1/2 Nothingman Finished

Saturday, swim was slow then met Carla for the ride. It was supposed to be 50 degrees, it was 36. We rode about 17.5 and were frozen. We jumped on the light rail back to Littleton, Carla grabbed her trainer and a couple Ironman DVDs and came over and we finished up the ride. It was warmer but I have not had a furnace since Friday morning.

As I write this it is 44 degrees in my house. I am going to work today even though I have the day off because it is cold in here!

Yesterday,13.1 miles on the treadmill and it was hard. Ran about 1/3 of it, walked te rest. I just wanted to finish. It was a mental victory as I wanted to bag it so many times! Last night I was pretty sore but today am feeling good. I don't work out again till Thursday!

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, stay safe!

Big Weekend

Saturday is a 1.2 mile swim and a 56 mile bike, then Sunday the half marathon. Breaking it into two days so my coach can start kicking my butt sooner afterward than if I did the whole thing in one day. I am excited but nervous too! Have a great weekend!

October

October was a great month, 56 hours and 26 minutes training. This was the prettiest fall, lasted a long time and the trees were in color for quite a while. Riding outside was great! Now today, cold and snow off an on, trainer action on the way.

This month so far I have in 20 hours and 2 minutes. Today was 8 miles on the treadmill, I ran about 5 of it. I have a 51 mile bike in so far this month and next weekend I am doing a self-supported 1/2 Ironman split into 2 days, Saturday will be the swim and bike, Sunday will be the half run.

Want to join a weight loss contest? Add me as a face book friend then find my friend Mike Wimmer and message him, or just search on Mike Wimmer in Wisconsin. There are about 40 of us so far, goes till March.

October So Far

Just finished up a solid week of training - 12:02. AND!!!!! I am under 350 for the first time in many years! I am very excited!

Life interfered with training yesterday, so I had to move my brick workout to today. Got up early, swam 2,000, then ate breakfast, then biked 24.3 miles and then ran 15 minutes off the bike (the couch looks very inviting!).

So far I have 41:06 in for the month. I think I will make my goal of 338 by November 4th. I should end the month with about 55 hours training. I am loving life!

From today's ride:


Peace!

Progess!

Ran 1.61 miles without stopping, 30 minute straight. Slow but great progress! I am HAPPY!

September Report

Lost 10 pounds (down to 359), 45 hours and 27 minutes training in with 21,902 yds in the pool. The last two weeks were both just under 13:30 so this next week is a recovery week! Yahoo! Only 9 hours!

What a paradigm shift, going from never exercising to where I am now. I still am amazed people tell me they don't have time to exercise even 3 times a week for 20 minutes each. I of course harass them (with love of course).

My goal for the month's weight loss is to be under 340 by end of month, will take a totally consistent effort on the food.

Have a great week!

Just Checking In

Besides my PR, September has brought about more time with my Kelly, missing Becca more (she's away at college for her 1st year), and Julia is continuing to kick my butt.

Since Monday, I already have 6 hrs 20 minutes training completed. I still have these to do: two swim workouts; one strength training workout; one 3-hour bike ride; and a 5 mile run/walk on Sunday! Sheesh! She is so mean! :-)

PR At TriGlenwood

TriGlenwood: 825 meter swim, 15 mile bike, 5 mile run: It was a rough day, very cold and very windy. It was about 44 degrees at the swim start and the wind on the bike made me feel like I was riding with my brake on (I actually looked). Had to really grind on the way back in. And I did the run with two shirts on, which for me, means it is cold because I generate some heat! My toes were so cold coming off the bike that I could not feel my toes until about a mile into the run!

And congrats to Mary on her first triathlon!

Total time: 3:22:17, which is 15:56 off my previous PR. My swim was 1:03 faster than last year (and no 5:00 penalty), my bike was 2:22 faster which included a stop at the turn around for a drink and 2 Fig Newtons and a quick talk with a volunteer for a couple minutes(Julia, you did not read that prior statement). My run/walk was 7:41 faster than last year. Faster T2 also. I really didn't think I would have faster times as I seemed so slow all day.

Next year I will use my road bike instead of my mountain bike, which ways a ton and has smaller wheels. I am happy with the improvement, but not satisfied. I have a very long way to go and tomorrow it is back in the pool!

TriGlenwood on Sunday!

