"If you do not consciously form good habits, you will unconsciously form bad ones."
The last couple of weeks of December have been busy. The weekend of the 19th, my cycle team had a ride/lunch/white elephant party. We got in around a 25 mile ride. There were a couple of times I let loose as I was on my tri bike, but for the most part we all stayed together. This meant going slower than normal at times for the newer riders, but at least I was getting in time on the bike. The white elephant exchange was kind of fun as well.
Then on the 20th, we had to go out of town for a grandmother's 90th birthday and then come back in town for Dalton's indoor soccer game. Then it was back out of town on the 23rd for Christmas with the in-laws, back on the 24th and Christmas with my family on the 25th. Then back out of town on the 26th with extended family. Luckily, after that we were home for good and I was off work the last week of the year.
During all the craziness, I have continued to work out, even getting in my longest swim session to date - a 2,800 yard workout. I'm excited that I'm at that point and I still have 11 months to go until IMFL.
This week off has been nice, but still busy. One of the guys from my Sunday school class at church put out a resolution challenge. From the 26th - January 1, he challenged people to workout at least 20 minutes a day by walking or running. You get points for time, distance, being outside, and if the outside workout is below freezing. My first workout was the day we had to go out of town, so I got up early to get my run in and it was below freezing. Wahoo!!!! An extra point. Even though I would have worked out every day anyway, this challenge has encouraged me to probably do more than I would have. Thursday was a busy day and I could have easily skipped the workout, but I knew others in the challenge would see a blank day and I wanted points, so I got my run in. Forming that habit of working out every day is what most people need to keep going, so I hope the challenge helped some people.
As I look back on 2009, I feel like it was a good year. I got a PR in the 5K, 10K, and sprint triathlon distances. I ran more than I did last year, and I swam over twice the distance I did in 2008. 2009 totals are:
Bike: 1384.26 miles
Run: 832.73 miles
Swim: 32683.26 yards
Strength: 3 hr 55 min
Massage: 3 hr
Race Volunteering: 4 hr 30 min
Soccer: 30 min
Spin Class: 1 hr
Walking: 15 hr 46 min 30 sec
Wii Fit: 20 min
Yoga: 23 hr
It will be interesting to see 2010 totals at the end of next year after training for the Ironman.
I hope that your 2009 was good to you and that 2010 will be even better. Happy New Year everyone!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Time Versus Distance
"One part at a time, one day at a time, we can accomplish any goal we set for ourselves." Karen Casey, from Achievement of a Life Goal
With the holiday season approaching, some things at work, and Madison's volleyball kicking into gear, things are not slowing down. But I am determined to get the workouts in however I need to get them in. Last Wednesday, Madison told me at the last minute that she wanted to go to Bible study. I had already planned to get in my 60 minute run before dark. We were having a hard time figuring out how to get her there and pick her up and still get Dalton where he needed to go. Then I thought, "Why don't I just get dressed, drive her there, and run from that house for an hour? I'll be done when she is." So that's what I did despite the 45 degree temps. And it worked out perfect. She called me on my phone to see where I was just as I was rounding the corner to the house.
I've also had to rearrange the schedule a little bit due to an all day volleyball tournament on Saturday. For the team's first time to play together in a real game environment, they did well (at least I thought). And Madison's serving amazed me. On the last game they were playing, they were down 24 to 17 (or something like that). If the other team scored a point, the game was over and our team was knocked out. It was our turn to serve. And it was Madison serving. She did great under pressure and brought the team back to 25-24. And then the other team won anyway. But I was so proud of her. It was worth it to rearrange my workout schedule.
Then after working out on Sunday with a swim of 2,500 yards (my longest to date) and a run, I got to looking at my Ironman program again. The one I plan to follow does the run and bike workouts by time but gives swim workouts, so it's distance there. I've been following a half-iron plan right now that also bases workouts on time. And I'm actually finding that I kind of like that. For instance, the other night when I had the 60 minute run - normally I probably would have gone 5-6 miles. But since I ran for an hour, I got in 6.2. So I may actually get more miles in this way, at least with running. I know later on I will do bike rides by miles, doing several century rides over the summer, and I know I will want to get in several 18-20 miles run toward the end of training. Well see how it goes.
I also noticed that my Ironman plan only has swim workouts of up to 3,500 meters. I don't think I like that since I'm already fairly comfortable with 2,500. I think I want to go farther, and in swimming you can. I may look at some other plans and take the swimming workouts from those. It will definitely be an interesting year, but one part at a time and one day at a time, I'll get there.
