First OWS and Other Lessons Learned

I'm now less than 4 weeks away from my first ever triathlon!  My training continues to be really good and I'm already on pace to train more in all 3 sports than I did in June - my best month to date.  My weight also continues to drop but not by much.  I honestly don't intend to lose anymore; it just happens with tri training.

A lot has happened since my last post.  I had a very enjoyable 4th of July weekend with friends and family.  Owen had his first experience with fireworks and was excited to see them.  We're blessed to have a beautiful home and yard to share with others.  It's also nice to have fireworks literally in our backyard so we don't have to deal with traffic!

On Saturday, July 3rd, I did my first legitimate Brick (Bike/Run) workout.  I didn't plan it ahead of time so my transition from bike to run was a little slow.  My run wasn't very long (just under two miles) but my pace was good: 6:43/mile.  Legs felt awkward after the bike but got into running mode after about 3 min.

The heat and humidity around here has been pretty brutal.  Tuesday (6th) the a/c in the office wasn't working so the boss let us go home a little early.  I took the opportunity to do a long run.  Note to self:  do not eat a fiber bar 60 min. before a long run on a hot day.  It was a very unpleasant run.  'Nuff said.

Saturday, Amanda and I were invited to go boating at the reservoir with some friends.  It was a beautiful day and I was excited to get an opportunity to do some open water swimming (OWS).  They would 'park' the boat a little ways from shore and I would swim to the shore, take a breather, and then swim back to the boat.  It was quite the experience and change from pool swimming.  The water was choppy, dirty and dark.  I had my massive swim trunks on as well so that didn't help.  All in all, I was happy with the chance to do it.  I hope to get out to Quaker Lake and do some more OWS before the race.

2010 so far

It's really hard to believe that 2010 is now at its halfway point.  We've had some happy times (Evan's 1st birthday) and some sad (Amanda's grandpa passing).  Evan still isn't sleeping through the night and we finally started training Owen to use the potty.  (He's doing fairly well I must say)  I guess one of the biggest changes for me was the decision I made back on 12/31/09 to run that race on 1/1/10.

It was NYE and a handful of people at the family party we attended were planning on running or walking the 5k race the next day.  I decided - what the heck - and signed up and ran.  Slow!  For not running a step in months, or training consistently for years, I guess it wasn't too bad.  However, it was not what I was used to after running in high school and college and a little beyond.  Thus began my journey.

Now I must say that my 'journey' has not been all on my own.  Naturally, my family is affected in some ways by my new found obsession.  I try my best to let it not interfere, but sometimes it just does.  Thankfully I have a wife who has been supportive and probably regretting the Christmas gifts she gave me last December:  gym shorts, Ipod, and 1 month membership to the YMCA.  One month has now turned into indefinitely.

I've kept a pretty good log over the last six months of my activity and I'd like to share it with you.  I'll probably update you monthly as a way of holding myself accountable.  This will be a good point to show you my half year totals as well.

June 2010:  Swim 13,750 yds; 7 hrs 17 min.
                   Bike 217.57 miles; 12hrs 36 min.
                   Run 65.78 miles; 8 hrs 32 min.

2010 to date:  Swim 46,250 yds; 30 hrs 22 min.
                      Bike 682.64 miles; 42 hrs
                      Run 259.97 miles; 36 hrs 29 min.

Considering I did nothing last year - or the 7 years prior - I'm pretty happy with this.  It's pretty amazing to look back and see all that has been done.  June was my best month in all three sports.  The weather has been great for training and I'm still able to get to the pool at least twice a week by 6am.  I've set some short term goals and I've already set some goals for next January - June as I train for the Half Ironman in 9/2011.  Perhaps the biggest stat of all is this:

Weight  1/1/2010:   183.5#
Weight  6/29/2010:  161.0#

Only downside to the weight loss is the suit I got for Christmas two years ago no longer fits.  And I have to wear a belt with everything.

I'm now 5 weeks away from my first ever triathlon.  If I'm able to finish it, I'll be able to move the tassle to the other side of my cap and call myself a triathlete.  I'm sure as July goes on and I think about the race, my nerves will start to kick in.  There's still so much to practice and learn:  run off the bike, transitions, open water swimming (yikes!). 

"Defeat is not the worst of failures.  Not to have tried is the true failure."

Here goes....