Birthday thoughts

Random Musings: So today is my birthday. I'm 41 today. Its not a real notable birthday; last year seemed like a much bigger deal obviously. At this time last year I was eating lunch in Estes Park, Colorado after hiking up a mountain with my wife and father. Today, I'm just hanging out with my kids while my wife works. It seems about right.

I'm always reflective at birthday time and today is no exception. My first inclination was to make some massive pledge about how I'm setting aside everything to work on my health for the next 365 days, which isn't a terrible idea, but then I figured something out. I was out running a few errands (including new running shoes, which I'll explain more in a bit), and I sat down at one of those blood pressure machines at an in-store pharmacy. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it here before but my BP has been a bit dicey for the last several years. They haven't made me take meds, but I've had to monitor it at home and once they didn't want to let me leave a pre-operative check-up until it came down. Needless to say, it's been concerning and is related to weight, caffeine, age and genetics I suppose. I had fallen out of the habit of tracking it until today when I was very pleased to see it clock in at 121 over 78, which is pretty darn good for me.

Even better, the machine also showed a resting pulse of 50, which is a solid 10-20 beats per minute less than it was in the winter time. So, why am I telling you this? Well, it was evidence that what I am doing is making a difference. As frustrated as I get at my weight and my lack of washboard abs, there is no doubting I am much, much healthier than I was in April and over the winter. I was so busy trying to get to a goal, I kept forgetting to enjoy the progress even when I noted it. After all, as much as I want to look good at the pool, I want to be a 75 year old Ironman triathlete someday and that takes time, time that should be enjoyed, not just endured.

I don't think I need to make a a commitment I may not keep to behave perfectly for a year and set aside all other things to achieve health. Rather I must remember:

We are what we repeatedly do

And I must think about what I want to do repeatedly (besides the obvious of course). I trained repeatedly for 3 months and I regained the ability to be a triathlete. I repeatedly make questionable choices with what I eat and therefore I weigh a certain amount. I repeatedly self-analyze and obsess about multiple options for the future and as a result I usually change very little, because I think and ponder and obsess rather than ever choose:)

So, in my 42nd year I am interested in finding a new level of health and recapturing my self-identify as an athlete. In my 42nd year, I am interested in doing work that not only supports my family, but does some good for the world and for my soul. In my 42nd year, I am interested in broadening my interests beyond my career and building on my strengths to find the place of most potential. Deep Huh?:)

Now what do I need to do repeatedly to go down those paths and enjoy them? Fitness for one really seems to be a matter of repetition...time to get back with my trainer Danni, track my food, and maybe blog more regularly among other things.

Oh, by the way, the photo above is from a birthday roughly 20 years (give or take a year) ago. No real symbolism other than it's a birthday party photo and is the last official sighting of my abdominals:) I was repeatedly detassling corn that summer, which is a good fitness plan.

Exercise update: I've taken a bit of a break this week for a couple reasons. The first is just post-tri recovery, which is mostly bs. I felt fine Monday and biked, but stuck to walking the rest of the week.
The second has been more troubling. My foot has been killing me and by Tuesday it had progressed to feeling like a nail through the front of my foot most of the day. I was getting very down about it, but then on Wednesday I decided to just keep pursuing treatment. I went in to my chiropractor and decided if that didn't get us anywhere than it was back to the podiatrist and if that didn't work, I'd look for more options.

I was very pleased when my chiro said he was very confident I wasn't suffering from plantar fasciitis again, but rather I just had some pretty good joint inflammation from the pounding my feet have taken. The prescribed treatment is rest and ice, which I've been doing in addition to the the electro-stim Dr. Breidenbach did on Wednesday. My feet felt great Thursday and have been a little sore since, but I think I see the path to health for my feet and I'm greatly pleased it's not the old ailment. Of course, every pound I drop will help all my joints including my feet. I also went and replaced my running shoes today. I had purchased a Reebok shoe that took advantage of the more "natural" feel and I think that has been an issue. Perhaps a thinner man with better bio mechanics could benefit from a thinner shoe, but I need cushioning for now.

