Looking Up

Things are starting to look up.  Then again my back is absolutely killing me at that present time, but everything else is definitely getting better.  I am not so good at the posting on my blog lately because of life complications and other issues.  Those complications are getting, well, less complicated and as a result things are looking up.  I can't really get into it all as of yet, but job stuff has finally turned the corner.

I am going to write some more over the next day or two, once things are more concrete.

As for my training, it has been sporatic at best because of my achy back.  I have been getting on my bike for about four hours every week, but running has been difficult because of the soreness in my lower back.  The snow this week hasn't helped matters, especially the initial six inches that we received today.  We are supposed to get another 8 - 12 inches this evening which should add up to a lot of couch time tomorrow, resting.

That is it for now.  Again, good news is coming soon!

IMAZ Photos

Almost two months after Ironman Arizona and I am posting some pictures from the race, courtesy of ASI Photo.

I was freezing, but done swimming, you would think I would be smiling.

Just starting out on the bike, adjusting my watch.

I think this is the end of the first loop....two to go.

The hill on the first loop of the course, I was feeling OK.

Getting my arm warmers on; getting cold out.

That same hill on lap two...not feeling so good.



Finally DONE!!!



Smiling because I am done.

The smile would evaporate about 10 - 15 minutes later when I got to the finishers tent.  I felt like I was hit by a Mack truck.

I'm Back....Kind of

I have been very negligent in writing on my blog over the past month or so.  My life has been turned upside down over the past three weeks for reasons I can not get into right here/now.  I haven't felt like jotting down what has been going on for the simple reason that it doesn't need to be out there just yet.  So....what can I write about?  Well, how about my health and the upcoming race season.

Health
Ugh, not great!  I played indoor soccer about a month ago and injured my left leg and after about two or three weeks I developed a bump right on my hip flexor.  Initially my sports doc thought was a hernia, so I had to go see a surgeon.  At the surgeon's office I was told that it wasn't a hernia.  Great news!  Well, I guess so, except that I still didn't know what the bump was.  Dang!  So back to square one to find out what the heck is wrong with the leg.  I am also dealing with some numbness on the outside of the leg as well, that is the real concern.  The funny thing with all of this is that I have been able to bike on my trainer with out any pain or discomfort.  In fact, I feel better after exercising.

The one other issue I am dealing with is pain in my lower back and that has curtailed any running that I might be doing.  I am really missing running right now, especially with all of the snow and cold weather.  This is my favorite time of the year for running.  I guess I just have to play it day by day.

Up-Coming Season
I took some time today to write down a tentative 2011 Race Schedule and here is what I came up with:

• March 20th - Central Bucks YMCA 5K
• April 17th - UNITE Half Marathon, Rutgers University, NJ
• May 1st - Broad Street Run (10M), Philadelphia, PA
• May 18th - SERTOMA 5K, Doylestown, PA
• May 21st/22nd - JerseyMan Triathlon (Spring/HIM), Clinton, NJ
• June 11th - Lavaman Triathlon, Lavallette, NJ
• July 23rd/24th - NJ State Triathlon, Mercer County, NJ
• August 6th - Born To Tri, Asbury Park, NJ
• August 7th - Steelman Triathlon, Quakertown, PA
• September 10th - Hunterdon Half, Lebanon, NJ
• October 2nd - Pocono 70.3, Stroudsburg, PA 

Not everything above is set in stone, e.g. probably not doing two races the weekend of August 6th.  Also, I may add some additional things in there as the year progresses, but at least this is a starting point for getting my training schedule started.  Of course I need to get health first.  Also, I haven't registered for most of the events either just yet, so there is a possibility that I might not get into some of them.

Oh, the last final bit of news is that I got a new phone, the iPhone 4!  It is awesome!  I absolutely love it.  I have only scratched the surface for what it can do and the apps that I can load on to it.  I need to find some good training apps.  So excited!!

That is it for now.  I am going to try and get back in to writing in this more often and hopefully be able to write some positive things soon.  Cheers!

Bad Days

So much to write, but it can't be written yet.  It has been a bad week...and that is an understatement.

• Job Issues
• Inguinal Hernia
• Lower back pain

More to come once I get a very important phone call.  If you have some positive karma to spare, please sent it my way.

