Spring in January has ended

I know, it's unrealistic to think that the warm weather will last forever but, I can dream can't I! We had another chilly weekend here and, with the cold fronts, come the winds! What we lack in hills here, we make up for in wind. I did get three good runs in this week that felt more like running and less like jogging which is very encouraging. We are really dialing in the diet now that it's getting closer to some early season races (for the Dane, not for me). I thought I was being good with the diet but the scale doesn't lie and now we are getting into portion control during the week. We eat quite healthy but the Dane cooks so good that sometimes I like to eat seconds. Since the training is starting to get more consistent, that should help as well. The hamstring is doing really well now and it's just a matter, I think/hope, of gradually getting the legs in shape to train. May not be able to race for a little while but if I can do some run training, I'm happy! Happy to be entering February with the ability to run (after nearly 6 months of rest/rehabbing) and the temps will be getting better. Hoping to get out and paddle more also.
Cheers.

Spring in January

This pic is my running brother, the pose is a looooong story!

Firstly, want to congratulate my brother, Mike, for doing his second half marathon today in Austin, not an easy place to run! He took a ton of time off of his previous half and beat his goal by ten minutes! I am so stoked for him!

Yeah, yeah, I know. We've been bitching about the cold weather here because, let's face it, we're spoiled. We're used to 70 degree days when it's super cold in other parts of the country. Well, we choose to live here for this reason. But, January has been really cold for FL standards. We got payback this weekend with nice, warm temps. The other payback is, when it's warm, it's windy! Boy did we ride in some wind this weekend! What we lack in hills, we get in wind. We got to get out on the SUP's for the first time in many weeks too and really stoked to try and train for an SUP race in May. I am really sore from the little paddling (and trying to surf, I suck) that we did. Work to be done. On a good note, my jogging is up to 30 minutes at a really slow pace but it's better than NO jogging, so I'll take it. Trying to build some fitness on the bike now also, spent the past three Sundays on the Computrainer doing threshold intervals so it was a pleasant experience to ride outside this weekend. I don't have any racing planned because I don't know when I'll be able to go fast running. I'm so eager but also so afraid to re-injure myself and wind up taking more time off - that wouldn't be good! Keeping it positive and hoping I can race again by June or July. I'd like to go back to Providence 70.3 so if I can handle some run mileage by then, may be so. So, hoping we have more weather conducive to SUP, then I can train for what will likely be my first race of 2010! I smell a racing SUP board.....
Cheers.

Cold in FL

The record cold weather has really thrown off my return to decent "training". I had planned to get consistent in the pool again but when you show up and the water temp is 73 degrees when the air temp is 37 degrees, I aint swimming! I have done many swims in the cold but only when the water is warm. Hell, it is January and I don't even know when I'm going to be able to race a triathlon due the this damn hamstring so I'm not willing to risk hypothermia. I don't much care for riding when it's so cold either, so I've been quite cozy with the Computrainer. Today and last Sunday, I have managed to crank out a couple really hard threshold workouts. This is not something I would have done a year ago. It is such a mentally hard thing to do, especially on the trainer, seems to hurt more. I have gained a bit of confidence that I can sit there and tolerate the pain - something that can go a long way in races later this year, I hope. I did do three walk/jog workouts this week which is improvement, I guess. It's not enough for me when I realize I'm now 5 months out from the last real run before getting injured. Still can't believe I injured myself so thoroughly. I can't think about the past 5 months, I have to just progress at the speed the hamstring will allow me. I am only signed up for New Orleans 70.3 currently, which is in 14 weeks, but I'm not really confident that I'll even be able to race there. May be mid-summer prior to racing, I really don't know. It is definitely different than what I'm used to planning the racing season. Good things are, I've totally recovered from the overtraining. I'm more willing to sit on the trainer and really get into the hurt locker on the bike. I'm super motivated........well, that's not anything I've ever had trouble with. Hopefully, back to swimming this week when we get back to normal temps. Looking forward to that. Keeping positive!
Cheers.

Couple things...

Suffering is an Art!

Couple things eating at me lately. Aside from the usual injury bitching, it has been really cold. Cold for Florida. I hate cold, that's why I'm IN Florida. Hurts my joints and just sucks. But, the cold motivated me enough to sit on the Computrainer today for a workout I've never been able to do indoors - 4 x 15 minutes at/above lactate threshold. I'll translate for my Mother - that means, it really hurts! One thing I hope to get out of this extended injury layoff is stronger bike fitness. A part of better bike fitness for time trailing (read, triathlon) is acceptance for suffering on the bike. I can suffer ALL DAY running but, somehow, cycling suffering is different and, for me, worse. I need to learn this and embrace it. That is my goal this year. I know my running will suck, so, may as well make up my time doing something useful. That is my goal. I may not race until October but when I do, I want to make it count! I also am dealing with USAT rankings. I've been USAT All-American since I can remember but not for 2009. Didn't race enough. Won 2 x 70.3 AG races but didn't do anything else. That stings.........and motivates me. Well, it's a new year and time to change myself. I don't really know what kind of racing I'll even be able to do this year rehabbing this stupid hamstring tear but I plan to be smart about it. I've learned a lot about myself and will try to continue to keep a short leash on my motivation except in certain areas. I've made a step in the right direction. The photo is suffering on the run, something I know/do well. To the future..
Cheers