Blog future...

As many of you know, I'm refocusing myself and trying to spend more time on career while maintaining my training and triathlon lifestyle.

I've been keeping track of the hours I spend on tasks and I'm finding that I can't fit it all in and I'm not even training much right now. I can only imagine how pressed for time I'm going to be when Ironman training gets in full swing.

Writing the blog, reading others blogs and tweeting takes up at least 2 hours a day of my time, sometimes more. Writing a blog in a drunken haze on a Saturday morning to catch up on Friday's post definitely takes much longer.

Since starting the blog on November 12, 2007, this is my 1031 post. Other than a brief period after Ironman Louisville, when I thought the blog was over, I haven't missed a day of blogging in all that time.

I'm most proud of the two 400 page books I have to show for it. Every year I use Blurbs book building software to "slurp" all my blog posts and then lay them all out in a book format. At the end of this month, I'll be putting together my third book. The posts have grown significantly in length over the years and I wouldn't be surprised if I need two volumes for this years book.

Writing the blog has been great for me on so many levels. It's kept me honest and focused on my training, it's helped me learn about technology, and the highlight has been all the wonderful people I've met through the blog. Some I've inspired, and many have inspired me.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I've come to the conclusion that I can no longer blog daily. I'm still hoping to blog, I just don't know when or how comprehensive of posts I'll write. I've decided to let it all evolve naturally into a new pattern.

For those blog readers that look forward to reading my blog post over morning coffee, (aka Doru), or before you go ni-night, (aka John Barclay), I apologize for forcing you to alter your routine. It's just that with a changed focus, priorities shift, and the 12 to 18 hours a week I spend blogging have to be spent elsewhere.

On the training front, I bought another Keg of beer. This keg is dedicated to Al Nolan for his $201 donation. Oh, and I didn't run today.

I planned on running and then got caught up expanding my home network, solving a technical issue and working. Before I knew it, it was dark and cold outside and I instead of going for a run, I decided to drive to Hamilton to pick up a new Keg of beer.

After the new keg was "tapped", Alice and I went downstairs to "The Pig & Whistle". She had her Rum & Diet Coke and I had my beers and cigars and we watched a documentary about the beer industry, followed by the movie "Weird Science", all on my $7.95 per month Netflix. (I'm getting so close to "dumping" Cogeco cable).

I'm also looking forward to getting the NYC Marathon over with and getting back into a structured off-season training maintenance program. I really need it for my mental and physical health right now.

Today I was starting to feel fat, I'm bloated and my pants felt tight on me. It's a terrible feeling and it didn't take me long to start "romanticising" about those 7 hour bike rides followed by a 30 minute brick run. As sick as this sounds, I miss how I would feel after those workouts and I'm looking forward to doing them again next year.

I attached a video just for Simon. Recently in his blog posts he's been worried about what the Malaysian kids are eating for lunch and how they are getting fat. Take a look at the video, I think Malaysia has other priorities they need to focus on when it comes to kids.

No Training - Lazy

12

Smoking Baby Hooked on Cigarettes - Watch more Funny Videos

NYC Booked...

It was a fairly uneventful day. I did no training, had a couple of work meetings and found a NYC hotel room for this weekend.

I decided to take my neighbour John's advice and tried Priceline.com. to find a room in NYC.

Most of the hotels were in the $269 - $430 range. I decided to offer $155 per night for a 3.5 star plus hotel and see if any of the hotels would accept my offer. One did, the Millennium near the United Nations. I'm now all set.

Today I went for another ART treatment. I'm shocked at how well my body is responding to it. I'd never heard of ART before last week and now I'm almost a big believer in it. If I can get in a couple more training runs and finish the marathon without injury and recover fully afterwards, I'll be sold on it.

Last week I got my FREE Picaboo book, it looks great. I was glad to hear about 30 people who read my blog took advantage of the FREE BOOK offer. I did my book about my "Journey to Kona" and the cover shot was taken at the 6-hour mark of a 7 hour indoor trainer ride. It was brutally-mentally tough to do those long indoor rides.

Today Picaboo gave me another offer to give to my blog readers, it's a Buy-1, Get-1 Free Book or Calendar Promotion. Click through the banner on the side bar of the blog or click here to order. If you click through my site to Picaboo and order a book or calendar, the TPPF makes a few bucks.

Changing gears, four years ago I made two major changes in my life. The first was getting back into shape, the second was deciding to learn again. I was starting to feel old and felt I hadn't learnt anything new in a while and decided to focus on computers and all things Internet.

The first thing I started was a blog. As crazy as this may sound, I didn't even know what a blog was when I started it. I also started taking responsibility for all my own computer technical problems. In the past, I'd just have my IT people fix my laptop or home computer if there was problem.

The best thing I did was buy the Apple Care protection plan. They offer 3-years of unlimited telephone support. I spent countless hours on the phone with them learning everything I needed to learn, even basic things like setting up an email account on my computer.

I learnt how to set up a home wireless network, a back up system, shared music libraries, syncing of all my computers and iPhone. Dealing with hardware and software issues no longer intimidate me.

The second area of learning that I've developed a "passion" for is Internet marketing. I find it fascinating and everyday I'm learning something new. Last month I launched the beginning of a program for work and in only one month the sales increased 30%, and I did it working from my kitchen table and sofa. I love the lifestyle.

Tonight I had to go out for some cables and networking hardware and as I was driving to Tigerdirect, I realized I enjoy all things computer. I've never been a builder or mechanic, yet I could spend countless hours figuring out a computer problem, or learning how to use software, or figuring out ways to increase online sales. I find it all very gratifying.

Eating wise, I've got the "sugar shakes". Yesterday I ate more Halloween candy than I should have and my body is "craving sugar". I'm like a "crack addict". Try as I might, I couldn't resist having a little "brown gold" today, but tomorrow I'm going "cold turkey". I find that if you can go two days eating well, it's easy maintain. It's those first two days that are the toughest.

No Training - Recovery Day