Only Two Weeks Left!!

I only have two weeks left until the Double Helix Dash (5K).  I am sorry to say that I am very behind on my training.  I am still not able to run the whole distance.  I have run about 1.5 miles continuously at about a 14 min/mile.  I am not putting the time in like I should be.  I have been doing too much swimming and biking.  I really need to focus on the running.

I am also concerned about my calf.  A few months ago I torn my calf playing racketball.  The doctor elected not to do an MRI, so I do not know how badly it was torn.  But there was very little visable bruising so I don't believe it was that bad.  Anyway, I followed the doctor's instructions (mostly), and kept weight off of it for a week, rested, blah, blah, blah.  It quit hurting after about four weeks, but I gave it the 8 weeks he suggested before I started stressing it and then started slowly.  Everything was fine for the first couple weeks, but this last week I have notice that when I cool down after running or biking may calf gets really sore.  I don't know if I may have re-torn part of it or if it is just getting aggrevated.  I really don't want to injury it again before the triathlon in August, but I have already registered for the 5K in two weeks and there are a couple bike rides coming up including the Tour de Cure that I really want to attend.  The Cotton Row 5K is also coming up at the end of May.

Interesting Day

I went out for a ride at lunch today on the green way near work. Everything started pretty good. I was feeling good, making good time. About six miles into it a %$&@!# bug flew into my helmet. I had no idea what kind of bug it was. I had to be pretty big because I could hear it buzzing and feel it bouncing on my head. Just before complete panic set it, I was able to unclip my shoes and slam on my brakes. I torn off my helmet sending my sunglasses flying about 20 feet and slung it to the ground. The only thing missing was me screaming like a girl. I am sure everyone on the green way got a good show. I still don't know what it was. Needless to say, the ride was pretty well shot. I still managed to get 12 miles in.

Tonight I "ran" 2 miles on the treadmill. My legs are shot.

Swimming tomorrow!!

I feel like I am getting in better shape each time I run/ride/swim. The weight loss has slowed a little...could have been the Mellow Mushroom yesterday :-p I have lost 33.4 pounds since January 27th. I have 6 pounds to lose in a week and a half to meet my goal.

Swimming day yesterday.  I swam 500 yards in about 17 minutes.  Not really great, but I made it this time.  I have noticed that I seem to be unable to pace myself when I swim freestyle.  I start off way to fast and wear myself out pretty quickly.  Yesterday, I alternated between freestyle and breast stroke and it worked pretty well.  I was able to swim the whole way without stopping.

I have not actually started "training" yet.  I signed up for FleetFeet's training program, but it doesn't start until May.  I am trying to do some work ahead of time so I won't embarrass myself and also drop some weight.  So now I have done all the distances seperately.  I am still very weak in swimming and running and cannot run/swim the whole way without resting.  I have not tried to combine anything yet, but I am hoping that will happen in the training program.

Things seem to be progressing pretty well.  I have also dropped another 2 pounds!

The Scale Back Alabama competition ends the week of April 9th.  We have to record our final weight by Friday, April 13th.  Coincidentally, there is a 5K on April 10th.  I decided to sign up for it.  Maybe, training for the 5K will help me get to my goal.

I have done the Cotton Row 5K a couple times with my daughter.  We didn't burn up the course, we walked more than we ran...but we did finish.  This will be the first time I can actually see what I can do by myself.  This will also be good practice for the triathlon in August.

The company where I work decided to get involved with Scale Back Alabama and encouraged everyone to participate.  We were split into teams of four and everyone on each team have to lose 10 pounds each.  There are prizes if everyone loses weight, yada yada yada.  I decided to sign up and give it a go.  The competition lasts 10 weeks.  I am a pretty competitive guy by nature, so I set a pretty aggressive goal of 40 pounds.  We have two weeks left and so far I have lost 32 pounds.  I am going to have to really step it up to make it, but I am within reach.

During this weight loss adventure, I ran across the Huntsville Sprint Triathlon.  I have always wanted to do a triathlon, but never thought I could.  I am not rally sure I can do it now, but I decided to give it a try.  When I was going through the registration process, one of the questions that was asked was what my weight was.  I grudgingly put down my weight and continued the process.  When I got my confirmation, I saw that I was put in the Clydesdale division.  Clydesdale!!!  What exactly are they trying to say?  Clydesdale's are pack animals, not sleek racing machines....oh....I get it.  I guess I am not exactly a sleek racing machine either.  Well, I decided to embrace the term and show everyone what a Clydesdale can do (when not hooked to the Budweiser wagon).

So this blog is about how I am going from couch potato to the Racing Clydesdale!