NOTEBOOK

I've been searching the google-machine for the perfect notebook.  One that would help keep all of my projects, to-do lists, and goals organized.  I can't seem to find exactly what I want so I've settled on something that will work OK. 

I wonder if I started a company that let people customize notebooks to exact specifications if anyone would buy them.

AWESOMENESS...INCREASED

A big thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Bacon for the new loveseat/recliner combo.  An even bigger thank you to my wife, who let me put the new loveseat/recliner combo in our living room.  Now I can morph into relaxation mode even faster...and with my feet comfortably lifted in the air.

Pay no attention to the bags of clothes headed to Goodwill

UPDATE

So far my training has been going well.  Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of room for improvement but I'm very happy overall.  Luckily, I've gotten to the point where I know I can finish, no matter how slow or ugly.

Here are the longest distances I've done so far vs. the race distance:
Biking: 35 miles vs. 56
Swimming: 1 mile vs. 1.2
Running: 5 vs. 13.1

I'm happy that I've already completed over half the required distance for both the swimming and biking...now to work on the running.    

Swimming:
Although I have already swam nearly the entire required distance, I want to shift my focus from completing the distance to completing the distance via the freestyle.  Up until this point, the majority of distance covered was thanks to the breast stroke.  That will be May's goal.  Hopefully, by the time of the event, I will be able to swim 2 miles at a comfortable pace.  Knowing I can swim this distance will help ease the swimming anxiety.

Biking:
I've learned a thing or two over the past few months.  I'm still working on figuring out what to eat on my ride and have been playing around with a few options.  My goal for May is to bike 70 continuous miles and master the clipless pedals.

Running:
I need to step up the running, but I have purposely been paying more attention to the other two events up until this point.  My logic: I'm a runner.  I know I can run the distance so I didn't need to spend the first (almost) 2 months of training proving it to myself.  May I will focus more energy on running.  My goal is to have ran 10 miles without stopping by the end of the month.  I'm also starting to entertain the idea that my (hopefully soon to be purchased) camel pack will be suitable for running.   More to come on this topic later.

My last goal for May is to be even more conscious of my eating.  I've lost some weight since the beginning of training (which is a nice extra, but not the overall reason for registering for the tri).  It still amazes me how training and exercising is night and day different depending on diet of that day and the day prior.

Hopefully this upcoming month will see even more healthy days than April.

I'll keep you posted.

SOMETIMES YOU’VE GOTTA PROVE IT

Was going to a concert on a week night when I had to wake up early the next day the smartest idea?  Probably not.  Was it worth it?  Most definitely.

When my friend mentioned she was going to a concert at a cool venue, which, had been on my “must check out” list, I felt compelled to buy two tickets.  I mean, why would she lie when she said it would be an awesome show and a great night?  Well friends, she was telling the truth. 

Sometimes I feel the need to prove to myself that I’m still capable of doing the same things I used to take for granted.  Even though I have a very active and busy life (busy training schedule, work schedule, and life schedule) I often feel like an old man.  “Oh, its 9:15, I should probably head to bed” comes to my mind more times than I care to admit. 

Sometimes, I think it is important remind myself that I’m 32 and not 55.  Old Man mentality and tiredness be damned…off to the concert I went.    

Disclaimer: I didn’t do everything exactly like I would have 10 years ago…I didn’t start the night off at a bar and didn’t end the night at a bar.  (Seriously, how did I used to stay out til 4 a.m. then go to work the next day?) 

I had a great time and the show was high-energy.  You couldn’t really ask for anything more from a Thursday night

Happy Friday.

Here is a sampling of the awesomeness. 

 

TRAINING UPDATE

Last night's 30-mile ride was a lot smoother than my first long ride.  Luckily, I was able to learn from my mistakes and correct a lot of the issues.  I had plenty of water, took along some food to keep my energy from dropping throughout the ride, and wore gloves to help save my hands. 