This will be year number 5, 4th individual stab at it! I want a strong PR! :-)

Awesome August

Becca went to college (many tears), I flew on an airplane last weekend without a seat-belt extender, ran a full mile without stopping this last Tuesday during a 4-mile workout, trained a total of 42 hours, and . . . . I finally crashed through the 100 pounds lost mark! Down from 471 to 369 yesterday!

Glenwood Springs tri on Sunday the 12th, Becca and Kelly won't be with me for the first time. That makes me sad.

I talked my co-worker, Mary, into doing her first tri so she is doing Glenwood too!

September will be Super!

Weight

Today's weight - 374. Three pounds from hitting the 100 pound lost mark. What a long slow journey it has been. But I think we (me, Julia and Calyx) have my nutrition figured out. I am an outlier, statistically speaking. 2 sports nutritionists and a dietitian all made me eat more and I gained weight. The "numbers" do not work for me (RMR, weight I should be, amount of exercise, etc = calories to lose weight) show I should eat way more than I currently am. But I think I am just very efficient at three things: storing fat, burning less calories than what they think when I exercise, and absorption of calories taken in. Since sometime around late April or early May, I have dropped 50 pounds.

Goals? Under 371 by next Thursday and under 300 by January 1st - have a lot of hills coming up in my near future!

Ironman, here I come!

I Did It!

I couldn't believe there were still general entry spots available and that I didn't have to volunteer! (I did volunteer two years ago though). I met with Coach Julia tonight, she mentioned some crazy thing about lots of hill repeats on very steep grades. Bring it Julia! :-)

July Report

By Saturday I will end the month with right around 48 hours of training. My weight loss is going good! I am down to 378 this morning. I will hit that 100 pound loss mark very soon! I am loving my tri coach (Julia Rossi) and my weight loss coach (Calyx of blogging fame). I am really looking forward to August! Bring it on!!!

Swim Lesson

I had a swim lesson with my coach tonight, she has never seen me swim before. I got in and started dog paddling and she freaked out! I really had her worried for a bit. I had a great laugh and she was a good sport. She mentioned kicking while swimming and riding hills on my bike, maybe she was just joking back? I think she's serious! :-)

June

Today is Wendy's memorial, we miss you Wendy!

Apart from Wendy's passing, June was a great month. Really got back into training, didn't miss a single workout and my food was spot on. 21,800 yds in the pool, total training time for the month was 38 hrs and 31 minutes. I'm down a total of 32 lbs since I got back in gear. The weight I am at now is where I have hovered the last few years, I AM going to break through it! I also ran for 5 minutes straight this week which is a big deal for me and I got up to 5 mph for a short interval and that is also a very big deal, so I am very satisfied with June's progress.

I don't know what Julia has in store for me in July, but I am expecting she will kick my butt! Bring it on Julia!

I WIll Miss You Wendy

On June 19, after completing the Flowers Sea Swim, Wendy suffered a cardiac arrest. She died shortly thereafter at the George Town Hospital, Grand Cayman.

She touched many lives; she will be greatly missed. She certainly touched mine.

I Love you Wendy!

Not Much

Not much to report, Julia is kicking my butt (I'm sore!), I am staying 100% on track on my eating, the weight is dropping, 5 pounds this last week. 1:45 bike tomorrow, strength training/cardio on Sunday.

Ordered my wetsuit to motivate me, it's in the kitchen. it is SMALL! I have a long way to go to get into it, no junk food!

Have a great weekend training, racing, and living!

Just as I Thought!

And just as I had hoped! Met with Julia, my new tri coach last night, and she already kicked my butt today. I teased her about my scheduled bike ride on Sunday, just an hour and a half. She said "I want you rested and relaxed for the fun to come next week!!"

It will be like having a cross between Pete my old tri coach and Jess, my old personal trainer! I am excited! Weight loss on the way!

Eventful Week

First, Memorial day is tomorrow, I for one am truly appreciative of the ultimate sacrifice so many of our vets and their familed have paid for us!

The big event? Becca graduated from high school! The ceremony was great, Fiddler's Green Amphitheater, and she had the hugest smile! Nice job Becca!

As for workouts, had the crud and laid low. This week I am back on and Thursday am meeting with my new Tri Coach, Julia Rossi from Mile High Multisport. I am really looking forward to working with her.