With the holiday season approaching, some things at work, and Madison's volleyball kicking into gear, things are not slowing down. But I am determined to get the workouts in however I need to get them in. Last Wednesday, Madison told me at the last minute that she wanted to go to Bible study. I had already planned to get in my 60 minute run before dark. We were having a hard time figuring out how to get her there and pick her up and still get Dalton where he needed to go. Then I thought, "Why don't I just get dressed, drive her there, and run from that house for an hour? I'll be done when she is." So that's what I did despite the 45 degree temps. And it worked out perfect. She called me on my phone to see where I was just as I was rounding the corner to the house.
I've also had to rearrange the schedule a little bit due to an all day volleyball tournament on Saturday. For the team's first time to play together in a real game environment, they did well (at least I thought). And Madison's serving amazed me. On the last game they were playing, they were down 24 to 17 (or something like that). If the other team scored a point, the game was over and our team was knocked out. It was our turn to serve. And it was Madison serving. She did great under pressure and brought the team back to 25-24. And then the other team won anyway. But I was so proud of her. It was worth it to rearrange my workout schedule.
Then after working out on Sunday with a swim of 2,500 yards (my longest to date) and a run, I got to looking at my Ironman program again. The one I plan to follow does the run and bike workouts by time but gives swim workouts, so it's distance there. I've been following a half-iron plan right now that also bases workouts on time. And I'm actually finding that I kind of like that. For instance, the other night when I had the 60 minute run - normally I probably would have gone 5-6 miles. But since I ran for an hour, I got in 6.2. So I may actually get more miles in this way, at least with running. I know later on I will do bike rides by miles, doing several century rides over the summer, and I know I will want to get in several 18-20 miles run toward the end of training. Well see how it goes.
I also noticed that my Ironman plan only has swim workouts of up to 3,500 meters. I don't think I like that since I'm already fairly comfortable with 2,500. I think I want to go farther, and in swimming you can. I may look at some other plans and take the swimming workouts from those. It will definitely be an interesting year, but one part at a time and one day at a time, I'll get there.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Busy Times
"My feeling is that any day I am too busy to run is a day that I am too busy." John Bryant
I guess today was a day that was too busy. Sure, I could be on the treadmill right now instead of updating my blog, but I pretty much refuse to start a workout after 9:00 pm. I don't mind working out past 9:00 if I've already started, but I don't want to start working out that late.
The past two nights I've gotten home late. Last night, I got home around 8:00. I got on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then the trainer for 45 minutes. I then took a shower and went to bed. Tonight I didn't get home until almost 9:00 and I had not eaten dinner yet. I knew I needed to eat. Tomorrow is a light day as far as activities go, so I'll do tonight's run tomorrow either before or after swimming.
I have looked at my schedule (training and activities) for the next two months to figure out what kind of workouts I need to do and when I can fit them in. I've got the December schedule posted on a cabinet in the kitchen. I need to find the time and get it done.
I've been looking at races/rides for 2010 and how they fit in my Ironman training. One thing that I decided to go ahead and do is an early season Half Ironman. I wasn't sure I wanted to do that, but several other people I know who are also doing IMFL are doing the same race and I think it will be good for me to see where I'm at and start testing the nutrition. So, training for that starts now. No more skipping workouts!
I guess today was a day that was too busy. Sure, I could be on the treadmill right now instead of updating my blog, but I pretty much refuse to start a workout after 9:00 pm. I don't mind working out past 9:00 if I've already started, but I don't want to start working out that late.
The past two nights I've gotten home late. Last night, I got home around 8:00. I got on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then the trainer for 45 minutes. I then took a shower and went to bed. Tonight I didn't get home until almost 9:00 and I had not eaten dinner yet. I knew I needed to eat. Tomorrow is a light day as far as activities go, so I'll do tonight's run tomorrow either before or after swimming.
I have looked at my schedule (training and activities) for the next two months to figure out what kind of workouts I need to do and when I can fit them in. I've got the December schedule posted on a cabinet in the kitchen. I need to find the time and get it done.
I've been looking at races/rides for 2010 and how they fit in my Ironman training. One thing that I decided to go ahead and do is an early season Half Ironman. I wasn't sure I wanted to do that, but several other people I know who are also doing IMFL are doing the same race and I think it will be good for me to see where I'm at and start testing the nutrition. So, training for that starts now. No more skipping workouts!
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