Eight Years Old

It was eight years ago that I became a father for the first time.  My oldest daughter, "The Diva" turned 8 years old today.  "The Diva" started the day not feeling all that special, probably very tired from the past few days, a virtual endless Christmas.  She is happy that her birthday is here because she knows that she will be getting presents tonight once my wife gets home from work.  "The Diva" is feeling very entitled today, as though everyone should bow down to her and cater to her every whim.  "The Diva" is in for a rude awakening.  "The Diva" needs to understand that it is her birthday and that she hasn't been named Queen of the household.  It will be a good day once we are all on the same page. 

So, it is just past 11:00AM and I need to get some things started.  I can not just sit around the house all day while the girls watch Scooby Doo cartoons all day.  It would be good to take them ice skating or maybe over to the rock climbing gym, but with my little one (5 years old) not quite "there" yet, neither option is a possibility.  Hmmm, now what?  We need to get out of the house; we have been stuck in here for the past two days and we need to get out and get some fresh air.  Maybe we'll just head into town and walk around for a bit before getting lunch. 

Anyway, back to me and the theme of this blog....triathlon training.  First and foremost, my training has slipped big time now that the holidays are here.  I have been pigging out on chocolate cookies and taking plenty of seconds at the dinner table.  I have packed on a solid 13 - 15 lbs since IM Arizona and I am disgusted with myself.  I haven't really found anytime to get out to run over the past five days and have only made it on to the trainer two or three times.  Swimming hasn't happened since last Thursday.  I had to be one of those New Years Resolution-types, but I think January 1st is going to be the day that I kick my training back into gear. 

I am kind of jumping around here....sorry....but this does tie in with the above.  For Christmas my wife got me two great books:

1. Strength Training for Triathletes
2. Training Plans for Multisport Athletes

I am looking to increase my strength this coming year, but no necessarily get bigger.  I also am looking to increase my bike considerably and also be able to run faster off of the bike for the longer events.  Of course, I need to keep swimming and improve there where ever possible.  I really need to take a few minutes and really lay out my race year and put together a solid training program.  I want to capitalize on the successes I had in 2010 and use them to drive me in 2011.

Time to get back to the girls!  Cheers!

Happy Holidays

Two days before Christmas and things are looking up.  My wife has done a great job of preparing for the big day, I have just about everything done on my end and the long awaiting job stuff is close to being resolved (more to report in the next week or so I hope).

This is just a quick post since I'm not sure when I will post again.  My legs are feeling good, having just gotten done running around 6.4 miles.  My swim stroke is finally coming back after a few weeks of losing it.  All else is good with the world.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

On the Mend

My once daily blog, became a four day a week blog and is now a weekly blog.  Amazing how things gain and lose importance so quickly. 

First things first, it has been 32 days since I completed Ironman Arizona and I am feeling good.  I have begun to get back into the swing of things, swimming a couple days a week (albeit only ~1,000m at a time), running three days a week and riding the trainer one or two days a week.  I am definitely taking it easy and you can see it on me (additional 10 lbs of mass added to my already "athletic" figure).  As great as it has been to not have to follow a rigid training schedule, I think it is time to get back on one.  I do miss the structure and need to have a plan.

I had originally hoped to do an Ironman 70.3 race in San Juan, Puerto Rico in March 2011, but I don't think that is in the cards right now.  The expenses would be a bit too high at the present and with job stuff still up in the air, it wouldn't be a smart trip to take.  Damn!  I really wanted to do that race and make a nice vacation out of it.

So it looks like I am going to be focusing on the UNITE Half Marathon at Rutgers University.  I did this race last year and set a PR despite being hit with back spasms the week before and having to go with no training for the better part of a week leading up to it.  I am hoping to get somewhere close to 1:30:00, that is if my legs are capable of running so fast for such a distance.  The training for the race will begin on January 1, 2011!

Now I move onto some specifics about my current injuries.  I did go to my sports doctor on Monday and he didn't seem to all to concerned about my pain.  He attributed it to going from training for triathlons, basically unilateral movements and then going and doing multilateral activity (soccer) without any training.  He worked out my hip flexors pretty well and told me that I can start playing again.  Funny how my right leg feels fine right now, but the night of the injuries, that is the leg that was giving me the most pain.  Now my left leg is the one with the residual discomfort and even numbness on the outside of my thigh.  He said it could take a couple weeks/months before it feels normal.

So that is pretty much it for now.  Christmas is three days away and I am excited to spend it with my wife and kids.  Merry Christmas everyone!!!