It's been a while.

Since I've posted - since I've worked out. It's frustrating. Work is so busy that I haven't had the chance to get much training in. In the last week I've run 12 miles, biked 0 miles and swam 0 meters. I've been unable to leave the office for lunch or even leave to go home at a normal hour. I hate that I'm off track because it's so hard to get going again. I am going to try to ride my bike tonight, I really need the workout and the stress relief. I've been extremely stressed out at work and it's totally affecting my energy level.

In addition to not working out due to long work hours, I tend to eat worse when I'm stuck inside all day. I buy crap from the vending machine and try to make a lunch out of pop tarts and popcorn. ;(

I hope to get back in the groove of working out and doing things for myself again. I miss my training friends, I miss my bike and I miss the feeling of having finished a great workout.

AHhhhhhhhHHHhhhh GEEEEEEEeeeeeeEEEZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZzz.

New Month, New Training Plan(s)

I haven't posted anything since my Degray Lake post-race celebration. I've been enjoying some much needed time off. Mind you - I didn't take completely "off" from training, I just took it easy. If I didn't feel like riding, I just didn't. I caught up with some friends, ate terribly, went out for drinks one night and just took care of some home stuff. It felt pretty good and by the time last weekend got here, I was ready to start with it again. That's the thing I need to remember, when I get burned out I need to just step back and relax. Everything will come back in time. Of course I need to make sure I know the difference between being burned out versus just being tired.....

Anywho... it's a new month and I've got a new plan. Or set of plans! I have my training schedule from my new coach and I've got my strength training schedule / plan. I started the month out by doing a bike time trial on Saturday, it was pretty cool. I haven't done a TT in so long. I felt pretty strong then we did a recovery ride afterwards to loosen up the legs. Later that day I took a big ol' power nap. Since I napped, I didn't eat lunch and I didn't wake up until 4:30 and it was too late to eat then because dinner would be ruined. Well, that made for a tough run on Sunday. I was really tired and just didn't have the energy or the drive to run long. I only ran for 55:00 or so.... I had to walk a couple of times too because I was so tired. I know it was a nutritional mistake because I wasn't hurting, I was breathing fine and I had plenty to drink. I just didn't have any calories in me from the day before and I didn't eat breakfast before the run.

Monday was Labor Day, it rained and I took the day off. Yesterday I did my first strength training session with Michael. It was tough too! It's funny how you can feel like you're so in shape / strong when it comes to running and biking, etc. but when it comes to this strength training and weights, I'm so out of shape! I was so weak and out of breath. It was kind of embarassing because I was sweating so much and my coordination wasn't the best. I started to feel the soreness setting in last night! Today = HOLY CRAP, my legs are killing me. I got up this morning to run and it hurt so bad to walk down the steps in my garage to get to the car!! I went to the lake and ran and the legs loosened up, which was good. I just can't believe how sore I am - and I'm supposed to do the strength training session again tomorrow, YIKES!

This month is going to be hard simply because I have a new training plan (which includes more running) and I have this strength training stuff that I started as well. I really want to get strong and train to be more efficient. I'm hoping by getting a jump start on my "off season" training that it will make next year a lot better. Training for the Ironman isn't going to be easy even though it is the second time around. I just need to make sure I focus on training smart and staying injury free.