Hanging out in Chicago

Flew out to Chicago yesterday to meet with a client team here.  This is one of my neverending projects; I just can't get the open action items closed.  Zaps my energy... after the last year or so, I really just need it to end.  Got barely any sleep past night...

Apart from that, I found out that there are charity slots open for the Ironman in Florianopolis, Brazil, but they are going for $1,300 - half to register and half to a charity.  I am seriously considering it, and I know if I do that, I am all in.  It's the event I want, so more to come! 

Gratitute to:

22) Friends who check in with you when they haven't heard from you in a while

23) The Daily Show / Colbert Report hour on Comedy Central and the laughs it gives me

24) Graham's 10 year tawny port

IRONMAN BRASIL SOLD OUT!

IRONMAN BRASIL 2013 registration sold out in 15 minutes!  That was going to be my target race, but I'll have to re-strategize.


Read this article on year long triathlon training nine to 12 months out from a race. Nine to 12 months out from the race needs to be dedicated to building foundation fitness and preparation phase of training. They've provided a description of intensities and a cross-reference table for terms used by coaches in this free download file.)

What you’re aiming to do is condition tendons, ligaments, muscles, the metabolic system and your mind—among other things—for future training. In all cases, you want to minimize the risk of injury and improve the probability that you’ll have a good race.

I really need to get into a solid routine to make this work.  I've got the plan and I am following it, but not fully invested yet... changing my diet will be another huge step.


The bike I was watching went for $835.  I was willing to go to $850, but fell asleep.  Who makes their auction end at 2 in the morning!?!?

What am I grateful for today:
10) 2005 Jarvis Cabernet Franc Half Bottles
11) Homemade clam chowder and a gas fireplace on a colder rainy day
12)The 15 minutes of pre-hurricane-like weather where I got to fly my new falcon kite..

I got me some new shoes today! $44. 

1.5 quicky

I ran just the basics today - once around the mini-block, listening to Dan Savage's Savage Lovecast. Didn't even make it though a whole episode, but that's good for today, since I didn't have to run at all today.

I've got to go into work tomorrow - big system test starts, and we'll find out if the system will scale to the world, literally. That should take a good degree of stress off my mind. Back in December, my client really escalated the rhetoric, and that caused me to really loose momentum. Well, that and breaking my arm, and a vacation, and a slew of other excuses available on demand.  Might be able to move past them now. 

Finally broke down and bought the Superfeet at the Sports Basement.  The BLUEs.  $31.

  Looked at the Brooks Adreneline GTS 9s.. but think I'll find the 6s or 7s on line.  The improvement over the last model ain't going to make the difference for me!

New Shoes and Socks!

I am a sucker for a good deal, so when I saw the Brooks Adenaline GTS 7s for $30 at Marshall's, I jumped back to them. These shoes are $80 at Fleet Feet!

Before the Nike Air Span 4s, I had two pairs of Adrenaline GTS 5s back to back. Loved them both. I jumped to the Nikes when I got the Nike+ system. I fell for the marketing! Actually both Apple and Nike got me. Made me get a Nano instead of my shuffle ("Oh, Nike + won't work with you shuffle...)

I also got some UnderArmour socks for $8. Yey! They are so comfortable. The ones I got back in July are a little thick and seem to give me blisters. These are much thinner, and I think I am going to like them a lot! We'll see during the 12 mile walk (yes, I am still walking until I get the all clear on my arm) tonight.

Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon Tomorrow!

I have to get up tomorrow morning at 3:10 to be on the road by 4:10 to be at the finish-to-start bus by 5:10. Pick up my packet as soon as I get to the start line, by 6:10 am.

7:00 am start.



My plan is to control my speed at 11 minutes per mile through the entire event. I know, pretty simple. Should be able to compute it pretty easy, too... :11, :22, :33, :44, :55, 1:06, 1:17, 1:28, 1:39, 1:50, 2:01, 2:12, 2:23.



I will start off in the first 4 miles with the 4:1 split. At mile 4 I will stop the splits, and run continuously. This should give me enough warm up time. At mile 9, I will judge if I can step it up a notch for the last 4.



Well, that's the goal anyway.

I got a new shirt today. Like the one shown, but red. I like it a lot. And a $36 shirt for $12. Yey! I also got some new socks for $2 from the Sports Basement in Walnut Creek. Not sure if I will wear it tomorrow or not.. you know the rule about not doing anything new for a race.




I'll decide in the morning. Eh, that's probably a bad idea, too. I am going to forget something.






Saw the new Felt S22 at the Sports Basement too. I love it. I though it was the 2007 on sale, but it was white like the 2008.