I am back to blogging and will spend much less time on Facebook farming or losing precious workout/blogging time!

Have a great safe, productive week!

Great Weekend!

Yesterday we watched Kelly play volleyball (she carried her inexperienced team), hung with Becca a bit, and started cooking. This morning started the day with 1500 yds in the pool, then 20.8 miles on bike. Good way to start the day! Now more cooking, watch a little NASCAR, do laundry, and watch a movie with Kelly!

Did some really good mental work with Calyx this week, I am really happy with where I am as far as my food and eating, exercising, and my thinking. Off to devour lunch! Have a great week!

2010 Goals Reset

Sometimes we must change course, be flexible, adjust. I looked over the bike course at Boulder 70.3 and quickly realized I would not be ready in time. What to do? Withdraw from that race and choose another (more time and flat). So in addition to Glenwood Springs, I am shooting for Beach 2 Battleship Half IM distance, November 13, which is six months from today. It will take a lot of work and dedication, but after last year's training, I know I can do it.

This will be the first year without a coach in three years. Adjustment? "Suck it up butter cup" as Pete used to always tell me. So I am on my own for now, but I learned a lot from Pete and will utilize that this year.

Ironman? I have already bought my airline ticket to Phoenix, booked my hotel room, and as soon as volunteer sign-up opens, I will! Then I will register for 2011, it is time to get this done! No excuses!

Have a great week of training!!!!!

Today is one of those days that is both good and bad. Fantastic weather and great two hour bike ride, then I went to Rick's grave for the first time, I just could not do it before. It's Mother's day, my mom died in 2000. I'm so ready for today to be over.

My Daughter

Becca is off to her senior prom. We took pics of her and her buds at the lake (pics to follow in a couple of days). She graduates in 1 month, could it be? College in the fall? It flew by too fast. I cried the day I dropped her off on her first day at high school, and tonight I am way worse. I am very proud of her, she is a fine young woman, and it hurts that my baby is grown up. I love you Becca!

In the Zone

I have lost 18 pounds in the last 3 1/2 weeks! Staying around 2,000-2,200 cals a day. Now the experts would say "you're starving yourself!" (based on my size and RMR and workouts). But last year I could not drop the weight even with gargantuan weeks. Now I am down to 4-6 hours working out and 18 pounds off! I have plenty of energy, feel great, will maybe edge the calories up as my hours edge up. But, as my weight loss coach Calyx has taught me, I am going to listen to my body and let it tell me what I need!

Have a great weekend! (The view from my morning hike:

Back in the Saddle!

And my butt hurts! First outside ride since September's sprint. 22.5 miles, first 11 miles not so bad, but on the way back in . . can you say GUSTING HEADWIND? Argh! Kicked my butt! I was so happy to get back to the truck. But it was beautiful and nice to be outside.

Finishing up first week of serious Tri training in a long time. I will end the week with 2 swims, three bikes, 3 treadmill sessions and some strength and core training. I should end the week with about 8 hours of training in. It's nice to be back!

Pooped!

Just got done working 13 days in a row, worked 35 hours of overtime in the last 8 days. I am exhausted! I got in 5 workouts last week so I am good with that, but this week I am going to work less, workout more, and sleep more!

Hope you all have a great week!

Only 5 Months!

March 8th to August 8th, not much time to prepare for Boulder 70.3. Focus! Must focus!

Colonoscopy

Had one today, great news! All the areas that had been inflamed and messed up due to heavy Ibuprofen use over the years before I started working out, are cleared up! Only one very small polyp. I don't have to go back for FIVE years!!!!

ANs since I have not eaten since Wednesday, I am splurging on some mac and cheese (I know I know, not Paleo) and mashed potatoes. Yum!

Tomorrow I am back on the diet and exercise! Tonight I am a couch potato!

6th Day of Paleo

Well, I do allow 12 tater tots at breakfast,some cheese on my salad, I did have bread at my splurge meal, but other than that, no grains. Even with my spurge meal last night, my calorie count yesterday was only 2110!

300 wall-ball squats this morning and my thighs are feeling it. I want to be able to 1,000 a couple times a week. I think that and climbing stairs at work will my biking much stronger (I work in a 10 story building).

I don't usually watch much TV. NASCAR on Sundays (yes, I have a touch of redneck in me, but just a little!) and Biggest Loser, that's about it. But with the Olympics on the next two weeks, I am going to hit the trainer quite a bit.

