I finally got a final plan...

I hate to keep complaining but getting up early is killing me. Because I don't want to sleep in, I'm sleeping very light. It's a good thing this is the off season or my body / mind would have no time to recover. Tonight was a light tempo running session, which was good because it gave me some time to work with Luis from Mark Allen Online and determine my training plan and race schedule for this upcoming season. It looks good, makes sense, and I think the days I decided to do specific workout's on will be better than last year. No multiple workout sessions on Friday's, Saturday's or Sunday's this year. All the multiples are going to be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It was very gratifying to finish the plan. I also found out that Jamie registered for Ironman UK which is great, I have someone I train long with.

 I ended up canceling my Ironman tattoo appointment in January. Something just didn't feel right about the artist and I'm now not sure if I even want one at all. I never see any of the pro's with tattoo's. I have my tiny Canadian Maple Leaf on my ankle from 20 years ago, it's subtle and I think "classy". Right now the only place I'd get an Ironman Tattoo is on my "butt" cheek, where only I could see it as a reminder and motivator. Who knows maybe I'll end up getting one there. My run tonight started with clear sky's and within 15 minutes everything was covered in a light, slippery snow. I almost wiped out twice. I guess this is a sign of things to come when we head to Winterpeg for Christmas.

Tempo Run - 30:39 /4.15 miles / 7:23 pace

I pulled the trigger...

When I woke up I checked on the UK Ironman website to see if it was up and running. On the weekend they closed it due to high traffic. It was back online and it was still accepting applications to the UK Ironman, just outside of Manchester, on August 2, 2009. I checked with Alice one last time to see if doing it was cool by her and see said go for it. Her and the kids really want to go to the U.K. 

I guess I'm like a woman who gave birth, at the time they swear they will never have another kid and then they forget about the pain and have another one. Doing the Ironman is like that. When I finished Louisville, I swore I'd never do another one or maybe every 4 years, like the Olympics, and here I am registered for another. Now I'm a little worried because I know if I'm not properly trained it is going to hurt. On the plus side it is not going to be hot like Louisville, the high for that time of year is 22 C and the low is around 16C. I'm not sure the terrain, but I'd love to break 11 hours. 

I did some weight training tonight. In the past week, I've been eating really well. I even made myself a healthy lunch to take to work with me.

Weights - 30 minutes 

Exercise is so good for the body and mind...

Alice and I hung out again last night and even though I didn't have a lot to drink I sure felt slow when I woke up. For most of the day we took it easy and did the regular stuff like grocery shopping, etc. I felt a little sluggish for most of the day. I ended up doing my long bike ride and afterwards I felt much better. It is amazing how exercise can make you feel better. I rode downstairs at the bar and was able to set my computer up in such a way that I could actually surf the web while I was riding. It really makes the time go by faster. By the time I was done, I was physically and mentally done. I had a post workout snack and was asleep by 10:30 pm

Bike - 2 hours / 37.74 miles

Taking it easy...

Today is my scheduled off day. Since I've been taking one day off of training in the off season it always feels strange. Surprisingly, I woke up a little rough, but made sure I got a full 9 - 10 hours of sleep. For the rest of the day I took it easy and in the afternoon watched the Hawaiian Ironman. It was cool to see Christie Wellington win the race on the exact same bike I just put a down payment on. I'm also getting some activity on Ebay for my Quintana Roo. I've even had one guy from Brazil offer me $1350 U.S. for an immediate sale, but unfortunately because I already have a bidder, Ebay won't allow me to sell it until the auction ends. I've got 23 people watching the auction, which means it may really heat up. I'd be happy with $1000 U.S. and I'd be ecstatic if I got $1500 U.S. That would pay for over have the cost of my new bike. I've got a fitting scheduled for Wednesday on my new bike and they are going to box up my old bike for shipping. 

After watching the Ironman I went to Reid's hockey game, he's really starting to play better. I'm still amazed that he didn't know how to skate 18 months ago. He's starting to get into the play and even had a shot on net. For the rest of the night Alice and I hung out, going to a local English Pub for dinner and then home to hang around the bar. I ended up taking a great picture of Reid, I was just messing around paparazzi style and annoying him. I'm still trying to register for the UK Ironman but the site is down due to high traffic. If I don't get in the only other one I could get into is Ironman France, which I'm considering. The only thing holding me back is the cost of the Airfare and figuring out if my air miles would cover it.

