I know that it has been a while since I have "blogged". I have so much to say or to write about I almost made an outline for this. I know all of you people out there are just dying to hear what I have to say. First, I have to start by saying out that I need everyone's help. How can you help me you ask? I need more followers of my blog. So if you are out there reading this and haven't followed me yet (Beth) I need you to follow me. It takes all of 2 minutes to do so. The reason I need you is that I know a guy from college that also blogs about his triathlon that has more follows and I can't have that. So just tell everybody or just join yourself. Thanks in advance.
Second, I had a great holiday. I actually got some time off and enjoyed it immensely. We had a great Christmas and I actually got some great gifts. Of all of the gifts I got (not including money) all of them had something to do with triathlon except for a wallet and a pair of pajamas I gave to my Dad on the spot. Sorry Mom I just don't wear pajamas. The one gift I have enjoyed the most has been my new Garmin 310XT. It is as good as advertised. I do admit that it is a bit of overkill with me because I already had some watches that do all that is does but now I just have one that does everything and is waterproof. I also got a cadence meter for my bike and a quick attachment kit for my bike that is all compatible. I know that no watch will ever make you faster. You still have to go out and put in the work but this one tracks progress better than anything else I have seen. It is also wireless so I don't have to plug it in to my computer. I also got a new pair of running shoes, a new pair of bike shoes, a spinervals DVD and a new road bike. I really didn't get a new road bike I just got my road bike back from my brother in law which I have set up to my indoor trainer permanently. This is the road bike that actually got me into wanting to do triathlons. It is also not a bad bike for only costing me a Nintendo Wii. Thanks Jim. I have been putting the DVD to good work. It is a time saver that has 3 separate workouts on it. There is a technique one with lots of high cadence and one-legged spinning, a time trial one and a sprint/power workout. On the box it rates the difficulty of each workout with the last 2 being 9.5 and 9.9 out of 10. I would rate it a little bit differently. The time trial one is the hardest. The workout on it is 8 separate sets of 90 seconds at time trial effort plus 10 heartbeats per minute. Let's just say that it is really hard. What makes it so hard is that you do the last 4 sets at one cog up from your hardest gear. It is perfect for me because it is only 30 minutes but very beneficial. My plan is to be doing these workouts in the morning and then my regular workout that night. In my workouts I have also been doing more weights. Jennifer and I canceled our gym membership so I got a set of kettle bells (also for Christmas). They included a workout DVD and I have been doing it 4 times a week.
Enough with Christmas let's talk about one of the books I have read recently. The name of it is "Born to Run-A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen". This book is all over the place just like the title. With that being said though it is a great book. I couldn't put it down. The books talks about a bunch of different topics but there are a few key points. The books features a group of ultra running tribesmen from Mexico called the Tarahumara. It also talks about ultra runners as a whole, why shoes aren't good for our feet, why we should run on our midfoot and the author's search for the right shoe. Let me just start off by saying that these ultra runners are crazy. I can't imagine running 100 miles or more at one time and some of them being even longer. Also, after reading the book I can see why people are hurt so much by running. I do believe that it might really be the shoes. I am pretty much living proof of this theory. When I first started running and bought my first pair of running shoes I got fitted at a running store. I do overpronate and I do have pancake flat feet. I left the store with a pair of Brooks that had a good bit of stability in them. After running in them for a while I never had any problems. When I changed my running style and stopped being a heel striker I bought a new pair of shoes that didn't have any stability. Now my feet hurt when I run in my old stability shoes. Either way I haven't had any injuries and that is all that really matters. With all of that being said just read the book. It is really good.
Each and every New Year most people make resolutions that hardly anyone ever keeps. I didn't make any this year. Instead of resolutions I set some goals. I didn't make many just a few. With this blog trying to make myself more accountable I plan to share those with you. That way you people can call me on my bluffs if I have any. My first and main goal is to compete in an Olympic distance triathlon. I have one I am looking at in the summer and then one in the early fall. Either or both of those will be fine by me. In case you are wondering they are the "Heatwave Classic" and the "Alabama Coastal Tri". Also, I plan to compete in all of my triathlons without a "C" on my leg. You triathlon people know what I'm talking about. I also want to run a 5k in under 23 minutes. Lastly, I want to run a half Mary next fall or winter. With these new goals I need to find a good training plan so if any of you know of any good ones please let me know. I hope I haven't put everyone to sleep.
I almost forgot to talk about my Saints. The Who Dat Nation will be rolling into South Beach for the Superbowl. Along the way we have probably made two Hall of Fame quarterbacks retire. Sorry about that Kurt and Brett but we are on a mission. With Brett Favre being a fellow Golden Eagle and his wife being a triathlete I was somewhat torn as to who to root for in last Sunday's game. Well, not really. 42 years of shame and no superbowls made that decision for me. I guess I will start seeing Brett's wife out riding her bike more since they are now back in Hattiesburg. Black and Gold Superbowl!! Who Dat!!