Work as me stressed as does the taxes I owe. I know that I cannot survive the stress of these well without my workouts and endorphins. That means going to be on time. If I don't get this triathlon and health ball rolling again, I am in big danger of sliding back down the hill to 471 pounds (or more), and dying early. I will be 53 in April. This is it. No excuses! Not even the IRS will stop me!

Changes

I'm back to being in bed by 8:30 pm so I can get up to workout. Getting away from that to sleep in was not good, warm and toasty yes, but not good for me. I am full tilt into the Paleo diet except I allow myself 12 tater tots for breakfast. Once I get back into long training sessions on the weekend, I will do Paleo for Athletes, which will incorporate some brown rice (I think, still need to read that part). Going to stay off the wheat for a few months to see how that affects me.

Back on the trainer this week and next week back into the pool!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Nasty Cold

I rested yesterday and today I stayed home from work to get better. No swim or bike today, but I did do 200 of these! My legs will be toast tomorrow!

Progress? Progress! Biggest Loser

Well I have lost progress in my fitness, I have let thing get in the way, I have gotten side-tracked along the way and put back on weight. But I have made substantial progress in my thinking as I have been getting weight-loss coaching/life coaching with Calyx (a triathlete herself). Her site, Sea Change by Design is new and not finished, but check her out! I am turning this ship around!

It is amazing the way we think - so many false ideas, so much emotion and unhealthy coping mechanisms, so many patterns established that we don't even recognize that are not healthy for us. Thankfully there are ways to change our thinking, beliefs, responses, and therefore achieve the desired outcomes.

I miss being coached. I like the accountability, the knowledge, the time-saving of having to plan (as I AM BUSY!), the excitement it brings when I see the new challenges and milestones. I will know after the taxes are done if hiring a coach is do-able this year.

We started a "Biggest Loser" contest at my work today, about 11 of us. $20 ante and a first, second, and third prize. I am excited as I AM going to be in the money!

"Borrowed" from The Clydesdale Project:

"I saw Avatar this past weekend. I liked it. I even liked the earlier version called "Dances With Wolves".

Given that it is the most expensive movie ever made and will likely be the biggest grossing movie ever made, there better be some take-aways or lessons in there somewhere. During this explanation, I'm going to keep it simple, without character names, etc. It's not a movie review.

The lesson that I learned came from a scene where the Na'vi (Blue-Cat People!) were on a hunt to find their own personal flying beast. Once they find and tame their flying beast, then they will be inseparable. "But how will I know which beast should be mine?", the new guy asked. His mentor said "It will be the one that is trying to kill you...either you will tame it and be successful, or it will kill you." So, the guy quickly finds a nasty huge beast that obviously wants to kill him. They take some swipes at each other and the guy gets hit and thrown around, clearly not succeeding. That big snarling beast is too huge, mean and strong! The other Na'vi say that our hero will surely die.

But the hero doesn't give up and slowly gains the upper hand and finally overcomes the beast. The beast gives in and realizes that our hero will be the master...the one "in charge" in this relationship.

What a great metaphor this is for the battle some of us have with our health! Whether it is food, exercise, alcohol, drugs, etc., you likely have a beast out there that is slowly destroying you. Sometimes, we so much believe that we can't overcome our beast, we even try to believe that we like having it be our master (what Devil invented the term "comfort food" for food that is high in fat, carbs, etc.???). We like the ice cream, the booze, the couch (even though all of these things can ultimately make us feel badly about ourselves and limit us).

It is not easy to tame our beasts. But Avatar was right about it: You can't reason with your beast, you can't talk it to death. Plans and charts and blogs might be helpful little tools, but this battle requires action. You must launch a focused attack on your personal beast. Either it controls you, or you control it. I have to control my own beast. I will fight it with miles on my bike, better food choices...basically eating less and moving more. I won't give up. You shouldn't give up either." Great post dude!

2010

Signed up for my 1st race of the year, the Greenland 8 miler (Tea is doing the 25k and Brandy is doing the 50k!)

Have already registered for my first half-ironman - Boulder 70.3, will do Glenwood Springs sprint in September again, will volunteer at IM AZ to register for 2011, and B2B? Not sure yet, depends on weight loss and money.

I am fire up once again and am excited! Tri season training starts tomorrow! Yes!