to Orlando for a conference.  It is 5:40 PM, and I arrived about 45 minutes ago.  Tired and it is getting dark.  I need to go do a 3 mile recover run, but not supposed to "enter into strenuous exercise" for 24 hours.  Maybe I will do the recovery run in the am, and push my tue 5 miler back to wed.  That sounds good for now, but I can tell that is me compromising and I don't need to do that.  Maybe I will spin on the bike for an hour or so tonight to make up for it.  I have about 2 hours until my buddy arrives and we go eat.  Yeah sounds good, right after I walk to starbucks for coffee.  Man I hate this, travel sucks.  I'll let you know what I do.

2011 Ironman Florida

11/7/10.  I woke up this morning to the sound of a ringing telephone.  Quite startling consindering that I disconnected my land-line a couple of years ago.  It took me a second to remember the cause -- that I was in a room at Sleep Inn at Panama City Beach.  It took another minute of fooling around with my droid to realize that the 6:00 AM wakeup call I requested had turned into a 5:00 AM wakeup call, courtesy of somebody forgetting about the "fall back" time change.  That's what I get for $59.99 a night.  Then again, what is 5AM in to a triathlete other than time to get up and get going?

Still reeling from the memories of the previous day -- the first time I witnessed a full distance Ironman race, I was eager to eat some breakfeast and then hurry over to the Boardwalk and sign up for the 2011 Ironman Florida triathlon.

Since I had previously decided to knock my 8 mile training run for the Tallahassee Marathon first thing Sat morning, I was a little late getting to PCB to watch the race.  By the time I arrived, the triathletes were out on the bike course, and I decided to meet them on Hwy 20 and watch for a few minutes.  I was incredible.  Bike after bike after bike.  Let me rephrase, very expensive bike after very expensive bike after very expensive bike.  I have never seen so many Cervelo's or Zipp wheelsets in my life.  Saw one of my buddies -- Matt McCaskill -- and decided to drive down to the beach and watch the run.  Spent most of the afternoon at the Sunset Inn with fellow Gulf Winds Triathletes cheering the competitors on.  It was incredible, people of all shapes and sizes racing -- some suprisingly fast and others suprisingly slow.  Made me realize that there is more than body type to the sport (write that down).  I was overwhelmed with the volume and determination of all the athletes on the course, and if any doubts had existed re whether I was going to do 2011 IMFL, they disappeared instantly.

Back to this morning.  I drove over to the Boardwalk, but for some reason it said Edgewater.  Crap.  I grew up here and am now lost.  Seriously?  With the droid, I was back on track and zipped (no pun intended) over to the real Boardwalk.  Got in the longest line I could find.  Ten minutes later, I am told that is the line for 2010 IMFL finishers.  Crap.  Got in the other line and realize it is the line for volunteers, which I am not.  Screw it, I'm staying in line.  See a buddy in the finishers line and shoot the breeze with him.  Go back to the volunteers line and am told that there is a third line -- for non-volunteers (i.e., me) - -and it is only 30 feet or so deep.  Off I go.  See some buddies up front in the volunteers line and am offered to squeeze in with them, but feel guilty about it, so off to the non-volunteer line I go. 

Sidebar -- for those of you who don't know, volunteers sign up first, then non-volunteers who are present.  Then later, the intenet is opened up for all to sign up.  8AM, the volunteers get started. 

Back on track.  I meet some pretty cool people in line.  One guy is there with his girlfriend and signing up on a dare.  Another guy -- Matthew Curbeau -- just raced IMFL yesterday and was signing up for next year.  Shot the breeze with him, and quickly realized he is probably at a level I will never reach.  Cool kid though, and he is gonna be at Kona someday.

Around 10 AM, the non-volunteers start.  Thirty minutes later, and I am registered (well, registered in the sense that I will get an e-mail in 2-3 weeks that will complete the registration process).  Sweet!

Since the, I have been asking myself different variations of the same question -- what am I doing today to make myself a better triathlete for 20111 IMFL?  I plan on having an answer that question every day for the next 364 days.