Training - Rest Day

01

Am I different???

Just as I was feeling rested again, I find out I have to go back to delivery driving in the early morning. The old driver we have can't see in the dark and said he can't drive mornings anymore. So I have to. I'm glad it's only for a week. 

I have a fairly heavy training schedule on Friday's. I do a bike and a long run. At work our landlord brought pastries and cookies for Christmas and of course I had to have some even though my mouth was frozen from going to the dentist earlier in the day. Eating all those sugary items made me very motivated to work out or at least I justified eating them by saying I was going to be burning a lot of calories so why not indulge. When I got home, the sugar was making me sluggish and I didn't feel like running, but I went anyway. Ten minutes into it I felt great. I had a lot on my mind from work and worked through it on my run. I was so focused on work I didn't even realize I did a run. I started the run biting through steel and I ended feeling like a relaxed wall flower.

After the run, Alice and I went out to the local English pub for a dinner and a few drinks. When I got back I still had a 95 minute bike ride so I decided to set the wind trainer up in the basement at the bar and ride while I had a few beers, watched TV, tried to register for the UK Ironman on my computer and talk to Alice. I was "multi-tasking". When people ask me where I find the time to train, they can always check out my blog to find out my secrets. It's amazing how fast an hour and fifteen minutes went by. I'm not sure if anyone, ever, has tried to mix drinking at a bar with riding a bike, but I think it's a great idea. Next week I might invite some of my friends - BYOB - Bring your own Bike (and Beer). 

I think I'm on to something. If Oprah puts me on her show, it will be big.

Long Run - 1:17 / 9.34 miles / 8:16

Bike 1:15 / 23.59 / 18:87 pace

01

Getting caught up...

It was great to get a full 7.5 hours of sleep last night. I woke up feeling like a new person. It's amazing how important sleep is to me. Since winter has started I'm like a hibernating bear. When I get home from work I'm now taking naps. This summer I rarely took naps, I was usually on the road training by 6:30 pm. Now I get home, I eat and I'm a sleep from 6 - 7:30/8pm. Then I get up and train. I do feel semi-refreshed when I get up.

Tonight I skipped the swim but did weights and then went for a moderate run, keeping the heart rate under 135 bpm. I left home to go to the YMCA and by the time I got home, finished my run, stretched and sat down with a post race bowl of yogurt and berries it was 10:30 pm. I feel good and I'm looking forward to catching up on some more sleep. I've also got a guy from Brazil interested in my bike.

Weights - 30 minutes

Moderate Run - 50:21 / 6.11 miles / 8:15 pace

I need sleep...

Since I started getting up two hours early to do deliveries I'm a basket case. Not so much physically but mentally. I NEED my 7.5 - 8 hours of sleep or I lose it. I'm not near as productive or sharp. What normally takes 5 minutes takes longer and I'm irritable. I actually feel sorry for the people around me. 

Yesterday after my deliveries I did a tempo run in 4 inches of snow. It was like running on sand and definitely worked muscles I hadn't worked before, especially my calf's and core balance.

That night my brother visited from Winnipeg and came to our place for dinner. I was bagged. We had a couple of beers and that perked me up for a while but it didn't take long for it to wear off and I was in bed by 9:30 pm, although I didn't fall asleep until midnight. 

Tonight I was still tired but forced myself to clean up my bike and put it on eBay. It took me until 9:30 pm to get it all done and then I pushed myself to do an hour on the bike. I was actually a little sore in the hips, I don't know why, maybe it was the run in yesterday's snow? I'm really looking forward to a good nights sleep because I traded my early morning shift with the afternoon driver. I'm looking forward to getting up without the ringing of an alarm, that way I know I'm rested.

Tuesday - Tempo Run / 45 minutes / 8:16 pace

Wednesday - Tempo Bike/ 1 hour / 18.87 miles