While this ride was much better, I also learned a few more things.

1. I really, really need bicycle shorts with padding
2. I should buy some glasses with clear lenses.   It was an overcast evening so I couldn't wear my sunglasses...I had about 17 bugs fly in my eye.  Not cool.
3. I would like (not need) a smaller backpack.  I'm thinking a cycling specific camel pack.  My pack gets the job done, but it is a beast of a thing (It's a multi-day pack).  Smaller might be better.
4. I need to learn to use my new clipless pedals.  Hopefully this will be done by weekend's end with minimal falling.  Fingers crossed. 

ALL TIME FAVORITE

Thinking back as far as I can, spring (minus the tornadoes) has always been my favorite season.  What I really love are the mornings.  The air is crisp, the sun is shining, the day holds promise, and I'm full of good vibes and energy. 

Nearly every spring morning, at one time or another, I am reminded of my grade school days and riding my bike to the bus stop.  These thoughts always trigger a smile, however brief.  Maybe it's because times were simpler, maybe it's because I remember how cool I looked rocking stone-washed and tight rolled jeans, maybe I remember how awesome my music sounded coming out of a brick of a walkman.  Whatever the reason, spring mornings have always make me happy.


This morning was no different. 

So with that, Happy Monday!

MOUNTAIN BIKING ADVENTURE

While unloading the bikes I took a quick look around the grass parking lot and thought, for the first time of the day (but not the last), that I might be in over my head.  The outfit I wore for the upcoming adventure consisted of blue mesh shorts and a cotton t-shirt…not a bicycling jersey, spandex shorts, and biking shoes like everyone else was wearing.  If I wasn’t feeling enough like a newbie my bike looked child’s toy compared the mud caked bikes with knobby tires and aggressive stances that were also being unloaded.   Yup.  It was going to be a long day.

We rode what the International Mountain Bicycling Association calls an Epic trail.  Here is how their website describes this type of trail, “demanding, single-track adventures in a natural setting.  The 2013 class of Epics celebrates true back country riding experiences that are technically and physically challenging, more than 80 percent single-track and at least 20 miles in length.”  (The section I did was only around 17 miles.)

Demanding?!?!  Holy Cow.  This ride humbled me within the first 15 minutes.  I should probably mention that I have never been mountain biking before and the people I was riding with are experts.  I'm not talking about self-proclaimed experts, I'm talking about the kind that have all been on competitive mountain biking race teams at one point or another.  They made everything look so easy, especially the climbing.  On more occasions than I’d like to admit, I had to get off my bike and walk it up the inclines.

Although I slowed down the group everyone was really supportive and encouraging.  The downhill part was obviously much faster than the climbing, but still very challenging.  It is amazing how quickly you can gain speed going down a mountain.  One of the best pieces of advice from the day was to try and keep your eyes looking 10 feet in front of the bike rather than just looking at what is immediately in front of you.  Which, is easier said than done.  My only wipe-out of the day happened with only about a half-mile left of the ride.  I forgot the whole, “look 10 feet ahead of the bike” rule and almost ran into a tree.  I avoided that crash by swerving into a pile of kitty-litter (small, loose rocks) and over I went.  Since I didn’t break anything (on me or the bike) and I didn’t fall off the side of a mountain I’ll call it a win.   

One of the scariest parts of the decent was going over the boulders…sometimes you couldn’t see the bottom of them until you were already heading down.  Luckily, I was coached about the proper way to go down/over them and did it without incident.  

Another learning opportunity came when we were loading the bikes back into the truck at the end of the day.  The speed release lever on my front wheel had been jarred lose and my wheel was barely staying on.  Now I know that if my bike starts making odd noises while going down the mountain that I should stop and make sure everything is tight.

At the end of the day I was exhausted, humbled, sore, and extremely happy.  I now understand the draw of the sport and why people continue to go back for more.

I’m hooked and can’t wait to go again.