Nutrition update: I've been tracking food pretty well this week. Wednesday night was my only train wreck, otherwise I've been with the plan, even on light exercise days. I've had some back sliding on soda consumption, so I don't get my monthly massage, but I'm back on the wagon today.

No major indulgences planned for my birthday or for the vacation in the Dells next week. I prefer feeling strong and healthy to feeling bloated and full of crap.

Thanks for indulging a long post, but what could you expect. Blogging about yourself is pretty self-centered and when you add in the birthday...

Happy July 30th...

Weigh in Day

Random Musings: I seem to be trying an every other day entry mode for now. Let us see how it goes.

I weighed in this morning for my official weekly weigh in. If you recall last week was a low low point which inspired some changes. I'm pleased to say that those changes (daily weighing and tracking food) yielded some results. I showed a weight of 199.1 pounds. Not where I want to be, but I am glad to be under 200. I pigged out pretty good after the triathlon on Saturday, but I have been very disciplined since. Let's hope we keep going well moving on. The goal is now to be under 190 for the Urbanathlon


I continue to be concerned about the pain in my right foot. It feels a lot like the plantar fasciitis I struggled with several years ago. I'm trying to use ibuprofen and chiropractic to manage it. Hopefully that will keep me afloat.

Exercise update: My foot really hurts. It's like a nail in the ball of my foot right at the base of my toes. I'm going to take today off. I had plans at the Y, but I forgot my socks:)

I'm feeling a lot of fear about my foot, especially when I'm trying to ramp up my running for a run centered event like the Urbanathlon. Rather than stress I'll get some chiro treatment tomorrow and if that doesn't help, I'll get in to the podiatrist as well. I don't want to give in to the injury.

Nutrition update: Today has been pretty solid. I didn't go out for lunch. I chose to come home and make a sandwich instead. I'll probably miss my calorie target because I'm not exercising at all, but that's ok. Tomorrow is "get your foot fixed day". Time to get out of denial.

And off we go

Exercise update: Recovering from triathlon today, so I stuck with walking the dog. I am pleased that I'm not really sore today from yesterday's efforts. Part of me thinks that means I could have tried harder, but the other part says I followed the plan of using it as a training day primarily. I think it also shows I've built some endurance and ability to recover. I'll get back to regular workouts tomorrow.

The Urbanathlon is 11 weeks from yesterday, so I'll tweak what I'm doing to include more strength training. I'll also focus more on running and include some stairs to prepare for Soldier Field...yikes!!!

Nutrition update: I watched what I ate carefully today and myfooddiary.com would indicate I've been pretty successful. I'm right on the edge calorically and I'm at 9.8% saturated fats when they prefer 9%, but it's a good start. I'm planning on weighing in tomorrow (and every day after) and setting an Urbanathlon goal of 10 pounds lighter than whatever number I get.

Random Musings: Yesterday's post about the triathlon is the most read post I've put up. Thanks for spreading the word, it's very encouraging when people follow what I'm doing and even make comments or suggestions. Rehabbing this old carcass is surely taking a village.

I am debating posting less often (every other day or twice a week or something). Some days the posts are pretty banal and some days I just don't have much to say. I'll think about it for a while, but if anyone cares one way or the other let me know. For today at least, I feel if I speak less often I might have more to say?

Hmmm, I wonder where else that might apply for me:)

Old (yup), Slow (but getting better), TRIATHLETE

Exercise update: Well I made it:) For the first time in 4 years, I was able to complete a sprint distance triathlon. Only triathletes would describe something that takes most people at least 80+ minutes as a "sprint". My sister and I got up early this morning and went to Castle Rock Park to swim 1/4 mile, bike 16 miles, and run 3 very hilly miles.

We both made it. I had done this same triathlon in 2007, but I was at a different point then with fitness and particularly with weight. I can't remember exactly but I was at least 10 pounds lighter than I am today. This has not been lost on me in planning the next event this fall...

