Oh what a feeling...

Last night was a brick workout. For those dedicated blog readers you know from previous posts that a brick workout is where 2 disciplines are practiced back to back. Last night it was a swim and run. I jumped in the pool, knocked out my laps (slow as usual), quickly changed, rehydrated with some Gatorade, and hit the road to start my run.

At first, the run was slow and painful. My left calf was causing me some pain early in the run but I decided to try to work through it. Because you never know what can happen during a race. As my run continued, I passed mile 3 the pain in my calf began to subside (but still there) and I began to hit a comfortable stride. I cruised through the next 3 miles or so without much difficulty.

As I was finishing up my last 3 miles, the sun was setting, and I began to think. No, I was not thinking about gasping for the next breath of air, or tripping over a pebble on the road because I can't lift my foot to take another step. No, I was thinking of the fact that I had been training for nearly 2 hours straight and I was still feeling....strong. Yes, strong! Strong in the since that I still had a lot more power remaining, good rhythm, and enjoying my workout. Then my thoughts began to shift into thinking, "What makes an athlete well, for lack of a better word, an athlete?" When is a person who runs become a runner? Is it when they complete their first race?, first 10K?, or a marathon? And in my case, if I finish my triathlon, does that make me a Triathlete? Oh, the things that one considers while putting one foot in front of another. :)

A volleyball league that Angela and I play in (separate teams) started last night. After my 2 hour workout I thought it would be a good idea to play another hour of volleyball. Angela's team played first, I started training early so I could watch/coach/cheer Angela's team. They played well, especially Angela who has not played volleyball in over a year. You go GIRL! Afterwards, I my team played. We played well also.

The big question is How do I feel today? I actually feel pretty good, a little tired (we didn't go to bed until midnight) but not too sore yet....it might come later....then you will hear me say OH, WHAT A FEELING!

Have a good weekend.

One Year!

Yesterday, was the day the changed my life forever. It was the day that Angela and I received the news that she had cancer. The imaged is burned in my memory forever and I still get chills when I think of the doctor telling Angela "You have lymphoma."

And rather than celebrating the anniversary in sadness, a toast, or other traditional methods. No, not us. We wanted to celebrate in way that showed Angela's strength, determination, courage, and perseverance. Therefore, yesterday we ran the 2008 Cherry Blossom 5K / 10 Mile race. The course weaved through the beautiful tidal basin in Washington, DC where there are hundreds of Cherry Blossoms trees that tourist flock too every year. Angela has never run a race before and has spent the last 2 months training for this event. She finished in the top 1/3 of all the 5K'ers - that is awesome for her first event. While she was running her 5k, I ran the 10 mile event. I have never run that far before and pleased to say I completed the race without walking. A big thanks to Sandy (a friend that we meet in Metro on the way down) "pulled" me across the finish line.

So, CONGRATS to Angela for kicking Priscilla’s (cancer) butt and starting this new year with a new attitude and new outlook on life!

Back into it

Last month, I blogged about how I fell off the training bus and rebounded. After the quick course correction, I am now pleagued with a nagging back injury. Nothing REAL serious but a deep, lower back pain that makes it difficult to walk sometimes...let alone run. This problem started about 3 weeks ago and I thought I "wrenched" it during one of my construction projects. After about a week it went away. Then it came back. I went to the chiropractor, rested, and tried to easy back into training but no awail.

However, even with my back problem I have been training most days. During the days I am able to train, I feel good. Sometimes the next day isn't so good, but that is normal?

Angela and I have our first race together in 2 weeks - the Cherry Blossom 5K/10Miler on April 6th. To my knowledge this is Angela's 1st race ever! She is such a trooper! She signed up for the 5K (while I run the 10 miles - seems fair?) has been walk/run training nearly everyday and seems to like it. I know she will finish without an issue and I only wonder what I have started?

I am tweaking my training program over the next 2 weeks to focus more on the run. I started yesterday and it took alot for me to run 5 miles. This weekend I hope to run 7 miles, if I am able to accomplish that, I MIGHT be able to finish the race. Or, my 10 mile race might end up the same way Angela is training....a run/walk scenario.

Tonight is my swimming day. So, I will be in the pool swimming countless laps - well at least 72 anyway. Then I have a volleyball game at 8PM. I can almost feel the pain when I wake up tomorrow.

We did it! - $4200 raised

According to my the count down timer on my blog I have 82 days left until my race. With that I still have many long, hard training days that lie ahead. However, the one thing that I won't have to worry about any more is raising money.

Because....WE DID IT! We raised over $4200 and counting.

Thanks to every ones hard work, dedication, and generosity we were able to raise a lot of money for a great cause.

This past weekend Angela attended a Jaycee Convention as she normally does. It is basically a weekend full of seminars, meetings, and a whole lot of drinking. This weekend she had special permission to offer a fundraising campaign that I thought of. It was called "Rub for $1" where volunteers donate their time and people pay a $1 per minute for a chair massage. Thanks to the volunteers (Blair, Nancy, Jeff, & Ron A.), Angela, and everyone that participated over $200 was raised.

Additionally, The Maryland Crab Corp., the non-profit organization of the Maryland Jaycees made a large donation of $250 this past weekend.