The Vineman Ironman 70.3 triathlon is also tomorrow in the same general area. I might try to go up an hit that after the race. Depends on when I finish I guess. It would be exciting to see.

9 & 9 Heatwave!

Nine on Tuesday and Nine on Thursday - Complete!



I am having that amazing feeling of post-run, but I have to admit tonight the last couple miles was pretty tough. Of course, I was doing it from 8:30 to 10:15 pm, and when I got home it was still 88 degrees. I guess that might have had something to do with it. I waited until it got down to 95 before I actually headed out.


Thursday's run went better except I took a wrong turn and ended up wandering through these neighborhoods until I found a road I knew. I still ended up at the full 9 miles, but I thought I had shortcutted back.

Looks like I am officially logged in the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon two weeks out from the San Francisco Marathon. I paid my $75 entry fee, sent in my form very late, but got back a confirmation today. I am excited to do it, but not so excited that it is so close. Oh well, I will have to adjust that week. I will also have to drop out of Avenue of the Vines, since I don't have another $62 to give right at the moment.

I've got to adjust my training schedule some over the next couple of weeks, since I'll be on vacation. I don't want to lose my stuff. I am going to do 20 miles in Vermont (thinking of doing a tour around all of the places I lived while in Burlington, and asking my buddy Erin to go with me), and two runs during the week while on vacation - one in Amsterdam and one in Rome, 3 - 5 miles each. That will be amazing. Can't wait.

New UA Watch

Got a new watch to track my interval times as I run longer miles by myself.

Under Armour Streaker

$39 from Marshall's.

vs. $94 on line!

Gym Rats

Could not focus on the job today, so went to gym (think I mentioned, I joined the gym at the office for just $25 per month?) at 4:30. Wow, what a mistake. They Gym Rats were there - all these hyper-buff guys doing their thing with uber-big weights. Was moderately embarrassed at my "10 reps of 40 pounds" on the chest press machine. That's right, I have not yet graduated to the real weights. Fortunately, they had almost all wandered off by the time I finished my 11 minute warm up bike. I was able to bust out 3 sets of each of my weights, where I was only doing two sets before.

Still have not been able to strip off the weight. Feeling better physically, but the fat just ain't dropping off like I would like. Anyway, I'll keep plugging away.

Rest Day

It seems I may have been taking it a bit too aggressively over the past week. On a positive note, I may have got lucky with my ankle - it is no longer painful to touch in the N spot, which was my indicator toward a navicular stress fracture. I think that I just stretched, pulled, or

I went ahead and bought the orthortic insole. Superfeet Blue. $35.

Going to take tonight off, instead of the 4 miler I had planned. Will see if tomorrow or Saturday I think I am ready to go. Otherwise, I've got a 7 mile run with the team on Sunday.

Strength Training

I started a strength training program today at the gym at the Concord office. Got a membership there for only $25 a month, and it is a full gym with everything I need - at least for now until I get the weight off and can start the swim program. (I am quite embarressed to be seen in a swim suit looking as I do!)


I have been relatively good at eating for the last week or so. Actually think I might be cutting it a little too low, given the amount that I am exercising, but I am so anxious to get the weight off. I am hoping the program will help get the excess fat off these old bones!

Here's my circut:

Back Extension (12x1)
Bridge (2x1)
Oblique V-Up (10x1, each side)
Bent Leg Knee Raise (15x1)
Crunch (15x1)

Pulldown (10x2)
Military Press (10x2)
Upright Row (10x2)
Triceps Pushdown (10x2)
Biceps Curl (10x2)
Bench Press (10x2)

New Water Belt!

Never ran with one of these before, but the AIDS Marathon Training Program says I need to have one. Team in Training's water stops were more prevelant I guess (and had PowerAid!)

Anyway, this is what I got. $35 at Fleet Feet - but could have got it on the internet for a bit cheaper. Think I could have got one elsewhere for even less. Not pleased with this purchase overall so far. Hopefully, it will wow me.

Serious Breakdown

Christmas Vacation. Stress. Work. I broke down. I have not been able to get back. Been so tired, so unfocused on this goal.

I need to get back on the horse.

and I will. Today I start. Tomorrow, I start the National AIDS Marathon Training Program. I am practically starting from scratch. Look forward to seeing their training plan. First day is going to be a bitch.

I have my new shoes on the way. I got the Nike Air Span+ 4 , now I just need to "upgrade" my iPod Shuffle to a nano, so I can use my Nike + sensor. ($179 total)
Documenting for the record - weight today, 192.

Signed up!

Signed up for the Conservatory 5K and I am ready to go. Might have to walk it, but I am doing it to meet my first goal on my strategy.