My 2011 time was 1:37:39, which compares to a 2007 time of 1:32:13, so I'm 5 minutes and 26 seconds slower four years and 10+ pounds later. I'll take it as a great place to relaunch. My additional time was spread across all phases really, although I took bigger hits on the swim and run than on the bike. I might have gone a little faster if I'd run with more determination, but I reminded myself this was supposed to be part of my training, not the end result, and took a few walking breaks when I was tired.

I'm pretty confident I could get under a 90 minute sprint with some more training, some weight loss etc.

I relearned a lot today, here are a few highlights
- You have to protect your nipples. Like the rookie I seem to have become again, I did not and there is a chafing issue:)

- I needed more swim prep. I did all my work in a pool and it just isn't like open water. I wasted a lot of time swimming way off course and floating on my side in panic, even though I had the endurance to do the swim. Choppy waters were a challenge.

- Prep your equipment better. I lost the computer on my bike because I had dislodged it bringing the bike over and it flew off during the race. Not only does this mean I have to buy a new one, but I rode without knowing my speed or distance all day. I also didn't wear my heart rate monitor, which would have been nice too...

- I'm a good biker, but I could get a lot better, average looking folks passed me regularly

- Most important, I love spending Saturday mornings at this sort of thing and definitely want to do more, although that may be next year since I need to focus on the Urbanathlon now.

That can wait until tomorrow though:)


Nutrition update: I'm eating whatever I want today, and a lot of it...
I will get back to working on weight loss tomorrow. I'll weigh in on Monday and work down 10 pounds from there for the Urbanathlon. It's going to be important for my joints and to do monkey bars, climb walls etc.

Diet will be a renewed and necessary focus.

Random Musings: Not only did today make me feel really good, it was extra good because I got to bring my sister Jessica through her first tri. She did great and learned many of the same lessons I had to relearn. I hope we'll do more together in the future, it's much more fun to go to these things with someone. Historically I've been a bit of a lone wolf.

I'm going to work hard to remember what a good day today was when my spinning mind starts trying to figure out how I want to spend my time on the planet again. Interestingly, I think that's one of the things I like about triathlon and other events; my mind is focused and relatively quiet for almost 2 hours. It's one of the same things I used to like about coaching basketball games. You get to be in the moment, which is always hard for me.

Anyway, it was pretty great day, I'm tired and if my brother-in-law got some good pics, I'll share them soon.

regaining a foothold

Exercise update: With three days to go to the triathlon, I opted for low impact cardio. I spent 42 minutes on the elliptical at the Y and went just over 3 miles. This was easier on my troubled foot and I don't think I'm losing much by not running much this week and focusing on feeling less pain in my foot.I'm hoping to use a hotel pool to swim a little in tomorrow night.

I also braved the heat and took my dog for a 15 minute walk. Swampy....hopefully we catch a weather break on Saturday. Looks dicey for thunderstorms.

Nutrition update: Back on myfooddiary.com... So far I'm within my limits today even with the donuts a co-worker brought. Donuts are my greatest weakness, without compare. I added them in and balanced with a lighter lunch and some exercise. I even used a measuring cup at dinner to make sure how many servings of tortellini I had. It was 2.5 cups by the way. I have 211 calories to spare before bed and might have ice cream or something else.

Time to re-stock the yogurt, that seems to meet my sweets needs on occasion and Men's Health says weight losers eat yogurt:)

Random Musings: I hopped on the scale this morning and it was significantly lighter than my depressing Tuesday. I've still gained over the last few weeks, but it was just depressing not suicidally depressing...

I'm traveling the next two days for work, so I may or may not have blog entries. It will be a challenge as always to make sure I don't overeat. Sometimes an all day meeting can leave you feeling mentally exhausted and you think you actually need food to replenish your imaginary calorie burn. I'm also going to be smart about socializing with my colleagues from around the state. Being social does not require overeating and beer.

So, if I don't write between now and Saturday, hope for good health and good weather. Hopefully it's the shortest triathlon I'll do for several years:) After all it's Olympic Tri or die and olympic is still a few goals away.