I have a problem

I'm the type of person who is always day dreaming of things that I want to do and 90% of those things never materialize into an act of actually doing/completing.  For example I constantly talk about things around my house I would "like" to do.  In fact I have a rotating list in my head like getting organized, building some shelves, cleaning my garage, cleaning my basement, cleaning my vehicle, cleaning my house, taking my bike in for maintenance, prepping my yard for winter,  giving the dog a bath, and the list continues.  I also have a fitness list like complete a 5k (done), 10k (race on the Oct 29th), half marathon, marathon, Olympic distance triathlon, Half Ironman, Ironman, and a Century bike ride.  Am I crazy or do lots of people have this...um...problem?  To complicate things - this always happens - I was just accepted into an accelerated nursing program which is awesome and will be taking all my spare time in the coming future.  If there is one thing that doesn't take a back seat it is education.  Fortunately I'm very lucky my wife is extremely understanding with this.  I just tend to want to start new adventures when I don't have the time to dedicate myself to them.  That might say something about myself but who cares.  I'm human and humans are odd creatures - some more than others.  Ok I have no idea where that came from.  Moving on.

Triathlons.  They have been on my mind a lot.  I've also been reading lots about them.  They have a very alluring appeal to me just like anything with a "I'm cool because you wish you could do what I'm doing even though I look as though I'm about to die" sort of culture.  My whole life its been that way.  In the Boy Scouts (yes I obtained the rank Eagle Scout) I once degenerated into a hypothermic state on a winter survival camping trip in Colorado after constructing a snow shelter.  Even though he won't admit it my brother probably saved my life that day by recognizing it and taking action.  I was in a bad way but tell the story with pride and wear the experience like a badge of honor.  Dumb I know.  Oh yeah and then there is the six years in the military where group suffering is the norm; loved it.  Then came Crossfit where I was introduced to a different type of pain; self inflicted.  Laying on the ground after a workout completely drained and have random full body muscle spasms.  Weird but for the record that only happened twice.  So you see triathlons are right up my alley.  Suffering.  Good for mind and body.


I love exploring that dark place that I only find when I'm truly being tested and seeing how long I can stay there.  Really testing myself because I know that physically I'm capable of completing a task, but can I complete that task mentally.  Our minds are not limited by the physical barriers muscles and cardiovascular endurance is.  Many people who are capable to do great things stop short because mentally they give up when it gets tough.  Now I could get all philosophical and rant about how that is the problem with society today.  About how so many people choose the easy route instead of doing what is right for themselves and their health because it's easier to be fat and out of shape than put in at a minimum of what, 30 minutes a day of exercise.  Or how I see people circle the Wal-Mart parking lot for a close parking spot so they don't have to walk twenty extra steps.  But I won't get into that here because that's not why you visit this blog.  Also because I have covered many topics already and this entry is loooooong.  Holy crap, it's lunch time, I'm out!

I'm Not Perfect

( Kind of a random ramble this morning)

I also don't take myself to seriously all the time either.  I like to think that I'm still young at heart and in spirit like everyone else.  That said waking up at 5 in the morning sucks!  I don't know why it has all of a sudden become this major drag on me, but I'm hating it!  I'm hating it so much right now that when my alarm went off this morning I turned it off rolled over and slept for another hour!  It was great!  Stacy didn't appreciate it though since she couldn't get back to sleep after waking up from my alarm, but what am I supposed to do about that?  I know that last part sounds mean but I don't mean for it to come off like that.  My poor wife puts up with more than many will ever know or care to know.  Especially my on again off again schedules and hobbies but those are totally different subjects for totally different times. I'm not perfect. 

So I have my first "official" 5K coming up in just a little under a month that Stacy and I are running together in.  I have no doubt that I can finish it and depending on the course I might even PR.  If it's flat then I will definitely be faster than my course I usually run since what I train on consists of practically all hills, some of which are big.  I've read that training on hills for a flat race my not be the best idea, but it can build strength.  I'm good with strength as a byproduct of training!  What I'm not good with is wasting time driving to a location to run on a flat surface at 5 in the morning.  As it stands I can fill just over an hour with a warm up, run, cool down, breakfast, and the Three S's without driving somewhere.  If I had to drive it would really throw off my mojo!  Again, I'm not perfect.

In keeping with my "I'm not perfect" rant this morning I'm worried about training in the cold.  I don't have a treadmill or anything similar and you already know how I feel about waking up and driving somewhere to train.  I love cold weather and everything about it, but I've never had to run in it for miles.  Sure I've played in the snow and ran around causing mayhem in my day, but I was bundled up.  Also it wasn't a consistent run for any real amount of time or distance. I hate that feeling in the back of your throat when you're breathing hard and it burns.  Mmmm that's a pleasant thought this morning.  Maybe I just need to do it and accustom myself to it.  Easier said than done that's for sure.  Especially when your bed is at that perfect temp ratio of warm/cool and you debate just blowing off the whole day and staying in bed.  Am I the only one that feels like that?  Maybe? Yes? No? Ok I'm the weird one I get it.  I'm not perfect.

So I promised pictures and a post from my last adventure over the Labor Day weekend and I will keep my promise they're coming.  I've been lazy and haven't downloaded them yet and I'm waiting for inspiration.  Well mostly I've been lazy and had a big test this week, but inspiration sounds good.  What else can I say except...I'm not perfect!

I'm Still Here!!

Hey everyone I just wanted to update all of you and say that I’m still around! My schedule has drastically changed with school revving up for the Fall semester so I’m working on revamping my workout times, blog times, class times, study times, eating times, sleeping times, and all the other “times” that have/need to change.  Have no fear though as I have some great recipes to review, a little bit of exploring in my local area to tell you about, and general updates to share.  I plan to be back on a schedule very soon with reliable updates.

As for my workouts I’m attempting to see if keeping my 5 a.m. bike ride is feasible with my classes and staying awake during lectures; I can only drink so much coffee.  I’m not a fan of afternoon workouts or evening workouts, but as the night lasts longer and if the temperature EVER begins to cool off that might be what I’m left with.  I’m also beginning to think about what I’m going to do when I’m unable to ride my bike due to snow and ice.  Any ideas for a novice from anyone that has gone through this?  I can’t afford a trainer so I’m thinking I’m going to try my luck at…building…one…maybe? That could be fun or disastrous, time will tell!