And, we still have several events in the works. Everyone is asking me about when my next poker night is (yes I need to schedule that), Angela and Melissa have a jewelry party scheduled this weekend, and my Mom has a 3rd poker party scheduled in Texas. So, we have more money on the way.

There were SO many people that helped me achieve this goal. Thanks to all who donated volunteered, submitted ideas, or otherwise supported this cause. Also, there were many individuals that provided invaluable assistance other than money. Many people, let me borrow bikes, bike gear, wetsuits. Others provide instruction, inspiration, and in depth knowledge of past triathlon experiences. And other general "household" help that my training has negatively impacted. Without every ones help I wouldn't be where I am today. THANKS!!!

Back on the training bus

It has been a couple of weeks since I have updated my blog and I apologize to all 2 of the readers out there. Rest assured, I have been training.

After I fell of my training program a couple of weeks ago I was determined to get things back on track as soon as possible. I will have to admit it was difficult to get back in the gym, just knowing the amount of pain that would follow! And I was right. Another big ouch for last week.

This week was MUCH better. It was another "recovery week" (light training) and it allowed me to continue training without as much pain. This week I ran 8 miles, swam 2 miles, and biked 11 miles. I like the fact that I can say I did it without too much difficulty. Last night was a brick workout, a workout where you workout 2 different disciplines one after another. So, in the bitter cold, I ran to the pool (20 minutes) and swam a mile (1 hour). It was a "nice" workout but I don't like training in the cold. Brrr!

The next big news is that my fundraising is going extremely well. Thus far, I have received 80% of my goal. Thanks for everyone's VERY generous support. I still have to raise another $800 to reach my $4200 goal but I am hoping for another good fundraising weekend and I will tell everyone what it was and how it went next week.

That's it for now.

A week off?

Well, it finally happened....after going months without missing a training day (not one!) then I missed my first one, then another, and another. When it was all said and done I missed an entire week of training!

Sure, I had lots of excuses, it got really busy at work and had to work late regularly this week, I am in the midst of 2 construction projects - a kitchen remodel for me and finish a wet bar for a friend, frigid weather & ice storms, car accident, and totally stressed out because Angela (wife) was having her 6 month post-chemo CT scan this week. (see her results at http://amvictory.blogspot.com) In reality those items should be background noise (except the CT scan) and normalcy of daily life. But for some reason I let these excuses prohibit me from training. To compound matters, I would expect to feel rested after a week off from training. However that is not the case, rather I fell even more tired, exhausted and afraid. Afraid of getting back in the gym and see how much ground I have lost in my training.

"Will someone else's life be brighter tomorrow because of what you have done today?" - William Arthur Ward

With that I say farewell. Farewell to excuses that prevent me from training and hello to a clearer vision of what I need to accomplish. Today is a new day and I will make it special!

Inspiration equals Motivation

By now everyone that knows me, knows I am racing in a triathlon...it is consuming. If I am not talking about it, then I am training, if I am not training I am trying to raise money, if not fundraising then I am preparing for it (nutrition, bike maintenance, researching techniques). Needless to say the triathlon has been consuming a lot of my time. But I love it. I like learning new things, pushing myself both physically and emotionally (do you know how boring it is run on a treadmill for an hour, then immediately get an on stationary bike??) and of course knowing it is for a GREAT cause.

With all that being said, I try to limit myself for talking about it too much. I don’t want to bore people with the same old discussion topic. Oddly enough, there has been one side effect of my training that I didn't expect. I was talking with Angela (wife) the other day about several different friends (that don't know each other) and how all of a sudden they are becoming more active. Several friends have started doing various activities ranging from dusting off their old bikes, to walking the dog longer, going to the gym, a boating friend wants to take up wakeboarding (because I started 2 years ago) and one friend even signed up for a triathlon (you go Sandy!). Yeah, I know it is that time of year where people try to "start the new year off right", work towards fulfilling their New Year's resolution, etc, etc. But, I can't help but fell particularly responsible for this movement.....and DAM it feels good! To know I have a positive impact on my friends, family, and colleagues at work motivates me even more to keep pushing!

Last Saturday Angela and I attended the Team in Training annual group picnic. It was the first indoor picnic I have ever attended, but yeah what the yeck right? I forgot what time it started so we were late. But we got to hear participant’s stories about why they are training, who they were training for, and how it impacted both their lives. It was AMAZING! Afterwards, we hung out and talked to several coaches, participants, and survivors. At the picnic I finally meet someone (she is actually a TNT coach, although not mine) who lives near us. Most participants live in northern Virginia. Anyway, she invited me to swim with her and one other person on Sunday where she offers coaching and instruction. EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Sundays are an "optional" swim for us but I always try to swim anyway because I feel I really need to work on my swim.


Training stuff: This week is a "recovery week" i.e., light workout

• Saturday - Bailed on the group bike ride. It was 34 degrees outside and there was still a lot of ice on the trails. No thanks, I will ride the stationary bike.
• Sunday - instructional swimming 90 minutes
• Monday - Weights and 30 minute run
• Tuesday - Weights, 30 minute run, and a 60 minute swim
• Wednesday - Weights and 30 minute bike
• Thursday - VERY SORE! 70 minute swim only
• Friday - DAY OFF

Thanks for reading.